Mpumalanga Province Of South Africa Research Articles

Implementation facilitators and barriers of person and family-centred emergency care

Background: At the time of the research, the nurses in the designated hospital’s emergency department did not implement person- and family-centred care to the detriment of patients and families. They were, however, eager to embark on the implementation of the recommendations of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario for person- and family-centred care.Aim: This study therefore aimed to explore and describe the possible implementation facilitators and barriers prior to the use of the association’s recommendations.Setting: The study included eight nurses with different specialisation fields and more than 5 years of experience in an emergency department.Methods: During focus group interviews with nurse participants, the domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research were used to explore whether the recommendations of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario could be used to structure person- and family-centred care in the emergency department of the designated hospital in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa. The framework guided the deductive data analysis.Results: The identified facilitators referred to a positive match between the recommendations and existing practice in the department. The barriers referred to the department’s fast-paced work environment in which a combination of emergency and primary care is delivered.Conclusion: One of the facilitators referred to the participants being used to ongoing training by and communication from management to support their adjustment to improvements. One of the barriers referred to the department’s fast-paced work environment.Contributions: The article contributes to practice improvement with a description of the use of frameworks to explore possible facilitators and barriers prior to endeavours to implement recommendations.

Assessing Nitrogen Dioxide in the Highveld Troposphere: Pandora Insights and TROPOMI Sentinel-5P Evaluation

Nitrogen oxides, particularly NO2, are emitted through a variety of industrial and transport processes globally. The world’s continuous economic development, including in developing countries, results in an increasing concentration of those gases in the atmosphere. Yet, there is scant information on the current state and recent evolution of these atmospheric pollutants over a range of spatial and temporal scales, especially in Africa. This, in turn, hinders the assessment of the emissions and the evaluation of potential risks or impacts on societies and their economies, as well as on the environment. This study attempts to fill the gap by leveraging data from a Pandora-2S ground-based, column-integrating instrument located in Wakkerstroom in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa and space-based remote sensing data obtained from the TROPOMI instrument onboard the ESA Sentinel-5P satellite. We compare these two spatially (horizontal) representative data sets using statistical tools to investigate the concentrations of emitted and transported NO2 at this particular location, expecting that a significant positive correlation between the NO2 tropospheric vertical column (TVC) data might justify using the TROPOMI data, available globally, as a proxy for tropospheric and boundary layer NO2 concentrations over the Highveld of South Africa more generally. The data from the two instruments showed no significant difference between the interannual mean TVC-NO2 in 2020 and 2021. The seasonal patterns for both instruments were different in 2020, but in 2021, both measured peak TVC-NO2 concentrations in late winter (week 34). The instruments both detected higher TVC-NO2 concentrations during transitions between seasons, particularly from winter to spring. The TVC-NO2 concentrations measured in Wakkerstroom Mpumalanga are mostly contributed to by the emission sources in the low troposphere, such as biomass burning and emissions from local power stations.

Leaf gas exchange, water use, and yield of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) and Kei Apple (Dovyalis caffra): South African indigenous fruit trees with domestication potential

Conventional crop production is expected to decline in the future in sub-Saharan Africa due to the rising costs of inputs, soil degradation, and increasing water scarcity related to climate variability and change. South Africa has more than 30 species of indigenous fruit trees that are adapted to grow under harsh conditions, yet these species are currently underutilized. Their cultivation is constrained by the lack of detailed ecophysiological information required to develop effective management strategies that optimize tree performance. In this study we investigated how two species with domestication potential namely Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) and Kei apple (Dovyalis caffra) responded to climate and soil factors over a period of two years (2019–2021). Photosynthesis, transpiration, and yield were quantified for mature trees growing in experimental orchards in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. Leaf gas exchange data were collected at selected intervals during the growing season using an infrared gas analyser while whole tree transpiration rates were quantified using the heat ratio method of monitoring sap flow. These data were used to parameterize a big leaf Penman-Monteith (PM) model to estimate the transpiration dynamics of individual trees at the daily time step. S. birrea's transpiration responded strongly to both climatic and soil water content variations while the water use of D. caffra was driven mostly by climatic factors. Transpiration rates averaged 0.30 L/m2 of leaf area for S. birrea while that of D. caffra was around 0.45 L/m2. Both species exhibited significant alternate bearing with yield of individual trees fluctuating by more than 50 % between successive years. For the 2019/20 season, water productivity (grams of fruit per litre of water transpired) varied between 6.2 and 17.4 g/L for S. birrea and between 24.3 and 41.7 g/L for D. caffra. Whole tree transpiration by both species were accurately predicted using the PM model albeit with different parameters for each species. This study demonstrates that a simple PM model can accurately estimate the water requirements of these species in other growing regions.

