An exploration of the working conditions of women employed in mining operations at a platinum mine in South Africa

Master of Arts in Industrial Sociology, North-West University-- Potchefstroom CampusThis study explored the working conditions of women employed in mining operations at a platinum mine in South Africa. Historically, the mining industry has been male-dominated, and women’s employment in underground work in mines was legally restricted by the International Labour Organization’s labour standard titled Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45), which was replaced by the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176). Countries that ratified Convention No. 176 moved towards gender-neutral policies that focused on ensuring the health and safety of all workers in all operations, including women. In South Africa, particularly, the Employment Equity Act of 1998, the Mine Health and Safety Act of 1996, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 and the Mining Charters of 2004, 2010 and 2018 have gradually facilitated women’s inclusion in the mining industry. Although women’s participation in the South African mining industry has significantly increased, the mining industry remains a challenging environment for women; they face various barriers, which are often indicated as reasons why women leave the industry and why mining companies do not meet their set targets as stipulated by the Mining Charter. This study investigated the ‘gender problem’ in mining companies through feminist theory and feminist treatments of organisations and change. This study employed a quantitative research methodology guided by an objectivist ontology, an empiricist epistemology and a positivist research paradigm. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to women working in mining operations at a selected platinum mine in South Africa. The questionnaire comprised both closed- and open-ended questions, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting women’s working conditions. The data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to identify the key trends and relationships. The data yielded significant insights regarding respondents’ demographics and various aspects of their working conditions. Of the 200 questionnaires distributed, 196 were returned, indicating a high response rate. The majority of respondents were black African women aged 30 to 39, predominantly married with children and possessing secondary education. Most had 11 to 20 years of underground work experience, motivated by unemployment, job insecurity and the pursuit of stable employment. While the mining company provided housing, medical aid, pensions and maternity benefits, it was deficient in travel allowances, childcare support and other essential benefits, suggesting a need for enhanced support for female employees, particularly those with young children. Despite the implementation of effective gender sensitive policies, awareness of the company’s professional development programmes for women was limited, indicating a necessity for improved support for women’s career advancement. Women perceived themselves as physically capable but noted specific physiological challenges, highlighting the need for tailored support systems. Health and safety measures were generally adequate; however, there remains a need for gender-sensitive personal protective equipment and maternity-related support, particularly for underground workers. Regarding workplace practices, issues of gender discrimination and sexual harassment were prevalent, which have a negative impact on women’s experiences. This study significantly contributes to the academic discourse on gender equity in the mining industry by highlighting women’s unique challenges in this traditionally male-dominated industry. Providing empirical insights and recommendations equips policymakers and industry leaders with strategies to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment.-North-West University Masters Bursary Scheme -Faculty of Humanities Postgraduate Bursary (NWU) - NWU Social Transformation Focus Area -NWU Staff Discount -UCDG Staff Development: Focus Area 2 Project 10 -The University Capacity Development Programme(UCDP

Pre-training a Transformer-Based Generative Model Using a Small Sepedi Dataset

Due to the scarcity of data in low-resourced languages, the development of language models for these languages has been very slow. Currently, pre-trained language models have gained popularity in natural language processing, especially, in developing domain-specific models for low-resourced languages. In this study, we experiment with the impact of using occlusion-based techniques when training a language model for a text generation task. We curate 2 new datasets, the Sepedi monolingual (SepMono) dataset from several South African resources and the Sepedi radio news (SepNews) dataset from the radio news domain. We use the SepMono dataset to pre-train transformer-based models using the occlusion and non-occlusion pre-training techniques and compare performance. The SepNews dataset is specifically used for fine-tuning. Our results show that the non-occlusion models perform better compared to the occlusion-based models when measuring validation loss and perplexity. However, analysis of the generated text using the BLEU score metric, which measures the quality of the generated text, shows a slightly higher BLEU score for the occlusion-based models compared to the nonocclusion models

Ubuntu and the gender question: Towards a gender-inclusive theory

Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy, North-West University-- Potchefstroom CampusIn this thesis, I set out to investigate the ‘gender question’ in its relations to ubuntu which has been said to offer a uniquely African moral framework. Here, the ‘gender question’ has a double function: 1) to broaden the notion of the ‘woman question’, aimed primarily at equality between men and women, to include all genders; and 2) to indicate the questions raised about gender as they relate to ubuntu. My reason for undertaking this project is that even though ubuntu has been met with much positivity, it has also been criticised for being vague, pre-scientific, elitist and deeply implicated in practices of patriarchy and heteronormativity – norms which impose a logic according to which heterosexuality is posited implicitly and explicitly as better, just as the primacy of manhood is. This raises an important question: If ubuntu is not only a moral framework but also a normative moral framework, what are its gendered assumptions and correlative gendered affordances? In other words, are its gendered assumptions just or are they in need of problematisation? To address this question, I look at studies on affordance and the perception of affordance, or the set of possibilities for action available to agents in their environments, as well as governmentality, to show how gendered race and racialised gender became sites of knowledge that themselves functioned as organising principles and logics whose power was to produce, demarcate and control bodies in specific ways. Important for the purposes of this study is my argument that change cannot occur epistemologically or ethically without ontology being addressed. To do so, I employ a counter-mapping methodology to create a cartography of opacity, fugitivity, Africanfuturism, Afro-feminism, motherism and commoning to disrupt hegemonic archives of feminism and ubuntu. Through this, I yoke ontology to ecology to posit the importance of an onto-ecological view in which human and human, as well as human and nature, are brought together in the wholeness of ubuntu. Such understandings of wholeness are, as I show, an important part of much indigenous knowledges of the Global South generally and Africa specifically. In short, my argument is that for a gender-inclusive ubuntu to emerge, its ontological assumptions and underpinning must be scrutinised and changed – only then can a truly just ethics emerge

