The overall aim of this study was to evaluate quality of STI services in Umjindi local municipality. A concrete objective was to investigate the health system issues that may have a negative impact in the provision of quality STI service in the local municipality. These include accessibility of the STI services to the community, training of health workers in syndromic management, availability of necessary equipment and supplies for STI management, turn-around time for blood results and infrastructure of the facilities.

school learnersChild-headed household is a phenomenon that is growing in South Africa. As such, it is imperative to uncover the realities of children in this situation. This study explores and describes the schooling experiences of secondary school learners from child-headed households. This qualitative study included a sample of 20 grade 10 and 11 learners from four secondary schools. Data were collected through structured interviews and document analysis. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the data. The findings suggest that secondary school learners from child-headed households live in poverty and encounter experiences such as absenteeism, psychological trauma, gender-based discrimination, lack of adequate food and scholastic materials, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy. These experiences impact negatively on their schooling. The study recommends that learners from child-headed households should get more care and support from educators and other stakeholders. / Science and Technology Education / M.A. (Socio-Education)

M.Sc. / Rivers always borrow a great part of their character from the terrestrial ecosystems – the catchments – through which they flow. A multitude of natural factors determines the health of a river ecosystem, however, together with these natural factors, the combined influences of urban development, pollution, bank erosion, deforestation (and ironically many forms of afforestation), and poor agricultural practices have so degraded our rivers that they are under severe threat. One particular group of organisms within river ecosystems that are affected by human-induced changes, are birds. Birds are rather adaptable organisms; many species are able to inhabit human environments very successfully. However, some bird species are highly specialized and adapted to specific environments, like riparian and riverine zones, and their absence or presence is a useful aid in indicating the ecological integrity of an area. In the past, management of aquatic ecosystems was based primarily on chemical water quality monitoring. However, it is impractical to monitor each component of river make-up in detail, therefore monitoring of biological components (biomonitoring) was also incorporated; using selected ecological indices that are representative of the larger ecosystem, and that are practical to measure. Common examples of biotic assemblages that have been incorporated into biomonitoring and used in biotic indices are aquatic macroinvertebrates, fish, plants and algae. Each assemblage is useful in its own particular way in providing us with an integrated view of the integrity of the ecological system as a whole. However, little research has been done on the potential of using birds in a suitable index to monitor changes in the environment. Because birds are so easily observed, their species so easily identified, and their distribution so widespread, it seems viable that birds could also be incorporated into an index of biotic integrity, and used for short- or long-term monitoring of river ecosystems. The river that was selected for the purposes of this study was the Sabie River, in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The Sabie River catchment falls within the Incomati River basin, which is an international drainage basin occupied by South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. Land use in the catchment is characterized by forestry, rural community activities (subsistence and small scale farming of livestock and fruit), and conservation activities, in particular the Kruger National Park. In order to gain better understanding of the functioning and composition of the instream and riparian zones of the Sabie River, certain indices were applied, namely the SASS 5 aquatic invertebrate index, together with the Index of Habitat Integrity (IHI). / Dr. G.M. Pieterse

