UWCScholar

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“He left us in the dark forest and unloaded us off the truck”: Work and health related vulnerabilities of female scrap collectors in rural Eastern Cape and the implications for women’s rights
(National Association of Social Workers, 2026) Schenck, Catherina; Xweso, Mzukisi
Social work has long been at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights, striving to ensure their access to dignity, economic empowerment and social protection. However, despite these efforts, many women in South Africa remain trapped in precarious informal employment, such as scrap collection, which exposes them to significant vulnerabilities. This study explored the work and health-vulnerabilities faced by female scrap collectors in the rural Eastern Cape communities. Using a case study design that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques, the research was conducted in two phases. The first phase developed a socioeconomic profile of the scrap collectors, while the second phase explored the specific work and health-related vulnerabilities experienced by women. Findings reveal that female scrap collectors face multiple hardships, including hazardous working conditions, and a lack of social protection, all of which undermine their rights to human dignity and decent work. The Longwe Women’s Empowerment Framework was employed to analyse the levels of disempowerment and identify strategies for promoting the economic and social empowerment of female scrap collectors. The study highlights an urgent need for policy interventions and social work advocacy to enhance the protection, recognition and empowerment of women engaged in scrap collection. © National Association of Social Workers Zimbabwe/Author(s).
Sustainable co-valorization of seawater pretreated banana pseudostem and dairy wastewater for bioethanol production
(Elsevier Ltd, 2026) Sukai, Yeshona; Hute, Thandi; Sanusi, Isaac A.; Meyer, Edson L.
Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of bioethanol production was optimized using banana pseudostem (BP) and dairy wastewater in this study. The kinetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4743 cell growth and bioethanol production under optimized medium conditions in dairy wastewater (DWW-SSF), pure water (PW-SSF), and a standard bioethanol fermentation medium modified with BP (mYPD-SSF) were comparatively investigated. The optimized DWW-SSF bioprocess resulted in a bioethanol concentration of 33.93 g/L which was 38% and 34% higher than the PW-SSF (24.67 g/L) and mYPD-SSF (25.28 g/L) processes. For the kinetic assessment, the highest maximum specific growth rate (µmax) of 0.60 h−1 was obtained for the PW-SSF process, followed by the DWW-SSF (0.34 h−1) and mYPD-SSF (0.27 h−1) bioprocesses. On the other hand, the DWW-SSF process led to the highest maximum potential ethanol concentration (Pm) of 28.68 g/L compared to 23.78 g/L and 23.09 g/L for the mYPD-SSF and PW-SSF processes respectively. This study highlights the potential of waste-based lignocellulosic bioethanol production through SSF bioprocesses, offering opportunities to reduce the reliance on costly fermentation medium components and finite water resources while simultaneously addressing industrial waste generation.
Die ontwikkeling van riglyne vir die onderrig van leesbegrip
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Arendse, Teresa Jean
Statistics from the PIRLS and provincial systemic assessments paints a picture of a reading crisis in the South-African education system. More specifically, a crisis in reading comprehension across the curriculum. In 2021, the PIRLS results showed a decline and 81%of grade 4 learners and 56% of Grade 6 learners could not read with understanding. The 2024WCED systemic results for Languages showed an improvement in the grade 3 and 6 results and a decline in grade 9, but the reality is that in all three grades, 50% of the learners are stillnot able to read with understanding. Intervention and sustainable support are still crucially important to improve learners’ reading comprehension. The aim of this study is to develop comprehensive guidelines to teach reading comprehension in the Senior phase. These guidelines were developed from existing South-African research. The research methodology is a qualitative interprevist document analysis with Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis was used for the final data analysis. The selected documents include the National Senior phase policy document, three approved grade 8 learner books, and the accompanying teacher guides. Guidelines were compiled from the findings of South-African research and the principles of social constructivism. Together this formed the lens through which the selected documents were analysed .This study sought to determine if the guidelines from the research and the principles from the theory, were reflected in the selected resources used in South African Home Language classrooms. From this analysis, a set of guidelines were compiled to effectively teach reading comprehension.The analysis showed a void in the resources used in the grade 8 classroom and there for lacking in the areas which the research and theory concluded were best practices for the teaching of reading comprehension. The guidelines compiled from this analysis are listed as recommendations for teachers, curriculum developers and textbook writers.
A comparative study on the social support systems of Somali and Ethiopian migrant traders in Cape Town
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Beverley Charmaine Adonis
In the burgeoning field of migration studies, most research focusses primarily on the livelihoods of migrants, subsequently not much research is done on the social support systems and development of migrants in South Africa. Refugees and asylum seekers alike settle and integrate into their host country, however there are differences in how these different migrant traders go about doing business, how they mitigate the challenges, adversities, and successes as a migrant trader. The objective of this study is to investigate and compare the social support systems of the Somali and Ethiopian migrant trader, their challenges, successes, sustainability, and how they overcome these challenges. The study employed the qualitative approach by collecting and analyzing data, this approach refers to research that generates descriptive, rich data of the phenomena at hand. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview participants, as well as conducting focus group discussions, and using comparative design which focusses on the similarities and disparities between groups. Theories used in the study include migration theory, social capital theory and ethnic enclave theory. The significance of the study is that knowledge and deeper understanding will be gained from how the two different migrant groups conduct their trade in Cape Town.
Religion And Crime: The Difficult Choice Between Punishment and Forgiveness
(The University Of the Western Cape, 2026) Aisha Bilhah Siembo
This thesis examines the complex tension between punitive justice and restorative forgiveness within Christian and Islamic traditions, focusing on how this theological dilemma manifests in contemporary criminal justice contexts. While religious teachings in both traditions advocate for forgiveness and redemption, they also recognize the necessity of justice through punishment. This study investigates how this inherent conflict creates practical challenges for legal systems seeking to incorporate religious principles. Through a comparative analysis of Christian and Islamic theological frameworks regarding sin, justice, and redemption, and an examination of four case studies—Criminal Law Response to Shamanism, The Janus-Faced Clergy Crimes, Cruelty against Leniency, and Predictors of Religiosity among US Prisoners—this research demonstrates that the religion-crime nexus is neither straightforward nor consistent. Findings indicate that religious influence on criminal behavior and justice responses depends on contextual factors including interpretation, community dynamics, and institutional structures. The study concludes that while religious frameworks offer valuable insights for restorative justice approaches, their implementation requires nuanced consideration of legal, ethical, and constitutional boundaries. Recommendations include developing faith-sensitive criminal justice practices that respect religious diversity while maintaining legal neutrality and equality.