Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)

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Estimating rooftop solar energy potential using spatial radiation models and thermal remote sensing: The case of Witwatersrand University
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ndemera, Rudo Hilda; Adem, Ali K.; Adam, Elhadi
The main purpose of this research was to estimate the University of Witwatersrand building’s rooftop solar energy potential using the GIS-based solar Area Solar Radiation (ASR) analyst upward hemispherical view shed algorithm. The two major datasets used in this research for rooftop solar energy potential modelling are building footprint data and the Digital Surface Model. Building footprint data, specifically rooftop area was extracted using machine learning CNTK unified toolkit and deep neural networks. The data was presented as individual polygon shape files for each building. The high-resolution Digital Surface Model imagery was sourced from the Advanced Land Observation Satellite. Pre-processing of the imagery was done for atmospheric correction. The DSM was then used in the Area Solar Radiation model to create an upward view shed for every point on the study area which is essential for computing solar radiation maps. The efficiency of using this algorithm is that it considers the shading effects caused by surrounding topography and surrounding man-made features, alterations in the azimuth angle and the position of the sun. Apart from the incoming solar radiation reaching the rooftops, the elevation and orientation of the rooftop cells limit the solar panel tilt angle and intensity of the incoming solar radiation, respectively. These factors were used in setting the suitability criteria together with solar radiation for the identification of suitable rooftop cells in this research. The relationship between land surface temperature and solar radiation values was assessed to determine if it can be used as an indicator for solar panel efficiency. Results from this research indicate that the University of Witwatersrand receives high levels of incoming solar radiation and has a high solar energy rooftop generation capacity that can meet the energy demand on campus. To improve accuracy of the research results, a drone could have been used to measure insolation across the study area to improve the spatial resolution. However, this was not possible due to various restrictions.
Mapping and monitoring land transformation of Boane district, Mozambique (1980 – 2020), using remote sensing
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Dengo, Claudio Antonio; Atif, Iqra; Adam, Elhadi
Although natural and environmental factors play a significant role in land transformation, human actions dominate. Therefore, to better understand the present land uses and predict the future, accurate information describing the nature and extent of changes over time is necessary and critical, especially for developing countries. It is estimated that these countries will account for 50% of the world's population growth in the next few years. Hence, this research was an attempt to assess and monitor land cover changes in Boane, Mozambique, over the past 40 years and predict what to expect in the next 30 years. This district has been challenged by a fast-growing population and land use dynamic, with quantitative information, driving forces and impacts remaining unknown. Through a supervised process in a cloud base Google Earth Engine platform, a set of five Landsat images at ten-year intervals were classified using a random forest algorithm. Seven land classes, i.e., agriculture, forest, built-up, barren, rock, wetland and water bodies, were extracted and compared through a pixel-by-pixel process as one of the most precise and accurate methods in remote sensing and geographic information system applications. The results indicate an active alternate between all land classes, with significant changes observed within agriculture, forest and build-up classes. As it is, while agriculture (-26.1%) and forest (-21.4%) showed a continuously decreasing pattern, build-up class (45.8%) increased tremendously. Consequently, over 69% of the forest area and 59% of the agricultural area shifted into build-up, i.e., was degraded or destroyed. Similarly, the conversion of barren land area (57.2%) and rock area (47.3%) into build-up indicates that those areas were cleaned. The overall classification accuracy averaged 90% and a kappa coefficient of 0.8779 were obtained. The CA-Markov model, used to assess future land uses, indicates that build-up will continue to increase significantly, covering 60% of the total area. From this finding, the land cover situation in the next 30 years will be critical if no action is taken to stop this uncontrolled urban sprawl. An adequate land use plan must be drawn, clearly indicating the locations for different activities and actions for implementation.
