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ItemOpen Access
Lived experiences of mothers lodging at a public hospital in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2022) Ntuli, Matshediso Julia; Spies, Cynthia
The lived experiences of mothers who must make use of lodging residences while their sick babies have been admitted to a neonatal care unit (NCU) is understudied. The challenges that these mothers face daily is not well documented. To explore and understand the phenomenon of lodging at a public hospital in South Africa, this study focused on mothers and their experiences while waiting for the recovery of their babies. The research question to be answered was: What are the lived experiences of mothers lodging at a public hospital while their babies have been admitted to an NCU? Since little is understood about lodging and its challenges, the researcher selected a qualitative approach through which data could be obtained from participants who had first-hand experience of lodging. A sample of 13 mothers participated in the study. The research phenomenon was investigated using data obtained from in-depth individual interviews. The findings of the study included five categories with relevant subcategories. The five major categories were: lodging environment, emotional experiences, nursing care of babies, interaction with staff, and participant perspectives. From the data, it was inferred that participants experienced many challenges and multiple causes of stress during the lodging period and that they were not well supported by the service providers. In terms of recommendations, the institution providing the lodging should commit to developing support programmes and policies for mothers who must endure being away from family and social support structures. Extended research into the phenomenon of lodging mothers might lead to the development of a unique institutional approach that will ensure a stay as pleasant and supportive as possible. In turn, satisfied mothers and supportive staff relations may reflect positively on the well-being and health outcomes of the babies.
ItemOpen Access
A clinical audit of Red Blood Cell transfusion at National District Hospital
(University of the Free State, 2021) Madito, Nonofo Snowy; Hagemeister, D. T.; van Rooyen, F. C.
๐—•๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ: Red blood cell transfusion is one of the most critical and expensive live-saving treatment modalities. Literature has shown that restrictive transfusion is safe and yields good patient outcomes. Evidence shows that a clinical audit is one of the most valuable instruments to determine if transfusion practices align with the guidelines and identify knowledge deficiencies. The National District Hospital was audited against the South African guidelines, including trigger conditions, administrative standards and monitoring requirements. ๐—”๐—ถ๐—บ: To evaluate the red blood transfusion practice and patientsโ€™ outcomes at National District Hospital and determine adherence to transfusion guidelines. ๐— ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐˜€: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted. Blood transfusion registers in the hospital were used to compile all transfusion episodes from 01 June 2019 to 31 December 2019. Files were retrieved from the admissions office using that list. A datasheet was used. The department of Biostatistics at the University of the Free State processed the data. ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜€: One hundred eighteen (118) transfusion episodes occurred in the study period, 78 files could be retrieved, but only 76 met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 47. HIV (44.7%) was the most common comorbid condition. A large percentage of patients (81.6%) received oral iron as an additional treatment. Pre-transfusion haemoglobin was documented for all patients with a median of 4.6 g/dL. All ordered units were transfused. The audit revealed that 68% of the cases adhered to the guidelines. ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—น๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Most of the transfusion episodes adhered to the guidelines. Training on transfusion medicine recommended.
ItemOpen Access
Bi doped LaOCl and LaOF thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition
(Elsevier, 2024) Jaffar, Babiker M.; Swart, H. C.; Seed Ahmed, H. A. A.; Yousif, A.; Kroon, R. E.
Thin films of Biยณโบ doped LaOCl and LaOF phosphors prepared via the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique in vacuum and different argon (Ar) pressures were compared in order to assess their luminescence properties. All peaks of the X-ray diffraction patterns of the films were consistent with the tetragonal structure of the LaOCl and LaOF, but in the case of LaOF the signal was weaker and not all peaks were present, suggesting some preferred orientation. Photoluminescence measurements revealed that the films exhibited emission around 344 nm for LaOCl:Bi and 518 nm for LaOF:Bi under excitations of 266 nm and 263 nm, respectively. The luminescence from the LaOF:Bi sample was less intense compared to the LaOCl:Bi sample prepared under the same conditions, which was also the case for the powder samples. The amount of ablated material present on the substrate was much less for LaOF:Bi compared to LaOCl:Bi, which is attributed to the greater bandgap and hence weaker absorption of the laser pulses for LaOF:Bi. Therefore phosphors based on LaOCl as the host material were found to be preferable over LaOF under the PLD conditions used in this study.
