Browsing by Author "Evans, Mary"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Are our Head Teachers okay? Decision-making processes during COVID-19 across South African independent schools
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-10) Pahl, Julia; Evans, Mary
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the education sphere globally and in South Africa. The impact on pupils and teachers has been investigated. However, the impact on Head Teachers in schools, particularly independent schools in South Africa, has received less attention. Head Teachers within independent South African Schools are the decision makers, leaders, and influencers who were placed in a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic. These Head Teachers were asked to lead, make decisions, and positively influence and manage those under their care while the educational landscape shifted. This shifting educational landscape placed Head Teachers within independent schools under increased pressure and stress. This study aimed to understand the technological and financial access and contexts of Head Teachers at independent schools within South Africa and explore their decision-making processes and the impact of their decisions on their well-being. An online survey was sent to independent Head Teachers, and four in-depth, one-on-one interviews were conducted. Head Teachers showed that their financial and technological contexts did not constrain their pandemic responses as the nature of their independent school allowed them to have access to adequate technological resources and alternative financial support sources. Key findings of this research were that Head Teachers were commonly influenced both positively and negatively by the complex communication networks and channels created and used during the pandemic and the complex decision-making drivers they had to navigate while leading during the pandemic. The decision drivers of well-being and shared moral purpose were more dominantly considered than the decision driver of National Government Directives, as Head Teachers had to consider their complex and multi-dimensional environments when deciding which decision driver was to be prioritized. Head Teachers had to navigate two main tensions: would they prioritize outcomes such as assessment and reports during the pandemic or would they prioritize awareness and well-being of staff and learners, and would they make their decisions from a compliance standpoint where full compliance was key or from a standpoint where complying as much as possible or enough for deniability was chosen. These results also associated increased communication networks during the pandemic with increased stress and burn-out levels and therefore a decreased well-being of Head Teachers, and increased numbers of Head Teachers leaving the profession. However, a positive outcome of the pandemic was that schools, staff, learners, and parents were forced to increase their device and/or internet access and technological skills to maintain education during the lockdown and the changing educational environment. When these results were studied across the geographical landscape of independent South African schools it was clear that the findings on access, well-being and decision-making were linked to the context of the Head Teacher and their school and not to their geographic location. Yet using complex, multi-faceted communication networks and the resultant stress was a country-wide experience and that National Government Directives was the country-wide main decision-driver for independent South African Head Teachers. Overall, this study identified six key lessons for education within any future South African pandemics: the need for clear and concise instructions within legislation, standard operating procedures need to consider access and context, blended education should become a norm in schools, consistency within education should be maintained throughout, personal boundaries should be maintained throughout and networking between leaders should be increased.
Assessing the effectiveness of wetlands in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve in attenuating pollution from mines on the West Rand, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Sawuka, Noluthando Thulisile; Evans, Mary; Masindi Khuliso
In South Africa, 48% of the country’s wetlands are critically endangered because of anthropogenic activities. Wetlands are an important part of the landscape and play a critical role including but not limited to improving water quality, habitat provision, and water storage. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of wetland systemsin attenuating pollution from water discharged from abandoned gold mines in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve (KGR), West Rand. Eight (8) water samples were collected in the study site. Physico-chemical parameters were measured in situ, and chemical parameters were measured in the lab. The measured physico–chemical parameters from the majority of the sampled wetlands exceeded at least one of the stipulated water quality legislations, which included the General Authorization Limit Section 21f and h, 2013; Unit for TWQGR; Mine Health and Safety Act; and WUL wastewater in terms of the recorded pH, total dissolved solids, and salinity variables. Overall, a decreasing trend in pH level was observed from wetlands sampled upstream of the KGR to wetlands sampled downstream of the KGR, with the highest recorded pH level (Alkalinity: 8.9) obtained from the sampled wetland that was closest to the adjacent mining site upstream of theKGR whilst the lowest recorded pH level (Acidity: 3.9) obtained from a wetland sampling point that was further from the adjoining mine and downstream in the KGR. A weak and positive correlation (r=0.040) was obtained between the measured total dissolved solids and pH levels from the sampled wetlands, indicating minimal spatial variability. However, a strong positive correlation (r=0.999, Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level) was obtained between the measured total dissolved solids and salinity from the sampled wetlands. At least one of the limits stipulated by the water quality legislation was exceeded in terms of the analysed inorganic constituents from the sampled wetlands. The dominant ions recorded in the wetlands in increasing order are F, K, Cl, Mg, Na, Ca, and SO4. Mn and Si were the dominant metal concentrations recorded in most wetlands, with the former also showing exceedances when compared to the stipulated water quality guidelines. The recorded data from the measured physico–chemical parameters and analysed chemical variables indicated poor water quality in wetlands sampled downstream of the KGR and upstream of the KGR. Stringent measures in water quality monitoring need to be implemented to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with wastewater discharge into the receiving environment.
