What lies beyond participatory methodology: reflections on power, resources, and knowledge-making among practitioners, researchers, and funders

Participatory action research (PAR) has long been the preferred methodology for facilitating inclusive research processes that seek to dismantle the ivory tower that has typically characterised academic research. In an ideal scenario, participatory action research is a useful transformative tool that integrates practitioners’ advocacy-needs with scientific evidence in accountable and reflexive ways. However, PAR has often been instrumentalised to meet the sometimes-arbitrary requirements of research calls and donor-funded agendas – with the effect of dulling the potentially transformative power of meaningful co-created research processes. The reasons for these shortcomings are complex but can sometimes include a) the lack of participatory design in funding calls for academia-practitioner research opportunities, b) the resource and time intensiveness of co-creative action-oriented research, and c) the seen and unseen power differentials that exist among diverse actors (funders, academics, formal civil society and activists) that undermine the transformative potential of such collaborations. This reflection piece attempts to unpack these dynamics, informed by the experiences of the author and available literature. Drawing from feminist and emancipatory PAR, the paper presents a set of recommendations for how to overcome the challenges that surface when moving from instrumental PAR to transformative PAR – with the goal of enhancing the co-creation agenda to the benefit of decolonial and gender-equitable outcomes

An integrated system of growth trait improvement in beef cattle under communal management conditions

ThesisIn the past, indigenous cattle in South Africa (SA) were mainly used as foundation stock for upgrading with Bos taurus cattle, which were thought to be superior. These attempts failed in the tropics and subtropics and attention was focused on the development of various indigenous cattle breeds (Kars, Erasmus & Van der Westhuizen, 1994). The introduction of new breeds, in an attempt to improve the indigenous breeds has become a common practice. This has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of pure indigenous cattle. The Nguni and Afrikaner represent the two indigenous Sanga cattle breeds of South Africa, with Pedi described as a relative or variant of Nguni. Presently, commercial beef producers are showing renewed interest in the indigenous breeds, especially Nguni, owing to growth and favourable reproduction characteristics under adverse conditions such as drought and parasite burdens. Indigenous cattle play an important roe in the traditional subsistence style of farming. Milk production for sale and household consumption is of overriding importance. Draft power and manure is of major importance to farmers. Meat production may have to be considered as a by-product until such time as marketing and price infrastructure have been developed to increase the economic motivation to produce meat for increased income. In the recent past, lobola was a system used to move cattle from one herd to another, thus preventing inbreeding. Cattle are also used as some form of savings and as an insurance against unforeseen events. Although genetic improvement of traditional livestock may not necessarily be the top priority for improving their productivity, the introduction of new breeds may provide the trigger and focal point for other developmental changes that could contribute more to overall productivity than the new breed per se. The breed to be inttoduced should lead to a medium-term improvement in productivity and should have s· )a to environmental stress than indigenous breeds. The possible advantage of crossing local African breeds is that there would be little or no loss of resistance to environmental stress. The objective of this study is to develop an integrated system of growth trait improvement under communal management conditions. Matters of great concern include body measurements to improve markets for cattle and to develop baseline data for future intervention programmes

In Vitro effects of Megasphaera Elsdenii Ncimb 41125 and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae 1026 on Rumen fermentation in early lactating cows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of microbial feed additives Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 1026, individually and combined on rumen pH,ammonia-N and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) fermentation. An in vitro batch fermentation was conducted using rumen fluid from two early lactating Holstein cow donor fed the TMR for lactating cows which was evaluated under two diets, differing in concentrate to forage ratio. The diets were high concentrate, a 60:40 concentrate to forage ratio diet (HC) and low concentrate, a 40:60 (LC) concentrate to forage ratio diet. The treatments were; Control (diet with no additives), Me (diet with M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 10mm (108 CFU/ml)), LY (diet with live yeast, S. cerevisiae 1026), and Me+LY (diet with mixture of M. elsdenii and S. cerevisiae). The average rumen pH was 5.8 and ammonia nitrogen was not affected by Me and LY supplemented separately or in combination (Me+LY) in both low and high concentrate diets. Total VFAs were increased with the addition of LY alone and in combination Me+LY+Me) in high concentrate diet only but the addition of Me had no effect in both diets. Acetate, lactate and A: Pr were decreased (P<0.05) by all the treatments (Me and LY alone and in combination) on both diets, except in high concentrate diet where the addition of Me tended to decrease (P<0.07) acetate and had no effect on lactate. Propionate was increased by all the treatments in low concentrate diet and tended toincrease (P<0.08) by addition of Me and Me+LY in high concentrate diet. In a low concentrate diet, butyrate was increased by LY but tended to be decreased by Me, however, all the treatments lacked effects on high concentrate diet. Live yeast appears to act differently compared to Me by showing two times more effects on high than low concentrate diets.This in vitro study showed that both Me and LY had a tendency to modify rumen fermentation and that might indicate their potential to mitigate the metabolic challenges and improve energy status of Holstein dairy cows during the transition and early lactation period. However, there is a need for further research that will include in vivo study.Agriculture, Animal Health and Human EcologyM.Sc. (Agriculture

