Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) generally fails to persist under the sub-tropical cpnditions of South Africa. Furthermore, little research data are available on how to manage this species locally. This study was designed to identify the management options, particularly with r espect to grazing defoliation, which would help enhance the longevity of perennial ryegrass pastures. This was addressed by: 1) reviewing on-farm management practices of perennial ryegrass in KwaZulu-Natal; 2) conducting a detailed two-year field study of the effects of grazing frequency (HF, MF and LF = high, medium and low frequency, respectively) and intensity (HI, MI and LI = high, medium and low intensity, respectively), rotationally applied with the addition of a continuous grazing treatment (CG), on parameters linked to persistency. tiller population dynamics, dry matter These included: (DM) yield and quality, perennial ryegrass vigour, weed invasion and root development; and 3) examining effects of different levels of applied nitrogen (N) during the establishment year on various parameters linked to persistency. These included: tiller population densities, DM yield and quality, perennial ryegrass vigour, weed invasion and root development. The review of on-farm management practices of perennial ryegrass growers in KwaZulu-Natal revealed that reasonably high rates of N application (e.g. 350 and 250 kg N ha¯¹ a¯¹ to perennial ryegrass as pure and clover-based stands, respectively) are important for pasture survival. However, a consistent distribution of the applied N is even more important (i. e. at least seven split applications of N onto pure stands of perennial ryegrass and five onto perennial ryegrass-clover). In terms of grazing management, the period of absence of animals from the pasture during summer was identified as the most important grazing variable affecting pasture survival (i.e. ≥ 21 days). Also, the length of the period of occupation by animals should be as short as possible, particularly during summer (i. e. ≤ 3 days). Paying careful attention to summer irrigation is also an important variable contributing to pasture survival. Grazing intensity was not highlighted as an important contributor to pasture survival. In terms of tillering potential, DM yield and quality (cellulose dry matter disappearance and herbage N) and perennial ryegrass vigour, perennial ryegrass followed definite seasonal trends. These were highest during autumn and spring and were lowest during the mid to late summer period. Perennial ryegrass was most susceptible to general sward degradation through poor management during the mid to late summer period when the danger from weed invasion is greatest and its growth potential, vigour and tillering abilities are lowest within these seasonal periods, grazing defoliation produced marked effects. In terms of tiller survival, DM yield, plant vigour, reduced weed invasion and root production, treatments incorporating low frequency grazing (e.g. LFLI and LFHI) generally out-performed (P≤0.05) those incorporating high frequency grazing, irrespective of the intensity (e.g. HFHI, HFLI, and continuous grazing (CG)). The defoliation treatment incorporating medium frequency and intensity (MFMI) (currently the recommended defoliation strategy for perennial ryegrass) was also out-performed in many instances (P~0.05) by the low frequency treatments (e.g. LFHI and LFLI) . During the establishment year, increasing levels of applied N increased (P≤O. 05) perennial ryegrass DM yields and herbage quality. Models predicting the response of DM yield and quality to applied N suggest linear responses up to 720 kg N ha¯¹ a¯¹. Further refinement of such models and the inclusion of animal production parameters is recommended. Maximum (P≤0.05) tiller population densities occurred at applied N levels of 480 kg ha¯¹ a¯¹. Perennial ryegrass vigour increased (P≤O. 05) with increasing levels of applied N up to 480 kg h¯¹ a¯¹, but individual tiller vigour decreased. Increasing levels of applied N up to 360 kg ha¯¹ a¯¹ suppressed (P≤O. 05) weed tiller densities. Increasing levels of applied N (up to 600 kg h¯¹) increased (P≤O. 05) the root organic matter (OM) per unit volume of soil in the top 5 cm of the soil and decreased root OM per unit volume in the 10 - 20 cm soil depth category. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1994.

