Theses and Dissertations
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Item Blue Flag Beaches in the Eastern Cape: Implications for Tourism, the , Environment and Socio-economy.(University of Fort Hare, 2013-09) Silwana, Holdnald Leslie SimphiweThe Blue Flag programme in South Africa is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The main objective of the Blue Flag is to improve the understanding of the coastal environment and to promote the incorporation of environmental issues in the decision making process. Blue Flag programmes promote sustainable development in fresh water and marine areas and this programme challenges the beach operators and Municipalities to achieve high standard of water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management and safety and services. The _study seeks to investigate the effects of the Blue Flag award on the environment and tourism at selected Eastern Cape beaches.Item Performance monitoring of a 150KV a biomass gasifier system at Melani village, Eastern Cape, South Africa(University of Fort Hare, 2013-12) Nwabunwanne, Nwokolo LilianThe economic development of any community or society at large is directly linked to energy availability and usage. Concern for climate change due to intense use of fossil fuel for energy production has increased interest in alternative energy technologies such as biomass gasification. The system Johansson biomass gasifier at Melani village in Eastern Cape South Africa was piloted to establish the techno-economic viability of biomass gasification for electricity generation in South Africa. Besides this it was also implemented to improve the socio-economic conditions of the community by providing them with low cost electricity that can drive small businesses such as a Bakery.Item Trends in commercialisation of communal agriculture in the Eastern Cape Province(University of Fort Hare, 2013-01) Ncoyini, ZolekaSmallholder irrigation projects were initiated in the former homelands with the aim of promoting food self-sufficiency and to contribute to rural development. Among others, the motive was to enable farmers to improve their productivity and thus shift the production from home consumption towards a market-oriented production. Unfortunately, the outcomes of the established smallholder irrigation project were not as good as expected. Although there have been some successes, the overall record of smallholder irrigation projects in achieving their intended objectives to the former homelands has been disappointing. The study intended to explore whether access to irrigation has influence on farmers choice of market participation and level of market participation. The study was conducted in Nkonkobe and Ngqushwa Local Municipalities of the Amathole District Municipality in central Eastern Cape Province. The areas under investigation are Ndlambe village which is part of Tyefu irrigation scheme and Women 's Project in Melani villageItem Chemical and thermal analysis of Eucalyptus/ coal blends for co-gasification(University of Fort Hare, 2013-12) Gaqa, SibongiseniWhile the industry is expected to reduce CO2 emissions due to global warming, global electricity demand is increasing at an enormous rate. As a result, there is a need to improve the efficiency of energy use through changes in technology and to produce energy vectors that have almost zero emissions of greenhouse gases. Co-gasification of biomass and coal can be considered as a possible fuel-base for syngas production.Item A multi-dimensional assessment of land degradation in the Sterkspruit river catchment: The nexus between landscape sensitivity, land use dynamics and landscape resilience(University of Fort Hare, 2010-01) Tichagwa, Cornelius GibsonThis study sets out to assess the status and causes of land degradation in the Sterkspruit catchment of the Eastern Cape, and the extent to which this has affected the biophysical environment and rural livelihoods. The attributes of the biophysical and socio-economic environments that predispose the area to land degradation, the manifestations of land degradation and people's responses to the dynamics of their environmental circumstances are some of the key issues of enquiry.Item Experiences of the land redistribution for Agricultural Department (LRAD) program in the Ngqushwa Location Municipal are of the Province of the Eastern Cape, 2006 - 2010.(University of Fort Hare, 2011-01) Kambi, Nqaba AlbertIt has been emphasized in the literature on South African land reform that the Larid Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) system does not benefit poor farmers. This study also argues that the LRAD system is a conceptual framework for the establishment of commercial agriculture on redistributed land that excludes agriculture at a subsistence level. Thus, the LRAD system requires subsistence farmers to upgrade themselves to commercial status immediately upon entering the system. Although the system provides. for the establishment of group projects by subsistence farmers under a communal property association (CPA) or trust, the farmers still do not amass enough agricultural resources, financial and otherwise, for competitive enterprise at commercial level.Item Stone Terracing'for Crop Cultivation in Gogela Settlement, the Transkei, South Africa(University of Fort Hare, 2010-01) Murata, ChenaiThis dissertation provides a study on a soil and water conservation practice, known as stone terracing, in a rural settlement of Gogela in the Transkei