https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/196 2026-04-07T15:44:53Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/1020 Title: The impact of service delivery on the development of rural entrepreneurship in Kwamhlanga, Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. Authors: Mahlangu, Pertunia Busisiwe. Abstract: This study investigates the impact of service delivery on the development of rural entrepreneurship in KwaMhlanga, Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Rural entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in improving livelihoods and driving economic development. However, the success of rural businesses is heavily reliant on the availability and quality of basic services, such as water, electricity, and infrastructure. This research aimed to assess how service delivery challenges affect the sustainability and growth of rural enterprises in KwaMhlanga. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology, using a case study approach, to gather in-depth data from rural entrepreneurs in the area. Fifteen participants were purposively selected based on their dependence on local services for business operations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the entrepreneurs’ experiences regarding service delivery and its influence on their businesses. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which revealed both positive and negative effects of service delivery on entrepreneurship. Findings indicate inconsistent and inadequate service delivery hampers business development, increases operational costs, and reduces profitability. Rural entrepreneurs frequently face electricity outages, poor road infrastructure, and an unreliable water supply, which limit their ability to scale and remain competitive. Conversely, services enable innovation and diversification when available, contributing to business sustainability. The study’s findings were interpreted through Resource Dependency Theory, which emphasizes how the availability or lack of critical external resources—such as infrastructure and utilities—shapes organizational behavior, decision-making, and survival. The study concludes by recommending enhanced government support, better infrastructure maintenance, and policies prioritizing rural businesses' needs to ensure sustainable growth and development. Description: Dissertation (Master(Development Studies))--University of Mpumalanga, 2025 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/963 Title: Spatiotemporal variation in macroplastic abundances along a subtropical Austral river system. Authors: Mashamba, Ronald.; Munyai, Linton Fhatuwani.; Dalu, Tatenda. Abstract: Plastic pollution is a ubiquitous problem that poses a threat to society and the environment. The issue is especially pervasive in the aquatic environment, where large amounts of plastic debris accumulate from numerous anthropogenic pathways. Relatively little is known about the extent of macroplastics in African subtropical Austral rivers, where management strategies are lacking. This study quantifies and compares the variation in macroplastic abundances along the Mvudi River, South Africa, over four sites and four seasons. We observed a non-significant difference in macroplastic abundance and variation across sites and seasons, with pollution therefore widespread across these contexts. However, the diversity of plastic debris (i.e. γ-diversity value) decreased generally along sites, with most macroplastic items being collected during winter, and fewer macroplastic during autumn. We observed high abundances of macroplastic debris on the shoreline compared to the mainstream, with high proportional abundances of plastic bags and film (> 57.8%) macroplastic physical type across all sites and seasons. We also observed a high proportional abundance of the polymer polypropylene (> 25.3%) across seasons. The information derived from this study serves as the baseline for understanding seasonal variations in plastic debris and their driving factors on this and other subtropical Austral rivers. Description: Published version 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/435 Title: First-year student experience of orientation week at a university in South Africa. Authors: Nkomo, Trust.; Machingambi, Severino; Gwandure, Calvin. Abstract: The aim of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to assess the orientation experience of first- year students at a university campus in Mpumalanga. The study is informed by Tinto’s (1997) student integration model that suggests that students’ success is mainly influenced by the degree to which the university integrates the students into its academic and social systems. Participants were recruited from first-year students who had gone through a full-week orientation programme at the university. A questionnaire with 23 items on a Likert scale was used to collect data. The responses of 177 participants were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). The principal components that emerged were health and wellbeing, academic development, student leadership, academic orientation, residence life and living and learning at the university. Further, multiple regression results showed that perceptions of health and wellbeing, academic development, student leadership and residence life significantly predicted living and learning at the university. It can therefore be concluded that these aspects had an influence on students, making it likely that they further influence a positive attitude and commitment on the part of the students. The study recommends that student integration activities at university should be extended even beyond orientation week, so that students are continuously supported in their learning. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/434 Title: Land reform and climate change in South Africa: adaptation and mitigation through indigenous knowledge systems. Authors: Gwandure, Calvin.; Lukhele-Olorunju, Phindile. Abstract: Land reform programmes could be afected by changing climatic conditions, which could afect smallholder farmers and rain-fed agricultural production. Benecfiiaries of the land reform programme could be frustrated by erratic rains and unpredictable weather conditions. Predictions show that climate change will decrease agricultural production substantially in Africa and this could mostly afect small-scale farmers and new farmers with limited farming capital. This theoretical paper focuses on indigenous knowledge systems that could be utilised by new farmers to mitigate the efects of climate change in South Africa. Indigenous knowledge systems are posited as being capable of reducing the efects of climate change in situations such as severe storms, flooding and droughts. The new farmers could embrace indigenous knowledge systems in crop planting, crop cultivation, harvesting, food processing, crop storage, and weather prediction strategies. Benecfiiaries of the land reform programme could use natural fertilisers and traditional methods of moisture retention to complement modern methods of farming. The new farmers in South Africa are expected to actively engage in activities that seek solutions to mitigate and adapt to unpredictable weather and disastrous climatic conditions. Policies and programmes that incorporate new farming ideas in South Africa such as the Global Change Grand Challenge would be utilised to help beneficiaries of the land reform programme to understand the causes and eefcts of climate change and how indig enous knowledge could be employed to supplement modern methods of farming during times of scarcity. The study stimulates future studies to research the eefcts of climate change on land reform programmes in South Africa and Africa at large. Description: Please note that only UMP researchers are shown in the metadata. To access the co-authors, please view the full text. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z