According to Baron and Richardson (1994:1), it is unusual to pick up a newspaper, watch the news on television or even page through a magazine without learning about aggression or violence. In South-Africa many such articles in magazines and newspapers indicate that aggression has found a place in society and is experienced daily by people. In addition, aggression is experienced daily by educators in the schools. Furthermore, examples are provided by newspaper headlines such as: “Pupil in hospital after being belted” (Sowetan, 13 May 2003:6) and “Bail for teacher accused of death beating” (Daily Sun, 2 August 2003:2). Some learners and educators encounter verbal insults, rough physical contact and hostile rejection. These aggressive encounters are sometimes perceived as aggression in a less intense form. Secondary school male educators are to supposed to build relationships with and set an example for the learners at their schools. Therefore it was hoped that a contribution could be made to lessen aggression, which is a destructive element in their relationships, not only with the learners, but potentially with all stakeholders, including colleagues, school management teams, school governing bodies and even figures within the structures of the Mpumalanga Department of Education. Against this background, the need arose for an effective way to reduce aggression, hence this research deals with secondary school male educators’ own aggression. The purpose of this research study was to explore and describe secondary school male educators’ experience of own aggression and furthermore to describe and to recommend guidelines to support those educators who experience own aggression. The participants in this research study were all white Afrikaans speaking, secondary school male educators from the Mpumalanga Department of Education. All the interviewees were between the ages of 36 and 58 years, with experience of teaching, both in the former Transvaal Education Department as well as the new Mpumalanga Department of Education. The research design was based on qualitative research because of its exploratory, descriptive and contextual nature. Qualitative research attempts to describe, interpret or reconstruct the depth, richness and complexity of an identified phenomenon in order to gain an understanding of it and insight into it (Burns & Grove, 1997:67). Qualitative research implies a direct concern with experience as it is lived, felt or undergone by people (Merriam, 2001:6; Sherman & Webb, 1988:7). During phase one data were collected through phenomenological interviews which were audiotaped, and field notes, reflecting the researcher’s observation during the interviews. Creswell (1998:51) explains that a phenomenological study describes the meaning of the lived experiences of several individuals about a phenomenon. Therefore the interviews were transcribed for data analysis purposes. Ethical guidelines, which served as standards and as the basis on which the researcher ought to evaluate his conduct during data collection, were followed. During phase two of the research study, the data were analysed according to Tesch’s method (Creswell, 1994:154-155), an approach for data reduction, after which a literature control was conducted to verify and complement the results. In a literature control, information from the literature is compared with the findings from the study, not only to substantiate the findings but also to enhance the trustworthiness of a research study. In addition, to ensure the trustworthiness of this research study, Guba’s model (Krefting, 1991:214-222; Lincoln & Guba, 1985:290-327) was applied. According to the data analysis, three themes were identified, namely: · Secondary school male educators experience their own aggression in a variety of ways. · Secondary school male educators are of the opinion that a loss of power and/or control elicits aggression. · Secondary school male educators are of the opinion that the implementation of guidelines will enable them to cope with their experience of own aggression. In view of these broad themes, guidelines were described to support secondary school male educators who experience own aggression and therefore also to facilitate mental health. The research findings showed that secondary school male educators experience own aggression in a variety of ways such as experiencing themselves as not being aggressive. They also associate their own aggression with positive as well as negative feelings. Furthermore, these male educators experience ambivalent feelings in relation to their own aggression. They experience a loss of power and/or control, and they are of the opinion that because of this loss these feelings of powerlessness and not being in control give rise to own aggression. Thus there is a need for the implementation of guidelines to support these secondary school male educators who experience own aggression. Based on these findings, guidelines were described to support secondary school male educators who experience own aggression and recommendations were made regarding an approach that would facilitate mental health. More importantly, this study firstly intended to be of value, not only to secondary school male educators, but to all educators in preventing aggressive behaviour (Aggressive behaviour refers to that behaviour directed towards the goal of harming or injuring another living being). Secondly this study also intended to prevent aggressiveness (that relatively persistent readiness to become aggressive) in a variety of different situations. / Prof. C.P.H. Myburgh

M.Ed. / Key legislative acts and policy papers have been adopted to guide the transformation process these include the National Policy Act 27 of 1996, the National Qualifications Framework, South African Schools Act 84 of 1996, Curriculum 2005, and the Employment of Educators Act 1998 to name but few (Meyer and Motala 1998:1). Over and above these there is the Mpumalanga School Education Act 8 of 1995, Norms and Standards for school funding and numerous Educator Labour Relations Council resolutions that serve to guide the transformation process. All these acts and policy papers are initiatives of the state to ensure school competency and hopefully school effectiveness. Their dependence is substantially on strengthening capacity to plan, manage and supervise schools. Meyer and Motala (1998:1) further indicate that for the implementation of all acts and policy papers require a change in organisational culture and the development of appropriate capacities. The most important source of the required capacity to ensure school management and leadership is broadly in the hands of the principal. These rapid changes in acts and policies in our school system are creating a leadership crisis in the Mpumalanga schools. School principals as such commonly blame these rapid changes for their paralysis. On the other hand the Mpumalanga Department of Education (MDE) is randomly and sporadically conducting induction programmes, seminars, conferences and workshops for principals to ensure that principals understands and at least develop the capacity for effective school leadership. According to Bailey and Jenkins (1996:14) these initiatives alone can hardly sustain the needs of the school principals. / Prof. T.C. Bisschoff

