M.Sc. / This dissertation describes the N1 manganese ore bed at Gloria Mine in the Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province. It also compares the ore bed at Gloria Mine with the correlative bed further to the south at Mamatwan Mine. The ore bed at Gloria Mine can be subdivided into ten texturally distinct zones that are laterally consistent throughout the mine lease area. The mineralogy and geochemistry of the various lithostratigraphic zones are described from two drill cores (GL28 and GL24), situated away from any known structural features or unconformities that could have affected the properties of the Ore. The ore in drill core GL28 has a mineralogical composition similar to that of typical Mamatwan-type ore described at Mamatwan Mine with braunite and kutnahorite as the main minerals. However, in drill core GL24 the ore has a very different mineralogical composition although it is texturally and geochemically rather similar to Mamatwan-type ore. The ore is composed of hausmannite, calcite and jacobsite and is apparently related to a post-depositional alteration event that did not effect Mamatwan-type ore in the Mamatwan Mine area. This altered ore is similar in composition to low-grade leastaltered manganese ores in the cores of fault blocks at Wessels and N’Chwaning Mines i.e. the area known for its hydrothermally altered high-grade manganese ores in the northern part of the Kalahari Manganese Field. In addition to the above, the N1 manganese ore bed at Gloria Mine also underwent ferruginisation close to certain joints and normal faults. No obvious alteration could be detected where the ore bed is unconformably overlain by Dwyka diamictite, nor associated with a thrust fault displacing the ore.

Doctor Educationis / This thesis represents the outcome of an interaction between a participating "outsider" and a group of teachers during which a continued dialogue between theory and practice was pursued. The goal was to enhance the quality of teaching practice in a specific situation on the one hand and on the other, gain deeper insight into the theoretical aspects which have a bearing on classroom practice. The research project was initially started in response to teachers' request for help with the teaching of Afrikaans first language to learners whose home language was Afrikaans, but who did not make satisfactory progress in Teachers from four schools in the Richtersveld, a far-off region in the Northern Cape, one of the nine provinces of South Africa, joined the INSET project and participated in a hands-on language programme in which a different approach from the traditional teaching and learning model was advocated. The innovative programme focused on an integrated approach to the teaching and learning of reading and writing as meaning-making activities. The research was carried out within a qualitative research framework in which participants not only had to carry out specific innovative learning tasks, but had to reflect on the value of their actions with a view to become change agents who would facilitate learning in such a manner that their pupils would also develop into reflective agents who would be able to take charge of their particular life world. The project experience was shared through a narrative which required of readers to take a stance since they had to make meaning of the identified themes and motifs which gradually emerged. Some of the major themes which, in my view, developed were: that successful communication between stakeholders in die teaching and learning event is a prerequisite for successful learning. Language is a social construct, but is the central medium of communication, therefore, all participants should understand the operative "rules" of communication in a specific learning context. All pupils in multi-lingual classes should be in a position where their life chances, not only their life-styles, are enhanced. Teachers and pupils should be sensitised to the fact that they have to re-invent their own culture on a continuous basis in order to meet the demands set by the dynamic nature of present-day culture norms as they manifest in reality. Teachers in an innovative INSET programme such as the GGLESIP project should be willing to change their thinking about what learning entails. This presupposes a change of attitude and a changed concept of leadership which is different from mere classroom management. In this particular teaching and learning situation it has become clear that INSET, like all other teaching and learning activities is norm oriented.

Heavy metal accumulation in arable land as a result of mining activities, pesticides and fertilisers has become a global concern. Steinkopf and Concordia in the Northern Cape are well-known for subsistence farming, but just as well-known for the nearby copper mining industry. Very little research has been done on heavy metal toxicity in these areas, thus it was of importance to assess the wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum) historically used in the study areas, to ensure the viability of wheat farming. The nine wheat cultivars screened were Flameks, Knoppies, Rooiwol, Rooigys, Yecoro Royo, Charchia, Witwol, Kariega and Losper. A comparative study was done by determining the concentration levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, K, Mg, Ca, Na, N and P in the roots and shoots of sensitive and tolerant wheat cultivars. It was established that Witwol and Rooigys were the most tolerant to these adverse conditions. Kariega and Rooiwol were most sensitive. Their tolerance was achieved by excluding copper from the roots and limiting the translocation of copper to the shoots. This trend to exclude copper uptake in Witwol and Rooigys, warrants further investigation on a molecular level to explain these adaptive mechanisms.