ItemOpen Access
Cross-sector partnerships and social innovation: a strategy for public sector programme delivery in the department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
(University of the Free State, 2023) Malete, Tshwene Bridget; Biljohn, Marรฉve
๐—ข๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) are increasingly seen as a solution to the most pressing societal problems facing contemporary societies. As such, CSPs have become inherent to socio-economic service delivery by the public sector. CSPs are defined as partnerships between public, private, and civil society organisations and between government departments or business units within the public and private sectors working in new ways to address complex social and economic challenges. ๐— ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜€๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐˜†: The South African National Development Plan accentuates the collective responsibility of collaborative and strategic partnerships among different sectors. In this regard exploring CSPs enable the public sector to target ''wicked issues'' more effectively by unlocking the benefits of comparative advantage while simultaneously enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of public agencies' efforts to address socio-economic service delivery issues (Andrews & Entwistle, 2010:680). Research shows that social innovation could be fundamental to CSPs that are used to addressed socio-economic public sector service delivery challenges. Moreover, CSPs are considered to be a source of social innovation, often working together to fill gaps and discover new opportunities to advance societal good (Cukier & Gagnon, 2017:2). However, the use of social innovation in CSPs to address socio-economic service delivery challenges is latent and not optimally explored in the programmes delivered by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). Given the successful use of social innovation in socio-economic service delivery globally, it is deemed beneficial to enhance CSPs in rendering socio-economic service delivery programmes of the DALRRD. Against this background, this study investigates the use of social innovation in DALRRDsโ€™ cross-sector partnerships in improving public sector programme delivery. ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฐ๐—ต ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ด๐˜†: Using an interpretivism paradigm, this study applies a qualitative research approach and exploratory research design. Through content analysis of documents, the studyโ€™s aim, research objectives and research questions were addressed. ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: The significance of this study lies in four domains, namely the (i) Public Administration discipline, (ii) the South African policy agenda, (iii) using social innovation in public sector programme delivery and (iv) DALRRD use of CSPs. Concerning the Public Administration discipline, this study contributes to the discourse about the relevance of using social innovation in CSPs during public sector programme delivery. About the South African policy agenda, this study undertook research that contributes to the policy agenda regarding the use of social innovation for public sector programme delivery by DALRRD. Regarding using social innovation in public sector programme delivery this study contributed to the debate about the role and nature of CSPs towards stimulating the use of social innovation in public sector programme delivery and the discourse on the significance of using social innovation in public sector programme delivery. Pertaining to DALRRDโ€™s use of CSPs this study presented a conceptual framework for CSPs use of social innovation in public sector programme delivery.
ItemOpen Access
The life and work of architect Wynand H Louw (1883-1967) with a focus on the design of ecclesiastical buildings
(University of the Free State, 2023) Geldenhuys, Albert Barend; du Preez, J. L.
Wynand H Louw (1883-1967) is acclaimed to be the first Afrikaans-speaking South African to be formally trained as an architect. After his training at the Architectural Association in London Louw returned to South Africa in the post-South African War and pre-Unification era. Architectural work was scarce, but he received his first commission late in 1907. Early in 1909 the DRC Port Elizabeth gave him his first commission for a new church building. More ecclesiastical projects would soon follow, launching him in his career as architect. Louw grew up as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฌ Paarl. It had a typical early 19th -century Greek cross plan and Cape Dutch design. He realised that the Latin (and even Greek) cross was not ideal as a layout for reformed churches which focused on the sermon, requiring a focus on the pulpit in the centre of the liturgical space. A new approach to reformed church design was required. As a member of a Reformed church, and a well-trained architect, Louw was in an ideal position to start experimenting. Based on the authorโ€™s research a total of approximately 160 ecclesiastical building projects can be ascribed to Louw and his architectural practices Louw & Moerdyk and Louw & Louw. Over a period of fifty years, they designed at least 110 churches, many church halls, and did a number of church renovations. These projects gave Louw ample opportunity to experiment with new ideas and to develop and hone his skills as a church architect. This dissertation aims to document Louwโ€™s complete oeuvre of ecclesiastical projects. With reference to the broad global, as well as the South African context of church architectureโ€™s evolution over the ages, it strives to indicate if, why, how and to what extent Wynand H Louwโ€™s design ideas for reformed church buildings were the beginning of a new era for church architecture in southern Africa.
ItemOpen Access
Phenomenological study of practitionersโ€™ lived mathematical play practices in an early childhood care and education setting
(University of the Free State, 2022) Baloyi-Mothibeli, Seipati Lydia; Okeke, C. I. O.; Ugwuanyi, C. S.