Sociocultural perceptions of physical activity and dietary habits for hypertension control: voices from adults in a rural sub-district of South Africa

BackgroundOver half of adults from rural South Africa are hypertensive. Apart from pharmaceutical treatment, lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity and reducing dietary salt have been strongly advocated for the control of hypertension. However, the control rates of hypertension for adults in rural South Africa are low. In this paper we explore whether this is due to the recommended lifestyle intervention not aligning with the individual’s socio-cultural determinants of behaviour change.AimTo explore the social and cultural beliefs, perceptions and practices regarding physical activity and diet as a hypertension control intervention on hypertensive adults living in a rural sub-district in South Africa.MethodsNine focus group discussions were conducted with hypertensive adults aged 40 years and above from Bushbuckridge sub-district in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa using a semi-structured interview guide. Each session began with introductions of the discussion theme followed by a short discussion on what the participants know about hypertension and the normal blood pressure readings. Physical activity and dietary habits were then introduced as the main subject of discussion. Probing questions were used to get more insight on a specific topic. A thematic analysis approach was used to generate codes, categories, and themes. A manual approach to data analysis was chosen and data obtained through transcripts were analysed inductively.FindingsParticipants had a lack of knowledge about blood pressure normal values. Perceived causes of hypertension were alluded to psychosocial factors such as family and emotional-related issues. Physical activity practices were influenced by family and community members’ attitudes and gender roles. Factors which influenced dietary practices mainly involved affordability and availability of food. To control their hypertension, participants recommend eating certain foods, emotional control, taking medication, exercising, praying, correct food preparation, and performing house chores.ConclusionLifestyle interventions to control hypertension for adults in a rural South African setting using physical activity promotion and dietary control must consider the beliefs related to hypertension control of this population.

Ethnobotanical insights on the management of plant pests and diseases by smallholder farmers in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa

BackgroundPests and diseases are a major contributor to yield losses in sub-Saharan Africa, prompting smallholder farmers to seek cost-effective, accessible and ecologically friendly alternatives for crop protection. This study explored the management of pests and diseases affecting crops across eight selected villages in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.MethodsA total of 120 smallholder farmers were purposefully selected utilising the snowball technique. Information on the management of plant pests and diseases was collected through interviews and focus group discussions using semi-structured interview schedules. Ethnobotanical indices, including relative frequency of citation (RFC), use-value (UV) and informant consensus factor (Fic), were used to quantify and rank the plants used for crop protection in the study area.ResultsTwenty-three plant species (16 naturalised exotics and seven indigenous plants) belonging to 16 families were used for managing pests (vertebrates and invertebrates) and diseases (fungal and bacterial related) affecting crops in the study area. The dominant (100%) crops cultivated by the participants were Allium cepa L., Mangifera indica L., Solanum lycopersicum L. and Zea mays L. The RFC value ranged from 0.08 to 0.83 and the three most popular plants for crop protection were Capsium annuum L. (0.83), A. cepa (0.63) and Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (0.43). In terms of the UV, the five most promising plants used as biocontrol were Tulbaghia violacea (0.13), A. cepa (0.12), C. annuum L. (0.09), Solanum campylacanthum Hochst. Ex A.Rich.(0.09) and Pinus pinaster (0.08). Based on the Fic, four categories were established and dominated by fungal diseases (0.64). Furthermore, T. violacea and A. cepa were the most often mentioned plants used against fungal conditions. Other categories cited were bacterial diseases (0.3), invertebrate pests (0.11) and vertebrate pests (0.14), an indication that smallholder farmers had limited agreement or common knowledge about the plants used for their management. The preparation methods included maceration (38%), decoction (38%) and burning (24%). Foliar application (67%) and soil drenching (33%) were used for administering plant extracts during the management of crop pests and diseases.ConclusionThe study highlights the importance of botanicals and associated indigenous knowledge among smallholder farmers in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. It is pertinent to explore the valorisation of these botanicals by generating empirical data on their biological efficacies and phytochemical profiles.

