Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS) / This study explored the production and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in irrigation schemes in South Africa. The particular focus has been on the farming styles of smallholder farmers, the impact of irrigation scheme production on their income and livelihoods, and the issue of smallholder social differentiation. The New Forest irrigation scheme located in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality was used as a case study. The research methodology utilized a combination of extensive and intensive research designs. The farming style approach was compared with the livelihood strategies approach to determine the relationship between the farmers’ approach to farming and their livelihood development trajectory. The underlying assumption is that small-scale irrigation has the potential to make a positive contribution to the livelihoods of farmers. New Forest irrigation farmers face a number of challenges at the irrigation scheme such as neglect by government, inadequate irrigation water, and access to affordable crops inputs. The farmers were not organised to be able to purchase inputs, engage in co-operative marketing, and manage the irrigation scheme. The notion of investing in smallholder irrigation schemes in order to convert smallholders into commercial farmers is unrealistic. Those that were classified as ‘food farmers’, benefit from irrigation development and participation through meeting their household consumption needs. Those classified as ‘employers’, obtained negative gross margins per plot and hired most farm labour. Diversification by employers into other less risky livelihood activities on-farm and off-farm is an option. The ‘profit makers’, make high returns from crop production, and obtained the highest gross margins per plot. This thesis argues that support to farmers in smallholder irrigation schemes should be provided in the context of their farming objectives, and livelihood aspirations which are not only varied but evolve across time and individual circumstances.

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

The recent increase in the number of black working women has meant that time has become an even more precious commodity in the majority of households with working women than before. Growth in women’s participation in the labour market has tended to stimulate the demand for time-saving goods and services, especially convenience foods to cope with time pressure in the preparation of meals. South African working women are moving towards the consumption of convenience foods as they become busier, managing both work and household chores, and also having more disposable income. This study aimed at gathering ideas and insight on the acceptability and use of convenience foods by black women employed by government in Mpumalanga. It investigated the consumption frequency of convenience foods in four categories, the contributing sensory attributes and the influence of resources, the socio-cultural environment and the occasion or situation on the acceptability and use of convenience foods. Food outlets used by black working women for the purchase of convenience foods were also identified. To elicit relevant information, a quantitative research design and survey techniques using structured questionnaires, with open and closed-ended questions were used to gather information. With the literature review and the objectives of the study in mind, 200 working women employed by government at the government Boulevard complex in Nelspruit formed the sample group. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 9.0.1 (SPSS), a computer statistical data programme. Descriptive and inferential statistics facilitated data analysis. From the discussion and interpretation of the results of the sample survey it was clear that black working women tend to either use certain types of convenience foods in the four convenience food categories less frequent (not more than twice in a week) or to use certain types of convenience foods, frequently (3 -4 times in a week or 5 - 6 times and every day of the week). The results showed clearly that there were relatively high proportions of working women (more than 56, 5% of the respondents) who were low users of almost each type of the convenience foods in the four convenience food categories except for baked products, cereal dishes, fried/grilled/roasted meat, and fully prepared refrigerated salads in category A; meat stews and fully prepared vegetable dishes in category B; breakfast cereals, vegetable salad ingredients, instant soups and instant sauces in category C and cleaned/pealed ready to cook vegetable items, pre-cut frozen vegetables, crumbed frozen fish and crumbed frozen or refrigerated meat portions in category D. Moreover, the findings confirmed that the sensory attributes, appearance, texture, smell and taste and flavour were considered very important in the acceptability and use of convenience foods. Resources, the socio-cultural environment and occasion or situation were also seen to have had a positive influence on the acceptability and use of convenience foods by the black women employed by government in Mpumalanga who participated in the survey. The study has contributed to the limited literature on the use of convenience foods especially by black working women. Moreover, food product developers and retailers will gain insight into the provision of convenience foods relevant to the needs and desires of time pressed consumers. / Dissertation (MConsSci)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

This research study’s premise was to compare and contrast two schools in the Elukwatini area in the Mashishila Circuit in Mpumalanga. One school has a strong culture of learning and teaching, whilst the other school has a weak culture of learning and teaching. The study has endeavoured to find all the similarities and differences in the two schools, in relation to time consciousness and its impact on learning and teaching. This study compares the schools’ cultures with respect to organizational culture, culture of learning and teaching (COLT), school management approaches, how times conscious these schools are and their time management levels. It captures what learners, educators, School Management Teams (SMTs), principals and parents do in relation to time management in the schools. Furthermore, it investigates the roles of all mentioned stakeholders in improving time consciousness, the culture of learning and teaching, effective time management, self-discipline, planning, goal setting, prioritizing, motivation and being responsible. For this research study, data was collected through observations, field notes, interviews and an audio tape. Illumination, understanding and insight of the schools’ time management were achieved in context, by taking the views, facts and ideas of participants into account. Moreover, it will enable school managers to develop programs and policies to alleviate tardiness. The research findings conclusively showed that there was a difference in the cultures of the two schools. In one school the principal, educators and learners were more time conscious, disciplined and concerned about effective learning and teaching. The management approach of the principal and SMT was clearly guiding, motivational and firm. In the other school, however, the principal, educators and learners were less time conscious. They tardily attended classes, there was less concern for learning and teaching, the management approach of the principal was weak, instructions were not taken seriously and a laissez faire approach was prevalent. / Dissertation (MEd (Management Law and Policy Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / unrestricted

