Eastern Free State Research Articles

Images and Imaginings of Schooling: Missions, Visions, Emblems and Mottos of Schools in Qwaqwa

This article critically examines how selected schools in Qwaqwa (a remote town in the eastern Free State province of South Africa) imagine and “image” schooling through mission and vision statements, mottos, and emblems. We use the word “image” to refer to the way in which schools often use images to represent particular views about schooling and what it entails. Visual architecture of schools in the forms of vision and mission statements, mottos, and emblems communicate specific ways of thinking about schooling that resonate with the cultures and beliefs of the communities where the schools are located. Therefore, a critical analysis of such symbolic representations can reveal philosophies and views about schooling held and promoted not only by schools but also by the communities in which they are located. How do specific communities come to associate education with certain symbols, catchphrases, and idiomatic expressions? Is there a correlation between the ways of imagining and imaging schooling and the sociocultural and ecological landscape of the surrounding communities? The article is based on empirical data collected from 20 primary schools in Qwaqwa. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews administered to 10 principals and 10 members of school governing bodies of selected schools. We also took photographs of visions and missions, mottos, and emblems of selected schools, which we later coded and themed for content analysis. Findings of the study revealed that schools in Qwaqwa viewed education as a public good and as a tool for individual and community development.

Soil fertilization synergistically enhances the impact of pollination services in increasing seed yield of sunflower under dryland conditions

AbstractTo exploit the potential of ecological intensification during sunflower cropping, it is crucial to understand the potential synergies between crop management and ecosystem services. We therefore examined the effect of pollination intensification on sunflower yield and productivity under various levels of soil fertilization over two seasons in the eastern Free State, South Africa. We manipulated soil fertility with fertilizer applications and pollination with exclusion bags. We found a synergetic effect between pollination and soil fertilization whereby increasing pollination intensity led to a far higher impact on sunflower yield when the soil had been fertilized. Specifically, the intensification of insect pollination increased seed yield by approximately 0.4 ton/ha on nutrient poor soil and by approximately 1.7 ton/ha on moderately fertilized soil. Our findings suggest that sunflower crops on adequate balanced soil fertility will receive abundant insect pollination and may gain more from both synergies than crops grown in areas with degraded soil fertility.

Long-term wheat production management effects on soil fertility indicators in the semi-arid eastern Free State, South Africa

This study evaluated temporal effects of wheat production management practices on soil fertility under semi-arid conditions. Treatments applied for 37 years included straw management (unburned and burned), tillage practices (no-tillage, stubble mulch, and mouldboard ploughing) and weed control methods (chemical and mechanical). Soil samples were collected from 0–50, 50–150 and 150–250 mm layers, in 1990, 1999, 2010 and 2016, and analysed for organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen, pH, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Supplied grain yield data were used to estimate straw yield. Uptake of N, P and K by grain (removal) and straw (recycle) were estimated across sampling periods. Results revealed that OC, C:N ratio and P generally increased from 1990 to 1999 or 2010, and that conservation tillage increased soil fertility as compared with mouldboard ploughing. The only year × treatment interaction effects were on pH and K in the soil layers 0–50 and 50–150 mm in some treatments. However, all soil fertility indicators increased from 1990 to 1999 or 2010, then declined or stabilised across all treatments. The results suggest that adoption of conservation tillage with associated straw and nutrient recycling and additions cannot enable farmers to maintain or improve soil fertility and yields over time.

