KovsieScholar Repository

KovsieScholar is the University of the Free State’s open access institutional repository. It preserves, showcases, and provides access to the University's scholarly and research outputs, including theses, dissertations, publications, and other digital collections, ensuring their long-term visibility, accessibility, and impact.

For assistance, contact: openaccess@ufs.ac.za

Browse by Faculty

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Explore other UFS collections, archival material, museum and KovsieJournals

Electronic Theses & Dissertations ›Private Book Collection ›National Museum ›Archive for Contemporary Affairs ›KovsieJournals ›

Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Community-based early warning systems: the Jagersfontein tailing dam disaster
(University of the Free State, 2025) Mavundla, Xola; Marais, Lochner
The Jagersfontein tailings disaster, which occurred on 11 September 2022, highlighted critical weaknesses in early warning, risk communication, and institutional response. This study examined the available early warning signals prior to and during the Jagersfontein tailings disaster and how the community, the mine and institutions responded to the warnings. The study utilised qualitative secondary data. The internal data was collected following the disaster at Jagersfontein and is available at the UFS. The study also utilised external sources, including academic journals, online reports, and memoranda written by the community of Jagersfontein, to explore the experiences and responses of residents during the catastrophic event. The findings revealed gaps between policy intentions and community realities, particularly in relation to risk communication, preparedness, and response coordination. Furthermore, the lack of involvement of communities in risk assessment and preparedness measures resulted in residents being less prepared to respond to and recover from emergencies resulting from tailings facility failures. The study concluded that integrating CBEWS into tailings management is important for improving disaster preparedness and reducing loss of lives and livelihoods and enhancing safety in mining towns.
Access status: Open Access ,
Evaluation of the socioeconomic impact of four Northern Cape mines
(University of the Free State, 2025) Niemand, Anèlle; Cloete, Jan
The mining industry is central to the economy of the Northern Cape and the social advancement of its mining communities. However, the sustainability of its operations and the longevity of its socioeconomic contribution are under scrutiny. Compliance with international sustainability reporting standards is important for mines to maintain their social licence to operate. The study evaluated the reported socioeconomic impact of four Northern Cape mines listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and assessed their reporting against the Global Reporting Initiative sustainability reporting expectations, with the intention of identifying gaps in reporting practices that could make these mines susceptible to greenwashing1. The research followed a qualitative content analysis approach through the analysis of the annual reports of the identified mining companies, which were obtained from the public domain. The literature emphasises the importance of prefeasibility to ensure environmental and social sustainability in support of responsible production and community development. The research found partial disclosure of enterprise and supplier development, community ownership, food security, and indirect employment creation. This suggests partial integration of sustainable reporting principles and weakened accountability. The study excluded environmental aspects; future research can therefore analyse disclosures on energy efficiency, water use, land rehabilitation, and greenhouse gas emissions to provide a more comprehensive assessment of sustainability performance. The research concludes on the importance of inclusivity and quantifying the socioeconomic impact of mining for enhanced transparency and accountability to establish public confidence and the reputational integrity of the mining companies.
