AFRIKAANS: In hierdie studie word daar 'n diepgaande studie van die kultuurstrategie-model van C.A. van Peursen gemaak vanuit 'n histories-opvoedkundige navorsingsmetode. Die doel van die studie is om te bepaal of opvoeding soos dit in die verlede gemanifesteer het met behulp van die model georden, geklassifiseer en gesistematiseer kan word. Indien moontlik, in hoe 'n mate kan die model toepassingswaarde hê vir die Historiese Opvoedkunde. Ten aanvang is daar in hoofstuk 1 'n breë raamwerk en agtergrond verskaf waarteen die studie gelees kan word. In hoofstuk 2 is relevante begrippe wat uit die studie voortvloei, gedefinieer en verklaar om die studie meer toeganklik te maak. Ten einde 'n breër perspektief te verskaf, is hoofstukke 3, 4 en 5 in drie onderskeie wordings- of ontwikkelingsfases van die mens verdeel onder andere die mitiese, ontologiese en funksionele fase. In elk van die fases is die verhouding en ingesteldheid van die mens met die werklikheid, medemens en die bonatuurlike bespreek. In elke fase word daar telkens verwys na eksemplare uit die verlede. Ten laaste is daar bevind dat die model uiters geskik en toepasbaar is vir die ordenning, klassifikasie en sistematisering van die opvoedingsverlede. Enkele aanbevelings word in hierdie verband gemaak. ENGLISH: This study involves a comprehensive and thorough examination of the Culture Strategy Model of C.A. Van Peursen from a historical-educational research perspective. The aim of the examination is to determine whether education, as was manifested in the past with the help of the model, can be classified and systematized. If at all possible, to which extent can the model contain application value for the History of Education. To commence with, Chapter 1 contains a broad framework and background for the reading of the study. In Chapter 2 we find relevant ideas which emanate from the study and which are defined and explained to facilitate the accessibility of the study. In order to provide a broader perspective, chapters 3, 4 and 5 are divided into three separate genetic or development phases of man that is the mythical, ontological and functional phases. In each of the phases we examine the relationship and involvement of man with reality, his fellow beings and the supernatural. In each phase reference will be made to specimens from the past. Finally, it was established that the model is extremely suitable and applicable for the arrangement and systemizing of the educational past. A few recommendations are made in this regard. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Humanities Education / Unrestricted

Functionally low-literate consumers may often struggle to complete everyday adult tasks, such as reading food labels. Food labels are an important source of information for consumers, and assist them to make informed and wise food purchase decisions. However, the manner in which functionally low-literate consumers read, understand and apply this information to their decisionmaking, is different to literate consumers, and minimal research has been conducted regarding functionally low-literate consumers and their use of food labels in South Africa. This study was conducted in a predominantly low-literate and low-income rural area of Valspan, South Africa. Therefore, using food labels to make healthy and financially sound food choices may be considered especially important for this group of consumers. The current study served to conduct an in-depth literature review of functionally low-literate consumers‟ use of food labels in a rural area; explore whether and how functionally low-literate consumers use (read, understand and apply to decision-making) food label information; explore and describe the differences between the demographic characteristics of low-literate consumers and their use (reading, understanding and application) of food labels; make recommendations to educators on how functionally low-literate consumers can improve their use of food labels in a rural area; as well as to make recommendations on how food labels can be adapted to be more user-friendly to functionally low-literate consumers. Data was collected, using 292 interviewer administrated questionnaires, using purposive criterion sampling. The inclusion criteria for respondents were that they: had to be older than 18 years, living in Valspan and must have completed between grades 5 and 8 at school. Data analysis was done, using descriptive statistics, T-tests, ANOVA‟s, Spearman‟s rank order correlations and two-way frequency tables. Effect sizes were taken into consideration for all differences and associations. The results showed that respondents in this study did read food labels. They were also able to understand some simple aspects of the food label, but struggled with other aspects. When respondents struggled to understand food labels, they were selective about who they would ask to assist them, favouring the help of familiar family members and friends. Regarding the respondents‟ ability to apply food label information to their decision-making, respondents were able to identify several store logos, probably due to their tendency to pictorial thinking. Food-related calculations were relatively well completed; however, certain calculation-related terminology was not well understood by respondents. Food label symbols