The role played by religion and spirituality in the rehabilitation of former gang members in the Durban Metropolitan.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Gangsterism is not a new problem and is not inherent to South Africa alone. However, the problem is widespread in South Africa and within the city of Durban and it is surrounding areas. Durban has been plagued by the overwhelming and increasing number of gang-based crimes. Minimal studies addressing this problem in Durban have been published. Most studies have been on the gangs of the Western-cape and the prison number gang system. It is not uncommon that active and former gang members try to desist from gang life and pursue a path of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Nor is it uncommon for them try to re-invent themselves to achieve pro-social identities. Religiosity has always been a powerful desister in combatting criminality. It has served as a platform for gang rehabilitation and disassociation amongst gang members globally. This study intricately studies the role of religion/spirituality in the lives of former gang-members by reflecting on the lives of people who had once adopted this aspect of criminality. This study adopted a qualitative approach embedded within the interpretivist paradigm. This study is founded on the Desistance theory of criminology. Data was collected using in-dept interviews with 10 purposively selected participants. The approach and techniques utilized in this study are described concisely to provide a clear picture of how data is collated, and the researcher has used what academics refer to as the “journey motif” to accurately and rationally describe the research setting as well as provide grounds for the research design considered ideal for this study. The findings have shown that each participant had life changing experiences that served as a precursor for desistance and that religion was at the core, filling in the gaps of the lives they once pursued. Findings revealed that life-changing experiences, alongside spirituality and religious practices, played a key role in gang disengagement. Psycho-social factors contributed to initial gang involvement, while desistance was met with challenges such as fear for safety, estrangement from family, and financial loss. Some participants maintained ties with former gang associates despite leaving the lifestyle. Spirituality facilitated identity reconstruction and personal growth. The study highlighted the significance of faith-based interventions in promoting long-term desistance and reintegration

Didactisation d’une partie d’une bande dessinée écologique pour l’enseignement du FLE (niveau B1) didactisation of the environmentally based comic (bande dessinée) Algues Vertes, l’histoire interdite (“Green Tides, the forbidden story”) for French as a foreign language (FLE) classes at the B1 level.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Actuellement, les problèmes environnementaux constituent une question importante entre des acteurs sociaux à l’échelle mondiale. Cela souligne l’importance de l’éducation environnementale (EE) pour promouvoir la conservation écologique. L’EE peut être intégrée dans l’apprentissage des langues étrangères pour développer les compétences linguistiques et de pensée critique des apprenants dans le contexte des sujets environnementaux pertinents à la société. En employant un langage de niveau natif et les contextes réels, les documents authentiques constituent également une source de langage riche et pratique pour l’enseignement des langues et traitent à la fois des aspects linguistiques et culturels de la langue cible. Cette recherche a visé donc à (i) didactiser une partie d’un document authentique – la bande dessinée (BD) française Algues Vertes, L’histoire interdite (2019) d’Inès Léraud et Pierre Van Hove, traitant du problème environnemental des algues vertes et de sa gestion en Bretagne, France – pour des apprenants hypothétiques du français langue étrangère (FLE) du niveau B1 et (ii) évaluer le matériel d’enseignement développé (un livret d’accompagnement de lecture) d’une manière autoréflexive. Les compétences ciblées étaient la compréhension écrite et la production écrite. En me basant sur des études antérieures traitant des matériaux d’apprentissage basés sur l’EE et les BDs, des compétences et des activités linguistiques et de pensée critique pertinentes à cette recherche ont d’abord été identifiées. Elles ont ensuite été intégrées dans le livret développé, utilisant une longueur suffisante de la BD (les pages 1 à 25) pour inclure des questions représentatives de toutes les activités identifiées. Les théories du constructivisme et de l’apprentissage inductif et trois approches didactiques – l’approche actionnelle, l’instruction basée sur le contenu et l’apprentissage basé sur les tâches – ont guidé le développement du livret. Les activités du livret prennent en compte les compétences du document Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues : apprendre, enseigner, évaluer pour la compréhension écrite et la production écrite du niveau B1, correspondant aux objectifs de la recherche. Les recherches futures peuvent mettre en oeuvre le matériel d’enseignement développé auprès de vrais apprenants du FLE et peuvent intégrer des activités de production orale pour étendre les activités du livret