area of South Africa. It explains the emergence and the continuity of stone terracing practice, as well ·as how it has impacted on crop cultivation. This is a qualitative study, theoretically informed by the notion of sustainable livelihoods. As a backdrop to the study area, the research offers a brief historical and geographical context of the Transkei, in which the Gogela settlement is located. This contextual exposition is preceded by an exploration of the varied literature on stone terracing in different communities of Africa. Overall, the literature survey establishes that stone terracing is a local innovation with uneven. histories that pre-date colonial conquest in some cases in Zimbabwe and in Tarnzania.Item Community-Based Ecotourism for Conservation and Development in Lesotho: A Case of Ha-Kome(University of Fort Hare, 2008-06) Maanela, Maanela ThabeloThis study evaluates the potential for community-based ecotourism as conservation and development strategy in Kome village, which is an unprotected area. The study adopts the ecotourism concept to illustrate how community based ecotourism can be a tool for conservation and development in poor rural communities.Item Workers' Perception of Occupational Safety and Health Administration Measures at Sasol Infrachem in Sasolburg(University of Fort Hare, 2009-01) Kwayiba, Thamsanqa FelixThis is a qualitative study that seeks to explore the workers' perceptions towards the occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) system at the petrochemical industrial plant Sasol Infrachem in Sasolburg. It provides a platform for shop floor workers to express their subjective perceptions of the company's OSHA measures by answering open ended questions.Item Land Management in the Wild Coast: The Case of Indigenous Peoplein Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa(University of Fort Hare, 2008-01) Kulumba, Ahmed MukalaziAn under-reported consequence of the democratic transition is the impact on land management (LM) within communal areas of South Africa (SA). Yet land is an essential natural resource, both for the survival and prosperity of humanity, and for the maintenance of all terrestrial ecosystems (FAO&UNEP, 1997). This study focuses on land management in the Wild Coast with special reference to indigenous people in Coffee Bay.Item Soil and Water Conservation Farming Practices, in the Communal Areas of the Central Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.(University of Fort Hare, 2004-01) Mabi, MaudlineA survey was carried out to investigate the extent of use of conservation tillage practices for soil and water management under smallholder farming conditions in the central region of the Eastern Cape Province. The survey was carried out in five districts viz: Middledrift, Sada, Keiskarmahoek, Zwelitsha and Seymour. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was conducted whereby village meetings were held in each area, then a total of 45 - rural households were identified by extension officers -for participation in in-depth interviewsItem Women and Urban Agriculture in Buffalo City: A Case Study of Mdantsane, Duncan Village and Postdam.(University of Fort Hare, 2004-01) Phiri, ChristopherThe urban poor are striving to find strategies to alleviate poverty. In South Africa, the urban poor, including women, are practising urban agriculture to alleviate poverty. Within the context of the debates on gender and development, this study explores the extent at which the urban poor of Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape, South Africa are benefiting from urban agriculture. The study highlights the challenges and problems encountered by the urban poor in the former black townships, and how the post realist research methodology was urban poor in the former black African state and the non-governmental organizations are supporting the alleviation of urban poverty. The realist research methodology was to be achieve the objectives of this study. Women dominate the practice benefiting from their endeavours. The study recommends the increased participation of the urban poor in urban agriculture and the creation of more open spaces for farming.Item The Role of Women in the Household Economy in Tzada Keristian Rural Area in the Central Zone of Eritrea(University of Fort Hare, 2000-10) Negash, Biniam MesghinaEritrea gained independence after a 30 year long and bloody war in 1991. During the armed struggle 30-40 percent of the fighters were women. As a result of their great contribution to the country's independence, the new constitution guaranteed women's access to all the available resources. With this in mind this study is conducted to identify the extent to which women are involved in the household economy, apart from their roles as political participants.Item A Spatio-Temporal Study of Land Degradation and Land Use/Land Cover Trends in the Upper Tyume Catchment Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems(University of Fort Hare, 2004) Mapukati, GuiltyThe study traced land degradation trends and land use changes and their relationships over time in the Upper Tyume Catchment of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. An integrated approach was used to investigate the reasons behind the occurrence of physical land degradation and how land use changes could have influenced degradation. A GIS-based soil erosion potential model and interpretation of aerial photographs (1: 10 000) spanning 47 years (1949-1996) were used to