In this study I investigated patterns of invertebrate diversity in Limpopo Province indigenous forests, in order to highlight forests and taxa of special conservation significance. Invertebrates from seven target taxa were sampled in 11 patches of indigenous forest in Limpopo Province from February 2001 to January 2002, including six forests in the Soutpansberg and five forests in the northern Drakensberg. Selected forests comprise three distinct vegetation subtypes and the target taxa selected were millipedes, centipedes, earthworms, terrestrial molluscs, spiders, scorpions and amphipods. Invertebrates were sampled by active searching of quadrats and line transects and pitfall traps. A total of 11 969 indigenous target group individuals were sampled, comprising 14 orders, 50 families, 86 genera and 142 species (including at least nine new). There was a significant difference in the total invertebrate species richness and diversity of forest patches but results varied considerably when different target group figures were analyzed. With the exception of spiders, the factors influencing total and individual target group richness in forests could not be determined. Introduced invertebrates comprised a large proportion of the species and individuals sampled, but were not shown to affect indigenous fauna. Invertebrate species assemblages were most similar between forests sharing the same vegetation subtype and between forests in the same mountain region. However, each forest patch had unique species and some even had unique families. Limpopo Province forests support high numbers of endemic invertebrates. A total of 47 endemic invertebrate species were sampled, including six site endemics, eight local endemics, nine regional endemics and 24 national endemics. The numbers and scales of endemism varied by target group. Invertebrate species’ distributions in Limpopo Province forests generally support the biogeographic theories of Pleistocene forest refugia and the Limpopo River valley as a radiation barrier, although some important contradictions were found. Local endemism in Limpopo Province forests is likely the product of historical processes. Although some significant relationships were found between surrogate and true measures, single taxon biodiversity indicators, the higher taxon method, morphospecies and land classes could not accurately predict patterns of target invertebrate species richness in Limpopo Province forests. Results show that formal species identification should be used if accurate richness estimates are desired; the use of surrogates is not supported by this study. Conservation of Limpopo Province forests is vital for the preservation of valuable invertebrate communities. No forest sampled in this study can be considered unimportant. Effective forest conservation and management is dependent upon the protection of forests of varying patch size, careful evaluation and control of utilization and the establishment and maintenance of corridors linking isolated forest patches. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Thesis (M.M.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, 2006. / This study investigates the role of the community in participating in the development and rehabilitation of Lake Fundudzi. The premise of the study is that community is the cornerstone of the success of any development. Conserving the environment is not the only way of ensuring its heritage or managing its resources. The study specifically looks at the way the community interacts with its immediate environment, namely, the lake. It examines the types of benefits available to them. Chapter One introduces the problem statement, delimitations of the study, and significance of the study. Chapter Two reviews the extant literature, proffers an overview on what a wetland is, its function; it also provides different perspectives on Sustainable Development, including international and the local perspectives applicable to South Africa and the local area. Chapter Three proffers Research Design and Methodology i.e. Observations of stakeholders, and questionnaire as a research tool. Chapter Four presents research findings of the research done in the three villages. Chapter Five analyses and interprets the research findings. Finally, Chapter Six recommends and concludes the study.

Background: In 2003, the Limpopo Department of Health and Social Development introduced a system to train students from poor families as auxiliary nurses as a poverty-alleviation strategy in the province. The programme was aimed at targeting the needy: those who depended on social grants for a living, were orphaned or who headed a family. Five years have passed but no formal evaluation has been done to estimate the impact of the programme. Objective: To evaluate the self-reported impact of auxiliary nursing training of youth from poor families in the Waterberg District on alleviation of their poverty Methodology: A cross-sectional study design using an anonymous structured questionnaire. The study population included 200 auxiliary nurses trained through the programme from 2003 to date. Results: This research found conclusive evidence that the poverty alleviation project in the Limpopo Province has significantly improved the economic conditions of the beneficiaries such as number of rooms in their houses, type of houses, type of floors, refuse collection, indoor water supply, indoor flash toilet, household assets, access to water and wood, number of meals, transport and domestic workers. This study also found positive changes in family income, bank and other accounts. This study shows significant changes in asset indicator scores after respondents had joined the programme. Conclusion: This is the first study to systematically evaluate a poverty alleviation programme in South Africa. Hopefully, both the Department of Finance and the Department of Health and Social Development in the Limpopo Province would utilise the findings of this study to review and to improve other poverty alleviation programmes in the Waterberg District and the Province.

A survey on the quality of service provided by state laboratories in the Limpopo Province was conducted during the period 2000 2002. The focus was on accuracy and precision. The service quality evaluation was based on standard deviation index, % deviation and % clinically rejectable results. The scores obtained were evaluated in terms of internationally pre determined cut off limits. Education and training were cited by 97% of the interviewees as the major contributory factors to the poor performance. Subsequent to the discussion, a course in quality assurance was designed, presented and evaluated, as above. Although the post intervention performance results did not meet the international performance standard at the given time yet; they were much closer to norm and significantly better than the pre course performance results. The conclusion is that newly designed course will contribute in reaching the international cut off standard for clinical laborato ries.

We collated the literature available on the breeding activity of the Swainson’s Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii and made use of reliable unpublished reports, nest record cards and field observations within the Springbok Flats, Limpopo Province, South Africa to establish breeding seasons and pairing behaviour. The onset of breeding (egg laying) is closely associated with rainfall, with male gonad development, population density and covey size (pairing behaviour), all correlated with rainfall. Peak breeding activity is from January–April in South Africa, February–May in Zimbabwe and March–June in Botswana. Egg laying has been recorded in all months and sporadic egg laying in the winter months is most likely the result of isolated rainfall. Mean clutch size is 5.2 eggs/hen (n = 140) with an incubation period of 23 days and brood hatching success and chick survival of 69.4% over the southern African sub-region. Current hunting seasons within Limpopo Province are in line with the recommended hunting season for this region and should remain unchanged: 15 June–30 September. The success of this phasianid can be attributed to its extended breeding season, high survival rate of hatchlings and the potential of birds to breed within their first year.