This study is an examination of services in previously disadvantaged rural areas of South Africa with special reference to health and education. The case study approach was used in this study and Okhombe Ward of the Amazizi area in Northern Kwazulu-Natal was selected for this research project. The purpose of the study was firstly to determine the socio-economic profile of the people in Okhombe. Secondly, the study intended to identify whether services that enhance well-being are available in the Okhombe. Thirdly, the study aimed at assessing the quality and adequacy of the services that are available. Fourthly, the study aimed at ascertaining the concerns, problems and needs of people. Fifthly, the study intended to establish whether power dynamics compete with each other in the acquisition and accessibility of services and; lastly to forward recommendations based on findings from this research. The research found that the people were happy with the manner in which decisions were taken regarding the village. Meetings are called up at the community hall and every household is invited. There is consultation and negotiation with the people. This study found that, the health needs of the people are being catered for by the many traditional healers in the area and a mobile clinic that visits the Okhombe Ward on two Wednesdays a month. The main clinic that services the Okhombe Ward and entire Amazizi area is located some ten kilometers from Okhombe. There are no emergency and hospital services available in the area. While the people are happy with services of the many traditional healers in the area, they are not satisfied with the present health provisions by the Department of Health. It is recommended that a full tinle clinic be established in Okhombe to replace the mobile clinic and that provisions be made for hospital and emergency services in the Amazizi area. There is a primary and a high school that caters for the educational needs of the children. The high school lacks electricity, water supply and an administration building. The Principal and the heads of departments at the high school make use of space in the adjacent community hall. Both schools did not have their full complement of educators in January 2001. The primary school has electricity and a standpipe for water. Further, the schools did not have resources such as properly maintained sports fields, laboratories, libraries and good toilet and sanitation facilities. There also was a shortage of desks and chairs at both schools. The Okhombe community places great stress on education and this is borne by the fact that they would like both boys and girls to be educated. They would like a skills training centre for school leaving children to be established in the area. The people believe that education and skills training would enable the youth to secure employment in the competitive labour market. The community also wants Adult Basic Education to be reintroduced in the area. The Department of Education must provide the necessary infrastructure in terms of furniture, administration buildings, ablution facilities, libraries and equipped specialist rooms. It must also provide a full complement of educators for the schools at the beginning of each year in order that the schools function at an optimal level. Schools must offer subjects like woodwork, agricultural science, metalwork, computer studies, etc. that will help prepare youth for later employment. To this end schools must be equipped with the necessary workshops, specialist rooms and qualified educators. A traditional hierarchical system exists in Okhombe. At the local level, the Induna is in charge. Above the Induna is the Chief. The chief is the most powerful person in the area under his control and all disputes are taken to the Chief's court. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2002.

Agriculture forms the livelihood basis of several billion people around the world. Despite the increasing trend for rural to urban migration the problems associated with poverty are expected to remain predominantly rural for some time into the future. The challenges associated with rural poverty are particularly important in South Africa where the remaining effects of the oppressive apartheid regime are still vividly evident. The rural population are often stranded in areas of stagnant economic growth and minimal employment opportunities further compounded by low levels of education. The livelihoods of these rural communities, in the former homelands, are often confined to a heavy reliance on remittance incomes and agriculture. However, in the recent past the level of agricultural activity in these rural homelands appears to be declining. This has direct implications for the development agenda in these rural areas. This study is an examination of the various dynamics which have affected the subsistence agriculture sector within a specific community in the former homeland of KwaZulu in Southern KwaZulu-Natal. The responses of 12 respondents, representing independent households, were recorded along with four purpositive interviews with relevant role players in the agricultural sector and in the rural community. The responses shed some light on the multifaceted dynamics which have played an important role in how individual households and the community at large make livelihood choices and how subsistence agriculture fits into these decisions. An increasing reliance on money as the basis of livelihood decisions is resulting in the reliance on agriculture shifting away from a central foundation of household livelihood towards a more supplementary form of food source and risk diversion. Shifting cultural norms have resulted in women and the youth becoming less involved in farming practices in general, which may have been influenced by the expansion of social grants into the rural communities. The changes in dynamics which influence local community and household livelihood decisions are important to consider when determining a possible development initiative in these rural areas. