Magister Educationis - MEd / Regional integration is being proposed as a means to development in Southern Africa. As a part of the formal agreements regarding this cooperation, a Protocol on Education in the Southern African Development Community region has been signed. This research set out to compare the higher education systems of two Southern African countries and to examine the extent to which this Protocol has had an impact on national policies and practices. The research sought to investigate this by means of exploring the extent to which the Protocol has provided an institutional frame which is guiding the development of higher education policy in each of the two countries. The findings of the study indicate that the Protocol, rather than providing leadership in the area of education policy, is to a large extent a symbolic document, reflective of norms already existent in national policy in the two countries studied. The analysis found that the Protocol is not strong on the regulative domain, and that this may reflect the general tensions that exist in the region between regionalism and national sovereignty. Although, in general, educational practices in the two countries were found to be in line with Protocol aims, no areas of national policy were found which could be specifically ascribed to the Protocol. On the other hand, the accounts provided of policy development in each of the national contexts illustrate clearly how policy has grown in these two contexts, and how it is connected to broader national goals and previous education achievements. The national logic thus appears to be a far stronger determinant of policy than regionalism aims. The analysis also found that differences in higher education policy between the two contexts were not as great as had been expected, and over time, the systems appear to be becoming, at policy and structural levels, more similar. There is little in the Protocol itself which appears to be driving this increasing isomorphism, although undoubtedly, the processes which the Protocol has set in motion, such as regular meetings of the Education Ministers of the different countries, is acting to diffuse models of appropriateness with regard to education policy. However, it seems more likely, given trends in the global context towards apparent increasing uniformity in higher education policy, that global isomorphic pressures are being exerted directly onto the two countries, and that similarities between their polices can be explained as a result of this. / South Africa

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This study set out to answer how and to what extent the gendered effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are addressed in parliamentary debates in the Southern African regional context. As both the proportion of women in parliament and the level of democracy have been established by previous research as important conditions for women to be able to act for women as a group, four countries with varying combinations of these factors are examined. By conducting both a quantitative and a qualitative text analysis on Hansards from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, the study analyses the extent to which the gendered effects of the pandemic are addressed and how they are addressed respectively. The results reveal that a combination of a high proportion of women in parliament and a high degree of democracy is the most favourable condition for enabling the substantive representation of women. A democracy with a low proportion of women in parliament is shown to be more allowing for the substantive representation of women than an electoral autocracy with a high proportion of women in parliament. Moreover, the qualitative frame analysis sheds light on the different issues which are in focus on the framing of the gendered effects of the pandemic in different parliaments depending on their level of democracy. Particularly, the issue of gender-based violence in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic is found to have reached the political agenda in the democratic cases, whereas MPs in the less democratic parliaments are more likely to feminize their cause by focusing more on traditionally feminine policy issues such as the health effects of women within the context of the pandemic.