Different Crime Types in Western Cape Province: Principal Component Analysis

South Africa has a very high crime rate compared to most countries. Crime affects the society, business and psychology of the people. It compels people to move out or come into a particular area. It is most prevalent in the urban areas where poverty gap is conspicuous. Western Cape and Gauteng Provinces are the best developed provinces in the country and therefore have higher crime levels. But the question is: what types of crime are prevalent in the Western Cape Province? And what are the major causes of these crimes? The purpose of this paper is to identify the different types of crimes committed in the Western Cape Province which are prominent. Principal Component analysis (PCA) has been use in this study to gauge the patterns of crime and the distinct important factors affecting the level of crime. Secondary data from a website have been used in the analysis. The results show that violence and vehicle thefts are the most committed crimes in the province. The areas where crime occurs most frequently are Bellville, Cape Town Central, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelisha, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga and Parow. Firearms have been identified as major means for committing crime. The paper recommends that attempts be made by the provincial government to clamp down unlicensed fire arm holders/dealers. Amnesty should be granted to encourage holders of unlicensed fire arms to surrender without punishment and the public should report to the police all those dealing in unlicensed firearms in order to root out crime in the province

Invasive alien plants used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS-related symptoms by traditional healers of Vhembe Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Background: Invasive alien plants have been known to play an important role in the lives of rural communities with regard to food security, ornamental purposes, as well as primary healthcare. The study presents the results of data collected through a survey on the use of invasive alien plants in the treatment of HIV/AIDS related symptoms.Materials and Methods: Twenty-one traditional healers were interviewed using semi structured questionnaires. Parameters recorded during the interviews were local names, symptoms treated, plant parts used, life form and availability estimates of the plant species.Results: A total of 38 invasive alien plant species belonging to 23 families were recorded to be used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS related symptoms. The largest proportion of recorded invasive alien plants belonged to the family Asteraceae with 16%. Roots were the most frequently used parts constituting 35% followed closely by leaves with 34%. Wounds were the main symptoms treated with a proportion of 56% followed by gonorrhoea (20%).Conclusion: From the study, invasive alien plant species played a vital role in traditional primary healthcare. Despite their medicinal potential, it is recommended that traditional healers and community members be educated on the impact of invasive alien plants on biodiversity.Keywords: Invasive alien plants, HIV/AIDS, Traditional healers, Vhembe District Municipalit

Use, conservation and present availability status of ethnomedicinal plants of Matebele-Village in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Ethnobotanical surveys were carried out between January 2011 and April 2012 to compile an inventory of plants used medicinally by people of the Matebele village. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the species used by the villagers. The results show that 65 species (86.1% indigenous and 13.8% exotics) from 36 families, mostly the Asteraceae (13.8%) and Fabaceae (10.7%), are being used to treat 28 ailments or conditions. To the best of our knowledge, 24.4% of the species were recorded for the first time as medicinal. The most widely used species were Terminalia sericea (43.3%), followed by Acacia senegal, Eucomis pallidiflora (36.6% each), Drimia elata (26.6%), Warburgia salutaris (19.9%) and Artemisia afra (16.6%). Roots (39.1%), leaves (21.6%) and stem bark (10.8%) were the most frequently used parts. The heavy dependence on wild medicinal plants and utilization of threatened (E. pallidiflora, D. elata and W. salutaris) and protected (Sclerocarya birrea) species by inhabitants of Matebele village calls for urgent conservation intrusion.Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, Limpopo Province, Matebele Village, conservation, present availability status, South Africa, useAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(18), pp. 2392-240

Communicative interactions in desegregated South African classrooms

This research is based on a case study of a former all-white Afrikaans secondary school situated in Pretoria in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The aim of this case study was to investigate and report on the complex and dynamic communicative interactions that were apparent in the events, human relationships and other elements as they unfolded and revealed themselves in desegregated classrooms in this school. I utilised an interpretive qualitative research design as my guiding methodology. This incorporated the use of semi-structured interviews, observation, video recordings, and narrative inquiry as sources of rich and layered data. My object of research was the patterns of communicative interaction that occurred between teachers and learners and between learners. My goal was to obtain a clear analytical view of the ways in which teachers and learners from diverse racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds interacted with one another in the classroom. For this purpose I made use of multiple methods of data collection and included a variety of techniques that enabled me to triangulate the findings so as to ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of the empirical investigation. An analysis of the findings revealed that the school in which the study was conducted was beset by challenges that created communication barriers between teachers and learners and between learners and learners. Such barriers to communication became evident in the use of language, in the school’s failure to accommodate cultural differences, in the dynamics of class participation, in the use of both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication and in the prevalence of racism. However, some of the teachers and learners were conscious of these challenges and attitudes and strove to create a non-racist environment in their school that would negate the effects of the racist paradigm wherever possible. The study suggests that there is a need for the South African government to take the initiative to support all desegregated schools in various practical ways if the effects of racism are not to be passed onto the next generation of adults in our country. CopyrightDissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Curriculum Studiesunrestricte

