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Gender and Transitional Justice
(International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), 2018) Muddell, Kelli; Hawkins, Sibley
Reparative justice measures seek to repair, in some way, the harm done to victims as a result of human rights violations committed against them. This means that by their very nature, such measures must be responsive to both the context in question and the lived reality of victims. Gender sensitivity is also an integral part of reparative justice because the consequences of human rights violations in victims’ lives are often inextricably linked with victims’ gender. Even when women and men suffer the same human rights abuses, the harms associated with these violations, and victims’ corresponding needs and priorities, may be different.
In contexts of widespread violations of human rights, women often find themselves in situations of greater vulnerability than men because of the economic and social inequalities they face even during peacetime. Moreover, shame and stigma associated with certain crimes, such as sexual violence, can create obstacles for victims to receive accountability, truth, and redress. This is true for all victims of sexual and gender-based violence, not only women. In fact, male victims may have an even harder time accessing reparations for sexual violence crimes because it is often assumed that women are the only victims.
Because of these dynamics, reparative justice measures must be designed to address the genderspecific harms faced by victims, align with their needs and priorities, and make sense for victims given their day-to-day realities. Reparations should reflect the nature of the violations and the genderspecific consequences that result. Unsurprisingly, past reparations programs have not always done this.
Multiple transitions resulting from remediation and re-entry of first-year undergraduate medical students: expectations and experiences, emotions and recommendations
(University of the Free State, 2025) Tlalajoe-Mokhatla, Nokuthula
Transitioning from school to tertiary education can be daunting and overwhelming, and neither students nor institutions are necessarily prepared for these transitions. Some students may even experience multiple transitions in their academic programmes. This paper focuses on the multiple transition stages during the first year of the medical programme at the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa. The study aimed to determine first year undergraduate medical students’ perceptions of the multiple transitions involved in the medical programme. The research was designed as an exploratory qualitative study that used focus group discussions to obtain data. Two focus group discussions were held with 17 first-year undergraduates who had undergone multiple transitions in the first year of the medical programme. Multiple transitional stages were investigated: The first was at the start of the first year (January–-June), then six months later (July–December), and then back to the start of the first year for the second time (January–June of the following year). The analysis exposed three main themes, namely (1) expectations and experiences, (2) emotions, and (3) recommendations. These themes are explained by focusing on the participants’ perceptions and following a linear process for the multiple transition stages. Medical students who went through remediation and re-entered the first-year undergraduate programme reported that, during the initial transition, lecturers and senior students did not provide the ‘big picture’ regarding expectations in the medical programme. Instead, the shared expectations did not match their ‘real’ experiences in the programme. Furthermore, students experienced a range of emotions during the multiple transitions. In conclusion, students are accepted into medical schools such as the UFS but are underprepared for the rigours of the programme and are then exposed to multiple transitions. To ease the students’ transition, medical schools must consider designing support strategies that will enable these students to manage these transitions by attending to ‘soft determinants’, such as expectations and experiences, emotions, and contextually applying the students’ recommendations in setting up such strategies.
A framework to enhance clinical learning and teaching in undergraduate nursing education in Ghana
(Elsevier, 2025) Hobenu, Kafui A.; Adefuye, Anthonio O.; Naab, Florence; Nyoni, Champion N.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱
Nursing education is intended to produce practice-ready nurses at graduation to render high-quality care to the deserving populace. This expectation is, however, far-fetched amid the numerous challenges confronting clinical education. Although frameworks for nursing education have proved effective in guiding clinical education, nurse educators in low-income contexts acknowledge the difficulty in identifying appropriate frameworks to guide clinical education. Currently, clinical education in Ghana is compromised and fragmented, and the existing frameworks are not aligned with context-specific needs, resulting in undesirable outputs, and are not informed by practice needs or the needs of the broader community involved in clinical education. A need to develop a framework that aligns with the prevailing needs in clinical nursing education, leading to desirable outcomes, was identified.
𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲
The current study, therefore, aimed to develop a theory-informed framework to enhance clinical learning and teaching in undergraduate nursing education in Ghana.
𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀
A multi-method research design underpinned by the theory of change logic model guided the development of the framework through a three-phased approach. Preceding the development of the framework, two separate studies were conducted. Triangulated data from the two earlier studies were used to develop a draft framework. Twelve (n = 12) expert stakeholders were purposively invited to participate in a one-day workshop to refine and validate the framework.
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁
The final framework visualises the six theory of change logic model components, and incorporates the best available evidence and stakeholders’ inputs.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
The developed framework could enhance clinical learning and teaching in undergraduate nursing education in Ghana.