were not well identified, indicating that respondents did not have a good understanding of the meaning of these symbols. Literacy is vital to the use of food labels, as respondents who showed higher literacy levels showed a tendency towards better understanding of food label information, food label symbols and store logos. They also tended to be better equipped to correctly execute product-related calculations. Regarding demographics, respondents who spoke English and Afrikaans and who had a higher income had a tendency to better understand food label information, than respondents who spoke other languages and belonged to lower-income groups. If food labels are adapted, so that even lowliterate consumers are able to efficiently use food labels, they will be able to make informed and wise food product choices. This situation would be beneficial to low-literate and low-income consumers, marketers and retailers, as products with usable labels may consequently become the preferred choice of low-literate consumers and money wary low-income consumers. Additionally, marketers and retailers would be able to capitalise on the mass purchasing power that this target market represents. / M. Consumer Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Functionally low-literate consumers may often struggle to complete everyday adult tasks, such as reading food labels. Food labels are an important source of information for consumers, and assist them to make informed and wise food purchase decisions. However, the manner in which functionally low-literate consumers read, understand and apply this information to their decisionmaking, is different to literate consumers, and minimal research has been conducted regarding functionally low-literate consumers and their use of food labels in South Africa. This study was conducted in a predominantly low-literate and low-income rural area of Valspan, South Africa. Therefore, using food labels to make healthy and financially sound food choices may be considered especially important for this group of consumers. The current study served to conduct an in-depth literature review of functionally low-literate consumers‟ use of food labels in a rural area; explore whether and how functionally low-literate consumers use (read, understand and apply to decision-making) food label information; explore and describe the differences between the demographic characteristics of low-literate consumers and their use (reading, understanding and application) of food labels; make recommendations to educators on how functionally low-literate consumers can improve their use of food labels in a rural area; as well as to make recommendations on how food labels can be adapted to be more user-friendly to functionally low-literate consumers. Data was collected, using 292 interviewer administrated questionnaires, using purposive criterion sampling. The inclusion criteria for respondents were that they: had to be older than 18 years, living in Valspan and must have completed between grades 5 and 8 at school. Data analysis was done, using descriptive statistics, T-tests, ANOVA‟s, Spearman‟s rank order correlations and two-way frequency tables. Effect sizes were taken into consideration for all differences and associations. The results showed that respondents in this study did read food labels. They were also able to understand some simple aspects of the food label, but struggled with other aspects. When respondents struggled to understand food labels, they were selective about who they would ask to assist them, favouring the help of familiar family members and friends. Regarding the respondents‟ ability to apply food label information to their decision-making, respondents were able to identify several store logos, probably due to their tendency to pictorial thinking. Food-related calculations were relatively well completed; however, certain calculation-related terminology was not well understood by respondents. Food label symbols were not well identified, indicating that respondents did not have a good understanding of the meaning of these symbols. Literacy is vital to the use of food labels, as respondents who showed higher literacy levels showed a tendency towards better understanding of food label information, food label symbols and store logos. They also tended to be better equipped to correctly execute product-related calculations. Regarding demographics, respondents who spoke English and Afrikaans and who had a higher income had a tendency to better understand food label information, than respondents who spoke other languages and belonged to lower-income groups. If food labels are adapted, so that even lowliterate consumers are able to efficiently use food labels, they will be able to make informed and wise food product choices. This situation would be beneficial to low-literate and low-income consumers, marketers and retailers, as products with usable labels may consequently become the preferred choice of low-literate consumers and money wary low-income consumers. Additionally, marketers and retailers would be able to capitalise on the mass purchasing power that this target market represents. / M. Consumer Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Physical inactivity, a modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) both in persons