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Magister Educationis - MEd / This study was conducted in three rural high schools in the province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa whose physical sciences results were not consistent. The main issue in the research was that when schools’ results improve it becomes a challenge to keep it consistent. It is therefore important to reflect and assess what were the good practices that resulted in the results improving. Practices by both teachers and learners need reflection in order to keep what works and get rid of all the bad influences that affect the achievement of physical sciences results. The physical sciences performance for the past three years (2011-2013) for the whole country (excluding 2014) had shown steady improvement, but this could not readily mean that all was well in our schools. There is more to be done because the physical sciences results are not highly rated against those of other countries. The research itself was an attempt to highlight the importance of always looking back at what has been influencing the teaching and learning in the classroom, whether good or bad results were achieved, to see what practices could still be improved, while also looking at or reflecting on the strategies used by educators in delivering the subject matter. The study used reflective practice theory which was related by several authors. The physical sciences learners and physical sciences teachers were the participants where interviews were conducted to obtain reflections by the participants. The data was collected at three different schools whose learners had passed grade 12 in physical sciences to reflect on their own experiences in the teaching and learning of physical sciences. The study identified a number of factors affecting the performance in physical sciences, particularly in the three schools sampled in the district of the Eastern Cape. The factors include the lack of resources, lack of time to complete the syllabus, exclusion of practical work, learner participation, inability of learners to explain or present what was taught in the physical science classes and teacher confidence. The study contributes to identifying the factors that contributed to the poor performance in physical sciences and demonstrates that reflection is a key strategy that teachers could employ to ensure that the teaching and learning environment receive the value-addition it deserves.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The Western Cape, a province of South Africa is facing increased pressure to develop new supplies of fresh water to cater for the regions rapidly growing demand. Groundwater is being explored as a possible contributor to the freshwater supply. Development of the resource has been slow despite the existence of significant potential groundwater resources in the form of several shallow primary aquifer systems and an extensive secondary aquifer formation known as the Table Mountain Group (TMG) Aquifer. This slow development may be attributed primarily to a lack of awareness amongst key stakeholders and general ignorance in the water market with regards to the potential of this resource.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / When considering a person's self-esteem, behavioural patterns and personal interactions, the one feature having the most impact is their physical appearance. In an ideal world, every person should have a fair opportunity to reach their full potential in life. Orthodontics can improve a person's quality of life by creating confident smiles and a functional occlusion (Sheiham, 1993). Uncorrected malocclusions can adversely affect one's speech, general health and self-esteem. Improving the general physiological implications malocclusions has on person, may make them more employable and more successful in relationships, creating an overall happier, healthier and more successful community. The more people are offered affordable orthodontic treatment, the more acceptable orthodontic treatment may become. Thus, the perceived benefits of Orthodontic treatment in a population group are Improvement of Oral Health and enhancement of psychosocial welfare. Accurate data on the prevalence, distribution and severity of malocclusion is needed by provincial oral health management. They also need accurate data of the orthodontic treatment need of the children in that specific area. This data is vital for the effective planning of the education, training and deployment of dental workers, as well as the resources and distribution thereof in specific, designated areas (Holtshousen, 1997; So & Tang, 1993). This study's focus was to estimate the prevalence of malocclusion amongst adolescents in Upington area in the Northern Cape, and to determine the need for orthodontic treatment in the area using the Index for Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).

M.Sc. (Geology) / The study was undertaken to investigate the stratigraphic and sedimentological character of the transition between the Ecca and Beaufort Groups in the northeastern region of the main Karoo basin. Detailed stratigraphic profiles demonstrate that the transition comprises a regressional sequence of dark basinal shale overlain by sandy delta-lobe deposits. This is overlain by lenticular sandstones and shale representing meandering stream deposits. The deltaic sedimentary rocks vary markedly along strike and record deposition in four different deltaic sUbenvironments, namely: (A) "Normal" central delta lobe areas characterized by distal mouth bar sandstone-shale rhythmites gradationally overlain by proximal distributary mouth bar sandstones. (B) Interdistributary bay areas characterized by stacked thin upward-coarsening shale-sandstone cycles. (C) Areas of strong distributary channel erosion where prodelta shale deposits are erosively overlain by distributary or fluvial channel sandstones. No distributary mouth bar deposits are present. (D) Storm-dominated areas comprising prodelta sedimentary rocks which are in turn overlain by storm and possible barrier sand deposits. Palaeocurrent directions indicate that sediment transport was from the north-west, north and north-east. The concentrations of the trace elements B, V, Zn and Ni in prodelta shales indicate the possible prevalence of both marine and freshwater conditions in the near-coastal waters of the Ecca basin. Lateral variation of depositional environments on the same stratigraphic level makes the placing of the Ecca-Beaufort contact based on genetic criteria unsuitable. It is therefore suggested that purely lithostratigraphic criteria be used. On this basis the Ecca-Beaufort contact is taken at the base of the first prominent sandstone which overlies the Volksrust Shale Formation.

