KwaZulu-Natal Region Research Articles

Development of a responsive optimisation framework for decision-making in precision agriculture

Emerging digital technologies and data advances (e.g. smart machinery, remote sensing) not only enable Agriculture 4.0 to envisage interconnected agro-ecosystems and precision agriculture but also demand responsive decision-making. This study presents a mathematical optimisation model to bring real-time data and information to precision decision-support and to optimise short-term farming operation. To achieve responsive decision-support, we proposed two meta-heuristic algorithms i.e. a tailored genetic algorithm and a hybrid genetic-tabu search algorithm for solving the deterministic optimisation. The developed responsive optimisation framework has been applied to a hypothetical case study to optimise sugarcane harvesting in the KwaZulu Natal region in South Africa. In comparison with the optimal solutions derived from the exact algorithm, the proposed meta-heuristic methods lead to near optimal solutions (less than 5% from optimality) and significantly reduced computational time by over 95%. Our results suggest that the tailored genetic algorithm enables rapid solution searching but the solution quality on sugarcane harvesting cannot compete with the exact method. The hybrid genetic-tabu search algorithm achieved a good trade-off between computational time reduction and solution optimality, demonstrating the potential to enhance responsive decision making in precision sugarcane farming. Our research highlights the development of the responsive optimisation framework combining mixed integer linear programming and hybrid meta-heuristic search algorithms and its applications in real-time decision-making under Agriculture 4.0 vision.

Childhood Economic Well-Being in South Africa: Construction of a Theoretically-Grounded Empirically-Derived Multidimensional Measure

This study uses the bioecological framework and methodology to select items for and to test a multidimensional structure of a measure of children’s economic well-being in a multi-community sample of children (7–11 years) and their households (N = 1958) from KwaZulu-Natal, a poor and under-served region of South Africa. Economic well-being was assessed using questionnaires completed by children’s caregivers and household heads. Exploratory factor analysis of four random split halves identified three dimensions of economic well-being: Fiscal Appraisal (subjective experiences of access to/allocation of resources), Material Assets (durable goods and living environment), and Fiscal Capacity (traditional measures of poverty: income, expenditures, employment). Confirmatory factor analysis verified the higher order model of economic well-being with the three dimensions. Invariance testing using multiple group factor analysis indicated confidence for use of this measure with varying types of communities in South Africa. The results reflect the multidimensional nature of economic well-being. Thus, the often-used money metric measures of poverty likely paint an incomplete picture of children’s actual economic well-being. Because our sample consists of impoverished households, our measure of economic well-being is sensitive to variation at the deep end of poverty. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.

Perceptions of caregivers regarding engagement with integrated management of chronic kidney disease patients in selected public hospitals of KwaZulu-Natal region, South Africa.

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) patients rely on non-professional health care providers, namely caregivers to manage their long-term condition. Despite the growing literature on CKD patients, little is known about the perceptions of caregivers regarding integrated management of CKD.AimThe aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of caregivers with regard to integrated management of CKD patients.SettingThe study took place in selected public hospitals of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.MethodA qualitative case study design was used. A purposive sampling method was used to select the study participants. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview schedule developed from the literature. Data were analysed through thematic template approach using Health Belief Model constructs.ResultsHypertension and diabetes mellitus were risk factors that worsen progression of CKD. Unemployment, lifestyle changes and limited social interaction were revealed as negative effects of CKD. Caregivers were aware of consequences of non-engagement with integrated management. The revealed positive benefits of integrated management were mainly physiological and system-related. Barriers to engagement with integrated management were side effects of diet and haemodialysis, hot weather, unemployment, false perception of good health and shortage of kidneys for transplant.ConclusionChronic kidney disease patients require caregivers support to help with necessary changes to cope and adapt with integrated management of the disease. These caregivers experience effects of CKD, consequences of non-engagement and barriers to integrated management. Identification of caregivers perceptions offers healthcare workers a better understanding and formulation of strategies that can offer adequate support to this population.

Molecular approaches uncover cryptic diversity in intertidal Ligia isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Ligiidae) across the southern Africa coastline.

