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1
Amoah, Laura Novienyo Abla. "Water Scarcity and Food Security in Ngqeleni Locality in the Eastern Cape Province- South Africa." African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure 10(1), no. 10(1) (February 28, 2021): 40–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-85.
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South Africa in general and the Eastern Cape Province in particular face increasing water shortages. However, little empirical evidence exists on how rural households are affected by water scarcity and the impact thereof on food security. This paper discusses the relationship between water scarcity and food security in Ngqeleni, a rural location in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Through empirical evidence collected using techniques inspired by the tradition of participatory focus group research and self-administered questionnaires in Ngqeleni, it is argued that there is a significant relationship between water scarcity and food security. Results also reveal that population growth, lack of political will and commitment, inadequate water resource infrastructure, and weaknesses within the institutional framework are some of the causes of water scarcity. Until effective water management systems are identified and enforced, food security will continue to plague Ngqeleni.
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Botai, Christina M., Joel O. Botai, Abiodun M. Adeola, Jaco P. de Wit, Katlego P. Ncongwane, and Nosipho N. Zwane. "Drought Risk Analysis in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: The Copula Lens." Water 12, no. 7 (July 8, 2020): 1938. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12071938.
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This research study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of drought based on the joint distribution of two dependent variables, the duration and severity, in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The drought variables were computed from the Standardized Precipitation Index for 6- and 12-month accumulation period (hereafter SPI-6 and SPI-12) time series calculated from the monthly rainfall data spanning the last five decades. In this context, the characteristics of climatological drought duration and severity were based on multivariate copula analysis. Five copula functions (from the Archimedean and Elliptical families) were selected and fitted to the drought duration and severity series in order to assess the dependency measure of the two variables. In addition, Joe and Gaussian copula functions were considered and fitted to the drought duration and severity to assess the joint return periods for the dual and cooperative cases. The results indicate that the dependency measure of drought duration and severity are best described by Tawn copula families. The dependence structure results suggest that the study area exhibited low probability of drought duration and high probability of drought severity. Furthermore, the multivariate return period for the dual case is found to be always longer across all the selected univariate return periods. Based on multivariate analysis, the study area (particularly Buffalo City, OR Tambo and Alfred Zoo regions) is determined to have higher/lower risks in terms of the conjunctive/cooperative multivariate drought risk (copula) probability index. The results of the present study could contribute towards policy and decision making through e.g., formulation of the forward-looking contingent plans for sustainable management of water resources and the consequent applications in the preparedness for and adaptation to the drought risks in the water-linked sectors of the economy.
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Clifford-Holmes, Jai K., Carolyn G. Palmer, Chris J. de Wet, and Jill H. Slinger. "Operational manifestations of institutional dysfunction in post-apartheid South Africa." Water Policy 18, no. 4 (January 29, 2016): 998–1014. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2016.211.
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At the centre of the water law reform process initiated by the first democratic government of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) lay the challenge of transforming away from apartheid water injustices. Reform culminated in the promulgation of new legislation, regarded internationally as ambitious and forward-thinking legislation reflective of the broad aims of integrated water resource management (IWRM). However, implementation of this legislation has been challenging. This paper analyses institutional dysfunction in water management in the Sundays River Valley Municipality (Eastern Cape Province, RSA). A transdisciplinary approach is taken in addressing the failure of national law and policy to enable the delivery of effective water services in post-apartheid RSA. A case study is used to explore interventions to promote effective water supply, locating these interventions and policies within the legislative structures and frameworks governing the water sector. We suggest that fine-grained institutional analysis together with learning from persistent iterative, adaptive practice, with principled goals intact, offers a pragmatic and achievable alternative to grand-scale policy change.
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Marais, ML, S. Drimie, and C. Boshoff. "Determinants for realisation of the right to food among adolescents in Sterkspruit, eastern cape province, South Africa." African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 21, no. 05 (July 6, 2021): 18131–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.100.19310.
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Globally, the youth population aged between 10 and 24 years is the fastest growing and faces health and nutritional challenges affecting their growth and development, livelihoods and future careers. The government needs to take necessary action towards the full realisation of the right to health, water, education and adequate standards of living, amongst others. A cross-sectional descriptive study using a mixed method approach was conducted. The study aimed at gaining an insight into perceptions about underlying factors, having an impact on the realisation of the Right to Food (RtF)of adolescents in the Sterkspruit area of the Senqu sub-district (Eastern Cape Province). It, furthermore, explored possible solutions and opportunities to facilitate the progressive realisation of the RtF for adolescents in this area. In-depth interviews were held with eight (8) key informants who were actively involved in the community. Fifty (50) adolescents aged 10 to 19 years completed a self-administered questionnaire and participated in Focus Group Discussions, stratified for gender and age. Through content analysis of qualitative data, transcripts were coded and emerging themes were grouped, using the ATLAS.ti 7 text analysis programme. Sixteen (16) percent of the adolescents sometimes had access to only one food source at home and have experienced hunger at times. The most pressing issues identified by participants, which compromises the realisation of adolescents’ right to food and health, was hunger caused by a combination of a monotonous diet, lack of agrarian resources, unemployment and mismanagement of Child Support Grants. Although government was regarded as the main duty-bearer responsible for the realisation of the RtF, it was perceived to be inefficient in taking sustainable measures to enhance food security in this resource-poor area. Very few participants identified adolescents’ own responsibility as rights-holders. The implementation of a human rights-based approach is needed for both the duty-bearers and rights-holders to facilitate adolescents’ physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.
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Binns, Tony, and Etienne Nel. "Beyond the development impasse: the role of local economic development and community self-reliance in rural South Africa." Journal of Modern African Studies 37, no. 3 (September 1999): 389–408. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022278x99003067.
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The failure of successive generations of imported, Western development strategies and projects to deliver meaningful reductions in poverty and achieve basic needs in Africa, has provoked a deep questioning of Western concepts and methodologies of development. Non-governmental organisations and development practitioners are increasingly focusing their attention on strategies which build upon local knowledge, skills and resources. The concepts of ‘self- reliance’ and local economic development are examined in the context of development challenges which face Africa. This is followed by a detailed case study of local economic development in the rural Mpofu District of the former Ciskei Homeland, which was incorporated into the Eastern Cape province of South Africa with the demise of apartheid in 1994.
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Adewoyin, Mary Ayobami, Kingsley Ehi Ebomah, and Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh. "Antibiogram Profile of Acinetobacterbaumannii Recovered from Selected Freshwater Resources in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Pathogens 10, no. 9 (August 31, 2021): 1110. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10091110.
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Acinetobacter species have been found in a variety of environments, including soil, food, plants, hospital environments and water. Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic and emerging waterborne pathogen. It has been implicated in several nosocomial infections that demonstrate resistance to commonly administered antibiotics. We investigated phenotypic antibiotic resistance (PAR) and relevant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in A. baumannii isolated from three freshwater resources in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa; A. baumannii (410) was confirmed by the recA and gyrB genes of 844 suspected Acinetobacter species in the water samples. The PAR of the confirmed isolates was assessed using a panel of 11 antibiotics by the disc diffusion method, while ARGs were investigated in isolates exhibiting PAR. The A. baumannii isolates were resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam (11.2%), ceftazidime (12%), cefotaxime (18.8%), cefepime (8.8%), imipenem (2.7%), meropenem (4.15%), amikacin (2.4%), gentamicin (8.8%), tetracycline (16.8%), ciprofloxacin (11%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (20.5%). For multidrug resistance (MDR), two isolates were resistant to all antibiotics and 28 isolates were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. Moreover, β-lactamases blaTEM (64.4%) and blaOXA-51 (28.70%) as well as sulphonamides sul1 (37.1%) and sul2 (49.4%) were common ARGs. Overall, PAR and ARGs had positive correlations (r) in all rivers. Detection of MDR-A. baumannii in freshwater resources could be linked to possible wastewater discharge from the nearby animal farms, indicating potential implications for public health.
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Breakfast, Ntsikelelo, Chukwuemeka Okafor, and Gavin Bradshaw. "Market Triumphalism at the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities, South Africa." Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review 2, no. 4 (December 1, 2014): 22. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v2i4.66.