with intellectual disability (ID) and non-ID, is considered the fourth leading cause of death in the world. Long-term regular participation in physical activity is associated with a reduced risk for CHD. Literature currently lacks evidence on the effect of long-term physical activity on the functional capacity and risk factors for developing CHD in persons with ID. The purpose of this study was firstly, to determine the effect of a long-term physical activity intervention on the risk factors associated with developing CHD and secondly the effect of a combined aerobic and resistance physical activity intervention on the functional capacity of persons with ID. A cohort of seventy-four (74) participants living in a care facility in Potchefstroom, South Africa, participated in this study, a seven-year follow-up physical activity intervention study. To determine the effect of a seven-year combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention programme, data was collected in 2006 and in 2013. At baseline (2006) and end (2013), a CHD risk profile was determined by means of a questionnaire and physical assessment. The physical assessment included resting blood pressure, peripheral glucose and cholesterol measurements, and body composition by means of body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body fat percentage derived from skinfold measurements. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by means of the adapted sub-maximal YMCA bicycle ergometer protocol from which a physical work capacity (PWC) was calculated. The participants followed a structured physical activity intervention two days per week for at least 45 minutes for a seven year period. The exercise intervention consists of cardiorespiratory exercises, muscle stretches and muscle endurance exercises. All data analyses were performed with SPSS 22.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY) statistical analysis software programme. The descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations) as well as frequencies were calculated to describe the characteristics of the participants and the point prevalence of the CHD risk factors. General Linier Model analyses were applied to determine the significant changes in CHD risk factors measured from baseline to end with adjustment for baseline measurements. McNemar exact test indicated significant changes in the point prevalence of the CHD risk factors from baseline to end. The relationship between the changes in the cardiorespiratory fitness and the measured risk factors were performed with a partial correlation analysis adjusting for age in 2013. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. The results indicate that the prevalence of inactivity decreased with 50% after the seven-year intervention program. Prevalence of age as a risk factor for developing CHD increased significantly post-intervention from 10% to 18%. Body mass decreased significantly in men (1.25 ± 5.43 kg) and increased significantly in women (0.15 ± 6.83kg). BMI changes reflect changes in body mass of the participants. Body fat percentages increased both in men (2.98%) and in women (0.95%). A significant increase in systolic blood pressure (6.2 ± 10.1 mmHg) for men and diastolic blood pressure (6.35 ± 10.42 mmHg) for women was found. Physical work capacity in both male (1.90 ± 0.73 watt/kg) and female (1.55 ± 0.43 watt/kg) participants decreased to 1.43 ± 0.45 watt/kg and 1.14 ± 0.46 watt/kg respectively during the intervention period. Although a correlation between changes in PWC and the risk factors for CHD was found, none of the correlations was significant when adjusted for age in 2013. The conclusion drawn from this study is that a long-term physical activity intervention in a population with ID reduced the point prevalence for physical inactivity and overweight and obesity, in spite of a decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness. The changes in cardiorespiratory fitness did not relate to the changes observed in the risk factors of CHD. / MSc (Biokinetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Physical inactivity, a modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) both in persons with intellectual disability (ID) and non-ID, is considered the fourth leading cause of death in the world. Long-term regular participation in physical activity is associated with a reduced risk for CHD. Literature currently lacks evidence on the effect of long-term physical activity on the functional capacity and risk factors for developing CHD in persons with ID. The purpose of this study was firstly, to determine the effect of a long-term physical activity intervention on the risk factors associated with developing CHD and secondly the effect of a combined aerobic and resistance physical activity intervention on the functional capacity of persons with ID. A cohort of seventy-four (74) participants living in a care facility in Potchefstroom, South Africa, participated in this study, a seven-year follow-up physical activity intervention study. To determine the effect of a seven-year combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention programme, data was collected in 2006 and in 2013. At baseline (2006) and end (2013), a CHD risk profile was determined by means of a questionnaire and physical assessment. The physical assessment included resting blood pressure, peripheral glucose and cholesterol measurements, and body composition by means of body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body fat percentage derived from skinfold measurements. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by means of the adapted sub-maximal YMCA bicycle ergometer protocol from which a physical work capacity (PWC) was calculated. The participants followed a structured physical activity intervention two days per week for at least 45 minutes for a seven year period. The exercise intervention consists of cardiorespiratory exercises, muscle stretches and muscle endurance exercises. All data analyses were performed with SPSS 22.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY) statistical analysis software programme. The descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations) as well as frequencies were calculated to describe the characteristics of the participants and the point prevalence of the CHD risk factors. General Linier Model analyses were applied to determine the significant changes in CHD risk factors measured from baseline to end with adjustment for baseline measurements. McNemar exact test indicated significant changes in the point prevalence of the CHD risk factors from baseline to end. The relationship between the changes in the cardiorespiratory fitness and the measured risk factors were performed with a partial correlation analysis adjusting for age in 2013. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. The results indicate that the prevalence of inactivity decreased with 50% after the seven-year intervention program. Prevalence of age as a risk factor for developing CHD increased significantly post-intervention from 10% to 18%. Body mass decreased significantly in men (1.25 ± 5.43 kg) and increased significantly in women (0.15 ± 6.83kg). BMI changes reflect changes in body mass of the participants. Body fat percentages increased both in men (2.98%) and in women (0.95%). A significant increase in systolic blood pressure (6.2 ± 10.1 mmHg) for men and diastolic blood pressure (6.35 ± 10.42 mmHg) for women was found. Physical work capacity in both male (1.90 ± 0.73 watt/kg) and female (1.55 ± 0.43 watt/kg) participants decreased to 1.43 ± 0.45 watt/kg and 1.14 ± 0.46 watt/kg respectively during the intervention period. Although a correlation between changes in PWC and the risk factors for CHD was found, none of the correlations was significant when adjusted for age in 2013. The conclusion drawn from this study is that a long-term physical activity intervention in a population with ID reduced the point prevalence for physical inactivity and overweight and obesity, in spite of a decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness. The changes in cardiorespiratory fitness did not relate to the changes observed in the risk factors of CHD. / MSc (Biokinetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

During the past decades there has been an increase in longevity. These aging trends have an enormous economic impact and present challenges to policymakers, families, and health care providers to meet the needs of aging individuals. Aging is accompanied with various physiological changes that can limit the elderly’s functional status and their independency. Some of the most noticeable changes occur within the musculoskeletal system, however cardiorespiratory changes, as well as changes in the body composition limits the elderly’s aerobic capacity and therefore increases the risk for cardiovascular and hypokinetic diseases. Moderate physical activity reduces the risk, or prolong the onset of physiological changes and various diseases. Physical activity can also enhance functional fitness amongst the elderly. Functional fitness is having the physiologic capacity to perform normal everyday activities safely and independently without undue fatigue. The aim of this study was to determine the functional fitness as well as static balance and dynamic balance status of senior citizens. Secondly, to determine the association between: physical activity, aerobic endurance and functional fitness and status amongst senior citizens. Thirdly, to determine the association between physical activity status, aerobic endurance and static– and dynamic balance amongst elderly. A once off subject availability study was performed, and 58 senior citizens (32 females and 26 males) between the ages of 65 years and 96 years participated. The physical activity index was determined with the Sharkey and Gaskill Physical activity index questionnaire. Functional fitness was measured using the Rikli and Jones Fullerton’s functional fitness test protocol. The static balance and dynamic balance was tested with the one leg balance eyes closed and functional reach test respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the status of the participants. Two way summary tables were used to categorize the amount of weak test results. Partial correlations were used to determine the association between physical activity, functional fitness and static and dynamic balance. The male participants’ functional fitness status compared well with USA normal ranges, however the functional fitness test scores of the female participants were even lower than the older