Studies undertaken by Eskom in 2001 identified three sites near the Northern Cape town of Upington which are suitable for a 100 MW Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) generating plant. Of the CSP technologies investigated, the central receiver option was identified as best for the Northern Cape, however almost none of Eskom’s analysis was made public. The basis of the central receiver’s suitability versus other CSP options is not publicly known. Given recent advances in concentrating systems, an argument exists for reassessing the suitability of various solar thermal technologies for bulk power generation. This study first characterises the incident solar radiation (insolation) levels at Upington from six data sources and assesses their quality. The data are then used to model performance of the parabolic trough, compact linear Fresnel reflector, central receiver, and dish-engine technologies. A software modelling tool of the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (System Advisor Model) is used to facilitate the comparison. Simulation results are compared with data from similar studies to ensure consistency of the CSP model inputs and performance outputs. Constraining the results to the environmental conditions of Upington, it is found that while central receiver technology produces less electricity per square kilometre of collector area, it uses less water than parabolic trough technology to obtain a higher annual electric output. Dish-engine technology has the most favourable annual electricity production to water-usage ratio, however, its modest annual electricity output and lack of energy storage capability weaken the case for it to match South Africa’s national load profile substantively. Examining the modelled month-to-month electricity output characteristic, the central receiver technology delivers significantly more electricity during the lower insolation winter period of the year than the competing technologies. This results in the central receiver technology achieving the highest annual electric output of the four technologies compared under the same insolation levels, strengthening the case for its implementation. As a whole, this work characterises the insolation levels at Upington, provides an analysis of the technical performance of competing CSP technologies for the proposed Northern Cape site, and argues quantitatively in favour of the central receiver option. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Heavy metal accumulation in arable land as a result of mining activities, pesticides and fertilisers has become a global concern. Steinkopf and Concordia in the Northern Cape are well-known for subsistence farming, but just as well-known for the nearby copper mining industry. Very little research has been done on heavy metal toxicity in these areas, thus it was of importance to assess the wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum) historically used in the study areas, to ensure the viability of wheat farming. The nine wheat cultivars screened were Flameks, Knoppies, Rooiwol, Rooigys, Yecoro Royo, Charchia, Witwol, Kariega and Losper. A comparative study was done by determining the concentration levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, K, Mg, Ca, Na, N and P in the roots and shoots of sensitive and tolerant wheat cultivars. It was established that Witwol and Rooigys were the most tolerant to these adverse conditions. Kariega and Rooiwol were most sensitive. Their tolerance was achieved by excluding copper from the roots and limiting the translocation of copper to the shoots. This trend to exclude copper uptake in Witwol and Rooigys, warrants further investigation on a molecular level to explain these adaptive mechanisms.

Thesis (MScAgric) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The table grape industry is a major contributor to the South African economy, directly through foreign earnings from this predominantly export-based industry, as well as indirectly through the employment of thousands of people. It is a growing industry and consists of several production areas. The fastest growing table grape production area in South Africa is the Lower Orange River area, which produces some of the earliest grapes in the Southern Hemisphere. The biggest river in South Africa irrigates this area and it has an extreme climate characteristic of semi-desert areas. This area is considered to be optimal for the production of high quality, early, white seedless grapes. Previously, this area was predominantly planted to Sultanina vines for the purpose of raisin production. When seedless table grapes became a consumer preference, the producers very successfully converted their production practices to yield export quality seedless grapes from the established Sultanina vineyards. Extensive new plantings as well as re-plantings occurred in this area, also including newer cultivars from local and overseas breeding programmes. Being a viticultural and economical hot-spot, the Lower Orange River area is attracting much attention as a table grape production area and it also formed the backdrop to this study. The cultivar profile is changing