Evaluating the spatiotemporal changes of urban wetlands in Klip River wetland, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-09) Nxumalo, Nolwazi; Knight, Jasper; Adam, Elhadi
This study assesses the impacts of land use / land cover (LULC) change in an urban wetland over the past 30 years utilizing machine learning and satellite-based techniques. This study looked at LULC distributions in the Klip River wetland in Gauteng, South Africa. The aims and methods used in this study were: (1) to conduct a comprehensive analysis to map and evaluate the effects of LULC changes in the Klip River wetland spanning from 1990 to 2020, employing Landsat datasets at intervals of 10 years, and to quantify both spatial and temporal alterations in urban wetland area. (2) To predict the change in urban wetland area due to specific LULC changes for 2030 and 2040 using the MOLUSCE plugin in QGIS. This model is based on observed LULC including bare soil, built-up area, water, wetland, and other vegetation in the quaternary catchment C22A of the Klip River wetland, using multispectral satellite images obtained from Landsat 5 (1990), Landsat 7 (2000 and 2010) and Landsat 8 OLI (2020). (3) For the results of this study, thematic maps were classified using the Random Forest algorithm in Google Earth Engine. Change maps were produced using QGIS to determine the spatiotemporal changes within the study area. To simulate future LULC for 2030 and 2040, the MOLUSCE plugin in QGIS v2.8.18 was used. The overall accuracies achieved for the classified maps for 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 were 85.19%, 89.80%, 84.09%, and 88.12%, respectively. The results indicated a significant decrease in wetland area from 14.82% (6949.39 ha) in 1990 to 5.54% (2759.2 ha) in 2020. The major causes of these changes were the build-up area, which increased from 0.17% (80.36 ha) in 1990 to 45.96% (22 901 ha) in 2020—the projected years 2030 and 2040 achieved a kappa value of 0.71 and 0.61, respectively. The results indicate that built-up areas continue to increase annually, while wetlands will decrease. These LULC transformations posed a severe threat to the wetlands. Hence, proper management of wetland ecosystems is required, and if not implemented soon, the wetland ecosystem will be lost.
Examining the remaining Rock Art at Linton, Eastern Cape, and its relationship with the Linton Panel at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Oster, Sandee Michelle; Pearce, David
The Linton panel has been the subject of great awe for many decades. It has been displayed in various exhibits worldwide and the subject of multiple research publications. However, its history and origin are not nearly as well understood as once believed, as a large part of its past has been omitted or forgotten. In this dissertation the images of not only the Linton panel are discussed, but those that remain in the shelter from whence it came are brought out of obscurity. How the panel came to be where it is today and the images’ relationship with the shelter and the remaining paintings are examined. Lastly, a forgotten piece of the shelter, a second panel, will be examined in greater detail than ever before: how it fell into relative obscurity and what its images tell us about the Linton shelter and its artists’ beliefs and purposes.
A Geospatial Approach to Mapping Jacaranda Tree Distribution in Johannesburg, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-11) Reddy, Rohini Chelsea; Fitchett, Jennifer
Accurate mapping of the spatial distribution of invasive species is vital for the implementation of effective monitoring and management strategies. In countries where resources are scarce and costly, citizen science provides a cost-effective and accurate alternative for large-scale data collection. Citizen’s familiarity with their environment contributes to aspects such as accurate identification of features on the landscape. Advances in a geographic information system (GIS) together with open-sourced photography from Google Street View, provide accurate methods for in-field and remote validation of citizen science data for invasive mapping and assists with the creation and compilation of maps to visualize the spatial distribution of invasive plants upon the landscape. In this study, the first spatial distribution maps for invasive tree species, Jacaranda mimosofolia (common name: Jacaranda), are created for the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). Jacaranda trees are well-known by citizens in the CoJ for their district purple flowers which blanket the landscape during springtime. A combination approach using citizen science, GIS, and Google Street View for data collection, analysis, and creation of the first spatial distribution map of exact location and prevalence of Jacaranda trees within certain suburbs of the CoJ, is produced. A total of 8,931 ground-truthing geopoints together with extensive Google Street View validation for Jacaranda tree presence, formed the basis of accurate spatial distribution maps. The first research question of this study focused on the spatial distribution of Jacaranda trees in the CoJ and was answered as a total of 54 suburbs were confirmed as having a large presence of Jacaranda trees in the CoJ. Citizen science data collected a total of 488 geotags for possible Jacaranda tree presence in the CoJ, over a 75-day online survey collection period. Although citizen science data provided a lower spatial resolution compared to successful fieldwork and Google Street View approaches, citizen science data provided very high accuracy for the identification and geolocation of Jacaranda tree presence in the CoJ which answers the second research question based on the effectiveness of the geospatial approach towards citizen science, ground-truthing and Google Street View as data collection methods. Since the accuracy of citizen science resulted in 66% of collected geotags within the categories of ‘very high’, ‘high’ and ‘moderate’ accuracy ranges of between <7-24m from a confirmed Jacaranda tree, together with the accuracy of 8,931 in-field collected geolocation of Jacaranda trees and Google Street View’s accuracy and capability of collecting street view imagery – it is concluded that the combined approach of ground-truthing, citizen science and Google Street View contribute not only to effective data collection, but also towards the successful mapping of Jacaranda tree presence in the CoJ.