M.A. / Primere doelstelling 'n Sosiolinguistiese beskrywing van die taalgebruik van wingerdwerkers, wat 'n relatief eentalige, homogene taalgemeenskap is. Sekondere doelstellings Die saamstel van 'n wingerd-leksikon. Die gee van 'n transkripsie van dele uit Bacchus in die Boland op grond van die veranderlike uitspraakvorme wat deur die navorsing vasgestel is. 'n Voorondersoek is eers onderneem om to bepaal of hierdie spesifieke groep sprekers se taalgebruik enigsins uniek is as dit vergelyk sou word met die ondersoeke wat reeds op die gebied in ander bruin gemeenskappe gedoen is. Gedurende die voorondersoek is slegs met 'n paar respondente gesels (twee manlike wingerdwerkers op die wynplaas Louwshoek, drie manlike wingerdwerkers op die wynplaas Merwida en een manlike wingerdwerker op die wynplaas Klein Pokkraal). Daar is ook vroulike wingerdwerkers, maar die onderskeie plaasbestuurders het telkens voorgestel met wie gesels moes word, omdat die werkers volgens hulle "baie geselserig" is. Die werkers wat deur hulle vir onderhoude uitgewys is, was almal manlik. Tydens die hoofondersoek is onderhoude met vroulike wingerdwerkers sowel as met kinders van die werkers gevoer. Al die onderhoude is op band geneem. Onderhoude wat op band geneem word, is the heeltemal natuurlik the, want "Interview speech is formal speech" en "monitored and controlled in response to the presence of an outside observer." Die ondersoeker het as vreemdeling (slegs bekend gestel aan respondente kort voor die onderhoude, wat wel vooraf gereel is en waartoe respondente toestemming verleen het) met 'n bandopnemer opgedaag en informeel met werkers probeer kommunikeer. Sommige respondente was ontspanne en het gemaklik op vrae reageer, terwyl ander duidelik ongemaklik was met die ondersoeker en die bandopnemer. Hierdie ongemak het veroorsaak dat respondente vrae in kort, eenvoudige sinne beantwoord het of baie sag of binnensmonds gepraat het. Dit het aanvanklik 'n in diepte studie van die wingerdwerkers se taalgebruik bemoeilik.Om hierdie rede is tydens 'n volgende ondersoek op 'n gemakliker basis met respondente kommunikeer. Tydens die hoofondersoek is genoemde probleme grootliks uitgeskakel deur die respondente se taalgebruik sover moontlik in hul natuurlike sosiale konteks te bestudeer. Bandopnames is gemaak tydens interaksie met familielede en vriende asook tydens sosiale geleenthede. 'n Ooglopende oplossing was om tydens hul werksure in die wingerde na die respondente te gaan luister. Hierdie projek was baie tydrowend, maar beslis lonend, aangesien die sprekers in 'n vertroude omgewing en situasie tussen bekendes is en sodoende is juis hul alledaagse, natuurlike taalgebruik op band vasgele. Hierdie situasie was ideaal vir die studie, aangesien dit meer spesifiek handel oor die taalgebruik (uitspraak, woordvorme, leksikon en sintaktiese vorme) van die wingerdwerkers in die aangeduide omgewing. Tydens die voorondersoek is vasgestel dat hierdie groep sprekers se taalgebruik verskille vertoon van die van ander bruin gemeenskappe, hoofsaaklik wat hul leksikon en omgangstaal betref, en dit was ook opvallend dat hierdie groep sprekers net oor 'n informele styl beskik.

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / Rehabilitation is important for persons living with disabilities as it contributes to their sense of autonomy, self-worth, social participation and improving their quality of life. Improving the quality of rehabilitation services requires the incorporation of patients' perceptions with those of service providers regarding these services. Different studies have revealed that persons with disabilities have experienced inaccessibility of rehabilitation services with regards to inaccessibility and unavailability of transport, inadequate provision of information related to their disability. Lack of staff and skills training are the main experienced challenges encountered by the service providers in the rehabilitation service provision. Hence, the current study aims at exploring the persons with physical disabilities and service providers' experiences regarding the rehabilitation services provided at Bishop Lavis Rehabilitation Centre. A qualitative study design was used for data collection. Eleven participants among patients were conveniently selected for the focus group discussion and three key informants among the service providers participated in the in-depth interviews. The focus group discussion and the interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim and the data was thematically analysed using pre-determined themes. Permission to conduct the study was sought and granted from the Senate Research Grant and Study Leave Committee at the University of the Western Cape, the Western Cape department of Health as well as the facility manager of Bishop Lavis Rehabilitation Centre. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants prior to the focus group discussion and interviews. The results indicated that patients experienced problems of accessing transport to and from the rehabilitation facility. The taxis and buses were either inaccessible or unavailable for persons with physical disabilities. Poor referral systems, shortage of staff, lack of skills training were among the main challenges that arose in the interviews with the service providers. Due to the workload that service providers encountered, they sometimes lacked time to interact and communicate with patients. Participants in both groups reported positive responses regarding patient participation and involvement in the rehabilitation sessions and interaction between patients and service providers. Though some patients expressed the review that the dissemination of information related to group sessions was inadequate, most of the participants in both the focus group discussion and the in-depth interviews stated that, patients were adequately informed on their conditions and treatment. The study concludes by highlighting the need to improve rehabilitation services in terms of increasing the capacity of service providers, equipment, training of service providers and providing transport services for persons with disabilities. There is a need for those planning the rehabilitation services and policy makers to recognise the challenges encountered by those receiving rehabilitation services as well as those providing these services as discussed in this study. Hence, this will help in developing appropriate, accessible and cost effective rehabilitation services that meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