Globally, research indicates growing interest in mathematics-related play in early childhood settings; this is also the case in the informal settlements of Mangaung in the Motheo District. This interest has its roots in the poor performance of learners in mathematics when they reach formal education, particularly in the foundation phase. The aim of this study was to carry out a phenomenological investigation of practitionersโ€™ lived mathematics play practices in early childhood care and education settings. The study is located in Vygotskyโ€™s social constructivist theory, which maintains that children acquire knowledge best if there is scaffolding and mediation by more knowledgeable others. Vygotsky defined the more knowledgeable other as someone who has a better understanding or higher ability levels than the child on a particular task, process, or concept. Therefore, language and environment play a major role in the childโ€™s process of new knowledge creation. Vygotsky believed that knowledge is first acquired interpersonally, as the child learns from others, then internalises knowledge; the process takes place in the zone of proximal development (ZPD). Vygotsky explains ZPD as the distance between what children can do by themselves, and what they can achieve with competent assistance by more knowledgeable others. Additionally, the study employed an interpretive qualitative research paradigm and a phenomenology design. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, observations and journal entries by the researcher. A purposeful sample of 10 practitioners who were teaching in five early childhood care and education setting took part in the study. Data generated were analysed through the lens of Vygotskyโ€™s sociocultural theory and a thematic approach, through which subthemes emerged. The finding of this study is that practitionersโ€™ lived mathematics play practices in ECCE settings were compromised, as they are not adequately qualified in this context. It is concluded that, through proper teacher development programmes and obtaining adequate qualifications, practitionersโ€™ lived mathematics play-based learning can be enhanced. Therefore, it is recommended that local higher education institutions design and offer a qualification that is adequate for ECCE practitioners, and which incorporates curriculum content that is supposed to be taught to children in this environment to enhance mathematics play-based learning.
ItemOpen Access
The value of Technetium-99-Metastable-Ethylenedicysteine-eoxyglucose (โนโนแดนTC-EC-DG) imaging in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
(University of the Free State, 2023) Evbuomwan, Osayande; Horn-Lodewyk, Je'nine; Labuschagne, Mathys J.; Driver, Cathryn H. S.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease that is usually associated with synovitis that can lead to progressive joint damage if not managed appropriately. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment offer a good prognosis in patients with RA. However, treatment monitoring remains challenging for the rheumatologist as it is sometimes difficult to differentiate true remission from subclinical disease. Several modalities are available for assessing disease activity in patients with RA. This usually involves a combination of the clinical assessment of involved joints, laboratory and imaging investigations. Imaging with ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are considered to be among the most sensitive methods of assessing disease activity. However, these modalities are not without shortcomings. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of technetium-99-metastable ethylenedicysteine-deoxyglucose (โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG) in the management of patients with RA. Using โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG to identify synovitis and offer prognostic information was investigated. Its usefulness in assessing treatment response compared to US and the diagnostic accuracy of identifying the disease compared to US was also investigated. A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the University of the Free State/Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Twenty-two participants seen at the Rheumatology Unit of the Department on Internal Medicine, diagnosed with RA, were enrolled according to the American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria. Participants were injected with 20โ€“25 millicurie (mCi) of โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG. Flow, blood pool, whole body, delayed static, and SPECT/CT images were acquired. Known disease sites were qualitatively assessed for the intensity of uptake, and disease severity was graded (Grade 0โ€“3). On the same day, US imaging of the most affected joints was performed in addition to blood samples being obtained from each participant for baseline C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody titre. All imaging and laboratory investigations were performed at baseline, six weeks and six months follow-up after baseline findings in 20 of the participants. The median (interquartile range) age was 59 (49โ€“68) years, and the majority (n=21; 95.5%) of patients were female. An abnormally increased uptake of โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG was noted in the majority of the sites of known disease, including unknown sites. SPECT/CT imaging localised tracer uptake specifically to the synovial space. Fourteen (63.6%) of the 22 participants had elevated RF and anti-CCP antibody titres. A significant correlation between higher grade uptake and increased levels of RF and anti-CCP antibodies (p=0.031) was observed. A total of 404 joints were evaluated by โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG and US imaging. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy of โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG SPECT/CT imaging were 86%, 60%, 61%, 85% and 73%, respectively, using US as the gold standard. A sensitivity of 100% was noted in the identification of synovitis in the carpal and knee joints. Disease activity in the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints was not observed with either โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG or US imaging. The level of agreement between US and โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG imaging in assessing therapy response was 33.3 %, 11.6 % and 6.67 % for the knees, hands and wrist joints, respectively. โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG is a safe radiopharmaceutical that can effectively assess disease activity in the joints of patients with RA, with a strong correlation between high-grade disease on imaging and the presence of RF and anti-CCP antibodies. It has a high sensitivity in detecting synovitis when compared to US imaging. However, it has a poor correlation in the assessment of treatment response in comparison to US findings, which might be attributed to its ability to better detect subclinical disease. Using โนโน อซ Tc-EC-DG offers facilities with only SPECT or SPECT/CT cameras an opportunity to investigate patients with RA.
