The tropical environment and malaria in southwestern Nigeria, 1861 – 1960
- Authors: Adetiba, Adedamola Seun
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Diseases and history -- Africa , Diseases and history -- Nigeria , Medical anthropology -- Africa , Medical anthropology -- Nigeria , Malaria -- Social aspects -- Nigeria , Malaria -- Nigeria -- History , Nigeria -- History , Imperialism -- Health aspects , Medicine -- Colonies -- Great Britain -- History
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76564 , vital:30605
- Description: This thesis is a social history of malaria in southwestern Nigeria. It contributes to the burgeoning literature in the historiography of medicine, specifically the medicine and empire debate. Key to the issues raised in this thesis is the extent to which the limitations in colonial medical policies, most especially malaria control programmes, inspired critical and ingenious responses from African nationalists, doctors, patients, research volunteers, and indigenous medical practitioners. Challenged by a wide range of diseases and a paucity of health facilities and disease control schemes, African rural dwellers became medical pluralists in the ways they imagined and appropriated ideas of Western medicine alongside their indigenous medical practices. Beginning with a detailed historical exploration of the issues that informed the introduction of curative and preventive medicine in southwestern Nigeria, this thesis reveals the focus of colonial medicine. It exposes the one-sided nature of medical services in colonial spaces like southwestern Nigeria and the ways it shaped multifaceted responses from Africans, who were specifically side-lined till the 1950s when the rural medical service scheme was introduced. The focus of colonial medicine is drawn from relatively rich but often subjective historical evidence, such as a plethora of official reports of the department of medical and sanitary services, official correspondences within the colonial government in Lagos and Nigeria, and between the colonial government and the colonial office in the United Kingdom. Details of African responses to medical policies were garnered from newspaper publications and correspondences between the African public and the colonial government in Lagos. They reveal very interesting details of the ways Africans imagined, reimagined, and appropriated malaria control ideas and schemes. The central argument in this thesis is that attempts to control malaria in southwestern Nigeria till the 1950s, were shaped by a single concern to ameliorate the implications of the disease on the colonial state. It argues that this one-sided nature of malaria control programme informed the basis for medical pluralism in most rural spaces where African communities became patrons and sponsors of Western medicine and at the same time custodians of their indigenous medical practices. The series of justifications for the sustenance of these services were reinforced on the basis of the failure of the colonial state to guarantee the health needs of their colonial subjects. The aim of the thesis is to reinforce arguments that portray colonial medicine as a “tool of empire” but goes a bit further to explain the extent to which Africans related to this reality. It states quite categorically that Africans were not docile and silent, but that they acted decisively in ways that suited their varied interests and courses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Adetiba, Adedamola Seun
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Diseases and history -- Africa , Diseases and history -- Nigeria , Medical anthropology -- Africa , Medical anthropology -- Nigeria , Malaria -- Social aspects -- Nigeria , Malaria -- Nigeria -- History , Nigeria -- History , Imperialism -- Health aspects , Medicine -- Colonies -- Great Britain -- History
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76564 , vital:30605
- Description: This thesis is a social history of malaria in southwestern Nigeria. It contributes to the burgeoning literature in the historiography of medicine, specifically the medicine and empire debate. Key to the issues raised in this thesis is the extent to which the limitations in colonial medical policies, most especially malaria control programmes, inspired critical and ingenious responses from African nationalists, doctors, patients, research volunteers, and indigenous medical practitioners. Challenged by a wide range of diseases and a paucity of health facilities and disease control schemes, African rural dwellers became medical pluralists in the ways they imagined and appropriated ideas of Western medicine alongside their indigenous medical practices. Beginning with a detailed historical exploration of the issues that informed the introduction of curative and preventive medicine in southwestern Nigeria, this thesis reveals the focus of colonial medicine. It exposes the one-sided nature of medical services in colonial spaces like southwestern Nigeria and the ways it shaped multifaceted responses from Africans, who were specifically side-lined till the 1950s when the rural medical service scheme was introduced. The focus of colonial medicine is drawn from relatively rich but often subjective historical evidence, such as a plethora of official reports of the department of medical and sanitary services, official correspondences within the colonial government in Lagos and Nigeria, and between the colonial government and the colonial office in the United Kingdom. Details of African responses to medical policies were garnered from newspaper publications and correspondences between the African public and the colonial government in Lagos. They reveal very interesting details of the ways Africans imagined, reimagined, and appropriated malaria control ideas and schemes. The central argument in this thesis is that attempts to control malaria in southwestern Nigeria till the 1950s, were shaped by a single concern to ameliorate the implications of the disease on the colonial state. It argues that this one-sided nature of malaria control programme informed the basis for medical pluralism in most rural spaces where African communities became patrons and sponsors of Western medicine and at the same time custodians of their indigenous medical practices. The series of justifications for the sustenance of these services were reinforced on the basis of the failure of the colonial state to guarantee the health needs of their colonial subjects. The aim of the thesis is to reinforce arguments that portray colonial medicine as a “tool of empire” but goes a bit further to explain the extent to which Africans related to this reality. It states quite categorically that Africans were not docile and silent, but that they acted decisively in ways that suited their varied interests and courses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Towards a norm of compliance in recreational fisheries
- Authors: Bova, Christopher S
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Fishing -- Management -- South Africa , Fishery law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95909 , vital:31213
- Description: The activity of fishing can be traced back to prehistoric times. However, only in the last century has there been a focus on the management of fisheries. Fishery regulations are tools used by resource managers with the aim of protecting the long-term sustainability of fishery resources. Although there is an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating the decline of fisheries, non-compliance with these regulations by fishers continues to manifest, which can exacerbate the negative ecological impacts of fisheries. Popular methods towards the measurement of noncompliance in fisheries derived from previous human dimensions literature may be flawed. Theories on improving compliance behaviour have typically relied on theory, which has at times proved paradoxical. Addressing the issues of non-compliance within a fishery of interest requires measuring the levels of non-compliance within the fishery and determining the relevant sociopsychological drivers behind the non-compliant behaviour. The data collection methods used during these assessments are limited in human dimensions research and are often case and context specific, requiring researchers to identify which approach is most practical for the specific fishery of interest. By identifying relevant behavioural drivers of non-compliance, a more effective approach aimed at improving compliance can be tailored. The recreational marine-based shore fishery (MBSF) in South Africa is not impervious to noncomplaint behaviour. In fact, it has been estimated to have relatively high rates of non-compliance. This high level of non-compliance makes the South African MBSF a unique and optimal context in which to undertake research that aims to formulate a framework towards compliance assessments and that develops a suitable approach for improving compliance rates. Using surveys to obtain compliance data can provide a range of details about violators, however they are susceptible to social desirability bias (SDB). Choosing the best method for controlling SDB required an assessment of existing methods for doing so. In this first part of the study, only fishers who were covertly observed breaking the rules were surveyed, using one of three methods for reducing SDB, to ground-truth the responses. Ground-truthing was done to determine which method would be most effective for a large-scale study within the same fishery. Of the methods used, which include the direct questioning method (DQM), the random response technique (RRT) and the ballot box method (BBM), all contained some level of SDB. However, the BBM provided a significantly higher level of response accuracy (79.6% ± 11.9) than the DQM (46.5% ± 14.9) and the RRT (44.3% ± 12.5). Random-stratified roving creel compliance surveys that employed the BBM were then undertaken at various locations along South Africa’s coastline to estimate current rates of non-compliance, and the face-to-face results were compared to results from an identical online survey to determine the suitability of online surveys as a replacement. The results indicated that online surveys only represent a subgroup of the fisher population within the MBSF, suggesting that face-to-face survey methods are required to obtain a more comprehensive sample and a more robust estimate of noncompliance. The results, based on 453 face-to-face surveys, showed a high level of overall self-reported noncompliance (48.3%) within the fishery. Responses to Likert scale survey questions on various aspects of the fishery, including angler motivations for fishing, were then modelled to test the relationship between the anglers’ responses and their compliance behaviour. In the South African MBSF context, the most significant behavioural drivers behind non-compliance related to normative concepts. Specifically, the poor perceptions of management and value-based legitimacy as well as low levels of moral obligation to adhere to the regulations appeared to contribute most to the observed non-compliant behaviour. Angler motivations for fishing also played a significant role in determining the compliance behaviour of anglers, with those fishing for food being more likely to violate regulations. In most countries, regardless of economic context, interventions to improve recreational fishery compliance have been developed around the instrumental concept. However, these findings suggest that for recreational fisheries, managers would do well to evaluate the impact of normative concepts on compliance and to design interventions aimed at addressing these. In the case of the South African MBSF, interventions that address angler perceptions of legitimacy and aim to correct misperceptions about social norms of compliance may provide a more practical and cost- effective method for improving poor compliance behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Bova, Christopher S
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Fishing -- Management -- South Africa , Fishery law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95909 , vital:31213
- Description: The activity of fishing can be traced back to prehistoric times. However, only in the last century has there been a focus on the management of fisheries. Fishery regulations are tools used by resource managers with the aim of protecting the long-term sustainability of fishery resources. Although there is an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating the decline of fisheries, non-compliance with these regulations by fishers continues to manifest, which can exacerbate the negative ecological impacts of fisheries. Popular methods towards the measurement of noncompliance in fisheries derived from previous human dimensions literature may be flawed. Theories on improving compliance behaviour have typically relied on theory, which has at times proved paradoxical. Addressing the issues of non-compliance within a fishery of interest requires measuring the levels of non-compliance within the fishery and determining the relevant sociopsychological drivers behind the non-compliant behaviour. The data collection methods used during these assessments are limited in human dimensions research and are often case and context specific, requiring researchers to identify which approach is most practical for the specific fishery of interest. By identifying relevant behavioural drivers of non-compliance, a more effective approach aimed at improving compliance can be tailored. The recreational marine-based shore fishery (MBSF) in South Africa is not impervious to noncomplaint behaviour. In fact, it has been estimated to have relatively high rates of non-compliance. This high level of non-compliance makes the South African MBSF a unique and optimal context in which to undertake research that aims to formulate a framework towards compliance assessments and that develops a suitable approach for improving compliance rates. Using surveys to obtain compliance data can provide a range of details about violators, however they are susceptible to social desirability bias (SDB). Choosing the best method for controlling SDB required an assessment of existing methods for doing so. In this first part of the study, only fishers who were covertly observed breaking the rules were surveyed, using one of three methods for reducing SDB, to ground-truth the responses. Ground-truthing was done to determine which method would be most effective for a large-scale study within the same fishery. Of the methods used, which include the direct questioning method (DQM), the random response technique (RRT) and the ballot box method (BBM), all contained some level of SDB. However, the BBM provided a significantly higher level of response accuracy (79.6% ± 11.9) than the DQM (46.5% ± 14.9) and the RRT (44.3% ± 12.5). Random-stratified roving creel compliance surveys that employed the BBM were then undertaken at various locations along South Africa’s coastline to estimate current rates of non-compliance, and the face-to-face results were compared to results from an identical online survey to determine the suitability of online surveys as a replacement. The results indicated that online surveys only represent a subgroup of the fisher population within the MBSF, suggesting that face-to-face survey methods are required to obtain a more comprehensive sample and a more robust estimate of noncompliance. The results, based on 453 face-to-face surveys, showed a high level of overall self-reported noncompliance (48.3%) within the fishery. Responses to Likert scale survey questions on various aspects of the fishery, including angler motivations for fishing, were then modelled to test the relationship between the anglers’ responses and their compliance behaviour. In the South African MBSF context, the most significant behavioural drivers behind non-compliance related to normative concepts. Specifically, the poor perceptions of management and value-based legitimacy as well as low levels of moral obligation to adhere to the regulations appeared to contribute most to the observed non-compliant behaviour. Angler motivations for fishing also played a significant role in determining the compliance behaviour of anglers, with those fishing for food being more likely to violate regulations. In most countries, regardless of economic context, interventions to improve recreational fishery compliance have been developed around the instrumental concept. However, these findings suggest that for recreational fisheries, managers would do well to evaluate the impact of normative concepts on compliance and to design interventions aimed at addressing these. In the case of the South African MBSF, interventions that address angler perceptions of legitimacy and aim to correct misperceptions about social norms of compliance may provide a more practical and cost- effective method for improving poor compliance behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Training intervention for volunteers supporting victims of intimate partner violence in South Africa