age group (75 to 79 years) of the USA normal ranges. The results of the frequency distribution indicated that 80.77% and 68.75% of the male and female participants respectively, tested poorly in more than four of the functional fitness tests. Neither the male nor the female participants’ static balance score were adequate, although it does not indicate a fall risk. Aerobic endurance showed to have medium (r = 0.3–0.49) to high (r 0.5) partial correlation with all functional fitness tests for the total group, as well as in the female participants. In the male participants aerobic endurance only showed high correlation (r 0.5) with lower body strength and dynamic balance and agility. Dynamic balance correlated well (r 0.5) with all functional fitness tests as well as aerobic endurance and physical activity index in the female participants, and only showed a medium correlation with agility in the male participants. This study showed alarming percentages of poor test results for both male and female senior citizens and highlights the need for physical activity interventions in old age homes. The correlations between aerobic endurance, as well as dynamic balance and functional fitness tests indicates that even simple interventions such as walking programs could enhance the functional fitness of senior citizens and thereby increase their independency. / Thesis (M.A. (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

During the past decades there has been an increase in longevity. These aging trends have an enormous economic impact and present challenges to policymakers, families, and health care providers to meet the needs of aging individuals. Aging is accompanied with various physiological changes that can limit the elderly’s functional status and their independency. Some of the most noticeable changes occur within the musculoskeletal system, however cardiorespiratory changes, as well as changes in the body composition limits the elderly’s aerobic capacity and therefore increases the risk for cardiovascular and hypokinetic diseases. Moderate physical activity reduces the risk, or prolong the onset of physiological changes and various diseases. Physical activity can also enhance functional fitness amongst the elderly. Functional fitness is having the physiologic capacity to perform normal everyday activities safely and independently without undue fatigue. The aim of this study was to determine the functional fitness as well as static balance and dynamic balance status of senior citizens. Secondly, to determine the association between: physical activity, aerobic endurance and functional fitness and status amongst senior citizens. Thirdly, to determine the association between physical activity status, aerobic endurance and static– and dynamic balance amongst elderly. A once off subject availability study was performed, and 58 senior citizens (32 females and 26 males) between the ages of 65 years and 96 years participated. The physical activity index was determined with the Sharkey and Gaskill Physical activity index questionnaire. Functional fitness was measured using the Rikli and Jones Fullerton’s functional fitness test protocol. The static balance and dynamic balance was tested with the one leg balance eyes closed and functional reach test respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the status of the participants. Two way summary tables were used to categorize the amount of weak test results. Partial correlations were used to determine the association between physical activity, functional fitness and static and dynamic balance. The male participants’ functional fitness status compared well with USA normal ranges, however the functional fitness test scores of the female participants were even lower than the older age group (75 to 79 years) of the USA normal ranges. The results of the frequency distribution indicated that 80.77% and 68.75% of the male and female participants respectively, tested poorly in more than four of the functional fitness tests. Neither the male nor the female participants’ static balance score were adequate, although it does not indicate a fall risk. Aerobic endurance showed to have medium (r = 0.3–0.49) to high (r 0.5) partial correlation with all functional fitness tests for the total group, as well as in the female participants. In the male participants aerobic endurance only showed high correlation (r 0.5) with lower body strength and dynamic balance and agility. Dynamic balance correlated well (r 0.5) with all functional fitness tests as well as aerobic endurance and physical activity index in the female participants, and only showed a medium correlation with agility in the male participants. This study showed alarming percentages of poor test results for both male and female senior citizens and highlights the need for physical activity interventions in old age homes. The correlations between aerobic endurance, as well as dynamic balance and functional fitness tests indicates that even simple interventions such as walking programs could enhance the functional fitness of senior citizens and thereby increase their independency. / Thesis (M.A. (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Urbanisation is an ever-growing global phenomenon which creates altered environments characterised by increased human