ItemOpen Access
Activation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by ๐˜ค๐˜ณ๐˜บ๐˜ฑ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ด secreted proteases
(University of the Free State, 2023) Mjokane, Nozethu; Sebolai, O. M.; Pohl, C. H.; Albertyn, J.; Gcilitshana, O. M. N.
The thesis is not structured in a classical way. As such, it is composed of a literature review section (Chapter 1) and two research chapters (Chapters 2 and 3). A general discussion section (Chapter 4) and addendums are also included. As some chapters are in a publication format, repetition of essential information could not be avoided. Chapter 1 reviews the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact. In particular, it considers the co-infection of this virus with respiratory fungal pathogens, which are major independent risk factors that complicate COVID-19 by causing a more severe infection resulting in higher mortality than that of either infection on its own. These fungal pathogens secreted furin-like proteases to further their virulence during host invasion. In this context, the thesis argues that it is foreseeable that the virus could also access these fungal furin-like proteases and pervert them in order to activate its latent spike protein. Therefore, this set up a number of questions, which are addressed in the thesis concerning the possible activation of the viral latent spike protein by fungal furin-like proteases. In Chapter 2, it was sought to characterise ๐˜Š๐˜ณ๐˜บ๐˜ฑ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ด (๐˜Š.) neoformans proteases and assess if they could theoretically bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. To be specific, previous papers reporting on cryptococcal serine proteases were perused, and this made it possible to select a number of proteases, namely cryptococcal serine carboxypeptidase (CNBF4600), cryptococcal cerevisin (CNBJ2870) and cryptococcal peptidase (CNBA1340), cryptococcal peptidase (CNAG_00150) and cryptococcal cerevisin (CNAG_04625). By designing specific primers, it was possible to show that these serine proteases were expressed in ๐˜Š๐˜ณ๐˜บ๐˜ฑ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ด H99, the prototypical cryptococcal strain used in this thesis. Therefore, the expressed gene products were expected to be secreted into the culture media. This was important for the work that follows in Chapter 3. Through using the computational programme, High Ambiguity Driven protein-protein DOCKing (HADDOCK), it was possible to show that some of the selected cryptococcal serine proteases could interact with the coronavirus spike protein and yield a binding affinity greater than and comparable to furin. However, as HADDOCK is a computational programme, the predicted binding affinities might not correlate with the experimental binding affinities in solution, more so since the used ๐˜Š๐˜ณ๐˜บ๐˜ฑ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ด proteases structures were predicted and not solved. To account for this, Chapter 3 sought to provide enzymatic evidence using the collected culture media โ€“ in the form of supernatant. To do this, a mimetic fluorogenic peptide of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was designed and modified to have intra-molecular fluorescence quenching capability using 7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl acetyl (MCA) at the N-terminus and N-2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) at the C-terminus. The assay was performed using the cryptococcal supernatant. For reference, recombinant furin was included as this is the serine protease present in humans that catalyses the activation of the spike protein. Here, it was determined that cryptococcal serine proteases present in the supernatant could cleave the mimetic spike protein at S1/S2 site with biochemical efficiency comparable to furin. To test the veracity of these data, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirion containing a full-length spike protein was used. It was possible to show that the pseudovirion could be transduced into HEK-293T cells in the presence of the cryptococcal supernatant. Chapter 4 takes into account the obtained results and provides a summary of the major observations. Of note, the thesis theorises that yeast kexin proteases are responsible for the observed activity. This is because there is a functional homology between yeast kexin proteases and furin (both are convertases); thus, it is reasonable that the supernatant (which contains yeast kexin proteases) could activate the latent SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The thesis further proves that other respiratory fungal pathogens have yeast kexin proteases that activate the spike protein. This evidence is documented in Addendum no. 1. All things considered, the findings point to the regulation of protease activity as a viable approach to control the activation of the spike protein by either mammalian protease or fungal proteases. To this end, protease inhibitors could be used to control unwanted proteolysis. Addendum no. 2 attempted to show this. Here, it was possible to show that the South African-based medicinal plant Artemisia tea infusion extract and its active compound artemisinin could control the activation of the mimetic SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by furin but not the supernatant. The latter highlights the need to purify the supernatant and isolate yeast kexin proteases. The idea of exploring the control of unwanted proteolysis is also an interventional measure considered by Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company. This American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation successfully piloted Paxlovid to control SARS-CoV-2. This drug contains an anti-protease (PF-07321332) that inhibits the protease (SARS-CoV-2 3CLp) responsible for viral replication.