Dismissal for misconduct: the interplay between an employee's duty of good faith and insubordination

This mini-dissertation seeks to address the role that good faith plays in the employer employee relationship within the South African context. It discusses the origin of good faith principle in labour relations towards its development within South African law and then deliberating the uniform application between the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, CCMA Rules, common law and case law. The judgement of the Labour Appeal Court in Kaefer Energy Projects (Pty) Ltd v CCMA & Others [2022] 2 BLLR 166 (LAC) is critically analysed to understand the position and applicability of good faith within the employment relationship. Methodologically, the study adopts a doctrinal legal studies approach, combining it with case analysis strategy. The research concludes by placing good faith in its current role within the realm of employment relationships and in South African labour law, as well as proposing a way forwar

The legal framework for stakeholder participation in acid mine drainage regulation in South Africa

Master of Law in Environmental Law and Governance, North-West University-- Potchefstroom CampusThis research examines the legal framework that governs and regulates acid mine drainage (AMD), the roles of various stakeholders, and the mechanisms that either promote or impede stakeholder involvement in AMD regulation in South Africa. Thestudy pursued three objectives: assessing the impact of AMD on water sources and human rights; evaluating AMD regulation in South Africa and the significance of stakeholder engagement; and analysing the roles, rights, and responsibilities of different stakeholders, including government and communities. The research was conducted as a desktop study, using existing legal sources such as books, journal articles, and other media related to AMD regulation and stakeholder roles. The study aimed to evaluate stakeholder engagement in AMD and the participation of all involved in decision making and policy formulation. Analysing the current practices of various stakeholders in AMD regulation is vital to propose strategies to enhance collaboration and participation. International frameworks help to establish global water management standards, particularly concerning transboundary water resources. Instruments such as the United Nations Watercourses Convention (1997) and the Ramsar Convention (1971) regulate and protect international water bodies. Regional legal frameworks ordinarily adopt international principles to meet the specific environmental, social, and economic conditions of their regions. For example, the African Union and Africa Water Vision (2025) and the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourses (2000) are key to managing water resources in Africa and promoting the cooperative management of transboundary watercourses. At the national level, legal frameworks offer specific guidelines for managing water resources in individual countries. The study highlights examples such as South Africa’s National Water Act 36 of 1998, recognised for its progressive stance on water management and its emphasis on equitable access, sustainability, and environmental protection. The findings emphasise the necessity of strong legal frameworks at the international and national levels to govern water management, especially in sectors like mining that present significant environmental challenges. These frameworks provide essential guidelines and principles to ensure sustainable water resource use, ecosystems protection, and the safeguarding of human rights. Effective implementation and enforcement of these laws are crucial for achieving long-term water security and environmental sustainability.Master

Input Margins Can Predict Generalization Too

Article, Faculty of Engineering( Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering), Potchefstroom CampusUnderstanding generalization in deep neural networks is an active area of research. A promising avenue of exploration has been that of margin measurements: the shortest distance to the decision boundary for a given sample or its representation internal to the network. While margins have been shown to be correlated with the generalization ability of a model when measured at its hidden representations (hidden margins), no such link between large margins and generalization has been established for input margins. We show that while input margins are not generally predictive of generalization, they can be if the search space is appropriately constrained. We develop such a measure based on input margins, which we refer to as ‘constrained margins’. The predictive power of this new measure is demonstrated on the ‘Predicting Generalization in Deep Learning’ (PGDL) dataset and contrasted with hidden representation margins. We find that constrained margins achieve highly competitive scores and outperform other margin measurements in general. This provides a novel insight on the relationship between generalization and classification margins, and highlights the importance of considering the data manifold for investigations of generalization in DNNs

The legislative framework regulating mine closure and rehabilitation in relation to sustainable development

