The effect of shade on the biological control of Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell [Salviniaceae] by the weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands [Curculionidae]

Salvinia molesta, a floating aquatic weed, is a global menace in many water bodies and waterways. The weed disrupts the ecological balance wherever it invades and also has wide ranging economic and health impacts. Its impact has resulted in the need to control it, and while chemical and mechanical control are often ineffective, biological control by the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae is largely successful. However, in many parts of the world, including South Africa, biological control of S. molesta has been less effective where the weed grows as an understory species. Shallow and shaded waters characteristically found at the margins of water bodies provide a refuge for S. molesta. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of shade on the efficacy of biological control of S. molesta. Investigations into the problems associated with control in the shade were carried out in a greenhouse and in the field. In controlled greenhouse experiments, plants were grown at high and low nutrient levels in individual mesocosms, at three varying levels of shade, where half the mesocosms were inoculated with C. salviniae. Plants in high nutrient conditions were significantly more productive in terms of biomass accumulation, compared to those grown at low nutrient levels, in both the absence and presence of herbivory at all levels of shade tested. Plants grown in the shade and in high nutrient conditions had significantly higher quality compared to the ones exposed to full sun. Higher plant quality in the shade consequently resulted in accelerated fecundity for C. salviniae resulting in significantly higher weevil populations. Furthermore, less damage was recorded on plants in the shade, possibly due to the high nitrogen concentrations which may have deterred grazing by C. salviniae. However, in the absence of shading, plants were of lower quality and consequently sustained more damage from herbivores despite lower weevil populations. In contrast to the greenhouse, there were no differences in biomass recorded in the field at two nutrient levels and in the presence of herbivory for both shade and open sites. Nutrients added to high nutrient treatment quadrats diffused evenly across the water body resulting in uniform nutrient distribution, hence uniform plant biomass and carbon-nitrogen ratio. Despite the lack of statistical differences, more weevils were found in the full sun plots, while modest populations were recorded in the shade. Higher weevil populations consequently led to more damage in the sun, a situation that has been observed in most field sites in South Africa. The results therefore suggest that nutrients were pivotal in plant growth compared to light regimes (amount of PAR). Plant quality significantly influenced weevil populations and plant damage in both studies, demonstrating that plant nitrogen plays a crucial role in the plant- herbivore system. Furthermore, in both the greenhouse and field, despite lack of statistical differences, plants exposed to full sunlight suffered more damage than shade plants, pointing towards better control in the sun compared to the shade, suggesting that there is greater preference of sun-exposed plants for grazing by the weevils. The results from this study add to the growing body of literature that plant quality is a major factor in determining the success of aquatic weed biological control programmes

The role of secondary school educators in academic performance of form E students at Hlotse, in Leribe district, in Lesotho

ThesisThe main aim of this study was to investigate the role played by educators in the academic performance of Form E students Through the literature, it was discovered that effective educators spend the major part of class time on academic activities, teaching content at a level that ensures a high rate of success by explaining both content and assignment clearly. The students perform badly because of poor teaching since educators do not prepare throughly for the lessons. As a result, it was suggested that educators should place a high priority on student participation by employing student centred approach as useful technique for improving results. It was further suggested that, to improve or maintain results in Form E (COSC) class, educators should implement effective management strategies purported to be typical of effective educators

An analytical study of xenophobic attacks in South African universities/tertiary institutions with specific reference to the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Durban University of Technology (DUT)

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.There is growing concern with xenophobia, an act of perpetuating the violation of human rights. Xenophobia has negative implications on the teaching community. This study explores the nature and prevalence of xenophobia in South African higher learning institutions. The Social Learning Theory adopted in the study explains that xenophobic behaviours practised by the South African communities at large are transferred into the vicinity of higher learning institutions through being socially learned from public members who possess hatred towards foreign nationals. Moreover, the Realistic Group Conflict Theory adopted in this study explains how xenophobia is constituted due to competition for university jobs, scholarships and the perceived threat of foreign nationals’ getting higher marks and recognition than South African students. In exploring the nature and prevalence of xenophobia within higher learning institutions, the study explored the perceptions of Black foreign national students studying at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban University of Technology, South Africa. Using qualitative individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews, the study revealed that xenophobia is a common reality within both universities. The findings further uncovered that the nature of xenophobia within higher learning institutions is often expressed through discriminatory practices and name-calling. The study findings further revealed that university staff and students often perpetuate acts of xenophobia. The xenophobic attacks are either verbal or emotional and not physical as it is often the case with the broader South African communities. As a result, reporting xenophobic attitudes and behaviours becomes problematic. The study recommends that the implementation of laws that relate to xenophobia as an offence can lower xenophobic attacks and secondary victimisation when students attempt to report incidents of xenophobia. Another recommendation is that of establishing a xenophobia helpline in universities through which international students who are victimised can call to report victimisation