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an economically devastating picornaviral disease affecting over 40 species of cloven-hoofed animals. The virus occurs as seven immunologically distinct serotypes which are characterized by high levels of intra- and intertypic variation. The three South African Territories (SAT) serotypes 1-3 are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, a region where the epidemiology of the disease is particularly complex due to the presence of six of the seven serotypes, the role of wildlife in virus maintenance and the apparently higher levels of variation in the endemic serotypes. These factors make it imperative to establish methods suited to elucidating the regional epidemiology. One of the integral parts of this process is the genetic characterization of regionally representative viruses in order to assess the variation in the field and to clarify the role of wildlife. Nucleotide sequence data and methods suited to studying the SAT-types are however limited. A first priority was therefore to establish a PCR-based nucleotide sequencing technique targeting the highly immunogenic and phylogenetically informative 1D genome region encoding the VP1 protein. The screening of multiple serotypes and subtypes prevalent on the African continent confirmed that this method was robust and well-suited to molecular epidemiological studies in the southern Africa region. The method was first applied in the characterization of FMD virus recovered from the reproductive tract of free-living African buffalo in the Kruger National Park. Nucleotide sequencing assisted in authentication of the results and indicated that carrier status was likely, but it was not possible to unequivocally demonstrate persistent infection of FMDV. In a separate study, the role of impala antelope (Aepyceros melampus) in the epidemiology of the disease in South Africa was assessed. Genetic characterization of impala and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) viruses collected over an eleven year period confirmed that inter-species transmission occurred on several occasions and that virus can persist in impala populations for more than 12 months. Inter-species transmission and investigation of the possible mechanisms facilitating virus transmission from persistently infected buffalo focussed on the Kruger National Park in South Africa. In order to ensure regional relevance the study was broadened to incorporate buffalo populations throughout southern Africa. Viruses of the three SAT-types recovered from diverse African buffalo populations were therefore characterized. The results reveal that independently evolving viral lineages occur in distinct geographical regions for each of the SAT-types examined and that the levels of intratypic variation are in the order of 52 - 55 % on nucleotide level across the genome region characterized. Given the strict locality-specific grouping of buffalo viruses the likely usefulness of this database for tracing the origin and course of contemporary and historical SAT-type outbreaks was investigated. Molecular epidemiological studies conclusively show that buffalo are indeed the ultimate source of infection for susceptible cloven-hoofed animals occurring in close proximity, that interspecies transmission occurs between cattle and antelope and that trans-boundary transmission of virus remains a threat to disease security in southern African countries. / Thesis (PhD (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Much study regarding the Belhar Confession has been conducted already such as: The Belhar Confession in its historical context Plaatjies-van Huffel (2014), Chronicle of Conference Barman/ Belhar Consultation 18 and 19 October 2004 Hansen (2005), A gift from heaven-the receptions in the Belhar Confession in the period 1982-2000 and its ecumenical significance today Naudè (2003) and On violence, the Belhar Confession and human dignity Koopman (2008) to mention but a few. From preliminary observations and some initial research, it seems that there is still a need to do an indepth study on the liturgical function of the Belhar Confession in Music. The working hypothesis of this study is if the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa URCSA uses Belhar more in the liturgy, especially in singing it will have an impact on the congregations and members. In other words the working hypothesis is that there is a link between liturgy, here specifically hymn singing, and the formation of worshippers. If URCSA is expecting others to adopt this confession it is its responsibility to embrace it during worship in church and to the rest of the society outside church vicinities. The literature survey that will be carried out later in this study confirms this state of affairs and that there is thus indeed a huge research gap in this regard. The researcher did a literature study, conducted semi-structured group interviews, as well as the some empirical research in order to explore the basic research question. / Dissertation (MA Theol)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Practical Theology / MA Theol / Unrestricted