Lessons for South Africa’s proposed social security retirement reforms from the experience of other sub-Saharan African countries
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Walker, Stephen
The South African government intends reforming its current social security system, including retirement benefits. Views on how this should be done vary, even within government. Proposals often take the experience of other countries into consideration but there is limited literature on the experience of other sub-Saharan African countries. The region is experiencing demographic change, especially reduced infant mortality, reduced fertility and increasing old age longevity. Here South Africa is advanced relative to other countries in the region, despite the high unemployment levels. South Africa’s informal sector is large relative to developed countries, but smaller than elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries in the region have tried several approaches when introducing reform. Level A non- contributory pensions in South Africa are advanced, relative to most countries in the region. Most other countries have mandatory, contributory, government-run level B funds, the closest equivalent in South Africa is the Unemployment Insurance Fund. DB level B schemes are the norm. However, many countries are experiencing strain on the financial sustainability of these schemes and a number of countries have had to increase scheme contributions or reduce benefits. Occupational retirement funds in South Africa are well established and have experienced significant reforms recently. South Africa’s level C2 occupational retirement fund coverage is not mandated by government but is high relative to other countries in the region, even those with compulsory coverage under level C1. South Africa is still relatively new to introducing contributory pensions for informal sector workers. Other countries have tried various approaches under both levels D1 and D2 without finding a perfect solution. The research shows that maximising coverage requires all pension types. Pension reform is an iterative process, there is no perfect solution and phasing-in change is best. Government should make decisions on what incremental improvements can be made and start implementing these. The sequencing of reforms is important, what happens at each level of pension provision will influence what can and should be done at the next level. South Africa should move towards universalisation of non-contributory pensions but needs to do so in a cost-effective manner. The experience in other countries in the region should be considered when setting goals for coverage of informal sector workers by a level D1 or D2 contributory scheme. Compulsory contributory pensions should be introduced for formal sector workers, shifting from a level C2 to a level C1 approach. Expanding the Unemployment Insurance Fund to cater for retirement benefits as opposed to creating a new level B national fund should be explored.
Assessment of disposal methods of construction and demolition waste: A case study of south-eastern industrial and residential areas in Johannesburg, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Jager, Vasti de; Kubanza, Nzalalemba Serge
In a world where all strive for further development, construction and demolition play alarge role in that process. The waste generated in construction and demolition projects is of great magnitude and needs to be dealt with and disposed of appropriately, however, is this truly the case? Gauteng is a province where landfills are easily accessible and a cheap disposal option. This study set out to assess disposal methods of construction and demolition waste in south-east Johannesburg, South Africa. Landfills and recycling were the prevalent disposal methods, and these were compared to other countries’ disposal methods. Policy and legislation regarding solid waste management were analysed and a gap between written documents and implementation was identified. The question of sustainability also played a role in the synthesis of the study
Monitoring and evaluating urban land use land cover change using machine learning classification techniques: a case study of Polokwane municipality
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Funani, Tshivhase; Mhangara, Paida
Remote sensing is one of the tools which is very important to produce Land use and land cover maps through the process of image classification. Image classification requires quality multispectral imagery and secondary data, a precise classification technique, and user experience skill. Remote sensing and GIS were used to identify and map land-use/land-cover in the study region. Big Data issues arise when classifying a huge number of satellite images and features, which is a very intensive process. This study primarily uses GEE to evaluate the two classifiers, Support Vector Machine, and gradient boosting, using multi-temporal Landsat-8 images, and to assess their performance while accounting for the impact of data dimension, sample size, and quality. Land use/Landcover (LULC) classification, accuracy assessment, and landscape metrics comprise this study. Gradient Tree Boost and SVM algorithms were used in 2008, 2013, 2017, and 2022. Google Earth Engine was used for supervised classification. The results of change detection showed that urbanization has occurred and most of the encroachments were on agricultural land. In this study, XG boost, and support vector machine (SVM)) were used and compared for image classification to oversight spatio-temporal land use changes in Polokwane Municipality. The Google Earth Engine has been utilized to pre-process the Landsat imagery, and then upload it for classification. Each classification method was evaluated using field observations and high-resolution Google Earth imagery. LULC changes were assessed, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, as well as the dynamics of change in LULCC were analysed using landscape matrix analysis over the last 15 years in four different periods: 2008–2013, 2018 and 2022. The results showed that XGBoost performed better than SVM both in overall accuracies and Kappa statistics as well as F-scores and the ratio of Z-score. The overall accuracy of gradient boosting in 2008 was 0.82, while SVM showed results of 0.82 overall accuracy and kappa statistics of 0.69. The average F-score for SVM in 2008 was from 0.58- 1.00, in 2013 an average of 0.86-0.97, and in 2022 it was 0.76. Z values were not statistically significant as all values were below the z score of 1.96. The ratios for the two classifiers were also taken to know which classifier performs the best. The results showed 212:212 which indicates that during 2008 SVM and XG boost performed the same way as they classified the same number of cases. During 2013 the ratio was 345:312 which shows that XGBoost performed better than SVM. The results of 2017 show 374:316 which shows that XGBoost performed better than SVM. Lastly, in 2022 the ratio was 298:277 which shows that XGBoost performed better than SVM. Overall zscores result show that XGBoost performs better than SVM. Overall, this study offers useful insight into LULC changes that might aid shareholders and decision makers in making informed decisions about controlling land use changes and urban growth
