UWCScholar
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Repurposing of apoptotic inducer drugs against mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Nature Research, 2025) Klein, Ashwil; Keyster, Marshall; Nyambo, Kudakwashe
Computational approaches complement traditional in-vitro or in-vivo assays, significantly accelerating the drug discovery process by increasing the probability of identifying promising lead compounds. In this study, the apoptotic compounds were assessed for antimycobacterial activity and immunomodulatory potential in infected THP-1 macrophage cells. The antimycobacterial activity of the apoptotic compounds was evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The immunomodulatory potential of the apoptotic compounds was determined on mycobacterial-infected THP-1 and non-infected THP-1 macrophage cells. The potential binding dynamics of the compounds against InhA were predicted using molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and MM-GBSA binding free energies. The in-vitro MIC assay showed that cepharanthine (CEP) had the highest antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, with MICs of 3.1 and 1.5 µg/mL, respectively, followed by CP-31398 dihydrochloride hydrate (DIH) (MICs = 6.2 and 3.1 µg/mL, respectively), marinopyrrole A (MAR) (MICs = 25 and 12.5 µg/mL, respectively), and nutlin-3a (NUT) (MICs = 50 and 25 µg/mL, respectively). MICs for the rest of the drugs were > 200 µg/mL against both M. smegmatis mc2155 and M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Furthermore, the growth of M. smegmatis mc2155 in infected THP-1 macrophage cells treated with DIH, CEP, carboxyatractyloside potassium salt (CAR), and NUT was inhibited by the mentioned drugs. Cytokine profiling showed that DIH optimally regulated the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α which potentially enhanced the clearance of the intracellular pathogen. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that NUT, MAR, 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), and BV02 strongly bind to InhA. However, 17-AAG and BV02 did not show significant activity in-vitro. This study highlights the importance of probing already existing chemical scaffolds as a starting point for discovery of therapeutic agents against M. tuberculosis H37Rv using both pathogen and host directed approaches. The integration of molecular dynamics simulations provides valuable insights into potential scaffold modifications to enhance the affinity.
Immigrant responses to xenophobia in post-apartheid South Africa: from victims to agents (the case of Nigeria)
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2023) Lombard, Felicia; Ruiters ,Gregory
This study, titled "Immigrant Responses to Xenophobia in Post-Apartheid South Africa: From Victims to Agents" and sub-titled "The Case of Nigeria," centres on the responses of Nigerian immigrants in South Africa and those in Nigeria to xenophobia in South Africa after 1994. Xenophobia against black African foreign nationals is an unremitting problem in postapartheid South Africa. A new context with South African companies moving into the rest of Africa has shifted the balance of forces. Studies on xenophobia frequently portray black African foreign nationals as passive victims. This thesis will contest that one-sided characterisation by showing that migrants have actively counter-organised to defend themselves at multiple scales, from local to national to transnational. In doing so, the following questions will serve as the study's compass: How have Nigerian immigrants mobilised in defensive networks as a way of surviving and deflecting xenophobic violence and attitudes towards them in South Africa? What are the multiple geographical scales at which this activity occurs (local, national, and transnational)? What is the response of South African companies in Nigeria to xenophobic counteraction? How do we understand violence of the poor against the poor or “non-revolutionary” violence? From a translocal perspective, what collective power do local and international actors generate, and how does this create a more comprehensive account of xenophobia and migration? What are the limits of transnational power?
Perceived organisational support, organisational commitment and turnover intentions amongst employees in a selected company in the cash industry
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2022) Crayenstein, Samantha (Saaligha); Hamman-Fisher, Desiree
Globally and in South Africa turnover has been identified as a major challenge in organisations. An examination of the literature revealed that perceived organisational support (POS) and organisational commitment can significantly influence an employee’s turnover intention. The literature also showed that when employees perceive that they are being supported by their employers they reciprocate positively and commit to organisational imperatives because they feel appreciated. As a result, organisational efficiency and employee performance is enhanced and turnover is decreased. However, little attention has been directed at examining POS and organisational commitment on turnover intention in the cash industry in South Africa. This privation of literature was found even though employee retention is a critical challenge in the cash industry in South Africa.
Radio as a domain of freedom: aurality, memory and object biography in the Eastern Cape.
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2024) Kobokana, Siyanda; Rassool, Ciraj
This thesis examines the role of radio as a domain of freedom in apartheid South Africa, exploring how it functioned both as a tool of state control and a site of resistance. Through the concepts of aurality, memory, and object biography, this study considers the ways in which radio shaped political consciousness and personal identity, particularly within Black communities. Using the Panasonic RF-2200 radio owned by the author’s grandfather as a focal point, the thesis explores insurgent listening a form of engaged and resistant listenership that defied state censorship and enabled communities to participate in the liberation struggle. Drawing on oral histories, archival research, and critical media studies, this research argues that radio was more than a means of broadcasting; it was a mediating object through which individuals and communities constructed meaning, remembered the past, and imagined alternative futures. By engaging with scholars such as Liz Gunner, Sekibakiba Lekgoathi, and Marissa Moorman, the thesis situates radio within broader debates on sonic heritage and historical acoustemology, demonstrating how sound technologies contributed to both oppression and resistance. The study also considers how the legacy of insurgent listening extends beyond apartheid, influencing contemporary social movements such as #FeesMustFall and #RhodesMustFall. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to discussions on media and resistance, arguing that radio, as both a material object and a site of listening, played a crucial role in shaping historical memory, political engagement, and subjectivity in South Africa.
Towards a suitable regulatory framework for the effective performance of municipalities in South Africa
(Universty of the Western Cape, 2025) Stevens, Curtly Keagan; Steytler, Nicolaas
This thesis explores whether and how the regulatory framework for local government in South Africa is hampering the ability of municipalities to discharge their constitutional mandate. The study specifically explores whether the phenomenon of over-regulation has manifested itself in South Africa, and what steps can be taken to address it. Claims of over-regulation and poorly designed rules are not new in regard to municipalities. However, until now, scholars in South Africa have often mentioned misgivings about rules, but there is no empirical evidence to back them up, particularly in the context of municipalities. The study begins by reviewing the comprehensive literature on decentralisation and regulatory design, which includes law-making, and finds that no universal model exists for designing a regulatory system applicable to local government. Much of the current literature focuses on general law-making principles without direct link to local government. The study further finds that several regulatory pathologies documented in the literature, such as duplication and complexity (cumulative load of laws and costly regulatory systems that do not consider the capacity constraints of regulators), have all manifested themselves within local government, particularly in Australia and South Africa. With particular reference to South Africa, the study examines the evidence and arguments by means of desktop analysis and empirical data gathered through open-ended interviews. In South Africa, various initiatives have been taken to address the pathologies above by government, including the courts. The study, however, establishes that these initiatives have failed to yield any results in the absence of a clear guiding framework and the institutions necessary to ensure implementation.