Tillage and its temporal effects on soil organic matter and microbial characteristics in the semi-arid central South Africa

Context Tillage has temporal effects on soil organic matter and microbial attributes. Aim Three tillage systems (NT, no-tillage; MT, mulch tillage; MP, mouldboard ploughing) were used to assess the impact on soil quality indicators such as gravimetric soil water content (GSWC), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), easily extractable-glomalin (G EE), dehydrogenase (DHA), β-glucosidase (β-glu), urease (URE), acid-(AcP) and alkaline-(AlP) phosphatase over time in a sandy-loam Plinthustalf cropped annually with winter wheat and occasionally oat in eastern Free State. Methods Samples were collected during oat (October 2010, November 2010), fallow (February 2011, April 2011, May 2011) and wheat (August 2011, September 2011, October 2011) phases at 0–5 and 5–10 cm depth. Results When averaged over sampling dates, GSWC, SOC, TN and enzyme activities were 6–85% higher under NT than in MT and MP in the upper 5 cm soil. Trends changed at the 5–10 cm depth, with 20–32% higher enzyme activities recorded under MT. Soil quality indicators exhibited different trends over time, with GSWC, TN, DHA, AcP and AlP generally increasing during the fallow period and decreasing during oat and wheat phases, while β-glu was higher during both crop phases than at fallowing. URE was 33.6–174.3% higher during the oat phase than at the fallow and wheat phases. The opposite was observed with SOC, C/N ratio and G EE. Conclusions Enzyme activities were sensitive indicators, but SOC and TN can be used to assess temporal changes in soil quality in resource-limited countries. Implications However, temporal effects on SOC and TN were probably built in the long-term, hence further research focusing on multiple seasons is required.

Online images and imaginings of home: the case of the QwaQwa Thaba di Mahlwa Facebook page

ABSTRACT Migration, be it national or transnational, is often a disruptive and traumatising experience that brings with it loneliness and homesickness. This article investigates how migrants from QwaQwa in the Eastern Free State Province in South Africa (re)imagine and (re)visualize the homeland away from home through social networking. QwaQwa is a remote mountanous area located in the Eastern Free State Province of South Africa. Like most remote areas around the world, QwaQwa does not have many economic opportunities and its inhabitants migrate to bigger cities in search of greener pastures. In an attempt to deal with the homesickness and loneliness associated with migration, some migrants have taken to online platforms to imagine and reconstruct home away from home. This article is particualrly interested in examining the way migrants from QwaQwa (re)imagine and (re)present home through images and texts that they share on a social networking site named QwaQwa Thaba di Mahlwa. The findings show that members of the webpage imagine home in four ways: as a place of natural beauty untainted by forces of modernization, a place of reunion and fellowship with family and friends, a place of ritual and cultural practices and, lastly, a place of social harmony and fun.

Middle Stone Age wood use in Rose Cottage Cave South Africa: Evidence from charcoal identifications

Here we present charcoal identifications for Rose Cottage Cave, Eastern Free State, from layers dated between about 96,000 and 35,000 years ago (~96 and ~35 ka ago). We then suggest plant community types that might have been established in the area in warm Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS5) versus cooler MIS4/MIS3 phases. The hypothesis is that frost-tender plants should occur in warm phases while hardy Leucosidea sericea, Protea spp. and Erica spp. should be more common during cooler phases more recent than ~74 ka ago. Leucosidea sericea thrives under moist conditions and its presence in late MIS4 and in several MIS3 layers at Rose Cottage implies that the area may have been moister than many other sites in the interior of southern Africa, thereby making it attractive for occupation. The charcoal identifications at ~96 ka ago included taxa like Buddleja salvifolia that need somewhat warmer conditions than taxa such as Leucosidea sericea. Taxa diversity based on the charcoal identifications is generally low at the site throughout the Middle Stone Age, but the vegetation from relatively warm MIS5 seems more diverse than that of MIS4 and MIS3. Some taxa identified, for example, Calodendrum capense, Leucosidea sericea, Erica caffra and Protea caffra no longer grow near the cave although they are commonly found in other parts of eastern South Africa.