Access status: Open Access ,
Namibia's subsidised housing program as disaster response for Twaloloka's fire victims during the COVID-19 pandemic
(University of the Free State, 2025) Lita, Mirjam Tangeni; Venter, Anita
Twaloloka, an informal settlement in Walvis Bay, Namibia, has repeatedly experienced fire incidents due to congested living conditions and flammable building materials. In July 2020, a devastating fire destroyed shacks and displaced residents at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a syndemic disaster in which fire, poverty, inadequate housing and a global health emergency combined to exponentially amplify vulnerability. The Namibian government responded with an unprecedented intervention: rather than providing temporary shelters, authorities delivered permanent, subsidised brick-and-mortar houses to fire victims. This marked the first time Namibia shifted from emergency relief to permanent housing as a disaster-response mechanism. For a developing country with limited resources, substantial housing backlogs and nearly one million people living in informal settlements, this decision raises fundamental questions about sustainability, equity, implementation capacity and precedent. This study evaluates the implementation and outcomes of the Twaloloka subsidised housing programme from the perspective of multiple stakeholders. Employing a qualitative case study design, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 housing beneficiaries; three Twaloloka residents who lost their homes but received no housing; and eight officials from the Municipality of Walvis Bay, the National Housing Enterprise, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia. Thematic analysis revealed critical implementation gaps arising from unclear beneficiary selection processes, inadequate due diligence, funding shortfalls, inter-agency dysfunction, political interference and the exclusion of affected communities from decision-making. The findings show a programme that, while materially superior to temporary relief, fundamentally failed to meet its stated objectives. Beneficiaries acknowledged improvements in access to water, electricity, sanitation and protection from fire, yet expressed profound disappointment over poor workmanship, broken promises regarding quality and title deeds, and community fractures stemming from opaque selection processes. Five years after the handover, none of the beneficiaries had received title deeds, leaving them without legal ownership or economic security. Officials expressed regret over the lack of inter-agency collaboration, insufficient planning time, absent policy frameworks and political pressures that prioritised electoral timelines over quality outcomes. The study identifies policy fragmentation as the root cause: neither Namibia’s National Housing Policy nor its Disaster Risk Management Policy explicitly addresses permanent housing as a disaster-response mechanism, leaving implementing agencies without guidelines, standards or accountability structures. This research contributes to scholarship on disaster recovery, housing policy implementation and spatial justice in informal settlement contexts. It demonstrates how policy vacuums, community exclusion and syndemic vulnerabilities can produce failed interventions despite humanitarian intentions. The study offers evidence-based recommendations for national governments, municipalities, housing agencies and affected communities, emphasising the need for explicit disaster-housing policies, enforceable quality standards, transparent beneficiary selection criteria, inter-agency coordination frameworks and meaningful community participation. Critically, the findings confirm that housing programmes should not be implemented during emergencies without pre-established policy frameworks, adequate planning time and sufficient resources. The Twaloloka case offers invaluable lessons for Namibia and similar developing countries as they navigate the connection of disaster management, urban informality and the constitutional right to adequate housing.
Access status: Open Access ,
Community-based responses and adaptations to climate change: a case study in Omusati Region, Namibia.
(University of the Free State, 2025) Hitilasha, Moses I.; Tesfuhuney, Weldemichael
This study investigates community-based responses and adaptation strategies to climate change in the Omusati Region of Namibia, a semi-arid area where rural livelihoods are predominantly reliant on subsistence agriculture and livestock. The region faces increased vulnerability from climate variability, characterized by erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures, which threaten food security and socio-economic stability. The research aims to assess the Omusati communities' understanding of climate change, their adaptive capacities, and the effectiveness of existing adaptation practices. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with farmers, local leaders, and key informants. Data collected explores how demographics, resource availability, and local knowledge influence perceptions and adaptive behaviors. Findings indicate that communities in Omusati employ a range of adaptation strategies, such as crop diversification, drought-resistant crop varieties, water harvesting, livestock stocking control, and supplementary feeding for livestock. These strategies, while essential for resilience, are often constrained by limited access to resources, market barriers, and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, the study reveals the significant role of traditional knowledge and social support networks in shaping local adaptation, highlighting the strengths and limitations of community-driven strategies in the face of climate challenges. Analysis also shows that awareness of climate change is generally high among community members, but implementation of advanced adaptation practices is hindered by limited technical expertise and government support. The study concludes that while Omusati’s adaptation strategies contribute to resilience, they require reinforcement through enhanced institutional support, targeted policy interventions, and increased capacity-building efforts. Recommendations include integrating local adaptation insights into national and regional climate policies, improving resource access through subsidies or financial support for sustainable agriculture, and enhancing training in climate-smart agricultural practices. Furthermore, establishing collaborative frameworks between communities, government bodies, and NGOs could facilitate the development of resilient infrastructure and technical support mechanisms. This research contributes to the broader discourse on climate resilience in rural African contexts, emphasizing the importance of grassroots adaptation measures to promote sustainable development in vulnerable regions like Omusati. It underscores the necessity for adaptive policies that are inclusive of local knowledge and needs, offering a model for strengthening climate resilience in similar environments across Namibia and beyond.