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This article is a critique of neo-liberal inspired policies such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), privatisation of services and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) with specific reference to the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The two selected municipalities were chosen because both of them are categorized as metropolitan. This will enable the research to make a comparison of the implementation of PPP, outsourcing of services and BBBEE at these metropoles. The article provides an analysis of both municipalities’ records such as policy documents. The central argument of this article is that the neo-liberal inspired policies of PPP and BBBEE that are being applied through Local Economic Development(LED) are not in the interests of the majority of people living in the Eastern Cape. The researchers argue that the local business and political elites through the BBBEE, PPPs and outsourcing of services are using their strong networks (associated political, social and capital resources) in their efforts for personal accumulation, rather than promoting development for the majority.
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Perry, Adam F. "Ethnographic insights on rural sustainability; homestead design and permaculture of Eastern Cape settlements in South Africa." Africanus: Journal of Development Studies 43, no. 1 (November 14, 2018): 115–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/0304-615x/5087.
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This article considers the prevalence of sustained agricultural practices (particularly large scale gardens of the homestead) and questions current public debate that permaculture strategy is foreign to South Africa. The paper speaks on recent ethnographic work by the author in rural parts of the Eastern Cape, or the former Transkei. The article makes comparisons to some of the founding principles of permaculture theory and practice to suggest that current agricultural practices and homestead (umzi, plural imizi) settlement patterns follow closely to “permaculture ideals” in theory and practice. An argument is made that the rural Xhosa homestead has developed much more to the tune of achieving sustainability for its occupants, as many continue to build to accommodate subsistence agriculture. Natural resources of the area also continue to be utilized and collectively shared. Whilst, the desgn strategy of incorporating animal enclosures (uthango, plural iintango, or ubuhlanti, plural iintlanti) within the homestead aid residents, as animal waste is utilized for fuel and fertilizer. The paper critiques ideas that believe rural areas to be “de-agrarianised”, or solely supported by the welfare state. A further critique is raised because of the idealised manner in which foreign ideas on development are esteemed as better than regional adaptations. The paper displays scepticism for Eastern Cape development models or those perceptions that do not account for local land use practices. Ultimately, the author critiques development models that do not delve deeply into how people incorporate settlement structures to maximise upon the use of natural resources.
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Fosu, Agyei. "E-Learning and Conventional Learning in 21st Century Information Age: A Case Study Of Students from Selected Universities in Buffalo City Metropolitan Eastern Cape South Africa." International Journal of Community Development and Management Studies 3 (2019): 031–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.31355/39.
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NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE INFORMING SCIENCE INSTITUTE. Aim/Purpose................................................................................................................................................................................................. The main aim of the study is to critically examine the forces that can impede or support students to use e-learning in higher education teaching and learning environment which require not only pre-technological literacy’s but easy access to the e-learning platform and ICT devices. Background................................................................................................................................................................................................. The concept of e-learning has grown considerably in the past three or four decades, which according to Pollock and Cornford, (2003) has prompted a great deal of interest in using and integration of technology into teaching and learning environment thereby transforming the very nature of the traditional higher education system. Murphy et al (2001) have highlighted that not only does the new technologies supplement the conventional course delivery in institutions of higher learning, but they have also become a catalyst for change in higher education. South Africa as a developing nation has adopted the introduction of ICTs in the education system with the hope that it may offer some solutions to the challenges of education in South Africa. The South African Department of Education believes that developments in ICTs and its introduction to the education system creates access to learning opportunities, redresses inequalities, improve the quality of learning and teaching, and deliver lifelong learning (Department of Education, 2004). Even though internet access and ICT devices are becoming more common in South Africa, the use of them for teaching and learning purposes are limited. According to the White Paper on E-education in South Africa (SA, 2004), the Province of Eastern Cape has ranked lowest in terms of number of schools with computers for teaching and learning and as a result many students from Eastern Cape Province who enter higher education do not have adequate technological literacy levels to cope with the demands of higher education teaching and learning environment. Methodology................................................................................................................................................................................................. The design of the study was a case study and it utilized quantitative method. The number of sample units in the study was 65 students from Walter Sisulu University, University of South Africa, Pearson Institute of Higher Education (formerly called CTI) and University of Fort Hare campuses based in East London Eastern Cape Province South Africa. The data were analyzed using MS Excel spreadsheet database for conversion into percentages for the descriptive statistics. Contribution................................................................................................................................................................................................. It is essential to understand the forces that can impede or support e-learning. Possible solutions can be suggested for successfully integrating e-learning into higher education teaching and learning environment to meet 21st century students’ needs. The South Africa case study identified that a number of respondents indicated that the resources are available for e-learning on their university campuses. But these available resources are not efficiently used by most respondents to support their studies. Findings......................................................................................................................................................................................................... The results indicated that in the area of infrastructure required for e-learning, the majority of respondents indicated that the resources are available for e-learning on the campuses of the sampled universities. But these available re-sources are not efficiently utilized by respondents to support their studies. Recommendations for Practitioners............................................................................................................................................................... While universities and other institutions of higher education are encouraging integration of e-learning into the curriculum, it is also imperative that their teaching and learning strategies and policies take into account that some students are unevenly challenged in terms of technological skills and still require additional support. Recommendation for Researchers................................................................................................................................................................ There is the need to explore in depth the aspects that lead to the successful integration of e-learning into conventional lecture method of courses delivery. Impact on Society........................................................................................................................................................................................... With the dawn of 21st century digital and knowledge-based economies evolution where the integration of computers and other ICTs tools in higher education teaching and learning environments have been found to be very beneficial to students, hence not only pre-technological literacy’s of students but easy access to the e-learning platform and ICT devices are critical to higher education learning environment. Assessing students technological skills and access to e-learning platforms to which this study contributes will assist in improving quality education which has a greater impact on society. Future Research............................................................................................................................................................................................... In the context in which this study was conducted further examination of the technological skills of academic staff of the successful integration of e-learning into curriculum would be advisable.
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Bala, Samkelo, and Simon M. Kang’ethe. "Contribution of Business Entities in the Fight against COVID-19 in South Africa." Perspectives on Global Development and Technology 19, no. 5-6 (February 4, 2021): 584–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15691497-12341572.
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Abstract Unequivocally, South Africa, amid an environment of paucity of resources and ever-increasing cases of coronavirus, faces an arduous challenge of fighting the scourge of coronavirus. This has necessitated the need to assess the role of business entities as complementary stakeholders. This article applied qualitative paradigm and case-study design that allowed an investigation of 13 postgraduate participants to explore the contribution of business entities against coronavirus in South Africa. The article established gaps embedded in the contribution made by business entities against COVID-19; weaker support by Eastern Cape business entities against COVID-19; and business entities donating personal protective equipment to communities and food to the disadvantaged communities. This article recommends that business entities increase their complementary role to the government by increasing their contribution to needy communities.
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Hosking, Jessica, Mario Du Preez, and Gary Sharp. "Low-income resident’s preferences for the location of wind turbine farms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 26, no. 3 (September 23, 2015): 10–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2015/v26i3a2125.
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There is a general consensus that South Africa should be generating more power through harnessing renewable energy resources, such as wind power. However, there is no consensus with regard to the location of such generating projects. This paper describes a wind farm project proposed for development in the Kouga Local Municipality, reports low-income local residents’ preferences on its nature and applies choice modelling to analyse these preferences. A questionnaire was presented to each respondent, the discrete choice experiment component of the questionnaire included two different onshore wind energy development scenarios and a status quo option. The scenarios differed by the combination of four elements: the distance of the wind turbines from residential areas, job creation, the number of turbines and a subsidy allocated to each household.
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Huang, Yaohuan, Zhonghua Li, Mingxing Chen, Xiaoyang Song, and Ping Kang. "Spatial Variability of Water Resources State of Regions around the “Belt and Road”." Water 13, no. 15 (July 31, 2021): 2102. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13152102.
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Water resource has become a key constraint for implementing the “Belt and Road” initiative which was raised by the Chinese government. Besides the study of spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, this study created a water hazard risk map along the “Belt and Road” zone through combined flood and drought data from 1985. Our results showed that South-Eastern Asia, southern China and eastern Southern Asia are areas with the most abundant precipitations, while floods in these areas are also the most serious. Northwest China, Western Asia, Northern Africa and Southern Asia are areas highly vulnerable to drought. Furthermore, the potential influence of flood and drought were also analyzed by associating with population distribution and corridor map. It reveals that China, South-Eastern Asia, Southern Asia, Western Asia and Northern Africa have the largest population number facing potential high water hazard risk. China–India–Burma Corridor and China–Indo-China Peninsula Corridor have the largest areas facing potential high water hazard risk.
