Browsing by Author "Jonker, Lewis"

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    An analysis of the Eritrean grade 9 biology textbook
    (University of the Western Cape, 2000) Abdella, Ali Suleman; Jonker, Lewis
    Teachers, during various seminars, workshops and departmental meetings, continuously complained about the inadequacy of the grade 9 biology textbook used in the Eritrean secondary schools. Among others, the teachers concerns has provided a necessary stimulus for embarking on this research which sought to determine the role, quality readability and relevance of the Eritrean grade 9 biology textbook, based on the teachers' and students' perceptions. Interviews, questionnaires, Cloze test and Word Difficulty Index were used to collect the data. The interview and questionnaires provided information on how the textbook was being used by both teachers and students. In addition they provided information about quality of the textbook and its relevance to the daily life experiences of the students. Moreover, Cloze test and Word Difficulty Index provided information on the readability of the textbook. The finding of this study reveals that both teachers and students use the textbook as the major source of information. Also, the factors that determine quality of the textbook were found to be poor except the physical features and organisation. With respect to relevance, very limited attempts were made to link biology to the daily life experiences of the students. The Cloze test and Word Difficulty Index show that the students clearly experience difficulty in understanding what they have read. In conclusion, this study makes some recommendation to writers on how to improve the quality of the textbook. The results obtained in this study are by no means exhaustive. Finally, areas warranting further investigation are suggested.
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    A comparison of SAAS and chemical monitoring of the rivers of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project
    (University of the Western Cape, 2004) Rajele, Molefi Joseph; Okujeni, Charles; Jonker, Lewis; Dept. of Earth Science; Faculty of Science
    The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority routinely uses the South African Scoring System version 4 (SASS4) in conjunction with water chemistry to monitor water quality of rivers in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project areas. The objective of this study was to test the efficiency of SASS4 in these areas.
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    Emerging farmers in water user associations cases from the Breede Water Management area
    (University of the Western Cape, 2008) Saruchera, Davison; Jonker, Lewis; Faculty of Science
    The aim of the study is to understand the level of co-operation between emerging and commercial farmers in a Water User Associations. The effort is expected to inform policy and improve practice in the building of new water institutions as government strives to implement IWRM.
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    Emerging forms of social action in urban domestic water supply in South Africa and Zimbabwe
    (Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2013) Manzungu, Emmanuel; Jonker, Lewis; Madaka, Egness; Naka, Zandile; Sithole, Ellen; Dzingirai, Vupenyu
    This paper compares and contrasts emerging forms of social action in urban domestic water supply in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Both countries represent transitional societies that are facing challenges of providing clean and safe domestic water to the black majority population, which for decades was denied basic social services because of a racist ideology. In the first instance the paper assesses whether there exists a constitutional provision that guarantees the right to water. It then turns to how that is enforced, and what happens in its absence. Lastly the paper examines whether the various interventions lead to improved access to safe water. In South Africa an awareness of the constitutional right to water backed by a supportive legislative framework, which engendered a strong sense of entitlement, caused residents to resort to the courts and direct action such as street protests. Similar initiatives were also observed in Zimbabwe. However, the absence of a conducive legal environment, and disenchantment with the state as a provider of social services, led residents to resort to self reliance in order to access water. In both countries social action was not organic –it tended to be championed if not sponsored either by civil society or party political actors. There was no evidence of improved access to safe water as a consequence of social action. The paper concludes that social action in the urban domestic water supply faces the common challenges of social mobilization in particular and social movements in general.
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    Empowered women in water management
    (University of the Western Cape, 2007) Zonde, Memory; Jonker, Lewis; Abrahams, Yvette; Faculty of Science
    Following South Africa's independence from apartheid rule, there has been progressive developments in policies that promote equity in all spheres including the water sector. Equality in the water sector is not only limited to water access, but also management of the water. This study investigated the factors that empower women in the water sector as an example of gender equity.
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    Public participation as governance the role of catchment forums in water governance Mluleki Matiwane
    (2012) Matiwane, Mluleki; Jonker, Lewis
    Catchment forums are concerned groups of people that come together on a voluntary basis in a specific area. They share the same goal and purpose to achieve - sustainable water resources management. These Catchment Forums are suppose to give a voice for those who are marginalised, by creating a safe space in smaller gathering of familiar people on water issues.Higher level organisations such as Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and Catchment Management Agencies have a responsibility to look after these forums. The main focus of this research is to develop an in-depth understanding of these catchment forums, elaborate on the role they play in water resources management, what impact or influence they have on governance in the catchment and the difficulties that they experience through the process of acting as custodian of water resources. Another crucial part of this research is to describe public participation approached by Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in the process of writing the proposal to establish a catchment management agency, determine the role of catchment forums in the establishment of catchment management agency in the Olifant-Doorn Water Management Area and the necessity of these forums as an organisational type in the establishment of catchment management agency. Minutes from the meetings of the Reference Group in the Olifants-Doorn Water Management were therefore the primary source of data. Additional data sources were approved proposals and field notes. Consultants who facilitated the public participation process were consulted from time to time to verify information.The National Water Policy hints at an ideal state where all residents of a catchment are in a position to negotiate water allocation and resolve resource-based conflicts in an equitable manner. One of the key themes evident in the Nation Water Policy of South Africa and echoed in the National Water Act and Water Service Act is participatory water management. For the public participation process in the Olifants-Doorn Water Management Area, catchment forums almost seemed unnecessary, since there were 38 other stakeholder groups active. This study has shown that catchment forums in the Olifants-Doorn Water Management Area participated at the level of collaborate. When it is taken into consideration that the higher level includes all the lower levels, catchment forums had sufficient opportunity to influence the decision taken in the process of writing the proposal to establish the Olifants-Doorn Catchment Management Agency, without experiencing the need or having the clout to actually make the decision.Key words: Catchment Forums, Catchment Management Agencies, decision-making,governance, iwrm, public participation.
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    Stakeholder participation in the establishment of the Berg Catchment Management Agency, South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2007) Gueze, Humberto; Jonker, Lewis; Dept. of Earth Science; Faculty of Science
    Enacted in 1998, the New South African Water Act has introduced a new approach to water resource management, founded on the principle of decentralization of the management of water resources to regional and local levels and the public participation. The approach has been captured in the new National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998), which allows the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies. The overall purpose of this study was to understand the trends of public participation in the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies in South Africa, by presenting the case of the Berg Catchment Management Agency.
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    The water quality and ecological status of the Diep river catchment, Western Cape, South Africa
    (University of Western Cape, 2004) Ndiitwani, Tovhowani Brenda; Knight, Richard; Jonker, Lewis
    The study illustrates the current ecological integrity of the Diep River system, based on the recent river health assessment using the South African Scoring System version 5 (2000-2003) and the water quality data (1996-2002). Some of the major land-use impacts on the river system are highlighted.
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    Water quality trends in the Eerste River, Western Cape, 1990 - 2005
    (University of the Western Cape, 2006) Ngwenya, Faith; Jonker, Lewis; Raitt, Lincoln; Dept. of Earth Science; Faculty of Science
    The Eerste River is a river system which has, over the years, been subjected to human interference. The purpose of this study was to investigatge temporal and spatial trends in the water quality of the Eerste River between 1990 and 2005. The study results revealed that the major trends in the water quality of the Eerste River are more spatial than temporal.