Implementing e-participation platforms to enhance citizen engagement and participation within South African municipalities
(Department for E-Governance and Administration, University for Continuing Education Krems, 2025/02/14) Molobela, Terrance
The success of e-participation initiatives across South African municipalities hinges upon a nuanced comprehension and roles of the complex interplay between political, social, and technological factors. With the aid of an in-depth literature review, this study explores e-participation initiatives and their progress in strengthening the governance of South African municipalities. Using the content analysis technique, this study reveals that there is a serious lack of digital infrastructure and that digital gaps and lack of proper research addressing these problems between urban and rural municipalities contribute to inadequate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategies to improve citizen engagement and participation in governance processes. From this perspective, this study recommends an urgent need to undertake deliberate awareness campaigns to promote the use of e-participation platforms; and identify the citizens’ needs and concerns to formulate locally preferred content and design inclusive policies to strengthen the order of local governance.
Exploring Interconnection of Rural Female Learners' Psychological Resilience and Academic Achievement Amidst Climate Change in Zimbabwe
(Creative Publishing House, 2025) Munyaradzi, Chidarikire; Mweli, Patrick
This qualitative study explored the intricate relationship between the psychological resilience of rural female learners and their academic achievement in the context of climate change in Zimbabwe. Focusing on two secondary schools in the Masvingo North region, the research employed a case study design to examine the lived experiences of 13 participants, including learners, educators, and community members. Despite the growing body of literature on climate change and education, a specific gap existed regarding the interplay between psychological resilience and academic performance among rural female learners in Zimbabwe. This study aimed to fill that gap by providing nuanced insights into how environmental challenges impacted learners' psychological well-being and educational outcomes. Through focus group discussions, the research captured authentic narratives, revealing that enhanced resilience led to improved academic performance among participants. Thematic analysis of the data highlighted critical patterns. One finding was that enhanced psychological resilience positively influenced academic performance among rural female learners facing climate change challenges. Therefore, it was recommended that stakeholders implement targeted resilience-building programs in rural schools to support female learners' academic achievements.
Geospatial analysis of shoreline change of ethekwini coastline from 1990 – 2023
(Elsevier, 2025) Mshelia, Zachariah H.; Amatebelle, Ekang C.; Belle, Johanes A.
Coastal areas are dynamic environments impacted by both natural and anthropogenic processes. Hence, it is important to continually and accurately monitor these areas for change and develop coastal management strategies. The present study uses the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) and satellite imagery to assess the changing dynamics of the Durban coastal stretch of the eThekwini Municipality from 1990 to 2023. Net Shoreline Movement (NSM), End Point Rate (EPR), and Linear Regression Rate (LRR) were calculated in DSAS to analyse the shoreline changes. The analysis revealed significant variations in erosion and accretion across the coastline. The average shoreline movement was 2.49 m in the north and -7.42 m in the south, indicating predominant erosion in the southern regions. Specifically, 53.85 % of transects in the north and 71.9 % in the south were negative distances, highlighting erosion areas. The EPR analysis indicated an average annual change rate of 0.09 m/year for the north and -0.22 m/year for the south, with erosion rates averaging -2.05 m/year in the north and -1.21 m/year in the south between 1990 and 2023. The LRR method corroborated these findings with annual changes of -0.01 and -0.37 m/year, respectively. High erosion rates were concentrated in areas such as Umhlanga Rocks and Beachwood, while engineered structures contributed to accretion in parts of Durban North. Conversely, the southern coastline, particularly around Amanzimtoti and Isipingo, experienced more erosion than accretion due to fewer protective structures. This study highlights the dynamic nature of shoreline changes along the Durban coast. Understanding these trends is essential for effective coastal planning and management and building resilience against the multiple hazards ravaging coastal communities.
Differential expression of microRNAs in drought-stressed sorghum roots
(University of the Free State, 2024) Hlakotsa, Ntumeleng Malefa Mamokoakoa Selinah; Ngara, Rudo; Swanevelder, Dirk Z. H.
Sorghum (𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘩𝘶𝘮 𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳) is an important source of food, fibre, and fuel. While it is a drought-tolerant crop, its yield is still affected by drought stress, threatening food security. Therefore, there is a need to study the drought responses of plants to develop more drought-resilient crops. This study aimed to identify drought-responsive microRNAs in sorghum roots to understand the gene regulatory processes in drought stressed sorghum. ICSB 338 (drought-susceptible) and SA 1441 (drought-tolerant) sorghum seeds were germinated and grown for three weeks with adequate watering. Subsequently, the plants were divided into two groups: A drought-stressed group, where water was withheld for 15 and 28 days to induce mild and moderate drought stress, respectively, and a control group that continued to receive adequate watering. The results showed a significant decrease in pot weight, soil moisture content, and stomatal conductance for both sorghum varieties under drought stress conditions.
