Investigating the basis of legitimation of English literary studies: a case study of a curriculum at a South African University

This study explored the kinds of knowledge, ways of knowing and ways of being that are valued in English literary studies. It did so by providing an analysis of what was needed to succeed in a specific English literary studies curriculum. The study used the Specialisation dimension of Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) to investigate what is legitimated in an English literature curriculum at the University of South Africa (UNISA) across three years of undergraduate study. The purpose of this analysis was twofold. Firstly, it aimed to make the academic literacy practices of English literary studies more explicit in order to inform pedagogy intended to enable epistemological and ontological access to the discipline. Secondly, the study aimed to facilitate critiques of the curriculum from a social justice perspective by finding ways to make the basis for legitimacy (the ways of being and knowing that are valued) in the curriculum more explicit to both the academics and the students. The study found that English literary studies, as practised at UNISA, was underpinned by what LCT refers to as a ‘cultivated gaze’. This aligns with the findings of previous LCT studies that looked at English literary studies using the dimension of Specialisation. A discipline that is underpinned by a cultivated gaze requires students to exhibit a specific disposition that develops through immersion in the field over an extended period in order to be considered a legitimate knower. The study also found that two orientations within the cultivated gaze were legitimated in the curriculum: an aesthetic orientation and a socio-critical orientation. This finding adds to the previous research because it helps us to better understand the kinds of dispositions that are valued in English literary studies and how these dispositions are cultivated over time. In addition, the study found that neoliberal factors such as massification, managerialism and academic casualisation caused misalignments between the intended curriculum and the practices employed to teach and assess the curriculum. This placed particular limitations on one of the aims of the curriculum which was to cultivate a socially oriented criticality. This finding has implications for how we teach Humanities curricula that aim to develop critical citizens.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 202

Bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape

The use of forest wild species directly contributes to the well-being of billions of people globally and is particularly important to people living in vulnerable situations. Rural, indigenous communities have harvested a variety of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for millennia and still do to date. For these people, forests provide many products and benefits such as food, medicine, fuelwood and a source of income from trade in these items. In South Africa, a large number of studies have investigated the harvesting and use of NTFPs, highlighting their importance to rural and urban communities. Additionaly, the hunting of wild mammals occurs throughout the Afro-temperate forests of South Africa. Yet, no comprehensive study has been conducted on the hunting and use of wild forest mammals in the region. I sought to investigate the motivations, extent and impact of local hunting in the indigenous forests of the Eastern Cape. I hypothesize that in the region hunting is not a primary source of nutrition or income, but it continues to hold cultural significance, reflecting deep-rooted traditions within these communities. Understanding bushmeat hunting and use in the region is key to guiding sustainable management and assessing the need for policy adjustments. The current study firstly provides a detailed evaluation of NTFPs harvesting and use, highlighting the livelihood benefits associated with bushmeat hunting by investigating bushmeat hunting patterns and consumption by rural communities surrounding forest patches in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Here bushmeat hunting refers to the informal hunting of wild mammals by rural communities, primarily for subsistence consumption. While often organised and small-scale, it is shaped by local ecological knowledge, cultural traditions, and resource availability. The practice occurs within a complex illegal and socio-economic landscape, where access to alternative protein sources, conservation regulations, and historical land-use patterns influence its prevalence and significance. To assess NTFP harvesting and bushmeat hunting, 12 villages at different proximities to forests were selected around the province. Using a quantitative approach in the form of guided, semi-structured interviews, data on the extraction and use of NTFPs, bushmeat hunting, frequency of bushmeat consumption, general protein consumption and food security of each household were solicited. Only 16% of the households attested to hunting in the 12 months prior to the survey, with all these households including an active hunter. Though 64% of the interviewed head of households mentioned that they had consumed bushmeat in the past year, these were mostly men, only 12% percent mentioned that the hunter in the household brought their catch home and consumed the meat with their families. Hunters mostly consumed their catch with other hunters, non-hunting males and young boys. Hence the study concluded that bushmeat consumption was not an important livelihood strategy nor food source of rural people but instead plays a significant social and cultural role in the region. I also provide comprehensive insights into bushmeat hunting practices in the province. Though conducting in-depth questionnaire surveys with self-identifying hunters from the 12 villages I was able to determine the motivations, methods and perceptions behind bushmeat hunting. A total of 147 hunter interviews were conducted. All the interviewees were male, with a mean age of 32 ± 9 years. The primary motivations behind bushmeat hunting were culture (40%), sport/competition (33%) and recreational purposes (20%). Contrary to hunting in the tropics, only 4% mentioned that they hunt for income. Most of the hunters (44%) used mixed hunting methods. This involved setting up or checking snares whilst hunting with dogs and sticks, 27% only used dogs and sticks and 17% only used snares. Hunters reported ten mammal species caught in forests of the Eastern Cape in the last 12 months. Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) were the most hunted species. All the hunters acknowledged that hunting was an illegal activity and if caught they could be arrested. The study further presents a thorough assessment of forest mammal species diversity under hunting pressure. Evidence suggests that higher hunting occurs in communal land forests compared to forests on protected or privately owned land. Hence, data on species richness and abundance within fenced protected forests and neighbouring unfenced communal forests was acquired using a mixed-methods approach in the form of ecological line transects and local ecological knowledge (LEK) surveys. The line transects revealed a mean mammal species richness of 7.6 ±1.3 in the protected forests, 5.3 ±1.4 in the Afromontane communal forests and 3.3 ±1.6 in the Coastal communal forests. The Afromontane and Coastal communal forests had a mean species abundance of 12.1 ± 5.4 and 6.5 ± 5.0, per forest respectively, whilst the protected forests had a mean species abundance of 18.0 ± 7.0. During the LEK surveys hunters from villages close to the forests reported more species (8.9 ±1.7) than those from far villages (7.3 ± 1.2). The regular forest users reported a mean species richness of 5.5 ± 1.2 and the local experts from the protected forests reporting a mean species richness of 13.4 ± 0.7. The study demonstrates the importance of mixed-methods approach in wildlife research and sustainable natural resource use. The current study clearly shows that protected areas support higher biodiversity and that local forest users’ knowledge aligns well with ecological data. Lastly, I present a social-ecological assessment of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. The use of traditional biological sustainability indices have proved inadequate for measuring the impact of bushmeat hunting because sustainability is treated as a static, binary question, thus ignoring stochastic processes, the inherent variability of natural systems, and the complexity of hunting systems. I hence used a combination of social and ecological methods to gain insights on how the offtake of forest mammal species affected species density in the communal forests of the Eastern Cape and also how this influenced hunting practices and behaviour. The density estimates of the hunted mammal fauna in the communal forests was significantly less (50%) than in the protected forests in the region. Also, the density estimates for the five most hunted mammal species in the communal forests were significantly lower (15%) than density estimates reported in the literature. Additionally, participatory hunter interviews revealed a decline in catch per unit effort and harvest rates over the past 10 years. This decline resulted in changes in the hunting strategies and patterns of many hunters. I argue that bushmeat hunting systems should be regarded as social-ecological systems in which the animal populations are not the only focus. Instead, understanding the complex and dynamic relationships between the hunting ground, its resources, the stakeholders, and the different exogenous drivers of change that affect these components yields a better interpretation of sustainability. The current study contributes to the growing knowledge of bushmeat hunting and use in the country and also provides novel findings on the sustainability of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. Here I provide an all-inclusive appraisal of bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to biodiversity-rich indigenous forests. The study provides in-depth insights on household bushmeat use, hunting practices and motivations of hunters and the effect of hunting on mammalian forest fauna. Furthermore, the study provides a novel approach to determining the sustainability of bushmeat hunting by using mixed social and ecological methods. The study can be used as a model for other studies assessing bushmeat hunting elsewhere in the country.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 202

A case study of the internal branding process at Kagiso Media

This research took the form of a case study of a media company, Kagiso Media (KM), that had been through a process of change. The company adopted a branding approach and used internal branding activities to implement a change intervention, which was unconventional and a unique approach, making it worthy of investigation. The primary aim of the study was, therefore, to analyse how a change in brand ideology (i.e. encompassing the business mission, vision, goals and shared values) shaped the senior leadership behaviour at KM and also led to the development of an improved performance management system. A case study research method was used. Data was collected through face-to-face and online interviews with the leadership team and combined with relevant company documents. A deductive thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance if implemented deliberately. When the new CEO was appointed, his starting point was to change the KM brand ideology. The study revealed that, because of greater clarity in brand ideology, leadership behaviour improved. There were shifts in the manner in which leadership behaved and how they handled performance as a result of entrenching the new brand ideology. The study also revealed that the development of brand ideology necessitated changes in the performance management system. Brand-centred performance management systems contributed towards building a performance culture. In essence, developing a clear brand ideology was central to changing leadership behaviour and the revision of the performance management performance system. While limitations of the study are acknowledged, it has contributed by offering a unique perspective of an internal branding driven change and demonstrates how a change in brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance management. Furthermore, the study recommended that further research could be done to include the perspectives of staff beyond the leadership team.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 202