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Mabidi, Annah, Matthew S. Bird, and Renzo Perissinotto. "Assessment of the physicochemical characteristics of surface waterbodies in a region earmarked for shale gas exploration (Eastern Cape Karoo, South Africa)." Marine and Freshwater Research 68, no. 9 (2017): 1626. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf16102.
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The proposed drilling for shale gas resources in the Eastern Cape Karoo region of South Africa has triggered much debate over the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing on water resources. Herein we present results on some limnological aspects of surface waterbodies in this water-scarce region before shale gas exploration. Thirty-three waterbodies (nine dams, 13 depression wetlands and 11 rivers) were sampled in November 2014 and April 2015. Principal component analysis revealed that depression wetlands and rivers had distinct physicochemical signatures, whereas dams were highly variable in their physicochemical attributes and exhibited characteristics similar to those of either rivers or depression wetlands. Non-parametric multivariate regressions and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that landscape variables such as underlying geology, altitude and land use poorly explained the physicochemical characteristics of the sampled waterbodies. Waterbody type was the only factor that explained a significant amount of the variation in physicochemistry during both sampling events. These data need to be supplemented by water quality information from additional sites and over longer time periods, as well as supporting data relating to other aspects, such as algae and invertebrates, before they can be used as a baseline for the long-term monitoring of freshwater ecosystems in the region.
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Kajiita, Robert Mutemi, and Simon Kang’ethe. "Appreciating the Diversity of NGO’s Towards Service Delivery in South Africa: Drawing Evidences from Eastern Cape Province." Insight on Africa 9, no. 2 (June 13, 2017): 126–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0975087817707444.
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The dismantling of Apartheid era in South Africa in 1994, the advent of democratic era, was welcomed with a package of hope for the citizens as far as development was concerned. Since then, the government has been playing a key role in service delivery. Nonetheless, gaps exist in dispensing an array of services and this has prompted the interventions of NGOs in such developmental discourses. Through a mixed method research approach, this article explores the milestones of NGOs in South Africa while drawing pieces of evidence from Eastern Cape Province. The findings indicate that NGOs have responded positively to the prevention and treatment of various diseases, offered training and facilitated medical facilities in the province, promoted early childhood education and finally ensured regularity in services delivery. The article recommends that the public should appreciate and show goodwill to the efforts of the NGOs, pull their resources together to support and sustain the already existing NGO projects.
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Colvin, C., and I. Saayman. "Challenges to groundwater governance: a case study of groundwater governance in Cape Town, South Africa." Water Policy 9, S2 (November 1, 2007): 127–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2007.129.
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This paper examines the trialogue model for governance of groundwater in Cape Town, a developing urban environment. Government processes such as legislation and level of implementation are examined. Social processes were assessed in a household survey. These included common practice in using groundwater, motivating factors or drivers, understanding of the resource and trust in government structures. A review of the scientific understanding of groundwater resources in the city is given. Government in South Africa's fledgling democracy is in a state of transformation, with responsible institutions focused on their internal organisation and less on their ability to integrate with each other and positively impact resources and society. The social views of groundwater lag behind the formal policy of a public resource, and are tied more closely to land ownership. Science has informed groundwater development in the past, but explicit uncertainty in predictions and lack of an engineering approach has limited the use of groundwater for bulk supply. Private use, however, is widespread in the middle and high income areas and increasing as water tariffs have been increased to improve water demand management (WDM). Society's impacts on groundwater currently result from indirect drivers such as WDM. The trialogue model is a useful framework within which social drivers and impacts can be mapped. However, this occurs within the broader context of society supported by natural resources and we propose a model which includes the resource base and its feedback, and governance elements of formal government, the market and the knowledge base (including science).
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Osunla, Ayodeji C., Oluwatayo E. Abioye, and Anthony I. Okoh. "Distribution and Public Health Significance of Vibrio Pathogens Recovered from Selected Treated Effluents in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Water 13, no. 7 (March 29, 2021): 932. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13070932.
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Treated sewage harbours pathogenic microbes, such as enteric bacteria and protozoa, are capable of causing several diseases. Some of these are emerging pathogens sometimes recovered in the absence of common water quality indicator organisms. The possibility of selected treatments plants serving as momentary reservoirs of Vibrio pathogens during a non-outbreak period was assessed. The occurrence and diversity of Vibrio pathogens were monitored for one year (December 2016 to November 2017) in the treated effluents and upstream and downstream areas of the receiving water bodies of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), designated AL and TS. Physicochemical parameters of TS and AL WWTPs’ water samples were analysed using a multi-parameter meter (Hanna, model HI 9828, Padova, Italy) and a turbidimeter (HACH, model 2100P, Johannesburg, South Africa). Water samples were augmented with alkaline peptone water and cultured on thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose agar at 37 °C for 24 h. The recovered probable pathogens were confirmed via PCR amplification, using primers specific for Vibrio species of public health significance. The distribution of Vibrio species positively and significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with turbidity (r = 0.630), temperature (r = 0.615), dissolved oxygen (r = 0.615), pH (r = 0.607), biological oxygen demand (r = 0.573), total dissolved solid (r = 0.543), total suspended solid (r = 0.511), electrical conductivity (r = 0.499), residual chlorine (r = 0.463) and salinity (r = 0.459). The densities of Vibrio species were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) in effluents from both AL and TS WWTPs than upstream and downstream of the receiving rivers across the sampling regime. Furthermore, the maximum Vibrio species density across the sampling regime were observed during the warmer Summer and Spring season. Moreover, six medically important Vibrio species were detected in the water samples, indicating that the methods employed were efficient in revealing that WWTPs are potential reservoirs of Vibrio pathogens, which could pose a substantial public health risk if the receiving water is used for domestic purposes. Our findings further strengthen existing calls for the inclusion of emerging bacterial pathogens, including Vibrio species, as water quality indicators by the South African Department of Water Affairs. Hence, we recommend regular monitoring of treated effluents and receiving water bodies to ensure early control of potential outbreaks of vibriosis and cholera.
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Setshedi, Koketso J., Nhamo Mutingwende, and Nosiphiwe P. Ngqwala. "The Use of Artificial Neural Networks to Predict the Physicochemical Characteristics of Water Quality in Three District Municipalities, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 10 (May 14, 2021): 5248. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105248.
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Reliable prediction of water quality changes is a prerequisite for early water pollution control and is vital in environmental monitoring, ecosystem sustainability, and human health. This study uses Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique to develop the best model fits to predict water quality parameters by employing multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network and the radial basis function (RBF) neural network, using data collected from three district municipalities. Two input combination models, MLP-4-5-4 and MLP-4-9-4, were trained, verified, and tested for their predictive performance ability, and their physicochemical prediction accuracy was compared by using each model’s observed data with the predicted data. The MLP-4-5-4 model showed a better understanding of the data sets and water quality predictive ability giving an MSE of 39.06589 and a correlation coefficient (R2) of the observed and the predicted water quality of 0.989383 compared to the MLP-4-9-4 model (R2 = 0.993532, MSE = 39.03087). These results apply to natural water resources management in South Africa and similar catchment systems. The MLP-4-5-4 system can be scaled up for future water quality prediction of the Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs), groundwater, and surface water while raising awareness among the public and industry on future water quality.
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Sukeri, Kiran, Orlando Alonso-Betancourt, and Robin Emsley. "Service transformation plans in the Eastern Cape informed by a needs-based gap analysis." South African Journal of Psychiatry 21, no. 2 (May 1, 2015): 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v21i2.823.