The leaf relative water content of ICSB 338, significantly declined following the 15 and 28 days of drought stress treatment compared to the controls. The physiological responses of the two sorghum varieties differed, with ICSB 338 being more affected by drought stress than the SA 1441. The molecular responses of sorghum to drought stress were investigated using small RNA sequencing performed on the watered controls and drought-stressed root samples of both varieties. The MGI DNBSEQ-G400 sequencing technology was used to identify the differentially expressed microRNAs. A total of 81 and 83 constitutively expressed miRNAs were identified in the watered control samples of ICSB 338 and SA 1441, respectively. Among these constitutively expressed miRNAs, 73 were common in both sorghum varieties, while eight and 10 miRNAs were unique to ICSB 338 and SA 1441, respectively. The analysis also revealed that four of the constitutively expressed microRNAs were differentially expressed between ICSB 338 and SA 1441 plants (p ≤ 0.05). The target genes of the constitutively expressed sorghum root microRNAs were predicted using the psRNATarget database, which also revealed that most of the miRNA inhibited their target genes through messenger RNA cleavage. Gene Ontology analysis of the target genes revealed that the constitutively expressed microRNAs regulate a wide range of genes with diverse cellular locations, molecular functions and biological processes in sorghum roots. Drought-responsive microRNAs (p ≤ 0.05) were identified using the CLC Genomics Workbench software (Qiagen) by comparing the watered controls and drought-stressed miRNAs using the Differential Expression for RNA-seq tool. Out of the 111 identified miRNAs in both varieties, only four and nine miRNAs were differentially expressed in ICSB 338 and SA 1441, respectively. miRNAs sbi-miR6233-3p and sbi-miR821a were up-regulated, while sbi-miR5566 and sbi-miR6224a-5p were down-regulated in ICSB 338 sorghum roots.
Bioinformatics analyses predicted a 𝘗𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘵5𝘨57200 gene as a potential target for sbi-miR6233-3p, while sbi-miR821a targeted an unknown gene. The targets for sbi-miR5566 and sbi-miR6224a-5p were an 𝘜𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘖𝘊8057912 and 𝘜𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘖𝘊8055016, respectively. For SA 1441, two microRNAs (sbi-miR5564c-5p and sbi-miR6232b-3p) were up-regulated while seven (sbi-miR168, sbi-miR2118-5p, sbi-miR395a, sbi-miR5387b, sbi-miR5568c-3p, sbi-miR6229-5p, sbi-miR6235-5p) were down-regulated. The descriptions of the predicted target genes of SA 1441 included 𝘕𝘈𝘊 𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯-𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯 83, 𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 3, 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘧 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 10 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 2.1, 𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯 123 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨, and 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘦-3-𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘩𝘺𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘦. Overall, the findings of the current study contribute to our knowledge of the mechanisms sorghum uses to cope with drought stress.
Physiological, biochemical and molecular analyses of the drought stress responses of two contrasting wheat varieties
(University of the Free State, 2024) Moloi, Sellwane Jeanette; Ngara, Rudo; Chivasa, Stephen
Wheat (𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘶𝘮) is the second most widely grown cereal crop worldwide. It is primarily used for human consumption, animal feed, and industrial biofuels. However, the production of wheat is negatively affected by drought, and current climate models are predicting more frequent and severe drought episodes in the future. As such, agricultural productivity will be negatively affected. Therefore, understanding plant responses among plant varieties with different drought phenotypes could help identify traits related to drought tolerance and aid in developing more drought-tolerant crops. This study compared the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of the drought-tolerant (BW35695) and drought-susceptible (BW4074) wheat varieties to drought stress. The wheat plants were grown in potting soil for two weeks in a growth chamber before withholding water for 28 days.
Drought stress significantly decreased soil moisture content in the water-deprived pots of both varieties relative to the well-watered controls. However, there was no significant difference in soil moisture content between the varieties, suggesting comparable levels of water deficit stress. Physiological and biochemical parameters such as leaf chlorophyll, carotenoid and relative water content (RWC), lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), osmolyte content, and enzymatic antioxidant activities revealed striking differences between the varieties. The drought-tolerant wheat variety, BW35695, demonstrated remarkable resilience to the imposed drought stress by exhibiting higher leaf RWC, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and osmolyte content compared to the drought-susceptible variety, BW4074. Additionally, BW35695 mitigated drought-induced oxidative stress by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) in both leaves and roots and reduced ROS accumulation and membrane lipid damage.