in the area and it is projected that Sultana-, Regal-, Prime Seedless and Sugraone will be the four major early, white seedless cultivars in 2005. Based on this knowledge and prompted by a lack of information regarding production costs and general profitability of the new cultivars, this study was initiated in the form of a comparative analysis between the four mentioned cultivars spanning the early, middle and late regions of the Lower Orange River area. The approach used extracted information regarding cultural input costs (specifically labour as man-hours and the consequent costs) per manipulation performed in the vineyards. This approach is different from the more general method of obtaining input costs for a specific area based on combined mean values, often not distinguishing between cultivars. The specific aims of the study included a comparative analysis of input costs for production cultural practices per main manipulation action, as well as a comparative analysis taking into account productivity, value and extraordinary costs related to each of the four cultivars. To this end, 22 experimental plots were identified for use in the study. Collaboration of the production managers of each of the experimental plots were procured and information regarding production costs per manipulation and productivity of each cultivar and experimental plot were extracted from their own record keeping systems or from documents provided to the production managers. The value (price achieved) of the various cultivars for the 2001/2002 table grape season were put into perspective by using data from a survey which included information regarding payments for the various cultivars during the season in the Lower Orange River area. Information regarding fruit and vine royalties was obtained from the various plant breeders' rights holders of the various cultivars, where applicable. Primary descriptions of each experimental plot concerning general cultivation practices and information regarding the specific season were used to qualify results obtained from the various blocks. Several complicating factors impacted on the study and specifically the subsequent analyses of the results. Some of the factors were already identified as complicating factors in the planning stage of the study and were mostly linked to the recent introduction of two of the cultivars to the Orange River area. From the data gathered and the analyses performed it became clear that it would be difficult to discern significant differences (where significant is defined as PS0.10), but clear trends were observed and indications obtained. Based on the input cost analyses of this study it is proposed that mature Prime Seedless will have the highest labour input and cultural production cost of the four cultivars, followed by Sugraone. The labour input and the cost for the production cultural practices studied for young Prime Seedless vines were very high in comparison to the mature Sultana Seedless and Sugraone vines, especially for the canopy management and bunch manipulation actions. Prime Seedless was especially prone to the set of small and uneven berries, which lead to very high labour input requirements and subsequent cost for bunch manipulations. Sugraone is also known for the set of small and uneven berries in the Lower Orange River area, especially in difficult climatic seasons, also requiring high labour input for bunch manipulations. The initial indication is that mature Sultana- and Regal Seedless will require similar labour inputs for cultural production practices. The fact that Regal Seedless does not require expensive gibberellic acid (GA) applications, or girdling for thinning and berry enlargement purposes, is a tremendous advantage from a production cost point of view. Accordingly, initial indications are that Regal Seedless will have the lowest cultural production cost of the four cultivars. Regal Seedless was prone to the set of uneven berries during the year of study and accordingly it is suspected that this factor will ultimately determine the labour requirements and cultural production input cost, especially in difficult climatic seasons. The labour input and ultimately the cultural production cost for Sultana Seedless will be determined by the correct timing and concentration of the GA applications for thinning and berry sizing. Sultana Seedless and Sugraone produced high yields during the 2001/2002 table grape season in the Lower Orange River area. Yield information from the various experimental plots confirmed that there is little to choose between the two cultivars in terms of yield when cultivation conditions and practices are optimal. Large variation was observed in the yield results from the Regal- and Prime Seedless experimental plots. This is largely due to the recent introduction of the cultivars to the area and the consequent scarcity of blocks of these cultivars that are in full production. It was impossible to identify clear trends in terms of the future productivity of mature Regal- and Prime Seedless, but some indications of labour inputs could be extracted and qualified. Early maturing Prime Seedless and Sugraone performed very well