Summaries in English, Southern Sotho and Zulu / The doctrine and practices of ordination in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) were adopted from the Wesleyan Methodist Church in England when the Southern African Conference was constituted in 1882. This replication, together with the influences of colonialism and a Western epistemology, negatively impacted the ministry and mission of the church. In response to the appeals for the decolonisation and Africanisation of the denomination’s practices, aspects relating to both the doctrine and practices of ordination have been adapted from the colonial past to our southern African context. However, many elements remain Western and the food cooking in the African pot lacks the taste of authentic ingredients grown in southern African soil. The study researches whether a decolonised and Africanised model of ordination would be very different from existing understanding and practices and examines the impact that a new model would have on the MCSA. Drawing from literature and interviews with persons in leadership positions in the MCSA, the study determines those aspects of southern African culture and spirituality that would be appropriate to assimilate into the present doctrine and practices. The liturgy of the Service of Ordination forms the basis on which the contributions of southern African culture are applied to the doctrine and practices of ordination. A similar process of evaluation and assimilation follows when applying the data gained from the interviews to the doctrine and practices of ordination in the MCSA. The thesis then concludes by proposing concrete changes to both the doctrinal understanding and practice of ordination in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. / Dithuto le ditlwaelo tsa ho hlomamiswa ha Kereke ya Methodist ya Afrika e Borwa (MCSA) di ile tsa amohelwa ho tswa Kerekeng ya Methodist ya Wesleyan ya Engelane ha Seboka sa Afrika e Borwa se thehwa ka 1882. Ho ikatisa hona, hammoho le ditshusumetso tsa bokolone le theori ya tsebo ya Bophirima, di amme tshebeletso le mosebetsi wa kereke. Ho arabela dillo bakeng sa ho tloswa ha thuto ya bokolone le Ho etsa dintho Seafrika ha ditlwaelo tsa bodumedi, dikarolo tse amanang le thuto le ditlwaelo tsa tlhomamiso ka bobedi di amohetswe ho tswa bokoloneng bo fetileng hofihlela maemong a rona a hona jwale. Leha ho le jwalo, dintho tse ngata di dutse e ntse e le tsa Bophirima, mme dijo tse ntseng di phehwa ka pitseng ya Afrika di haellwa ke tatso ya metswako e lengwang mobung wa Afrika e Borwa. Phuputso e batlisisa hore na mmotlolo o tlositsweng tsebo ya bokolone le o etsang dintho Seafrika wa tlhomamiso o ka fapana le kutlwisiso ya hona jwale le ditlwaelo le tshusumetso eo mmotlolo o motjha o ka bang le ona ho MCSA. Ho tswa ho dingodilweng le dipuisano le batho ba boemong ba boetapele ho MCSA, phuputso e lekanya dikarolo tseo tsa setso sa Afrika e Borwa le bomoya bo ka nepahalang ho utlwisisa ka botlalo thuto le ditlwaelo tsa hona jwale. Borapedi ba Tshebeletso ya Tlhomamiso bo etsa motheo oo ho ona diabo tsa setso sa Afrika e Borwa di sebediswang thutong ya tlhomamiso. Tshebetso e tshwanang ya tlhahlobo le kutlwisiso e phethahetseng dia latela ha ho sebediswa lesedi le fumanweng ho tswa dipuisanong ho thuto le ditlwaelo tsa tlhomamiso ho MCSA. Phuputso e phethela ka ho etsa tlhahiso ya diphetoho tse hlakileng kutlwisisong ya thuto le tlwaelong ya tlhomamiso Kerekeng ya Methodist ya Afrika e Borwa ka bobedi. / Inqubo kanye nezinkambiso zokugcotshwa kwabefundisi eBandleni lamaWeseli, i-Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) kwathathelwa ebandleni i-Wesleyan Methodist Church eNgilandi ngenkathi kusungulwa i-Southern African Conference ngowe-1882. Ukwamukelwa kwenqubo leyo nezinkambiso, kanye nemithelela yenqubo yobukoloniyali, nokugxila kakhulu olwazini lwaseNtshonalanga, kwaba nomthelela omubi impela emsebenzini webandla wokuhambisa nokusabalalisa ivangeli. Njengomzamo wokusabela ezikhalazweni nezicelo zokuthi kushiywe phansi izinkambiso nezinqubo ezihlobene nenqubo yobukoloniyali futhi ebandleni kusetshenziswe izinkambiso ezisungulwe kwizwekazi lase-Afrika futhi ezihambelana kahle naleli zwekazi, sekuguqulwe izingxenye ezithile ezihlobene nenqubo kanye nezinkambiso zokugcotshwa kwabefundisi zisuswa esimweni sazo esedlule ebesihlobene nenqubo yobukoloniyali, futhi esezakhiwe ngendlela ezozwana futhi ihambelane kahle nesimo samanje