D. Litt et Phil. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Ochre is found at many Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites and its use is often attributed by archaeologists to enhanced mental abilities and symbolism. However, the links between the visible uses of ochre, cognition and symbolism have not been clearly demonstrated. Here it is argued that by understanding ochre processing technology and some of the stages involved in using ochre, one can determine the skill, knowledge and cognitive abilities required to execute those activities. In order to understand the usetraces found on ochre, and to enable the identification of them, as well as the types of ochre used, experiments were first performed with geological ochre specimens. Ochre pieces collected from the Sibudu surrounds were used experimentally for a variety of grinding, scoring and rubbing activities. All use-traces created on the ochre piece during an activity were macro- and microscopically examined, recorded and compared. Experimental ochre pieces ground against a coarse or fine-grained slab develop parallel striations. Grinding results in significant changes to the surface shape of the ochre, and often results in faceted edges. Scoring can be performed with the intention to create powder, or to create a design. The incisions created from scoring often do not reach all the edges of the used surface and they regularly have frayed terminations. A frayed incision termination shows that the incision was created by multiple scoring strokes. When ochre is scored to manufacture powder the incisions that are generated are parallel groups of grooves with erratically oriented grooves as well. Grooves created through both grinding and scoring have microstriations within them and they show a range of profile shapes. The most common use-wear from rubbing ochre on soft materials is smoothing, edge rounding and polish. Microstriations and metallic lustre occasionally form during rubbing. The collection of utilised experimental ochre formed a comparative collection for the examination of the Sibudu ochre. The main body of this research comprises a study of the Middle Stone Age ochre assemblage from Sibudu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Sibudu has a large Middle Stone Age ochre assemblage of over 9000 pieces of ochre from layers dating between ~77 ka and ~37.6 ka. All pieces were examined to determine the types of ochre used and to inspect all use-traces present on the pieces. The assemblage comprises 5449 ochre pieces iv >8 mm, including 682 pieces with markings from use. The pre-Still Bay (~77 ka) and Howiesons Poort (~65–62 ka) layers have the highest percentage of utilised pieces. Bright-red ochre was preferentially selected for use throughout most of sequence. There is evidence of the preferential selection of specific types of ochre for use in the Sibudu assemblage. Shale and pieces with medium hardness values are common throughout the sequence. Grain sizes change through time – pieces with clayey grain sizes are favoured during the Still Bay and Howiesons Poort, whereas silty grain sizes are preferred in the younger Middle Stone Age occupations. High frequencies of bright-red amongst the utilised pieces, coupled with high frequencies of yellow or orange pieces with no evidence of use, suggest that colour choices were deliberate and not a product of postdepositional heating. Chemical analysis of a sample of utilised pieces indicates that they all contain iron, silicon, aluminium and calcium; many pieces contain hematite and some contain maghemite. Use-traces were divided into activity categories, based on experimental results. Combined grinding and rubbing is the most frequent activity for which ochre pieces were used. Grinding and rubbing use-wear also occurs independently on many pieces. Scored pieces are rare, but are more frequent in the pre-Still Bay (~77 ka) industry than elsewhere in the sequence. Some of the incisions appear to be deliberate engravings, and parallel lines and fan-like marks are the most often repeated patterns. Use-traces acquired during powder-producing activities predominate, implying a desire to create ochre powder. Powder-producing activities were mainly performed with bright-red pieces, while minimal scoring is mainly present on brown-red pieces. Pieces with mica inclusions are not common, but were frequently used for powder-producing activities. Once the activities performed with ochre were established, thought-and-action sequences, or cognigrams, were constructed. This helped establish the steps involved in each activity and the temporal and physical distance between the commencement of a task to its completion. Inferential sequences were constructed to establish the procedures and knowledge needed to complete an activity, thereby establishing the cognitive prerequisites. Cognitive interpretations are made using the concept of enhanced executive functions of the brain. The construction of the inferential thoughtv and-action sequences showed that the various ways that ochre was used have different cognitive requirements. Powder-production alone is not an indicator of complex cognitive processes, although some planning, foresight and knowledge of materials is required. Some of the powder was used in the creation of hafting adhesives, which is a cognitively demanding process requiring attention-switching ability, response inhibition and abstract thought. Grinding ochre and then rubbing the piece on a soft material for the direct transfer of powder does require some complex mental abilities, such as multi-tasking and switching attention. Scoring a piece of ochre with a sharp tool does not necessitate enhanced executive functions, but some engravings demonstrate foresight, intentionality and an awareness of space and symmetry that may demonstrate abstract thought. This research provides a complete description of the Middle Stone Age ochre assemblage at Sibudu, and establishes the way that ochre was used at the site. This contributes to the debate on the advent of enhanced behaviours in the past by providing insight into the cognitive abilities required by the ochre users. It offers a method of analysing ochre use in the past by drawing on cognitive theory and the visible applications of ochre. Both simple and complex cognitive abilities were required for ochre activities at Sibudu. The requirement for cognitively complex abilities in some of the ochre-related activities at Sibudu suggests that the people living there during the MSA had advanced mental capabilities like modern humans living today. This research shows how ochre use can be employed as a proxy for cognitive capabilities, and can therefore shed light on the evolution of the modern mind.