The principal reason for the construction of Loskop Dam was to provide irrigation water to wheat farmers settling in the Olifants River valley in the 1920s. Agriculture has since developed in the area and today, the Loskop Irrigation Board supplies water to > 700 properties with an area of 25 600 ha farming cotton, wheat, citrus and grapes near the town of Groblersdal. Serious concerns were raised about deteriorating water quality when the crocodile population began to decline and the frequency of large fish kills increased from 2006. Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) mortalities were linked to pansteatitis which is characterised by obesity and lipid peroxidation. Known impacts on water quality include eutrophication and acid mine drainage from coal mining with associated increases of soluble metals. The aims of this study were to: i) determine whether pansteatitis could be linked to any specific parameters in the water chemistry and limnology of Loskop Dam; ii) measure concentrations of aluminium, copper, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc in various tissues of O. mossambicus to determine whether bio-accumulation was occurring and could be related to pansteatitis; iii) assess the metazoan parasite communities of O. mossambicus to determine whether they are effective indicators of ecosystem health in Loskop Dam. Four established sampling sites were used at Loskop Dam and a reference site was located at neighbouring Kranspoort Dam. Surface water quality samples were collected monthly between July and December 2010 from each site and analysed for 27 constituents including nutrients, major ions, total metals, pH and dissolved oxygen using standard methods. Orthophosphate and total inorganic nitrogen results frequently categorised Loskop Dam as eutrophic and the transitional zone of the dam was characterised by very alkaline conditions resulting from algal blooms (median pH 9.67) which increase the solubility of metals like Al. A combination of active and passive biomonitoring techniques were used for fish collection. Fish gills, brain, muscle, liver and bone were analysed for Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Se concentrations. The most striking result was an unanticipated significant deficiency in liver Cu concentrations of fish from Loskop Dam (mean 3.4 mg kg-1) compared to fish from Kranspoort Dam (mean 62 mg kg-1). Both endo- and ectoparasites were identified and enumerated on the fish and infection rates were calculated as mean intensity (I), mean abundance (A) and prevalence (P). Fish from Loskop Dam had extremely low infection rates and two fish had no parasites whatsoever. The ratio between monoxenous and heteroxenous parasites was calculated and was very high in fish from Loskop Dam compared to fish in Kranspoort Dam and Tompi Seleka, indicating a degraded aquatic ecosystem. While no single factor was outstanding as a possible cause of pansteatitis in this study, these findings provide a good foundation from which to formulate further research questions. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Paraclinical Sciences / unrestricted

The South African policy framework on Local Economic Development encourages the establishment of community-based projects in an attempt to address the challenges posed by poverty in local communities. It appears that community-based projects have a role to play in poverty alleviation. Municipalities are supposed to encourage and support the establishment of projects aimed at poverty alleviation in their jurisdictions. The Mbombela Local Municipality has played its role in this regard by supporting the establishment of the Daantjie Bakery Project in 2000. In an attempt to evaluate the impact of community-based projects on poverty alleviation, this study investigated the role played by the Daantjie Bakery Project in local economic development of the Daantjie local community in the Mbombela Local Municipality. Participants included community members of Daantjie, employees of the bakery, and the project manager. The study found that, indeed community-based projects play a role in local economic development since they contribute towards employment creation and poverty alleviation.