Pandemics and Heritage: understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Archaeotourism in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Eswaran, Nithya
The project explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on archaeotourism at three public visitation sites in South Africa. According to the 2021 UNESCO report on the impact of Covid- 19 on heritage tourism, visitors to Africa decreased by 71% in 2020. The drop significantly impacted the revenue of the continent (UNESCO 2021). This research focuses on assessing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic locally by examining two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng Province, and Main Caves in Giant’s Castle Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal Province. The third study site is the Origins Centre Museum at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. These sites are open to tourists for guided tours. Quantitative data from Kruger National Park is collated to analyse the pandemic's influence on public, nature-based sites for comparison to culture sites
Determining the spatial variations of evapotranspiration rates in a semiarid region
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Sorour, Wendy; Shoko, Cletah
Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the biggest ways in which water is transferred from water resources into the atmosphere as water vapor and understanding its variations is important for water resource management. This study determined land use land cover (LULC)-based ET and the influence of climatic events in Western Cape. Landsat 8, Surface Energy Balance System, Support Vector Machine, humidity, wind speed, surface pressure, temperature, and sunshine hours were used, during El Nino in 2015-2016, normal year in 2019-2020, and La Nina in 2020-2021. Median ET was calculated for each LULC type to determine their effect on ET. Climatic events increased ET compared to the normal year and increasing temperatures and rainfall during EL Nino and La Nina years respectively were the main drivers. Water had the lowest ET, and agricultural land had the highest. The results of this study can be used to create better water resource management plans
Assessment of the impact of load shedding on the households of Alexandra, Johannesburg, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mbatha, Cebolethu; Kubanza, Nzalalemba Serge
In South Africa, persistent challenges in the electricity sector have been noted. This study emphasizes that having access to electricity is insufficient; the reliability of its supply is crucial,especially given prolonged power outages faced by a significant portion of the population. In Alexandra Township at two residential areas, 16th Avenue and East Bank, the research used a mixed-method approach, involving questionnaires for 100 households and 20 local businesses, and semi-structured interviews with representatives from the local city authority. Results indicated substantial disruptions to daily lives and operations. These disruptions adversely affected critical social services, hindering operations in essential infrastructures like water supply systems, hospitals, education institutions, and telecommunication systems. The study identifies illegal electricity connections, infrastructure loss, and political interference as perceived major causes of successive power outages in Alexandra. It highlights the worsening nature of load shedding, making it a significant political issue in South Africa, reflecting hardships households and businesses face. The paper recommends governmental subsidies for alternative energy appliances and more favorable electricity tariff rates for households and small businesses to alleviate demand during peak periods. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and the South African electricity utility in analyzing trade-offs between negative welfare effects and costs of reducing power outages
Commercial maize farmers’ adaptations to climate change in Sannieshof, North West Province, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Dunn, Benjamin Graham; Knight, Jasper
Commercial agriculture is a critical industry for South Africa, both from an economic and a social perspective. Maize forms a vital part of the diet of millions of people across the country and the continent of Africa. It is also an important commercial export crop. It is, therefore, imperative that the industry can adapt to both climate and socioeconomic changes. This study aims to investigate the specific challenges faced by commercial maize farmers in the Sannieshof region, North West Province, South Africa, in relation to climate change and socioeconomic factors. This study undertook questionnaires with 21 commercial maize farmers in the region, followed up by field observations and photographs from one large commercial maize farm. Several socioeconomic factors were identified by participants as having negative impacts on farming operations, including government policies, crime, and load shedding. Climate change adaptation includes several dynamic management practices which vary between seasons, including adjustments in cultivar choice, sowing dates, sowing depth, and plant population density. Adopting conservation agriculture and precision agriculture techniques forms an important element used by the farmers to achieve long-term climate change adaptation. Going forward, farmers need to consider the impacts of both climate change and socioeconomic factors, both of which impact their agricultural operation and which can be conceptualised through a Water-Energy-Food nexus framework. Due to limited financial resources, farmers need to consider which drivers of change need to be prioritised in their decision-making, which ultimately may create differences in adaptation strategies adopted by different farmers
The Extent of the Inclusion and Consideration of Extreme Climate Events and Health in South African Policies; The Case of eThekwini
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Meyer, Charné Amy; Fitchett, Jennifer M.; Wright, Caradee Y.