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<p><strong>Objectives.</strong> Part I of this research paper presented a needs and gap analysis for the management of schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder and major depression for the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It identified deficits and inequitable distribution of human resources and beds in the province. In this article, Part II, the authors propose a plan for public sector mental health services to address the human resource needs in the poorer eastern regions of the province. The plan focuses on human resource training and development. </p><p><strong>Methods.</strong> Evidence-based data on staff development in mental health from low-middle income countries were utilised to develop strategies to increase staff capacity to address unmet need. A financing model with a poverty index was developed to sustain a needs-based plan. Databases searched included Pubmed, Medline, Google and Google Scholar. The key words used included: mental health, mental health training, mental health resources, mental health in low-middle-income countries, mental health policy and plans, mental health needs- based planning, primary healthcare, primary mental healthcare, mental health financing. In addition the websites of the World Health Organization and the World Psychiatric Association were searched for similar resources.</p><p><strong>Conclusions.</strong> It is feasible, with careful attention to planning and implementation of evidence-based tools, to improve public mental health service delivery in this province. Sustained political will and professional commitment will ensure successful delivery of mental health services in a resource-limited province.</p>
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Mtintsilana, Olona, Babatope Ebenezer Akinyemi, and Leocadia Zhou. "Determinants of adaptation to climate variability among farming households in Tyhume Valley communities, Eastern Cape province, South Africa." International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 13, no. 2 (May 26, 2021): 181–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm-06-2020-0057.
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Purpose This paper aims to determine factors affecting adaptation to climate variability on crop production among farming households in Tyhume Valley. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted an empirical analysis of the impact of adaptation on crop yield of farming households and estimated the factors affecting adaptation to climate variability on farming households. The analysis used primary data from 205 farming households practicing crop production in Tyhume Valley communities. Findings Based on binary logit results, factors affecting rural farming households’ adaptation to climate variability are gender, age, heatwave, employment status, strong high wind occasional experience and cell phone. The adaptation measures adopted by the farming households in the study area include irrigation (94.8%), crop rotation (66%), changing crop variety (7.4%) and other methods of adaptation were found to be (1.3%). The other methods of adaptation used included the use of ash to kill (intuku) mole and using dirty water from washing dishes and clothes when irrigating to kill parasites on crops. Originality/value This research paper will be an addition to the body of knowledge on adaptation strategies to climate variability in South Africa, especially at the rural farming household level. This study may assist the rural communities in decision-making when dealing with the challenges of climate variability on their crop production, thereby increasing their crop production. The information gathered in this study might assist policymakers in revising the existing policies. This study will also help rural farming households to practice appropriate adaptation strategies.
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Pretorius, Z. A., K. W. Pakendorf, G. F. Marais, R. Prins, and J. S. Komen. "Challenges for sustainable cereal rust control in South Africa." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, no. 6 (2007): 593. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar06144.
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The cultivation of small grain cereals was introduced to South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 17th Century. According to historical records the first documented epidemic of wheat stem rust occurred in the south-western parts of the current Western Cape in 1726. Recurring stem and leaf rust epidemics were associated with expanding wheat production and became particularly severe in the winter-rainfall regions of the Western and Eastern Cape, as well as in the summer-rainfall regions of the Free State. The wheat stripe rust pathogen was first detected in South Africa in 1996. Due to susceptibility of cultivars at the time of this exotic introduction, stripe rust has caused significant losses in commercial wheat production over the past 10 years. Pathotype surveys of Puccinia graminis and P. triticina were initiated in the 1920s, but were discontinued until research on wheat stem rust was resumed in the 1960s. Recent evidence has shown that P. graminis f. sp. tritici continues to evolve. In addition, the annual number of wheat stem rust collections is increasing, emphasising the sustained threat of this damaging pathogen. A stem rust pathotype first detected in 2000, with newly acquired virulence for Sr8b and Sr38, currently constitutes more than 80% of all collections. Leaf and stem rust diseases also occur on barley, oat, triticale, and rye and are important production constraints in several regions. Some studies have described variability in these pathogens but long-term records of pathogenicity changes in barley and oat rust are not available. Cereal rust diseases have clearly played an important role in South African agriculture and many production regions remain favourable for rust development. Current expertise in cereal rusts covers most technologies necessary to study the respective host–pathogen systems. However, a general lack of capacity and fragmentation of research groups prevent a unified approach and remain a challenge for sustainable cereal rust control in South Africa. A national strategy for cereal rust control, with particular emphasis on pathogen and host resources, and breeding for resistance, is urgently needed.
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Makaudze, Ephias M. "Measuring willingness-to-pay for water and sanitation by people living with HIV and AIDs in South Africa." Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 6, no. 1 (February 16, 2016): 161–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2016.102.
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The ill-provision of water and sanitation services poses the greatest risk to people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa – a majority of whom reside in slum settlements. People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) die after succumbing to opportunistic infections, especially water-borne diseases (e.g., diarrhoea, cholera). This study was based on 485 individuals with HIV and AIDs drawn from three types of settlements (rural, peri-urban and urban slums) and sampled from three selected provincial districts of Khayelitsha (Western Cape), Ukhahlamba (Eastern Cape) and Groblersdal (Limpopo). The results show PLWHA having higher willingness-to-pay (WTP) for sanitation at ZAR448.40/month compared to water (ZAR428.60). Those living in urban slum settlements show the highest WTP for sanitation (ZAR552.70), followed by the ones in rural areas (ZAR500.24). The results underscore important implications: PLWHA face greater sanitation challenges relative to water; those in slum settlements endure the worst sanitation insecurity compared to counterparts living in other settlement types; higher WTP for sanitation implies that PLWHA will derive greater benefits from improvements in sanitation services relative to water. To conclude, it is imperative for municipal authorities to prioritize the provision of sanitation facilities to PLWHA especially in urban slums as part of the ‘pro-poor service delivery’ campaigns.
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Agoro, Mojeed A., Abiodun O. Adeniji, Martins A. Adefisoye, and Omobola O. Okoh. "Heavy Metals in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge from Selected Municipal Treatment Plants in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Water 12, no. 10 (October 1, 2020): 2746. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12102746.
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This study assessed the distribution of five heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Fe) across the various stages of treatment in three selected sewage treatment facilities and their receiving waterbodies in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Aqueous and solid (sludge) samples were collected monthly from September 2015 to February 2016. Quantitation was achieved by atomic absorption spectrometry after necessary sample preparations. Concentrations of heavy metal cations in the sludge generally varied from <DL (below detection limit) to 1.17 mg kg−1, <DL to 0.14 mg kg−1, 27.588 to 69.789 mg kg−1, and <DL to 0.099 mg kg−1 for Cu, Cd, Fe and Pb; while Zn was below detection all through. Similarly, the levels of Cu, Cd, and Fe in the influents, effluents, upstream and downstream across the three plants ranged from <DL–6.588 mg L−1, <DL–0.636 mg L−1, <DL–0.878 mg L−1 and <DL–0.711 mg L−1, respectively; Zn and Pb were less than DL in all the matrices and study locations. All the contaminants were below hazardous levels in all the sludge and aqueous samples except Cd which was higher in effluents and surface waters across the board. Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)-A exhibited better removal capacity for Fe (86.6%), compared to WWTP-B (34.7%) and WWTP-C (56.9%). However, the removal of Cu and Zn was very poor in all the treatment facilities studied. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks evaluated were sufficiently low. This suggests that the levels of contamination, even with respect to Cd, was minimal. Nevertheless, efforts should be made to keep the concentrations of these contaminants at levels safe for humans and aquatic organisms. Furthermore, the use of the effluents from these facilities for irrigation should be discouraged to prevent unnecessary build-up of metals in the soil and plants grown with such, as well as subsequent bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the food chain.
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Malherbe, Hanlie, Michael Gebel, Stephan Pauleit, and Carsten Lorz. "Land Use Pollution Potential of Water Sources Along the Southern Coast of South Africa." Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems 4, no. 1 (September 1, 2018): 7–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cass-2018-0002.
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AbstractSince the 1990’s, the groundwater quality along the southern coast of the Western Cape Province of South Africa has been affected by increasing land use activities. Groundwater resources have become increasingly important in terms of providing good quality water. Polluted coastal groundwater as a source of submarine groundwater discharge also affects the quality of coastal water. For this study, land use activities causing groundwater pollution and areas at particular risk were identified. An assessment approach linking land use/land cover, groundwater and submarine groundwater discharge on a meso-scale was developed and the methods applied to two study regions along the southern coastal area. Dryland and irrigated crop cultivation, and urbanized areas are subject to a “high” and “very high” risk of groundwater nitrogen pollution. Application of fertilizer must be revised to ensure minimal effects on groundwater. Practice of agricultural activities at locations which are not suited to the environment’s physical conditions must be reconsidered. Informal urban development may contribute to groundwater nitrogen pollution due to poor waste water disposal. Groundwater monitoring in areas at risk of nitrogen pollution is recommended. Land use activities in the submarine groundwater discharge contribution areas was not found to have major effects on coastal water.