esiphila kusona. Kodwa-ke, kusekuningi kakhulu okuphathelene nalezi zinkambiso okusagxile kakhulu ezinqubweni zaseNtshonalanga, futhi lokho-ke kubangela ukuthi ‘isitshulu esiphekwe ebhodweni lase-Afrika sizwakale singenakho ukunambitheka kwezithako ezilinywe emhlabathini waseNingizimu ye-Afrika’. Lolu cwaningo luzama ukuthola ukuthi inqubo yokugcoba abefundisi engalandeli izinkambiso zobukoloniyali zamazwe aseNtshonalanga futhi okuyinqubo egxile ezinkambisweni zase-Afrika ingaba nawo yini umehluko omkhulu kulokhu kuqonda okukhona njengamanje kanye nezinkambiso ezilandelwayo esikhathini samanje, futhi luzama ukubheka nomthelela ebingaba nawo inqubo entsha ebandleni i-MCSA. Ngokususela emibhalweni efundiwe kanye nezingxoxo ezibanjwe nabantu abasezikhundleni zobuholi ebandleni i-MCSA, ucwaningo luhlonza lezo zingxenye zosiko-mpilo kanye nezinkolelo ezingokomoya zaseNingizimu ye-Afrika ezingakulungela ukulunjaniswa nofakwa ngaphansi kwenqubo nezinkambiso ezilandelwa esikhathini samanje. Izinqubonkambiso kanye nemidanti yeNkonzo Yokugcotshwa Kwabefundisi kwakha isisekelo okusetshenziselwa phezu kwaso izinqubo ezithile, ezithathwe kusiko-mpilo lweNingizimu ye-Afrika, enqubweni yokugcotshwa kwabefundisi. Inqubo efanayo yokuhlola nokulumbanisa iyalandela ngenkathi kusetshenziswa idatha etholakale ezingxoxweni ezibanjwe nababambiqhaza bocwaningo mayelana nenqubo kanye nezinkambiso zokugcotshwa kwabefundisi ebandleni i-MCSA. Lo mbhalo wocwaningo uphetha ngokuthi uphakamise izinguquko eziphathekayo futhi ezinohlonze ezingenziwa kukho kokubili inqubo-kuqonda kanye nenkambiso yokugcotshwa kwabefundisi ebandleni i-Methodist Church of Southern Africa. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Phil. (Systematic Theology)

The eight southern African King Cricket genera, namely Bochus, Borborothis, Henicus, Libanasa, Libanasidus, Nasidius, Onosandridus, and Onosandrus are redescribed from type and museum material and a key to the genera is provided. Additionally, the status of Libanasidus impicta is investigated and species characteristics confirmed. A key to the two Libanasidus species is also provided. No morphological support for these eight southern African anostostomatid genera was attained with cladistic analysis, despite the incorporation of taxonomically important characters. High levels of homoplasy and possible incorrect species placement, resulting in character ambiguity within genera, renders many of the diagnostic characters of this group ineffective for resolving generic relationships. Genetic data based on the large ribosomal subunit (16S) did provide phylogenetic resolution between six of the genera with good bootstrap support. This confirmed speculation by previous authors as to the ancestral nature of Bochus and Borborothis to other genera within the Anostostomatini tribe, as well as the placement of Libanasa within a separate tribe, the Lutosini. The recent merge of the genus Platysiagon with Libanasa is also provisionally supported. Close association was obtained between Libanasidus and Nasidius with Onosandrus being more related to Bochus and Borborothis, supported by the lack of sexual dimorphism in Onosandrus and Borborothis. The phylogenetic position of the genera Henicus and Onosandridus remains unresolved. It is suggested that the designation of the eight anostostomatid genera in southern Africa are valid, but that species placement within these genera need to be revised to resolve character conflict. Focusing on the genetic and morphometric structuring within the famous Parktown Prawn, Libanasidus vittatus from southern Africa consistently suggests two main population assemblages. These correspond to a large North-South ranging population including individuals west of the prominent escarpment, and a smaller population including individuals from the eastern side of the escarpment. COI sequence data recovers two clades representing these two populations with good bootstrap support in likelihood, parsimony, Bayesian and distance analyses. Genetic divergence between the two clades averaged 3.3%, while population parameters estimated using maximum likelihood methods show low migration rates corresponding to less that one female migration per generation. A priori morphometric analyses including PCA&clustering methods show no biologically meaningful variation, suggesting that the two clades recovered represent cryptic sibling species. Inferring a molecular clock of 2% divergence per million years used for sister taxa, signifies isolation of the eastern population at 1.65 mya. A posteriori morphometric analyses confirmed the genetic results, based on 11 size-related