The implementation of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system in government departments: a case study of the KwaZulu-Natal department of social development.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The study is centred on “The Implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System in Government Departments: A case study of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development”. The Ministry of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation began in 2009, and the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) was established in January 2010. The Department of Social Development (DSD) Annual Reports for 2017/18 and 2018/19 contained the Auditor General’s audit outcomes of the Department of Social Development performance information. The audit/s revealed undesirable audit outcomes, with the department. Government departments should be effective in service delivery and efficient in allocating funds for service delivery programmes. The government is expected to report on its budget, programmes and achievements. The South African government has instituted a range of legislative and policy changes. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development’s mandate is to be delivered according to the South African Constitution and provide an effective, transparent, accountable and coherent intergovernmental system for provincial governments. This study seeks to understand the implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation System in the KwaZulu Natal Department of Social Development. The study objectives examine the implementation of the M&E system in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development and understand the role of monitoring and evaluation in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development. The qualitative research study employed the qualitative research design. This included interviews for data collection and a thematic strategy for data analysis. The study employed the theory of change. The findings show capacity gap between national, provincial, and local government organizations influences evaluations' credibility.The study recommendations support the assertion that M&E contributes to effective programme implementation and a level of good governance; an integrated approach is recommended and emphasised to recognise the multi-faceted nature of social problems

Integration of educational technology resources in the teaching of grade 10-12 life sciences.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The use of Educational Technology resources has brought numerous benefits in the education system such as enhancing the teaching and learning process. Furthermore, integrating educational technology resources fosters inclusive education and offers an engaged learning environment where learners acquire the 21st century skills relevant in this digital age. This study explored the integration of Educational Technology resources in the teaching of grade 10-12 Life Sciences. The study was carried out in four different high schools in the urban, rural and township of Eshowe town. This qualitative case study adopted the interpretive paradigm, involving four teachers purposively and conveniently selected. The study used reflective activities, one-on-one semistructured interviews and observations to generate data. The generated data was analysed using thematic analysis. The emerging themes formed the main findings of the study. In addition, Connectivism was employed as a philosophical lens to guide this study. The findings of the study indicated that participants integrated similar hardware and software resources to teach Life Sciences. These included textbooks, overhead projectors, anatomical models, charts, laptops, videos and WhatsApp. The findings further reveal that participants were integrating these successfully in conjunction with the whole-class strategy but for different personal reasons. For instance, while some participants were using textbooks for assessing, others used them for visuals, and while other teachers were using OHPs to display notes some used them to display videos or pictures. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that teachers be equipped with more knowledge of other software and hardware resources such as YouTube, and apparatus. In addition, the study also recommends that teachers draw from the curriculum policies to integrate relevant educational technologies as formally prescribed

