D.Litt. et Phil. / The opponents of the White minority government in South Africa succeeded in 1994, by means of the electorial process, to obtain the political power in the country. These opponents of the previous government were, and still are, a composition of members from the total demographic spectrum of South Africa's population. The composition of the Bantu population in KwaZulu-Natal was traditionally family clusters of the Nguni. Conflict occurring in KwaZulu-Natal may, with reference to the past up to the recent present, be categorised as follows: Along intra-ethnic lines - the Zulu against Zulu-related family clusters. The same concerning the Xhosa. Along inter-ethnic lines - the Zulu against the Xhosa, and later the Bantu against the Whites. Along intra- and inter-ethnic lines within the Nguni. Reference is made on the one hand to the conflict between the traditionalists and modernists within the Zulu and Xhosa peoples, and on the other hand to the conflict between the Zulu and Xhosa peoples. Given the focus of this study the inherent present conflict in KwaZulu-Natal will be addressed, and then with specific emphasis on the occurrence of conflict in the geographic and demographic contact zone, viz the lower Umzimkulu Area, where the Zulu and Xhosa peoples merge. Since the dawn of South Africa's history, KwaZulu-Natal may be regarded as the territory where geographic expansionist ideals were, by means of conflict, brought to fruition. Historically, conflict situations were initiated from the Ulundi area and these conflicts gave rise to bloody "war situations." The (strategic) aim of the (tactical) offences was already then the realisation of a (geopolitical) idea of expansion.

A dissertation submitted to the faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Johannesburg 1997 / South Africa has recently begun a number of conservation Initiatives which link conservation with the development of people This follows a worldwide trend in which it is acknowledged that conservation cannot be undertaker without the participation of local communities who are most affected by the establishment of protected areas The Thukela Biosphere Reserve In KwaZulu/Natal South Africa iS such an Initiative The research provides an assessment of the potential of the TBR to successfully introduce a sustainable land use strategy in the region This assessment is achieved through an investigation of the historical situation as well as local communities perceptions and attitudes toward the TBR and environmental degradation These attitudes are compared to a more scientific analysis of land degradation The research made use of participatory methodologies to assess these perceptions Findings indicate that local Afrrcan communities are intensely aware of environmental degradation in the TBR A number of factors however prevent them from accepting the TBR as an effective land use option These include oppressive historical polices leading[Abbreviated [ Abstract. Open document to view full version]

A Thesis, submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2013 / A novel holistic approach was used to study the mycotrophic nature of commercial sugarcane varieties grown in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. All five varieties were mycotrophic, but N12 had the highest overall mycorrhization and was selected for a pot study to assess the growth response of sugarcane to inoculation with indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and microflora. The pot study suggested that sugarcane will respond positively to inoculation with AM fungi, but the effects are most clear in the early phase of growth and less obvious in later elongation phases. This observation, taken together with the ability of sugarcane to grow well in sterile soil without microflora additions suggests that the plant may be facultatively mycotrophic. A multivariate analysis determined the nutrient relationships between soil and corresponding leaf nutrient levels on 72 sugarcane field plants, categorised according to either high or low percentage colonisation. Highly colonised plants were found to have more positive nutrient correlations compared to lower percentage colonised plants. AM fungi were identified from spore morphology and associated mycorrhizal bacteria (AMB) were identified by 16s rDNA analysis. Partial molecular identification was conducted using a universal eukaryotic forward NS31 primer and general fungal AM1 primers confirming the spores to be of AM fungi origin. A nested PCR was performed, using the universal fungal primers, NS5 and ITS4, followed by primer combinations to target sequences of specific Glomalean groups. Only partial molecular identification was conducted, as RFLPs were not successfully optimised. DNA from the Acaulospora gerdemannii/Acaulospora trappei group, Glomus occultum/Glomus brasilianum group, Glomus mosseae/Glomus intraradices group, Glomus etunicatum/ Glomus clariodeum group and Acaulosporaceae sensu stricto were detected, indicating AM fungi diversity. Bacteria, Brevibacillus reuszeri isolated from Scutellospora nigra, Bacillus megaterium and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolated from Glomus geosporum, Paenibacillus chitinolyticus and Bacillus cereus isolated from Acaulospora mellea and Gigaspora margarita spores respectively, were tested for biocontrol capability against pathogenic nematodes of Paratrichodorus, Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus genera. Meloidogyne was the least susceptible to associated mycorrhizal bacteria biocontrol and Paratrichodorus the most susceptible. These studies have contributed to understanding the role of AM in sugarcane agriculture in South Africa. Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhiza, sugarcane varieties, multivariate analysis, nutrient relationships, associated mycorrhizal bacteria, biocontrol, nematodes