Climate change is a clear indication that humanity’s innate affiliation with nature has been suppressed, and that our detrimental anthropogenic activities on the earth’s natural resources and systems, have exceeded the earth’s ecological capacity to cope and regenerate. This threatens environmental sustainability, which subsequently has social and economic implications. Environmental conservation is humanity’s aim towards re-affiliating its deep rootedness in nature, in order to ensure a sustainable co-existence with other species and natural systems, and thus convince responsive lifestyles, which allows humanity to match natural-resource extraction to the rate at which the earth can regenerate. The role of environmental sustainable architecture, towards mitigating humanity’s impact on global warming, still leaves a disparity between human relationships and interactions with the natural environment. The notion of a phenomenology-guided design inquiry, an application of enhanced multi-sensory experiences is identified, to re-affiliate humanity with nature and to provoke a sense of urgency for greater protection of the natural environment, through an immersive experience of enhanced human-nature interactions with nature. Furthermore, this notion is applied in the programme of eco-tourism and qualitative ecological research; the proposed site choice; the concept design approach and technical resolution of the project. The research recognises the conservation of sensitive ecosystems such as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in northern KwaZulu-Natal, as one of the core strategies for environmental sustainability, and its appropriateness as a site for immersed experiences with nature and the sharing of ecological knowledge for the benefit of the wider communities in South Africa and internationally. The research proposes an environmentally responsible and contextually appropriate architectural design, for a wetland, estuary and marine conservation centre in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Furthermore, the programme responds to the key contextual issues concerning the park by assisting with the ecological conservation and growth, as well as the social and economic sustainability of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and surrounding communities. This is achieved by proposing an architectural programme which functions as an interface and mediator for the key issues concerning the park, that is of research, education, tourism and community participation, through which the most concerning issue of ecological conservation occurs.