Expanding the South African Rapid Mortality Surveillance to cover provincial mortality

Mortality estimates are useful for evaluating health status for a country. These estimates, especially for a country heavily affected by HIV epidemic and at the sub-national level, are a foundation in formulating health strategies and policies to reduce premature deaths and improve quality of life. However, estimating consistent levels and trends in mortality for a developing country like South Africa with incomplete vital registration and errors in censuses or survey data is difficult. This research examines whether one can combine National Population Register (NPR) data and Vital Registration (VR) data to produce reliable estimates of specific indices of mortality at the provincial level. In addition, the same approach as used in 2015 RMS report is applied to registered maternal deaths, neonatal deaths, and neonatal deaths captured by the District Health Information System (DHIS) to derived reliable estimates of MMR and NMR at the provincial level. The quality of NPR data and VR data is evaluated and since NPR data does not include the whole population, it is adjusted for incompleteness relative to VR data. It is found that there are some problems in the VR data such as VR death misplacement between the provinces and missing VR deaths in most recent years, which makes extrapolation of past trends in the completeness of NPR relative to VR into the future difficult. Suitable assumptions are made to correct for these anomalies and NPR data together with VR data are further adjusted for the general under-registration. Estimates of child mortality from Pillay-van Wyk, Laubscher, Msemburi et al. (2016) and estimates of adult mortality from Dorrington and Timæus (2017) are used to derive the estimates of completeness of death registration. The estimates of mortality rates produced from combining NPR and VR data appear to be sensible, showing some internal and external consistency. However, the estimates of MMRs produced from VR data as well as NMR from VR and DHIS data shows that there is a great deal of uncertainty around the estimates of these mortality indicators

The second transition : an analysis of the political rhetoric of the ANC and ANCYL

South Africa achieved its formal democracy through a negotiated settlement in 1994. Formal democracy focuses on liberty, rights and basic freedom such as freedom of speech, and the right to vote, amongst others, while substantive democracy focuses on equality, social justice, and the area of economic rights with a focus on reduction of poverty, unemployment and increased equality. It is within the substantive democratisation theoretical framework, that South Africa’s democratic achievement has not necessarily been as great as its political achievements in constructing a constitutional democracy. This is evident in the continued patterns of racialised inequality and poverty, as well as the increase in service delivery protest action, which can destabilise the democratic success achieved in 1994. The objective of economic development is to create an environment where people can enjoy economic stability, job security and health, and lead productive lives, on one hand. On the other hand, political development seeks to create an environment where people can enjoy peace, rule of law and freedom. Politics and economics therefore go hand in hand to attain wealth benefits for people and create a sufficient level of political stability within a transitioning context. South Africa has made some strides towards getting political stability and a democratic state, but much still needs to be done to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality. Hence an argument stressing the need for a Second Transition or Economic CODESA has recently entered the sphere of political public debate. This project seeks to deconstruct and explain the discourse of the Second Transition and Economic CODESA. The studies found that centre to this debate are key redistributive issues. Poverty, inequality and unemployment are key substantive challenges that have the potential to undermine political stability if they are not effectively dealt with

Molecular analysis of HIV-1 resistance: biosynthesis, kinetic, and thermodynamic study of resistant HIV-PROTEASE (C-SA) mutants.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract available in pdf

A study of the subcortical anatomy of the brain of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyAfrican elephants are one of the iconic mammalian species of the continent, and are the largest terrestrial mammals on the planet. While being a well-known species, with intensive behavioural studies having been undertaken, studies of the elephant brain are limited. Given that elephants do show a unique and interesting set of behaviours, including infrasonic communication, unique control of the trunk, and that they eat around 500 kg of low quality plant matter each day, the current study aimed to investigate the neural underpinnings of these and many other behaviours exhibited by elephants. While not all aspects of elephant neuroanatomy are covered in the current set of studies, the results have provided a great deal of data for regions of the brain that have not been examined for almost 50 years, and applied modern neuroanatomical methods to this task. This thesis outlines how to obtain elephant brains amenable to modern neuroanatomical study, demonstrates that the ventricles are of a size predictable for a mammal with a 5 kg brain, and that the cerebellum is relatively the largest mammalian cerebellum studied to date. A microscopic examination of the cerebellar cortex revealed that the elephants have a greater amount of a potentially more complexly organized cerebellar cortex. In addition, an architectonic study of the diencephalon and brainstem revealed that elephants, while having a mostly standard mammalian diencephalon and brainstem, do show unique features that correlate to control of specialized behaviours. In summary, the current study shows that the system for motor timing, infrasound production and reception, and the systems for satiety and wakefulness are specialized in the elephant, all of which correlate to the overt behaviours previously studied. In addition, the current studies indicate potential paths to follow for the study of behaviour in these species that will hopefully lead to a better understanding of these animals. There is still much to explore and learn about the elephant brain and it is hoped this thesis creates a platform that provides the impetus for many future studie