Recent phylogeographic studies along the coastline of southern Africa have uncovered cryptic diversity in several coastal invertebrates, including direct developing crustaceans in the superorder Peracarida. These findings indicating the possible existence of additional cryptic diversity in other yet to be studied peracarids, particularly those known to harbor said cryptic diversity in other regions of the world. Isopods in the genus Ligia are one such taxon. They inhabit patchy rocky beaches, are direct developers, avoid the open water, and exhibit other biological traits that severely constrain their dispersal potential (e.g., poor desiccation resistance). These traits are thought to have led to long-term isolation of populations, and allopatric diversification in Ligia species around the world; however, Ligia species in southern Africa, where three endemic Ligia species of uncertain validity are known to exist, remain unstudied to date. In this study, we used mitochondrial and nuclear markers to characterize Ligia collected in 18 localities from Namibia to the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa. We report the presence of cryptic lineages within Ligia species in the region that suggest the need for taxonomic reevaluation of these isopod species.

Market Orientation as a Strategy for Service Delivery in Public Libraries: A Case Study of the Northern Region in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Public libraries face a plethora of challenges in the information age. However, in spite of that, they are expected to deliver library services and to maintain their relationship with both current and potential users. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of market orientation (MO) in library services provision in public libraries in the Northern Region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data from the managers and librarians in the public libraries of the Northern Region of KZN. The collected data was tabulated in headings and sub-headings, and presented using themes, tables and frequencies. The study established that MO is still a developing concept for non-profit making organisations, such as public libraries. The managers and librarians as professionals in different levels have limited understanding of the concepts and its implications. This calls into question the implementation of this strategy in the provision of library services tailor-made for users. Although there are policies which guide MO and the provision of library services, it is doubtful that they are consulted and implemented. There are challenges which hinder the public libraries in this region from fully implementing MO for the benefit of the users. There is a need to create awareness of MO and its benefits to public libraries. Training librarians, and allocating funding for resources and infrastructure that will improve the implementation of all the strategies for improved library services, are some of the recommendations of the study.

Moving Beyond Ethnic Framing: Political Differentiation in the Chiefdoms of the KwaZulu-Natal Region before 1830

In earlier work, we saw the making of social categories in the Zulu kingdom under Shaka, particularly those of ‘amantungwa’ and ‘amalala’, as an example of the development of embryonic ethnic groups. In the present article, we move on from our previous discussion in a number of ways. We reconsider the category of ‘amalala’, pushing back further against the categories of ethnicity that previously dominated socio-political analysis of pre-Shaka chiefdoms. For reasons that we argue out in the article, we now question the notion that groups of this kind were ‘ethnic’ in character. Rather, they constituted socio-political categories with identities that were moulded under specific historical circumstances from pre-existing notions about relationships between different ‘layerings’ of people in society. We go on to consider case-studies of political differentiation and social categorisation that took place in the KwaZulu-Natal region before the reign of Shaka. In making our arguments, we move away decisively from an approach that sees texts like those in the James Stuart Archive, one of our main sources of evidence, as bodies of recorded ‘oral traditions’. For our part, we see them as the products of conversations on the past between Stuart and his interlocutors that were rooted in particular moments of political life in what is now the KwaZulu-Natal area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We conclude with reflections on how understanding the ways in which groups were categorised in the era before the establishment of colonial rule has been obscured by the later entanglement of indigenous political ideas with imported discourses on tribe and ethnicity.

Towards a culturally appropriate trauma assessment in a South African Zulu community.

To develop a culture specific screening tool for trauma, and to determine whether it would significantly increase the probability of eliciting traumatic events and associated symptoms when added to a Western diagnostic tool for trauma. A convenience sample of 1 hundred Zulu speaking volunteers was recruited in the North-Eastern KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa. A demographic questionnaire, the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders, Axis I, Research Version (SCID-I RV), and a Zulu Culture-Specific Trauma Experience Questionnaire (Z-CTEQ) designed for this study were administered to the participants. As measured by the SCID-I RV, the rates of exposure to traumatic events as well as the lifetime prevalence of PTSD were relatively high, at 32% and 24%, respectively. The use of the 10-item Z-CTEQ, when added to the SCID, increased the rate at which traumatic events were elicited by 19.4%. The additional traumatic events elicited were culture-specific in nature and were significantly associated with PTSD (p < .0001). The Z-CTEQ also elicited culture-specific attributions for traumatic events, which could prove beneficial for therapeutic interventions. The Z-CTEQ was found to have acceptable internal reliability, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.78. The construct and discriminant validity of the Z-CTEQ were supported by several significant correlations between the SCID and the Z-CTEQ and between the additional traumatic events elicited and PTSD. Despite some identified limitations, our findings suggest that the Z-CTEQ can enhance the assessment and management of trauma in the study population. (PsycINFO Database Record