habitation, exotic species, impermeable surfaces, artificial structures, landscape fragmentation, habitat loss, and modified energy– and resource pathways. The vulnerable Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit in the Tlokwe Municipal area, South Africa, has been extensively degraded and transformed by urbanisation and agriculture. Only 1% of this endangered ecosystem is currently being actively conserved. Grassland fragments in urban areas are considered to be less species rich and less functional than their more “natural” counterparts, and are therefore not a priority for conservation. In this study the effects of landscape matrix quality on intra patch variables, namely plant species diversity and functional diversity, and fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function (as determined by Landscape Function Analysis or LFA) of 30 fragments of the Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit were explored. Four urbanisation measures (percentage urban land cover, percentage grass land cover, edge density, and density of people), acting as indicators for patterns and processes associated with urban areas, were calculated for matrix areas with a 500m radius surrounding each selected grassland fragment to quantify the position of each grassland remnant along an urban-to-rural gradient. Using the specific urbanisation measures, the grassland fragments were objectively classified into two classes of urbanisation, namely “rural/peri-urban” and “urban”, to allow for statistical comparisons between intra-patch variables for grassland remnants exposed to similar urbanisation pressures. Plant species composition and diversity were determined in the selected grassland fragments and nine functional traits were described for each species. Plant functional diversity was determined by five functional diversity indices, namely functional richness, evenness, divergence, dispersion, and specialisation. Fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function was determined by executing the LFA method. LFA assesses fine-scale landscape patchiness and 11 soil surface indicators to produce three main LFA parameters (stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling), which indicates how well a system is functioning in terms of resource conservation and soil processes. Possible relationships between fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function and plant species- and functional diversity were also investigated. NMDS ordinations and basic statistics were used to determine trends and effects within the data. The results indicated that urban grassland remnants had lower mean plant species richness, Shannon species diversity (significantly), and Pielou species evenness than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. Urban grassland fragments also contained significantly higher percentage of exotic species. Correlations were found between the four urbanisation measures and percentage species of the total species richness possessing certain functional attributes. This indicated that increased urbanisation may influence the species composition and the occurrence of certain plant traits in the selected grassland fragments. Urbanisation seems to have no effect on fine-scale landscape heterogeneity of the selected grassland fragments. Rural/peri-urban grassland fragments had higher infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential, and total SSA functionality (although not significantly), which may be ascribed to differences in management practices, such as mowing in urban areas and grazing in rural areas. Rand Highveld Grassland fragments in the urban landscape matrix of Potchefstroom city are just as conservable in terms of plant species diversity and functional diversity, as well as on a biophysical function level involving soil processes than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. High plant species diversity and the presence of certain plant traits did not contribute to high soil surface stability, infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential and total soil surface functioning. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Urbanisation is an ever-growing global phenomenon which creates altered environments characterised by increased human habitation, exotic species, impermeable surfaces, artificial structures, landscape fragmentation, habitat loss, and modified energy– and resource pathways. The vulnerable Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit in the Tlokwe Municipal area, South Africa, has been extensively degraded and transformed by urbanisation and agriculture. Only 1% of this endangered ecosystem is currently being actively conserved. Grassland fragments in urban areas are considered to be less species rich and less functional than their more “natural” counterparts, and are therefore not a priority for conservation. In this study the effects of landscape matrix quality on intra patch variables, namely plant species diversity and functional diversity, and fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function (as determined by Landscape Function Analysis or LFA) of 30 fragments of the Rand Highveld Grassland vegetation unit were explored. Four urbanisation measures (percentage urban land cover, percentage grass land