An impact analysis of provincial music hubs

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts(Arts and Culture Management) 2017American film producer, Jason Berman reminds us that music is something the rest of the world wants to listen to; our job is to make sure they pay for it (Matzukis, 2013). When a piece of music is written, a legal right to it comes alive and is vested in the songwriter (author), but if that piece of music is later recorded, a totally different copyright vested in the record company comes alive (Matzukis, 2013). Unfortunately, it appears that the majority of local music role players, particularly composers, producers and performers, are not sufficiently equipped with legal knowledge and common understanding of the music trade’s secrets, its ecosystem or the music industry value chain. The lack of knowledge and exposure is attributed to historically manifested control of the music markets by record companies owned by foreign multinational conglomerates. As a result, a large number of famous and popular local musicians have died penniless. This scenario is painted vividly in an online article titled “Why do our artists die poor?”, which cites Brenda Fassie and Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde as examples of artists who died poor because of bad decisions they made in their career, despite their fame and wealth of music compositions. (www.you.co.za/entertainment/why-do-artists-die-poor/#) In South Africa, the major constraints on the launching of a musical career are access to trade knowledge and the means of production, such as recording facilities (Jordan, 2009).The Southern African Music Rights Organization’s empirical research shows that international music still dominates the South African music market, with 74% of music sold and played on broadcasting and public platforms (Samro, Notes, November 2014, p 13). As a result, the majority of local independent music composers, producers and performers are forced to share the remaining 26% of the music market. This situation worsens when widening the scope to include music role players who are located outside of urbanised provinces such as Gauteng and Western Cape, because most of them lack access to adequate and professional recording studios; lack basic knowledge on ownership of compositions and sound recordings rights; lack the skill to interpret the copyright laws; lack understanding of contractual issues between the artist and record company; lack understanding of the exportation trade; lack the means to submit their audiovisual works for airplay and lack adequate resources to build their brands for competitiveness. Since 2006 the South African music industry has seen an increase in government expenditure on and investment in musical institutions, at national and provincial levels, which are defined in this study as “music hubs”. In 2006, the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre (ECAVC) was established in East London (Eastern Cape Province); in 2009/2010, the KZN Music House was established in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) and in 2008, the Downtown Music Hub was established in Johannesburg (Gauteng Province). The rationale to establish these music hubs is to ease access to the means of production for a large number of local music composers, producers and performers. The purpose of this impact analysis study is evaluate to what extent these music hubs are fulfilling their redress and transformation policy mandate to be beacons of hope for the local music industry. The theoretical grounds of this research study are premised on the concepts of transformation to create access for previously marginalized groups and black economic empowerment for local music role players. This research will unpack how these music hubs, in South Africa, can be used as tools for redress and to transform the music industry into an equitable market for all role players. Although government, at national and provincial level, shows commitment to establishing musical institutions that aim to combat the challenges facing the local music role players as outlined above, it is regrettable that the two music hubs (case studies) in the respective provinces are battling to position themselves as provincial music industry center pieces that create a competitive provincial music ecosystem and network to connect and empower local music industry role players. In 2009, the former minister of arts and culture, Pallo Jordan, in his speech at the launch of the Downtown Music Hub, indicated that the purpose of establishing the music hubs was to lower the barrier by making recording facilities, music manufacturing plants, music distribution channels and music stores more accessible to the most qualifying music role players (Jordan, 2009). This means that if these music hubs are understood as the music development trajectory in South Africa and well implemented, they have the potential to help local music industry role players become more competitive and perform on global music market platforms.XL201

The experiences of Botswana Defence Force peacekeepers in United Nations peacekeeping missions: the case of Somalia, 1992-1995