Soil fertility constraints and yield gaps of irrigation wheat in South Africa

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; South Africa currently faces a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crisis as production has declined significantly over the past few years. The objective of this study was to explore opportunities for improving yields in intensive irrigated wheat production systems of South Africa through analyses of yield gaps, soil fertility constraints and conservation agriculture practices. The study was conducted in the major irrigation wheat production areas across four geographical regions: KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Highveld, warmer northern and cooler central. Actual yield (Ya) based on long-term yield data ranged from 5.99±0.15 t/ha to 8.32±0.10 t/ha across different geographical regions. The yield potential (Yp) ranged from 7.57 t/ha to 11.45 t/ha. Yield gaps (Yp–Ya) were in the range of 1.58–3.13 t/ha. Yields could be increased by 26–38% through closing yield gaps. On 88.37% and 13.89% of the fields in the KwaZulu-Natal and warmer northern regions, respectively, there was strong evidence of the practise of conservation agriculture, but none in the other regions. On 42.31% of irrigated wheat fields, soil organic carbon was below 1% at a soil depth of 0–20 cm. Fields in which conservation tillage was practised had double the soil organic carbon of conventionally tilled fields (2.15±0.10% versus 1.02±0.05%), but greater acidity and phosphorus deficiency problems. Sustainable approaches for addressing phosphorus deficiency and acidity under conservation tillage practices need to be sought, especially in the KwaZulu-Natal region.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Significance: &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Opportunities for improving wheat yields in South Africa need to be explored to address the wheat crisis.&#x0D; Sustainable approaches for addressing phosphorus deficiency and acidity of soil under conservation tillage practices need to be sought, especially in the KwaZulu-Natal region.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

The perception of Islamic banking by the first national bank sales staff in the Kwazulu-Natal region of South Africa

The objective of this study is to determine the perception and awareness of Islamic banking by a conventional banks sales force. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 100 sales staff randomly selected to take part in the study. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the data using online system called QuestionPro. Results revealed that whilst the respondents did feel there was a need for Islamic banking, they also did feel that Islamic banking was more complicated than conventional banking. The study also revealed that there was an overall negative perception of Islamic banking which was primarily based on a lack of knowledge, awareness, and understanding. It is recommended that banks provide sufficient and effective training to their staff on all products and services so that any negative perception can be eliminated. This study can benefit organizations that are in the Islamic banking industry or looking at getting into the Islamic banking industry. Keywords: Islamic banking, conventional banking, knowledge, perception, training. JEL Classification: G21, D83

First Record ofEllimenistes laesicollis(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a Garden Pest in the Western Cape, South Africa

Ellimenistes laesicollis Fahraeus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Embrithini) is a rather small (4-5 mm long), grey weevil (Fig. 1) that was described in 1871 from material collected by A.J.A. Wahlberg during his visit to southern Africa (1838-1845). It remained unnoticed for many years until Keetch (1973) recorded it as a pest of arabica coffee (Coffee arabica) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and called it the grey coffee snout beetle. The adult beetles were found to feed on the peduncle (stalk) of young coffee fruit which abort as a result, causing yield losses of up to 40%. The beetles also eat the soft succulent suckers, which snap. They eat cavities into green berries and into the stalk of more mature fruit, causing the fruit to fall, and damage flowers and leaves. They mainly attack young and newly planted coffee, but can also damage mature trees (Keetch et al. 1974;Annecke & Moran 1982). Keetch (1973) found it onvarious other plants such as Bidens pilosa (blackjack), water grass (Cyperus sp.), Grevillea robusta (silky oak) and sugarcane; he mentions that it is apparently of no economic significance on sugarcane. Schoeman (2001), however, called it the sugar cane snout beetle and mentioned that he had observed it feeding on the epidermis of banana in the Eshowe region, KZN, where it led to severe downgrading of the fruit. Schoeman (2009, 2015) recorded it as a pest of macadamia. In 2007 and 2008 he observed substantial damage on recently planted macadamia trees in the Stanger (now KwaDukuza) region of KZN and large infestations on mature trees in the Empangeni area of the same province. He also observed it in 2008 on macadamia in the Chipinge area of eastern Zimbabwe. It is also listed as a defoliator pest during the establishment of wattle and eucalypt seedlings (Govender 2002, 2007) and as a pest of tea (Annecke & Moran 1982).