M.Sc. / The impact of air pollution by power stations on water quality, just like any other source of water pollution, is an issue of concern for all the water users since any degradation in water quality affects the water's suitability for use. The study area in which Majuba power station is located was chosen because it is in an area free of industrialisation, and is also part of the Vaal catchment. This catchment area is very important because of its water supply for Gauteng province and provides an ideal opportunity to monitor surface water pollution from atmospheric sources such as power stations. The purpose of this research is to investigate the chemical, physical and biological quality of surface water in the vicinity (within a 31 kilometre radius) of Majuba power station. The study will determine whether this power station is causing any salinity and acidity problems at the chosen sampling sites. Salinity and acidity are water quality problems associated with atmospheric pollution. The aim of the study is to determine whether proximity to Majuba power station has an effect on the surrounding surface water quality. The research was conducted by means of water quality sampling, analyses and assessment. Water quality samples were taken from six sites (Majuba 1 to Majuba 6) in the vicinity of Majuba power station over a period of three years (1997 to 1999). The approach was to take four samples in a year coinciding with the four seasons of the year. Due to logistical problems only two sampling trips were undertaken, during 1997. In 1998 and 1999 the full four sampling trips were undertaken however in some instances the river was dry or was flooded hence no samples could be taken at the affected sampling sites (although a trip to the sampling site was made). The biological analyses where done on site using the biomonitoring technique while chemical analyses were performed at the laboratory at Eskom. The biomonitoring assessment was done using the biomonitoring technique. The chemical results were assessed in terms of the suitability for use for the aquatic environment. This was done by using the water quality guidelines for the aquatic environment. The chemical results indicated that in terms of salinity and acidity the site closest to the power station, namely Majuba 1 had the worst water quality of the six sites. Majuba 1 also had the worst results in terms of biomonitoring. Majuba 2 indicated elevated salinity levels. The other four sites, namely Majuba 3 to 6, did not indicate either salinisation or acidification. However, the biomonitoring results at these sites indicated, with the exception of Majuba 4, some deterioration in water quality. Majuba 4 had the best water quality in terms of biomonitoring. Reasons for this could not be determined. At present it is still premature to say whether acidity in the water is a problem. This is a preliminary study and currently a more detailed multidisciplinary study that includes disciplines such as atmospheric deposition, groundwater chemistry, soil profiles and hydrology is being undertaken on the Upper Vaal catchment to comprehensively determine the impact of air pollution from power stations on the surface water quality. The proposal will be presented to the South African Water Research Commission. The ultimate aim of the multidisciplinary study is to inform decision makers in water quality management sector regarding the impact of air pollution on surface water quality, in order for them to put in place abatement technologies or strategies to mitigate surface water quality pollution.

M.Ed. / Technology is relatively a new learning area that has been phased into grade 7 in 2000 as part of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE). Teachers have limited background knowledge in teaching technology, as they did not do technology in their pre-service training. In Mpumalanga, primary school teachers have a limited insight in the understanding of the technological process because they were only trained in the simplified version, namely that stated in the policy document, which has only some stages of the technological process. The purpose of this study was to find out whether the use of the thinking subprocesses and following the ten stages of the technological process can assist a teacher in the planning and teaching of a lesson in technology. A three days intervention was conducted in which twenty-five teachers were trained in the technology outcomes, teaching strategies, lesson planning format, the thinking subprocesses and the ten stages of the technological process. This was a case study following the qualitative research inquiry. One teacher was observed and interviewed, and her lesson plans studied. She was chosen from the group that attended the intervention. The research questions that formed the core of the study were, “how can the thinking subprocesses and the ten stages of the technological process assist teachers with the planning and teaching of the lesson?” and “What are the effects thereof in the planning of lessons?” Data was collected through observations, interviews and a review of documents. The findings revealed that when a teacher was following a technological process when planning the technology lessons, she used it as a framework for the lesson plan. She also used the technological process as a structure for the teaching of the lesson in class. As the teacher had a minimum knowledge of the technology content and teaching approaches, it also became clear that when she knew what aspects should be considered when planning and teaching, she managed to find the content information on what should be taught in her classes. Following the technological process gave her the confidence and guidance in the gathering of resources and the teaching of lessons. / Prof. P.J. Ankiewics