Liminality and states of being in the contemporary music performances of Goma-Dhamal among Afro-Indian (Siddi) performers in Gujarat, India

Access restricted. Expected release in 2026.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 202

Resisting gender-based violence in post-1994 South Africa

This study investigates the origins of gender-based violence, along with some of the legal, policing, and socio-cultural barriers to effectively addressing gender-based violence in post-1994 South Africa, as perceived and articulated by Black women activists. To that end, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with eight Black South African women activists involved in the fight against GBV, based in different parts of the country. The analysis and the discussion of the research findings are framed around six themes and theorised through an African feminism lens. A key finding of this research project is that GBV in post-1994 South Africa can be attributed to multiple sources which include poverty, African culture, women’s liberation in post-1994 South Africa, patriarchy, and toxic masculinities. Another finding of the study is that GBV activists joined the fight against GBV for various reasons, which included personal experience with GBV, a development of feminist consciousness, and a desire to change the justice system and how society understands GBV. A consistent theme in the interviews was that the struggle against GBV is not the sole responsibility of women and girls and that society as a whole bears the responsibility for the fight against GBV. While participants recognised the importance of the compulsory South African high school subject – the life orientation syllabus – participants pointed out that this subject tends to focus mainly on unplanned teenage pregnancies, the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV prevention among young people in South Africa. Thus, the life orientation syllabus foregrounds the dangers of sex, rather than prioritising encouraging students to recognise GBV and equip students with tools to effectively deal with it. Research participants highlighted the importance and benefits of getting involved in the fight against GBV. Participants further recounted that it was the #TheTotalShutDown movement in 2018 that led to President Cyril Ramaphosa meeting with the organisers of #TheTotalShutDown and forming an organising committee, consisting of representatives from the presidency, non-profit groups, and the organisers of #TheTotalShutdown, who worked together to produce the National Strategic Plan against GBV & Femicide which led to the introduction of legislation such as the Domestic Violence Amendment Act 14 of 2022, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act 12 of 2022, and The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 13 of 2022.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 202

Stamping ground: investigating the walkability of Rhodes University students in Makhanda, South Africa

Walkability is an important research topic in the Global South where many people in urban settlements walk because of transport poverty. University students are a subset of the urban population in Makhanda who experience transport poverty and largely rely on walking to navigate the city. The purpose of this study is to measure and spatially analyse walkability and walking patterns in the student community of Makhanda, South Africa. This study has a specific focus on students who reside in the Rhodes University campus, Central Business District (Central), Sunnyside, and Westhill. These specific areas were chosen because, in terms of student residents, these are the most densely populated residential areas in the city, but are also the epicentre of student activity. This research intends to explore the existing walkability within these four study sites through a visual survey using common measures of walkability, digital mapping as well as student perceptions of walkability. The quantitative data collected through visual surveys, digital mapping and participatory mapping will be spatially analysed using GIS (Geographic Information Systems). Results show that walking is the main mode of transportation and students do not have affordable alternatives to walking. The Rhodes University campus is the most walkable area with Central being the second, Westhill being the third, and Sunnyside being the least walkable area. Sidewalk conditions (sidewalk presence, evenness and maintenance) and pedestrian safety and security (pedestrian crossings, crime, security features, lighting, the presence of people, and pedestrian visibility) were rated as the most important walkability factors. Additionally, the more walkable roads are mainly found within the Rhodes University campus and Sunnyside while the less walkable roads are mainly found within Central. Furthermore, the epicentre of student activity is focused on the Rhodes University campus during the week and as the week progresses, the epicentre shifts along with a shift in activity. The Rhodes University campus and Central are where students spent most of their time because the main amenities that student use are found within these areas. This research offers insights into walkability that can be directly applied to urban planning and policy-making. Planners should focus their resources on improving walkability, particularly in sidewalk conditions and pedestrian safety and security. By applying the findings of this research, planners can create more conducive, safer, and comfortable walking environments.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 202

An investigation on the effects of Afrocentric missense variations on the structure and function of CYP2A6 protein