The study investigates the habitat preferences and ecological adaptations of the klipspringer in the Namaqualand and the southern Cape mountains. Klipspringer social organisation was found· to consist of a monogamously mated pair defending a territory which varies in size according to rainfall. The pair bond is very strong and role differentiation occurs, with the male spending more time than the female in anti-predator vigilance. Anatomical and physiological adaptations include a modified digit structure, kidneys with a high concentrating ability, and a unique pelage for insulation. Seasonal variations in activity patterns and feeding preferences are discussed in relation to weather conditions, metabolic requirements and possible plant defensive mechanisms. Klipspringers avoid competition with other small antelope by preferring more rocky terrain, and possible methods of food separation from dassies are suggested. The significance of all these factors in relation to the conservation and management of klipspringer populations is examined. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

The use of medicinal plants for treatment of skin infections and improvement of skin tone was assessed. The study covered Amathole and OR Tambo municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study sought to identify and document some medicinal plants which are used by the indigenous people on the skin, evaluate some biological properties which attribute to their use for therapeutic use. This report provides ethnobotanical data on some plant which were identified. Six medicinal plants (Kniphofia drepanophylla, Gnidia capitata, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Syzgium cordatum, Macaranga capensis and Protorhus longifolia) which were implicated for treatment of skin diseases were screened for their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Guided questionnaires were used to interview and gather ethnobotanical information from the traditional healers. Members of the communities which were indicated to be knowledgeable on use of medicinal plants in the areas were visited and interviewed. The results revealed that a total of 45 plant species distributed in 41 Genera belonging to 28 Families are used for treatment of skin infections and improvement of skin texture. The plant medicines were reported to be used as remedies against common skin problem such as wounds, pimples, acnes and itches. Some were reported to have anti-inflammatory effect on the skin while other were reported to oil dry skin and prevent skin dryness and dry eczematous conditions. Others like Cassipourea flanaganii, and Spirostachys africana were commonly used to enlighten skin and protect skin from ultra-violet radiation. The most common mode of preparation of these medicinal plants was pastes or decoctions. Sometimes crushed plant materials were put in bathing water or boiled and steamed on affected parts. It was reported that mixing pastes with oil, animal fat and milk improve medicinal properties. Water, methanol and acetone extracts of K. drepanophylla, G. capitata, H. hemerocallidea, S. cordatum, M. capensis and P. longifolia were screened against five strains of Gram negative bacteria. The results revealed that water extracts from five plant species inhibited two or more strains of bacteria with the most common minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging between 5,0 to 10,0 mg/ml with the exception of aqueous extracts of K. drepanophylla which failed to inhibit all strains of bacteria. The screening of methanol extract of these plants for antioxidant and free radical activity revealed a significant activity with 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical (DPPH). The extracts of P. longifolia, G. capitata, M. capensis, S. cordutum and H. hemerocallidea showed significantly higher free radical scavenging activity with IC50 of ranging from about 11.0 to 41.2 μg/ ml while the IC50 value for K. drepanophylla could not be determined at 100 μg/ ml. Generally the study showed that medicinal plants still play a very important role in the health care delivery system, especially in the O R Tambo and Amathole municipalities of the Eastern Cape. Botanical medicine remains pivotal in the treatment of skin ailments and improvement of the skin tone.

This research examined the effectiveness of microfinance on welfare of rural households in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape through an administered survey. The study targeted fifty households based on convenience sampling technique and used a number of welfare indicators but selected food consumption patterns; roof, floor and walls of the main dwelling house; cooking fuel used and transport, livestock and household appliances and electronics asset ownership patterns to derive household welfare index. The derived household welfare index of those households which have had microfinance access was then compared with that of those households that have never accessed microfinance. The general idea was that microfinance access would result in relatively higher welfare. The study found microfinance access to have a significantly high impact t highly on household welfare index of those households that had participated in microfinance in Ngcobo. The higher household welfare index meant that microfinance beneficiaries had relatively higher protein consumption patterns, used more durable material for roofs, wall and floors of their main dwellings, had better asset ownership patterns in particular variety of household appliances and electronics. The study also found that there are other control variable such as employment, age, household size and education that interfere with access to microfinance. Lastly, the study also found that that distance of a household from a microfinance outlet or institutions plays a significant hindrance factor in microfinance access. In other words, those households in Mjanyana and Clarkebury, which are situated within more than 40 kilometres from the microfinance institutions, had lower microfinance access. Based on the findings, the study recommends that policy makers in the province pay attention in refining the policy to ensure that control variables identified to interfere with microfinance access do not close out the intended beneficiaries of microfinance. Also, the study recommends that policy makers and microfinance institutions be innovative in ensuring those in deep rural areas are offered the same opportunity to access microfinance within Ngcobo, despite their distance from the microfinance outlets.