The influence of the fourth industrial revolution in teaching and learning: the COVID-19 context

Background The aim of this paper was to explore how the Fourth Industrial Revolution shapes teaching and learning during COVID-19 in some of the schools located in the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. This paper employed qualitative interpretative multiple case study design. Purposive sampling was used to sample our participants. Methods We selected four teachers who separately taught at the early childhood development stage, intermediate phase, senior phase, and further education and training phases. Data was collected telephonically through semi-structured interviews with teachers from Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Data was collected from their experiences of COVID-19 from 2019 to 2021. Collected data was analysed using a typology approach whereby themes that derived from the literature reviewed and research questions were used. Results We inferred from the results of the paper that teachers had challenges with teaching and availability of learning resources, such as limited access to internet and socio-economic backgrounds, which hindered the integration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the teaching and learning process. There were also challenges related to teachers’ background on the usage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the lack of school management teams support. The paper revealed that the integration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in teaching and learning was affected negatively by the existence of the above-mentioned challenges, which needs to be addressed. Conclusions Therefore, we recommended that the government and stakeholders within the education sector provide resources such as smart-boards, computers, and network access in schools lacking such facilities, as well as providing professional development interventions and training teachers to have an in-depth understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution within the teaching and learning context.

Investigating African Indigenous Ways to Mitigate Gender-Based Violence in Bushbuckridge of Mpumalanga Province in South Africa

Investigating African Indigenous Ways to Mitigate Gender-Based Violence in Bushbuckridge of Mpumalanga Province in South Africa

Mitogenomic Characterization of South African Leopards and the Effect of Past Climatic Events

Revealing phylogeographic structure is important for accurate subspecies delineation and understanding a species’ evolutionary history. In leopards (Panthera pardus), there are currently nine subspecies recognized. On the African continent, only one subspecies occurs (P. p. pardus), although mitochondrial DNA from historical samples suggests the presence of three putative continental clades: (1) West Africa (WA), (2) Central Africa (CA), and (3) Southern Africa (SA). So far, whole genome data did not recover this phylogeographic structure, although leopards in the southern periphery of their distribution range in Africa have not yet been investigated in detail. The Mpumalanga province of South Africa is of particular interest, as here, the CA and the SA clade possibly meet. The aim of this study was to characterize the first mitogenomes of African leopards from Mpumalanga, to help clarifying how South African leopards fit into continental patterns of genetic differentiation. Complete mitogenomes from nine leopards, including a strawberry leopard, were assembled de novo and included in phylogenetic analysis, in combination with 32 publicly available mitogenomes. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses identified two deeply diverged putative clades within South Africa, which were more genetically distinct than two subspecies in Asia. The clades dated back to 0.76-0.86 million years ago, indicating that they originated during the climatically unstable Mid-Pleistocene, as seen in other large mammals. The Pleistocene refuge theory states that the maintenance of savanna refugia in East and Southern Africa promoted the divergence between populations. As such, leopards may reflect the unique climatic history of southern Africa, which has resulted in eminent and endemic genetic diversity.

Unravelling the maternal evolutionary history of the African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus).

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) has lost a significant proportion of its historical range, notably in north-western Africa and South Africa. Recent studies have explored the genetic diversity and population structure of African leopards across the continent. A notable genetic observation is the presence of two divergent mitochondrial lineages, PAR-I and PAR-II. Both lineages appeared to be distributed widely, with PAR-II frequently found in southern Africa. Until now, no study has attempted to date the emergence of either lineage, assess haplotype distribution, or explore their evolutionary histories in any detail. To investigate these underappreciated questions, we compiled the largest and most geographically representative leopard data set of the mitochondrial NADH-5 gene to date. We combined samples (n = 33) collected in an altitudinal transect across the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, where two populations of leopard are known to be in genetic contact, with previously published sequences of African leopard (n = 211). We estimate that the maternal PAR-I and PAR-II lineages diverged approximately 0.7051 (0.4477-0.9632) million years ago (Ma). Through spatial and demographic analyses, we show that while PAR-I underwent a mid-Pleistocene population expansion resulting in several closely related haplotypes with little geographic structure across much of its range, PAR-II remained at constant size and may even have declined slightly in the last 0.1 Ma. The higher genetic drift experienced within PAR-II drove a greater degree of structure with little haplotype sharing and unique haplotypes in central Africa, the Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the South African Highveld. The phylogeographic structure of PAR-II, with its increasing frequency southward and its exclusive occurrence in south-eastern South Africa, suggests that this lineage may have been isolated in South Africa during the mid-Pleistocene. This hypothesis is supported by historical changes in paleoclimate that promoted intense aridification around the Limpopo Basin between 1.0-0.6 Ma, potentially reducing gene flow and promoting genetic drift. Interestingly, we ascertained that the two nuclear DNA populations identified by a previous study as East and West Mpumalanga correspond to PAR-I and PAR-II, respectively, and that they have come into secondary contact in the Lowveld region of South Africa. Our results suggest a subdivision of African leopard mtDNA into two clades, with one occurring almost exclusively in South Africa, and we identify the potential environmental drivers of this observed structure. We caution that our results are based on a single mtDNA locus, but it nevertheless provides a hypothesis that can be further tested with a dense sample of nuclear DNA data, preferably whole genomes. If our interpretation holds true, it would provide the first genetic explanation for the smaller observed size of leopards at the southernmost end of their range in Africa.