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The study aimed to investigate the hygiene quality of fresh agricultural produce, irrigation water and compost from four cooperatives (Jabulani, Nungwane, Senzakahle and Siyazenzela) supplying the uMbumbulu Agri-Hub Non-Governmental Organisation. In addition, the influence that socio-economic characteristics such as age, gender, level of education and training had on the uMbumbulu farmers’ hygienic practices was investigated. Questionnaires, key informant interviews and laboratory analysis were used to collect data. The most probable number (MPN) method, a microbiological technique, was used to quantify selected hygiene indicators (i.e. total and faecal coliforms including Escherichia coli) from compost, irrigation water and leafy vegetables (spinach and lettuce) during the months of October, November and December 2011. Microbiological analysis on lettuce and spinach produced by the four Agri-Hub cooperatives confirmed that these vegetables were safe to eat and unlikely to cause sickness. The irrigation water sources, vegetables and compost faecal coliform levels met national standards with faecal coliforms of <1 000 MPN/100ml for irrigation and<200 MPN/g for the leafy salad vegetables. Compost faecal coliform levels were <1000/g and E. coli levels of <30 MPN/g, these levels decreased over the 3 months. Descriptive statistics such as the Chi-Square test using IBM SPSS and a logistic regression was performed using the STATA 11 software. The sample consisted of 60% female and 40% males, most of which (73%) were above the age of 40. A total of 60% of respondents received income from farming activities, receiving revenues of between R150- R250 a week. The logistic regression indicated that farmers already receiving some income from farming activities and those that had received training on hygienic farming practices were likely to wash hands and equipment prior to entering the field compared to those who had not. These variables influenced the hygienic practices with a probability of 26% and 32% respectively at 5% significance level. The logistic regression also showed that respondents with primary or no formal education were less likely to wash hands and equipment prior to entering the field compared to those who had a secondary level education. This unlikelihood had a probability of 35% for primary education and 43% for farmers with no formal education at significance levels of 5% and 10% respectively. This study indicates how training, education and farming experience are important and effective tools in implementing good hygienic practices in small-scale farming. The study’s main recommendations are that policies encourage farmer awareness on their responsibility of producing vegetables that are of good hygienic quality, especially if such produce is to reach the market. Furthermore policies should advocate for small-scale farmer training. This training should not be limited to subsistence farming but should also aim at preparing farmers towards accessing produce markets. Farmer training in hygienic practices should aid farmers to meet the stringent market standards allowing for better access, the regular income from such activities support farming as a livelihood and bearer of food security. It must also be noted that farmers require support in attaining the various resources needed in order to successfully and continually supply markets. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

This study investigated the role played by School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in addressing issues of democracy and social justice in schools. A case study was conducted in two rural primary schools from Ugu district in KwaZulu-Natal. The intention of this study was to highlight the factors that hinder full participation of all SGB members in public state schools, including rural primary schools. It was also to gauge the policies and strategies employed by SGBs when addressing issues of democracy and social justice in their schools. My study is a qualitative research which has utilized a case study approach. I have opted for a qualitative methodology because I intended to explore phenomena, (SGBs), in their natural settings and I was be able to use multi- data collecting methods, i.e. interviews, observations and document reviews, which enabled me to interpret, understand, explain and bring meaning to them (Anderson, 1998). I have opted for a case study approach because I was studying the particularity and complexity of two SGBs, coming to understand their activities within important circumstances, in this case, the SGB roles in addressing issues of democracy and social justice (Stake, 1995). The theories that underpin this study are democratic schooling and social justice. I have reviewed local and internal literature on parental involvement and social justice in this study. This project has afforded me