cover, edge density, and density of people), acting as indicators for patterns and processes associated with urban areas, were calculated for matrix areas with a 500m radius surrounding each selected grassland fragment to quantify the position of each grassland remnant along an urban-to-rural gradient. Using the specific urbanisation measures, the grassland fragments were objectively classified into two classes of urbanisation, namely “rural/peri-urban” and “urban”, to allow for statistical comparisons between intra-patch variables for grassland remnants exposed to similar urbanisation pressures. Plant species composition and diversity were determined in the selected grassland fragments and nine functional traits were described for each species. Plant functional diversity was determined by five functional diversity indices, namely functional richness, evenness, divergence, dispersion, and specialisation. Fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function was determined by executing the LFA method. LFA assesses fine-scale landscape patchiness and 11 soil surface indicators to produce three main LFA parameters (stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling), which indicates how well a system is functioning in terms of resource conservation and soil processes. Possible relationships between fine-scale biogeochemical landscape function and plant species- and functional diversity were also investigated. NMDS ordinations and basic statistics were used to determine trends and effects within the data. The results indicated that urban grassland remnants had lower mean plant species richness, Shannon species diversity (significantly), and Pielou species evenness than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. Urban grassland fragments also contained significantly higher percentage of exotic species. Correlations were found between the four urbanisation measures and percentage species of the total species richness possessing certain functional attributes. This indicated that increased urbanisation may influence the species composition and the occurrence of certain plant traits in the selected grassland fragments. Urbanisation seems to have no effect on fine-scale landscape heterogeneity of the selected grassland fragments. Rural/peri-urban grassland fragments had higher infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential, and total SSA functionality (although not significantly), which may be ascribed to differences in management practices, such as mowing in urban areas and grazing in rural areas. Rand Highveld Grassland fragments in the urban landscape matrix of Potchefstroom city are just as conservable in terms of plant species diversity and functional diversity, as well as on a biophysical function level involving soil processes than rural/peri-urban grassland fragments. High plant species diversity and the presence of certain plant traits did not contribute to high soil surface stability, infiltration capacity, nutrient cycling potential and total soil surface functioning. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Unpaved mine haul roads provide the principal means of material transport on surface strip coal mines. With the expansion of surface mining in South Africa and in particular coal strip mining, the use of ultra-heavy off-highway trucks, currently capable of hauling payloads in excess of 160t, has become commonplace. Design and management of these roads was based primarily on local experience and adopted empirical guidelines. This design method served its purpose in an era when off-highway trucks were lighter and less financial outlay was required, both in terms of initial pavement construction costs, ongoing road maintenance costs and vehicle maintenance costs. As the trend in increasing truck size continues, these current pavement design and management systems proved inadequate. Not only would the maintenance costs of existing roads increase, vehicle operating and maintenance costs would also increase prohibitively. The primary objective of this research was the development of a portable and practical total haul road design and management methodology that encompasses both pavement strength, wearing course functionality and road maintenance management components. The structural design concerns the ability of a haul road to carry the imposed loads without the need for excessive maintenance. A revised mechanistically derived structural design is presented together with the associated limiting design criteria and recommended target effective elastic modulus values for the construction materials available. The placement of those materials as pavement layers, such as to optimise their performance both as individual layers and over the entire structure is analysed. Functional design aspects refer to the ability of the haul road to perform its function, i.e to provide an economic, safe and vehicle friendly ride. This is dictated to a large degree through the choice, application and maintenance of wearing course materials. The development and analysis of suitable material selection guidelines for use in haul road functional design was allied to the development of a qualitative defect assessment and ranking methodology in order to assess the utility of established performance related selection guidelines and