The effects of anthropogenic disturbances on vegetation, birds, and nearby communities in selected Southern Mistbelt Forests in South Africa.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Globally, forests are threatened by several disturbance factors. Most of these include anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, land use, agricultural conversion, and fragmentation, driven by poverty and rapid population expansion. These disturbances have a considerable impact on forest structure and composition. In eastern South Africa, most rural communities are located near natural forest patches and, if not, are within travelling distance, which allows for unlimited access to forest resources. Overexploitation and harvesting are common in these regions. Nevertheless, forests provide valuable ecosystem services to local communities, while they are also crucial for biodiversity as they host most species, regardless of the small space they take up on Earth. Therefore, understanding the trends of disturbance and future implications is necessary. We explored the benefits and costs of mistbelt forest disturbance to the nearby communities and biodiversity. We compared lower, medium, and highly disturbed mistbelt forests in three different areas in terms of (1) bird species diversity, forest structural complexity and heterogeneity, and (2) the impacts, values, and perspectives of the nearby communities. Firstly, we investigated the response of bird taxonomic and functional diversity to local and landscape characteristics. Bird species were sampled using fixed radius point counts at a distance of 200 m apart. The bird functional indices were quantified using the functional richness and functional evenness. The overall results showed a positive response of functional richness and evenness to structural complexity and heterogeneity. The categorical disturbance had a negative influence on the functional richness and evenness of the bird community, including the specialists and generalist bird species. However, we found that the functional richness and evenness in highly disturbed patches increased compared with medium disturbed patches. The results demonstrated the importance of microhabitat covariates in promoting species diversity and conservation of endangered and vulnerable species. Moreover, monitoring of recovering forest patches is crucial given their possible future role in biodiversity conservation. Secondly, we conducted a total of 360 interviews in seven villages/communities situated near indigenous forest patches using the questionnaires between October 2023 and January 2024. The overall results indicated that local community members benefit from forest resources such as firewood and traditional medicine. They use these resources to build houses, and fences, and generate sales. Furthermore, during the dry season, the forests become primarily important for foraging for their livestock. This prevents the use of expensive supplements to supplement their livestock. Therefore, human-nature interactions are an important step in balancing ecosystem services and conservation. In addition, forest ecosystems are crucial for the provision of ecosystem services for biodiversity and human livelihood. The proper management and conservation of the Mistbelt Forests is recommended for a long-term supply of resources and biodiversity conservation

Facilitating the solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotides and peptides.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Oligonucleotides and peptides are important chemical entities in pharmaceutical and material industries. The synthesis of both is carried out using the solid-phase approach first developed by Merrifield for peptides. Briefly, protected monomers (nucleotides or amino acids) are incorporated into a solid support through a linker, then a protecting group is removed, and the next monomers are incorporated sequentially. At the end, the oligonucleotide or the peptide is detached from the linker-solid support. In the present thesis, we describe the synthesis of base labile linker (4-((2hydroxyethyl)sulfonyl)benzamide) and its application in solid phase synthesis of a 3’ phosphorylated oligonucleotide. The new linker is compatible with phosphoramidite chemistry and enables obtaining the desired 3’ phosphate oligonucleotides in excellent yields. Secondly, we reported the synthesis of ((2-oxopyridin-1(2H)-yl)oxy)tri(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phosphonium (PyHOPO) coupling reagent for solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) application and racemization study. PyHOPO was produced in excellent yield, and it enabled peptide synthesis with high purity and no detectable racemization. Furthermore, the crystal structure of PyHOPO, which is a bidentate molecule, has been solved, which has allowed to determine univocally its structure

