In 1997 the democratic government of South Africa adopted the White Paper for Social Welfare (Republic of South Africa [RSA], 1997) which committed the country to a developmental approach to social welfare. The implementation of the developmental approach to social services is a shared responsibility of the state, non-governmental organisations and the private sector (Patel, 2015:93). Despite the ongoing studies relating to developmental social welfare service delivery, there is insufficient evidence of the shift made towards a developmental approach by government social workers employed by the Department of Social Development. The goal of the study was to explore social workers? perspectives on the shift towards the developmental approach in social service delivery in the Department of Social Development in the Mopani District, Limpopo. The study employed a qualitative research approach and a case study research design. The sample for the study was selected purposefully and included thirty-two (32) social workers and four (4) supervisors from four sub-districts in the Mopani District. Data was collected through one focus group interview with social workers and one-on-one interviews with supervisors in the four regions respectively. The research findings indicate that social workers have made a partial shift towards a developmental approach in service delivery. The shift is more evident in protection and prevention service delivery than in promoting socio-economic development. The shift is reflected in some strides towards a human rights-based approach; social and economic development; participation; partnerships; and efforts to link micro and macro practice. The findings further point out the barriers that hinder social workers from making significant progress towards the developmental approach. The overall conclusion of this research endeavour is that there is a need in the Department of Social Development for guidelines and capacity building of social workers and supervisors in the developmental approach. The study recommends guidelines to accelerate the progress of implementing the developmental approach in the Mopani District. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

The study was aimed at exploring and describing factors that influence the delay in reporting for labour by women in Mopani District and to evaluate the impact of the delay in the process and outcome of labour and to develop recommendations to address the contributory factors. The study was conducted at a regional hospital in the Mopani District. A qualitative descriptive research design was used for the participants to describe the factors that delays pregnant woman in reporting for labour in the regional hospital. A non-probability sampling design was used in the study. Data were collected through unstructured one-on-one interview. Thirteen (n=13) pregnant women who delayed reporting for labour in the regional hospital at Mopani District participated in the interviews. Data were collected and analysed through the use of content analysis approach. Seven themes developed from the findings leading to the establishment of the following recommendations including the use of theory as support system, making the availability of resources a priority, increasing capacity of all clinics to offer skilled birth, expansion of Mom-Connect into rural areas, establishment of MWHs in the rural areas, and increasing transportation such as ambulances. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing science)

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / African people have a long history of using traditional herbs to treat various ailments, including mental health. However, because there is not much empirical data supporting the use of traditional herbs in the treatment of mental illnesses, the purpose of this study was to explore the usage of molebatša in bereavement care in the Mopani district. The research study used a qualitative approach and a snowball sampling process to recruit a total of nine participants (Females = 7; males = 2). Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The collected data was analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method. The following were the primary themes that emerged from the research: - a) descriptions of the nature of bolebatša; b) preparation and administration of bolebatša for medicinal purposes; c) conditions managed with bolebatša and d) the role of spirituality in traditional medicine. The findings of the study revealed that bolebatša is a herb with furry coating of hair-like structures, harvested from the Molebatša tree, scientifically known as Lannea schweinfurthii. The harvested bolebatša is mostly dried and taken orally, either with warm water, porridge or its dried skins are chewed. It was determined, based on the findings of the investigation, that the herb has the ability to induce forgetfulness and this was beneficial in treating various psychological ailments (such as trauma, bereavement and grief and adjustment disorders) as well as spiritual conditions, with no adverse side effects. Recommendations emerging from the study call for more investigations to scientifically validate the efficacy of this herbal extract. / HWSETA

Rationalisation and redeployment of educators in South Africa negatively affects teaching and learning in schools. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of educators and stakeholders on rationalisation and redeployment as a policy. The study was conducted in schools of the Mopani district in Limpopo Province. Limpopo schools experience redeployment every year as the learner enrolment fluctuates. This increase or decrease of learner enrolment causes compulsory transfer of educators from the school with low enrolment to the school with greater enrolment. A legal framework, social justice and transformational leadership theory underpinned this study. The study used a qualitative research framework and methodology located within the constructivist paradigm to explore the experiences of educators and stakeholders on rationalisation and redeployment as a policy. This qualitative study employed a case study design, the case being redeployment of educators. Principals, educators, secretaries of school governing bodies, union members and circuit managers were selected as stakeholders to participate in the study. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with principals, secretaries of governing bodies, union members and circuit managers. Two focus groups with educators, who were once redeployed, were used, one from a primary school and the other from a secondary school. Observations and document analysis were also used in this study for triangulation. Data were coded and analysed through qualitative content analysis. The study found that rationalisation and redeployment affect the morale of educators It was also revealed that principals use the process for their personal advancement. Again, rationalisation and redeployment hinder the school performance as it takes place in the middle of the year. This study recommended that rationalisation and redeployment be done once within a three-year cycle. It was also recommended that redeployed educators should be counselled to boost their low morale. / Educational Management and Leadership / Ph. D. (Education Leadership and Management)

This study aimed to explore teaching difficulties of Natural Sciences teachers when offering lessons in the Planet, Earth and Beyond strand. The aim was to understand their teacher knowledge, type of instructional strategies, and classroom discourse and interactions in their Natural Science classroom. The following question guided the study: What are the teaching difficulties of Planet, Earth and Beyond strand? A qualitative case study design was used for the study. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and observations. The study revealed that NS educators: carry misconceptions to class; show poor knowledge of context in specific aims and assessment strategies while also choosing poor and irrelevant instructional strategies and; still see themselves as authority in class by applying a one- way approach. It is recommended that: educators be trained on how to implement active and critical learning, while empowering them with knowledge on NS specific aims and assessment strategies; departmental heads, SMTs, and subject advisor should engage in regular class visits in the NS educators` classes, reviewing lesson plans that educators prepared; schools should provide educators with CAPS relevant documents; the DoE should provide more education to educators on the importance of following the curriculum as prescribed in the CAPS document; the department should provide educators with relevant teaching aids and practical apparatus and in the absence advice educators on how to improvise and; the subject advisors should assist educators in identifying misconceptions. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Sciences Education)