- Authors: Thomas, Samantha
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Intimate partner violence -- Psychological aspects , Victims of family violence -- Services for -- South Africa , Marital violence , Victims of dating violence , Family violence -- Law and legislation , Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65079 , vital:28679
- Description: Intimate Partner Violence continues to be a significant social problem in South Africa, requiring a systematised and effective response at multiple levels. The organisation at the centre of this research offers crisis intervention to victims of intimate partner violence, providing basic psychological support, legal information and referrals. The volunteer crisis interventionists are exposed to numerous in-depth accounts of violent and distressing victimisation, making them more vulnerable to vicarious traumatisation. Through this work, their prior assumptions about personal safety, the trustworthiness of other people, and basic justice in the world, are challenged. The challenge to these assumptions increases the likelihood of countertransference victim blaming responses, as it is often easier to hold the client responsible for the tragic event than for the support worker to transform their own assumptions about safety and justice. This victim blaming response is supported by the dominant patriarchal ideology which frequently seeks to maintain the systems of oppression, excusing the perpetrator and placing responsibility on the victim. It was therefore clear that in order to do this work effectively, volunteers needed to be trained to identify their countertransference reactions and emotional responses, as well as undergo a critical re-assessment of their ideas relating to intimate partner violence and victimisation. Using an Intervention Research paradigm, this research designed and developed a training programme based on transformative learning theory, moving away from traditional information models of training to a focus on emotional skills and critical self-insight. The phases of the intervention refined the intervention in order to ensure that the research objectives were met and that the programme could be easily replicated. The evaluation of each phase showed an increased capacity for critical insight, and evidence for a transformative shift in the trainees understanding and approach to intimate partner violence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Training intervention for volunteers supporting victims of intimate partner violence in South Africa
- Authors: Thomas, Samantha
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Intimate partner violence -- Psychological aspects , Victims of family violence -- Services for -- South Africa , Marital violence , Victims of dating violence , Family violence -- Law and legislation , Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65079 , vital:28679
- Description: Intimate Partner Violence continues to be a significant social problem in South Africa, requiring a systematised and effective response at multiple levels. The organisation at the centre of this research offers crisis intervention to victims of intimate partner violence, providing basic psychological support, legal information and referrals. The volunteer crisis interventionists are exposed to numerous in-depth accounts of violent and distressing victimisation, making them more vulnerable to vicarious traumatisation. Through this work, their prior assumptions about personal safety, the trustworthiness of other people, and basic justice in the world, are challenged. The challenge to these assumptions increases the likelihood of countertransference victim blaming responses, as it is often easier to hold the client responsible for the tragic event than for the support worker to transform their own assumptions about safety and justice. This victim blaming response is supported by the dominant patriarchal ideology which frequently seeks to maintain the systems of oppression, excusing the perpetrator and placing responsibility on the victim. It was therefore clear that in order to do this work effectively, volunteers needed to be trained to identify their countertransference reactions and emotional responses, as well as undergo a critical re-assessment of their ideas relating to intimate partner violence and victimisation. Using an Intervention Research paradigm, this research designed and developed a training programme based on transformative learning theory, moving away from traditional information models of training to a focus on emotional skills and critical self-insight. The phases of the intervention refined the intervention in order to ensure that the research objectives were met and that the programme could be easily replicated. The evaluation of each phase showed an increased capacity for critical insight, and evidence for a transformative shift in the trainees understanding and approach to intimate partner violence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Understanding defiant identities: an ethnography of gays and lesbians in Harare, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Muparamoto, Nelson
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Gays -- Zimbabwe , Gays -- Abuse of -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Political aspects -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Social aspects -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Religious aspects -- Zimbabwe , Homophobia -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67720 , vital:29133
- Description: Over the years, western and local media have mediated a narrative of a thoroughly homophobic Zimbabwe, not the least emanating from the former president Robert Mugabe’s ongoing homocritical utterances which recurrently generated global news stories. The country does indeed have a protracted history characterised by various forms of attacks on Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, its membership, and the general lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. A dominant discourse has framed homosexual identities as on or beyond the border of what is acceptable, giving the clear message that they should not be tolerated. However, the narrative needs a more nuanced analysis than what has been popularised. That homophobia has played a significant role in Zimbabwe is of great import, but it is not and cannot be all there is to say about LGBT lives in the country. And, while scholarship on Zimbabwean homosexualities has engaged with debates about its indigeneity, morality and acceptability, it has as of yet not significantly explored the lived realities of non-heterosexual individuals from their own point of view. This thesis aims to begin doing exactly that, addressing the experiences of same-sex loving and attracted individuals in Harare. Drawing on ethnographic sociology, the thesis focuses on understanding how gay and lesbian identities are constructed, negotiated and experienced within an environment that is in many ways overtly homophobic, where, for example, the risk for social exclusion is considerable. It explores what characterises and shapes gay and lesbian identities in Harare in an attempt to interrogate how they reinforce, modify and challenge dominant social categories and relate to globally circulating queer identity categories. The thesis demonstrates that the construction of identities among same sex loving people in Harare variously draws on both locally and globally circulating ideas and insights. The thesis reveals that beyond the considerable attacks on homosexual identities in Zimbabwe, the intersection of local and international discourses on gay and lesbian identities produces identities that are to varying degrees emergent, fluid and perhaps fragmented. Despite attempts to expunge non-heterosexuals from Zimbabwean citizenry by drawing borders on the basis of sexual orientation, same sex loving individuals in Harare have defiantly expressed, negotiated and managed their sexual identities. The thesis describes and analyses things like dating patterns, decision making in same sex relations as well as family and religious experiences. Invoking Goffman’s concept of self-presentation enables one to understand how participants expressed themselves in the midst of like-minded or homo-tolerant individuals and how they deployed themselves in ‘spaces’ considered homocritical or where resentment was likely to be provoked by them openly expressing their sexual orientation. Crucially, same-sex loving and attracted individuals are agentic individuals who have variously stretched the traditional meanings associated with gender and sexuality in a context characterised by heteronormativity. This thesis usefully deploys Giddens’ (1991, 1992) theorisation of late modernity as characterised by conditions allowing a profusion of competing and sometimes contradictory identity discourses which offers the opportunity for self-reflexivity and identity negotiation. This helps us to understand the defiant identities. Whereas western circulating identity politics tout ‘coming out of the closet’, for most of the participants overt indiscriminate disclosure was to be avoided with participants therein deploying strategies that would help them to remain closeted to some family members as well as in religious circles. The consequences of ‘outing’ or disclosure are ostensibly not straightforward but complex, thus requiring a nuanced analysis that goes beyond the binary categories framed as either negative or positive. The thesis shows that experiences of same sex loving people in their families are complex rather than simply situated on the polar ends of either rejection or acceptance. Whilst dominant discourse has depicted religion as fuelling homophobia as it depicts a Christian identity and queer identities as incompatible, the thesis also explores how some participants challenge the borders drawn in religious circles and maintain a relatively active religious life but not always without conflict.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Muparamoto, Nelson
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Gays -- Zimbabwe , Gays -- Abuse of -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Political aspects -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Social aspects -- Zimbabwe , Homosexuality -- Religious aspects -- Zimbabwe , Homophobia -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67720 , vital:29133
- Description: Over the years, western and local media have mediated a narrative of a thoroughly homophobic Zimbabwe, not the least emanating from the former president Robert Mugabe’s ongoing homocritical utterances which recurrently generated global news stories. The country does indeed have a protracted history characterised by various forms of attacks on Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, its membership, and the general lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. A dominant discourse has framed homosexual identities as on or beyond the border of what is acceptable, giving the clear message that they should not be tolerated. However, the narrative needs a more nuanced analysis than what has been popularised. That homophobia has played a significant role in Zimbabwe is of great import, but it is not and cannot be all there is to say about LGBT lives in the country. And, while scholarship on Zimbabwean homosexualities has engaged with debates about its indigeneity, morality and acceptability, it has as of yet not significantly explored the lived realities of non-heterosexual individuals from their own point of view. This thesis aims to begin doing exactly that, addressing the experiences of same-sex loving and attracted individuals in Harare. Drawing on ethnographic sociology, the thesis focuses on understanding how gay and lesbian identities are constructed, negotiated and experienced within an environment that is in many ways overtly homophobic, where, for example, the risk for social exclusion is considerable. It explores what characterises and shapes gay and lesbian identities in Harare in an attempt to interrogate how they reinforce, modify and challenge dominant social categories and relate to globally circulating queer identity categories. The thesis demonstrates that the construction of identities among same sex loving people in Harare variously draws on both locally and globally circulating ideas and insights. The thesis reveals that beyond the considerable attacks on homosexual identities in Zimbabwe, the intersection of local and international discourses on gay and lesbian identities produces identities that are to varying degrees emergent, fluid and perhaps fragmented. Despite attempts to expunge non-heterosexuals from Zimbabwean citizenry by drawing borders on the basis of sexual orientation, same sex loving individuals in Harare have defiantly expressed, negotiated and managed their sexual identities. The thesis describes and analyses things like dating patterns, decision making in same sex relations as well as family and religious experiences. Invoking Goffman’s concept of self-presentation enables one to understand how participants expressed themselves in the midst of like-minded or homo-tolerant individuals and how they deployed themselves in ‘spaces’ considered homocritical or where resentment was likely to be provoked by them openly expressing their sexual orientation. Crucially, same-sex loving and attracted individuals are agentic individuals who have variously stretched the traditional meanings associated with gender and sexuality in a context characterised by heteronormativity. This thesis usefully deploys Giddens’ (1991, 1992) theorisation of late modernity as characterised by conditions allowing a profusion of competing and sometimes contradictory identity discourses which offers the opportunity for self-reflexivity and identity negotiation. This helps us to understand the defiant identities. Whereas western circulating identity politics tout ‘coming out of the closet’, for most of the participants overt indiscriminate disclosure was to be avoided with participants therein deploying strategies that would help them to remain closeted to some family members as well as in religious circles. The consequences of ‘outing’ or disclosure are ostensibly not straightforward but complex, thus requiring a nuanced analysis that goes beyond the binary categories framed as either negative or positive. The thesis shows that experiences of same sex loving people in their families are complex rather than simply situated on the polar ends of either rejection or acceptance. Whilst dominant discourse has depicted religion as fuelling homophobia as it depicts a Christian identity and queer identities as incompatible, the thesis also explores how some participants challenge the borders drawn in religious circles and maintain a relatively active religious life but not always without conflict.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Understanding the learning that occurs through up-skilling opportunities and practices in the marine sector of South Africa
- Authors: Bell, Caroline Margaret
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Biodiversity conservation -- South Africa , Human capital -- South Africa , Marine sciences -- Employees -- South Africa -- Training of , Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93966 , vital:30977