English

Microalgae of benthic origins are abundant in aquatic ecosystems which have been affected by anthropogenic factors and provide a valuable aid in determining water quality. This study was initiated to understand the changes that occurred in the microphytobenthos diatom community in the pristine Mnweni river system in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg region. Diatom frustules were examined under an Olympus BX41TF light microscope with Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) optics. The PRIMER v5 computer software package was utilised to perform multivariate data analyses which included clustering, ordination and k-dominance curves. The diatom Cymbella turgidula was present in all five sites whilst Encyonopsis stafsholtii was abundant in sites three and four. A SIMPER analysis of the data showed an average dissimilarity between the sites. Sites with higher total dissolved solids (TDS), phosphorous and nitrogen showed suppressed pH values although all values were above seven. The diatom composition together with environmental gradients in the catchment suggests that river chemistry, environment structure, current pattern and terrestrial use had important impacts on the integrity of the system. The diatom species that were found in the study sites suggested that the water in the Mnweni catchment was clean or mildly enriched. © 2016 Friends Science Publishers

Hydrocleys nymphoides (Humb. &amp; Bonpl. ex Willd.) Buchenau: first record of naturalisation in South Africa

Hydrocleys nymphoides (water poppy), an aquatic plant native to South America, has been recorded as invasive on several continents (Europe, Australia and Asia). Here we report on the first known naturalized population in South Africa, in a dam in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Midlands region, near the town of Howick. This population, first detected and identified in 2009, had by the end of the 2013 summer season occupied 1.8ha (30% of the dam). Surveys of 34 surrounding water bodies during the period between 2012 and 2013 did not result in detection of any new populations. The only other population (0.1 ha) was recorded growing in cultivation at the Durban Botanic Gardens. This note reports on the history of H. nymphoides in South Africa, details its current and potential distribution, looks at the risk it poses, and outlines plans for nation-wide eradication.

Shallow landslide susceptibility assessment in a semiarid environment — A Quaternary catchment of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This paper presents an evaluation of landslide susceptibility maps based on the Frequency Ratio (FR) Landslide Susceptibility Index (LSI), logistic regression (LR), and artificial neural network (ANN) methods, applied within a Quaternary catchment in the KwaZulu-Natal region, South Africa. Landslide occurrence in this particular catchment is generally induced by heavy rainfall events where shallow landslips occur mostly on steep slopes thereby threatening informal housing at the base of slopes. The scope of this study is to compare the performance of landslide susceptibility models and rate the importance of landslide causal factors. Thirteen landslide causal factors, including altitude, slope angle, aspect, slope total curvature, slope plan curvature, slope profile curvature, proximity to stream network, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), lithology, land cover, proximity to faults, proximity to dolerite sills and dykes, and proximity to the road network were considered in the study. Furthermore each causal factor was rated according to the above mentioned methods, and it was found that the most influential landslide causal factors are the, altitude, land cover, and lithology. The resulting susceptibility maps were classified into 5 classes ranging from Very low to Very high susceptibility. Model performance was tested using an independent validation set comprising 10% of all mapped landslides. For verification of the models' performance, receiver operating curves (ROCs) were calculated and the areas under curve (AUC) for the success rate curves were 0.736, 0.748, 0.827, and 0.809 for FR, LSI, LR and ANN respectively. The findings revealed that models showed promising results for shallow landslide susceptibility modelling since they all give accuracy values higher than 73%. The LR and ANN methods however proved to be superior in representing landslide susceptibility throughout the study area.