Peacekeeping operations were started by the United Nations following the collapse of the collective security system which was hinged on the cooperation of the major powers as proposed in the United Nations Charter. The United Nations Charter however does not give a definition of peacekeeping, making it difficult for nation states and various agencies to delineate the limits of Peacekeeping. However, the Charter provides a comprehensive number of platforms in which different kinds of threats pertaining to international peace and security may be dealt with. In the backdrop to this, peacekeeping endeavours have over the years come to be defined as Chapter six and a half, descending between Chapter six and Chapter seven of the United Nations Charter. The Charter reveals that the purpose of the United Nations is to maintain International Peace and Security (United Nations 1985:6). As a member of the International Community and its commitment to Peace and International Security, Botswana is obliged to take part in International interventions aimed at bringing peace, security and stability to Africa and the rest of the world. To this end the government of Botswana is always ready to release and deploy peacekeepers anywhere such calls are made by regional bodies such as the UN, AU or SADC. (Muyakwabo, 2013:2). The intervention of the BDF in the Somali civil war of 1992-1994 is a classic example of Botswana’s commitment to International Peace and Security. In response to the call by UN to assist Somalis, Botswana deployed a battalion sized BDF contingent of Peacekeepers to the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) to help bring peace and security to the nation of Somalia. (Bachelor, Kingman and Lamb 2000:21). This research study is an exploratory investigation into the experiences of the first Botswana Defence Force Peacekeepers who were deployed in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (UNOSOM) 1993-1995. Seventeen peacekeepers were interviewed who have participated in both UNOSOM I and UNOSOM II. A thematic analysis of the text was undertaken, in which themes emerged to document and highlight the difficulties that the peacekeepers experienced in Somalia. Narratives from the transcribed interviews were reviewed with the participants and logical analysis by the researcher provided further clarification of the data to understand the experiences of the peacekeepers. The peacekeepers’ descriptions of the situations they faced on the ground provided a new way into understanding the intricacies of traditional peacekeeping. Three fundamental themes emerged: the importance of peacekeeping education and training; the importance and need of logistical support, personal and contingent preparation; and the way forward in ensuring successful and effective peacekeeping by African armies

Determinants of day-night difference in blood pressure in subjects of African ancestry

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in both developed and developing countries. Blood pressure normally decreases at night and a number of studies have indicated that a reduced nocturnal decline in blood pressure (BP) increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. Nocturnal decreases in BP are attenuated in subjects of African as compared to European descent, but the mechanisms of this effect require clarity. In the present study I attempted to identify potentially modifiable factors that contribute toward nocturnal decreases in BP in a random sample of 171 nuclear families comprising 438 black South Africans living in Soweto. Prior studies have suggested that adiposity and salt intake may determine nocturnal decreases in BP. Adiposity and salt intake were considered to be potentially important factors to consider in the present study as 67% of the group studied were either overweight or obese and in 291 subjects that had complete 24-hour urine collections (used to assess salt intake) and BP measurements, Na+ and K+ intake was noted to be considerably higher and lower respectively than the recommended daily allowance in the majority of people. Moreover, a lack of relationship between either hypertension awareness and treatment and Na+ and K+ intake suggested that current recommendations for a reduced Na+ intake and increased K+ intake in hypertensives do not translate into clinical practice in this community. In order to assess whether adiposity or salt intake are associated with nocturnal decreases in BP in this community, ambulatory BP monitoring was performed using Spacelabs model 90207 oscillometric monitors. Of the 438 subjects recruited, 314 had ambulatory BP measurements that met pre-specified quality criteria (more than 20 hours of recordings and more than 10 and 5 readings for the computation of daytime and nighttime means respectively). To identify whether adiposity or salt intake are associated with a reduced nocturnal decline in BP, non-linear regression analysis was employed with indices of adiposity and urinary Na+ and K+ excretion rates and urine Na+: K+ ratios included in the regression model with adjustments for potential confounders. Neither body mass index, skin-fold thickness, waist circumference, waist-to hip ratio, urinary Na+ and K+ excretion rates, nor urine Na+: K+ ratios were associated with nocturnal decreases in systolic and diastolic BP. Indices of adiposity were however associated with 24 hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic BP. Unexpectedly, female gender was associated with an attenuated nocturnal decrease in BP. In conclusion, in the first random, community-based sample with large sample sizes conducted with ambulatory BP monitoring in Africa, I found that neither adiposity nor salt intake are associated with a reduced nocturnal decline in BP. The lack of association between either salt intake or adiposity and nocturnal decreases in BP was despite a high prevalence of excessive adiposity in the community, as well as clear evidence that current recommendations for a reduced Na+ intake and increased K+ intake do not translate into clinical practice in this community. Thus, based on this study, the question arises as to whether primordial prevention programs targeting excess adiposity or inappropriate salt intake are likely to modify nocturnal decreases in BP, in urban, developing communities of African ancestry in South Africa. However, unexpectedly I noted that females were more likely to have an attenuated nocturnal decrease in BP. Thus further work is required to explain this finding