A review of customer satisfaction levels with the physical motor vehicle license renewal system in KwaZulu-Natal.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Motor vehicle licence renewal has been a practice that is performed by motor vehicle owners for many years. It is a compulsory process whereby all automobile owners must register their automobile with an appropriate government agency to be able to drive on the public roads. This process entails the automobile owner paying a set amount determined by the capacity of the engine, the type, and the use of vehicle. This license must be renewed annually. This service is owned and managed by the Department of Transport who expanded accessibility to the service by appointing the South African Post Office (SA Post Office) and local municipalities as licensing agents. Considering the number of vehicles that must be renewed annually, this poses challenges due to the overcrowding experienced within the physical spaces of the licensing authorities. Non-receipt of renewal notifications and time spent waiting in queues impacts customer satisfaction with regards to in- person licence renewal system. With the introduction of an online motor vehicle license renewal system in 2022, the licensing authorities were still experiencing longer queues which resulted in overcrowding at the physical outlets. There is a disconnect between the marketing communications promoting the existence of online motor vehicle licence renewals and customer awareness for the online license-service adoption. The limited internet coverage in rural areas to support the access of e- services, impacts service accessibility. Also, the digital divide attributed to lack of basic digital literacy, insufficient information communication technology (ICT) skills and devices especially in communities from remote areas, which further hindered the access to e- services (Aruleba and Jere, 2022). The unavailability of onsite and offsite portals which would potentially serve as customer alternatives, to access the service, especially in remote areas, would contribute to the online service adoption process. This study aimed at reviewing the customer satisfaction level with regards to the in-person license renewal system in KwaZulu -Natal. The study further explored customer awareness and customer readiness for the adoption of an online licence renewal system, where the service is accessed through the internet. This study used a quantitative research technique and utilised the SA Post Office as a location of choice for a case study. The case study approach was used to scrutinise relationships among variables as per the stated research questions. The study population consisted of 5 000 motor vehicle owners that renewed their motor licence at various Post Office branches in KwaZulu-Natal. The study employed a stratified probability sampling method due to the study’s quantitative nature. Six post offices in various locations in KwaZulu- Natal were selected as research sites. A disproportionate stratified sampling method was used to show the representativeness of each region. The sample size as per the sampling table (Sekaran, 2000) was 357 for a population of 5 000. The actual study respondents were 282. The study results showed that participants were generally satisfied with the in-person licence renewal system. The study results further revealed that participants were inclined towards the adoption of an online motor vehicle licence renewal system. This was affirmed by the confirmation to have access to the facilities and the relevant equipment to perform online licence renewal. Additionally, members of their social circles were already renewing their motor vehicle licenses online. This study recommended continuous improvements in the operations process, and for increased attention to customer satisfaction and communication with regards to the motor vehicle licence renewal system. Moreover, it was recommended that the Department of Transport and its agents conduct aggressive marketing campaigns to bring awareness of the existence of the online licencing system, to ease congestion in physical outlets and increase motor vehicle licence renewal alternatives for customers

The impact of the collaboration between University of the Free State ideas lab and the Free State Department of Education on the academic achievement by Grade 12 learners.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study was conducted to determine the impact of the collaboration between the University of the Free State ideas lab and the Free State Department of Education on the academic achievement by Grade 12 learners. A dominantly post-positivist paradigm was adopted, using the combined (quantitative and qualitative) approaches. The quantitative part of the study made use of historical secondary data representing the pass marks of the selected Grade 12 learners in the Free State Province, which spans a five-year period (2014-2018). The qualitative part used interview data drawn from interactions with teachers from the selected schools (Further Education and Training Band) within the Motheo District of the Mangaung Metropolitan, the Motheo FET schools’ district subject specialists in three selected Grade 12 subjects under study, Free State Department of Education (FSDoE) head office FET schools’ subject specialists in three Grade 12 subjects that formed part of the study and staff from the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Internet Broadcasting Project (IBP). Data collected in the form of the secondary data representing pass marks of Grade 12 learners between 2014 and 2018, was analysed using the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 29.0) to generate descriptive and inferential statistics, two-way ANOVA (Univariate Analysis of Variance, Descriptive statistical Dependent Variable, Levene’s Test of Equality of Error Variances and Profile Plots) for all the three selected subjects (English First Additional Language, Mathematics and Physical Science). The qualitative data in the form of interviews (teachers, FSDoE district, FSDoE head office specialist and UFS ideas lab staff) was analyzed, using content analysis and thematic analyses using the NVivo, a software that analyses qualitative data. The adopted theoretical framework was the original Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) by Venkatesh, Morris, Davis and Davis (2003). The model’s constructs were aligned to the results obtained from the qualitative data to make sense of the impact the IBP has on achievement of the Grade 12 learners in the Free State Province. Ethical considerations were made regarding informed consent forms, approval seeking, permission and confidentiality. The response from the teachers showed that they were not only comfortable with the use of IBP, but also the commitment of their learners made it easier to integrate the technology in teaching and learning. Social influence like the other three constructs (PE, EE and FC) was equally influencing behavioural intention and ultimate usage of the IBP in teaching and learning. There was also a positive relationship between the UTAUT constructs and the dependent variable (achievement). The findings also showed that there was a better performance by IBP schools in comparison to the non-IBP, thus confirming that the technology had a significant impact on the Grade 12 learners’ achievement. The findings further indicated that the IBP service was evolving and increasing its portfolio to respond to the ever-changing times, thus ensuring that performance was sustainable, and the service was on par with the rest of the world. The study recommended that the focus should shift from the quantity or high number of passes to quality or improvement in Bachelor passes at higher levels of performance. Another recommendation is to consider expanding access to the IBP to all public high schools to ensure that all leaners have equal chances to achieve at higher levels, due to equal access to similar quality education that is offered through the integration of the IBP in teaching and learning.Abstract only available in English in PDF document