The impact of ozone treatment on the removal effectiveness of various refractory compounds in wastewater from petroleum refineries

Large volumes of wastewater are generated during petroleum refining processes. Petroleum refinery wastewater (PRW) can contain highly toxic compounds that can harm the environment. These toxic compounds can be a challenge in biological treatment technologies due to the effects of these compounds on microorganisms. These challenges can be overcome by using ozone (O3) as a standalone or as a pretreatment to the biological treatment. Ozone was used in this study to degrade the organic pollutants in the heavily contaminated PRW from a refinery in Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The objective was achieved by treating the raw PRW using ozone at different ozone treatment times (15, 30, 45, and 60 min) at a fixed ozone concentration of 3.53 mg/dm3. The ozone treatment was carried out in a 2-liter custom-designed plexiglass cylindrical reactor. Ozone was generated from an Eco-Lab-24 corona discharge ozone generator using clean, dry air from the Afrox air cylinder as feed. The chemical oxygen demand, gas chromatograph characterization, and pH analysis were performed on the pretreated and post-treated PRW samples to ascertain the impact of the ozone treatment. The ozone treatment was effective in reducing the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) compounds in the PRW. The 60-min ozone treatment of different BTEX pollutants in the PRW resulted in the following percentage reduction: benzene 95%, toluene 77%, m + p-xylene 70%, ethylbenzene 69%, and o-xylene 65%. This study has shown the success of using ozone in reducing the toxic BTEX compounds in a heavily contaminated PRW.

Revised description of the blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae), and a key to all Eriophyoidea on Vaccinium

In 2014 the blueberry bud mite, Acalitus vaccinii (Acari: Trombidformes: Eriophyidae), was detected in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa for the first time causing significant damage to cultivated blueberries. This was the first detection of this pest outside of North America, to which it is native. However, its taxonomic description at that time lacked critical detail and omitted characters and life stages important for easy and accurate identification. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we combined phase contrast light microscopy with low-temperature SEM and DNA barcoding data to revise the description of A. vaccinii using South African specimens. Additional characters not included in previous descriptions but reported here are the h1 (accessory) setae, leg I & II u’ (mesal) setae, and leg II bv (femoral) setae. Detailed descriptions and measurements of all life stages are included, along with a discussion of morphological variation and biology. Two DNA sequences of common barcode regions (nuclear and mitochondrial) are provided to further aid in identification. In addition, a key to all known species of eriophyoid mites present on Vaccinium is provided.

A COGNITIVE ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER LITERACY TRAINING AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITY IMPROVEMENT AMONG SOUTH AFRICANS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

By using quantitative and descriptive research approach via a cognitive analysis, this article investigated the influence of consumer literacy training as a tool to improve financial capability among South Africans. Data was gathered from 10300 consumer literacy trainees from Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa and purposively and conveniently sampled. The use of pre- and post-test questionnaire surveys, employing a Likert scale, was identified as crucial for gathering data on cognitive improvement. The collected data underwent analysis through descriptive statistics and regression analysis. To ensure the reliability of the results, robustness analysis was conducted using SPSS version 28 and STATA. Empirical findings from this research study have statistically demonstrated that consumers enhanced their knowledge and skills related to financial capability after receiving consumer financial capability training. This study contributes significantly to the existing literature by addressing a critical gap and substantially enhancing the knowledge of financial capability among the study’s participants. These results carry potential implications for various stakeholders, including donors, consumers, policymakers, financial literacy educators, and finance practitioners, all of whom can play a pivotal role in promoting consumer financial education, particularly in the South African context. The study suggests that the theoretical models developed thus far have primarily focused on the driving forces behind consumer financial capability success. However, these findings also hold substantial promise for academia, policymakers, banks, and other key players in the field of consumer financial capability training, including short courses within South Africa. Furthermore, this study provides a solid foundation for future research aimed at enhancing consumer protection and shedding light on the various factors that may hinder low-income individuals from achieving their financial goals through financial institutions.