- Description: South Africa is characterised by cultural and biological diversity which constitute a unique context in which to conduct educational research, such as this doctoral study looking at human capital development in the marine biodiversity context. The drive for transformation in the country is also a major factor to consider when researching any sector of the economy, in this case, the biodiversity sector. The biodiversity sector includes organisations involved in biodiversity conservation, research and management. Previous research in the sector has found a clear need for well-thought out workplace skills plans within conservation and research organisations. The national Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy that was produced in 2010 by the South African National Biodiversity Institute outlines how all the organisations involved in the biodiversity sector of South Africa need to participate in strengthening the sector through a range of human capital development strategies. This includes extending the existing human capacity of managers and scientists who are already in the workplace, i.e. up-skilling. In particular, ‘scarce’ skills, as identified by the national Environmental Sector Skills Plan need further attention and development. The scarce skills relevant to this study are: protected area managers; ecosystem managers and post-graduate researchers, hence the focus on managers and scientists in this research. The marine sector falls within the biodiversity sector and it faces multiple conservation challenges which are complex and it is therefore essential to have skilled and capable managers and scientists in place. By investigating the up-skilling opportunities and practices available to these marine professionals, the goal is to understand if and how learning takes place in the marine sector of South Africa. The main research question of this study is: How do up-skilling opportunities and practices enable learning in, through and for the workplace, by marine professionals? In addition, three sub-questions provide finer details and introduce the central concepts of the research: I. What up-skilling opportunities and professional practices exist in or for, marine research and conservation organisations and how are they constituted and enacted via practice-based sayings, doings and relatings? II. How do the individuals learn and exercise their agency within the socio-material realities of the marine scientific and management context, through making use of up-skilling opportunities that are both formal (e.g. course based) and informal? III. How do generative mechanisms shape the constitution and enactment of up-skilling opportunities and practices, and the learning and agency of marine professionals (scientists and managers)? The theoretical work of this study consisted of, first, considering sensitising concepts which included: defining skill and knowledge; considering what an up-skilling opportunity might look like; workplace learning (both formal and informal learning); professional practices, lifelong learning or adult education, and agency in the workplace. Critical realism was then employed as the meta-theory that underlabours this research, while the substantive theories used for analysis purposes were socio-materialism and practice theory. Of course, critical realism is a socio-material theory itself, and Bhaskar’s four-planar social being or Social Cube was used to interpret and synthesise the findings in the data chapters. The methodological framework of this study explores the implications of critical realism for research design and analysis and includes a contextual profiling phase, semi-structured interviews, analysis of documents and peer-reviewed papers, as well as observations. There are nine case studies that form the focus of this research and in total 18 research participants were involved. Data analysis included abduction and retroduction as the primary modes of inference and the main analytical tool was the framework of practice architectures where I took the ‘sayings’, ‘doings’ and ‘relatings’ as themes. Further themes were developed from the other relevant theories used in this study; hence socio-materialism, learning, agency, and formal and informal opportunities, were also used as themes when coding the data. Issues around validity, ethics and reflexivity are key elements of the research design and were carefully considered throughout the research process. The principal data chapters are structured in such a way that each sub-question is considered and ultimately the findings are presented in the form of generative mechanisms which included: the politics of social transformation and knowledge as a driving force of up-skilling; the influence of individual disposition and passion or will; the importance of the socio-material realities and realistic expectations; and how relationality is critical for the marine sector. Agency was a cross-cutting theme in all the discussions around learning, practices and the role of the material, and was highly influential on the mechanisms that have been described in this study. The experiences, events and mechanisms that were uncovered in this research provide insight into the forms of learning as these relate to up-skilling that occur in the marine sector, as well as the complex relationships between formal and informal learning. The professional practices that occur in the everyday working lives of the marine professionals were shown to be an integral part of the learning process, while formal, certified opportunities are important for strengthening the field and building conservation competence in the country. By uncovering the deeper structures and mechanisms that have power and causal efficacy when it comes to up-skilling opportunities, learning and professional practices, this study has contributed to the field of environmental education as it shows how up-skilling processes operate in complex formations that involve formal and informal learning processes in workplaces. The study also offers a more nuanced view of the relational objects in this field, such as up-skilling and workplace learning, via the inclusion of a socio-material analysis. Through a theoretical and methodological framework that focused on the material using the tools of practice theory and Bhaskar’s depth ontology and four-planar social being (to synthesise and interpret the findings from a critical realist perspective), this research highlights the unique context of up-skilling opportunities and practices in the marine sector and reveals the crucial role of agency in workplace practices. This leads to a better understanding of the up-skilling opportunities and practices of marine professionals in South Africa, which ultimately contributes towards improved human capital development in the biodiversity and environmental sectors. Through offering more complex insights into the forms of learning and up-skilling, as well as a distinct methodological contribution, this research has broader relevance for workplace learning research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Bell, Caroline Margaret
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Biodiversity conservation -- South Africa , Human capital -- South Africa , Marine sciences -- Employees -- South Africa -- Training of , Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93966 , vital:30977
- Description: South Africa is characterised by cultural and biological diversity which constitute a unique context in which to conduct educational research, such as this doctoral study looking at human capital development in the marine biodiversity context. The drive for transformation in the country is also a major factor to consider when researching any sector of the economy, in this case, the biodiversity sector. The biodiversity sector includes organisations involved in biodiversity conservation, research and management. Previous research in the sector has found a clear need for well-thought out workplace skills plans within conservation and research organisations. The national Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy that was produced in 2010 by the South African National Biodiversity Institute outlines how all the organisations involved in the biodiversity sector of South Africa need to participate in strengthening the sector through a range of human capital development strategies. This includes extending the existing human capacity of managers and scientists who are already in the workplace, i.e. up-skilling. In particular, ‘scarce’ skills, as identified by the national Environmental Sector Skills Plan need further attention and development. The scarce skills relevant to this study are: protected area managers; ecosystem managers and post-graduate researchers, hence the focus on managers and scientists in this research. The marine sector falls within the biodiversity sector and it faces multiple conservation challenges which are complex and it is therefore essential to have skilled and capable managers and scientists in place. By investigating the up-skilling opportunities and practices available to these marine professionals, the goal is to understand if and how learning takes place in the marine sector of South Africa. The main research question of this study is: How do up-skilling opportunities and practices enable learning in, through and for the workplace, by marine professionals? In addition, three sub-questions provide finer details and introduce the central concepts of the research: I. What up-skilling opportunities and professional practices exist in or for, marine research and conservation organisations and how are they constituted and enacted via practice-based sayings, doings and relatings? II. How do the individuals learn and exercise their agency within the socio-material realities of the marine scientific and management context, through making use of up-skilling opportunities that are both formal (e.g. course based) and informal? III. How do generative mechanisms shape the constitution and enactment of up-skilling opportunities and practices, and the learning and agency of marine professionals (scientists and managers)? The theoretical work of this study consisted of, first, considering sensitising concepts which included: defining skill and knowledge; considering what an up-skilling opportunity might look like; workplace learning (both formal and informal learning); professional practices, lifelong learning or adult education, and agency in the workplace. Critical realism was then employed as the meta-theory that underlabours this research, while the substantive theories used for analysis purposes were socio-materialism and practice theory. Of course, critical realism is a socio-material theory itself, and Bhaskar’s four-planar social being or Social Cube was used to interpret and synthesise the findings in the data chapters. The methodological framework of this study explores the implications of critical realism for research design and analysis and includes a contextual profiling phase, semi-structured interviews, analysis of documents and peer-reviewed papers, as well as observations. There are nine case studies that form the focus of this research and in total 18 research participants were involved. Data analysis included abduction and retroduction as the primary modes of inference and the main analytical tool was the framework of practice architectures where I took the ‘sayings’, ‘doings’ and ‘relatings’ as themes. Further themes were developed from the other relevant theories used in this study; hence socio-materialism, learning, agency, and formal and informal opportunities, were also used as themes when coding the data. Issues around validity, ethics and reflexivity are key elements of the research design and were carefully considered throughout the research process. The principal data chapters are structured in such a way that each sub-question is considered and ultimately the findings are presented in the form of generative mechanisms which included: the politics of social transformation and knowledge as a driving force of up-skilling; the influence of individual disposition and passion or will; the importance of the socio-material realities and realistic expectations; and how relationality is critical for the marine sector. Agency was a cross-cutting theme in all the discussions around learning, practices and the role of the material, and was highly influential on the mechanisms that have been described in this study. The experiences, events and mechanisms that were uncovered in this research provide insight into the forms of learning as these relate to up-skilling that occur in the marine sector, as well as the complex relationships between formal and informal learning. The professional practices that occur in the everyday working lives of the marine professionals were shown to be an integral part of the learning process, while formal, certified opportunities are important for strengthening the field and building conservation competence in the country. By uncovering the deeper structures and mechanisms that have power and causal efficacy when it comes to up-skilling opportunities, learning and professional practices, this study has contributed to the field of environmental education as it shows how up-skilling processes operate in complex formations that involve formal and informal learning processes in workplaces. The study also offers a more nuanced view of the relational objects in this field, such as up-skilling and workplace learning, via the inclusion of a socio-material analysis. Through a theoretical and methodological framework that focused on the material using the tools of practice theory and Bhaskar’s depth ontology and four-planar social being (to synthesise and interpret the findings from a critical realist perspective), this research highlights the unique context of up-skilling opportunities and practices in the marine sector and reveals the crucial role of agency in workplace practices. This leads to a better understanding of the up-skilling opportunities and practices of marine professionals in South Africa, which ultimately contributes towards improved human capital development in the biodiversity and environmental sectors. Through offering more complex insights into the forms of learning and up-skilling, as well as a distinct methodological contribution, this research has broader relevance for workplace learning research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Uphononongo lwesimo sabalinganiswa kujongwe izenzo, iimpawu nemikhwa eyandulela nelandela ukubulala kwiincwadi ezikhethiweyo zesiXhosa
- Authors: Hempe, Zoleka Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DLitt
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30777 , vital:31129
- Description: Olu phando luzondelele ukwenza umqela obonakalayo ekuhliseni inani lokubulawa nokuzibulala kwabantu ngokuthi luphengulule iimpawu ezibonakala phambi nasemva kokuzibandakanye nesi senzo. Olu gocagoco lweempawu luza kumncedisa umphandi aqaphele okuqhubeka engqondweni yombulali. Uphando luza kubuye lucebise okunokwenziwa ngabantu xa luthe lwaziqaphela ezi mpawu. Iimeko ezingqonge ababulali ziza kujongwa ngeliso elibukhali ukuba azinafuthe na kwiimeko ezityhalela ababulali kwizenzo zokukhupha imiphefumlo. Isahluko sokuqala yimbulambethe eyintsika yolu phando nezakuthi inike isikhokelo ngendlela oluza kuhamba ngayo uphando, luxovula uluncwadi kwaneendlela ezahlukileyo zophando eziza kusetyenziswa.Amagama angundoqo aza kusetyenziswa kolu phando aza kucaciswa. Isahluko sesibini simalunga neengcingane oluza kwayama ngazo olu phando. Eyonangcingane inkqenkqeza phambili kolu phando yingcigane yobume bengqondo nazakuthi umphandi ayicacise nzulu ukuze akhangele indlela ebachaphazela ngayo ababulali. Le ngcingane imalunga nendlela ingqondo yomntu echaphazeleka ngayo kokumngqongileyo kwaye ikwanikezela neendlela zokuyinyanga. Lolu lwazi ke umphandi aza kulusebenzisa ukuhlalutya imeko yombulali ngamnye kwiincwadi ezichongelwe uhlalutyo. Akhona namanye amangenelela eengcingane athe acaciswa kwesi sahluko nazakuthi umphandi awaqwabulule kwisahluko sesithathu nesesineindlela ayamana ngawo nezenzo zababulali. Kwisahluko sesithathu umphandi uza kuphengulula iimpawu ezibonakala kubabulali abakwiincwadi ezichongiweyo. Isahluko sesine sona ziza kujonga iindidi neendlela zokubulala kuze kucatshulwe kwiincwadi ezichongiweyo siphinde siqaphele nezizathu ezityhilizela ababulali kwezi zenzo zokukhupha imiphefumlo. Isahluko sesihlanu sona siza kubhenca okufunyaniswe luphando size sinike neengcebiso ezinokwenziwa ukunciphisa inanilabantu abakhupha imiphefumlo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Hempe, Zoleka Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DLitt
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30777 , vital:31129