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Louw, Daniël B., M. Tadros, R. Schulze, M. Hellmuth, A. Greene, and J. Callaway. "Planning water resources development in the Western Cape of South Africa: How do coping with development pressure, climate variability, and climate change influence each other?" IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 6, no. 29 (February 1, 2009): 292008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1307/6/29/292008.
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Polak, James, and Jen Snowball. "Towards a framework for assessing the sustainability of local economic development based on natural resources: honeybush tea in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Local Environment 22, no. 3 (June 8, 2016): 335–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2016.1196348.
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Kapp, J. F., A. P. M. Fijen, and F. van Zyl. "Towards a Water Management Strategy for an environmentally sensitive and popular tourist region." Water Science and Technology 32, no. 5-6 (September 1, 1995): 245–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1995.0615.
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This paper describes the development and implementation of an Integrated Water Management Strategy for the catchment of the Wilderness Lakes in the Southern Cape, South Africa. The area is a popular tourist destination due to its environmental variety and scenic beauty. The main land uses in the catchment are: agriculture, forestry, tourism, residential settlement and the natural environment. These land uses compete for a share of the available water resources and have different water quality demands, while at the same time each has an impact on the water quality and quantity and also on other land uses. The water management strategy developed for Wilderness aimed at the responsible management and fair distribution of the available water resources (both quantity and quality) and on the sustainable use of these resources, taking full cognisance of the wishes and opinions of all interest groups in the area. The natural environment played a very important role in the development of the strategy and it was found that a more natural management of the estuary mouth would assist in maintaining the natural characteristics of the Wilderness system. The paper also addresses the structures and management body proposed to implement the Water Management Strategy.
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Manona, Wendy. "An Empirical Assessment of Dropout Rate of Learners at Selected High Schools in King William’s Town, South Africa." Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review 3, no. 4 (December 1, 2015): 164. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v3i4.102.
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This study investigated and analysed factors responsible for high dropout rate of learners at selected high schools in King William’s Town District, Province of the Eastern Cape. The aim of the study is provide an understanding into inherent problems of early exit of learners in the education sector, which impede the long-term production of professionals with bright future. The main findings of this study revealed that multiple motives, associated with individual characteristics of dropouts and social problems emanating from their family background and influence of the community, prompted learners to dropout. Moreover, learner dropout is inter alia caused by social factors such as lack of resources, the effect of poverty, orphans at school, the distance between the school and the community, drug abuse, pregnancy and HIV and AIDS prevalence in schools, gangsterism and learning barriers. The results of this research suggest that the government should make resources available with regard to scholar transport, school nurses to provide education awareness programmes in relation to early pregnancies, HIV and AIDS infection to improve attendance rate. The Department of Social Development should provide information with regard to benefits available to orphaned learners. The government should ensure sustainable provision of the school nutrition programme to alleviate hunger and poverty. School management should effectively regulate the behaviour of learners to promote discipline in schools so that substance abuse is eliminated.
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Hermanus, Lauren, and Sean Andrew. "Community-Centred Infrastructure Design Process for Resilience Building in South African Informal Settlements: The “Genius of Space” Solid Waste and Greywater Infrastructure Project." Case Studies in the Environment 2, no. 1 (2018): 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/cse.2017.000729.
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Due to a lack of adequate water and sanitation infrastructure, growing, unplanned urban settlements in South Africa and elsewhere have been linked to pollution of critical river systems. The same dynamics undermine local resilience, understood as the capacity to adapt and develop in response to changes, persistent social and ecological risks, and disasters. Water and sanitation challenges undermine resilience by causing and compounding risks to individuals, and to household and community health and livelihoods, in a complex context in which communities and local governments have limited capacity and resources to respond appropriately. Household and community resilience in informal settlements is drawing increasing policy focus, given the persistence of these kinds of neighbourhoods in cities and towns in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa, in particular. This case considers whether bottom-up responses that combine public and private sector resources, including community participation, and use an interdisciplinary approach can support the production of novel resilience-fostering solutions. This article presents an analysis of the case of Genius of Space waste and wastewater management infrastructure in the Western Cape, South Africa. While the process has been imperfect and slow to show results, this analysis reflects on the gains, lessons and potential for replication that this work has produced. The Genius of Space approach adds to a growing area of practice-based experimentation focussed on incrementalism and adaptive development practices in urban environments, particularly in developing countries.
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Mpofu, Mthulisi, Kakaba Madi, and Oswald Gwavava. "Remote sensing, geological, and geophysical investigation in the area of Ndlambe Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: Implications for groundwater potential." Groundwater for Sustainable Development 11 (October 2020): 100431. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100431.
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Wall, K., O. Ive, J. Bhagwan, and F. Kirwan. "Social franchising principles do work: the business approach to removal and disposal of faecal sludge – from pilot to scale." Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 3, no. 3 (May 6, 2013): 451–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2013.007.
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Studies undertaken in South Africa have found that social franchising partnerships for the routine maintenance of infrastructure could alleviate and address many challenges in the management of water services. A three-year pilot project has drawn to a successful conclusion. This provided selected infrastructure maintenance services to approximately 400 schools in the Butterworth education district in the Eastern Cape province. Half a dozen franchisee microbusinesses were created, and of the order of three dozen previously unemployed people were taught workplace skills. Irish Aid funded the concept development, but the franchisees were paid from the normal schools operation and maintenance budgets. Despite difficulties arising directly from provincial education department inefficiencies, the pilot project has proven the value of social franchising partnerships for this kind of work – the department now has a model it can roll out to the rest of the more than 4,000 rural schools across the Eastern Cape. Many opportunities lie in applying the same approach to other operation and/or maintenance activities within the water and sanitation services delivery chain. The time is ripe to further develop the concept so that it can move up the technology ladder, expanding its range of competencies beyond its current tried and tested boundaries.
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Owolabi, Solomon T., Kakaba Madi, Ahmed Mukalazi Kalumba, and Christopher Baiyegunhi. "A geomagnetic analysis for lineament detection and lithologic characterization impacting groundwater prospecting; a case study of Buffalo catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa." Groundwater for Sustainable Development 12 (February 2021): 100531. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100531.
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Slaughter, Andrew R., and Sukhmani K. Mantel. "Water quality modelling of an impacted semi-arid catchment using flow data from the WEAP model." Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences 377 (April 16, 2018): 25–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/piahs-377-25-2018.
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Abstract. The continuous decline in water quality in many regions is forcing a shift from quantity-based water resources management to a greater emphasis on water quality management. Water quality models can act as invaluable tools as they facilitate a conceptual understanding of processes affecting water quality and can be used to investigate the water quality consequences of management scenarios. In South Africa, the Water Quality Systems Assessment Model (WQSAM) was developed as a management-focussed water quality model that is relatively simple to be able to utilise the small amount of available observed data. Importantly, WQSAM explicitly links to systems (yield) models routinely used in water resources management in South Africa by using their flow output to drive water quality simulations. Although WQSAM has been shown to be able to represent the variability of water quality in South African rivers, its focus on management from a South African perspective limits its use to within southern African regions for which specific systems model setups exist. Facilitating the use of WQSAM within catchments outside of southern Africa and within catchments for which these systems model setups to not exist would require WQSAM to be able to link to a simple-to-use and internationally-applied systems model. One such systems model is the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model, which incorporates a rainfall-runoff component (natural hydrology), and reservoir storage, return flows and abstractions (systems modelling), but within which water quality modelling facilities are rudimentary. The aims of the current study were therefore to: (1) adapt the WQSAM model to be able to use as input the flow outputs of the WEAP model and; (2) provide an initial assessment of how successful this linkage was by application of the WEAP and WQSAM models to the Buffalo River for historical conditions; a small, semi-arid and impacted catchment in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The simulations of the two models were compared to the available observed data, with the initial focus within WQSAM on a simulation of instream total dissolved solids (TDS) and nutrient concentrations. The WEAP model was able to adequately simulate flow in the Buffalo River catchment, with consideration of human inputs and outputs. WQSAM was adapted to successfully take as input the flow output of the WEAP model, and the simulations of nutrients by WQSAM provided a good representation of the variability of observed nutrient concentrations in the catchment. This study showed that the WQSAM model is able to accept flow inputs from the WEAP model, and that this approach is able to provide satisfactory estimates of both flow and water quality for a small, semi-arid and impacted catchment. It is hoped that this research will encourage the application of WQSAM to an increased number of catchments within southern Africa and beyond.