Access status: Open Access ,
Experiences of women street vendors: case of Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe
(University of the Free State, 2025) Gundani, Ellen; Marais, J. G. L.
Women street vendors in Harare CBD face many challenges, but strive to improve their livelihoods through vending initiatives. The study explored the opportunities and challenges experienced by women street vendors in the Harare Central Business District (CBD). The study found that women street vendors in Harare CBD encounter challenges, such as emotional and physical harassment, lack of designated areas to conduct business, confiscation of goods, heavy fines, bribery and knowledge of vending by-laws. All these affect the income they get, thereby impacting sustainable livelihoods. The study also analysed the consequences of the bylaws under which women vendors operate. The findings revealed that the bylaws implemented, resemble colonial bylaws and are not gender responsive, given the socioeconomic challenges faced by women vendors. Recommendations include a collaborative review and development of gender-responsive vendor bylaws and protocols, education and training programs for women vendors, and law enforcement agents to sensitise them on the developed bylaws, the establishment and engagement of women vendors’ associations, and institutionalisation of strong and effective monitoring systems to foster good working relationships between women vendors and municipal law enforcement agents.
Access status: Open Access ,
Digital colonialism in the Global South: a critical analysis of the instrumental view of technology
(University of the Free State, 2025) Prins, Desireè Diane; Amiradakis, Mark; Cawood, Helen-Mary
This dissertation examines the relationship between the Kantian Enlightenment concept of autonomy, its ideals, and how it has been eroded by traditional and new forms of media. It also explores how these practices have led to the emergence of new forms of capitalism, specifically surveillance capitalism, which has underpinned new forms of colonialism, notably digital colonialism. Some of the themes addressed in this dissertation are the Culture Industry, technological rationality, techno-capitalism, information surveillance capitalism, digital colonialism, and the Global South as subjugated in the digital age. The study aims to show how in the digital age, digital colonialism poses a significant threat to autonomy and global fairness.Importantly, digital colonialism refers to the exploitative relationship between the Global North and Global South, where valuable data is extracted and controlled by powerful companies mostly from the Global North. The dissertation will show how Big Tech companies (such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon) have resulted in poor countries, especially from the Global South, relying on external platforms for digital services, which are then economically and culturally exploited. Thus, this dissertation contends that the Enlightenment ideal of autonomy has been undermined in the digital age, with the focus being on individuals from the Global South. Methodologically, the dissertation employs a conceptual and criticalphilosophical analysis, drawing on Kantian ethics, critical theory, and contemporary political philosophy to examine how autonomy is reshaped within digital infrastructures.
Access status: Open Access ,
Instructor Communication of Social Support With Trauma-Affected Students
(University of the Free State, 2025) Selepe, Clement Qenehelo; du Plessis, Rentia; Breshears, Diana
Many students in higher education institutions are exposed to traumatic events, such as violence and sexual abuse, which adversely affect their academic and social lives. The classroom is regarded as the most consistent environment in the lives of trauma affected students and should serve as a therapeutic space for effective intervention. This study investigated how instructors at the University of the Free State communicate social support to trauma-affected students in the field of instructional communication. Guided by the rhetorical and relational goals theory (RRGT) and the social support theory (SST), the study examined how relational and communicative processes shape instructor-student interactions in the context of trauma. Employing an interpretivist design, a qualitative approach, and convenience sampling, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 trauma-affected students and 15 instructors. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2022) reflexive thematic analysis. The study found that students often refrain from disclosing their trauma due to fear, distrust, and language barriers. It also illustrates how large class sizes and the absence of trauma-informed training impede communication between instructors and students. Furthermore, the study found that smaller classes and caring communication enhance trust and engagement. The study extends the RRGT and SST by demonstrating that rhetorical success is contingent upon relational safety and linguistic sensitivity in multilingual classrooms. The findings underscore the necessity of trauma-informed training and caring pedagogies to enhance social support in higher education. Ultimately, the study highlights the central role of instructor-student relationships in supporting trauma-affected students and advocates for institutional policies that promote trust, empathy, and culturally responsive communication.