- Description: Olu phando luzondelele ukwenza umqela obonakalayo ekuhliseni inani lokubulawa nokuzibulala kwabantu ngokuthi luphengulule iimpawu ezibonakala phambi nasemva kokuzibandakanye nesi senzo. Olu gocagoco lweempawu luza kumncedisa umphandi aqaphele okuqhubeka engqondweni yombulali. Uphando luza kubuye lucebise okunokwenziwa ngabantu xa luthe lwaziqaphela ezi mpawu. Iimeko ezingqonge ababulali ziza kujongwa ngeliso elibukhali ukuba azinafuthe na kwiimeko ezityhalela ababulali kwizenzo zokukhupha imiphefumlo. Isahluko sokuqala yimbulambethe eyintsika yolu phando nezakuthi inike isikhokelo ngendlela oluza kuhamba ngayo uphando, luxovula uluncwadi kwaneendlela ezahlukileyo zophando eziza kusetyenziswa.Amagama angundoqo aza kusetyenziswa kolu phando aza kucaciswa. Isahluko sesibini simalunga neengcingane oluza kwayama ngazo olu phando. Eyonangcingane inkqenkqeza phambili kolu phando yingcigane yobume bengqondo nazakuthi umphandi ayicacise nzulu ukuze akhangele indlela ebachaphazela ngayo ababulali. Le ngcingane imalunga nendlela ingqondo yomntu echaphazeleka ngayo kokumngqongileyo kwaye ikwanikezela neendlela zokuyinyanga. Lolu lwazi ke umphandi aza kulusebenzisa ukuhlalutya imeko yombulali ngamnye kwiincwadi ezichongelwe uhlalutyo. Akhona namanye amangenelela eengcingane athe acaciswa kwesi sahluko nazakuthi umphandi awaqwabulule kwisahluko sesithathu nesesineindlela ayamana ngawo nezenzo zababulali. Kwisahluko sesithathu umphandi uza kuphengulula iimpawu ezibonakala kubabulali abakwiincwadi ezichongiweyo. Isahluko sesine sona ziza kujonga iindidi neendlela zokubulala kuze kucatshulwe kwiincwadi ezichongiweyo siphinde siqaphele nezizathu ezityhilizela ababulali kwezi zenzo zokukhupha imiphefumlo. Isahluko sesihlanu sona siza kubhenca okufunyaniswe luphando size sinike neengcebiso ezinokwenziwa ukunciphisa inanilabantu abakhupha imiphefumlo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Using a multi-method approach to understand the movement patterns and the associated environmental correlates of an iconic West African recreational fish
- Authors: Winkler, Alexander Claus
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Carangidae fishing , Carangidae -- Migration , Carangidae -- Namibia , Carangidae -- Angola , Fish tagging , Carangidae -- Benguela Current , Underwater acoustic telemetry , Ocean temperature -- Physiological effect , Fishes -- Effect of temperature on
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76530 , vital:30597
- Description: The leerfish (Lichia amia), is a large, primarily coastal recreational fish species with a distribution extending from Portugal down the west coast of African to southern Mozambique. Owing to its large size (30 kg), strong fighting abilities and habit of taking surface artificial lures, this species has taken on an iconic stature among shore-based recreational anglers. Its reputation has made it an important angling tourism species that makes an important contribution to the economy of developing countries. For example, the species brought US$243 per harvested kilogramme into the local southern Angola economy. Despite its high value, little is known about its movement patterns in the northern Benguela coastal region, a region which includes southern Angola and northern Namibia. While much is known about the migratory patterns of the South African stock of L. amia, recent molecular studies have shown that the northern Benguela stock of L. amia has been isolated from the South African population for at least two million years, a consequence of the development of the cold Lüderitz upwelling cell in southern Namibia. Although the global population of L. amia is considered a single species, prominent biogeographic barriers within its distribution and subtle morphological differences between specimens captured within its tropical versus warm-temperate distribution suggest otherwise. A multi-method approach incorporating passive acoustic telemetry (PAT), recreational catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and conventional tagging (CT) in southern Angola, as well as recreational fisher-ecological knowledge (FEK) from Namibia, was used to investigate the large-scale movement patterns of L. amia within the northern Benguela coastal region. While each method had its own associated limitations, the combination provided a holistic picture of the population's seasonal migratory patterns. Furthermore, PAT successfully identified partial migration with 25% vs 75% of monitored fish exhibiting resident (movements < 100 km) or migratory (movements > 100 km) behaviour, respectively. Further behavioural diversity was observed with ‘resident’, ‘roaming’ and ‘embayment’ contingents identified based on varying levels of affinity to certain habitats. The presence of both resident and migratory individuals within the northernmost study during June and July, combined with available biological information, suggested that area-specific spawning may take place. While PAT, CPUE and CT largely aligned in determining area specific high-area use, results from network analyses and mixed effects models conducted on the PAT data supported the spawning hypothesis, with anomalous behaviour around specific receivers during the spawning season. All fish, regardless of behavioural contingent, displayed similar movement behaviour during the spawning season and this was driven by factors generally associated with reproduction, such as lunar illumination. Interestingly, these drivers were different from those that determined the area specific use of individuals outside of the spawning season. The environmental drivers of longshore migration into the northern study site were identified as a decline in water temperature and shorter day lengths. The results of this study highlight the importance of using a multi-method approach in determining migratory movement behaviour, area specific area use, and stock structure of key fisheries species. The identification of different behavioural contingents highlights the importance of acknowledging individual variation in movement and habitat-use patterns. This is particularly relevant as future climate change and spatiotemporal variation in fishing effort may artificially skew natural selection processes to favour certain behavioural groups. This study also highlighted the importance of scientists forming relationships with resource-users, such as recreational angling lodges in areas where limited research has been conducted. This is particularly relevant within the West African context where little is known about many of the fish species that are being increasingly targeted by tourism angling ventures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Winkler, Alexander Claus
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Carangidae fishing , Carangidae -- Migration , Carangidae -- Namibia , Carangidae -- Angola , Fish tagging , Carangidae -- Benguela Current , Underwater acoustic telemetry , Ocean temperature -- Physiological effect , Fishes -- Effect of temperature on
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76530 , vital:30597
- Description: The leerfish (Lichia amia), is a large, primarily coastal recreational fish species with a distribution extending from Portugal down the west coast of African to southern Mozambique. Owing to its large size (30 kg), strong fighting abilities and habit of taking surface artificial lures, this species has taken on an iconic stature among shore-based recreational anglers. Its reputation has made it an important angling tourism species that makes an important contribution to the economy of developing countries. For example, the species brought US$243 per harvested kilogramme into the local southern Angola economy. Despite its high value, little is known about its movement patterns in the northern Benguela coastal region, a region which includes southern Angola and northern Namibia. While much is known about the migratory patterns of the South African stock of L. amia, recent molecular studies have shown that the northern Benguela stock of L. amia has been isolated from the South African population for at least two million years, a consequence of the development of the cold Lüderitz upwelling cell in southern Namibia. Although the global population of L. amia is considered a single species, prominent biogeographic barriers within its distribution and subtle morphological differences between specimens captured within its tropical versus warm-temperate distribution suggest otherwise. A multi-method approach incorporating passive acoustic telemetry (PAT), recreational catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and conventional tagging (CT) in southern Angola, as well as recreational fisher-ecological knowledge (FEK) from Namibia, was used to investigate the large-scale movement patterns of L. amia within the northern Benguela coastal region. While each method had its own associated limitations, the combination provided a holistic picture of the population's seasonal migratory patterns. Furthermore, PAT successfully identified partial migration with 25% vs 75% of monitored fish exhibiting resident (movements < 100 km) or migratory (movements > 100 km) behaviour, respectively. Further behavioural diversity was observed with ‘resident’, ‘roaming’ and ‘embayment’ contingents identified based on varying levels of affinity to certain habitats. The presence of both resident and migratory individuals within the northernmost study during June and July, combined with available biological information, suggested that area-specific spawning may take place. While PAT, CPUE and CT largely aligned in determining area specific high-area use, results from network analyses and mixed effects models conducted on the PAT data supported the spawning hypothesis, with anomalous behaviour around specific receivers during the spawning season. All fish, regardless of behavioural contingent, displayed similar movement behaviour during the spawning season and this was driven by factors generally associated with reproduction, such as lunar illumination. Interestingly, these drivers were different from those that determined the area specific use of individuals outside of the spawning season. The environmental drivers of longshore migration into the northern study site were identified as a decline in water temperature and shorter day lengths. The results of this study highlight the importance of using a multi-method approach in determining migratory movement behaviour, area specific area use, and stock structure of key fisheries species. The identification of different behavioural contingents highlights the importance of acknowledging individual variation in movement and habitat-use patterns. This is particularly relevant as future climate change and spatiotemporal variation in fishing effort may artificially skew natural selection processes to favour certain behavioural groups. This study also highlighted the importance of scientists forming relationships with resource-users, such as recreational angling lodges in areas where limited research has been conducted. This is particularly relevant within the West African context where little is known about many of the fish species that are being increasingly targeted by tourism angling ventures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Using a social-ecological systems approach to investigate hillslope seep wetlands ecosystem structure and functionality in the Tsitsa River catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Libala, Notiswa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Wetland management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Slopes (Physical geography) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetation management -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Land degradation -- Control -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Grazing -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Wetland plants -- Effect of grazing on
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115936 , vital:34270
- Description: Wetlands are critical ecosystems that can provide services of great social, economic and environmental value to the society. Yet, in South Africa, hillslope seep wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems due to human-induced activities and are disappearing rapidly. Further, despite the potential vulnerability of hillslope seep wetland to disturbances, and their criticality in relation to all year round provision of forage for livestock grazing, they are among the most poorly studied wetland systems. Using a social-ecological system framing, and drawing on a range of ecological and social sciences methods, this study shed light on ways in which an integrative approach can contribute to sustainable utilisation of hillslope seep wetlands in the Tsitsa River catchment in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study specific objectives were to i) evaluate the performance of Floristic Quality Assessment Index (FQAI), WET-Health and Floristic Assessment Quotient for Wetlands Index (FQAWet) indices for assessing hillslope seep wetlands ecological health ii) develop a trait-based approach for assessing the potential resilience and vulnerability of hillslope seep wetland plant species to disturbances, iii) assess the role of hillslope seep wetlands in the local communities in relation to livestock, and explore understanding of local people about the value of hillslope seep wetlands, iv) demonstrate collaborative insights emerging from an integrative social-ecological system research process to inform sustainable management of hillslope seep wetlands. A total of 11 hillslope seep wetlands were visually classified based on the level of erosion. Plant species composition within the wetlands was determined along a 100 m line transects across the hillslope wetland sites. 5 quadrats of 0.2m2 were also placed along transect for vegetation collection and cover. The plant species collected were used to calculate (FQAI) and FQAWet scores to evaluate the condition of hillslope seep wetlands. The degree of human disturbances was assessed using the Anthropogenic Activity Index (AAI), an index for qualitatively assessing the degree of human disturbance based on visual inspection of a wetland site. Factors represented in the AAI, include: (i) surrounding land use intensity; (ii) soil disturbance; (iii) hydrological alteration; (iv) habitat alteration within wetland; (v) vegetation community quality. The vegetation samples were collected in summer 2016 and winter 2017. All assessed indices were regressed against AAI to evaluate their performances. All assessed indices FQAI, FQAWet and WET-Health showed that hillslope seep wetland were impacted by human activities. FQAIall and WET-Health showed the strongest response to AAI in winter, while FQAIdom and FAQWet showed a weak response to AAI in all seasons. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that FQAIall and WET-Health are potentially better tools for assessing the biological conditions of hillslope seep wetland in South Africa. A novel trait-based approach was developed using seven plant traits and 27 trait attributes. Based on the developed approach, plant species were grouped into three potentially vulnerable groups in relation to grazing pressure. It was then predicted that species belonging to the highly vulnerable group would be less dominant at the highly disturbed sites, as well as in the winter season when grazing pressure is at its highest. The result corresponds largely with the seasonal predictions; however this was not the case for sites. The approach developed in this study worked and it was useful for predicting the potential responses of plant species in hillslope seep wetlands to grazing pressure. The success of the approach seasonally could be attributed to the careful selection of the traits, reflecting the mechanistic relationship between the grazing mode of stress on vegetation and trait-mediated biotic response. However, this still need to be refined using accurate vegetation cover methods that might have had impact on the lack of correspondence within sites. The results of the present study revealed that communities largely perceive hillslope seep wetlands as important ecosystems for their livelihoods. They recognise that the importance stems from services provided by the wetlands, particularly for livestock grazing during the dry season. Although hillslope seep wetlands are viewed as important ecosystems for livelihoods, the communities also perceive these wetlands as highly eroded ecosystems. Community members indicate willingness to strengthen local natural resource governance systems, which could lead to better management of hillslope seep wetlands. A range of protective strategies for hillslope seep were suggested by community members, including fencing, active herding and rotational grazing. The study suggests that active involvement of local communities is critical to the successful management of natural resources. The study highlights the need to consider the role of local people as influential components within social-ecological systems in order to promote effective management and conservation interventions of hillslope seep wetlands. Overall, the study highlights the criticality of an integrative social-ecological system approach for holistic management of hillslope seep wetlands within the studied catchment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Libala, Notiswa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Wetland management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wetland conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Slopes (Physical geography) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetation management -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Land degradation -- Control -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Grazing -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River Catchment , Wetland plants -- Effect of grazing on