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Lumadi, Mutendwahothe Walter. "School finance reform for curriculum innovation: An equity prospect." South African Journal of Education 40, no. 4 (November 30, 2020): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.15700/saje.v40n4a2027.
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The advent of democracy in South Africa triggered notable reforms to the financing of quality education, and curriculum design and innovation. The ulterior motive behind this study was to underscore the correlation between inadequate financial resources and learners’ achievement. School finance reform was found to contribute to learner achievement and was viewed as a building block of every discourse related to equity. In the Eastern Cape (EC) province, the dismal percentage of Grade 12 learners who achieve success in gateway subjects, as reflected in the National Senior Certificate Examination results, was linked to the grossly inequitable distribution of funding and even the defunding of education. The 3 high schools in question were stigmatised as chronic underachievers, having reported a 0% pass rate for 5 successive years. Establishing an intervention programme to finance quality education for schools in poverty-stricken communities was an arduous undertaking. Although the windfall was temporary, it was construed as the dawn of a new age of philanthropy. The project spurred the development of local education finance to motivate South Africa’s Dinaledi (stars).
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Jankielsohn, Roy, and Rami Zahrawi Haj-Younes. "Ideology based incapacity on hydropolitics in South Africa Sudáfrica: an ontological assessment." Relaciones Internacionales, no. 45 (October 31, 2020): 289–304. http://dx.doi.org/10.15366/relacionesinternacionales2020.45.013.
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The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of hydropolitics in South Africa. The country remains one of the driest countries in the world with a below average rainfall of 450 mm per annum. The country’s economic hub in the Gauteng province is largely dependent on water from the neighbouring Kingdom of Lesotho. On a geopolitical level the country also shares various water sources with neighbouring states. This is especially relevant due to the dependence on South Africa, as the regional hegemon, for access to markets and income. However, large areas of South Africa experience extreme water scarcity due to a combination of factors that include climate change related drought, urbanisation and government-related water management failures. In many local government municipalities across the country the lack of government capacity to supply water resources and manage waste water have reached crisis proportions. Many towns and communities across South Africa have been left with unreliable access to sustainable water resources. This is mainly due to a combination of corruption, poor management and the lack of institutional capacity at local government level. The institutional incapacity of government is a result of the governing party African National Congress’ ideological approach to government, combined with political factionalism, which has stripped the civil service of expertise and led to the exodus of skilled individuals from both government and the country. The government’s implementation of the communist ? based Leninist democratic centralism, commonly known as a cadre deployment strategy, has resulted in large scale state capture and corruption that has had a devastating impact on the delivery of basic services such as water. Hydropolitical civil unrest has increased to an extent that, in instances such as the Majakeng and Maluti-a-Phofung municipalities, unrest became extremely violent and disrupted businesses and well as state education and health facilities. This article is an ontological investigation into the hydropolitical impact of, and ideological reasons for, state incapacity to manage water resources and deliver safe and sustainable supply of water to the population. While reference will be made to the general situation in the country, the Majakeng and Maluti-a-Phofung municipalities will be used as a case studies for the impact of water insecurity on political stability. On the other hand, the City of Cape Town’s ability to manage water scarcity and avert a drought related “day zero” scenario is used as an example of what can be achieved through sound management. The article will combine ideological considerations with theoretical explanations of ideology and state failure within a hydropolitical context in order to explain the current water crisis at local government level in South Africa and the threat that this poses to the political order in the country. Being a regional hegemon, any political disruptions in South Africa also threaten the geopolitical stability of the entire Southern African region. There remains a great deal of scope for future geopolitical co-operation around water within the Southern African Development Community that can secure a sustainable sources of future water supplies for South Africa and generate further income for the country’s neighbours. The article evaluates the current water situation in the country, explains the water related geopolitical considerations that the country has to take into account, investigates the ideological basis for government policy and institutional strategy and the impact that this has on the capacity of the state to deliver sustainable and reliable water access to local communities, and then evaluates some case studies that include both failures and a success story. This assessment includes various sources of literature that supply a theoretical conceptual basis for terms such as hydropolitics and ideology. These academic concepts provide the basis for the practical considerations that are an integral part of the ideologically ? based hydropolitical ontological assessment. The article concludes with some broad recommendations on how the country could mitigate some of the hydropolitical challenges that it faces.
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Duncan, P., and M. Lewarne. "USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUES TO DETECT CHANGES TO THE PRINCE ALFRED HAMLET CONSERVATION AREA IN THE WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA." ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLI-B7 (June 21, 2016): 475–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-xli-b7-475-2016.
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Understanding and identifying the spatial-temporal changes in the natural environment is crucial for monitoring and evaluating conservation efforts, as well as understanding the impact of human activities on natural resources, informing responsible land management, and promoting better decision-making. Conservation areas are often under pressure from expanding farming and related industry, invasive alien vegetation, and an ever-increasing human settlement footprint. This study focuses on detecting changes to the Prince Alfred Hamlet commonage, near Ceres in the Cape Floral Kingdom. It was chosen for its high conservation value and significance as a critical water source area. The study area includes a fast-growing human settlement footprint in a highly productive farming landscape. There are conflicting development needs as well as risks to agricultural production, and both of these threaten the integrity of the ecosystems which supply underlying services to both demands on the land. Using a multi-disciplinary approach and high-resolution satellite imagery, land use and land cover changes can be detected and classified, and the results used to support the conservation of biodiversity and wildlife, and protect our natural resources. The aim of this research is to study the efficacy of using remote sensing and GIS techniques to detect changes to critical conservation areas where disturbances can be understood, and therefore better managed and mitigated before these areas are degraded beyond repair.
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Duncan, P., and M. Lewarne. "USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUES TO DETECT CHANGES TO THE PRINCE ALFRED HAMLET CONSERVATION AREA IN THE WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA." ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLI-B7 (June 21, 2016): 475–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xli-b7-475-2016.
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Understanding and identifying the spatial-temporal changes in the natural environment is crucial for monitoring and evaluating conservation efforts, as well as understanding the impact of human activities on natural resources, informing responsible land management, and promoting better decision-making. Conservation areas are often under pressure from expanding farming and related industry, invasive alien vegetation, and an ever-increasing human settlement footprint. This study focuses on detecting changes to the Prince Alfred Hamlet commonage, near Ceres in the Cape Floral Kingdom. It was chosen for its high conservation value and significance as a critical water source area. The study area includes a fast-growing human settlement footprint in a highly productive farming landscape. There are conflicting development needs as well as risks to agricultural production, and both of these threaten the integrity of the ecosystems which supply underlying services to both demands on the land. Using a multi-disciplinary approach and high-resolution satellite imagery, land use and land cover changes can be detected and classified, and the results used to support the conservation of biodiversity and wildlife, and protect our natural resources. The aim of this research is to study the efficacy of using remote sensing and GIS techniques to detect changes to critical conservation areas where disturbances can be understood, and therefore better managed and mitigated before these areas are degraded beyond repair.
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Bond, Patrick. "Blue Economy threats, contradictions and resistances seen from South Africa." Journal of Political Ecology 26, no. 1 (July 21, 2019): 341. http://dx.doi.org/10.2458/v26i1.23504.
