M.Tech. (Fine Art) / Unemployment and the crime levels which escalate as a result of it, are very realistic social problems in South Africa and training for job skills and entrepreneurship has become a priority. This study identifies the use of invasive plant fibres as a viable resource for the hand papermaking industry and the development of a new cultural industry. The research' funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Technikon Research Committee (TRC) has been implemented in an established poverty relief programme called Phumani Paper', which creates jobs especially in rural or impoverished sectors through technology transfer and training. A curriculum is currently being developed for current and future participants of this programme to obtain qualifications in hand papermaking. An investigation has been undertaken to define suitable invasive plant species for the purpose of this research. The investigation included the extent of invasive encroachment, plant identification, methods of control and government legislation. Initially water hyacinth (eichhomia crassipes) was identified as a suitable fibre, but because Phumani Paper supports 21 small paper businesses in seven provinces, research had to be undertaken on several different species found in each of the regions. Species such as moth catcher (Araujia sericifera), milkweed (Asclepias fruticosa), pampas grass (Cortadeira selloana), giant reed (Arundo donax) and bugweed (Solanum mauritianum) have been identified as viable fibres for the hand papermaking industry, due to their fibrous characteristics...
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:7908 |
| Date | 14 January 2014 |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johanneburg |
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