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115936 , vital:34270
- Description: Wetlands are critical ecosystems that can provide services of great social, economic and environmental value to the society. Yet, in South Africa, hillslope seep wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems due to human-induced activities and are disappearing rapidly. Further, despite the potential vulnerability of hillslope seep wetland to disturbances, and their criticality in relation to all year round provision of forage for livestock grazing, they are among the most poorly studied wetland systems. Using a social-ecological system framing, and drawing on a range of ecological and social sciences methods, this study shed light on ways in which an integrative approach can contribute to sustainable utilisation of hillslope seep wetlands in the Tsitsa River catchment in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study specific objectives were to i) evaluate the performance of Floristic Quality Assessment Index (FQAI), WET-Health and Floristic Assessment Quotient for Wetlands Index (FQAWet) indices for assessing hillslope seep wetlands ecological health ii) develop a trait-based approach for assessing the potential resilience and vulnerability of hillslope seep wetland plant species to disturbances, iii) assess the role of hillslope seep wetlands in the local communities in relation to livestock, and explore understanding of local people about the value of hillslope seep wetlands, iv) demonstrate collaborative insights emerging from an integrative social-ecological system research process to inform sustainable management of hillslope seep wetlands. A total of 11 hillslope seep wetlands were visually classified based on the level of erosion. Plant species composition within the wetlands was determined along a 100 m line transects across the hillslope wetland sites. 5 quadrats of 0.2m2 were also placed along transect for vegetation collection and cover. The plant species collected were used to calculate (FQAI) and FQAWet scores to evaluate the condition of hillslope seep wetlands. The degree of human disturbances was assessed using the Anthropogenic Activity Index (AAI), an index for qualitatively assessing the degree of human disturbance based on visual inspection of a wetland site. Factors represented in the AAI, include: (i) surrounding land use intensity; (ii) soil disturbance; (iii) hydrological alteration; (iv) habitat alteration within wetland; (v) vegetation community quality. The vegetation samples were collected in summer 2016 and winter 2017. All assessed indices were regressed against AAI to evaluate their performances. All assessed indices FQAI, FQAWet and WET-Health showed that hillslope seep wetland were impacted by human activities. FQAIall and WET-Health showed the strongest response to AAI in winter, while FQAIdom and FAQWet showed a weak response to AAI in all seasons. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that FQAIall and WET-Health are potentially better tools for assessing the biological conditions of hillslope seep wetland in South Africa. A novel trait-based approach was developed using seven plant traits and 27 trait attributes. Based on the developed approach, plant species were grouped into three potentially vulnerable groups in relation to grazing pressure. It was then predicted that species belonging to the highly vulnerable group would be less dominant at the highly disturbed sites, as well as in the winter season when grazing pressure is at its highest. The result corresponds largely with the seasonal predictions; however this was not the case for sites. The approach developed in this study worked and it was useful for predicting the potential responses of plant species in hillslope seep wetlands to grazing pressure. The success of the approach seasonally could be attributed to the careful selection of the traits, reflecting the mechanistic relationship between the grazing mode of stress on vegetation and trait-mediated biotic response. However, this still need to be refined using accurate vegetation cover methods that might have had impact on the lack of correspondence within sites. The results of the present study revealed that communities largely perceive hillslope seep wetlands as important ecosystems for their livelihoods. They recognise that the importance stems from services provided by the wetlands, particularly for livestock grazing during the dry season. Although hillslope seep wetlands are viewed as important ecosystems for livelihoods, the communities also perceive these wetlands as highly eroded ecosystems. Community members indicate willingness to strengthen local natural resource governance systems, which could lead to better management of hillslope seep wetlands. A range of protective strategies for hillslope seep were suggested by community members, including fencing, active herding and rotational grazing. The study suggests that active involvement of local communities is critical to the successful management of natural resources. The study highlights the need to consider the role of local people as influential components within social-ecological systems in order to promote effective management and conservation interventions of hillslope seep wetlands. Overall, the study highlights the criticality of an integrative social-ecological system approach for holistic management of hillslope seep wetlands within the studied catchment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Vernacular radio and peace building in Kenya: a study of popular vernacular radio stations in three conflict-prone regions
- Authors: Kijana, Eunice Abuya
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Radio journalism -- Kenya , Radio broadcasting -- Kenya Documentary radio programs Peace-building -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42251 , vital:36639
- Description: In Kenya, just like in most African countries, ethnicity-related conflicts are a common phenomenon. Often times, the media, especially vernacular radio has been accused of incitement to violence as was in the case of 1994 Rwanda genocide and the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya. As a result, numerous studies have focused on the role that the media, especially vernacular radio plays in perpetuating ethnic conflict, while very little has been done to establish its role in peace building. Therefore, this study was informed by the assumption that the media is a double edged sword; while it can fuel tension and lead to conflict, it can also contribute to peace between conflicting parties. It therefore sought to establish the role that vernacular radio play in peace building in Kenya. The literature reviewed showed that vernacular radio has the potential to promote peace in society. The study was therefore guided by the social responsibility theory which underpins the necessity for the media/ journalist to keep society’s interest as a top priority. This means that the society expects journalists to be accountable, liable and responsible in carrying out their duties. This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Using a case study of popular vernacular radio stations in three conflict prone regions in Kenya, the researcher employed content analysis, questionnaires and interviews as tools for data collection. The results indicate that the stations have put in place specific policies aimed at ensuring impartiality in reporting and that journalists adhere to them in their work. The stations also work in partnership with other peace practitioners by developing programs that are aimed at promoting peace within and between communities. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the stations’ journalists largely understand and comply with the sections of the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya which addresses the need for responsible conflict reporting. Based on these findings, the study therefore concludes that vernacular radio stations working in conflict prone regions in Kenya play a positive role in peace building. However, the study recommends more specialized trainings for journalists in order for these stations to be more effective in this role of peace building.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Kijana, Eunice Abuya
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Radio journalism -- Kenya , Radio broadcasting -- Kenya Documentary radio programs Peace-building -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42251 , vital:36639
- Description: In Kenya, just like in most African countries, ethnicity-related conflicts are a common phenomenon. Often times, the media, especially vernacular radio has been accused of incitement to violence as was in the case of 1994 Rwanda genocide and the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya. As a result, numerous studies have focused on the role that the media, especially vernacular radio plays in perpetuating ethnic conflict, while very little has been done to establish its role in peace building. Therefore, this study was informed by the assumption that the media is a double edged sword; while it can fuel tension and lead to conflict, it can also contribute to peace between conflicting parties. It therefore sought to establish the role that vernacular radio play in peace building in Kenya. The literature reviewed showed that vernacular radio has the potential to promote peace in society. The study was therefore guided by the social responsibility theory which underpins the necessity for the media/ journalist to keep society’s interest as a top priority. This means that the society expects journalists to be accountable, liable and responsible in carrying out their duties. This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Using a case study of popular vernacular radio stations in three conflict prone regions in Kenya, the researcher employed content analysis, questionnaires and interviews as tools for data collection. The results indicate that the stations have put in place specific policies aimed at ensuring impartiality in reporting and that journalists adhere to them in their work. The stations also work in partnership with other peace practitioners by developing programs that are aimed at promoting peace within and between communities. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the stations’ journalists largely understand and comply with the sections of the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya which addresses the need for responsible conflict reporting. Based on these findings, the study therefore concludes that vernacular radio stations working in conflict prone regions in Kenya play a positive role in peace building. However, the study recommends more specialized trainings for journalists in order for these stations to be more effective in this role of peace building.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Visual art education narratives in context: contribution by offenders in one correctional facility in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Potelwa, Siphe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Adult learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16665 , vital:40741
- Description: This study sought a solution to close the gap of visual art education narratives under recognition and not taken into consideration in correctional facilities. The researcher’s original contribution to knowledge was to provide the theoretical framework as the lens of this study. This research questions the universal objective of how visual art education narratives contribute to the context of the offender’s voice of selfexpression, self-worth, personal identity and human right in a democratic South African as citizens of society. The aim and objectives were to determine if transformation is evidenced through visual art education and ascertain personal identity as a human right and self-worth for an offender. This study was a qualitative research in which perceptions of offenders in visual art education programmes are investigated in-depth regarding the programmes addressing rehabilitation, selfexpression, self-fulfilment and personal development. Eight respondents participated in this study voluntarily. The selection of respondents in this study was through purposeful sampling. Individual interviews, focus group interviews, observation, document review, open-ended interviews, and website data of correctional services were conducted to collect data. The target participants for this qualitative study were permanent employees of Department of Correctional Services and offenders found guilty of murder and sexual abuse against women and children enrolled in a programme of art education. This study found no anticipated risks to voluntary participation in this research, and the study was free from psychological harm. The study contributed and found adult learners bringing their experience and knowledge into creative artwork skills as voice of self-expression, self-worth and rehabilitation. Analysis of data and interpretation of findings revealed the results that visual art education narratives programme brought self-worth, self-expression, selfdevelopment, self-fulfilment, discipline, prevents conflict, boredom and offender recidivism. This study conclusion stressed, an approach to the solution of the adult learning visual art education in correctional centre were problems identified. It is recommended that the correctional facility, interactive relationships with other departments, and commitment should be implemented without delay
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Potelwa, Siphe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Adult learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16665 , vital:40741
- Description: This study sought a solution to close the gap of visual art education narratives under recognition and not taken into consideration in correctional facilities. The researcher’s original contribution to knowledge was to provide the theoretical framework as the lens of this study. This research questions the universal objective of how visual art education narratives contribute to the context of the offender’s voice of selfexpression, self-worth, personal identity and human right in a democratic South African as citizens of society. The aim and objectives were to determine if transformation is evidenced through visual art education and ascertain personal identity as a human right and self-worth for an offender. This study was a qualitative research in which perceptions of offenders in visual art education programmes are investigated in-depth regarding the programmes addressing rehabilitation, selfexpression, self-fulfilment and personal development. Eight respondents participated in this study voluntarily. The selection of respondents in this study was through purposeful sampling. Individual interviews, focus group interviews, observation, document review, open-ended interviews, and website data of correctional services were conducted to collect data. The target participants for this qualitative study were permanent employees of Department of Correctional Services and offenders found guilty of murder and sexual abuse against women and children enrolled in a programme of art education. This study found no anticipated risks to voluntary participation in this research, and the study was free from psychological harm. The study contributed and found adult learners bringing their experience and knowledge into creative artwork skills as voice of self-expression, self-worth and rehabilitation. Analysis of data and interpretation of findings revealed the results that visual art education narratives programme brought self-worth, self-expression, selfdevelopment, self-fulfilment, discipline, prevents conflict, boredom and offender recidivism. This study conclusion stressed, an approach to the solution of the adult learning visual art education in correctional centre were problems identified. It is recommended that the correctional facility, interactive relationships with other departments, and commitment should be implemented without delay