Aloe burgersfortensis (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae): a distinctive, winter-flowering maculate aloe endemic to the southeastern Limpopo and northwestern Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa

Aloe burgersfortensis (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), which generally has been included in the synonymy of A. parvibracteata since 2000, is formally reinstated as an accepted species that is endemic to the southeastern Limpopo and northwestern Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Aloe burgersfortensis differs from A. parvibracteata in several vegetative and reproductive morphological characters so warranting its recognition at the rank of species; the differences are quantified and discussed. The typification of the name A. burgersfortensis is reinterpreted and corrected. Both A. burgersfortensis and A. parvibracteata are illustrated and an amplified description is provided for A. burgersfortensis.

Fostering women entrepreneurship in the tourism industry

This study explores the obstacles and opportunities for women who sell arts and crafts along the borders of the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The Kruger National Park is one of South Africa's most famous symbols, both nationally and internationally. Women who stay along the borders of the Kruger National Park have also harnessed tapping into the tourism sector by trading in arts and crafts because tourists purchase them as souvenirs. Women dominate the craft industry because of fewer barriers to entry as they normally use traditional skills to create crafts. South African women in the informal sector are said to be significantly contributing to the Gross Domestic Product of the country. A qualitative research design utilising a Case study was used to explore the obstacles and opportunities for women who trade in arts and crafts in the tourism industry around the Kruger National Park. Data was collected through semi-structured interview schedules from thirty (30) women who sell arts and crafts from the Kruger National Park gates in Mpumalanga Province. Data was then summarised to capture emerging themes as well as opinions, attitudes and perceptions. The key findings reveal that women face various challenges, mainly in terms of (i) lack of access to finance, (ii) low literacy levels (iii) lack of access to infrastructure and (iv) Poor marketing skills and access to markets.

Reinstatement of Aloe verdoorniae (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), a distinctively purplish blue-leaved species of maculate aloe endemic to the eastern Gauteng and western Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa

Aloe verdoorniae (Asphodelaceae subfam. Alooideae), which generally has been included in the synonymy of A. greatheadii var. davyana since 1987, is formally reinstated as an accepted species that is endemic to the eastern Gauteng and western and central Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Aloe davyana itself was recently reinstated at the rank of species. Aloe verdoorniae differs from A. davyana in several vegetative and reproductive morphological characters so warranting its recognition at the rank of species; the differences are quantified and discussed. The typification of the name A. verdoorniae is reinterpreted and corrected. The species is illustrated and an amplified description is provided for it.

Technology integration during teaching and learning: the COVID-19 context

Background: The aim of this paper was to explore how the Fourth Industrial Revolution shapes teaching and learning during COVID-19 in some of the schools located in the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa. This paper employed qualitative interpretative multiple case study design. Purposive sampling was used to sample our participants. Methods: We selected four teachers who separately taught at the early childhood development stage, intermediate phase, senior phase, and further education and training phases. Data was collected telephonically through semi-structured interviews with teachers from Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Data was collected from their experiences of COVID-19 from 2019 to 2021. Collected data was analysed using a typology approach whereby themes that derived from the literature reviewed and research questions were used. Results: We inferred from the results of the paper that teachers had challenges with teaching and availability of learning resources, such as limited access to internet and socio-economic backgrounds, which hindered the integration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the teaching and learning process. There were also challenges related to teachers’ background on the usage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the lack of school management teams support. The paper revealed that the integration of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in teaching and learning was affected negatively by the existence of the above-mentioned challenges, which needs to be addressed. Conclusions: Therefore, we recommended that the government and stakeholders within the education sector provide resources such as smart-boards, computers, and network access in schools lacking such facilities, as well as providing professional development interventions and training teachers to have an in-depth understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution within the teaching and learning context.

Exposure levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile base stations in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

This study assessed the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure levels proximal to primary school structures in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. A calibrated Acoustimeter was used to measure the RF EMF levels at defined distance points of 50 and 100m away from the three mobile base stations, that provide a 4G network coverage. All the measurements were obtained from three mobile stations, each from one district municipality, using 30 minutes intervals for repeated measurements. The measured peak exposure level at 50m was 887 μW/m2 and 905 μW/m2 at 100m. No statistical difference was found when comparing the measurement data obtained at 50 and 100m from the three district municipalities. However, comparison of measurements obtained at 50 and 100m for all base stations were statistically significant, p-value< .002 and p< .003 respectively. The measured RF EMF exposure levels at both distance points were below the reference levels found under International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) RF guidelines. It is therefore essential for mobile base station companies to consider proximity of residential structures when installing new base stations in the future, and regularly maintain the components of mobile base towers, especially in the current state of power load shedding in South Africa.