ItemOpen Access
An assessment approach for competency-based nursing education in a low-income country
(University of the Free State, 2023) Mukurunge, Eva; Nyoni, C. N.; Hugo-Van Dyk, L.
๐—•๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ: Nursing education institutions in Lesotho were directed by the government to adopt a competency-based curriculum, which required a paradigm shift in assessment methods from traditional to programmatic assessment. However, the implementation of the new assessment approach faced several challenges. Firstly, most nurse educators were unfamiliar with programmatic assessment since it was not included in their formal nursing training. Secondly, during the preparatory stages of programmatic assessment implementation, nursing training institutions could financially afford the initial training opportunity for nurse educators by the assessment experts, which, unfortunately had no follow up trainings. Lastly, unclear programmatic assessment implementation guidelines and a lack of support posed challenges to most of the institutions. ๐—ฃ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ฒ: The study sought to develop a contextually relevant assessment approach for competency-based nursing education in a low-income country. ๐— ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐˜€: The development of the assessment approach was guided by multiple methods, which were informed by the Design Science Research methodology. The approach was developed through a multi-phased process. In the first phase, a mapping review was conducted to synthesise literature on the various assessment approaches that have been used in health professions education since the year 2000. The second phase involved engaging with nurse educators to describe the contexts of the nursing education institutions in Lesotho where programmatic assessment was implemented. In the final phase, the findings from the first two phases were used to develop a contextually relevant assessment approach, which was then validated by a panel of assessment experts. ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜€: The outcome of this study was a contextually relevant assessment approach for competency-based nursing education in a low-resource countries. ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—น๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: To successfully implement educational innovations, it is important to have a clear understanding of the context of nursing education institutions. This enables the development of relevant implementation strategies that take into account the specific needs and challenges of the institution. Moreover, the development of educational innovations should be based on scientific methodology and should incorporate strategies that have been proven to work. Nursing education institutions in low-income countries need to take an active role in developing contextually relevant educational innovations, rather than relying solely on innovations developed in high-income countries.
ItemOpen Access
Evaluating the impact of government support programme on the development of land reform farms in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2023) Mphahlele, Ramakgodu Benjamin; Qwabe, Q. N.; Swanepoel, J. W.
Concerns have been raised in various studies regarding the unproductive use of agricultural land acquired through land reform programme. Given the vital role of agriculture in creating jobs and ensuring food security, it is essential to make concerted efforts to promote the development of land reform farms for commercial purposes. This study aims to evaluate the initiatives undertaken by various stakeholders to facilitate the commercial use of land reform farms and contribute empirical evidence to shape support programs. The study is guided by the development theory, which emphasises the importance of considering the actors and structural powers in the development process, as their influence plays a pivotal role in the relevance of policies. The researcher sought to demonstrate how the development theory has informed the existing policies related to the development of land reform farms. To gather comprehensive data, a mixed-method approach was employed, allowing for the triangulation of findings from various sources. Quantitative data was collected from 122 participants using survey questionnaires, while qualitative insights were obtained through three focus group discussions with farmers and four open-ended discussions with commodity organizations. For data analysis, Microsoft Software Package (Version 2020) was utilised, and a Pearson Correlation Coefficient approach was applied to examine the nature, strength, and direction of the key variables being measured. Additionally, a correlation coefficient was used to assess the frequency and direction of interactions between these variables. The study indicates that most farmers gained income from farming due to land access and support. Partnership effectiveness was insufficient for enhancing most farmers' skill sets. Although Land Development Support (LDS) fulfilled most of farmers' desires for commercial farming, farm sustainability might suffer due to insufficient entrepreneurial aptitude. Additionally, comprehensive stakeholder consultation in policy development could enhance policy relevance for addressing potential challenges in farm sustainability. Land size and its utilisation (r= -0.2700); Funding sufficiency for farm production (r=0.1775); Income derived after LDS ( r=0.5212); Aspirations of farmers (r=0.0757); Partnership arrangement and sustainability of production (r=0.0044) emphasises the importance of remodelling the partnership arrangement to cub its current challenges. In conclusion these findings underline the need for a more streamlined approach that involves the active participation of relevant stakeholders, a well-defined funding model, and the selection and capacity building of farmers involved in developing land reform farms. This holistic approach is essential to address the challenges associated with unproductive land use and to foster the successful development of land reform farms for commercial purposes, thereby contributing to enhanced food security and job creation.