The Galaxy Velocity Function from MIGHTEE-HI Early Science Data

The velocity function of MIGHTEE-H I Early Science data is presented. This is the first velocity function that is based on a blind radio interferometric survey. As a precursor, understanding the systematics that affect the Early Science velocity function will optimise the full survey's analysis. PYMULTINEST and the Busy Function are employed to estimate the linewidths of the low spectral resolution data. The performance of PYMULTINEST in estimating known linewidths of simulated H I profiles with varying spectral resolution is assessed. The simulation study shows that the estimated linewidths of the Early Science data, using this novel method, are robust and are recovered within the uncertainty. The effects of cosmic variance, instrumental linewidth broadening and Doppler linewidth broadening on the velocity function are quantified within the context of the limitations of the Early Science data. The MIGHTEE-H I Early Science velocity function is compared with the velocity functions from previous large-scale H I surveys, namely the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) survey and the H I Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS). There is general agreement with the ALFALFA and HIPASS results, when taking linewidth broadening into account, given that the MIGHTEE-H I Early Science data is strongly affected by cosmic variance. In particular, cosmic variance introduces an average uncertainty of ∼ 24% in the measured Early Science volume densities. The larger effective area of the full survey will reduce the impact of cosmic variance. The full survey velocity function can be further optimised by estimating the rotational velocities using kinematic modelling, and correcting the measured linewidths for instrumental broadening, Doppler broadening, turbulent motion and inclination effects

Socio-economic and environmental impacts of small-scale mining in the Sarah Baartman District

The purpose of this study was to assess, on limited scale, the socio-economic and environmental impact of small-scale mining in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, a municipality that is predominantly rural in nature and stricken by poverty. The topic of legal and illegal small-scale mining has received considerable attention from both the government and communities in recent years. At the heart of small-scale mining is enshrined the goals of creating employment and promoting the economic growth and development of the district. This study investigates the results of both a legal and an illegal mining operation in the municipality

An assessment of the potential of solar photovoltaic (PV) and hybrid renewable energy application in South Africa

PhD ThesisMore than 80% of the world’s energy demand is satisfied by fossil fuels. Proven coal reserves are sufficient for the next 113 years, while natural gas reserve could last up to 55 years (Jain, 2010). More than 90% of South African electricity is generated from fossil fuels, mainly coal. South Africa has an average of 85% access to electricity. It is from this background that this study investigated the potential of solar PV, and hybrid energy system application to address energy security and poverty. The primary data was collected from different stakeholders (Residential, government, power generators and solar PV installers) through interviews and completion of questionnaires. The secondary data was collected through publications and websites. The “Optioneering” (Chapter 4) and household energy consumption survey (Chapter 6) lead to the same conclusion that Gauteng Province has the greatest solar PV potential. It has good solar irradiance and high electricity consumption, which solar PV could add value in the diversification of energy mix. Over 25% of South African electricity is consumed in this province, hence it is recommended for the construction of solar PV power plants and rooftop installation. There is a potential of 2 million middle income and 0.5 million high income households, which consume 9.6 TWh/year and 3 TWh/year respectively and are interested to pay for electricity based on a green source. Approximately 45% of the high income residents are based in Gauteng. Thus, Gauteng is recommended as province with greatest solar PV potential taking into consideration chapter 4 and 6 findings. There is good renewable energy potential in South Africa. However, these technologies will not replace fossil fuels soon. Fossil fuels will remain the main source of energy for the foreseeable future in South Africa because of the barriers that renewable energy technologies are facing in the country. Therefore, greenhouse gas emissions are most likely to increase at steady rate for the decades to come. Nonetheless, solar PV growth and development will continue to rise, mainly stimulated by the price reduction over time and improved efficiency with a low degradation rate.The European Union, University of South Africa, Tshwane University of technology and the National Research Foundatio

Work – family conflict, sense of coherence,coping resources and job satisfaction amongst women general practitioners