Gondwana break-up related magmatism in the Falkland Islands

Jurassic dykes ( c . 182 Ma) are widespread across the Falkland Islands and exhibit considerable geochemical variability. Orthopyroxene-bearing NW–SE-oriented quartz-tholeiite dykes underwent fractional crystallization at &gt;1 GPa, and major element constraints suggest that they were derived by melting of a pyroxenite-rich source. They have εNd 182 in the range −6 to −11 and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr 182 &gt;0.710 and therefore require an old lithospheric component in their source. A suite of basaltic-andesites and andesites exhibit geochemical compositions transitional between Ferrar and Karoo magma types, and are similar to those seen in the KwaZulu-Natal region of southern Africa and the Theron Mountains of Antarctica. Olivine-phyric intrusions equilibrated at &lt;0.5 GPa, and have isotopic compositions (εNd 182 1.6–3.6 and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr 182 0.7036–0.7058) that require limited interaction with old continental lithosphere. A suite of plagioclase-phyric intrusions with 87 Sr/ 86 Sr 182 c . 0.7035 and εNd 182 c . +4, and low Th/Ta and La/Ta ratios ( c . 1 and c . 15, respectively) also largely escaped interaction with the lithosphere. These isotopically depleted intrusions were probably emplaced synchronously with Gondwana fragmentation and the formation of new oceanic lithosphere. Estimates of mantle potential temperature from olivine equilibration temperatures do not provide unequivocal evidence for the presence of a plume thermal anomaly beneath the Falkland Islands at 182 Ma. Supplementary materials: Mineralogical data, XRF major and trace element data and Ar-Ar results for Falkland Islands intrusions are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/sup18873 .

Exploring the Triggers of Transformational Change in the South African Department of Correctional Services

Change is a critical phenomenon in any organisation that wants to optimise its performance at individual, team and organizational levels in order to survive and remain competitive in the intensely competitive and globalised operational environment – be it economic, social, political, technological, international or labour market environment. This paper presents empirical evidence gathered from research participants in the Correctional Centres located in the KwaZulu-Natal Region of the Department of Correctional Services on the factors that triggered the fundamental culture change from the punishment-oriented philosophy to the rehabilitation-driven philosophy in terms of the treatment of sentenced offenders (herein referred to as DCS change). An interest in the triggers of transformational change within a correctional environment has motivated the authors to embark on an empirical study which sought to establish the triggers of the transformational change in the Department of Correctional Services of South Africa. The study was significant, particularly if one considers the fact that there is generally an interest in the factors that force organisations to initiate and implement organisation-wide changes. Change and transformation strategists, organisation development practitioners, and managers in general in both the public and private sector globally and in South Africa in particular will benefit from the study, particular if one considers the fact that transformational change interventions are currently being implemented across the South African public service as part of the government’s agenda of reconstructing and developing the South African society. An extensive literature study on the external and internal triggers of organisational change was undertaken as part of contextualising the triggers of transformational change within the South African Correctional Services environment in general. The literature study was followed by the empirical study which focused on gathering data from correctional officials and offenders through utilising two survey questionnaires. The empirical findings revealed that the fundamental culture change from the punishment-oriented philosophy which was characterised by non-existence of a human rights culture to a rehabilitation-focused philosophy underpinned by the promotion and maintenance of a human rights culture was sparked off by various internal and external factors. These ranged from financial, social and political reasons to complaints about service from offenders, complaints from national and international bodies regarding human rights violations, competitive forces, proactive and progressive leadership,and the need to reduce recidivism. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n10p596

A study of the competency requirements of property development graduates to meet the qualifications of the South African construction industry

Purpose– This paper aims to investigate the competency requirements of property development (PD) graduates at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as an approach to fulfil the qualifications of the construction industry in South Africa (SA).Design/methodology/approach– To achieve the above-mentioned aim, a research methodology is designed to accomplish three objectives. First, literature review is used to investigate the structure of the (PD) programme at (UKZN), National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and construction management (CM) education. Second, survey questionnaires are used to investigate the relevancy of the (PD) programme at (UKZN) towards meeting the (NQF) unit standards and the South African construction industry (SACI) requirements. Finally, summarising the conclusions and recommendations useful for future improvement of (PD/CM) education in SA. Collected data are analysed using the measure of central tendency and dispersion as well as Relative Importance Index (RII).Findings– Although the research revealed that the (PD) programme succeeded in graduating students who are adequately equipped to meet the expectations of the (SACI), a number of key areas and issues have been highlighted to enhance the (PD/CM) education in (SA) generally and (UKZN) in particular. Addressing these issues will increase the competency of (PD) graduates to meet the expectations of an ever-changing construction industry.Originality/value– This paper identifies the competency requirements of (PD) graduates at the KwaZulu-Natal region, a topic that received scant attention in construction literature and has not been previously undertaken in UKZN.