Pharmacogenomics, the foundation of personalized medicine distinguishes patients into different categories based on their response to the risk of a disease. Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) proteins are a family of enzymes critical in the metabolism of drugs and other substances. Genetic polymorphisms in CYPs can result in different enzymatic activity in individuals influencing the efficacy and toxicity of drugs. One of the CYPs which primarily metabolizes nicotine and other pharmaceutical drugs such as Artemisinin and Artesunate, Pilocarpine, Valproic Acid and Letrozole is CYP2A6. The gene encoding the protein is highly polymorphic and this can affect the rate of metabolism of drugs in individuals. Previously most studies unveiled connections between CYP2A6 variants and nicotine. Implications concerning the effects of specific missense variations in CYP2A6 drug metabolism have deficiencies. This study aimed to critically examine the structural and functional implications of 13 CYP2A6 allele variations on CYP2A6 protein using Bioinformatics techniques. Methods used were template selection, mutagenesis, parameter assignment and protonation. Molecular Dynamics to get insights regarding protein behavior at an atomic level, clustering to identify conformations during a simulation and DSSP for secondary structure analysis to monitor how secondary structures evolve. Berendsen and Parinello-Rahman barostats at production run were used for comparison. A global analysis was conducted to identify structural transitions (RMSD, RMSF, and Rg), clustering, and secondary structure prediction. Results from Berendsen barostat were inconsistent compared to Parrinello-Rahman barostat implying that CYP2A6 is sensitive to the pressure coupling parameter for precise and accurate results. Our clustering results showed each system in one conformation, fluctuations and shifts on the C-D, H-I loops and F, G, and L helices on variants I149M, F118l, K476R, and E390K_N418D_E419D. This indicated a potential loss of function limiting the protein’s ability to conformational flexibility for catalysis and substrate recognition. Certain regions of CYP2A6 became more rigid due to variations, which could have a negative impact on the catalytic activity, regulatory interactions, and general function of the enzyme in metabolism. Globally the variations did not cause large changes to the protein, there is need for a local analysis using Dynamic Residue Networks to study how residue interactions affect the function of CYP2A6.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, 202

The exploration of Black and Brown drag performance communities: an artistic tool for creating safe spaces

This research investigates the role of drag performance in South Africa, particularly its contribution to the fostering and maintenance of safe spaces for Black and Brown Queer communities. Inspired by the community building legacy Kewpie. This research project employs auto-ethnographic research practice to generate a better understanding of modes of Queer drag praxis drawing on Linda Tuhiwai Smith's (1999) concept of the "insider/outsider" researcher. The project acknowledges the ethical challenges of researching vulnerable communities. This research is guided by self-reflection and information gathered from fieldwork; informed by an awareness of the theory of ‘intersectionality’ (Carbado, Crenshaw, Mays, Tomlinson 2013) exploring the complexities of race, class, and sexuality within Cape Town’s Queer community. In this way, the study navigates the complexities of race, class, and sexuality within the drag context of Cape Town through the viewpoint of this researcher. The contextual exploration of drag unfolds across two interconnected disciplinary avenues: Firstly, the historical context of drag and its evolution within the performance art canon: to understand the place of contemporary drag in the broader artistic and cultural discourse. Secondly, the study investigates theatrical histories and conventions that have influenced and transformed drag practices. This is done to frame drag performance with forms of theatrical performance. This historical and disciplinary background is used to formulate a distinction that is at the centre of this research: proposing that contemporary drag practice in the City of Cape Town can be understood and to some extent distinguished by the categories of embodied costume and embodied performance. Embodied costume within the scope of this research view the use of drag aesthetics and visual elements in artistic expressions and performances that fall outside of traditional ‘drag show’ culture. Embodied performance refers to drag performances that fall within the context of traditional ‘drag show’ genres, communities, and venues − reminiscent of cabaret performance. This conception highlights the performative aspects of the drag persona, which is an extension of the performer’s identity. While some performers and performances can exemplify either embodied performance or embodied costume, these categories are not mutually exclusive, with incalculable overlaps in keeping with the rich possibilities of drag practice. The purpose of highlighting these distinctions is to create a critical framework for exploring the unique position drag occupies between fine art and theatre, incorporating both fields of practice, and synthesising them into a unique language for the expression of alternate gender narratives.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 202

Applying human factors and ergonomics to a healthcare clinic record-keeping process using a community-based participatory research approach in Makhanda