Master of Philosophy in Environmental Law and Governance, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusSince the 1860s, South Africa's mining sector has matured, reaching its highest point in the 1980s when it made significant socioeconomic development. The mining industry has made remarkable socioeconomic development by contributing to taxes and generating job opportunities. However, the repealed Minerals Act 50 of 1991 was the first legislation to regulate the environmental impact of mining activities, albeit inadequately. The Minerals Act was quickly repealed following the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which introduced environmental rights. Importantly, section 24 of the Constitution embraces the concept of sustainable development which requires integrating and balancing socioeconomic and environmental considerations into development. As a result, sustainable development is inherent in legislative frameworks such as the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 and the National Water Act 36 of 1998. This legislative framework regulates mining activities and their impact on water resources. Nevertheless, it is estimated that there are more than 6,000 abandoned and unrehabilitated mines that are a source of environmental issues such as acid mine drainage. However, most of these mines emanate from the past when there was no legal obligation to rehabilitate the environmental impact of mining activities. Considering the significant number of abandoned and unrehabilitated mines, this study analyses the legislative framework regulating financial provision for mine rehabilitation and environmental liability. This legislative framework safeguards environmental rights and prevents pollution while promoting reasonable socioeconomic development.-North West University Faculty of Law -Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the EnvironmentMaster

Advancing estuarine management through LEG instruments in law: the case of Knysna Municipality

Master of Laws in Aspects of Constitutional Law, North-West University-- Potchefstroom CampusThe Knysna Estuary is ranked highest in South Africa in terms of its conservational importance. In general, estuaries have been identified as the most threatened and least protected ecosystems in South Africa. The Knysna Estuary has been experiencing negative impacts from anthropogenic activities. While it is under the management of South African National Parks (SANParks), the current management strategy does not account for any external influences as these are typically outside the managing authority's control. Efforts at the local government level have the potential to contribute to the protection of the Knysna Estuary. South African municipalities have a constitutional and statutory duty to protect the environment. This duty is entrenched in local government framework law, and most importantly in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which states that one of the objects of local government is to promote a safe and healthy environment. South Africa's national environmental law framework further requires municipalities to develop and adopt several instruments aimed at achieving so-called Local Environmental Governance (LEG) objectives. LEG refers to the environmentally relevant outputs and processes conducted at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels in municipalities, thus integrating environmental matters with local processes, plans, and policies. LEG instruments, such as the Integrated Development Plan, for example, are expected to help realise environmental objectives. Against this backdrop, this study aims to determine to what extent the Knysna Municipality's LEG instruments as provided in law are, or could be, utilised to advance the co-management of the Knysna Estuary.-North-West University (Faculty of Law) -National Research FoundationMaster

Reproductive behaviour of the Kloof Frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi), an endangered South African endemic

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusAmphibians are vulnerable to extremes in environmental factors such as air temperature, rainfall and relative humidity which greatly influence their physiological parameters and subsequentially their phenology. This vulnerability extends to reproductive behaviour and is reflected in developmental processes of larvae, which are laid in jelly-like eggs. Natalobatrachus bonebergi is an Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species and is also monotypic within the genus. Its threat status is based on the threats faced by this species and a severely fragmented distribution. This species is a riparian forest specialist - threatened by deforestation, urbanisation, agricultural clearing, pollution and siltation. Little knowledge exists on the reproductive behaviour of N. bonebergi. Monitoring and surveillance efforts for the species have been undertaken since 2013 in Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Using a protocol developed by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Threatened Amphibian Programme and tested by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Honorary Officers, extensive data have been collected on N. bonebergi reproduction in the form of egg clump counts along riverine transects. With this wealth of data, this study aimed to collect additional data on N. bonebergi reproduction through acoustic monitoring, egg clump isolation experiments and in situ observations of reproductive behaviour from April 2023 to April 2024. A quantitative approach was used to statistically investigate various reproductive behaviours and the relationships these have with environmental factors throughout the species’ extended breeding season. Numerous new insights into parental care, male competition, complex communication and interactions between conspecifics and responses to environmental stimuli have been gathered. Knowledge of this species’ phenology is important in understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes governing their behavioural patterns, aiding conservation management of this species and its habitats.-The National Research Foundation of South AfricaMaster

The development of measures to facilitate the execution and amendment of wills during a pandemic where freedom of movement is restricted

Master of Law in Estate Law, North-West University-- Potchefstroom CampusThe study examines the challenges in executing and amending wills during the COVID-19 pandemic to highlight the implications of the South African government's lack of legislative measures for will signing. The South African experience is compared to the United Kingdom and New Zealand's approaches to facilitating will signing during the pandemic. The primary objective is to examine how the United Kingdom and New Zealand managed to implement interim measures, and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the interim measures implemented. The focus is on testamentary formalities, specifically the importance of physical presence for the execution and amendment of a will in the three jurisdictions. This analysis is achieved by analysing case law. South Africa can take lessons from the measures implemented by the United Kingdom and New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic in anticipation of possible future pandemics where people's freedom of movement is restricted. The study relied on a desktop-based research method. The method consults existing data, including primary sources such as the Wills Acts of South Africa, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, the Epidemic Preparedness Order, the United Kingdom Order and case law, as well as secondary sources like internet data, books, and journal articles related to the law of succession. The research extracts lessons and gives recommendations for the execution and amendment of wills during a time where freedom of movement is restricted