Bovine trypanosomosis prevalence at the edge of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The northern KwaZulu-Natal (NKZN) region of South Africa is the southern limit of the African tsetse belt. Entomological information on Glossina brevipalpis and Glossina austeni was generated following the outbreak of trypanosomosis in cattle in 1990. However, these data have not been supported by parallel studies on epidemiology of the disease and therefore there has been no control policy in place. This study presented the first intensive investigations to address the epidemiology of trypanosomosis in NKZN. Tsetse abundance, trypanosome herd average prevalence (HAP), herd average anaemia (HAA) and herd average packed cell volume (HA-PCV) were investigated at three communal diptanks located at the edge of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park by monthly sampling from June 2006 - November 2007. Seasonal trypanosome surveys were conducted at seven other communal diptanks. Glossina brevipalpis prevalence was high at two of the diptanks, Mvutshini and Ekuphindisweni, but low at Ocilwane, whilst G. austeni was only collected from Mvutshini. This high and low tsetse challenge presented different disease scenarios. Cattle at Mvutshini and Ekuphindisweni had the highest HAP of 12.3% and 8.9% respectively, both significantly different (p = 0.001) from the HAP obtained from cattle at Ocilwane (2.9%). These two cattle herds also had the highest HAA, 27.7% and 33.4% respectively, whilst cattle at Ocilwane had the lowest, 11.1% (p = 0.001). Conversely, cattle at Ocilwane had the highest HA-PCV, ranging between 29.0% and 32.0%, whilst cattle at Mvutshini and Ekuphindisweni had the lowest HA-PCV (24.0% - 29.0%). By combining the data from the three diptanks (1318 observations), 62.0% of the infected cattle were found anaemic, compared to 20.0% in the uninfected group. Trypanosome seasonal surveys showed that cattle at all the seven diptanks were infected with trypanosomes; mean HAP, HAA and HA-PCV of 10.2%, 46.6% and 23.7%, respectively. This study generated information on the epidemiological factors related to the wide spread of trypanosome-infected cattle and tsetse flies. Trypanosomosis is a disease of economic importance impacting the livelihood of resource-poor farmers in NKZN.

Online appendix 2:Collection stewardship constrained by resources: The management of religious archives in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal region

A survey using questionnaires, observation and interviews was conducted in 2011 to ascertain the collection stewardship strategies of archival repositories with religious archives in Pietermaritzburg. The study concluded that there was a need to establish a religious archives group in order for the voice of ecclesiastical archives to resonate across South Africa. Through this group, it is hoped that there will be greater coordination and networking amongst the archival repositories. The help of associations such as the South African Society of Archivists, the Oral History Association of South Africa and the South African Preservation Group could greatly assist in fostering best practices in archival management. To champion this worthwhile cause, it would be ideal to come up with an Open Day on religious archives to serve as an advocacy platform. These recommendations are made against a backdrop of the poor state of religious archives in Pietermaritzburg, resulting from acute underfunding and which threatens the survival of this record in the long term.

Online appendix 1:Collection stewardship constrained by resources: The management of religious archives in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal region

A survey using questionnaires, observation and interviews was conducted in 2011 to ascertain the collection stewardship strategies of archival repositories with religious archives in Pietermaritzburg. The study concluded that there was a need to establish a religious archives group in order for the voice of ecclesiastical archives to resonate across South Africa. Through this group, it is hoped that there will be greater coordination and networking amongst the archival repositories. The help of associations such as the South African Society of Archivists, the Oral History Association of South Africa and the South African Preservation Group could greatly assist in fostering best practices in archival management. To champion this worthwhile cause, it would be ideal to come up with an Open Day on religious archives to serve as an advocacy platform. These recommendations are made against a backdrop of the poor state of religious archives in Pietermaritzburg, resulting from acute underfunding and which threatens the survival of this record in the long term.

Collection stewardship constrained by resources: The management of religious archives in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal region

A survey using questionnaires, observation and interviews was conducted in 2011 to ascertain the collection stewardship strategies of archival repositories with religious archives in Pietermaritzburg. The study concluded that there was a need to establish a religious archives group in order for the voice of ecclesiastical archives to resonate across South Africa. Through this group, it is hoped that there will be greater coordination and networking amongst the archival repositories. The help of associations such as the South African Society of Archivists, the Oral History Association of South Africa and the South African Preservation Group could greatly assist in fostering best practices in archival management. To champion this worthwhile cause, it would be ideal to come up with an Open Day on religious archives to serve as an advocacy platform. These recommendations are made against a backdrop of the poor state of religious archives in Pietermaritzburg, resulting from acute underfunding and which threatens the survival of this record in the long term.