Learners in South-African secondary schools face challenges of growing into mature, responsible and healthy human beings amidst all the changes and societal problems in schools. There are so many problems, referred to as the mental health crisis among children in South Africa that confront secondary school learners, such as poverty, violence, crime, suicide, involvement in gangs, teenage pregnancies but to name a few. Education does not stand in isolation from the wider society around it but it is constantly influenced and moulded by the forces of cultural and social and economic development. The educational task of the school is synonymous with the educational aim of adulthood and social responsibility. Many children are experiencing challenges in coping with their emotions such as aggression and managing anger in their daily lives that a need has arisen for the facilitation of aggression management for secondary school learners through a Psycho-Educational Programme. This programme included new skills that are necessary for successful living and learning, thus focusing on life skills that enable secondary school learners to apply their knowledge, attitudes and values – what humans think, feel and believe and how to cope with an emotion like aggression. The researcher followed a structured framework in four steps in order to conduct the research, which adhered to the requirements of a qualitative and quantitative strategy. In step one the researcher followed an inductive reasoning strategy with a contextual, descriptive and exploratory focus (situation analysis). Secondary school learners' experience of aggression in their school was explored through individual phenomenological interviews conducted with a purposively selected sample and by means of field notes made at the conclusion of the interview process. The interviews proceeded until data were saturated. Guba’s model of trustworthiness strategies: credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability were applied. Each interview was audio taped and then transcribed. The data were then analysed according to Tesch’s (Creswell, 1994:154-155) descriptive, qualitative and systematic approach to data reduction where after a literature control was conducted. According to the data analysis four themes were identified: - learners experience aggression as part of their life; - aggression encompasses interpersonal relationships; - learners describe aggression as a negative experience; and - learners articulate measures to manage aggression. In step two the collected data from phase one was used to develop a Psycho-Educational Programme for secondary school learners who experience aggression in order to facilitate aggression management. During step three, two secondary schools were chosen. After selection the schools were randomly assigned as an experimental and control group. Secondary school learners were then randomly selected as participants from grade eleven learners at their schools. A questionnaire was used for pre-test and post-test purposes. Adherence to internal validity, external validity, reliability and objectivity ensured the trustworthiness of the process. The programme was presented to the experimental group only. The control group was treated exactly like the experimental group except that they did not receive the experimental treatment but a placebo programme as the group was only included for comparison reasons. In step four the evaluation of the Psycho-Educational Programme was done which enabled the researcher to focus clearly on the ultimate purpose of meeting the aims and purpose of this research study. The researcher can confidently express his trust and confidence in the Psycho-Educational Programme that was developed, implemented and evaluated. The evaluation of the data indicated that the questionnaires that were used as a measuring tool were reliable, appropriate and valid. The results indicated that the variables: self-awareness, interpersonal relationships and management of conflict were effectively included in the Psycho-Educational Programme and had a significant impact on the participants who took part in the experimental group. The placebo programme had no significant effect on the participants of the control group. In conclusion, mixed research methods of the qualitative and quantitative approaches were effective as it supported each other during this research study. / Prof. C.P.H. Myburgh Prof. M. Poggenpoel

Published in: SAMJ November 2016, Vol. 106, 1096-1102, DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i11.10689 / Background. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) produce various types of waste in the course of rendering healthcare services. Each classification of waste must be disposed of according to the prescribed guidelines. Incorrect disposal of waste may pose a danger to employees, patients and the environment. HCPs must have adequate knowledge of the disposal of medical waste. Objectives. To determine the knowledge and practices of HCPs with regard to medical waste disposal at a hospital in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional research approach was used. The study respondents included nurses, medical doctors, dental health staff and allied health staff. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analysed using IBM SPSS version 22.0. Results. A high proportion of HCPs did not have adequate knowledge regarding the disposal of medical waste, but nevertheless disposed of medical waste appropriately. While the knowledge and practices of HCPs with regard to medical waste disposal were not associated with age, gender or years of experience, there was an association between professional category and knowledge and practices. Conclusions. Disposal of medical waste is the responsibility of all HCPs. All categories of HCPs should receive regular training to improve their knowledge regarding disposal of medical waste and to minimise the risks associated with improper waste management. This will further increase compliance with the guidelines on disposal of medical waste.

The study focuses on the extent to which the “no fee” policy affects the financial management and support for educational programmes at “no fee” secondary schools in Mpumalanga. The “no fee” policy derives from the Education Laws Amendment Act (Act No. 24 of 2005) according to which the levying of mandatory fees have been abolished at public schools that are declared “no fee” institutions. The State has subsequently assumed the role of funding these “no fee” schools in order to create greater access to quality education and to improve the supply of educational resources as well as equipment in the impoverished schools. The findings of the research study eventually led to the recommendations that are presented as guidelines for the SGBs, principals as well as education authorities on the management of “no fee” schools. / Further Teacher Education / M.A. (Education Management)

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Coal-fired power stations produce large volumes of coal combustion residues (CCRs), which are disposed of in hold ponds or landfill sites. These ash storage facilities are limited in space and are approaching the end of their capacities, thus additional land is required for extensions. If new land is not sourced, power plants will be forced to cease operations, resulting in increased expenditure costs and environmental liability. A proposed disposal solution is to backfill opencast coal mines with CCR monoliths. However, there is limited knowledge on the hydraulic behaviour of CCRs in an opencast coal mine environment. This leads to an inability to assess this applications feasibility and determine whether this activity will have a positive, negligible or negative effect on groundwater quality. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by assessing the flow and transport properties of CCRs under numerous theoretical backfilling conditions.