Characterisation of Drought Using Hydrological and Meteorological Indices: A Case Study of Bethlehem, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Tshabalala, Khanyisile; Evans, Mary; Masindi, Khuliso
The study aims to assess the severity and evolution of drought/s in Bethlehem using the hydrological: Streamflow Drought Index (SDI), Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI), Effective Reconnaissance Drought Index (eRDI) and meteorological: Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI), Agricultural Standardised Precipitation Index (aSPI), and Precipitation Deciles (PD) indices. These indices were computed using the Drought Indices Calculator (DrinC). The RDI, eRDI, aSPI, and SPI identified three drought events between 1980 and 2017. The PD on the other hand, identified particular years between 1980 and 2017 that received below-normal to much below- normal precipitation. Further, the years identified to have received below normal to much below normal precipitation fell between the drought periods identified by the other indices, such as the 1980 – 1990 drought identified by the SPI, RDI, aSPI, and eRDI; the PD identified 1982, 198, 1985, and 1986 as specific years the received significantly low precipitation within the decade long drought. Of critical note is the absence of the SDI results, stream levels data was not available at the time the results presented in this report were computed. The unavailability of SDI values did not compromise or negatively affect the results presented in this study as the computed indices had a strong correlation, implying the reliability of the results presented in this report
Moving towards landscape initiatives: an analysis of environmental frameworks, protected areas, and community perspectives in the vhembe district, limpopo province, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Dalziel, Alexandra; Evans, Mary
ConservaBon strategies have shiMed towards a landscape-centric approach, emphasising conservaBon corridors and ecological networks. However, exploraBon of these strategies within the South African context is incomplete. This research aims to address this gap by applying various methods, including a systemaBc literature review, policy analysis, spaBal analysis using GIS, and conducBng interviews and surveys, resulBng in four key contribuBons invesBgaBng the potenBal for conservaBon corridors and networks. The first is a comprehensive literature review underscoring the significance of corridors and networks while highlighBng the discourse surrounding these emerging approaches in South Africa. The findings revealed a substanBal global interest in landscape iniBaBves. However, South Africa’s contribuBon is geographically limited, with 82% of studies focusing on the KwaZulu-Natal province. Understanding the efficacy of these studies in South Africa necessitates a comprehensive examinaBon of the underlying regulatory frameworks governing protected areas and conservaBon efforts. Therefore, the second contribuBon evaluated protected areas and conservaBon legislaBon and policies to assess their alignment with landscape-focused iniBaBves. The study reveals a lack of explicit provisions supporBng landscape-based conservaBon methods. The third study draws on these findings and uses the Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province as a case study to illustrate the overlooked potenBal of landscape iniBaBves. IniBally, the protected areas in the district were evaluated. Subsequently, the analysis employed Key and CriBcal Biodiversity Areas to highlight the inadequacies within the exisBng protected area network. The findings revealed that although protected areas cover 38% of the Vhembe District, over 70% of CriBcal Biodiversity Areas and 60% of Key Biodiversity Areas lack protecBon. Over 2,000 km2 of unprotected CriBcal and Key Biodiversity Areas were idenBfied along the Soutpansberg Mountain Range and marked as ideal for a conservaBon corridor. The fourth contribuBon centres on community engagement, an essenBal consideraBon for sustainable long-term conservaBon. The results underscored strong community support for a corridor in the Vhembe District, primarily moBvated by the anBcipated socio-economic benefits. However, while landscape iniBaBves promise socio-economic improvement, such outcomes are not guaranteed. Moreover, other potenBal challenges, including development, land rights, and financial constraints, were idenBfied as possible impediments to corridors in the Vhembe District. The invesBgaBon into corridors and networks in South Africa, specifically the Vhembe District, revealed that the discourse on landscape iniBaBves is in its nascent phase. Nevertheless, when prioriBsing community engagement, these iniBaBves harbour tremendous potenBal. New legislaBon and policies that account for these factors will guide proponents of these iniBaBves and propel landscape iniBaBves into South Africa’s conservaBon toolbox.