Financial management decision-making of school finance committees in public primary schools in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

Subject to the South African Schools Act, 84 of 1996 section 16(1), the governance of every public school is vested in its governing body and it may perform only such functions and obligations and exercise only such rights as prescribed by the Act. Section 30(1a) of this Act demands school governing bodies to establish committees and appoint members of the School Governing Body (SGB) to such committees based on expertise. With this study I investigated the financial management decision-making of school finance committees in public primary schools in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa. A qualitative approach was applied in the study. Focus-group interviews were used to collect data from the purposefully selected 2 public primary schools in which the finance committee members were involved. A case study design was applied. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the collected data. All the participants demonstrated awareness of their financial management decision-making roles. Participants revealed that they did not perform their roles effectively due to their illiteracy levels, limited understanding of financial management legislation, inadequate training, interference of the principals in the management of finances, poor consultation and communication. I recommend to the Department of Education to provide financial committees with adequate support and training, to capacitate principals in the area of human relations and resource management and consider appointing financial management advisors at the circuit offices within districts to assist in guiding, monitoring and evaluating the financial management processes in schools on a regular basis.

Perceived Effectiveness of Agricultural Cooperatives by Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from a Micro-Level Survey in North-Eastern South Africa

The importance of agricultural cooperatives and other community-based organizations in facilitating sustainable agricultural development in South Africa cannot be downplayed. The aim of the study was to analyse smallholder farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in rendering support services to their enterprise in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to elicit data from a sample of 120 smallholder farmers drawn from 150 farmers—members who were currently active members of agricultural cooperatives. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data that were analysed using descriptive statistics. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the socio-economic and institutional factors influencing the member farmers’ perception of cooperative effectiveness. The findings revealed that although agricultural cooperatives in the area rendered some level of support services to their members, the majority of the respondents perceived their cooperative as ineffective in rendering some key support services to them that could potentially improve their livelihoods. The results of inferential analysis indicate that factors such as farm size, level of education, household size, farming experience, major crop grown/animal reared, number of cooperative members, support services received index, and satisfaction of leadership processes were significant socioeconomic and institutional factors that influence respondent’s perception. The study recommended increased government public recognition and support for agricultural cooperatives development, increased resource base through more access to grant and donations, and improved linkages between cooperatives and extension agencies as a means of improving the effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives in the area.

The efficacy of an inactivated avian influenza H5N1 vaccine against an African strain of HPAI H5N8 (clade 2.3.4.4 B)

ABSTRACT Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses from the Goose/Guangdong/96-lineage emerged in Southeast Asia and subsequently spread to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, infecting a range of birds and mammals (including humans). This lineage of H5 viruses can efficiently establish itself in wild birds after circulating among gallinaceous poultry, facilitating reassortment with low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus strains, enhancing dispersal over long distances and contributing to endemicity. The detection of HPAI H5N8 virus (clade 2.3.4.4B) in 2017 in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa marked the beginning of an epidemic that devastated the South African poultry industry. Vaccines were tested to assess protection against the circulating field strain. This article describes the performance of a reverse genetics inactivated H5N1 vaccine from Zoetis (RG-H5N1), with 96.1% identity to the circulating HPAI H5N8 virus. Two locally formulated benchmarks, one containing an H5N8 antigen homologous to the field strain (Benchmark-H5N8), the other containing a heterologous (87.6% identity to field virus) LPAI H5N1 antigen (Benchmark-H5N1), were included for comparison. Efficacy was assessed in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens using a prime-boost approach (injections at days 21 and 45), followed by a challenge with a South African HPAI H5N8 isolate (70 days of age). The Zoetis RG-H5N1 vaccine and Benchmark-H5N8 outperformed the Benchmark-H5N1 in terms of humoral response against the H5N8 antigen and reduction of shedding. The Zoetis RG-H5N1 vaccine protected 100% of the chickens against clinical disease and death. This study confirmed that antigenically matched inactivated vaccines could induce robust protection and markedly reduce viral shedding. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Conditionally licensed vaccine protected against HPAI H5N8 (clade 2.3.4.4B). Complete protection against clinical disease and mortality. Drastic reduction of viral shedding after challenge.