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Water utility efficiency and stated choice responses: status quo effects, effects of presentation format and response time
- Authors: Murwirapachena, Genius
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water utilities -- Finance , Waterworks -- Finance Waterworks -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41741 , vital:36577
- Description: Water regulators and policymakers around the world are increasingly influencing water systems towards efficiency and sustainable consumption. In pursuit of these, most regulators mainly use traditional economic-analysis methods to benchmark water utilities and elicit water-service preferences. There have been discussions of several other techniques that extend the commonly used traditional economic analysis tools in the literature. Regardless of these discussions, the practical application of new economic analysis tools in the water sector remains relatively low. This study intends to extend the existing literature by providing more robust methods that could be useful to water regulators. The study asks four research questions to shed light on whether more robust methods are the way forward in water regulation. More precisely, the study investigates the consistency of efficiency scores obtained from the data envelopment analysis (DEA), stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and stochastic non-parametric envelopment of data (StoNED) techniques on a sample of South African water utilities. Additionally, the study examines the impact of status quo bias, presentation format and response time on results from discrete choice experiments conducted using a case of the South African water sector. The study reports four main findings. First, we find that the StoNED method (based on the methods of moments estimator) outperformed both SFA and DEA. However, SFA outperformed StoNED, when the latter was based on the pseudolikelihood estimator. Second, we find that including a partially relevant status quo reduced status quo bias but did not significantly affect empirical estimates. Major differences are noted in the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) estimates reported for one of the sub-samples. Third, we find that presenting attributes and levels using the visuals format generated more statistically significant coefficients than presenting them as text or text-and-visuals. Generally, we find that the presentation format significantly affects choice. Finally, we find that removing fast or slow responses from the sample did not significantly affect both utility function and MWTP results. Based on these findings, the study makes four main recommendations. Firstly, the study argues that StoNED (method of moments estimator) and SFA are more appropriate for estimating efficiency in heterogenous water sectors. The study makes recommendations for future studies that seek to do a methodological cross-checking of the three efficiency analysis techniques in the water sector. Secondly, the study argues that a text-and-visuals experiment improves choice task clarity and yields more robust estimates. Thus, more research on the effects of presentation formats is required in environmental economics so that guidelines on developing valid presentation formats for choice tasks can be established. Finally, the study argues against the exclusion of fast and slow responses from the dataset; and recommends approaches for future studies that investigate the impact of response time on choice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Murwirapachena, Genius
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water utilities -- Finance , Waterworks -- Finance Waterworks -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41741 , vital:36577
- Description: Water regulators and policymakers around the world are increasingly influencing water systems towards efficiency and sustainable consumption. In pursuit of these, most regulators mainly use traditional economic-analysis methods to benchmark water utilities and elicit water-service preferences. There have been discussions of several other techniques that extend the commonly used traditional economic analysis tools in the literature. Regardless of these discussions, the practical application of new economic analysis tools in the water sector remains relatively low. This study intends to extend the existing literature by providing more robust methods that could be useful to water regulators. The study asks four research questions to shed light on whether more robust methods are the way forward in water regulation. More precisely, the study investigates the consistency of efficiency scores obtained from the data envelopment analysis (DEA), stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and stochastic non-parametric envelopment of data (StoNED) techniques on a sample of South African water utilities. Additionally, the study examines the impact of status quo bias, presentation format and response time on results from discrete choice experiments conducted using a case of the South African water sector. The study reports four main findings. First, we find that the StoNED method (based on the methods of moments estimator) outperformed both SFA and DEA. However, SFA outperformed StoNED, when the latter was based on the pseudolikelihood estimator. Second, we find that including a partially relevant status quo reduced status quo bias but did not significantly affect empirical estimates. Major differences are noted in the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) estimates reported for one of the sub-samples. Third, we find that presenting attributes and levels using the visuals format generated more statistically significant coefficients than presenting them as text or text-and-visuals. Generally, we find that the presentation format significantly affects choice. Finally, we find that removing fast or slow responses from the sample did not significantly affect both utility function and MWTP results. Based on these findings, the study makes four main recommendations. Firstly, the study argues that StoNED (method of moments estimator) and SFA are more appropriate for estimating efficiency in heterogenous water sectors. The study makes recommendations for future studies that seek to do a methodological cross-checking of the three efficiency analysis techniques in the water sector. Secondly, the study argues that a text-and-visuals experiment improves choice task clarity and yields more robust estimates. Thus, more research on the effects of presentation formats is required in environmental economics so that guidelines on developing valid presentation formats for choice tasks can be established. Finally, the study argues against the exclusion of fast and slow responses from the dataset; and recommends approaches for future studies that investigate the impact of response time on choice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Women teachers leading change against intimate partner violence at a state university in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Matope, Nogget
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women teachers -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination in education -- Zimbabwe Women college students -- Crimes against -- Zimbabwe Campus violence -- Zimbabwe Rape in universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41021 , vital:36283
- Description: This study responded to the following research question: How can participatory and visual methodology enable women teachers to lead change against intimate partner violence at a state university in Zimbabwe? The study was qualitative and informed by the critical paradigm and employed visual participatory research methodology (PVM). The participants in this study were six women teachers from a state university who were selected by means of snowballing. The visual methods of data generation that were employed were memory accounts, drawings, participatory videos and focus group discussions. Memory accounts expressed the participants’ experiences and understanding of IPV as they made meaning of their lived realities. Data generated from the drawings depicted the participants’ positioning and the way in which they were positioned in intimate relationships. The participatory video was used to express the participants’ understanding of IPV and the critical steps that can be taken to address the issue. The findings indicated that the participants understand IPV as a complex issue and they can engage in and explore issues that affect them. The participants’ voices can initiate change by breaking down barriers as they address the issue. The participants also indicated that students’ voices should be heard in the drafting of policies to include issues that affect them directly. The findings suggest that engagement with women, listening to one another, being listened to and working collaboratively to offer solutions to problems as agents of change, empowers the women. The findings have implications for the university community in that they show that the women teachers are actors who are aware of IPV and can participate and inform intervention programs. The participants can lead change through their work as educators as they continue to share with the community. This could enhance knowledge co-production. I conclude by arguing that using PVM provided a safe space for the women to talk about their lived realities of IPV with a wider audience and propose solutions to a phenomenon that has always been taboo; thus leading change towards an IPV free society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Matope, Nogget
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women teachers -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination in education -- Zimbabwe Women college students -- Crimes against -- Zimbabwe Campus violence -- Zimbabwe Rape in universities and colleges -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41021 , vital:36283
- Description: This study responded to the following research question: How can participatory and visual methodology enable women teachers to lead change against intimate partner violence at a state university in Zimbabwe? The study was qualitative and informed by the critical paradigm and employed visual participatory research methodology (PVM). The participants in this study were six women teachers from a state university who were selected by means of snowballing. The visual methods of data generation that were employed were memory accounts, drawings, participatory videos and focus group discussions. Memory accounts expressed the participants’ experiences and understanding of IPV as they made meaning of their lived realities. Data generated from the drawings depicted the participants’ positioning and the way in which they were positioned in intimate relationships. The participatory video was used to express the participants’ understanding of IPV and the critical steps that can be taken to address the issue. The findings indicated that the participants understand IPV as a complex issue and they can engage in and explore issues that affect them. The participants’ voices can initiate change by breaking down barriers as they address the issue. The participants also indicated that students’ voices should be heard in the drafting of policies to include issues that affect them directly. The findings suggest that engagement with women, listening to one another, being listened to and working collaboratively to offer solutions to problems as agents of change, empowers the women. The findings have implications for the university community in that they show that the women teachers are actors who are aware of IPV and can participate and inform intervention programs. The participants can lead change through their work as educators as they continue to share with the community. This could enhance knowledge co-production. I conclude by arguing that using PVM provided a safe space for the women to talk about their lived realities of IPV with a wider audience and propose solutions to a phenomenon that has always been taboo; thus leading change towards an IPV free society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine is a developmental neurotoxin
- Authors: Scott, Laura Louise
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Neurotoxic agents , Nervous system -- Diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43633 , vital:36949
- Description: β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been implicated in the development of the neurodegenerative diseases Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex (ALS/PDC), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), but to date no animal model has adequately substantiated this link at environmentally relevant or even exaggerated BMAA exposure levels. The resulting controversy over a possible role for BMAA in neurodegenerative diseases was further hampered by a lack of evidence for mechanistic explanation for the disease pathology associated with these diseases However, the different responses to BMAA that have been observed in neonatal compared to adult rats, together with the findings of epidemiological studies that exposure to environmental factors in utero or in the early stages of life may be important for the development of ALS several years later, suggested that age of exposure might be the determining factor of BMAA neurotoxicity. This study therefore specifically addresses the developmental nature of BMAA as a neurotoxin, and investigates the pathology and progressive nature of that pathology after exposure to the toxin at the most susceptible age. This study demonstrated the importance of BMAA exposure age over total BMAA dose by showing that the administration of a single neonatal dose of BMAA to rodents on postnatal day (PND) 3, 4 and 5, and not prenatally or on PND 6, 7 and 10, caused behavioural, locomotor, emotional and long-term cognitive deficits, clinical symptoms of neurodegeneration as well as pathological hallmarks of AD, PD and ALS in the central nervous system. Furthermore, the observed behavioural deficits and distribution of neuronal loss and proteinopathies in the rodent central nervous system following exposure to BMAA on PND 3, 4 and 5 (corresponding to the developing age of an infant during the third trimester of pregnancy) is consistent with that typically associated with the disruption of normal dopamine and/or serotonin signaling in the brain and the consequent alteration in normal hippocampal and striatal neurogenesis that is modulated, in part, by dopamine. The pattern of spread and rate of propagation of pathology in this neonatal rat BMAA model provided further evidence that BMAA potentially exerts its effect by acting on neurotransmitter signaling. The observed late onset of typical ALS symptoms and pathology suggest that in this BMAA model AD and/or PD related symptoms develop first, followed by the start of ALS symptoms only after the AD and/or PD neuropathological deficits have severely progressed. This study also demonstrated that BMAA exposure at different doses and at different developmental ages resulted in the development of different combinations of either AD and/or PD and/or ALS pathology and/or symptoms in rats, and it is therefore feasible that in humans the age and/or frequency of exposure as well as the BMAA dose might similarly be a major determinant of the variant of AD, PD and/or ALS that might develop in adulthood. Based on the low BMAA dose that was able to cause AD and/or PD-like neuropathological abnormalities in rats in this study, it is feasible that a pregnant human could over the course of her pregnancy, and specifically during the third trimester of pregnancy, consume sufficient BMAA to result in her unborn child developing AD and/or PD and/or ALS up to 30-50 years later. This neonatal BMAA model is the only non-transgenic rodent model that reproduces the behavioural deficits, neuropathology and clinical symptoms that are typically associated with AD, PD and ALS in humans and that, more importantly, mimics the delayed onset of disease symptoms and typical slow progression of these neurodegenerative diseases with age. It now seems very likely that BMAA is a developmental neurotoxin that, as a result of perinatal, but probably prenatal exposure, causes or contributes significantly to the development of neurodegenerative diseases in humans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Scott, Laura Louise