with the opportunity to engage with SGBs through interviews and I have been able to gauge amongst other things, their understandings of the role that SGBs must play in addressing issues of democracy and social justice. I was also able to learn the frustrations experienced by SGBs when implementing the policies in schools. Some of these frustrations were due to the challenges that some educators and some parents pose for the SGBs in the day-to-day running of the SGBs. Based on the findings I have made some recommendations such as that schools must introduce class or grade representatives which could serve in some committees. Female learners could also be involved in activities such as debates in order to enhance their self-confidence. Policies that the SGBs use when addressing democracy and social justice in the schools could be translated into isiZulu to make sure that all stakeholders understand these policies. The Department of Education could also assist the schools in ensuring that parents in rural areas have access to ABET classes, where they can learn to read and write as well as acquire relevant skills. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

This study assessed the information literacy (IL) skills of first-year students at Mangosuthu Technikon (MANTEC) at a pre-library orientation and instruction phase. What is evident is that students do, to a greater or lesser degree, display inadequate levels of IL skills. What is not so evident is the extent and nature of these inadequacies. The purpose of the study was to establish the level of these inadequacies. Background information concerning the MANTEC library orientation and instruction programme and the Eastern Seaboard Association of Libraries (esAL) User Education Pilot Project study was provided and an overview of MANTEC and its library was given. The assessment of IL skills in higher education libraries, with reference to the MANTEC library was discussed. The MANTEC students' IL skills were assessed using Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, which are evident throughout the objectives of the study. The research method used for this study was the descriptive survey method. The sample consisted of 170 first-year students. A purposive sampling procedure was used. The questionnaire consisted of two main sections, one which elicited demographic data of students and the other extracted data that addressed the objectives of the study. Results were coded and analyzed using the SPSS program. The findings of the survey indicated that there is a dearth of IL skills among the majority of MANTEC first-year students. Like many other studies it revealed that many first-year students, especially from the historically disadvantaged institutions (HDI) are under-prepared for tertiary education generally and for IL demands made on them at the tertiary level. Even those who have had previous library exposure appear to bring with them little or no IL competencies to tertiary institutions. Based on the findings for this study, recommendations were made with the aim of improving MANTEC students' IL skills. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

The purpose of this study was to investigate staff attitudes to access and outreach in the three provincial and two of the university-based private archives of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The position with regard to physical, legal and bibliographic access, including reference services and user education, was explored through visiting the five archives and discussing the situation with archives staff, using the "Checklist for a visit to an archives repository" as the first survey instrument. A survey was then conducted among the 45 staff members, using the second survey instrument: "Survey of archives in KwaZulu-Natal: staff questionnaire", in order to find out if archives inKZN hold outreach activities to publicise themselves and promote their use, and if so, which activities are held, and what attitudes staff hold with regard to these activities. To provide the necessary background information, a literature review was done. The archival situation was looked at from all aspects, starting with a brief overview ofthe history, development and usage ofarchives in the Western World, Africa and South Africa and focussing on the current policy and situation in KZN. Background information was also given on the issues of reference services, public programming and outreach in archives generally and in South Africa in particular. The results of the checklist and questionnaire were then analysed, and revealed difficulties with physical and bibliographic or intellectual access, a lack of user education, and deficiencies in staff qualifications and training. It was found that four out of five archives had held outreach activities, and that there was a growing awareness ofthe need to publicise archives. Activities preferred by staff and user differed from archive to archive. Staff needed to be aware ofwhich type of activity would appeal to each different sector ofthe public. Staff attitudes varied on such topics as best ways ofencouraging users into the archives, factors causing archives not to encourage new users, and factors causing lack of interest of potential users. It was found that there was a dearth of public relations training both in degrees and diplomas, and of in-service training. Recommendations were then made for, among others, improvements to premises, reading room service and user education; upgrading of archives qualifications; provision of in-service training and outreach workshops, based on the findings of the study. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