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities School of Human and Community Development 0216845j [email protected] aim of the present study was to explore how women general practitioners experience work-family conflict, their sense of coherence, coping resources as well as implications of these on their level of job satisfaction. This involved investigating the bi-dimensional model of the work-family conflict and measuring them against other investigated variables like coping resources, sense of coherence and job satisfaction. The research was conceptualized based on the stress and coping models. Literature review based mostly on international level revealed that women doctors do experience work-family conflict and that it does impact on their level of well-being. The sample, which consisted of women general practitioners residing in the Gauteng province, was obtained using snowballing method and non-probability sampling method. A hundred and fourteen questionnaires were distributed by mail and within a period of three months only 28 questionnaires had been returned of which 22 were used for statistical procedures. Statistical analysis involved a number of procedures including Pearson correlation, t-test procedures and partial correlation methods. The results revealed that women general practitioners do experience work-family conflict especially one aspect of it known as the family interference with work (F→W). Furthermore results indicated that the experience of work-family conflict, specifically the F→W amongst these women does affect their level of job satisfaction in a significantly negative way. Demographics on the other hand proved to have no significant impact on the level of job satisfaction amongst these women. Lastly, it was noted that even though these women employed a wide variety of coping resources none of them proved to have any significant effect on their level of job satisfaction

Evaluating the business improvement strategies, practices and challenges in the platinum mining industry

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the strategies, practices and challenges relating to business performance and the implementation of business improvement to align production and maintenance strategies to the corporate strategy in Anglo American Platinum, a mining operation in South Africa. A set of questions were used in a qualitative research design through interview questions to collect data from corporate strategic management and the operational management involved in business improvement initiatives in the production and maintenance processes. Globally, mining companies are faced with many challenges, including safety, system integration and standardisation, caring for the environment, cost controlling and reliability of machinery and equipment. The mining industry is both labour and capital-intensive. While the South African labour force has unlimited demands on wages and salaries, most machinery runs at its maximum capacity and requires more capital for the operations to continue production, ensuring value creation for all stakeholders and hence sustainability of the operations. The situation was aggravated when market forces determining the commodity prices became volatile, causing the slump in the commodity prices. As a result, profit margins were eroded by the higher costs of production and higher wages costs. To create a sustainable, cost-effective operation and improve recovery and grades, mining companies such as Anglo American Platinum implemented a business improvement initiative. This study aims to evaluate the strategies, practices and challenges in relation to business improvement at Anglo American Platinum. Observations are that the impact of misalignment between corporate strategy, together with business improvement production and maintenance strategies, contribute minimally to the performance of production at Anglo American Platinum

Gendered ruptures and continuities in the Venda traditional leadership from C. 1990 to 2020

This article approaches traditional leadership disputes amongst and within Venda royal houses over the past three decades (from the end of grand apartheid to the presidency of Mr Cyril Ramaphosa) while investigating the reasons for the importance of such traditional leadership positions in modern South Africa. In the light of the most recent disputes around the right of women to ascend to the highest Venda authority, historical precedents around practices of female leadership amongst the Vhavenda are considered. Amongst the continuities observed, are the inevitable limitations to traditional authority: a need to be legitimated from “within” and sanctioned from “above”, by whoever controls the greater nation-state. The discontinuities can be observed in the nature of the arguments on both sides. The historical account pays attention to popular protests, government-appointed commissions, court cases and appeals to the principles of equality in the South African constitution

The experiences of Batswana families regarding hospice care of AIDS patients in the Bophirima district, North West province, South Africa

The HIV/AIDS pandemic put significant strain on healthcare services in the country. Hospitals were no longer coping with the escalating number of AIDS patients. This resulted in the early discharge of patients, with some patients, too ill to be nursed at home, being sent to hospices for continued care. The Batswana had mixed feelings about hospice care, because their beliefs on patient care are based on the ubuntu philosophy, which emphasises the principle of caring for one another. The purpose of thisstudy was to explore and describe the experiences of Batswana families regarding hospice care for patients in the Thlabane township in the province of the North West as well as to make recommendations to policy-makers to ensure that hospices are accepted by community members and utilised effectively. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive research design was applied. Purposive sampling was applied to select study participants with whom in-depth unstructured interviews were conducted. A qualitative data analysis was done by categorising, ordering, and summarising the data, and describing the findings. The findings indicated that families of patients in hospice care experienced such care as foreign to their culture. These families also experienced stigmatisation, firstly owing to thestigma associated with AIDS and secondly because they opted for hospice care. However, they also observed the high quality of care provided by the hospice and understood its benefits for AIDS patients. The study concluded that hospice care relieved families of terminally ill AIDS patients of the burden of care and enabled them to keep on working and earning a living. Recommendations to policy-makers included enhancing hospice care and ensuring the provisioning of culturally safe hospice care