Land is a major factor in agricultural production, so agricultural land allocated to smallholder farmers through Land Reform Program or by traditional leader need to be actively utilised for enhancement of agricultural business. The study assessed land utilisation by small and emerging farmers in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality. Data was collected from 86 farms and analysed using SPSS Version 23. The results indicate that 74% of the farmers fully utilised their farm lands. Results of Logit model revealed that, the amount received from leasing, value adding to products, annual farm income and savings had positive significant impact on the area of cultivation, while skills pertaining to farming activities and the proportion of farm inputs purchased with the farmer’s own money had negative impact. The significant variables should be considered to influence full farmland utilisation by small and emerging farmers in the study area; farmers need production inputs, affordable loans and other forms of funding to improve farmland utilisation / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Land is a major factor in agricultural production, so agricultural land allocated to smallholder farmers through Land Reform Program or by traditional leader need to be actively utilised for enhancement of agricultural business. The study assessed land utilisation by small and emerging farmers in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality. Data was collected from 86 farms and analysed using SPSS Version 23. The results indicate that 74% of the farmers fully utilised their farm lands. Results of Logit model revealed that, the amount received from leasing, value adding to products, annual farm income and savings had positive significant impact on the area of cultivation, while skills pertaining to farming activities and the proportion of farm inputs purchased with the farmer’s own money had negative impact. The significant variables should be considered to influence full farmland utilisation by small and emerging farmers in the study area; farmers need production inputs, affordable loans and other forms of funding to improve farmland utilisation / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / The aim of the study was to investigate elements that compromise the success of Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) in Mopani District, Limpopo Province. There is a general view that PLAS intended to fast track the land reform process. The emerging farmers as soon as they get the land through PLAS are expected to use the land for production so as to improve their socio- economic status and contribute to the local economic growth. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform proactively acquires the land and redistributes it to the previously disadvantaged people in a lease contract. Emerging farmers do not need to own the land and have title deeds as the land belongs to the government. PLAS is state driven because only the government can proactively acquire the land and lease it out to prospective productive emerging farmers from previously disadvantaged groups. Qualitative research design was used to collect data. The target group in this study were direct beneficiaries of PLAS or emerging farmers. Data was collected using focus group discussions with emerging farmers and one-on-one interviews in all three local municipalities: Ba-Phalaborwa, Tzaneen and Maruleng. One- on- one interviews were conducted with the key participants from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the Limpopo Department of Agriculture. The results of the study show that the emerging farmers are not effectively using the land as expected. They do not have the necessary support from government or Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. It was also revealed in the study that the Limpopo Department of Agriculture is expected to support the emerging farmers with technical support. In practice there is no visible form of support from the provincial department and farmers are left to fend for themselves. Emerging farmers usually lack farming skills and need regular training and support to be able to continue with their farming and businesses. The findings further reveal that the emerging farmers face serious challenges such as a lack of funding, water shortage, and lack of access to markets and their recapitalisation is reduced. These findings show that the strategy is not responsive enough because of lack of resources from the government. While there are instances where the white farmers are willing to sell their land, the government do not always have resources to acquire such lands. Also most of these land prices are often inflated and it is where these sellers are taking advantage of the government. This study recommends that the government should support the emerging farmers by all means possible. That will lead to profitable farming and the lives of the people will change qualitatively, leading to social and economic development. It is recommended further that the emerging farmers be given appropriate training so that they can be equipped with skills and be able to run and manage their farms

The purpose of the study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of parental involvement in children’s education in the rural Mawa and Molototsi circuits in the Mopani district, Limpopo Province. Three-hundred-and-thirty (330) teachers participated in this research survey. The results indicated that the common perception amongst teachers was that parental involvement had positive benefits for both learner performance and social behaviour. The study also revealed that schools used involvement initiatives and strategies to a lesser extent than expected. Primary schools reported higher rates of parental involvement than secondary schools, which suggested that parents of primary school children were likelier to involve themselves in school governance than those of secondary school children. The extent to which the school used media to promote parental involvement was found to be small and moderate. The respondents also perceived certain social and economic barriers as moderate to large impediments to parental involvement. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

One major challenge facing mathematics education in South Africa in general and Limpopo in particular, is learners’ underachievement and lack of motivation to learn the subject. Some studies have shown that one of the topics that learners dread is linear functions. Many teachers also find it difficult to teach the topic effectively. Studies in other parts of the world have advocated the integration of graphing software with the teaching and learning of functions to enhance learners’ learning of mathematics. This study therefore investigated the effect of integrating GeoGebra graphing software into the teaching of linear functions on the achievement of Grade 9 learners. The study was guided by APOS theory which, in accordance with constructivist theories, posits that an individual needs to construct the necessary cognitive structures in order to make sense of mathematical concepts. A total of 127 Grade 9 learners from four schools in a circuit in Mopani district of Limpopo Province participated in the study which followed a pretestpost- test quasi-experimental study design. Two schools, namely B (35 learners) and D (33 learners) formed the experimental groups while school A (31 learners) and school C (28 learners) were the control groups. Data were collected using an achievement test and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The pretest results showed that the groups were of comparable cognitive abilities. The post-test results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the experimental groups and control groups. There were also statistically significant differences between group treatment means (p < .05). Bonferroni post-hoc test results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between treatments A and C. The results showed that the learners in the two control groups were of comparable cognitive abilities. The implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations made. / Mathematics Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics Education)