Factors Determining the Adoption of Strategies Used by Smallholder Farmers to Cope with Climate Variability in the Eastern Free State, South Africa

This study was undertaken to understand the smallholder farmer’s perception of the effects of climate variability, their adaptation strategies to cope with climate variability and factors determining the adoption of their adaptation strategies in the eastern Free State Province of South Africa. Adaptation strategies were grouped into two categories, i.e., traditional adaptation strategies and scientific adaptation strategies. Traditional adaptation strategies consisted of practices that require minimal technical expertise and less external inputs such as changing from crops to livestock, crop diversification, increasing land under production, changing crop type and water harvesting. Scientific adaptation strategies consisted of practices that require additional external inputs, labour, and some level of technical expertise such as changing crop variety, improving soil fertility and soil conservation. Data were collected from 391 smallholder farmers using a structured household questionnaire and were verified through focus group discussion meetings with key informants. Data were analysed using the descriptive statistics, frequency analysis and a binary logistic model. Results indicated that the majority of smallholder farmers perceived that climate change had triggered food-related impacts in the study area and had adopted at least one adaptation strategy. This study showed that awareness and knowledge were the key factors that determined the adoption of traditional adaptation strategies in the study area. The adoption of scientific adaptation strategies was additionally determined by the availability of external financial investments. It is recommended that the promotion of traditional practices should focus on raising awareness of climate change and adaptation strategies while the promotion of scientific practices additionally requires the provision and accessibility of financial institutional support and incentives.

Comparison of soil phosphorus fractions after 37 years of wheat production under different management practices in a semi-arid climate

Crop residue management is important for enhancing soil fertility and productivity which leads to an increase in crop yields. A long-term trial, situated near Bethlehem in the Eastern Free State in South Africa, was established to determine the influence of various wheat residue management practices on soil fertility indicators such as phosphorus (P) fractions. Field treatments applied were two straw disposal methods (burned and unburned), three tillage methods (no-tillage, stubble mulch and ploughing), and two weed control methods (chemical and mechanical). Samples were randomly collected at four soil depth intervals and analysed for P fractions. Burning of wheat straw increased the inorganic labile (NaHCO3-Pi) and stable (HCl-Pi) P fractions with an average of 5.07 and 2.16 mg kg–1, respectively, compared to the unburned plots. The no-till plots had greater NaHCO3-Pi and HCl-Pi fractions than the stubble mulched and ploughed plots in all four soil layers. The inorganic moderately labile (NaOH-Pi) and organic labile (NaHCO3-Po), moderately labile (NaOH-Po) and stable (HCl-Po) P fractions were only occasionally significantly influenced. The chemically weeded plots showed increases of 3.98 mg kg–1 NaHCO3-Pi and 2.06 mg kg–1 HCl-Pi compared to mechanically weeded plots. Residual P fractions were not affected by the treatments which is similar to the wheat response. Based on the results obtained in this study, the burning of residues, no-tillage and chemical weeding practices are recommended for wheat production in a semi-arid climate.

Assessing spatiotemporal settlement patterns in Eastern Free State, South Africa, pre and post transition from apartheid to majority rule

Spatial patterns of human settlements, their changes and their geographical implications are important for understanding the drivers of land use and land cover change. This paper examines the spatiotemporal pattern of settlement development in three different settlements of Thabo Mofutsanyane municipal district namely Harrismith, Vrede and Ladybrand using GIS, remote sensing and spatial metrics techniques. The study is based on 30 years of time-series data compiled from satellite images with emphasis on pre and post 1994’s (the year of change in government from apartheid to majority rule) spatial change in settlement development. Landsat 4–5 imageries for 1989, 1999, 2009 and Landsat 8 OLI for 2018 were downloaded and classified for land use/land cover change (LULCC). Also, landscape and class metrics were computed using Fragstats QGIS 2.18.9 to generate spatial analysis. A dynamic spatial pattern is observed in the settlements under study. Urban built-up areas had a rapid trend of growth in Harrismith from 1989 (5 years before transition from apartheid to majority rule) to 1999 (5 years after transition from apartheid to majority rule) but later slowed down in the subsequent years under study while Ladybrand and Vrede had moderate growth trend in the subsequent years under study. The settlement development process has developed fragmented and heterogeneous land use combinations in the years after 1994. At landscape level, land fragmentation occurred due to land use changes and significant urban expansion; Ladybrand experienced more physical connectedness than Harrismith and Vrede. While at class level, Harrismith and Vrede are more aggregated or physically connected than Ladybrand; this means Ladybrand was relatively more fragmented than the other two settlements. The study results show that a LULCC and landscape metrics integrated approach is effective to analyse and describe the spatial patterns of urban landscapes.

