Selected physiological activities and in vitro toxicological evaluation of essential oils and crude extracts of Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet used for the treatment of diabetes in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial glucose metabolic disorder with detrimental effect on the economic and health status of individuals in South Africa. Plant medicine has become the alternative healing power of this disease due to its availability and affordability with little or no side effect compared with synthetic drugs. However a few of these medicinal plants have not been scientifically studied to ascertain their effectiveness and safety. This research work evaluated the extracts of H. odoratissimum leaves and stems for their anti-diabetic property using selected physiological investigations to validate its folkloric usage in the management of diabetes in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In this study aqueous extracts of H. odoratissimum leaves and stem were investigated for enzyme inhibitory activities against alpha-amylase and alpha glucosidase using porcine pancreatin and p Nitrophenyl α D glucopyranoside p NP-Gluc enzyme assays respectively. Acarbose and epigallocatechin gallate served as reference drugs respectively. The anti inflammatory activity was performed using inhibition of 5 Lipoxygenase activity and inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase iNOS from nitric oxide NO production in lipopolysaccharide LPS activated macrophages RAW 264.7 with nordihydroguaiaretic acid NDGA and aminoguanidine AG as reference drugs while 3 4 5 dimethylthiazol 2 yl 2 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide MTT assay was used to assess cell viability. The aqueous leaves and stem extract exhibited weak inhibitory potency against 5 LOX activity .The IC50 values of 1.88 ugmL and 4.64 ug mL for leaf and stem extracts, respectively, is significantly different p 0.05 from that of the standard NDGA with IC50 14.49 ug mL. For inhibition of iNOS activity by the extracts aqueous stem extract exhibited a high inhibitory effect of 16.27 μg mL on NO production compared to 20.83 μgmL displayed by leaf aqueous extract. However the percentage cell viability using MTT assay was 86.07 percent and 90.51 percent for aqueous leaf and stem extracts respectively. The percentage inhibition of aqueous leaf and stem extracts against alpha amylase activity was 0.2 percent and 0.04 percent respectively. These cannot be compared with the standard drug acarbose which exhibited 96 percent inhibitory effect against alpha amylase activity. However the aqueous leaf extract exhibited strong percentage inhibition of 90.05 percent over 45.48 percent displayed by aqueous stem extract against alpha glucosidase activity. This is compared favourably with 86.09 percent of the standard, epigallocatechin gallate EGCG. Alkaloids flavonoids and terpenoids were present in appreciable amounts in both leaves and stem extracts. The result of radical scavenging showed that all the assay models exhibited significant influence over inhibition activity of the extracts assayed. In respect to the IC50 values aqueous stem extract had good DPPH radical scavenging activity while leaf aqueous extract had good nitric oxide NO and hydrogen peroxide H2O2 inhibition potential. Aqueous stem extracts exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against the tested pathogenic species with minimum inhibitory concentrations values ranging from 0.1 5.0 mg mL for bacteria and 0. 5 5.000 mg mL for fungi respectively. The antioxidant activity thus indicates the potential modulatory utility of the leaf and stem extracts of H. odoratissimum against oxidative stress-induced chronic diseases. This discovery demonstrated that aqueous leaf and stem extracts contain bioactive components with anti diabetic potential.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 202

Sustainable solid waste management in municipalities: experiences of selected settlements in Engcobo Local Municipality