in terms of price, especially in the harvest period prior to week 50. This advantage of high prices early in the season is, however, not always applicable to early cultivars in the later maturing regions of the Lower Orange River area. Later during the season, after week 50, when the supply of table grapes to the overseas markets has increased sharply, Sultana Seedless is usually the best performer in terms of price of the four cultivars. The ultimate price obtained by a cultivar is to a large extent determined by supply and demand, quality and acceptance of the specific cultivar. This study and its outcomes have a strong regional (Lower Orange River) and local (South Africa) impact and the specific results will undoubtedly be valuable to the producers, exporters and other role-players with vested interest in the cultivars studied or in table grape production per se. The methodology adopted in this study, however, is of broader interest and dearly shows the advantage of having detailed and qualified information regarding cultivation practices and bringing it in relation to the labour and consequent costs required per action. This should lead to more business intelligence and realistic planning on the producer side when decisions regarding the choice of a cultivar for a specific production area with a particular marketing scope have to be made. This study has also paved the way for similar studies, specifically with regard to the detailed description of the methodology that was established. Knowledge of the problems experienced in this study provides a useful reference for the planning and execution of similar studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tafeldruifindustrie dra grootskaals by tot die Suid- Afrikaanse ekonomie: regstreeks deur middel van buitelandse valuta vanaf hierdie hoofsaaklik uitvoer-gebaseerde industrie, asook indirek deur werkverskaffing aan duisende mense. Dit is 'n vinnig groeiende industrie en bestaan uit verskeie produksie-areas waarvan die Benede-Oranjerivierarea, waar van die vroegste druiwe in die suidelike halfrond geproduseer word, tans die meeste groei toon. Die grootste rivier in Suid-Afrika vloei deur hierdie gebied wat deur uiterste klimaatstoestande, soortgelyk aan die van semi-woestyngebiede, gekenmerk word. Hierdie gebied is baie gunstig vir die produksie van hoë-gehalte, vroeë, wit pitlose druiwe. In die verlede is hoofsaaklik Sultanina vir die produksie van rosyne in hierdie gebied verbou. Namate pitlose tafeldruiwe voorkeur begin geniet het onder verbruikers wêreldwyd, het produseerders in die area hul verbouingspraktyke suksesvol aangepas vir die produksie van uitvoergehalte tafeldruiwe vanaf die grootskaalse, reeds gevestigde Sultanina-wingerde. Uitgebreide aanplantings en heraanplantings, wat nuwe cultivars van plaaslike en oorsese teelprogramme ingesluit het, is in hierdie gebied gedoen. Die vinnige groei in tafeldruifaanplantings en -uitvoere, asook die ekonomiese impak van die industrie in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied, het die afgelope aantal jaar sterk op die voorgrond getree en het gevolglik gedien as agtergrond vir hierdie studie. Die cultivarprofiel in dié area is besig om te verander en volgens vooruitskattings gaan Sultana, Regal, Prime Seedless en Sugraone die vier prominente vroeë, wit, pitlose tafeldruifcultivars in 2005 wees. Gebaseer op hierdie feit en na aanleiding van 'n behoefte aan meer inligting met betrekking tot produksiekostes en algemene winsgewendheid van die nuwe cultivars, is 'n vergelykende studie aangaande die vier genoemde cultivars in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied geloods. Die benadering wat gedurende die studie gevolg is, het inligting aangaande produksie-insetkoste (spesifiek arbeid in man-ure en gevolglike koste) per manipulasie onttrek. Hierdie benadering verskil van die meer algemene metodiek om insetkoste-inligting van 'n spesifieke area van gekombineerde gemiddelde waardes te verkry. Met so 'n benadering word gewoonlik geen onderskeid tussen cultivars getref nie. Die spesifieke doelwitte van hierdie studie het 'n vergelykende analise aangaande die insetkoste van die produksiepraktyke per hoofmanipulasie/aksie ingesluit, asook 'n analise waar produktiwiteit, waarde en buitengewone koste van die vier cultivars in ag geneem is. In totaal is 22 eksperimentele persele gebruik in die studie. Samewerking van die produksiebestuurders van die onderskeie esperimentele persele is verkry ten opsigte van die verskaffing van inligting oor produksiekoste per manipulasie, en die produktiwiteit per cultivar en eksperimentele perseel. Die produksiebestuurders het die nodige dokumente ontvang om die inligting te onttrek, of kon die inligting verskaf soos dit in hul rekordhoudingsisteem voorgekom het. Die waarde (prys behaal) van die onderskeie cultivars vir die 2001/2002-seisoen is in perspektief gestel deur gebruik te maak van 'n opname wat in die Benede Oranjeriviergebied plaasgevind het. Hierdie opname het inligting oor die uitbetalings van die onderskeie cultivars in die area vir die 2001/2002- seisoen ingesluit. Inligting rakende die stok- en vrugproduksie-tantieme is vanaf die