The leaf proteome of the wheat varieties was analysed to identify drought-responsive leaf proteins using the isobaric tags for absolute and relative quantitation (iTRAQ) method coupled with mass spectrometry. A total of 1062 and 882 leaf proteins were positively identified in BW4074 and BW35695 wheat varieties, respectively, of which 69 and 110 were drought responsive. Most of the drought-responsive leaf proteins in BW35695 were involved in energy (28%) and protein synthesis/folding/degradation (25%). For BW4074, primary metabolism (23%), energy (23%) and protein synthesis/folding/degradation (20%) were the most represented protein functional groups. The rest of the drought-responsive leaf proteins had putative functions in defence/ROS detoxification (20% and 10%), transcription (4% and 7%), secondary metabolism (6% and 3%), and cell structure (2% and 1%) in BW4074 and BW35695, respectively. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the two most significantly enriched pathways in BW4074 were alanine aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis, while photosynthesis-antennae and photosynthesis were most enriched in BW35695.
The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis supported the putative functional groupings data, which suggests that drought stress affects various biological processes in wheat leaves, particularly primary metabolism in BW4074 and photosynthesis in BW35695. Protein-protein interactions of the drought-responsive proteins were analysed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database. The results showed that primary metabolism and protein synthesis were the main interacting functional groups for BW4074, while photosynthesis and protein synthesis were prominently interacting in BW35695. Photosynthesis-related proteins were significantly suppressed in BW35695, possibly as a strategy to reduce ROS-induced cell damage, while protein synthesis-related proteins were increased, possibly to enhance the biosynthesis of other stress-responsive proteins. Six drought-responsive proteins were selected from the iTRAQ data for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. The gene expression results revealed that a 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘢-1-𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦-5-𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘹𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 (𝘞5𝘈𝘊𝘔8) gene involved in proline biosynthesis significantly increased in BW4074, which correlated with the iTRAQ data. For BW35695, all six target genes were not differentially expressed, possibly suggesting that the abundances of the proteins and transcripts differentially accumulate at different time points. These qRT-PCR results, call for multi-time point experimental designs for validating iTRAQ data. Overall, the study provides insight into the drought-responsive mechanisms of BW4074 and BW35695 wheat varieties. This information can serve as a reference in studies exploring the differences between plant varieties under drought stress conditions and assist in plant breeding programmes for improved drought resilience.
Forged in secrecy, sealed in blood: the origin, initiation, symbolism, hierarchy and power dynamics within devil-worshipping gangs in the Free State province
(University of the Free State, 2024) Phillips, Ashwill; Cronje, M.
An investigation by the South African Police Service in 1997 led to the discovery of a devil-worshipping group or ‘evil church’ that moved from parts of northern Africa and settled in Maseru, Lesotho. This group allegedly combined elements of the occult with traditional African witchcraft, giving rise to what local communities refer to as ‘devil-worshipping gangs’. Since 2011, these groups have evolved and spread throughout the Free State province, perpetrating crimes which range from murder to organ trafficking and rape. They have gained notoriety for committing ‘spiritually motivated’ crimes that include the consumption of human flesh, ritual stabbings, and purported communication with demonic entities. Despite their infamy, and the fear their gang-related practices induce, not much is known about these youth gangs. Extant research is primarily based on secondary data obtained from service providers and desktop analyses. Their enigmatic nature and complex structures also serve to complicate crime prevention efforts in communities, posing a plethora of social challenges and exacerbating crime rates. Accordingly, a qualitative study was conducted with 39 detained male offenders and 18 service providers to explore the existence of these groups and their unique practices related to initiation, symbolism, hierarchy and occult belief system.
Leadership and finances in African congregations: a practical theological study of congregations in the Reformed Church in Zambia
(University of the Free State, 2024) Kalito, Michael Dennis; Mostert, Nicolaas Jacobus
This practical theological study explores the intricate relationship between leadership and finances in congregations within the Reformed Church in Zambia. This research investigates how leadership practices impact on financial management and sustainability in African congregations. The study reveals that effective leadership, characterised by financial transparency, accountability, and stewardship, is crucial in promoting optimal financial management. The research proposes that upholding these leadership tenets can create flourishing congregations. The research proposes a contextualised leadership model, integrating biblical principles and African values, to enhance financial oversight and integrity in congregations. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on leadership, finance, and sustainability in African churches, offering practical and actionable recommendations for denominational leaders, pastors, and congregational members, empowering them to influence their congregations positively.
The research highlights two key recommendations for RCZ congregations. Firstly, the research recommends the need for intentional leadership development in terms of training and capacity building. Secondly, in view of the well-established RCZ financial policies, the research recommend financial stewardship, where abuse of congregation finances should be avoided by adhering to the rules that govern congregation finances.