Detailed palaeomagnetic record at Rose Cottage Cave, South Africa: Implications for the Holocene geomagnetic field behaviour and chronostratigraphy

Palaeomagnetic data from a sedimentary section spanning the Holocene and terminal Pleistocene (~13 kya) from Rose Cottage Cave, eastern Free State (South Africa), are reported. The palaeomagnetic analysis took into account rock magnetism and directional analysis. The former reveals that most samples show stable single domain and superparamagnetic particles of Ti-poor magnetite and haematite. Natural remanent magnetisation directions were determined by progressive alternating field demagnetisation methodology. Directional analysis shows normal directions between samples 18 to 39 and 85 to 92; however, during the Early and Late Holocene in samples principally from RC40 to 84 ‘anomalous’ directions occurred. There is a significant westward shift in declination of ~80°, and a conspicuous fluctuating inclination in the lower part of the section during the Early Holocene at ≥9.5 kya and before ~12.0/13.0 kya. This palaeomagnetic record might become a chronostratigraphical marker for latest Pleistocene/Holocene sedimentary deposits in South Africa. Our two new accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates for the sampled deposit are 9500±50 BP and 1115±30 BP.
 Significance
 
 The study provides new accelerator mass spectrometry dates on the chronological sequence existing in Rose Cottage Cave.
 The findings contribute to the knowledge of the geomagnetic field behaviour since the terminal Pleistocene to the Late Holocene in a period spanning the last 13 000/12 000 years.
 This palaeomagnetic record might become a chronostratigraphical marker for the latest Pleistocene/ Holocene sedimentary deposits in South Africa.

A Cultural-Historical Appraisal of Three Selected Sacred Spaces of the Eastern Free State: A Phenomenological Approach

A Cultural-Historical Appraisal of Three Selected Sacred Spaces of the Eastern Free State: A Phenomenological Approach

Barriers Affecting Sustainable Agricultural Productivity of Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Free State of South Africa

Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) are the most promising pathways to enhance the productivity and resilience of agricultural production of smallholder farming systems while conserving the natural resources. This study was undertaken to identify the barriers affecting sustainable agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers in the eastern Free State, South Africa. Data were collected from 359 smallholder farmers using questionnaires and the validity of the collected data was confirmed through focus group discussions with key informants. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model were used to analyze data. Results indicated that traditional SAPs such as intercropping, mulching and crop rotation were more likely to be adopted by farmers with access to land yet without access to credit (and had low levels of education, although this finding was not significant). In contrast, new SAPs such as cover cropping, minimum-tillage, tied ridging and planting pits were more knowledge (education), capital and labor intensive. Therefore, extension strategies should take these differences into consideration when promoting both the adoption of traditional SAPs and new SAPs. Targeting resource-constrained farmers (in terms of access to credit and education) through raising awareness and building capacity is essential to ensure the adoption of traditional SAPs. In turn, promoting the adoption of new SAPs not only needs awareness raising and capacity building but also must fundamentally address resource constraints of South African smallholder farmers such as knowledge, capital and labor. It is recommended that government should provide resources and infrastructure to improve the quality and outreach of extension services through field demonstration trials and training.