M. Tech. Operations Management / Makhathini Farmers have produced cotton for over 10 years at subsistence level despite utilising related technology extensively; the farmers' mission remains to produce cotton at commercial level. The technology mentioned in the study is available worldwide, as well as locally. The technology accessed is readily available to the local farmers. Theories pertaining to technology were explored to assimilate a kaleidoscope of technological perspectives and to gain a better understanding of what can be expected if these were utilized. Against the above background the research problem was formulated as: How technology could be deployed to upcoming commercial - cotton farmers in the Makhathini region to support sustainable cotton production in this specific area.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Men might benefit from opportunities specific to their needs in improving access to HIV care. This is a group vulnerable to higher morbidity and mortality than their female counterparts, due not only to poor or delayed health seeking behaviour and the culture of blame for the transmission of HIV, but probably due to neglect, inadequate or poor support by the current policies, by a gender biased research agenda, by the international research community and global health funders. Objectives: The objectives of this current study were: - to explore the reasons for poor health seeking behaviour amongst African men seeking HIV care in KZN; - to establish the health care practitioners’ views about the reasons for the perceived poor health seeking behaviour amongst African men accessing HIV services in KZN; - to inform guidelines in improving access to HIV services by African men Methodology In-depth interviews were employed as the method of obtaining lived experiences, perspectives and opinions of men living with HIV and that of their health care practitioners. Results It was found that men still feared the diagnosis of being HIV positive, even with the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and the advances in managing this disease. Several reasons for this fear emerged with the common theme being the doom of impending death, social stigma and fear of abandonment as well as social marginalization. Conclusions We cannot expect to attract men to predominantly female orientated settings within health faculties. Special attempts need to be made to reach out to men in places they are comfortable being in. Messages should be clear and concise about the effectiveness of low cost, available treatment for HIV; and that early diagnosis improves health outcomes. Cultural sensitive interventions are needed that are suitable, in generating a clearer understanding of health management options and motives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mans kan voordeel trek uit geleenthede wat spesifiek op hul behoeftes in die verbetering van toegang tot MIV-sorg. Dit is 'n groep kwesbaar vir hoër morbiditeit en mortaliteit as hul vroulike eweknieë, nie net die gevolg swak of vertraagde gesondheid gedrag en die kultuur van die blaam vir die oordrag van MIV, maar waarskynlik as gevolg van verwaarlosing, onvoldoende of swak ondersteuning deur die huidige beleid , deur 'n geslag bevooroordeeld navorsing agenda, deur die internasionale navorsing gemeenskap en globale gesondheid-befondsers. Doelstellings: Die doelwitte van die huidige studie was: - die gesondheidsorg-praktisyns se siening oor die redes vir die waargenome swak gesondheid gedrag onder-Afrikaanse mans toegang tot MIV-dienste in KZN tot stand te bring; - die redes vir swak gesondheid gedrag onder-Afrikaanse mans wat MIV-sorg in KZN te verken en - riglyne te stel in die verbetering van toegang tot MIV-dienste deur swart mans Metodes In-diepte onderhoude is gebruik as die metode van die verkryging van geleefde ervarings, perspektiewe en menings van mense wat met MIV en dié van hul gesondheidsorg praktisyns. Bevindings Daar is bevind dat mans nog bang was vir die diagnose van MIV-positief is, selfs met die koms van hoogs aktiewe antiretrovirale terapie (HAART) en die vooruitgang in die bestuur van hierdie siekte. Verskeie redes vir hierdie vrees na vore gekom met die gemeenskaplike tema synde die straf van die naderende dood, sosiale stigma en vrees vir verlating, sowel as sosiale negatief. Gevolgtrekkings Ons kan nie verwag om mense te lok om oorwegend vroulike georiënteerde instellings in gesondheid fakulteite. Spesiale pogings moet aangewend word om uit te reik na die mans in plekke waar hulle gemaklik is. Boodskappe moet duidelik en bondig oor die doeltreffendheid van lae koste, beskikbare behandeling vir MIV, en dat die vroeë diagnose verbeter gesondheid uitkomste. Kulturele sensitiewe intervensies word benodig wat geskik is, in die skep van 'n beter begrip van gesondheid opsies en motiewe.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Information Technology)-Dept. of Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xv, 150 leaves, Annexures A-J / Over the years, computers have been introduced to many South African classrooms in an attempt to improve education, and this is true for Previously Technologically Disadvantaged (PTD) schools in Kwazulu-Natal with learners whose first language is isiZulu. However, frameworks of computer learning vary widely and there is a crucial need to understand how specific situational conditions either facilitate or constrain the implementation of computer-supported learning in these schools. This thesis discusses research undertaken to document the process of introducing localised OpenOffice.org.za software with an isiZulu interface into Information Technology education at PTD schools in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The thesis also documents the process of introducing a dual language medium in Information Technology at the Durban University of Technology. The study investigates the English language as one of the possible causes of the lack of understanding of computers by English second language learners.

Submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Business Administration, Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / The purpose of this study is to identify the influence of customer-supplier relationships through facilitation of credit on the development of Micro enterprises in the Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal Area of KZN. This study originates from the fact that there are many SMME‟s in South Africa, absorbing about 15 million people (DTI, 1995:7). Even though this sector is providing most of the employment in the country, they still find it difficult to arrange funds to start or expand their businesses. Lending institutions do not want to provide finance for them, and if they do, they do it with reluctance and reservations. As a result, SMME‟s are not able to grow and develop into big businesses. This is a quantitative and exploratory research study which was used to explore, for the first time in Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal area, the relationship between customer-supplier relationships and accessibility of credit facilities. The study made use of questionnaires to obtain the respondents‟ perceptions on the research questions developed. A questionnaire that consisted of 35 questions was distributed to 50 SMME owners in Adams Mission, Madundube and Umbumbulu (AMU) villages. Cronbach‟s reliability analysis was not applied as it was not appropriate for use with this questionnaire. The research showed that a relationship between customers and suppliers assists SMME‟s to obtain access to credit facilities. Added to this, SMME owners, who had access to credit facilities, experienced positive changes in their businesses. This serves to prove that access to credit is essential for the development of SMME‟s. As a result, recommendations to train and educate SMME owners on how to manage their businesses, how to apply for credit and the requirements needed for applications have been set out.

The role of the subject advisors as instructional leaders in South Africa has not been a field which has been given much focus. Few studies have been conducted on the role of the subject advisors even though the international literature shows that in developed countries much research has been done on the role of subject advisors. This study aimed at understanding the role of subject advisors in the South African context using one Education District in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2011 the Department of Basic Education introduced the Guidelines on The Roles and Responsibilities of Education Districts with the aim of addressing the functioning of the education districts. So it is also important to know how the subject advisors understand their roles. This research utilised a qualitative, case study approach. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews. Three subject advisors were the participants of this study. Data was analysed utilising Hallinger and Murphy‘s model of an instructional leader. The findings suggest that the subject advisors understand their roles of enhancing instructional leadership in schools. Through the findings it emerged that subject advisors understand their roles to be supporting educators through the implementation of the curriculum which includes conducting workshops, providing educators with the educator support materials and class visits. Class visits enable the subject advisor to understand what is actually happening in class so that he/she would be able to understand the nature of support that might be needed. There were challenges that the subject advisors experienced as they performed their duties. It emerged through the findings that the subject advisors involved other people in supporting teaching and learning in schools because of different reasons, which included the shortage of subject advisors in certain discipline and also the subjects which were introduced in schools when these subject advisors were already employed. Other challenges which emerged from the findings included the shortage of computers for the subject advisors which forced them to use one computer and also educator support materials like duplicating papers which were used for workshops and the materials that were to be used in the classroom. Recommendations to address these challenges include organising more workshops for subject advisors so that they would have the necessary skills, employing more subject advisors, partnerships with local private sector to address the shortage of educator support materials. / M.Ed. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.

Since 1994 the South African government has implemented principles of equity, redress and social empowerment in broader society and in education. Consequently, corporal punishment was banned in schools and new methods of managing discipline were introduced. Moreover, decision-making power is decentralised to School Governing Bodies on which learner representatives serve in secondary schools. Thus, the latter are also involved in the management of discipline. This study explores the learners' role in the management of discipline in urban secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Current perspectives on school discipline and an overview of the learners' role in discipline management in the South African context were provided. A qualitative investigation used interviews with learners and educators in selected schools to collect data. Findings suggest that learner involvement in discipline can be positive but lack of training and poor communication impede the full deployment of learners in this regard. Finally, recommendations for the improvement of practice are made. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Education Management)

This dissertation looks at the impact of East Coast Fever on African homestead society in Natal in the period 1901-1910. The disease broke out in Natal at the beginning of 1904. With the realization that East Coast Fever was another lethal epizootic, the Natal Colonial Government introduced measures to control the spread of the disease and finally eradicate it. The campaign was, however, not successful. The disease thus spread throughout the colony and led to the loss of many cattle owned by Africans. By 1909 not more than four divisions in the colony remained free of the disease. The death of many cattle deprived Africans of the means of extensive cultivation, the source of income for the payment of rents and taxes, and Ilobolo. Many African males were forced to leave their homesteads for the towns and the mining sector in search of work. This eventually changed the nature of the homestead society. / History / M.A. (History)