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Pietermaritzburg, 2015 / This thesis considers economy and cosmology in the Iron Age of KwaZulu-Natal. It draws on models derived from anthropological and historical analyses of precolonial agriculturists in southern Africa and applies these to archaeological data. Critics argue that anthropological approaches in archaeology are not conducive to the creation of a socially dynamic past. In contrast, I believe that their potential is considerable. The models targeted, principally Huffman’s Central Cattle Pattern, obviously represent socially dynamic relationships. This is clear if we look at lower-level models: Ngubane’s analysis of Zulu sickness and healing, which reveals fracture lines and tensions within the homestead, and Hammond-Tooke’s observation that the Nguni and Sotho pollution systems are variations related to the specifics of marriage and settlement. Ngubane’s analysis couples neatly with Guy’s identification of the ‘history-making’ principle—the struggle for the accumulation, creation and control of human productive and reproductive capacity— that gave Iron Age societies their dynamism. It is an engagement that firmly integrates systems of symbolism and belief with economy. Throughout this study I focus on the expression of this dynamic principle in cosmology and material culture. Consideration of pollution concepts in the Early Iron Age showed that the high exchange value of women created extensive lateral alliance networks as cattle moved as bridewealth from one homestead to another. The system worked against a concern for male agnatic continuity and so generated considerable structural tension within society, which was expressed in material culture. My focus on fish remains in Iron Age sites generated an ‘ethnography’ and political history of fishing where none had existed previously. It established a cultural logic that explained the avoidance of fish eating in some societies, and its adoption and significance in others. The approach combined with Kopytoff ’s frontier model revealed two key findings. First, the marginal category, amalala, originated at the Early and Late Iron Age interface. Secondly, the Zulu kingdom emerged from a dynastic shift in a complex of chiefdoms around the Babanango plateau, with the Zulu leadership usurping Khumalo authority. An analysis of Nguni rainmaking, and of the record of interaction between huntergatherers and agriculturists, revealed no evidence that hunter-gatherers made rain for agriculturists until the late nineteenth century. This work marked their final tragedy, their loss of independent life as the colonial world closed in about them.

M. Tech. Education / The Department of Basic Education is extremely dedicated to developing its human resource's performance, to bring their practices to excellence for the benefit of the whole education system in South Africa. However, a closer scrutiny at the Department of Education reveals chronic ailments of lack of competency among teachers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Integrated Quality Management System on quality academic achievement and human relations in primary schools located in Ladysmith. The aim was to make a contribution to the policy makers in the department of education, for the betterment of the quality management system and the achievement of its objective which is quality education.

Thesis (M.Tech. degree in Education) -- Tshwane University of Technology, 2009 / The study made the following findings: All the results clearly indicated how the four (4) challenges discussed affected each school and the areas in which they are situated. Some educators were not quite equipped with the content knowledge to teach the Technology learning area. There were however, some educators with adequate content knowledge to teach Technology. The training received by educators was insufficient because it introduced them to Technology content within a short space of time. The shortage of resources has made educators rely on old methods of teaching whereby, textbooks and chalkboards were used. Urban schools are however happy with their resources. There is an obvious difference between the Technology taught in the General Education and Training (GET) Band and what the learners learn at Further Education and Training FET Band. Large classes contribute to the attitudes of learners having a lack of interest in the teaching and learning of Technology. This is caused by lack of adequate and appropriate resources to use during the lesson. The ignorance of some communities in technology hinders schools from getting assistance in the teaching and learning of Technology. Hence this study confirmed that there are constraints and challenges in teaching and learning Technology, at senior phase.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Bonn, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [241]-268).