measurements. This study provides a starting point for further work on the taxonomy, behaviour and ecology of these fascinating insects. Cytogenetics, multiple genetic loci and geometric morphometrics will provide useful insight into the taxonomic status of the 51 anostostomatid species in southern Africa and is promoted for further studies. / Dissertation (MSc Entomology)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Background: Every child deserves to learn in an environment that is tailored to their specific needs. Inclusive education offers a wide range of benefits, from social, and emotional to academic achievement. In addition, inclusive education provides the means to acquire knowledge and skills in order to alleviate poverty and break the cycle of disadvantage for children with disabilities. In Southern Africa, efforts have been made to ensure that children with disabilities have access to quality education. Nevertheless, 90% of children with disabilities are less likely to attend school, and dropout rates are higher among those with disabilities in school. These statistics are alarming.  Aim: Using a scoping review, the study aims to analyze the challenges and facilitators of inclusive education in Southern African countries.  Methodology: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 5 databases, and the retrieved articles were screened in two phases leading to the selection of the final sixteen articles. The results were analyzed in a thematic approach under the ecological theory. Results: The analysis of the selected 16 articles indicates that the region faces similar problems, and inclusive education is constrained by negative attitudes of teachers, peers, and parents, as well as by a lack of resources, poor infrastructure, ineffective policy development, and lack of clear policy implementation. Under facilitators, availability of policies, teacher training, strong support system coupled with knowledge and understanding of policies were found to promote inclusive education.  Conclusion: The dominant theme of the research results was negative views of disability held by Southern African societies. As such the author concludes by emphasizing the importance of developing policies that take into account cultural and environmental factors and an overall mindset change of viewing disability from the traditional and medical point to a social and human rights perspective.

This thesis considers the relationship between Germany’s South-West African colony and its British South African counterparts (the Cape Colony, Natal, Rhodesia and, after the second Anglo-Boer War, the Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal) between 1883 and 1915. The chapters consider the complex and fraught relationship, including the British Government’s surprise and the Cape Government’s dismay following Germany’s establishment of the colony: the German public’s pro-Boer stance juxtaposed against the German Government’s refusal to intervene during the second Anglo-Boer War; the Cape Government’s dilemmas over whether to aid German South-West Africa (GSWA) during Germany’s quasi-genocidal campaigns against the Herero and the Nama; efforts to cooperate with German South-West Africa despite labour competition during the period of the unification of South Africa; and the period after 1910, when the diplomatic relationship became an affair of the Union of South Africa, which simultaneously pursued protectionist policy for South African trade, and bilateral cooperation concerning the diamond industry, as well as security along the border between 1911 and 1914. Finally, I consider the impact of the outbreak of the First World War, which saw Germany and GSWA offer support for an Afrikaner Rebellion to draw Britain’s attention away Europe and install a friendly government in South Africa, while also offering the Union an opportunity to conquer GSWA as part of its sub-imperial ambitions. Among the enduring themes are the interplay between political, economic and military developments, including border disputes, illicit trade, labour competition, and armed incursions led by non-state actors. In conclusion, I argue that as the idea of a South African federation progressed, it was driven in part by geopolitical factors and the desire to counter German imperialism. The British Government endorsed a South African union in part to create a South Africa strong enough to fend off German geopolitical threats. / Thesis (PhD (History))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Historical and Heritage Studies / PhD (History) / Unrestricted

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