Climatic changes over southern Africa include the increased frequency and intensification of Extreme Climate Events (ECEs) which exacerbate health risks within vulnerable low- and middle-income countries. Examples of health impacts from ECEs include water-, food-, and vector-borne diseases, morbidity, and mortality. Increased interest in ECEs since the beginning of the 21st century strengthened the recognition of the impact thereof on health. Therefore, it is important to analyse policy documents to determine the extent to which they include and comprehend these themes to prepare for and address negative ramifications. This study aims to explore the scope to which policy documents relevant to eThekwini, mention and deliberate the ECE- health nexus. This exploration of existing policies allows a contribution to the nascent literature around the ECE-health intersection and is indicative of possible areas of corrective strategy. This is conducted through a review of relevant policy documents, interviews with key stakeholders, and the analysis of secondary climate and health interview data. Findings reflect a 50% recognition of the ECE-health intersection in policy documents. Stakeholders acknowledge the importance of policy documents recognizing this interconnection. Notably, stakeholders are not aware of such policy documents that currently exist but identify barriers to these policy documents being updated and upheld. Hence, the Municipality does have adaptation strategies in place however, improvements thereof are necessary. Examples include the need for short- term adaptation planning, improved policy implementation, and community education. The lack of such work would exacerbate health concerns and add significant strains on the health sector
An integrated approach for detecting and monitoring the Campuloclinium macrocephalum (Less) DC using the MaxEnt and machine learning models in the Cradle Nature Reserve, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Makobe, Benjamin; Mhangara, Paidamoyo
The invasion of ecosystems by invasive plants is considered as one of the major human- induced global environmental change. The uncontrolled expansion of invasive alien plants is gaining international attention, and remote sensing technology is adopted to accurately detect and monitor the spread of invasive plants locally and globally. The Greater Cradle nature reserve is a world heritage site and intense research site for archaeology and paleontology.It was accorded the world status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) in 1991 due to its variety of biodiversity present and carries information of significance about the evolution of mankind. The invasion of Campuloclinium macrocephalum (pompom weed) at the Cradle nature reserve is downgrading the world status accorded to the site, lowers the grazing capacity for game animals and replaces the native vegetation. This research study explored the capability of Sentinel-2A multispectral imagery in mapping the spatial distribution of pompom weed at the nature reserve between 2019 and 2024. The non-parametric classification models, support vector machine (SVM) and random forests (RF) were evaluated to accurately detect, and discriminate pompom weed against the co-existing land cover types. Additionally, the species distribution modelling MaxEnt Entropy was incorporated to model spatial distribution and pompom weed habitat suitability. The findings indicates that SVM yielded 44% and 50.7% spatial coverage of pompom weed at the nature reserve in 2019 and 2024, respectively. Whereas, the RF model indicates that the spatial coverage of pompom weed was 31.1% and 39.3% in 2019 and 2024, respectively. The MaxEnt model identified both soil and rainfall as the most important environmental factors in fostering the aggressive proliferation of pompom weed at nature reserves. The MaxEnt predictive model obtained an area under curve score of 0.94, indicating outstanding prediction model performance. SVM and RF models had classification accuracy above 75%, indicating that they could distinguish pompom weeds from existing land cover types. The preliminary results of this study call for attention in using predictive models in predicting current and future spatial distribution of invasive weeds, for effective eradication control and environmental management.