onderskeie plantttelersregtehouers van die cultivars verkry. Primêre beskywings van die algemene verbouingspraktyke van elke eksperimentele blok en inligting oor die spesifieke seisoen is gebruik om die data wat vanaf die esperimentele persele verkry is, in perskektief te stel. Verskeie kompliserende faktore het die studie en die ontleding van data beïnvloed. Verskeie van hierdie faktore is reeds geidentifiseer met die beplanning van die studie en was meestal gekoppel aan die onlangse bekendstelling van Regal en Prime Seedless aan die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied. Na aanleiding van die data wat ingesamel en ontleed is, was dit duidelik dat dit moeilik sou wees om betekenisvolle verskille (waar "betekenisvol" as PS0.10 gedifinieer is) tussen die cultivars uit te lig, maar dat dit egter wel moontlik sou wees om aanvanklike indikasies en tendense te kry. Gebaseer op die insetkoste-ontleding van die studie blyk dit dat volwasse Prime Seedless die hoogste arbeidsinsetle en produksiekoste van die vier cultivars gaan hê, gevolg deur Sugraone. Die arbeidsinsetle en koste van die produksie-aksies wat van jong Prime Seedless bestudeer is, was baie hoog in vergelyking met volwasse Sultana Seedless- en Sugraone-stokke, veral ten opsigte van lowerbestuur en trosmanipulasies. Prime Seedless was veral geneig tot die set van klein, oneweredige korrels, wat tot baie hoë arbeidsinsetle en gevolglik koste vir trosmanipulasies gelei het. Sugraone is ook daarvoor bekend dat dit geneig is tot die set van klein, oneweredige korrels in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied (veral in moeilike klimaatseisoene), wat gevolglik tot hoë arbeidsinstle vir trosmanipulasie lei. Die aanvanklike aanduiding is dat volwasse Sultana en Regal Seedless min of meer die dieselfde arbeidsinsetle vir verbouing sal vereis. Die feit dat Regal Seedless nie duur gibberelliensuur (GS)-behandelings vir blomtrosuitdunning of korrelvergroting benodig nie, is 'n enorme voordeel in terme van produksiekoste. Gevolglik is die aanvanklike aanduiding dat Regal Seedless die laagste produksieskoste van die vier cultivars sal hê. In die studiejaar was Regal Seedless egter geneig tot die set van onweredige korrels en gevolglik word verwag dat hierdie faktor uiteindelik die arbeidsinsetle en produsiekoste van die cultivar sal bepaal, veral in moeilike klimaatseisoene. Die arbiedsinsetle en produksiekoste van Sultana Seedless sal bepaal word deur die korrekte tydsberekening en konsentrasie van die GS-behandelings vir uitdunning en korrelvergroting. Sultana Seedless en Sugraone het gedurende die 2001/2002-seisoen hoë opbrengste in die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied geproduseer. Oesdata inligting van die onderskeie esperimentele persele het bevestig dat daar min te kies is tussen die twee cultivars in terme van produktiwiteit wanneer verbouingstoestande en -praktyke optimaal is. Groot variasie is egter waargeneem in die opbrengsresultate van die Regal en Prime Seedless. Dit is hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die onlangse bekendstelling van die twee cultivars in die area en dus ook die beperkte aantal blokke van die cultivars wat reeds in vol produksie was. Dit was dus onmoontlik om duidelike tendense in terme van die toekomstige produksie van volwasse Regal en Prime Seedless te identifiseer. Indikasies van arbeidsinsette en produksiekoste kon egter wel verkry word. Vroeg rypwordende Prime Seedless en Sugraone vaar baie goed in terme van die prys wat dit behaal, veral in die oesperiode voor week 50. Hierdie voordeel van hoë pryse behaal vroeg in die seisoen is egter nie altyd van toepassing op vroeë cultivars in die later rypwordende areas van die Benede-Oranjeriviergebied nie. Later in die seisoen (na week 50), wanneer die aanbod van tafeldruiwe op oorsese markte skerp toegeneem het, is Sultana Seedless gewoonlik die beste presteerder in terme van prys van die vier cultivars. Die uiteindelike prys wat deur cultivars behaal word, word tot 'n groot mate bepaal deur vraag en aanbod, kwaliteit en aanvaarding van die cultivar deur die verbruiker. Die studie en die uitkomste daarvan het 'n sterk streeks (Benede-Oranjerivier) en plaaslike (Suid-Afrika) impak, en die spesifieke resultate salongetwyfeld van waarde wees vir produseerders, uitvoerders en ander rolspelers met bestaande belange in die cultivars of vir tafeldruifproduksie as sulks. Die metodiek wat in hierdie studie gebruik is, is egter van breêr belang en wys duidelik die voordele daarvan om gedetailleerde en gekwalifiseerde inligting aangaande produksiepraktyke te hê, wat dit ook in verband bring met arbeid en gevolglike koste per aksie. Dit behoort te lei tot meer besigheidsintelligensie en realistiese beplanning deur die produseerder met betrekking tot cultivarkeuse vir 'n spesifieke produksiearea met 'n spesifieke bemarkings geleentheid. Hierdie studie het ook die weg gebaan vir soortgelyke studies, spesifiek ten opsigte van die gedetailleerde beskrywing van die metodiek wat gevestig is. Kennis van die probleme wat in hierdie studie ondervind is, kan dien as nuttige verwysing vir die beplanning en uitvoer van soortgelyke studies.

Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Objective: To examine the factors that may influence the vitamin A and anthropometric status of 24-59-month-old children from an impoverished community with a very high prevalence of stunting, but virtually no vitamin A deficiency. Design: Cross sectional, descriptive study with analytical components. Setting: Calvinia West, Northern Cape Province, South Africa Subjects: Biological mothers (n=150) and their children aged 24-59 months (n=150) living in Calvinia West from 6 months of age or younger. Methods: A general interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising of socio-demographic information, a 24-hour recall and an adjusted food frequency questionnaire, focussing on liver intake, were used in the data collection process. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were also performed. Results: Results showed that liver consumption alone contributed to more than 100% of the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for vitamin A of the pre-school children in this community. Liver was eaten by 84.7% (n=127) of the children and 68% (n=102) of them ate liver at least once per month. The average portion size of the children who consumed liver was 66g at a time. The national food fortification programme contributed to a further 80 μg Retinol Equivalents (RE) and the national supplementation programme 122μg RE of vitamin A per day. There was a significant (p=0.028) inverse association between the amount of liver intake and household income. Liver intake was also significantly (p=0.016) higher in the children whose mothers were unskilled as opposed to those with skilled mothers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards 36.9% (n=55) of the children were stunted (low height for age), 25.5% (n=38) were underweight for age and 12.1% (n=18) were wasted (low weight for height). The mean birth weight of the children (n=141) was 2826g (SD=592). Of these children, 27.7% (n=39) had a low birth weight (<2500g). There was a significant positive correlation (r=0.250; p=0.003) between the birth weight of the child and the child's current height for age. The height of the mother, as well as several indicators of socio-economic status, also correlated significantly with the height for age of the child. Conclusion: In this impoverished community the anthropometric status of the children was poor, but vitamin A deficiency was largely addressed through the regular intake of liver. Poor anthropometric status is therefore not always an indicator of micronutrient deficiencies and blanket supplementation approaches are not necessarily the solution in a country with diverse cultures and eating habits. Apart from the immediate risks and consequences of underweight, stunting and wasting in a community, stunting may also lead to overweight and obesity in the long term. This may result in diseases of lifestyle in later life, adding a further burden to an already weakened community. Appropriate evidence-based interventions aimed at the first thousand days of life should be a priority in this community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doel: Om die faktore wat kan bydrae tot die vitamien A en die antropometriese status van kinders 24-59-maande in 'n arm gemeenskap met 'n baie hoë voorkoms van dwerggroei, maar byna geen vitamien A gebrek, te ondersoek. Ontwerp: Beskrywende, deursnit studie met analitiese komponente Omgewing: Calvinia Wes, Nood Kaap provinsie, Suid-Afrika Deelnemers: Biologiese moeders (n=150) en hul kinders in die ouderdomsgroep, 24-59-maande (n=150) woonagtig in Calvinia Wes sedert 6 maande van ouderdom of jonger. Metodes: 'n Vraelys bestaande uit sosio-demografiese inligting, 'n 24-uur herroep en 'n aangepaste voedsel frekwensie vraelys gefokus op die inname van lewer, was gebruik om data in te samel en voltooi deur die onderhoudvoerder. Antropometriese metings (gewig en lengte) was ook geneem. Resultate: Resultate het getoon dat lewer inname bygedra het tot meer as 100% van die geskatte gemiddelde behoefte van