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’n Verkenning van die transmedianarratief in Afrikaanse hoërskoolletterkunde
Uys, Kruger (University of Pretoria, 2026)
Hierdie studie verken die potensiaal van transmedianarratiewe in die Afrikaanse hoërskoolletterkundeonderrig. Dit spruit uit die besef dat tradisionele, teksgebaseerde benaderings dikwels onvoldoende is om die multimodale, interaktiewe en komplekse aard van 21ste-eeuse storievertelling vas te vang. Transmedia word daarom geposisioneer as ’n interdissiplinêre strategie wat narratiefteorie, multimodaliteit, semiotiek, edusemiotiek, digitale geletterdheid en kritiese denke integreer. Hierdie benadering beklemtoon dat betekenis nie slegs in die geskrewe woord lê nie, maar in die samewerking van uiteenlopende modusse en platforms wat leerervarings verdiep en verryk. Die navorsing volg ’n kwalitatiewe, interpretivistiese ontwerp met drie fases van data-insameling: (1) ’n multimodale analise van geselekteerde Afrikaanse transmediatekste, (2) semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met drie skeppers of regisseurs van hierdie werke, en (3) vraelyste aan onderwysers, departementshoofde, vakadviseurs en opvoedkundige uitgewers. Die data is tematies ontleed en deur triangulasie is geloofwaardigheid en betroubaarheid versterk. Die bevindinge wys dat transmedianarratiewe unieke geleenthede skep vir leerderbetrokkenheid, kreatiewe denke en kritiese analise. Onderwysers en vakspesialiste wys wel op praktiese uitdagings – soos ongelyke toegang tot tegnologie en ’n oorlaaide kurrikulum – maar erken dat transmedia ’n belangrike rol kan speel in die ontwikkeling van leerders se digitale en kulturele geletterdheid. Skeppers van transmedia beklemtoon die kreatiewe waarde daarvan om narratiewe te verdiep, gehore te betrek en betekenis oor verskillende platforms uit te brei. ’n Oorspronklike transmedialeersiklus-model word in hierdie studie ontwikkel, wat die prosesse van inset, verwerking, uitset en terugvoer sistematiseer. Hierdie model dien as ’n praktiese riglyn vir die implementering van transmedia in die Afrikaanse letterkundeklas. Uiteindelik argumenteer die studie dat transmedianarratiewe nie bloot ’n alternatiewe onderrigstrategie is nie, maar ’n transformatiewe instrument wat bydra tot meer inklusiewe, betrokke en kritiese letterkundeonderrig in Suid-Afrika.
Caring in adversity : experiences of caregivers providing day-to-day personal care and support for activities of daily living to children with physical disabilities in the Hardap region of Namibia
Gunda, Sabastian; Ndadzungira, Allan; Sibanda, Sipho; Chougule, Mahesh (MDPI, 2026-04-03)
Caring for children with physical disabilities can be a daunting responsibility, often placing significant financial, psychological, social and health-related strains on the primary caregivers. This qualitative study explored the experiences of caregivers caring for children with physical disabilities in the Hardap region of Namibia. Using purposive sampling, twenty caregivers were selected as participants in the study. Data was collected using semi-structured interview schedules. Following the interviews, the data were manually analysed and categorised into distinctive themes and sub-themes and summarised in the final report as verbatim quotations. Study findings reveal that caregivers are motivated and determined to provide optimum care for children with physical disabilities under their care by acquiring assistive devices for them and assisting the children with activities of daily living. However, poverty and the general shortage of assistive devices, mostly wheelchairs, provide adverse conditions that are inimical to the development of children’s functional independence in daily living tasks. The burden of carrying the children was noted to be potentially deleterious to the caregivers’ physical health. The study concluded that providing assistive equipment for the children will ease the caregivers’ burden of care while equalising socioeconomic opportunities for both children with physical disabilities and their caregivers. The study only covered a small sample size in a small geographical area of Namibia. Therefore, interpretation and generalisation of the findings need to account for the specific context in the Hardap region of Namibia. Therefore, there remains scope for conducting further research with a larger sample size and one that is more geographically representative of Namibia.
Motor Vehicle Accident Fund Botswana loss of income claimants’experiences returning to work after road traffic accidents
Modise, Gofaone Lady; Uys, Kitty; Du Plooy, Eileen (Taylor and Francis, 2026-02-04)
PURPOSE: Return-to-work (RTW) following road traffic accidents (RTAs) is essential for better health and financial outcomes. The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) Botswana assists loss-of-income (LOI) claimants with medical assistance, LOI compensation and facilitates RTW. Claimants’ experiences affect RTW. This qualitative study investigated barriers to and facilitators of RTW for LOI claimants at the MVAF Botswana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven LOI claimants were purposively sampled and participated in two focus group discussions. They benefited from LOI compensation between 2015 and 2020. Thematic analysis and a hybrid inductive and deductive approach were used to analyze the data via the ecological case management model. RESULTS: The main themes were health care, personal, workplace and legislation and insurance systems, which were further classified into eight subthemes related to barriers and facilitators. The combined top facilitators were (1) vocational rehabilitation, (2)medical assistance, and (3) effective case management, whilst top barriers were (1)severe injuries, (2) insufficient LOI funds, and (3) ineffective RTW case management. CONCLUSION: Effective medical case management and coordinated RTW processes are vital for RTW; equally, the severity of injury affects RTW success. CONTRIBUTION: Understanding barriers and facilitators of RTW can inform personalized RTW interventions.
Precocial weaning influences anxiety, social and maternal care but not cognition in African striped mice, Rhabdomys dilectus chakae
Oosthuizen, Maria Kathleen; Pillay, Neville (Wiley, 2026-03)
Weaning is a stressful stage in the lives of young mammals. Early weaning, in particular, can lead to long-lasting physiological and psychological changes. We investigated the effects of precocial weaning on anxiety, social behavior, cognition, and maternal behavior in adult African four-striped mice (Rhabdomys dilectus chakae). Mice weaned at 12 days exhibited higher anxiety levels and reduced exploratory behavior in a novel environment compared with those weaned at 16 and 20 days. Early-weaned mice also showed decreased allogrooming and body contact, and increased aggression during social interactions. Females weaned early, groomed, and huddled their pups less, although they spent more time in proximity without touching their pups. Spatial learning and memory were not affected by the age at weaning. Early weaning induces stress-related changes in anxiety, exploration, and social behaviors, all of which are of ecological relevance. Although precocious weaning did not affect cognition, R. d. chakae are likely to be anxious and poor mothers, which could also impact the fitness of their offspring. These effects manifested in behaviors of ecological significance, suggesting that early weaning may influence the fitness of the four-striped mouse
Rethinking the state in Africa : perceptions of South Africans on state formation, state-building and a renegotiated social contract
Olasupo, Olusola; Isike, Christopher (University of Florida, 2025-03)
British colonial rule in South Africa in the first instance and the subsequent apartheid regime harmed nation-building with repercussions on good governance, citizenship, and overall development of the country. These negative impacts manifest in the form of high levels of citizen inequality, increased crime rates, poverty, unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery which questions the essence of the state. The origin of the South African state, its perverse character, and future trajectory were interrogated in this paper using qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The findings show South Africa is tending towards state failure unless measures are taken to stem this pivot. One way forward is the creation of a political system that will enable the state and citizens to renegotiate a more inclusive social contract.