Access status: Open Access ,
Identification of engineered yeast strains for the production of rotavirus VP6-based vaccine candidates
(University of the Free State, 2019) Folorunso, Olufemi Samuel; O’Neill, Hester G.; Albertyn, Jacobus
Despite two live-attenuated oral rotavirus vaccines (Rotarix®, RotaTeq®) having been used for a decade in more than 96 countries, rotavirus continues to be the major etiological agent of severe gastroenteritis and diarrhoea-related hospitalisation in infants and children less than 5 years old. Two additional live-attenuated oral vaccines (Rotavac® and RotaSIIL®) were pre-qualified for global use recently which should help expand the vaccine coverage. The highest incidence of rotavirus infection remains in low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The efficacies of Rotarix® and RotaTeq® are very high in the high- to middle-income countries, however, lower efficacies have been observed in the low-income countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Notwithstanding this lower efficacy, many lives have been saved, which means a significant impact in terms of public health benefits in these two regions. Apart from the efficacies of these vaccines, certain other shortcomings have been associated with the live-attenuated rotavirus vaccines. Intussusception, genome reassortment and viral shedding are some of the risks associated with these vaccines. Furthermore, the vaccines are quite expensive and require a cold-chain. Most of the affected, low-income countries could not implement these vaccines but for the help of GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization). All these associated problems, therefore, call for the development of alternative, cost-effective and non-replicating rotavirus vaccine candidates. Morphologically, rotavirus is an icosahedral, concentric particle with three layers of viral proteins, which encapsulate the viral genome. Capsid protein, VP6, is the most abundant and immunodominant viral protein, and together with other capsid proteins, are candidates of sub-unit, non-replicating vaccines. Rotavirus virus-like particles, either as a single- or multi-layer, have been used together with adjuvants to induce protective immune responses in animal models. Recombinantly expressed rotavirus VP6 protein has attracted attention as the safest parenterally administered vaccine candidate capable of inducing an immune response in animals. Rotavirus VP6 can induce a mucosal IgA response against rotavirus infections with heterotypic protection. Identifying a scalable expression system for production of the VP6 protein has been a major setback for the advancement of this immunoreactive protein as a vaccine candidate. In this study, a wide-range yeast expression system was used to screen sixteen yeast strains in order to identify strain(s) capable of expressing rotavirus VP2 and VP6 encoded by three different yeast codon-optimised open reading frames (ORFs), which had been further optimised for expression by improving the Kozak consensus sequence. Hansenula polymorpha (UOFS_Y0915) was identified as the only yeast capable of expressing these proteins simultaneously. Furthermore, after negative staining with uranylacetate solution, a particle of 58 nm in size was observed with transmission electron microscopy. This particle has a rough, spherical shape with a distinct single-shelled layer of rotavirus VP6 capsid enclosing the core protein, VP2. Production of rotavirus VP6 protein in yeasts has thus far been by the intracellular expression, but to reduce the costs of downstream processing in a production facility, it would be better to produce this protein by extracellular secretion. Therefore, a recombinant wide-range expression plasmid was modified by promoter and signal sequence optimisations to enable, respectively, the expression and secretion in engineered Kluyveromyces lactis (UOFS_Y1167). A deep-well bioreactor screen coupled with ELISA testing evaluated VP6 expression in the growth medium by approximately one hundred K. lactis colonies for the first time. Therefore, as proof-of-concept, a screening protocol was developed that would allow for the identification of more yeast strains with the potential to secrete rotavirus VP6 protein. Identification of such yeasts will enable scaled-up production of this protein in bioreactors. This should, in turn, facilitate cost-effective production of rotavirus VP6 protein as a potential next generation, non-replicating rotavirus vaccine candidate.