An Assessment of Beauty Waste Management Practices: A Case Study of Rustenburg Beauty Salons
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Knight, Jasper; Knight, Jasper
The beauty salon industry is one of the fastest growing industries and is a significant waste generator in South Africa. Waste that results from beauty salons is a thorny environmental issue because it spans from different waste types and sources. Futhermore it requires waste treatment and different disposal methods. In view of this, this study seeks to assess waste management practices of beauty salons in Rustenburg, South Africa, in order to identify the types of waste salons generate and to identify recommendations that can assist beauty salons to be environmentally sustainable by improving their waste management practices. The aim of the research is to understand how beauty salon waste is discarded and to what degree beauty salon personnel understand the impacts of waste on the environment. The objectives of this research are to (1) determine the total amount of waste produced by selected beauty salons in Rustenburg, (2) identify the waste management practices undertaken by the beauty salons, (3) explore the challenges the beauty salons face in relation to waste management, and (4) identify recommendations of how beauty salons in South Africa can further improve their waste management practices. This study employed a mixed methods design through quantifying the amount of waste the selected beauty salons generate over a two month period, and by interviewing salon personell on their views on salon waste and waste management practices. Fifteen salons were surveyed. Results were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results show that the all the beauty salons combined produce a total annual estimated waste of 4732.2 kg. Through interviews, the study identified waste management practices of the beauty salons to be primarily premised on discarding waste in dustbins for municipal collection, burning waste, or dumping waste in unregulated dumping sites when waste service delivery poses challenges. These three practices are the most common modes of waste disposal in the Rustenburg beauty salons. Issues of waste management facing beauty salons includes lack of waste facilities and lack of knowledge about waste management. The major recommendation from beauty salons and civil (professional) organisations was for government to provide beauty salons with better infrastructure for waste sorting, recycling, pick-up and disposal. Promotion of good practice and awareness campaigns were cited as recommendations to improve waste management practices in beauty salons
The holiday climate index: applicability and suitability for the South African context
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kristensen, Daniella; Fitchett, Jennifer
Tourism is one of the largest economic sectors and continues to grow at a rapid pace. This sector is under threat by climate change, with Africa deemed to be most vulnerable to these changes. The projected climatic changes and increase in occurrence and intensity of extreme events over South Africa has an impact on overall tourism comfortability. Quantifying the climatic suitability of tourist destinations has been achieved through tourism climate indices. Some of these indices cover all tourism activities and some are specific to a tourism type (e.g., snow tourism). The Holiday Climate Index (HCI) was developed to determine climactic comfortability of beach and urban destinations and to address the limitations of previous indices. This study will provide the first determination of the appropriateness of the HCI for the South African context and calculations of the HCI for destinations across South Africa. The mean annual HCIurban and HCIbeach scores for the longest continuous period of each destination reveal that the majority of destinations demonstrate HCIurban and HCIbeach scores between 70 and 79 and are considered to have ‘very good’ climatic conditions for tourism. An exception is the HCIurban result for Durban which is scored as ‘good’. Generally, the highest HCI scores were calculated for Cape Town on the west coast, while the lowest HCI scores were calculated for Durban on the east coast. It was determined that McBoyle’s (2001) winter season peak distribution is applicable to seven of the 13 HCIurban and three of the five HCIbeach destinations. This indicates that the winter season is most suitable for tourism for most destinations. In comparing the results of destinations where both the HCIurban and HCIbeach are applicable, it was determined that all destinations, with the exception of Durban, have a minimal difference in the average annual HCI scores. Durban recorded a notable difference which demonstrated that the destination would be more suitable for beach tourism. The results of this study can be used to quantify the impacts of climate change on the tourism sector and assist tourism stakeholders in developing the capacity to adapt to the projected changes.