South Africa has a variety of regulations on the provision of solid waste management services in municipalities as a result of the apartheid legacy. Nonetheless, discrepancies in waste management services persist despite new laws, legislative reforms and strategies. Those who live in marginalised and impoverished communities are the most susceptible and severely affected by improper waste management. This demonstrates a lack of integrated and sustainable waste management systems. This study aims to recommend a sustainable solid waste management system in Engcobo Local Municipality. More specifically, this study provides a sustainable and long-term waste management system for municipal solid waste (MSW) management in South African municipalities. Improving municipal solid waste management is essential for integrated and long-term management efficiency. Effective MSW management is critical, given the high generation rate and the capacity to decrease environmental consequences, depletion and contamination. To address the research issues, the study used a qualitative case study research design and an inductive research technique based on naturalistic interpretive research philosophy. Data was gathered through focus group discussions, documents, and semi-structured interviews. Considering this study is based on the interpretivism paradigm and qualitative research technique, the researcher employed nonprobability sampling. The sample size was n=35 participants who participated in semistructured interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that there have been gains in the management of sustainable waste. The municipality is experimenting with novel approaches to deal with the problem of solid waste, particularly in remote locations where people's trash is difficult to pick up and collect. Residents' views toward waste management have changed since few individuals attend the ‘General Mbizo’ on waste where the municipality speaks with citizens about waste and the economic rewards associated with effective waste management. Though it was shown that some participants in focus groups still need more information on waste management, there is a need for thorough educational initiatives on sanitation management, not particularly waste but water, waste and sanitation.Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 202

Resilience and sustainable reintegration of female survivors of human trafficking in Harare, Zimbabwe

The study explored the resilience and sustainable reintegration of female survivors of human trafficking who were repatriated to into their original communities in Zimbabwe. To achieve its goals the study had three objectives and the goals were, a) explore the individual (intrinsic) factors that promote development of psychosocial long-term resilience traits among reintegrated female survivors of human trafficking; b) determine the available community level factors (including indigenous knowledge systems) that support and influence the successful sustainable reintegration of female survivors of human trafficking and, c) assess the extent to which predefined national level post traumatic support policies, action plans, and initiatives for survivors predict and promote sustainable resilience among reintegrated survivors. The exploration was guided by the Resilience Theory. This theory offers a useful lens through which the issue was studied within the qualitative research methodology. Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and observations were used to collect data. Twenty (20) survivors of trafficking were interviewed in addition ro twenty (20) survivors if human trafficking were interviewed for the study and divided as follows: ten (10) relatives and or acquaintances of the victims at community level, and ten (10) key informants drawn from technical persons in government and other independent organisations working in the areas of human trafficking. The victims of human trafficking were selected using the information power model while the key informants were selected using purposive sampling. Data gathered were analysed using the thematic analysis. Findings from the study indicate that resilience is a process rather than a fixed attribute of a given person. Some individuals show resilience across a wide range of circumstances and outcomes; however, it cannot be assumed that the same features and circumstances can be protective and lead to resilience in light of all risks faced during human trafficking. To survive and be able to continue with their lives and in the end realise sustainable livelihoods, there are intrinsic or individual factors that promote the development of psychosocial long-term resilience among survivors of human trafficking. The study recommends that there is need for more improved legislation and government led efforts in helping the survivors. This can be achieved through the adoption of a Trafficking in Persons Case Management System proposed in this study.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 202

Communities and ‘protected places’: an examination of participatory conservation in the Addo Elephant Park

Despite South African governments and institutional players push for local populations to contribute to environmental issues which is typically achieved through programs such as community based natural resource management CBNRM the feasibility of this push remains in doubt. Nonetheless even if there are supportive structures for community based natural resources one of the issues with many emerging environmental concerns in South Africa is that some of the challenges faced are of national scope. For example issues such as soil erosion water pollution deforestation and contamination of ground water systems are so widespread that local solutions based on community participation cannot adequately address these challenges. The primary goal of this research was to investigate community based environmental conservation within protected areas and how it affects the livelihoods of communities near Addo Elephant Park. The study had four objectives examine the nature of local participation in environmental conservation around Addo Elephant Park determine the extent to which local communities around Addo Elephant Park are capacitated to engage in community based environmental conservation determine the effects of local participation in environmental conservation on the livelihoods of communities around Addo Elephant Park and investigate policy options. FGDs and in depth interviews were used to collect data from local community members ward councillors traditional leaders traditional healers park manager and government officials. The study used a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis. It should be noted that the data was analyzed using thematic analyses. According to the findings of the study local communities engage in participatory conservation through CBNRM government programs and isolated individual participation. The study also discovered that through Integrated Environmental Management IEM local x communities are equipped to engage in community based environmental conservation. The study also concluded that the effects of local participation in environmental conservation on livelihoods include increased community and household income educational enhancement community health and environmental sustainability. Finally the study made two policy recommendations to improve community environment conservation in Addo Elephant Park implement sustainable land use policies and promote the use of renewable energy sources. The framework for sustainable livelihoods served as the studys foundation.Thesis (MSoc Sci) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 202