Access status: Embargo , Until 2028-12-31 ,
The afterlife of death: understanding death practices
(University of the Free State, 2024) Masenya, Dimakatso Veronica; De Wet, Katinka; Gordon, Robert
Death imprints itself in the heart and mind like ink on paper, scars on skin. There it remains. There it lives on. In my time, I have seen my fair share of death (Shukri 2021: 134). Finally, one night I go in search of my father, and he tells me it is normal and says he wishes he believed in God because that might help, but he doesn’t so I’m going to have to stare it [death] in the face. He assures me it will be a long time before I need to worry about death. I don’t believe him, but I carry on regardless. Accepting that I will die – even if I hate it – is the first heartbreak I have encountered about which nothing can be done. Death is an immovable, unbreakable truth (Msimang 2021: 211). The above quotes capture aspects of death – the ‘finality’ and complexity, and ultimately, the inevitability thereof. Death is a fate of all living species - including human beings. The mystery of the journey that awaits the deceased could cause great discomfort to those who still form part of the survivors. The mysteries of death evoke questions that do not necessarily have answers. Therefore, human beings need to rely on beliefs and science to make sense of these unanswered questions to be able to manoeuvre through this destructive conundrum. These questions are many and include issues such as the ‘right’ time for a person to die; who determines this timing; who chooses the manner in which life gets lost and on what basis; can one pass away prematurely and if yes, what could the cause of a premature death be; is the deciding entity/ies that cruel to take people of all ages and some in the most gruesome and devastating way? The questions extend even further: does the deciding entity/ies think of the people the deceased leaves behind; what happens in the afterlife; and do the deceased still have human characteristics such as emotions even though they have moved on to an unknown and unfamiliar world? These questions were expressed frequently during the course of my extensive fieldwork as melancholy, pain, and tears which visited the eyes of informants who tried to make sense of this inevitability. Therefore, Msimang (2021) and Shukri’s (2021) sentiments of fear, indefiniteness, and helplessness caused by death are echoed in this research.
Access status: Open Access ,
Children’s ministry of pentecostal and charismatic congregations in mangaung township: a practical theological investigation
(University of the Free State, 2024) Maphalla, Lefu Tefo; Schoeman, W. J.
Children’s Ministry of Pentecostal congregations in Mangaung Township faces many challenges that include a lack and/or inadequate infrastructure and shortage of trained personnel, especially regarding how to work with children. Children’s ministry is a collaborative effort between parents, teachers, children and congregations. In this collaborative effort, parents are the primary role players and must be recognized as such. However, all these stakeholders have to work in tandem for the ministry to achieve its desired outcomes. The thrust of the study was to determine the challenges of volunteer workers/teachers regarding children’s ministry, the understanding of the pastors regarding the ministry, the current practices of children’s ministry, the role of different stakeholders in the ministry and what would be the requirements for an effective children’s ministry. The study was both a theoretical and empirical study. Relevant literature was studied to understand the roles of different stakeholders or role players in children’s ministry and normative practices of congregations. It used qualitative research study. It also used empirical methods that included participatory action research methodologies to collect data. Observations and reflections on the practices of children’s ministry were done, as well as indepth interviews with ministry teachers and pastors of the congregations. Focus group interviews with parents augmented this. The ATLAS.Ti 2023 software package was used to analyze the data. The study made the following main findings: the ministry challenges are a lack of resources, mainly in the form of buildings/facilities, a shortage of teachers and a lack of support by the parents. The practices of the ministry are singing, teaching the Word of God, memory of verses, drama, sketches and plays. It thus made the following recommendations to improve it: first, there must be a vision and mission for the ministry and provide a budget to support the vision and mission. Second, recruit, train and retain teachers. Third, invite parents to the ministry, theologically ground them to understand their responsibility, and train, equip and support them with materials. Fourth, build relationships with them. Fifth, the children should be given an opportunity to make inputs regarding the running of the ministry and also to serve both in the ministry and congregation. Congregations should be intergenerational. Moreover, the ministry ought to be taken seriously by the leadership of the congregations and the parents. This could be achieved by appointing a person with a certain level of authority in the congregation to oversee the activities of the ministry.