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Neurotoxic agents , Nervous system -- Diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43633 , vital:36949
- Description: β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been implicated in the development of the neurodegenerative diseases Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex (ALS/PDC), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), but to date no animal model has adequately substantiated this link at environmentally relevant or even exaggerated BMAA exposure levels. The resulting controversy over a possible role for BMAA in neurodegenerative diseases was further hampered by a lack of evidence for mechanistic explanation for the disease pathology associated with these diseases However, the different responses to BMAA that have been observed in neonatal compared to adult rats, together with the findings of epidemiological studies that exposure to environmental factors in utero or in the early stages of life may be important for the development of ALS several years later, suggested that age of exposure might be the determining factor of BMAA neurotoxicity. This study therefore specifically addresses the developmental nature of BMAA as a neurotoxin, and investigates the pathology and progressive nature of that pathology after exposure to the toxin at the most susceptible age. This study demonstrated the importance of BMAA exposure age over total BMAA dose by showing that the administration of a single neonatal dose of BMAA to rodents on postnatal day (PND) 3, 4 and 5, and not prenatally or on PND 6, 7 and 10, caused behavioural, locomotor, emotional and long-term cognitive deficits, clinical symptoms of neurodegeneration as well as pathological hallmarks of AD, PD and ALS in the central nervous system. Furthermore, the observed behavioural deficits and distribution of neuronal loss and proteinopathies in the rodent central nervous system following exposure to BMAA on PND 3, 4 and 5 (corresponding to the developing age of an infant during the third trimester of pregnancy) is consistent with that typically associated with the disruption of normal dopamine and/or serotonin signaling in the brain and the consequent alteration in normal hippocampal and striatal neurogenesis that is modulated, in part, by dopamine. The pattern of spread and rate of propagation of pathology in this neonatal rat BMAA model provided further evidence that BMAA potentially exerts its effect by acting on neurotransmitter signaling. The observed late onset of typical ALS symptoms and pathology suggest that in this BMAA model AD and/or PD related symptoms develop first, followed by the start of ALS symptoms only after the AD and/or PD neuropathological deficits have severely progressed. This study also demonstrated that BMAA exposure at different doses and at different developmental ages resulted in the development of different combinations of either AD and/or PD and/or ALS pathology and/or symptoms in rats, and it is therefore feasible that in humans the age and/or frequency of exposure as well as the BMAA dose might similarly be a major determinant of the variant of AD, PD and/or ALS that might develop in adulthood. Based on the low BMAA dose that was able to cause AD and/or PD-like neuropathological abnormalities in rats in this study, it is feasible that a pregnant human could over the course of her pregnancy, and specifically during the third trimester of pregnancy, consume sufficient BMAA to result in her unborn child developing AD and/or PD and/or ALS up to 30-50 years later. This neonatal BMAA model is the only non-transgenic rodent model that reproduces the behavioural deficits, neuropathology and clinical symptoms that are typically associated with AD, PD and ALS in humans and that, more importantly, mimics the delayed onset of disease symptoms and typical slow progression of these neurodegenerative diseases with age. It now seems very likely that BMAA is a developmental neurotoxin that, as a result of perinatal, but probably prenatal exposure, causes or contributes significantly to the development of neurodegenerative diseases in humans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
“Administration of socio-economic aspects of mine closure” a case study of Exxaro Tshikondeni coal mine in Limpopo Province: South Africa
- Authors: kone, Lufuno Reginald
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD ( Public Administration)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13512 , vital:39675
- Description: Limpopo province is host to twenty-six different kinds of minerals and its coalfields have more than 76% of the remaining coal resources in South Africa. This study provided an investigation of the administration and management of the socioeconomic aspects of mine closure at Tshikondeni in Limpopo Province South Africa. A mixed method research or triangulation design was used in this study. Data was collected from former Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine employees, stakeholders, administrators and mine managers. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used as data collection tools in this study. Data was analysed statistically by offering a descriptive analysis of the statistics gathered in this study. In this study, a Mine Closure Model (MCM) based on project management principles, including risk management and concurrent engineering was proposed to manage the closure process thereby assisting the responsible authorities with the evaluation of mine closures and rehabilitation objectives that can be achieved in closure. In this study, it was found out that the future of the mining industry is dependent on the legacy which it leaves (in as far as Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine is concerned), and industry reputation is grossly affected when mines are closed or abandoned without proper rehabilitation having been done. Usually this will lead to long term detrimental environmental impacts. In addressing the abnormalities and negative impacts of mine closure, the mining industry today in South Africa recognises that to gain access to future resources it needs to demonstrate that it can effectively control and manage the closure of mines with the support of the communities within which it operates. The data obtained in this study is deemed to be of utmost significance to the Department of Minerals, Mutale Local Municipality (MLM) in resolving the complexities in how to improve the livelihoods of people in former mining communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: kone, Lufuno Reginald
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD ( Public Administration)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13512 , vital:39675
- Description: Limpopo province is host to twenty-six different kinds of minerals and its coalfields have more than 76% of the remaining coal resources in South Africa. This study provided an investigation of the administration and management of the socioeconomic aspects of mine closure at Tshikondeni in Limpopo Province South Africa. A mixed method research or triangulation design was used in this study. Data was collected from former Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine employees, stakeholders, administrators and mine managers. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used as data collection tools in this study. Data was analysed statistically by offering a descriptive analysis of the statistics gathered in this study. In this study, a Mine Closure Model (MCM) based on project management principles, including risk management and concurrent engineering was proposed to manage the closure process thereby assisting the responsible authorities with the evaluation of mine closures and rehabilitation objectives that can be achieved in closure. In this study, it was found out that the future of the mining industry is dependent on the legacy which it leaves (in as far as Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine is concerned), and industry reputation is grossly affected when mines are closed or abandoned without proper rehabilitation having been done. Usually this will lead to long term detrimental environmental impacts. In addressing the abnormalities and negative impacts of mine closure, the mining industry today in South Africa recognises that to gain access to future resources it needs to demonstrate that it can effectively control and manage the closure of mines with the support of the communities within which it operates. The data obtained in this study is deemed to be of utmost significance to the Department of Minerals, Mutale Local Municipality (MLM) in resolving the complexities in how to improve the livelihoods of people in former mining communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
“Culture” as an Agent of Societal Regeneration: A Study of Selected Dramatic Literature by Soyinka, Osofisan and Rotimi
- Authors: Megbowon, Funmilola Kemi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Literature English drama
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15826 , vital:40530
- Description: Contemporary Yoruba society is laden with the burden of diverse societal misconducts and perversions which are seen to be entrenched in the fabric of the individuals’ daily lives and the society. These misconducts have alarming patterns and worrisome future implications. In this study, it is argued that while all-round forward progress is essential in a society, a simultaneous disconnect with some conventional and traditional element stimulates these aforementioned delinquencies. This therefore calls for societal regeneration of the contemporary Yoruba society in view of achieving a sustainable future. The study further argued that societal regeneration could only be achieved by looking backward into some indigenous cultural elements that made the traditional society a relatively non-perverted society. This argument is presented by examining contemporary dramatic works by Nigerian playwrights whose writings are done in the light of the past. Their works are imperatives because literature is viewed as one of the means of preserving and educating the society of their history, culture and beliefs, and also mirroring the present and projecting into the future. Specifically, the objectives of this study are: 1) To evaluate the levels of cultural and moral values in contemporary Yoruba Society; 2) To examine the key moral and cultural paradigms of the traditional Yoruba tribe of Nigeria; 3) To examine the position of the writers as vanguard of moral and cultural values in contemporary and future Nigerian Society; 4) To examine challenges that arise against their efforts to resuscitate traditional morals and culture among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. These objectives were achieved using textual and interpretative analytical procedures in the texts written by Soyinka, Osofisan and Rotimi. These texts which includeThe Swamp Dwellers, Death and the King’s Horseman, The Trials of Brother vi Jero, The Women of Owu, Kurunmi and The Gods are not to Blame, are all examined within the context of postcolonial theory. The historical endowment of examined playwrights motivated their desire to assert their cultural identity and to preserve their traditional values. The playwrights reflect common concern of the need to appreciate and where necessary to retain traditional cultural values as well as the need to rid society of those traditions that hinder human and society's growth. Each author approaches these concerns from a cultural perspective, they emphasise the rationality and need of establishing their national identity, thereby stressing the importance of traditional values in the process. In a society like the Yoruba where each segment has been affected by extended agents of colonisation, the hope of restoration also lies in the hand of the playwrights who have constantly emphasised through their writings the role of the essentials of Yoruba culture in societal development. The examination of the key moral and cultural paradigms of the traditional Yoruba people of Nigeria, which is objective two of this thesis, is presented within the context of each of the six selected texts. They are discussed in Chapters three to five of the study with respect to each of the authors of the play and the identified relevant sociocultural issues. From the examined literary texts, it is seen that the traditional Yoruba moral and cultural paradigms are distinctive and diverse. Some of these key paradigms represented in the texts include religious practices, language, clothing, respect for elders, chastity before marriage, marriage, justice, marital fidelity, hard work, and leadership accountability. All these key paradigms centre on interpersonal relationships and communal interaction together with the irreplaceable position of the vii gods which are observed to have been imperative in the workings of the traditional Yoruba society, making it a less perverse one. In Chapter six, inferences on the inferred pivotal position of playwright as vanguard of indigenous culture and the conflicts that arise against playwrights’ efforts to resuscitate a moral culture in the Yoruba society of Nigeria which are the objectives three and four of the study are explored. It is identified in the chapter that the battle for lost identity and cultural values is being fought on numerous fronts. Some of the key issues identified as confronting and silencing playwrights’ influences in the society include evolving diversities in ideologies, education, technology, the entertainment industry, and urbanisation. This study recommends the necessity of looking into the economic, social, and cultural development of the Yoruba people in the process of cultural recovery via dramatic literary writings and presentations. The playwrights should use their knowledge to spur the people into action, and foster through his writings the hope of a better future. The playwrights are not only responsible to their national culture, but to the nation as a whole, whose culture is, after all, but one aspect. This is also believed to be relevant in the fight against several social anomalies in the African community, thereby aiding the continent’s development
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Megbowon, Funmilola Kemi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Literature English drama
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15826 , vital:40530