The aim of this study is to critically analyse government policy on appropriate rural vocational education and training in the light of perceptions of youth in Mavalani Village, Limpopo. The stance that I take in this study is that rural youth need to participate in education and training policy-making because they are the ones affected by these policies. I argue that meaningful policies are ones that are developed by people they are meant to serve. The literature review and theoretical framework indicate that neo-liberalism has negative impacts on VET internationally and in South Africa. Although there are social, political and cultural aspects in the education and training of South Africa, the economic aspects are more dominant. I use the theory of Food Sovereignty to counter neoliberalism which promotes the rights of business at the expense of people’s livelihoods and lives. Food Sovereignty is for the right of natural persons to own and control their own destinations, although it takes food production and distribution as the point of departure. This qualitative study is framed within a critical paradigm where I look at power relations in society and how people can strive to change their circumstances. I used purposive sampling where I selected participants based on my knowledge of the population in question. The findings of the study indicate that VET in South Africa needs to be improved to better serve the interests of young people. The findings suggest that there are a lot of changes that need to be made in VET in the country, and that Community Learning Centres need to offer VET that is community-based and relevant to local development and context. The findings are in line with the theory of Food Sovereignty in that they encourage community participation, collective action and communal ownership, as opposed to neo-liberal capitalism where private ownership is ‘the order of the day’. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Thesis (MA (Social Work and Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

No description available.

Venereal diseases (VDs) are infections that are mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse and amongst these are gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Gonorrhoea is the most commonly known VD and the widest spread contagious infection in the world. Out of 448 million cases of curable venereal infections, gonorrhoea represents 88 million cases and the rest are syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Gonorrhoea has recently been rated as in the emergent multidrug resistance phase. Venereal diseases are amongst the major diseases ravaging many rural communities. People infected with these diseases are considered a disgrace in the community. Indigenous populations, for example the Vha-Venda people tend to use medicinal plants to treat these infectious diseases rather than using western medicines. Vha-Venda people have depended on medicinal plants for their health and survival for millenia. In order to validate and give scientific credence to the use of medicinal plants by the Vha-Venda people for venereal diseases, several pharmacological assays were carried out. The study was aimed at evaluating the; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities, HIV-type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibition properties and to determine phenolic contents as well as evaluating the mutagenic properties of, 12 medicinal plants used by the Vha-Venda people against venereal and related diseases. An attempt was also made toward isolating and identification of the most active compounds from some extracts that were active against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Twelve medicinal plants and various plant parts, Adansonia digitata (bark), Acacia karroo (bark), Aloe chabaudii (roots), Bolusanthus speciosus (leaves, bark and stem), Ekebergia capensis (leaves and bark), Elephantorrhiza burkei (roots), Grewia occidentalis (roots), Osyris lanceolata (roots), Pappea capensis (leaves), Peltophorum africanum (bark), Pterocarpus angolensis (leaves and bark) and Ximenia caffra (leaves and roots) were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), three Gram-negative (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia) bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans. The plant materials were extracted with petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), 80% ethanol (EtOH) and water. Methanol was used for extracting materials for phenolic contents and HIV-1RT assays. The Disc diffusion method was used to determine gonococcal percentage inhibition and a microdilution assay was used to determine minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC). Bolusanthus speciosus and X. caffra extracts exhibited the best antigonococcal, antifungal and antibacterial activities whilst A. digitata and A. chabaudii showed poor activities. The medicinal plants were also evaluated for cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and -2) and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition activity. The DCM and PE extracts of A. digitata bark, B. speciosus bark, P. angolensis bark and P. capensis leaves showed good anti-inflammatory activity against both COX-1 and COX-2. Methanol and water extracts of B. speciosus stems, P. africanum bark, P. angolensis leaves and P. capensis leaves exhibited good anti-HIV-1 RT activity. A. chabaudii roots, E. capensis bark and O. lanceolata roots showed low HIV-1 RT percentage inhibition. Phytochemical analysis using spectrophotometric methods revealed the presence of a variety of phenolic compounds in all the plant extracts including total phenolics, flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins. High levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins were detected in X. caffra. Low amounts of flavonoids, gallotannins and condensed tannins were detected in B. speciosus. The Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA98 with and without S9 metabolic activation revealed that all plant extracts were non-mutagenic toward S. typhimurium strains TA98 without metabolic activation. However, E. burkei roots and E. capensis bark showed mutagenic effects toward TA98 after metabolic activation. Therefore, these two plants need to be used with caution, however more studies are required to confirm this result. Good antimicrobial activity observed in X. caffra leaves prompted an attempt to isolate active compounds. A pure compound from X. caffra leaves exhibited moderate activity (63%) against N. gonorrhoeae. However, the structure of the compound has as yet to be ratified. Pharmacological activity of the twelve medicinal plants used by Vha-Venda people against venereal and related diseases were validated in this study. The results obtained in this study give credence to the use of some of these plants. This study has further confirmed the need for screening these medicinal plants for more pharmacological activities. These plants may offer a new source of chemicals for the effective treatment of venereal and related diseases. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Please read the abstract in the 00front part of this document / Thesis (PhD (Botany))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Plant Science / unrestricted