M.Ed. / Despite the proven benefits of activity, people today are living sedentary lifestyles, resulting in a decline in the general health of the population. At the World Summit on Physical Education held in 1999 in Berlin, international delegates presented research evidence on the benefits of Physical Education (PE) and its important role in developing healthy, active children. However, the assumption that the ineffective implementation of PE in many of the schools in the past compromised the value of the subject and its status was lost. PE was a subject in need of review. Change was essential in order to ensure that the holistic benefits of PE were realised and that the knowledge, skills and values necessary to encourage lifetime physical activity participation were developed. In the new democratic South Africa, the need to establish curriculum principles founded on the fundamental values of the Constitution was essential for the growth of individuals, communities and the country as a whole. Although these principles are considered across the curriculum, the development and implementation of a new Learning Area (LA) known as Life Orientation ensured these principles were also entrenched in a specific programme. Of particular interest was the positioning of the PE outcome in the Further Education and Training (FET) phase. As a PE specialist who believes in the value and worth of PE, especially in its new guise within Life Orientation, the researcher noted, with concern, the apparent lack of commitment in many schools to uplift the state and status of this vitally important outcome within Life Orientation. Although the new curriculum was only implemented in Grade 10 in 2006, Grade 11 in 2007 and came into effect in Grade 12 in 2008, there were already noticeable gaps developing between policy and practice in some of the schools in South Africa. This study gave the researcher the opportunity to investigate the implementation of the PE outcome in the FET phase in rural schools in Mpumalanga Province where the gap between policy and practice had already been expressed.There were many implementation problems identified by the findings. The lack of the teachers’ relevant knowledge, skills and experience, the poor support received from the district and the schools, insufficient teaching and learning material, the almost non-existent facilities and equipment available and the large class sizes all contributed to implementation difficulties. A comprehensive picture of the many inter-dependent aspects affecting the implementation of PE programmes was acquired. The research conducted gave the researcher the framework to establish both the current level of implementation and the ideal level of implementation to which the schools could aspire.