vitamien A vir die voorskoolse kind in hierdie gemeenskap. Lewer was deur 84.7% (n=127) van die kinders ingeneem en 68% (n=102) het dit ten minste een keer per maand geëet. Die gemiddelde porsie grootte van die kinders wat lewer ingeneem het, was 66g op 'n keer. Die nasionale voedsel fortifisering program het 'n verdere 80 μg Retinol Ekwivalente (RE) en die nasionale supplementasie program 122μg RE vitamin A per dag bygedra. Daar was 'n betekenisvolle (p=0.028) omgekeerde korrelasie tussen die die hoeveelheid lewer wat deur die kinders ingeneem is en die huishoudelike inkomste. Lewer inname was ook betekenisvol (p=0.016) meer in kinders wie se moeders ongeskool was teenoor die met geskoolde moeders. Volgens die Wêreld Gesondheid Organisasie se groeistandaarde het 36.9% (n=55) van die kinders dwerggroei getoon (te kort vir hul ouderdom), 25.5% (n=38) was ondergewig vir hul ouderdom en 12.1% (n=18) uitgeteer (ondergewig vir hul lengte). Die gemiddelde geboortegewig van die kinders (n=141) was 2826g (SA=592). Van hierdie kinders het 27.7% (n=39) 'n lae geboortegewig (<2500g) gehad. Daar was 'n betekenisvolle positiewe korrelasie (r=0.250; p=0.003) tussen die geboortegewig van die kind en die huidige lengte vir ouderdom. Die lengte van die moeder, sowel as ander sosio-ekonomiese status aanwysers het ook betekenisvol gekorreleer met die lengte vir ouderdom van die kind. Samevatting: In hierdie arm gemeenskap was die antropometriese status van die kinders swak, maar vitamien A gebrek was grootliks aangespreek deur die gereelde inname van lewer. 'n Swak antropometriese status is dus nie altyd 'n aanduiding van mikronutriënt tekorte nie en 'n oorkoepelende aanslag van supplementasie is nie noodwendig 'n oplossing in 'n land met diverse kultuur en eetgewoontes nie. Behalwe vir die onmiddelike gevare van ondergewig, dwerggroei en uittering in 'n gemeenskap, het kinders met dwerggroei 'n groter risiko om oorgewig en vetsugtig te word in die langtermyn. Dit kan lewensstyl siektes veroorsaak in latere lewe en 'n verdere las op 'n reeds verswakte gemeenskap plaas. Toepaslike intervensies, gemik op die eerste duisend dae van lewe, behoort 'n prioriteit te wees in hierdie gemeenskap.

Curriculum 2005 was originally implemented in grade 1 in 1998. In 2002 it was implemented in grade 9. Similar problems and questions, which arose during the initial implementation, arose again during the implementation in grade 9. Implementation gave rise to many questions and uncertainties. Only in October 2001 was it finally decided to implement the curriculum for grade 9 in 2002. The result was that publishers, the national as well as provincial education departments as well as schools were not ready for the implementation in January 2002. This treatise aims to determine the amount of support offered to educators and the degree of uncertainty still being experienced by them. Information regarding these unnecertainties and problems has been obtained from educators by means of questionnaires, circulated to 38 schools in the Northern Cape Province, offering Natural Science. This sampling of schools is representative of schools offering Natural Science in the region. Data regarding the uncertainties from educators have been obtained from the SOC (Stages of Concern) questionnaires of Hall, George and Rutherford. The rest of the questionnaire concerned the biographical information regarding the educators as well as the support that educators have received during the implementation of the learning area. It emerged from the questionnaire that educators understand the importance of a new Natural Science curriculum for SA. They are however sceptical regarding the hasty manner in which the learning area was implemented; the fact that no textbooks or educational teaching aids were available prior to implementation was of concern. Educators are similarly concerned about the inadequate training prior to implementation and lack of support during implementation. Educators are also concerned about the administrative liability that the new curriculum will bring about.