Differences in Bacterial Diversity, Composition and Function due to Long-Term Agriculture in Soils in the Eastern Free State of South Africa

Land-use change from natural to managed agricultural ecosystems significantly impacts soil bacterial diversity and function. The Eastern Free State (EFS) is one of the most productive agricultural regions in South Africa. However, no studies aiming to understand the changes in bacterial diversity, composition and function due to land-use change in this area have been conducted. This study investigated, using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, the effects of long-term agriculture on bacterial diversity, composition and putative function in the EFS by comparing microbiomes from lands that have been under agronomic activity for over 50 years to those from uncultivated land. Results indicate that agriculture increased bacterial diversity. Soil chemical analysis showed that land-use shifted soils from being oligotrophic to copiotrophic, which changed bacterial communities from being Actinobacteria dominated to Proteobacteria dominated. Predictive functional analysis using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) suggested that agricultural soil was abundant in genes associated with plant fitness and plant growth promotion, while non-agricultural soil was abundant in genes related to organic matter degradation. Together, these results suggest that edaphic factors induced by long-term agriculture resulted in shifts in bacterial diversity and putative function in the EFS.

The impact of water quality on informally-declared heritage sites: a preliminary study

The current study is an attempt to gauge the impact of water quality on 2 sacred sites in the eastern Free State, Mautse and Motouleng, which are informally-declared heritage sites, as well as the consequent implications for matters of living heritage as pertaining to the specific sites. The informally-constituted communities at the sacred sites are dependent on freshwater sources where water use, sanitation and waste disposal are unmanaged activities. The sustainability of informally-declared heritage sites may be uncertain due to factors relating to water quality. Water samples were collected for physical, chemical and biological analyses. The latter comprised algal and bacterial analyses which included testing for concentrations of faecal coliforms, where concentrations above 20 cfu/100 ml indicates a significant risk of infectious disease transmission (domestic use) and concentrations above 200 cfu/100 ml points to a significant infection risk for young livestock. Water quality is discussed in terms of human, animal and ecological risk, which may threaten the heritage and the economic subsistence based on the heritage at both sites.

Cherry production in South Africa: status quo and new initiatives

At present the main production area for cherries in South Africa is situated in the Western Cape Province, which represents about 50% of the total 262 ha that has been planted up to 2016. Previously, production centered around the Highveld region in the eastern Free State. The cherry production areas in the eastern Free State are situated at approximately 28°45’ latitude and 27°45’ longitude and 1650 m a.s.l. The Highveld region is part of the summer-rainfall area, with dry winters and below zero temperatures during winter nights. This decline in production in the Highveld region is mainly due to these adverse growing conditions. Production was also negatively affected by using the too dwarfing ‘Gisela 5’ rootstocks that were not suitable for the shallow and sandy soils. Older orchards on Mahaleb rootstock are still producing good average yields in harsh growing conditions. Current initiatives include the use of more yield efficient rootstocks like ‘Maxma 14’ and the low-chilling scion cultivars from the breeding programs in California, USA. The poor rootability of Mahaleb cuttings in the nursery and the shortages of in vitro propagated rootstocks like ‘Maxma 14’, also tempered the planting of new orchards. This problem was overcome by a mass importation of in vitro ‘Maxma 14’ from Italy, optimising the current availability of nursery trees to increase dramatically from 32,000 to 150,000 trees year-1. These new initiatives will have a positive effect increasing the number of ha in non-traditional cherry growing areas in South Africa, such as the Northern Province as well as in the warmer parts of the Western Cape Province.

Laboratory assessment of the ecotoxic effects of sewage sludge from the Maluti-Drakensberg region on a terrestrial oligochaete species.

We used the Enchytraeid Reproduction Test to evaluate the potential ecotoxic effects of sewage sludge samples on terrestrial oligochaetes in an Afromontane area. The sludge samples were collected from two wastewater treatment plants near the towns of Phuthaditjhaba and Harrismith in the Afromontane region of the eastern Free State in South Africa. Laboratory experiments revealed that although the sludge samples were not detrimental to the survival of Enchytraeus albidus (p > 0.05); they were able to significantly hinder its reproduction (p < 0.01). Through metal analyses, the sludge samples were found to belong to the relatively "best quality" pollutant class a sludge which is deemed suitable for land disposal and use as soil amendment for agricultural purposes. Herein, we point to the fact that the current South African sewage sludge disposal guidelines may not insure the protection of beneficial soil dwelling invertebrates such as oligochaetes. Our contribution also highlights the paucity of studies with an emphasis on environmental pollution in mountain areas across Africa and should signal a need for broader environmental considerations such as environmental pollution to be taken into account in the existing mountain invertebrate conservation methodologies.