M.Sc. / The Elands River (Incomati System, Mpumalanga) is a biologically diverse and ecologically important riverine system. In terms of the South African National Water Law, the river can be regarded as an aquatic resource, with social, ecological and economical benefits to the local population and the environment itself. The ecological status of the system has, however been questioned, whereby concerns relating to the water quality and the ecological health of the Elands River has been raised. Initially, the concerns focused on an accidental industrial spill of “black liquor” into the Elands River by the Paper Mill at Ngodwana. Subsequently the groundwater in the vicinity of the Ngodwana Mill has possibly been contaminated with chlorides. The contaminated subsurface water has been discharged into the river, and is suspected to be impacting, primarily in the form of increased salinity, the integrity of the Elands River. This study assessed the ecological integrity of a segment of the Elands River between Waterval- Boven and the confluence of the Elands River with the Crocodile River. In addition this study investigated the possibility that increased chloride-based salinity levels were the factors affecting the ecological integrity of the Elands River. The study is divided into three main components. The environmental component involves the assessment of the surface water quality and flow, physical profile, current aquatic habitat status and a biotic integrity assessment of the Elands River and the Crocodile River directly above and below the confluence with the Elands River. An ecotoxicological component incorporated a bioassay of selected chloride-based salts, using daphnids and selected fish species as test organisms. Finally an Ecological Risk Assessment was carried out to evaluate the likelihood that adverse effects were impacting on the Elands River, as a result of the activities of the Ngodwana Mill. The water quality was assessed by implementing the methodology for the determination of present ecological status: water quality, as part of the preliminary determination of the ecological reserve. Historical water quality data were obtained from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and from Sappi. During the study, current water quality parameters were obtained from Sappi and parameters were independently sampled. Analyses of the water quality indicated that the Elands River has been subjected to eutrophication and increased levels of chloride-based salinity. Habitat integrity was analysed by constructing two dimensional site transects of the riparian zone and instream channel. Additional habitat indices, the Integrated Habitat Assessment System, the Habitat Cover Ratings and the Site Habitat Integrity system were applied. Habitat results indicate that the in stream habitats of the Elands River are abundant and linked to the flow regime. Additionally the assessments indicated that the habitat makeup of the Elands and Crocodile rivers is primarily riffle, run and rapids habitats, which facilitate the requirements of numerous invertebrate and vertebrate aquatic communities. Biotic assessments studied the integrity of the vegetation, invertebrates and ichthyofaunal communities. The integrity of the vegetation community was assessed by implementing the Riparian Vegetation Index. Results indicated that the riparian vegetation community was modified in varying degrees due to the encroachment of exotic and terrestrial vegetation elements and by anthropogenic activities. The integrity of the invertebrate communities were assessed by implementing the South African Scoring System. Results indicated that the integrity of the invertebrate community was exceptionally high in the vicinity of Hemlock. The invertebrate community structure changed however in areas were a water quality contamination was observed. The ichthyofaunal attributes were assessed by implementing the Fish Assemblages Integrity Index and the Sensitivity Weighted Index of Biotic Integrity. The ichthyofauna assessment revealed two aspects that have conservation importance. These aspects are the occurrence of an endangered species, Chiloglanis bifurcus, and a potentially geologically isolated subspecies of Labeo-barbus polylepis. The index results indicated that the ichthyofauna community structure followed similar trends to the invertebrates by responding to the mentioned stressors. Toxicological assessments were carried out using the standard Daphnid 48-hour LC50 and fish 96-hour LC50 tests. The species selected for the tests were the currently recognized test organisms (Daphnia pulex and Poecilia reticulata) in South Africa. Additional fish species were included in the tests, these species were Oreochromis mossambicus and Clarias gariepinus. Chloride-based salts were selected as the toxicants; these included calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium chloride. The tests were carried out under controlled conditions using standardised protocols. Results indicated that in excess, chloride-based salinity is toxic to invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. Additionally findings indicated that potassium chloride was the most toxic and sodium chloride the least toxic of the salts. Calcium chloride was selected as the most representative salt to represent salinity. The Ecological Risk Assessment was implemented after international and national frameworks were considered. The assessment was primarily based on the results obtained from the integrity assessment of the Elands and Crocodile rivers. Results obtained indicated that the localised biological template of the Elands River, in the vicinity of the Ngodwana Mill is moderately impacted by the activities of the Mill. The impact is primarily associated with the increased salinity content of the Elands River. Effects of the stressors were modified in relation to a dilution effect. Risks posed by the stressors are deemed to be restricted to a localised area, and it is highly improbable that the stressors would result in the loss of the biotic diversity and thus the ecosystem of the Elands River as a whole. Should the current situation prevail, the intensity and spatial extent or distribution of the stressor could increase. / Dr. V. Wepener

Magister Artium - MA (Anthropology/Sociology) / Cultural tourism is a vehicle for economic growth. Cultural representations are made in order to make the cultural tourism sector a more vibrant one. Given this argument, research in cultural tourism should take a critical stance in the analysis of cultural representations. An understanding of the meaning of culture is necessary to analyse the comparison of daily life with cultural representations. Observing the daily lives of host communities creates a conductive environment for realising and understanding the gaps between tourists experiences and the daily realities of the host communities. This research analysed how people represent their culture to tourists through the sale of crafts and dance performances. The research was carried out in Leboeng village, on the border between Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, near the small town of Ohrigstad. / South Africa