Optimization of automatic speech recognition under noisy environment using machine learning techniques

Speech recognition technology is a fascinating field that enables machines to comprehend and interpret human speech. It allows users to interact with computers, smartphones, and other devices, using spoken commands rather than traditional input methods, like typing. Speech recognition systems analyse audio input, typically in the form of spoken words or phrases, and convert them into text or commands that computers can understand. The journey of speech recognition technology has been remarkable, evolving from simple command-based systems to advanced natural language processing algorithms capable of understanding context, accents, and even emotions. While speech recognition has made significant strides, challenges persist, particularly in accurately handling noisy environments and distinguishing between similarsounding words. This study aimed at developing an optimal automatic speech recognition system under a noisy environment, using machine learning techniques. In addition, the study aimed at evaluating the performance of the developed system. Speech recognition methodology involves several key steps to accurately transform verbal words into written commands or text, such as - Audio Input, Preprocessing, Feature Extraction, Acoustic Modeling, and Language Modeling. The model was developed using Google Collab and TensorFlow, an open-source machinelearning platform. This model used a transformer-hugging face, which is a pre-trained model. Transformers deploy convolutional neural networks that were trained with data collected by Facebook wac2 vec. For evaluation, the model made use of a confusion matrix, precision and accuracy metrics; the model was tested on real-time data and good results were achieved. Evaluation is continuing to observe the model's performance under different noisy backgrounds. This research adds to the corpus of knowledge, particularly in the field of speech recognition and for future work, the study will seek to use large live data and also investigate the error rate.Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 202

The rise of 'violent Non-State actors’ in South Africa: an analysis of the Taxi industry in the Eastern Cape Province

This study investigated the rise of ‘violent-non state actors’ in South Africa, with specific focus on the taxi industry in the Eastern Cape Province. Contemporary South Africa has been a playground for violent non-state actors often evidenced by sporadic service delivery protests and gun violence in public spaces. Many authors attribute these to the failure of the state to provide public services such as security, water, employment, etc. Amongst these non-state actors, are taxi associations called mother-bodies. The deregulation of the taxi industry by the then apartheid government in 1987 resulted in the exponential inflow of previously oppressed black people into the taxi industry, which had now become the most accessible form of informal business for previously disadvantaged people. This resulted in the formation of many mother-bodies that subsequently became ‘law unto themselves’ due to the absence of formal state regulation amongst other things. Since then, violent conflicts amongst these mother-bodies have become the order of the day. The study sought to determine the commuter’s perspectives about the taxi industry and violence in the Eastern Cape Province, to determine ways in which the taxi industry has challenged the monopoly of the state over the legitimate use of force and to explore the reasons why taxi violence has largely gone unchecked by the state. Part of the key findings of the study were that there is a general sense of fear and insecurity amongst commuters especially female commuters who use taxis. Various cases of sexual assault, intimidation and psychological traumas caused by exposure to violence amongst commuters have been reported. It has also been determined that in order to effectively challenge the monopoly of the state over the legitimate use force, some taxi operators have resorted to the use of self-created laws to intimidate their competitors, use of mafia-like tactics, extortion and coercion amongst other things in order to impose monopoly over some lucrative routes, individuals and associations. In resolving some of these challenges, the study inter alia recommends for the formalization of the taxi industry by government, which will result in the subsidisation of the industry.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 202