identify areas of differing soil erosion susceptibility. The erosion model used soils, slope, hydrology and land use as variables. Predicting slope areas susceptible to gully initiation was based on a 20m resolution DEM from which slope classes were computed. The modelling results were compared with aerial photo interpretation results and fieldwork.Item Land Tenure System and Agricultural Land Use: The Case of Citrus Farmers in Alice/Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape(University of Fort Hare, 2003-01) Mpukane, Mphangeli WitnessThis study investigates the decline in agricultural production in the Alice/Kat river valley of the Eastern Cape due to the fundamental problem of lack of land ownership by the black citrus farmers. The results indicate that the problems associated with the acquisition of land by blacks farmers emanate from laws that were passed by the former government to deliberately deny black people's rights to land except to work on white farms as labourers. Farmers in the Alice/Kat river valley lack land security and experience an unfavorable land tenure system. Thus farmers are unable to access the financial resources from banks to develop the land in order to alleviate poverty and improve their financial status. In addition, the lack of practical skills in land use planning among farmers has led to the under-utilization and low productivity of agricultural land in the Alice/Kat river valley. This study recommends the provision of land as security to financial access and land use skills training as essential inputs to reap the benefits of a profitable citrus industry.Item The Use and Agronomic Effectiveness of Kraal Manures in the Transkei Region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa(University of Fort Hare, 2001-04) Mkile, ZolaniThe Transkei region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa has got a high agricultural potential. However, poor nutrient supply is known to be a major yield-limiting factor in this region which, is dominated by small-scale farmers. The main local source of nutrients available in the area is kraal manure, and a number of small-scale farmers are using this resource to address their soil fertility problems. However, the nutrient supply practices of the farmers and their effectiveness have hitherto not thoroughly been investigated. This study was undertaken to address this need, and to provide a basis for efficient and effective use of kraal manure for crop production by resource-poor farmers in the former Transkei.Item Environmental Education for Sustainable Utilisation of Natural Resources: The Case of selected Secondary Schools in Soweto(University of Fort Hare, 2003-01) Cyril, Buhlungu M.In South Africa, particularly in Soweto secondary schools environmental education has never enjoyed the Same Status as other established subjects such as Geography, Biology and History. This has resulted in learners losing interest in environmental education. There is a lack of environmental education at secondary schools that results in a lack of environmental awareness amongst learners. This study seeks to recommend the integration of environmental education within the policies of the Gauteng Department of Education thereby contributing towards the establishment of environmental education as an independent subject in secondary schools.Item An assessment of water security and hydrology resources in the face of climate variability : the case study of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa(University of Fort Hare, 2016) Pindura, Tineyi HerbertSouth Africa is regarded as a semi-arid and water scarce country due to its low annual precipitation with a mean annual rainfall of 490mm. This study seeks to assess the effects of water security in the face of climate variability on hydrological resources in Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The main objective of the research was to investigate climate variability parameters affecting water security in the Nkonkobe Local Municipality. The variability and trends in rainfall and temperature were analysed using descriptive statistics. Bivariate (Pearson) Correlation analysis was used to describe the effect of rainfall distribution and reservoir’s holding capacity. A vulnerability index model was applied to determine the water security status in the study area. The results showed that the inter-annual rainfall variability trends are not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level since the P = 0,197. This means that there is no relationship in the inter-annual rainfall variability trends. The regression model is represented by y = 3.0184x + 70.329 with R² = 0.0499 suggests that there is a weak linear relationship. The intra – annual rainfall variability over time is not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level means that there is no strong relationship in the intra – annual rainfall variability trends. From the linear regression the precipitation concentration index (PCI) decreased from 14.1 to 12.4 mm. The rainfall distribution and reservoir holding capacity of Binfield reservoir test of significance was positive (p value: 0.01) indicating that the two variables had a strong relationship and same is for Kat River reservoir which has a statistically significant linear relationship (p <.005).Temperature distribution and reservoir holding capacity of Kat River and Binfield reservoir have a statistically significant linear relationship (p < 0.01) and (p ‹ .005) respectively. The Binfield Reservoir has high resilience to climate variability, but the magnitude of impact could be managed as it falls under Type IV where there is Low Impact. Kat River and Binfield reservoirs faces great exposure or sensitivity, this is evidenced by the reservoir holding capacity that is in the Type I of the vulnerability index. The vulnerability index showed that the reservoirs water security is highly vulnerable. One of the key findings of this research was that vulnerabilities to form and function can be linked. For example, where reservoir level fluctuations change in response to the change in the climate variabilities, this affects the water security of the reservoirs. The findings illustrate the importance to enhance adaptation efforts both at the micro (Nkonkobe Local Municipality) and macro (national) levels, particularly for communities where the reservoirs are more vulnerable to climate variability.Item The role of the state and the environment in indigenous livestock farming : case study of Debe Marela, Middledrift area, Eastern Cape(University of Fort Hare, 2011) Hashe, Luvuyo ElvisThe study focused on the role of the State and the environment in indigenous livestock farming in Debe Marela in Middledrift. Although communal farmers in the area used ethnoveterinary medicines to treat and prevent animal diseases, they also widely used conventional medicines, as these often provided a remedy to animal diseases. The livestock farmers believed in indigenous knowledge which empowered them in using herbs to a certain extent, but the latter was preferred. The Department of Agriculture has featured as a support institution and although livestock farmers in the area have participated in and benefited from state programmes, they believe that they needed more interventions such as visits from veterinary surgeons, Extension Officers and Animal Health Technicians. The study therefore attempts to address the gaps highlighted in the work of other researchers.Item An analysis of groundwater in Mjinchi District of Central Malawi(University of Fort Hare, 2010) Mleta, Prince W.CGroundwater resources is the major source of potable water in Mchinji District of Central Malawi and globally. Although the total amount of water on and under the earth‟s surface is generally assumed to have remained constant, the rapid population boom coupled with extension of agricultural farmland and industrial development are putting pressure and stress on the quality and quantity of water resources. In principal therefore, „use and discard‟ philosophy in water resources cannot be subscribed (Lloyd, 1999). The situation ultimately calls for rational management of water resources to ensure its sustainability. Water intended for human consumption must be free from organisms that are the causative agents of diseases and must not contain chemical substances at concentrations that may be hazardous to human health. In addition drinking water should be aesthetically acceptable, free from unpleasant taste, color, odor and turbidity. Drinking water should also be free from bacteria and viruses whose presence would indicate fecal contamination. Some are known to be toxic and their concentrations must be below acceptable value, taking into account that drinking water is but one of the several pathways by which substances enters the body. Due to perceived concerns of over extraction and rapid water resources depletion, optimal management of groundwater resources are now receiving much attention. Their associated literatures have taken quite different approaches both philosophically and operationally to the analysis of how groundwater should be managed, allocated and cared for spatially and temporally. This study investigated the spatial and temporal fluctuations of concentrations of chemical and biological substances in groundwater such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, iron, fluoride, manganese, chloride, sulfates, sodium and fecal coliform in Mchinji District of Central Malawi. Through examination and analysis of static water levels as an indicator of water table fluctuations, groundwater availability was also measured. It was found that anthropogenic activities on the landscape can impact the quality and quantity of the water resources in this area and this impact on the various sectors of the inhabitant‟s livelihoods. Groundwater in Mchinji is composed of a number of chemical and biological elements whose origin is either from the material in which it percolates through, or stored before exploitation. Anthropogenic activities in this area plays a role in the quality and quantity of groundwater through land use and land cover change as evidenced by comparisons of Landsat Thematic Mapper™ satellite images over different time scales. In Mchinji no regular groundwater monitoring is being done indicating a deficiency in sustainability interventions of the resource. This study calls for integrated and sustainable water resources management and coordinated efforts amongst water users, local councils, regulatory authorities and environmental policy makers. Of far greater importance in groundwater sustainability analysis is the issue of groundwater monitoring. It is imperative therefore to preserve the resource while preservation is still possible. Groundwater is now turning into „blue gold‟ and becoming a highly sought-after commodity. It should, however, be utilized sustainably to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.