The purpose of this study was to look at how principals and educators managed and experience the implementation of Quality Assurance policies in secondary schools in KwaZulu Natal focusing on the bttegrated Quality Management System that is currently in place. This study was designed as a qualitative exploratory and descriptive survey. Data was collected in 2007 by visiting schools and conducting interviews with the principals and educators. School managers fell into two groups. One group was positive about Integrated Quality Management System and other group negative. Even though there were differences, all agreed that lntearated Quality Management System was good if it was to be introduced at a pace suitable to the educators. Educators preferred Integrated Quality Management System to systems that were not transparent. They then recommended that Integrated Quality Management System should not be linked to the educators' remuneration as this destroys what could be good about IQMS / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Education Management)

In March 1997 an indigenous knowledge story was included by the Schools Water Action Project (SWAP)partners in a resource pack for Water Week educational activities. This research developed as the result of an interaction between myself and some of the schools while we investigated water quality within Howick in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. An interest in understanding the role of indigenous knowledge in/for environmental education developed. Some of the teachers and students involved in the water audit were requested to share their views on the role of indigenous knowledge in/for environmental education. From here the study broadened to also include interviews with elderly community members and environmental educators involved in materials development processes. This post-positivistic case study documents the views of a small sample of interviewees using the SWAP story entitled Sweet Water as a spring board towards a better understanding of indigenous knowledge within the school context, with a particular aim to inform educational materials development processes. The study displayed that a link which exists between indigenous knowledge and environmental education needs to be brought to the fore. This is likely to happen with the blurring of boundaries between home and school as learning contexts, a process which student interviewees emphasised, along with the need for respecting values that award respect to the environment. Elderly community members were of the view that they have a role to play in addressing educational problems such as interpersonal and intercultural respect. However, the study also raised several issues around the complexities surrounding indigenous knowledge processes, including its appropriation, commodification and reification.

The feeding of the cichlid fish Sarotherodon mossambicus in Lake Sibaya, KwaZulu, was studied in relation to various biotic and abiotic features of the l ake environment from January, 1973 to July, 1975. The primary goal of the study was to determine the cause of stunting and poor condition of adults in this population. Juvenile and adult S. mossambicus feed on a mixture of detritus, bacteria and diatoms that occurs as a flocculent layer on sand substrates throughout the lake. Concentrated gastric acid, commonly at pH values of 1.5 and lower, lyses diatoms and bacteria which are subsequently digested in the intestine. This is the first report of digestion of bacteria by a fish, and the nutritional significance of the finding is discussed. Juveniles feed predominantly on shallow sand terraces found along the margin of much of the lake, while adults usually feed in offshore waters at depths of 3 m and greater. Benthic floc from feeding areas of juveniles and adults have similar concentrations of organic matter, total carbohydrate, soluble carbohydrate and calories, but differ markedly in respect to diatom and protein concentration. Diatom concentrations are generally high in terrace floc but are consistently low in floc from deep water. Protein concentration of benthic floc decreases with increasing depth from 0 - 5 m. Partial correlation analysis shows that protein and diatom concentrations have no correlation independent. of their common relationship to depth, and the evidence implicates detrital bacteria as the primary source of protein in benthic floc. Probable causes of the observed distributions of diatoms and protein are discussed. The protein content of benthic floc profoundly influences its nutritional value. A comparison with available data on animal nutrition shows that the ratio of digestible protein to digestible energy in floc in the shallows is high enough that this food resource would be expected to support good growth, but the ratio for deep water floc is so low that it would be expected to result in conspicuous malnutrition. Thus, inadequate dietary protein is identified as the principal cause of stunting and poor condition of adult S· mossambicus in Lake Sibaya; It is argued that the ratio of digestible protein to digestible calories can be expected to determine the food value of particulate organic matter that includes amorphous detritus in other ecosystems. Despite stunting and poor condition of adults, S. mossambicus are abundant in Lake Sibaya. The precocious breeding of this population is discussed as an adaptation that allows it to maximize reproductive output given the limited resources available to adults. Juvenile S. mossambicus perform daily movements from deep water onto the terraces where they feed and then back into deep water. During periods of relatively low lake level when terrace waters were usually less than 1.5 m deep (1-73 to 1-74), juveniles were present on the terrace throughout daylight hours. At relatively high lake levels (7-74 to 8-75), juveniles were present on the terraces for only about five hours following sunset. Periods of heavy wave action interrupt feeding activity and result in reduced numbers of fish in terrace waters. The possible roles of predator avoidance and temperature in determination of daily feeding behavior are discussed. Daily energy assimilation by juveniles, estimated by a field technique, is approximately 115 cal per g fish dry weight.