Implementation of the national diploma in tourism and hospitality management curriculum in two polytechnic colleges in Zimbabwe

Many countries in the world consider the tourism and hospitality industry as the leading employer with huge impact on economic growth. It has significantly contributed to their national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Several studies conducted world over affirm that tourism contributes above the global average of ten percent. In Zimbabwe, the estimated percentage has also been as high as 10percent. The Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM) program aims to equip youth with critical industry-specific skills and mitigate unemployment. Despite this, literature has revealed that certain graduates struggle to secure industry positions due to a discrepancy between acquired skills and employer expectations. Consequently, some graduates accept menial roles outside the tourism sector, while the industry itself resorts to employing unqualified personnel. The reason lies in ineffective curriculum implementation approaches characterized by a lack of appropriate pedagogical methods. Identifying and implementing effective strategies ensures that graduates possess the requisite skills and competencies demanded by the industry, making their employability much easier. This study used a qualitative approach because of its exploratory, descriptive, and contextual nature. The interpretive paradigm provided participants’ views, opinions, and thoughts on the THM curriculum implementation. The multiple case study research design allowed ample freedom to dig deeper into rich empirical data by examining contemporary trends in implementing the ND3 in THM curriculum at two polytechnic colleges. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to select the two polytechnic colleges. Purposive sampling was used to select twelve (12) students, six (6) lecturers, and two (2) ITTD inspectors. Lecturers and inspectors were interviewed. Data from students was obtained through Focus group discussions. Curriculum documents were reviewed to provide true realities of the THM curriculum implementation. Content analysis was used to analyse data. Rogan and Grayson (2003) curriculum implementation theoretical framework guided the study. The study revealed that lecturers were dissatisfied due to inappropriate pedagogical strategies. A new model to bridge the theory/ practice gap in teaching was developed. The study recommended the adoption of a new and modern teaching model and fix the recruitment process by employing qualified lecturers to teach ND3 in THM students.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 202

The psychosocial experiences of adolescents living with absent fathers in selected schools in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Globally the majority of adolescents are living without their biological fathers and throughout the African continent South Africa appears as the country with a high percentage of absent fathers with Black adolescents being the most affected. The study demonstrated multiple aspects that resulted in fathers being absent and showed figures of absent fathers in different ethnic groups in South Africa. This investigation was designed to gain the psychosocial experiences of adolescents living with absent fathers in selected schools in Keiskammahoek Eastern Cape South Africa. A qualitative approach non probability and purposive sampling were employed. A total of 24 participants were selected which were 10 adolescent girls 10 adolescent boys and four social workers. Face to face and semi structured interviews were conducted for data collection from adolescents in different secondary schools and social workers from the Department of Social Development in Keiskammahoek. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse acquired data from the adolescents and social workers. The findings revealed that the father s absence imposes several challenges on Adolescents however the social work interventions help to curb some of the challenges which include anti social behaviours in adolescents. Services such as PEIP ILP and Emotional support rendered by social workers play a huge role in adolescents living with absent fathers. It is recommended that families need to engage adolescents in open talks about their absent fatherhood while healthcare practitioners and social workers need to provide sex education to adolescents. The establishment of sports and recreation programmes in communities is necessary to decrease substance use and criminal behaviour in adolescents. The entire research was guided by the Attachment theory.Thesis (MSci Soc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 202

Fanon’s political ethics of intersubjectivity in Postcolonial African governance and citizenship