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<p>South Africa hosts Africa's most advanced form of the new Blue Economy, named 'Operation Phakisa: Oceans.' In 2014, the McKinsey-designed project was formally launched by now-disgraced President Jacob Zuma with vibrant state and corporate fanfare. Financially, its most important elements were anticipated to come from corporations promoting shipping investments and port infrastructure, a new generation of offshore oil and gas extraction projects and seabed mining. However, these already conflict with underlying capitalist crisis tendencies associated with overaccumulation (overcapacity), globalization and financialization, as they played out through uneven development, commodity price volatility and excessive extraction of resources. Together this metabolic intensification of capital-nature relations can be witnessed when South Africa recently faced the Blue Economy's ecological contradictions: celebrating a massive offshore gas discovery at the same time as awareness rises about extreme coastal weather events, ocean warming and acidification (with profound threats to fast-bleaching coral reefs), sea-level rise, debilitating drought in Africa's main seaside tourist city (Cape Town), and plastic infestation of water bodies, the shoreline and vulnerable marine life. Critics of the capitalist ocean have demanded a greater state commitment to Marine Protected Areas, support for sustainable subsistence fishing and eco-tourism. But they are losing, and so more powerful resistance is needed, focusing on shifting towards post-fossil energy and transport infrastructure, agriculture and spatial planning. Given how climate change has become devastating to vulnerable coastlines – such as central Mozambique's, victim of two of the Southern Hemisphere's most intense cyclones in March-April 2019 – it is essential to better link ocean defence mechanisms to climate activism: global youth Climate Strikes and the direct action approach adopted by the likes of Dakota Access Pipe Line resistance in the US, Extinction Rebellion in Britain, and Ende Gelände in Germany. Today, as the limits to capital's crisis-displacement tactics are becoming more evident, it is the interplay of these top-down and bottom-up processes that will shape the future Blue Economy narrative, giving it either renewed legitimacy, or the kind of illegitimacy already experienced in so much South African resource-centric capitalism.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Blue Economy, capitalist crisis, Oceans Phakisa, resistance, South Africa</p>
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Ntloko, Phindiwe, Carolyn G. Palmer, Frank C. Akamagwuna, and Oghenekaro N. Odume. "Exploring Macroinvertebrates Ecological Preferences and Trait-Based Indicators of Suspended Fine Sediment Effects in the Tsitsa River and Its Tributaries, Eastern Cape, South Africa." Water 13, no. 6 (March 15, 2021): 798. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13060798.
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The taxonomy-based response pattern of macroinvertebrates to sediment stress is well established, with tolerant taxa increasing in impacted conditions, while sensitive taxa decrease along a deteriorating water quality gradient. However, the distribution patterns of traits in response to environmental stress gradient, including suspended sediments, remain unclear, particularly in Africa, where trait-based studies are under-explored. We examined the distribution patterns of macroinvertebrate traits along a suspended sediment stress gradient and identified tolerant and sensitive traits for suspended sediment stress. We sampled macroinvertebrates and environmental variables seasonally in winter, spring, summer and autumn of 2016 to 2018 in eight selected sites in the Tsitsa River and its tributaries. We selected 12 traits and ecological preferences, resolved them into 47 trait attributes, and analysed them using the RLQ and fourth-corner analyses. Our results revealed that macroinvertebrate traits and ecological preferences were differentially influenced by fine suspended sediments in the Tsitsa River and its tributaries. Traits such as a preference for CPOM, collector-filtering, and a high sensitivity to oxygen depletion, were deemed sensitive to suspended sediments stress, exhibiting positive associations with the control sites, and negatively associated with any of the environmental parameters (sediment grain sizes, turbidity, TSS and EC). Tolerant indicator traits included a high tolerance of oxygen depletion, skating and a preference for FPOM. The fourth-corner analysis results indicated that suspended fine sediment grain sizes, (including coarse sand, fine silt and clay) were the most important variables influencing macroinvertebrate trait distribution patterns during the dry season, while gravel, mud and medium sand were more important during the wet season. Overall, our study provided critical insights towards trait-based responses of macroinvertebrates communities to suspended sediment stress, key information that could stimulate the development of macroinvertebrate trait-based biomonitoring tools for the assessment of suspended sediment stress in the Afrotropical region.
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du Preez, Mario, and Stephen G. Hosking. "The value of the trout fishery at Rhodes, North Eastern Cape, South Africa: a travel cost analysis using count data models." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 54, no. 2 (March 2011): 267–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2010.505837.
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Jardien-Baboo, Sihaam, Dalena Van Rooyen, and Esmeralda Ricks. "Perceptions of patient-centred care at public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay." Health SA Gesondheid 21 (October 11, 2016): 397–405. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v21i0.997.
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In South Africa, the quality of health care is directly related to the concept of patient-centred care and the enactment of the Batho Pele Principles and the Patients' Rights Charter. Reports in the media indicate that public hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province are on the brink of collapse, with many patients being treated in condemned hospitals which lacked piped water, electricity and essential medical equipment. Receiving quality care, and principally patient-centred care, in the face of such challenges is unlikely and consequently leads to the following question: “Are patients receiving patient-centred care in public hospitals?”A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study was conducted to explore and describe the perceptions of professional nurses regarding patient-centred care in public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 40 purposively selected professional nurses working in public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape Province. Interviews were analysed according to the method described by Tesch in Creswell (2009:192).Professional nurses perceive patient-centred care as an awareness of the importance of the patient's culture, involving the patient's family, incorporating values of love and respect, optimal communication in all facets of patient care and accountability to the patient. Factors which enable patient-centred care were a positive work environment for staff, nursing manager's demonstrating exemplary professional leadership, continuous in service education for staff and collaborative teamwork within the interdisciplinary team. Barriers to patient-centred care were a lack of adequate resources, increased administrative work due to fear of litigation and unprofessional behaviour of nursing staff.
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Wlokas, Holle Linnea. "What contribution does the installation of solar water heaters make towards the alleviation of energy poverty in South Africa?" Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 22, no. 2 (May 1, 2011): 27–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2011/v22i2a3212.
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The South African government has publicized plans to install one million solar water heaters in households throughout South Africa by the year 2014, with the goals of reducing strain on existing electricity resources, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, creating employment and alleviating poverty. This paper examines two existing solar water heater installation projects with the aim of investigating the social contribution of the installation of solar water heaters in low-income households in South Africa. The Sustainable Urban Livelihoods approach (SULA) was adjusted to provide an analytical framework for the development of suitable indicators of social change in the context of renewable energies and energy poverty. Increases in household capital and the reduction of household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability as the result of solar water heater installation were investigated in projects in low-income housing developments in the cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.Data collected from paired household surveys (before and after installation) in over 600 households and qualitative information (Most Significant Change stories) show that the provision of a constant, cheap source of heated water contributed positively to the alleviation of energy poverty. Household capitals (categorised as Human, Social, Financial, Physical, Natural and Gender capital), including aspects such as health benefits and time and financial savings, were all positively effected by the installation of solar water heaters. In addition, improved energy security greatly reduced household vulnerability to shocks, stressors and seasonal variability. Comparison between the two projects revealed that the geographical setting (climatic conditions in particular), and the approach and strategies adopted by the implementers of the solar water heater installation project, greatly determine the extent to which benefits to the households are realised.
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Adefisoye, Martins, and Anthony Okoh. "Ecological and Public Health Implications of the Discharge of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Physicochemical Contaminants from Treated Wastewater Effluents in the Eastern Cape, South Africa." Water 9, no. 8 (August 1, 2017): 562. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w9080562.
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Molokwane, Pulane E., and Evans M. Nkhalambayausi-Chirwa. "Microbial culture dynamics and chromium (VI) removal in packed-column microcosm reactors." Water Science and Technology 60, no. 2 (July 1, 2009): 381–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2009.349.
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Microbial Cr(VI) reduction in groundwater aquifer media was investigated in microcosm reactors extracted from Cr(VI) contaminated sites in South Africa. The reactors were operated under an influent Cr(VI) concentration of 40 mg/L to simulate the current Cr(VI) level at the contaminated site. Near complete Cr(VI) removal was observed in microcosm reactors inoculated with Cr(VI) reducing bacteria from dried activated sludge collected from a treatment plant receiving periodic loadings of Cr(VI). The best performance was observed under low hydraulic loading (flow rate, Q=0.310 cm3/hr). Microbial culture characterisation results showed a change in culture composition after 17 days of reactor operation, indicating Bacillus and Lysinibacillus species as the most dominant organisms in reactors that reduced Cr(VI). The predominance of Bacillus and Lysinibacillus species was either due to resilience against toxicity or adaptation to the changing conditions in the reactor. This research was the initial step towards the development of an in situ bioremediation process to contain the spread of a Cr(VI) plume in a groundwater aquifer at contaminated site in Brits, South Africa. South Africa holds about 72% percent of the world’s chromium resources, the majority of which is mined in the North Eastern region of the country formally known as Transvaal.
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Cocks, M. L., L. Bangay, K. F. Wiersum, and A. P. Dold. "Seeing the wood for the trees: the role of woody resources for the construction of gender specific household cultural artefacts in non-traditional communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa." Environment, Development and Sustainability 8, no. 4 (June 3, 2006): 519–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10668-006-9053-4.