The Makganyene Formation forms the base of the Postmasburg Group in the Transvaal Supergroup of the Northern Cape Province. The Makganyene Formation has diamictite as the main rock type, but siltstone, sandstone, shale, and iron-formations are also present. A glacial origin has been proposed in the past due to the presence of dropstones, faceted and striated pebbles. Typically, the Makganyene Formation contains banded iron-formations interbedded with clastic rocks (shale, siltstone, sandstone and diamictites) at the contact with the underlying iron-formations. This transitional zone is generally overlain by massive or layered diamictites which contain poorly sorted clasts (mainly chert) within a shaly matrix. Striated pebbles have been found during field work, and dropstones have been observed in diamictites and banded iron-formations during the study. The top of the Makganyene Formation contains graded cycles interbedded with diamictites and thin layers of andesitic lavas from the Ongeluk Formation. The basal contact of the Makganyene Formation with the underlying Koegas Subgroup was described as unconformable by previous workers. However field work localised in the Rooinekke area shows a broadly conformable and interbedded contact with the underlying Koegas Subgroup. As described above, banded iron-formations are interbedded with the clastic rocks of the Makganyene Formation. Moreover, boreholes from the Sishen area display the same interbedding at the base of the Makganyene Formation. This suggests that no significant time gap is present in the whole succession between the Ghaap and Postmasburg Group. The Transvaal Supergroup in the Northern Cape displays the following succession : carbonates-BIFs-diamictites/ lava-BIFs-carbonates. The Makganyene Formation is thus at the centre of a symmetrical lithologic succession. Bulk rock compositions show that the diamictites have a similar composition to banded iron-formation with regard to their major element contents. Banded iron-formations acted as a source for the diamictites with carbonates and igneous rocks representing minor components. Differences in bulk composition between the Sishen and Matsap areas emphasize that the source of the diamictite was very localised. The Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) has been calculated, but since the source dominant rock was iron-formation, this index cannot be usefully applied to the diamictites. ACN, A-CN-K, and A-CNK-FM diagrams confer a major importance in sorting processes due to the separation between the fine and coarse diamictites. The interbedded iron-formations display little clastic contamination indicating deposition in clear water conditions. However, dropstones are present in one borehole from the Matsap area, indicating that iron-formation took place under ice cover, or at least under icebergs. Stable isotope studies show that the iron-formations, interbedded towards the base of the Makganyene Formation, have similar values to the iron-formations of the Koegas Subgroup. As a result of the above observations, new correlations are proposed in this study, relating the different Transvaal Supergroup basins located on the Kaapvaal Craton. The Pretoria Group of the Transvaal Basin has no correlative in the Griqualand West Basin, and the Postmasburg Group of the Northern Cape Basin has no lateral equivalent in the Transvaal Basin. These changes have been made to overcome problems present in the current correlations between those two basins. The Makganyene Formation correlates with the Huronian glaciations which occurred between 2.4 and 2.2 Ga ago in North America. Another Precambrian glaciation is the worldwide and well-studied Neoproterozoic glaciation (640 Ma). At each of these glaciations, major banded iron-formation deposition took place with associated deposition of sedimentary manganese in post-glacial positions. The central position of the Makganyene Formation within the Transvaal Supergroup in the Northern Cape emphasizes this glacial climatic dependence of paleoproterozoic banded iron-formation and manganese deposition. However these two Precambrian glaciations are interpreted in paleomagnetic studies as having occurred near to the equator. The controversial theory of the Snowball Earth has been proposed which proposes that the Earth was entirely frozen from pole to pole. Results from field work, sedimentology, petrography and geochemistry were integrated in a proposed depositional model of the Makganyene Formation occurring at the symmetrical centre of the lithologic succession of the Transvaal Supergroup. At the beginning of the Makganyene glaciation, a regression occurred and glacial advance took place. The diamictites are mostly interpreted as being deposited from wet-based glaciers, probably tidewater glaciers, where significant slumping and debris flows occurred. Any transgression would cause a glacial retreat by rapid calving, re-establishing the chemical sedimentation of banded iron-formations. These sea-level variations are responsible for the interbedding of these different types of rocks (clastic and chemical). The end of the Makganyene glacial event is characterised by subaerial eruptions of andesitic lava of the Ongeluk Formation bringing ashes into the basin. Banded iron-formation and associated manganese accumulations are climate-dependant. Glacial events are responsible for the build up of metallic ions such as iron and manganese in solution in deep waters. A warmer climate would induce a transgression and precipitation of these metallic ions when Eh conditions are favourable. In the Transvaal Supergroup, the climatic variations from warm to cold, and cold to warm are expressed by the lithologic succession. The warm climates are represented by carbonates. Cold climates are represented by banded iron-formations and the peak in cold climate represented by the diamictites of the Makganyene Formation. These changes in climate are gradual, which contradict the dramatic Snowball Earth event: a rapid spread of glaciated areas over low-latitudes freezing the Earth from pole-to-pole. Therefore, to explain low-latitude glaciations at sea-level, a high obliquity of the ecliptic is most likely to have occurred. This high obliquity of the ecliptic was acquired at 4.5 Ga when a giant impactor collided into the Earth to form the Moon. Above the critical value of 54° of the obliquity of the ecliptic, normal climatic zonation reverts, and glaciations will take place preferentially at low-latitudes only when favourable conditions are gathered (relative position ofthe continents and PC02 in the atmosphere).

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Archaeology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Anthropology and Archaeology / unrestricted