Palynological insights into an 11,700-year sequence of vegetation change in mashishing, Mpumalanga, northeastern South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Olatoyan, Jerry O.; Schoeman, Alex; Neumann, Frank; Sievers, Christine; Orijemie, Emuobosa; Evans, Mary
In this thesis, the issue of distinguishing anthropogenic and climatic drivers of vegetation change was explored through the analysis of pollen, phytoliths and microcharcoal in core sediment records from Mashishing Fen in the Thaba Chweu Municipality, Mpumalanga province, northeastern South Africa, that date from ca. 11.2 – 11.7 ka BP to the present. In southern Africa, generally, the distinction between the contributions of anthropogenic and climatic factors to vegetation changes poses a complex challenge in palaeoenvironmental research. This difficulty often arises due to limited, well-dated palaeoenvironmental sequences suitable for correlations between archaeological and palaeoecological records. For the last 2000 years, there has been a scarcity of direct evidence for farming, such as grains and other domesticated plants, and pastoralism. A further difficulty is that some plant taxa may be indicators for intense droughts but also signify anthropogenic disturbances. At the centre of the thesis are three papers. The first comprises a synthesis of existing literature of archaeobotanical evidence that was done to evaluate the relationship between climate, anthropogenic activities, and vegetation change during the first millennium CE in southern Africa. I focussed on this context in the paper because it is a time in which the arrival of pastoralism and farming in the region makes it the most likely period during which distinct anthropogenic vegetation change occurred. The published data demonstrates that microfossil assemblages are potential indicators of anthropogenic activities of pre-European pastoralists and farmers of the region, with patterns including a decline in tree pollen and increases in microcharcoal, spores of coprophilous fungi, open land/disturbance indicators, and ruderal species. The second paper addresses some of the limitations of palynology as a method. A modern pollen- and phytolith-vegetation study was conducted on surface sediment samples linked to the botanical survey of five vegetation survey plots at and around Mashishing Fen to investigate the relationships between the modern pollen and phytoliths in the surface samples and the contemporary vegetation within the area. The results support the accepted view that pollen and phytoliths often do not track similar vegetation signals. The modern pollen assemblages clearly track forest and wetland vegetation, and the modern phytolith assemblages reflect grassland vegetation in the area. The study confirmed that differential phytolith and pollen production, dispersal and preservation substantially influence the proxy records and that combining phytolith and pollen data provides a more accurate basis for plant fossil interpretations in palaeoenvironmental studies. The results of this paper constrained my interpretation of the pollen data used in the third paper. Finally, pollen, spores and microcharcoal data from the core sediment records from Mashishing Fen (formerly the Lydenburg Fen) provide palaeoenvironmental records for approximately the last 11,2 to 11,7 ka years–most of the Holocene. The data is interpreted through the patterns identified in the first paper, including potential indicators of anthropogenic activities. The data of the earlier period provide a backdrop to possible anthropogenic change in the first millennium CE; the extended data illustrate paleoenvironmental changes that took place in a region occupied by hunter-gatherers but predate any possible anthropogenic influences by pastoralists or farmers. The core data suggests that the early Holocene began with moist and warm conditions that were followed by fluctuations between wet and dry conditions during the mid-Holocene and the decline of trees with the dominance of open-land indicators during the later Holocene, thereby providing the basis for correlating the palaeoecological records with the archaeological records in the region