This dissertation investigates failures in postcolonial African governance and citizenship that sustain subjective and structural aspects of Black alienation, which continue to undermine critical agency and limit genuine spaces for the emancipation for postcolonial Black citizens even in the absence of direct and explicit repression. Drawing primarily on the phenomenological insights of Frantz Fanon and Jean-Paul Sartre into intersubjective alienation, and on contemporary analyses of postcoloniality, in the work of Achille Mbembe, Lewis Gordon, and Tseney Serequeberhan, I consider normative grounds of possibility for postcolonial Black dis-alienation, which are relevant for contexts of self-subjectification and indirect oppression, given the alienation that is engendered by structural violence, which Fanon ascribes to colonial displacements that continue to pose potential drawbacks to a vibrant postcolonial African society. Despite divergences in their accounts of postcolonial Black alienation and the construction of possible alternatives for Black freedom, I identify complementary analyses of postcoloniality in the work of Mbembe, Gordon, and Serequeberhan. All three theorists employ Fanon’s psycho-existential phenomenology of postcolonial Black alienation as a foundation for a working model of implicit, subjective, and social conditions that undermine genuine Black freedom. I argue that Serequeberhan’s hermeneutic alternative, grounded in the historico-cultural context and situatedness of Black experience, provides useful insights into the possibility of overcoming Black alienation through trans-cultural intersubjectivity and radical openness, while he departicularize solutions to the contextualized Black problems he identified. At the same time, I argue that, while Gordon redeploys Fanon’s sociogenic phenomenology to critique postcolonial Black alienation, his position remains trapped in the polarities of North South coloniality and American racial dynamics, which precludes understanding of novel configurations of power and subjectivity in postcolonial Africa. In his account of postcolonial Black alienation, Mbembe describes a distinctive situation of deficient intersubjectivity resulting from failures of postcolonial African governance systems that are characterized by autocratic leadership and further complicated by a self-defeating public complicity, wherein Black citizens reproduce their own oppression. Despite the lack of potential emancipatory clues, I argue that Mbembe’s conception of convivial politics and mutual zombification provides a compelling account of postcolonial Black alienation and self-subjectification, revealing distinctive oppressive relations marked not only by violence and alienation exclusive to dominant ruling forces, but also by social complicity and reciprocity. To respond to these challenges, I argue that Fanon’s prescient account of Black dis-alienation and practices in the context of psychiatric medicine sets out implicit complementary sources of normative political practices on the basis of which we can develop an emancipatory ethics of intersubjectivity, which suggests a nonviolent pathway to emancipatory social transformation in postcolonial African governance and citizenship, by which the Black citizen may emancipate herself from alienating conditions of oppression evident in features of structural governmentality, and in the continual reproduction of self-subjectification in the postcolony, which Mbembe describes.Thesis (MSoc Sci) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 202

The psychosocial experiences of women and children associated with development induced internal displacement caused by the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam project, Zimbabwe

Many development projects have resulted in the displacement of whole communities in Zimbabwe in recent decades. Most of these displacements have translated into extreme disadvantages for women and children. Previous research has largely focused on the economic, humanitarian, and human rights issues without segregating the psychosocial experiences women and children face owing to displacements. This study examined the legal frameworks, both international and municipal, that govern the internal displacement of people for development. The socio-political context in which development-based displacements take place in Zimbabwe was also examined. Viewed through the Human Security Approach and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this study also covered the insecurities and the psychosocial challenges that women and children experienced because of development induced displacements. The non-probability sampling method and the purposive sampling technique were employed in this study. The qualitative data gathered through Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews were used to explore the experiences of women and children associated with project-based displacement caused by the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam project. The findings of the study indicated that women and children experienced loss of property, land, social networks, identity, a sense of community, impoverishment, and were subjected to resettlement without adequate compensation. To the women and children, project-based development had negative psychosocial implications. Women and children were further exposed, alienated, and disenfranchised from social amenities needed for human development and growth. From these findings the study concludes that the largely colonial policy in displacement and resettlement violates human rights and further disadvantages women in their need to participate in development. There is therefore need for engendered policies in the displacement and resettlement to ensure the protection and assistance of women and children and whole communities. Social Workers and other humanitarian players need to play major roles. In advocating social amenities and facilitating just compensation and psychosocial wellbeing of the displaced women and children. Healthy relationships with host communities should be forged by Social Workers and all stakeholders to ensure smooth resettlement of the displaced.Thesis (MSci Soc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 202