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Wall, K., O. Ive, J. Bhagwan, F. Kirwan, W. Birkholtz, N. Lupuwana, and E. Shaylor. "Demonstrating the effectiveness of social franchising principles: the emptying of household ventilated improved pits: a case study from South Africa." Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 3, no. 4 (August 19, 2013): 623–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2013.309.
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Having viewed the successful social franchising partnerships pilot programme that serviced sanitation facilities at 400 schools in the Butterworth District of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) expressed interest in exploring how well the partnership model could empty household pit latrines in its jurisdiction. The impact and effectiveness of the model was demonstrated by the emptying, by five franchisees over a period of only six weeks, of the contents of 400 household ventilated improved pit latrines in Govan Mbeki Village, and the safe disposal of their content. The paper describes the methods and results in removal and disposal of faecal sludge. Problems were encountered, and the solutions (technical, institutional and social) are described. Not unexpectedly, the amount of effort involved in this work – including time, training required, equipment required and ingenuity – varied enormously. The main variables included the type of top structure, the nature of the pit contents, whether or not there was broad consistency of type and contents in an area, distances (between pits, from home base to work site, from pits to disposal site, from location of specialized equipment to work site), logistical delays (e.g. non-arrival of equipment) and bureaucratic hold-ups (especially payment delays).
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Van Robbroeck, T. P. C. "Inter basin water transfers." Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie 4, no. 3 (March 18, 1985): 93–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v4i3.1036.
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Most economic development in South Africa has taken place on the dry plateau of the interior following the discovery of minerals. The much smaller wetter parts get most of the run-off and have generally limited possibilities for advantageous use of their water resources. Consequently, it is logical to transfer water between basins with a surplus to ones experiencing shortages. There is a body of opinion that such transfers should be stopped in the interest of the decentralistion policy, but such action is not considered in the national interest. The intricate system of inter-basin transfer from the Komati, the Usutu and the Vaal River to supply the Eastern Transvaal coalfields is described. This system has shown its flexibility during the recent drought. The most important inter-basin transfer scheme is the Tugeia- Vaal Project which is described in broad terms. The advantages of the principle of reserve storage and of co-operation with Escom are dealt with. Possible further projects to augment the Vaal River supplies are mentioned. Other inter-basin transfer schemes implemented by the Department of Water Affairs such as the Orange River Project, the Riviersonderend-Berg River Project and others of lesser importance are dealth with.
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Marx, Lauren Camille. "THE PEOPLE OF RIEMVASMAAK AND THE SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT OF LAND REDISTRIBUTION: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS 1995–2013." Oral History Journal of South Africa 2, no. 1 (September 22, 2016): 26–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/2309-5792/1581.
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In terms of apartheid policies, the people of Riemvasmaak were forcefully removed in 1973/74 to Namibia and the Eastern Cape. Efforts to bring the people of Riemvasmaak back to their land gained momentum in 1993. Finally the decision to give the entire 74 000ha back to the people was taken in February 1994, and Riemvasmaak was registered as a Presidential Launch Project, one of the first land-restitution projects in post-apartheid South Africa. Most of the original residents returned to their land at the end of 1995 and in 2002 the people of Riemvasmaak received the title deeds to the plots on which they were living. While this is a noble project, the people of Riemvasmaak originally faced serious problems such as abject poverty, poor soil quality, no secondary schools, no tar roads, poor access between settlements, inadequate transport and limited access to water. However, in the last eighteen years, a great deal of impetus has been placed on agrarian transformation, rural development and land reform, which included improved economic and social infrastructure. This oral research study will therefore undertake to analyse the everyday lives of the people living in Riemvasmaak, the improvement in quality of life in the area as well as what regaining their land has meant for these people if seen against the backdrop of the history of forced removals in South Africa.
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Adewoyin, M. A., and A. I. Okoh. "Seasonal Shift in Physicochemical Factors Revealed the Ecological Variables that Modulate the Density of Acinetobacter Species in Freshwater Resources." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 10 (May 21, 2020): 3606. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103606.
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Certain environmental variables are responsible for the survival of microorganisms in aquatic environments. The influence of these environmental factors in each season (winter, autumn, spring and summer) of the year can be used to track changes in a microbial population in freshwater resources. In this study, we assessed the effect of seasonal shifts in environmental variables including temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and turbidity (TBS) among others on the density of Acinetobacter species in the Great Fish, Keiskamma and Tyhume rivers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Water samples and values of the environmental factors were taken from the rivers for 12 months. The density of presumptive Acinetobacter species was estimated from the culture of water samples on a CHROMagar selective medium, while the Acinetobacter-specific recA gene was targeted for the identification of Acinetobacter species using PCR assay. The multivariate relationship between seasons and changes in variables was created using PCA, while the effect of seasonal shifts in the environmental variables on the density of Acinetobacter species was evaluated using correlation test and topological graphs. Positive association patterns were observed between the seasons, environmental factors and the bacterial density in the rivers. In addition, temperature, TBS, TSS and BOD tended to influence the bacterial density more than other physicochemical factors in the rivers across the seasons. Of the total 1107 presumptive Acinetobacter species, 844 were confirmed as Acinetobacter species. Therefore, these findings suggested that the rivers contain Acinetobacter species that could be useful for basic and applied study in ecology or biotechnology, while their clinical relevance in causing diseases cannot be underestimated.
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James, Anna. "Making (Non)Sense of Urban Water Flows: Qualities and Processes for Transformative and Transgressive Learning Moments." Sustainability 11, no. 23 (December 1, 2019): 6817. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11236817.
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Urban sustainability and justice depend upon the flow of water across complex urban space. Yet, the characteristics of urban space produce a fragmented sense of our water resources. Cape Town, South Africa, the context of this research, is one such city whose water challenges have been exacerbated by climate change-induced drought, to the extent that the city nearly shut off the water running to residents’ taps. This context presents a particular challenge for the focus of this special issue, transformative and transgressive learning, an emerging arena of thought and practice concerned with learning processes that might foster more sustainable socio-ecological relations. The empirical material for this research draws from 12 arts-based inquiry workshops run with youth in an environmental organisation over four months, exploring a local water crisis. The data were generated through an engaged arts-based research process. The paper traces how transformative and transgressive learning in the context of urban water crisis might be characterised as making (non)sense by bringing the empirical material into dialogue with five entry points of transformative and transgressive learning literature rooted in Freirean educational praxis. This paper crafts and engages the concept of making (non)sense, a way of thinking about qualities and processes of learning praxis that responds to the wicked sustainability challenges we face today, particularly in terms of a Global South perspective. I argue such a praxis needs qualities and processes that disrupt and trouble the norm in the context of the socio-ecological challenge of urban water.
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SMITH, REBECCA K., EMMA RYAN, EMMA MORLEY, and RUSSELL A. HILL. "Resolving management conflicts: could agricultural land provide the answer for an endangered species in a habitat classified as a World Heritage Site?" Environmental Conservation 38, no. 3 (March 14, 2011): 325–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892911000105.
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SUMMARYThe short-interval fires required to promote grazing for large herbivores within the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site are detrimental to plant diversity. At the same time, longer interval fires significantly reduce graze quality. Conservation managers thus face an enormous challenge when the herbivores are also a conservation priority, since the competing conservation objectives are difficult to reconcile. Population growth rates of genetically important populations of endangered Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) are low or declining following management focused on their fynbos habitat. Investigation of spatial and temporal habitat use and the diet of Cape mountain zebra, focusing on the use of land historically converted to agricultural grassland within fynbos in De Hoop Nature Reserve (South Africa), determined factors limiting populations and facilitated development of management strategies. Zebras selected grassland over other habitat types, despite grassland accounting for only a small proportion of the reserve. Grasses also made up the greatest proportion of diet for zebras throughout the year. Time spent on grasslands increased with grass height and was likely to have been influenced by grass protein levels. It is likely that grazing resources are a limiting factor for zebra, and so options for improving and/or increasing grassland at De Hoop should be considered. Translocation of surplus males to other conservation areas, reductions in other herbivore populations and targeted burns to increase grassland availability all offer short-term solutions. However, the acquisition of agricultural grassland adjacent to reserves is likely to be a viable long-term management strategy for this and other genetically important Cape mountain zebra populations. Low conservation priority habitats, such as farmland, should be considered for other management conflicts, as they have the potential to play a vital role in conservation.