Because the bible tells me so: engaging the role of bible interpretation in the engagement of the queer community by the methodist ministers in Pietermaritzburg.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.No abstract.No abstract

The impact of fire and land use on the Kwazulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld (KZNSS) is one of the most prominent South African grassland types and has undergone large-scale transformation through the years. This endangered, species-rich grassland is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal. Much of the KZNSS remains in patches within the eThekwini Municipality area (EMA), many of which are in communal areas and some in nature reserves. These remnants are under-conserved and under-researched. Fire and land use are focal when conducting research and implementing management and conservation practices in these grasslands. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of long-term burning history on species composition and structure in protected and communal agricultural land in KZNSS grassland remnants within the eThekwini Municipality area. The objectives were to examine fire regime variations over 20 years (2002 – 2022) in reserves and communal agricultural areas found in KZNSS remnants within the EMA using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. Additionally, to determine: 1) the effect of land use; 2) the effect of fire and 3) the effect of the interaction between fire and land use on grassland plant species composition, richness, evenness, and diversity; veld condition and tree density in the burnt and unburnt patches of the study areas. Remote sensing was used to obtain fire records for the last 20 years, of these remnant patches. Within the selected reserves and communal area study sites, one area with a high fire frequency (burnt five or more times in the last 20 years) and one with a low frequency (two or three times over 20 years) or which had not burnt in these 20 years were sampled. Quadrat sampling was utilised to quantify grassland composition in four communal areas (KwaCele, Qadi, Zwelibomvu, and Toyane) and four reserves (Silverglen, New Germany, Roosfontein, and Krantzkloof). A veld condition assessment (VCA) was conducted in these sites. Additionally, tree density was assessed to account for the woody encroachment in these areas. Over the past 20 years, the communal agricultural areas had a higher fire frequency than protected areas. It was also observed from the fire records that the season of burning was consistent over the years, both communal agricultural and protected areas burning mostly in the dry season. However, the percentage area burnt in these grassland patches fluctuated, with the proportion of areas burnt being highest in earlier years. Overall, fire, land use, and their interaction influenced the plant species (grasses and forbs) composition. Land use had an effect on plant species richness, evenness, and diversity. Fire, nor the interaction of fire and land use, had a significant effect on these variables. Communal agricultural areas had the highest plant species richness, evenness, and diversity. This could be explained by the fact that over 20 years, communal agricultural areas had a higher fire frequency than nature reserves. This higher frequency of fire encourages diversity as fire removes dominant vegetation, thereby allowing other plant species to grow, which prevents there just being one dominant species that outcompetes the others. For the veld condition assessments, unburnt patches in the protected areas had greater veld condition scores due to overgrazing and stocking rates being low. However, fire and land use, as well as their interaction, did not affect the tree density observed in the study areas. For the KZNSS to remain healthy and functional, land use and fire, as well as their interaction, are essential aspects. Therefore, to maintain biodiversity, effective management necessitates a balanced strategy that considers both ecological needs and human activities