Background: Healthcare record-keeping is an important process. However, several challenges associated with taking, storing and maintaining accurate records have been identified as a barrier to the quality and safety of care globally and locally in primary healthcare clinics in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa. In this context, local healthcare providers argue that this stems from the hybrid nature of the system (paper and electronic) and the impact of several systemic challenges. Poor records can result in negative outcomes for patients, healthcare workers and the greater public healthcare system. For example, if patient files are not adequately completed, poor patient care and medico-legal litigation costs may emerge. Furthermore, given that HFE promotes the participation of stakeholders in identifying and resolving workplace challenges, this study adopted a participatory research approach, more specifically a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach. This research project, therefore, aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to record-keeping in a primary healthcare clinic in Makhanda, the adequacy of patient file completeness and reasons as to why files may or may not have been adequately completed, following a CBPR approach. Methods: Following a period of pre-data collection embedding in the clinic to become familiar with the system and the staff and to form a relationship with a community collaborator from the clinic, this study was completed in two broad phases. During Phase 1, observations, informal discussions and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 clinic staff members to understand the clinic and record-keeping systems through the work system components and barriers of both systems. Phase 1 data was analysed through thematic analysis and presented by work system components, selected SEIPS 101 tools and a Hierarchical Task Analysis to detail the tasks involved in the record-keeping process. During Phase 2, a comparative assessment of a sample of patient files (n=55) was conducted against a local standard checklist, detailing what was to be completed in patient files. This was done to assess the completeness of different file sections which were analysed through a frequency count. This was followed by three interviews with clinicians, which explored their perceptions on why sections of the records may have been better completed than others. The interviews were then thematically analysed. Results: Administrative staff shortages, a lack of file storage space, limited access to technology such as computers, lost files, and the amount of information to complete in files were identified as the major challenges associated with the record-keeping system and influencing the completion of patient files. Through the analysis of patient files, it was found that some patient file sections were completed more adequately than others. For example, administrative details were the most well-completed section, and the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) initiation section was the most poorly completed. The findings also revealed reasons as to why these sections may or may not have been adequately completed. These included the need for the duplication of information, particularly for antenatal care clinicians. Time pressure for clinicians to see and complete patient records and work ethic and accountability were additional emergent themes. Lastly, clinicians argued that having a lack of access to, a shortage of or broken medical and record-keeping equipment that inhibited clinicians from obtaining and recording patient information, were additional reasons for poorly taken records. Conclusions: As the findings revealed, the primary healthcare clinic and its hybrid record-keeping system and process were influenced by a variety of clinic and record-keeping challenges that interacted and ultimately influenced the record-keeping process and completeness of patient files. The system constraints are important considerations as understanding how the clinic functions under them is a starting point for future system improvement. Furthermore, barriers impacting the record-keeping system influence several key steps in the record-keeping process, including the completion of details within patient files. Here it was found that some sections and information details were more adequately completed than others, which impacted the continuity, quality and safety of patient care. Additionally, the discrepancies found between the standard checklist and patient files were highlighted as a point of concern for the Department of Health (DoH) as clinics were being assessed based on a checklist that did not match the patient files, incorrectly representing the completeness of files to the DoH. Throughout the research project, the application and implementation of HFE and CBPR have been shown to be important in the local healthcare record-keeping system in that real-world challenges were identified through the perspective of community members facing the challenges. Therefore, HFE researchers should adopt a CBPR approach and apply these complementary domains in other complex systems and varying contexts to comprehensively understand the barriers, facilitators and opportunities for human-system interaction improvements.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 202

Exploring Foundation Phase pre-service teachers’ mathematical pedagogical content knowledge for teaching additive mental mathematics strategies

Poor learner performance in mathematics remains a concern in South African primary and secondary education according to continuous national and international assessments. Many learners fall behind in the early grades without being provided the opportunity to establish a solid foundational number sense. This is an essential requirement to progress into the higher grades. Addressing the challenges of number sense in the Foundation Phase is mandatory. This study aimed to investigate third-year Foundation Phase pre-service teachers’ content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge of their additive reasoning strategies (a key aspect of number sense) at a private teacher education institution, guided by the question: What content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge do third-year Foundation Phase pre-service teachers have of additive reasoning mental mathematics strategies? Several researchers have identified the need to develop pre-service teachers’ mathematical content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge. This study was guided by Shulman’s (1986) constructs of teacher knowledge. This qualitative, descriptive study, which formed part of the Mental Mathematics – Work Integrated Learning (MM-WIL) programme, collected data from an interpretivist perspective. The information for this study was gathered from participants who agreed to be part of the study. The study collected data through pre- and post-intervention questionnaires that had two parts. The first part assessed pre-service teachers’ methods of solving four basic additive reasoning calculations (that lent themselves to using the strategies of bridging through ten, jump strategy, and rounding and adjusting). The second part of the questionnaire asked pre-service teachers to describe these strategies and how they would teach them, with the aim of understanding their additive reasoning skills and ability to use and teach these mental strategies. Key findings are that many pre-service teachers do not have the content knowledge to solve basic calculations using efficient methods. These are skills that they are required to teach in the Foundation Phase classroom. The findings in this study highlight the urgent need to address the weak content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and inefficient unit based counting methods of many pre-service teachers to improve learners’ development and fundamental understanding of numbers that allows for flexible and efficient calculation.Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Primary and Early Childhood Education, 202