Traditional Custodians, Sacred Heritage Sites and Tourism Development: A Case Study ofthe Phiphidi Falls in the Limpopo Province of South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-09) Mabehle, Nhlaluko; Russell, Thembiwe
The way in which intangible heritage should be preserved is a debatable subject, and the question about who should have authority over what happens at sites associated with spiritual values is often a contentious issue. While local communities frequently hold traditional custodianship of the sites, they usually do not have any legal custody. When tourism developments are suggested in impoverished rural communities, whose basic rights could be met by allowing tourism developments to happen, conflicts frequently arise. Traditional custodians tend to want to keep their places of worship sacred while tourism developers would rather promote such sites as touristic products and potential source of income for the community. Fractions can occur within the communities as well. This project investigated community attitudes towards cultural heritage in Limpopo, using the case of Phiphidi Waterfalls, a site earmarked for tourism development, to analyse traditional management systems and to develop a framework for the effective management and preservation of sacred sites. Comparative studies were used to analyse traditional management systems in southern Africa. The main objective is to attain sustainable preservation of intangible heritage without any conflicts between traditional custodians and tourism authorities, and so this project contributes to the larger debate about who should have authority over sacred sites.
Does public participation facilitate the development of a comprehensive social impact assessment process in South Africa? a study of the Carolina town community in Mpumalanga
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Gilfillan, John; Simatele, Mulala Danny
The inadequate integration of social and economic dimensions within impact assessments, particularly in the context of mining activities is particularly worrisome. The lack of a standardized and inclusive model, coupled with insufficient consideration of local knowledge, contributes to conflicts and dissatisfaction in mining communities. Public participation, crucial for a holistic assessment, faces hurdles like awareness gaps, language barriers, and inadequate community representation. These challenges hinder the achievement of sustainable outcomes in mining development projects. This study assesses the current state of public participation in Social Impact Assessment (SIA) processes within mining communities in Carolina. This study employed a qualitative approach. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify the relevant participants for this study. Drawing on diverse perspectives from technocrats, community members, homeowners, and stakeholders, the research unveils insights into the effectiveness of public engagement between the Carolina community and mining operatives. After engaging with the participants ultimately a total of 45 participants were identified. Data collection tools were the use of the focused group interviews and semi- structured questionnaires. The findings reveal a predominant dissatisfaction among participants, with 70% expressing the ineffectiveness of public participation in SIA. The study identifies a lack of inclusivity, transparency, and communication in the current approach, as community members feel excluded from decision making processes. Motivations for engagement centre on the crucial need for job opportunities provided by mining operations, reflecting the community's economic aspirations. However, expectations extend beyond employment to include broader community development aspects, indicating a desire for positive impacts resulting from mining activities. Further exploration into the role of public participation in identifying community challenges highlights a significant lack of awareness and understanding among participants. The study underscores language barriers, geographical distance to meeting venues, and a perceived absence of tangible outcomes as significant challenges. Participants express frustration with the current state of public participation, emphasizing the need for transparency, genuine commitment, and accountability from mining companies. The research concludes with recommendations for a more inclusive, accessible, and communicative public participation process to address community challenges effectively. It calls for improved education, language inclusivity, and enhanced communication channels to foster meaningful engagement and ensure a more equitable and sustainable future for the Carolina community affected by mining activities
SBLS Lithic Technology and its Behavioural Implications
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Bielderman, Sebastian Christopher; Wurz, Sarah
In the Middle Stone Age (MSA) of the southern Cape in South Africa significant research has been undertaken to understand the behaviours linked to coastal adaptation as well as the exploitation of terrestrial resources, however but relatively little is understood on how lithic technology relates to human behaviour during certain MSA periods in this region. The Silty Black Soils (SBLS) layer at Klasies River main site (KRM), which is older than 110 000 years ago, falls within one of these lesser understood periods and has yielded lithic material in association with both faunal and shellfish remains and other important features such as hearths. Understanding the behaviours of the SBLS is significant in broadening our understanding of the MSA I/earlier MSA technologies. Through the analysis of the Chaî ne Opé ratoire (or production sequence), macro-fractures, and the Tip Cross-Sectional Area of the SBLS lithics, significant information on the manufacturing and utilisation behaviours has been inferred. The data gained from these analyses allow for widespread behavioural comparison between the SBLS, overlaying KRM layers, and other sites. Broadly speaking, the assemblage shares several technological signatures with the MSA I/Klasies River technology previously identified at KRM and on a technological attribute level widespread similarities are shared with several MIS 5 assemblages in South Africa; an example of this is the widespread use of locally available raw materials. There is, however, a key behavioural inference which clearly indicates that the SBLS is different to other assemblages both at KRM and in the broader MIS 5. The SBLS points and their TCSA values point towards significantly smaller points. This supports a different and varied hunting approach which is unique to KRM during this period at KRM
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.

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