as a basis for revised functional performance parameter specification. A revised range of parameters was derived based on road-user acceptability criteria. By "analysing the trends evident in the individual defect rankings, the predictive capability of the specification was enhanced by depicting the typical functional defects arising when departures are made from the recommended material property limits. Maintenance design concerns the optimal frequency of wearing course maintenance commensurate with minimum vehicle operating and road maintenance costs. A qualitative road roughness evaluation technique was developed as a precursor to the development of a model for roughness progression. Expressions were developed to enable direct comparison to be made between the qualitative roughness defect score and International Roughness Index (IRI). The second element of a maintenance management system was based on models of the variation of vehicle operating and road maintenance costs with a road roughness model. The combination of these models enabled the optimal maintenance strategy to be sought based on the minimisation of these costs. Sub-optimal maintenance strategies were seen to be associated with unwarranted expenditure on total road-user costs. This thesis makes a contribution to the state of knowledge through the development and synthesis of structural, functional and maintenance management aspects of haul road design. The adoption of these revised and improved haul road design methodologies are associated with potentially significant cost savings and operational improvements. AFRIKAANS: Ongeplaveide mynvervoerpaaie voorsien die primêre vervoer metode van materiaal in steenkoolstrookdagmyne. Met die uitbreiding van dagmynbou in Suid-Afrika en in besonder in die steenkoolstrookmynbou, het die gebruik van swaar vervoertrokke alledaags geword. Ontwerp en bestuur van hierdie paaie was hoofsaaldik gebaseer op plaaslike ondervinding en empiriese riglyne. Hierdie ontwerp metode het sy doel gedien in 'n tydperk waarin die trokke ligter en 'n kleiner finansiele uitleg nodig was, beide in tenne van inisiele plaveisel konstruksie kostes en voortdurende padonderhoudskostes en voertuig instanthoudingkostes. Soos wat die tendens van toename in trokgrootte voortduur, sal die huidige plaveisel ontwerp en bestuursstelsels onvoldoende wees. Nie aIleen sal die ondershoudskostes van bestaande paaie verhoog nie, maar voertuigbedryf en -instandhoudingkostes sal buitensporig word. Die primêre doel van die navorsing was die ontwikkeling van 'n oordraagbare en praktiese totale vervoerpadontwerp en bestuursmetodiek wat die plaveiselsterkte, slytlaag funksionele werkverrigting en padonderhoudbestuur komponente insluit. Die strukturele ontwerp behels die vermoe van 'n vervoerpad om die toegepaste las te kan dra sonder die noodsaaklikheid van buitensporige onderhoud. 'n Hersiene meganisties strukturele ontwerp word aangebied tesame met die geassosieerde ontwerpkriterium en aanbevole effektiewe elastisiteitsmoduluswaardes vir die beskikbare konstruksie materiaa1. Die plasing van daardie materiale as plaveisellae, om sodanig hulle werkverrigting te optimeer is, as beide individuele lae en oor die hele struktuur, geanaliseer. verrig, naamlik om 'n ekonomiese, veilige en voertuigvriendelike rit te voorsien. Die ontwikkeling en analise van geskikte materiaal seleksie is gekoppel aan die ontwikkeling van 'n kwalitatiewe defek waardebepaling en ranglys metodiek om die bruikbaarheid van vasgestelde prestasie-verwante seleksie riglyne te kan bepaal en as basis vir hersiene funksionele prestasie parameter spesiftkasies. 'n Hersiene reeks parameters is afgelei, gebaseer op padverbruiker aanvaarbaarheids kriterium. Deur analise van die tendens in die individuele defek ranglys, is die voorspelbaarheids vennoe van die spesifIkasies verhoog deur die uitwysing van tipiese funksionele defekte wat voorkom wanneer afgewyk word van aanbevole materiaal parameter beperkings. Die onderhoud aspek van vervoerpad ontwerp kan nie afsonderlik van die strukturele en funksionele ontwerp aspekte oorweeg word nie. Onderhoudontwerp behels die optimale frekwensie van slytlaag onderhoud eweredig aan die minimum. voertuigbedryf en padonderhoudskostes. 'n Kwalitatiewe pad ongelykheid evaluasie tegniek is ontwikkel as 'n voorloper tot die ontwikkeling van 'n ongelykheid progressie model. Uitdrukkings is ontwikkel om direkte vergelyking tussen ongelykheid defektelling en Internasionale ongelykbeids indeks (IRI) moontlik te maak. Die tweede element van 'n onderhouds bestuurstelsel is gebaseer op modele van die variasie van die voertuigbedryf en instandhoudingkoste en padongelykbeid. Die kombinasie van hierdie modelle stel die verbruiker in staat om die optimale onderhoudstrategie te soek. 'n Sub-optimale padonderhouds strategie was geassosieer met buitensporige besteding op totale padverbruikers koste. Hierdie proefskrif lewer 'n bydrae tot die staat van kennis deur die ontwikkeling en samevoeging van die strukturele, funksionele en onderhoud bestuurs aspekte van mynvervoerpadontwerp. Die ingebruikneming van die hersiene en verbeterde vervaerpad antwerp en bestuur metodiek het die potensiaal am beduidende koste besparings te verwesenlik. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Civil Engineering / unrestricted