An ecological evaluation of the sustainability of bark harvesting of medicinal plant species in the Venda region, Limpopo province, South Africa

The study evaluated the extent and threat of bark harvesting of plant species for medicinal purposes in the Venda region and investigated possibilities of the sustainability of these practices. Approximately 30% of the woody plant species in Venda were found to have medicinal properties in their bark, but only about 12% of these species are commonly traded in muthi shops in the region. Fifty-eight medicinal plant species are commonly harvested for medicinal properties in their bark and found in muthi shops in the region. These 58 species were scored for the possible threat of bark harvesting to the species’ survival using 20 ecologically relevant plant population traits. The most vulnerable species were Adansonia digitata, Adenia spinosa, Albizia adianthifolia, Albizia versicolor, Brackenridgea zanguebarica, Croton megalobotrys, and Warburgia salutaris. Of these species Brackenridgea zanguebarica and Warburgia salutaris are amongst the ten most traded medicinal plant species in Venda region. Elaeodendron transvaalense and Brackenridgea zanguebarica, the two species investigated in detail in this study, were amongst the most commonly traded medicinal plant species in Venda region. Analysis of size class distributions showed that both species had growing and healthy populations, exhibiting J-shaped population curves, centroids left-skewed from the midpoint of the size class distribution, and a fine-grained status. However, size-class distributions in both species revealed certain classes that needed monitoring since they were negatively affected by bark harvesting. Adult individuals of B. zanguebarica showed a high degree of bark regeneration as a response to bark removal from medicine men. The crown health status of E. transvaalense was generally good although some individuals, contributing 9% of the sample, had dead crowns. A linear relationship was noticed between areas harvested and stem circumference, which is understandable considering the large surface area of harvestable bark on bigger individuals. Matrix modeling of E. transvaalense revealed that the vegetative stage should be targeted for management action. An assessment of the adequacy of the Brackenridgea Nature Reserve, an initiative aimed at protecting Brackenridgea zanguebarica, revealed that the reserve size is not enough for conservation of a viable population. The method flagged out potential growth habitat for B. zanguebarica around the current reserve, which could be incorporated to enlarge the conservation area, which could be incorporated to enlarge the conservation area. Four different scenarios were analysed on how best to conserve the species. Assuming a 50% reduction in human-related activities, such as cultivation, harvesting and livestock grazing, it is recommended that the reserve be enlarged from its current 110 ha to 366 ha to maintain a viable population into the future. Finally, the study recommended the adoption of an integrated approach to achieve sustainability of bark harvesting in the Venda region. Only by selecting best practices from both indigenous and conventional conservation techniques will the conservation of natural resources that are of important to local communities, be successful. An action plan that will involve the formation of an association by all stakeholders interested in the sustainable utilization of natural resources must be developed. The association must be governed by a constitution with a clear mission statement and the harvesting of natural resources should be done in line with a collection policy.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.Plant Scienceunrestricte

Medicinal plant use of villagers in the Mopani district, Limpopo province, South Africa

Background: An ethno-medical survey of plants was conducted at Mashishimale village near Phalaborwa, in Limpopo Province (South Africa). Owing to high level of poverty and lack of proper daily operational healthcare facilities in certain parts of Mashishimale village, the use of plants as medicine persists. The aim of the study was to compile a list of medicinal plants used by traditional health practitioners for treatment of diabetes mellitus and other ailments.Materials and methods: Traditional health practitioners were identified using the snowballing sampling technique. Structured interviews were conducted and a list of medicinal plants compiled. Data collection included local names of the plants, the plant parts used in the traditional medicine, the disease treated by the plant-based remedies and the method of preparation of the medicines.Results and discussion: A total of 49 plants species belonging to 20 different families we identified. Plant parts used in preparation of remedies by practitioners are roots (51%), stem barks (30%) and leaves (19%). The most preferred methods of administration were boiling (74%) and infusion (12%). About 14 plants species were indicated for treatment of diabetes mellitus, while most plant species were indicated for sexually transmitted diseases, fertility and erectile dysfunction.Conclusion: The results of the survey indicate that plants play a significant role in primary healthcare of the community of Mashishimale Village. It would seem that a number of major diseases/ailments are treated by traditional methods. Scientific investigation is therefore needed to isolate active compounds and to determine safe dosages for treatment. These studies may guide the regulation of herbal medicine industry in South Africa.Key words: Ethnobotanical, Medicinal plants, Mashishimale villag

Propagation potential for the conservation of Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv., a critically endangered plant species endemic to Vhembe District in Limpopo Province (South Africa)

Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv. is an important multipurpose tree valued for its medicinal uses in Vhembe District. The unsustainable harvesting coupled with poor seed germination in the wild is threatening its regeneration; which poses a challenge in efforts to its conservation. This study was conducted to identify suitable methods for propagating B. zanguebarica species using seeds and stem cuttings. Seeds propagation was carried out to evaluate the effect of various pre-treatments. Vegetative propagation was tested to assess if B. zanguebarica could be successfully propagated via stem cuttings with appropriate treatments. The results showed that B. zanguebarica seeds did not germinate at all under any of the conditions tested. Stem cuttings presented a possibility of propagating this species despite the poor results obtained, where 51% of cuttings across all treatment produced buds and 17% only developed leaves without any root development. The growth media had insignificant (P > 0.05) effect on some vegetative growth parameters, while growth hormones showed significant (P < 0.05) effect in all the vegetative growth parameters of stem cuttings where IAA performed better than IBA and NNA. However, their interaction were significant (P < 0.05) on all the growth parameters of Brackenridgea zanguebarica stem cuttings except on the percentage of cuttings that produced buds (P = 0.107). The findings showed that B. zanguebarica is difficult to propagate sexually and asexually, hence, further studies are needed to identify suitable methods for both seed and vegetative propagation of this plant

INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS-RELATED SYMPTOMS BY TRADITIONAL HEALERS OF VHEMBE MUNICIPALITY, LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Background: Invasive alien plants have been known to play an important role in the lives of rural communities with regard to food security, ornamental purposes, as well as primary healthcare. The study presents the results of data collected through a survey on the use of invasive alien plants in the treatment of HIV/AIDS related symptoms. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one traditional healers were interviewed using semi structured questionnaires. Parameters recorded during the interviews were local names, symptoms treated, plant parts used, life form and availability estimates of the plant species. Results: A total of 38 invasive alien plant species belonging to 23 families were recorded to be used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS related symptoms. The largest proportion of recorded invasive alien plants belonged to the family Asteraceae with 16%. Roots were the most frequently used parts constituting 35% followed closely by leaves with 34%. Wounds were the main symptoms treated with a proportion of 56% followed by gonorrhoea (20%). Conclusion: From the study, invasive alien plant species played a vital role in traditional primary healthcare. Despite their medicinal potential, it is recomme

Population biology of Elaeodendron transvaalense Jacq. in the presence of harvesting

Elaeodendron transvaalense Jacq. is one of the medicinal plant species commonly used by people in the Venda region. The species is known to treat a variety of diseases. It is widely used and important to traditional healers. Because of this, it found its way into the muthi markets, and it is among the seven most commonly traded plant species in the Venda region. This study investigated the impact of bark harvesting on the population structure of this species. The study revealed that although the level of bark harvesting is high, the species is able to resist that stress since it is a fine-grained species. The population also showed the ability to regenerate as it exhibited an inverse J-shaped curve. The crown health status was generally good although some individuals, contributing 9% of the sample, had dead crowns, which are a cause for concern. A linear relationship was noticed between areas harvested and stem circumference, which is understandable considering the large surface area of harvestable bark on bigger individuals.National Research Foundation of South Africahttp:// www.revistaphyton.fund-rumuloraggio.org.arhb201

Evaluación de la magnitud y peligro de la cosecha de corteza de especies vegetales medicinales en la región de Venda, Provincia de Limpopo, Sudáfrica

The medicinal flora of the Venda region consists of a variety of species, which may potentially provide therapeutic agents to treat different diseases. Bark use for medicinal purposes has been reported for approximately 30% of the woody species (153 species) in the Venda region in southern Africa. However, only 58 plant species are commonly harvested for the medicinal properties in their bark and found in muthi shops in the region. These 58 species were scored for the possible threat of bark harvesting to the plant survival. Ethnobotanical studies indicate that the growing trade in indigenous medicinal plants in South Africa is posing a threat to the conservation and preservation of many plant species. Apart from pharmaceutical companies, trade in medicinal plants has become a way of making a living for some people. This study investigated the pattern of trade in medicinal plants by local markets in the Venda region, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Indications are that bark harvesting may threaten some of the plant species.La flora medicinal de la región de Venda consta de una variedad de especies, que potencialmente pueden proporcionar agentes terapéuticos para tratar diferentes enfermedades. El uso de la corteza con propósitos medicinales se ha informado para aproximadamente 30% de las especies leñosas (153 especies) en el sur de África, en la región de Venda. Sin embargo, sólo 58 especies vegetales son cosechadas por las propiedades medicinales en su corteza, y vendidas en tiendas muthi en la región. Estas 58 especies se clasificaron por la posible amenaza de cosecha de su corteza, relacionado con la supervivencia de las plantas. Estudios etnobotánicos indican que el creciente comercio de plantas medicinales indígenas en Sudáfrica está siendo una amenaza para la conservación y preservación de muchas especies vegetales. Además de las compañías farmacéuticas, el comercio de plantas medicinales se ha convertido en una forma de vida para algunas personas. Este estudio investigó el patrón de comercio de las plantas medicinales en los mercados locales en la región de Venda, Provincia de Limpopo, Sudáfrica. Los resultados indican que la cosecha de corteza puede amenazar algunas de las especies vegetales.Muthi is a term for traditional medicine in southern Africa. It has been derived from the Zulu language word for “tree” due to the fact that most traditional medicines are derived from trees.http://www.revistaphyton.fund-romuloraggio.org.aram201