- Description: Contemporary Yoruba society is laden with the burden of diverse societal misconducts and perversions which are seen to be entrenched in the fabric of the individuals’ daily lives and the society. These misconducts have alarming patterns and worrisome future implications. In this study, it is argued that while all-round forward progress is essential in a society, a simultaneous disconnect with some conventional and traditional element stimulates these aforementioned delinquencies. This therefore calls for societal regeneration of the contemporary Yoruba society in view of achieving a sustainable future. The study further argued that societal regeneration could only be achieved by looking backward into some indigenous cultural elements that made the traditional society a relatively non-perverted society. This argument is presented by examining contemporary dramatic works by Nigerian playwrights whose writings are done in the light of the past. Their works are imperatives because literature is viewed as one of the means of preserving and educating the society of their history, culture and beliefs, and also mirroring the present and projecting into the future. Specifically, the objectives of this study are: 1) To evaluate the levels of cultural and moral values in contemporary Yoruba Society; 2) To examine the key moral and cultural paradigms of the traditional Yoruba tribe of Nigeria; 3) To examine the position of the writers as vanguard of moral and cultural values in contemporary and future Nigerian Society; 4) To examine challenges that arise against their efforts to resuscitate traditional morals and culture among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. These objectives were achieved using textual and interpretative analytical procedures in the texts written by Soyinka, Osofisan and Rotimi. These texts which includeThe Swamp Dwellers, Death and the King’s Horseman, The Trials of Brother vi Jero, The Women of Owu, Kurunmi and The Gods are not to Blame, are all examined within the context of postcolonial theory. The historical endowment of examined playwrights motivated their desire to assert their cultural identity and to preserve their traditional values. The playwrights reflect common concern of the need to appreciate and where necessary to retain traditional cultural values as well as the need to rid society of those traditions that hinder human and society's growth. Each author approaches these concerns from a cultural perspective, they emphasise the rationality and need of establishing their national identity, thereby stressing the importance of traditional values in the process. In a society like the Yoruba where each segment has been affected by extended agents of colonisation, the hope of restoration also lies in the hand of the playwrights who have constantly emphasised through their writings the role of the essentials of Yoruba culture in societal development. The examination of the key moral and cultural paradigms of the traditional Yoruba people of Nigeria, which is objective two of this thesis, is presented within the context of each of the six selected texts. They are discussed in Chapters three to five of the study with respect to each of the authors of the play and the identified relevant sociocultural issues. From the examined literary texts, it is seen that the traditional Yoruba moral and cultural paradigms are distinctive and diverse. Some of these key paradigms represented in the texts include religious practices, language, clothing, respect for elders, chastity before marriage, marriage, justice, marital fidelity, hard work, and leadership accountability. All these key paradigms centre on interpersonal relationships and communal interaction together with the irreplaceable position of the vii gods which are observed to have been imperative in the workings of the traditional Yoruba society, making it a less perverse one. In Chapter six, inferences on the inferred pivotal position of playwright as vanguard of indigenous culture and the conflicts that arise against playwrights’ efforts to resuscitate a moral culture in the Yoruba society of Nigeria which are the objectives three and four of the study are explored. It is identified in the chapter that the battle for lost identity and cultural values is being fought on numerous fronts. Some of the key issues identified as confronting and silencing playwrights’ influences in the society include evolving diversities in ideologies, education, technology, the entertainment industry, and urbanisation. This study recommends the necessity of looking into the economic, social, and cultural development of the Yoruba people in the process of cultural recovery via dramatic literary writings and presentations. The playwrights should use their knowledge to spur the people into action, and foster through his writings the hope of a better future. The playwrights are not only responsible to their national culture, but to the nation as a whole, whose culture is, after all, but one aspect. This is also believed to be relevant in the fight against several social anomalies in the African community, thereby aiding the continent’s development
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
“Examining mentors’ practices in facilitating career development and providing psychosocial support to trainee teachers during teaching practice: A case study of one teachers’ college in Zimbabwe”
- Authors: Madzore, Rosemary
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mentoring in education Mentoring
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16621 , vital:40737
- Description: This study examined mentors’ practices in facilitating career development and providing psychosocial support to trainee teachers during teaching practice in one teachers’ college in Zimbabwe. The study employed the interpretive paradigm and used the qualitative approach and case study research design. Purposive sampling was used to select 27 participants who were perceived to be rich informants. These participants included 6 mentors, 15 trainee teachers, 5 college lecturers, 2 lecturers from the teaching practice office, 3 senior lecturers in charge and 1 university lecturer who is a link person between the college and the Department of Teacher Education. Data were obtained through face to face interviews, focus groups and document analysis. The study revealed that mentors performed both career development and psychosocial support roles during teaching practice, although the psychosocial roles were not very prominent. The interviewed mentors and trainee teachers also indicated that, although mentors knew how they should perform their duties, they encountered various challenges which hindered the effectiveness of the mentorship programme. The participants from the three schools revealed that mentors employed both good and bad strategies to provide career development and psychosocial support to trainee teachers during teaching practice. There was also evidence that colleges and schools use different mentoring mechanisms in facilitating career development and providing psychosocial support to trainee teachers during teaching practice.The data also revealed that there were challenges encountered in the use of these mentoring mechanisms. The participants also acknowledged that, despite these challenges, there were good practices and benefits of mentorship. However, there were gaps noted in the mentors’ practices in facilitating career development and providing psychosocial support. It emerged that there was lack of qualified school mentors resulting in inadequate provision of career development and psychosocial support. It was also established that financial constraints affected the effectiveness of mentorship. The study found that there were loopholes in mentor selection. Financial constraints also hindered capacity building programmes for mentors. The study established strategies that can be used to improve mentorship. Teachers’ colleges and schools should be adequately resourced to ensure effective mentorship during teaching practice. This could be done through adequate material resources, workshops, updates of schools and college activities supervision, review of mentorship iii programmes, incentives, orientation and induction for mentors. The study also recommended that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development (MoHTESTD), the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), colleges and schools consider a mentorship policy that fuses global and national trends. Resources should also be mobilised by all the stakeholders involved who include the MoHTEST, MoPSE, teacher training colleges and secondary schools, for effective mentorship.The study recommended considering alternative mentorship models with regard to the provision of career development and psychosocial support to trainee teachers from secondary teacher-training colleges in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Madzore, Rosemary
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mentoring in education Mentoring
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16621 , vital:40737
- Description: This study examined mentors’ practices in facilitating career development and providing psychosocial support to trainee teachers during teaching practice in one teachers’ college in Zimbabwe. The study employed the interpretive paradigm and used the qualitative approach and case study research design. Purposive sampling was used to select 27 participants who were perceived to be rich informants. These participants included 6 mentors, 15 trainee teachers, 5 college lecturers, 2 lecturers from the teaching practice office, 3 senior lecturers in charge and 1 university lecturer who is a link person between the college and the Department of Teacher Education. Data were obtained through face to face interviews, focus groups and document analysis. The study revealed that mentors performed both career development and psychosocial support roles during teaching practice, although the psychosocial roles were not very prominent. The interviewed mentors and trainee teachers also indicated that, although mentors knew how they should perform their duties, they encountered various challenges which hindered the effectiveness of the mentorship programme. The participants from the three schools revealed that mentors employed both good and bad strategies to provide career development and psychosocial support to trainee teachers during teaching practice. There was also evidence that colleges and schools use different mentoring mechanisms in facilitating career development and providing psychosocial support to trainee teachers during teaching practice.The data also revealed that there were challenges encountered in the use of these mentoring mechanisms. The participants also acknowledged that, despite these challenges, there were good practices and benefits of mentorship. However, there were gaps noted in the mentors’ practices in facilitating career development and providing psychosocial support. It emerged that there was lack of qualified school mentors resulting in inadequate provision of career development and psychosocial support. It was also established that financial constraints affected the effectiveness of mentorship. The study found that there were loopholes in mentor selection. Financial constraints also hindered capacity building programmes for mentors. The study established strategies that can be used to improve mentorship. Teachers’ colleges and schools should be adequately resourced to ensure effective mentorship during teaching practice. This could be done through adequate material resources, workshops, updates of schools and college activities supervision, review of mentorship iii programmes, incentives, orientation and induction for mentors. The study also recommended that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development (MoHTESTD), the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), colleges and schools consider a mentorship policy that fuses global and national trends. Resources should also be mobilised by all the stakeholders involved who include the MoHTEST, MoPSE, teacher training colleges and secondary schools, for effective mentorship.The study recommended considering alternative mentorship models with regard to the provision of career development and psychosocial support to trainee teachers from secondary teacher-training colleges in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
“It’s something you kind of get used to”: female academics at South African universities narrate their experiences of contrapower harassment
- Authors: Munyuki, Chipo Lidia
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Power (Social sciences) , Sex discrimination in higher education -- South Africa , Women college teachers -- South Africa , Sexual harassment in universities and colleges -- South Africa , Sexual harassment of women -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92875 , vital:30758
- Description: Sexual harassment continues to be a pernicious problem in institutions of higher education globally and findings indicate that women are the main victims. Extant research has focused largely on experiences of sexual harassment on the part of students. Under-researched are the experiences of academics concerning what Benson (1984) terms “contrapower” harassment -- that is, harassment experienced by academics from subordinates such as students. South Africa’s Ministerial Committee on Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Education Institutions reported that there exists a culture of silencing around the prevalence of sexual harassment in higher education institutions in South Africa (Soudien Report 2008:37). The concept of power has been pointed out as central to understanding sexual harassment (Cleveland and Kerst 1993:49). Utilising three main constructs in Michel Foucault’s conception of power, namely the idea that power is ubiquitous and omnipresent in social relations; that power disciplines – creating docile bodies and the internalisation of self-regulation, and finally the idea that power is productive – power produces knowledge, truth and forms of resistance, I interpret the experiences of contrapower harassment in its sexual and non-sexual forms on the part of female academics at various universities in South Africa. Given that there is a paucity of qualitative research documenting experiences of contrapower harassment on the part of female academics, this thesis draws on 13 in-depth qualitative interviews with female academics at various South African universities who have experienced contrapower harassment from their students and subordinates at any point in their teaching careers. Their narrated experiences provide insight into the phenomenon of contrapower harassment. These insights provide a window into how female academics continue to experience themselves as being out of place in post-apartheid institutions that are expected to be accommodating of all.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Munyuki, Chipo Lidia
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Power (Social sciences) , Sex discrimination in higher education -- South Africa , Women college teachers -- South Africa , Sexual harassment in universities and colleges -- South Africa , Sexual harassment of women -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92875 , vital:30758
- Description: Sexual harassment continues to be a pernicious problem in institutions of higher education globally and findings indicate that women are the main victims. Extant research has focused largely on experiences of sexual harassment on the part of students. Under-researched are the experiences of academics concerning what Benson (1984) terms “contrapower” harassment -- that is, harassment experienced by academics from subordinates such as students. South Africa’s Ministerial Committee on Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Education Institutions reported that there exists a culture of silencing around the prevalence of sexual harassment in higher education institutions in South Africa (Soudien Report 2008:37). The concept of power has been pointed out as central to understanding sexual harassment (Cleveland and Kerst 1993:49). Utilising three main constructs in Michel Foucault’s conception of power, namely the idea that power is ubiquitous and omnipresent in social relations; that power disciplines – creating docile bodies and the internalisation of self-regulation, and finally the idea that power is productive – power produces knowledge, truth and forms of resistance, I interpret the experiences of contrapower harassment in its sexual and non-sexual forms on the part of female academics at various universities in South Africa. Given that there is a paucity of qualitative research documenting experiences of contrapower harassment on the part of female academics, this thesis draws on 13 in-depth qualitative interviews with female academics at various South African universities who have experienced contrapower harassment from their students and subordinates at any point in their teaching careers. Their narrated experiences provide insight into the phenomenon of contrapower harassment. These insights provide a window into how female academics continue to experience themselves as being out of place in post-apartheid institutions that are expected to be accommodating of all.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
“Ndingumfana osemncinci, kodwa ndizibonile izinto”
- Authors: Qambela, Gcobani
- Date: 2019
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92236 , vital:30694
- Description: Expected release date-April 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Qambela, Gcobani
- Date: 2019
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92236 , vital:30694
- Description: Expected release date-April 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019