The everyday violence of eviction

abstractIn the first ten years after the transition to democracy in 1994 over one million farmworkers, farm dwellers and labour tenants were displaced and evicted from white commercial farms across South Africa. This briefing focuses on the violence of farm evictions and its impact on farmworker women in South Africa. It views these forced removals as a violent dislocation, uprooting and separation of farm workers and farm dwellers from land and their livelihoods. It contextualises the evictions in terms of commercial farming and the apartheid legacy and identifies the current legislation relating to farm evictions. The ongoing evictions highlights the inadequate nature of these policies. It illustrates the everyday violence these women experience by drawing on interviews, conversations, reports from farmworkers and research as well as the author’s observations as an activist working on farms and with farm workers and farm dwellers mainly in the Western Cape, but also in the Eastern Cape, Free State and Limpopo for the past 10 years.

A Cultural Appraisal of Sacred Sites of the Eastern Free State Adjunct to African Traditional Religion and Belief Systems

A Cultural Appraisal of Sacred Sites of the Eastern Free State Adjunct to African Traditional Religion and Belief Systems

Managing wetlands for disaster risk reduction: A case study of the eastern Free State, South Africa.

This article investigated the knowledge and practice of a nature-based solution to reduce disaster risks of drought, veld fires and floods using wetlands in the eastern Free State, South Africa. A mixed research method approach was used to collect primary data using three data collection tools, namely questionnaires, interviews and field observations. Ninety-five wetlands under communal and private ownership as well as a few in protected areas were sampled, with their users completing questionnaires. The study showed that communal wetlands were more degraded, while wetlands in protected areas and in private commercial farms were in a good ecological state. An extensive literature review reveals that healthy wetlands are effective buffers in reducing disaster risks such as drought, veld fires and floods which are recurrent in the study area. Therefore, through better land-use and management practices, backed by education and awareness, wetlands could be good instruments to mitigate recurrent natural hazards in the agriculturally dominated eastern Free State in South Africa.

Assessment of the management practices of emerging sheep production systems in the Eastern Free State: can the extensionist make a difference?

The aim of the study was to investigate factors that may prevent small-scale farmers from succeeding. Poor sheep production is generally associated with the ineffective management of these production systems. It would therefore be valuable to assess small-scale farmers’ management of sheep production systems to investigate what causes the high rate of morbidity and mortality as well as increased costs of maintenance associated with ineffective sheep production systems. The management practices followed in the production of sheep, including reproduction, nutrition, and health management; the management of farming equipment; and marketing strategies were also investigated. Structured questionnaires were used to gather the required data from small-scale farmers in the Eastern Free State, South Africa. The questionnaire was designed to include both open and closed-ended questions and was administered through personal interviews. A total of 40 small-scale farmers participated in the study. The results revealed that the specific limiting factors that small-scale farmers face are poor animal health management skills, poor animal nutritional management, and inadequate support services from the government and other related stakeholders. Furthermore, insufficient land availability to expand production, inadequate agricultural farming equipment, a lack of reproduction and production management skills, and poor marketing skills were the most obvious challenges. Finally, the results from the study highlighted that agricultural extensionists have a crucial role to play in improving the sheep production systems of smallscale farmers as they are well positioned to render training and advisory services. If the Department of Agriculture (DoA) joins forces with agricultural institutions like the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO), the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA), and breeders’ societies, this objective will be achieved. Keywords: Emerging sheep farmer, sheep production, constraints, production systems, Eastern Free State