The main aim of this study was to investigate which factors are likely to affect the probability that events of violent collective action are reported by the press in KwaZulu-Natal. The study hypothesised that the likelihood of violent conflict events being reported by the press is affected by certain characteristics of the events themselves, such as their intensity and size, and by the environment in which events occur, such as their physicai location and the prevailing political context. The study was limited to the KwaZulu-Natal province where levels of violent collective action have been the highest in the country over the past decade. This province is also home to many violence monitoring agencies, which constituted an important alternative source of information against which the reporting trends of the newspapers in the province could be compared. The main source of information used in this study was the Conflict Trends in KwaZulu-Natal project's database of collective action events, which comprises events reported by both the press and the monitoring agencies. Data on a total of 3990 violent conflict events was analysed during 1987, 1990 and 1994, in the form of comparisons between the reporting tendencies of the press and the monitors. Interviews were also conducted with reporters and editors of the daily newspapers in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as with selected monitoring agency staff members. These interviews provided valuable information about how these media operate, and the factors which constrain their violence reporting activities. The most support was found for the argument that the political context influences violence reporting by the press. Analyses suggested that in all three years studied, the press contribution to the database decreased as monthly levels of violent conflict increased. This was explained in relation to the prevailing political context. The results also showed that reporting trends changed over time. In the earlier years, the press did not appear to be more inclined to report events of larger size and intensity, or events which were close to the newspapers' base. In 1994, however, this trend was reversed. There also was no clear evidence that the States of Emergency impacted negatively on press reporting of violence in terms of the variables studied. In addition, the study concluded that both the press and the monitOring agencies had made important separate contributions to the database on violent collective action. It is, therefore, vital that systematic studies of violent conflict in KwaZulu-Natal make use of multiple sources of data. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1995.

Research on murder-suicide within the South African context has been limited with the last published study in 1992 (Roos, Beyers, & Visser, 1992). This particular study investigated the phenomenon of murder-suicide in the city of Durban using techniques previously applied in a broad range of international studies (Berman, 1979; Cooper & Eaves, 1996; Rosenbaum, 1990). The study served as a pilot for a broader national study. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the incidence of murder-suicide in the sample and to generate demographic profiles of perpetrators and victims. It was hoped that the results from this study would pioneer the development of accurate base rates of murder-suicide in South Africa as there are currently no statistics of South African murder-suicide rates or characteristics. The sample consisted of 21 murder-suicide cases with 43 individuals in total having died from the murder-suicide events. The sample covered all murder-suicides in the Durban Metro area over the years 2000 and 2001. A Durban Metro Murder-Suicide Incidence Form was used to collect the data from post mortem examination reports at Gale Street Mortuary. Corresponding police reports where available substantiated this data. The incident rate of murder-suicide in Durban over the two-year period was found to be higher than the international average. This may be attributed to the violent social context in which the study took place. The reliability of this finding would be influenced by the small sample size. Typical profiles of perpetrators and victims were generated. The typical profile of a perpetrator was found to be a Black male aged 32 years with a secondary school education and currently unemployed or working in the police or security sector. He was typically be the boyfriend or spouse of the victim and committed the homicide and suicide using a firearm. The typical profile of a victim was a Black female aged 26 years with at least a secondary school education and currently unemployed. She was typically the spouse or girlfriend of the perpetrator. Her death would usually be attributed to multiple gunshot wounds to the head or chest. The findings suggest that Durban's murder-suicides profiles follow similar patterns to those observed internationally. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Data derived from a long-term grazing trial were used to determine short-term effects of mixed grazing by cattle and sheep in Highland Sourveld. Five cattle to sheep ratio treatments (viz. 1 :0, 3:1, 1 :1, 1 :3, 0:1) were applied, each at three stocking rates (viz. 0.5 (low), 0.71 (medium) and 1.0 (high) animal unit equivalents (AUE) ha¯¹). Ratios were expressed in terms of AUE cattle: AUE sheep. Stocking rate and ratio treatments were balanced at the start of each grazing season. Fourteen-month old Hereford steers and 'two-tooth' Merino wethers were used as experimental animals. The trial comprised two components, viz. an animal production component and a simulated component. The animal production component was conducted only in the medium stocking rate treatment where the effect cattle to sheep ratio on the performance of cattle and sheep was determined for each of four grazing seasons (viz. 1989/90, four-paddock rotational grazing The low and high stocking rate 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93). A management system was applied. treatments were implemented by simulating a four-paddock rotational grazing system and using a single paddock for each stocking rate/ratio combination. Grazing of the simulated treatments coincided with the grazing of a specific 'test' paddock in each ratio of the medium stocking rate treatment. These 'test' paddocks and the simulated treatment paddocks were monitored to determine the impact of mixed grazing by cattle and sheep on individual grass plants and the sward. The whole of the experimental area was rested during the growing season prior to the start of the trial and all paddocks were burnt in the dormant season just before the start of the first grazing season. The trial therefore commenced with a with a uniform sward of immature herbage in all paddocks allocated to each group of animals. ln the second and subsequent growing seasons only those paddocks which had been rested in the previous season were burned prior to the onset of growth in early spring. Rainfall for the first three grazing seasons was similar to the long-term mean of 790mm whilst the last season was considered 'dry' with 554mm recorded during 1992/93. In all grazing seasons, as the proportion of cattle in the species mix increased, sheep performance increased. A decline in sheep performance was recorded in each ratio treatment from the first to the third season. This decline was attributed to the increased maturity and thus lower quality of herbage on offer to the sheep, and the fact that only one paddock available to the animals in the second and third grazing seasons had been burned prior to the start of the season. Sheep performed best during the 'dry' season where herbage quality was maintained for longer into the grazing season than in previous seasons. In contrast, cattle performance was affected by the stocking rate (animals ha¯¹) of cattle rather than the presence of sheep. As the quantity of herbage on offer per steer declined steer performance declined. Animal performance data were also used to predict the effects of adding cattle to a sheep production enterprise and vice versa. The general trends were that the introduction of cattle into a low stocking rate, sheep-only production enterprise would allow for an increase in the stocking rate of sheep while maintaining the performance of the sheep. In this way the carrying capacity of a farm may be improved. Stocki ng rate and ratio treatments varied from those established at the start of each grazing season due to the differential performance of the cattle and sheep in each treatment. As the proportion of cattle in the species mix increased, stocking rate increased and the ratio widened in favour of cattle. Stocking rate (AUE ha¯¹), calculated a posteriori for each season, was the major influence on the severity of grazing on individual plants and within patches. As stocking rate of cattle and sheep at the various ratios increased, the extent and severity of grazing increased. At stocking rates in excess of O.8AUE ha¯¹ however, sheep-only grazing resulted in a greater proportion of plants, per species and per area, being grazed more severely than was the case for an equivalent stocking rate (AUE ha¯¹ ) of cattle. Furthermore, cattle and sheep had similar effects on patch size distribution when stocked at the same number of AUE ha¯¹. There were no measurable effects of stocking rate and ratio on proportional species composition and basal cover over a two year monitoring period. A technique for estimating basal cover in tufted grasslands was developed and is presented as an appendix to the thesis. Data were also used to evaluate the use of AUE as an integral part of the grazing capaci ty concept. Results indicated that cattle and sheep cannot be equated in terms of AUE when referring to the grazing impact. It is suggested that the definition of grazing capacity should include the species of livestock and assume a grazing management system appropriate to the grazing habit of the animals concerned. Resul ts of the trial provide strong indications that, in the long-term, the current recommendations of grazing cattle together with sheep in order to prevent the degradation or loss of veld condition which occurs in sheep-only grazing systems, will not succeed. A four-paddock rotation grazing system does not appear to be an appropriate veld management system for sustainable sheep production in sour grassveld. An alternative approach to veld management is suggested in which the sheep are confined to only those areas of the farm which were burnt at the start of the grazing season. Ideally, sheep should not allocated to the same paddock for two consecutive grazing seasons. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1994.