https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30862 2026-05-08T19:21:56Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32322 Assessing the impacts of Eyethu coal mining activities on the surrounding communities: A case study of Vosman township, Emalahleni Municipality in Mpumalanga Province. Mugagadeli, Phathutshedzo Mining is economically important. However, the sector often ignores the environmental impacts of mining activites. These impacts can seriously harm the health of local communities and damage water sources and agricultural products. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of Eyethu coal mining on the community of Vosman in Emalahleni, in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. A mixed research approach was employed, where the use of Remote Sensing to detect land-use and land-cover changes over the years was complemented by a survey (197 respondents) to assess the health impacts of the mine, while water quality assessment and risk assessment were also used to assess the impacts on the nearby river. The key findings suggested that Eyethu coal mining has contributed to the environmental degradation of the study and surrounding area, particularly the destruction of natural vegetation. Inhabitants also reported ground instability (65.9%), health impairment (55.9%, mainly respiratory illnesses), altered air (54.4%) and water quality contamination (55.9%), and this notwithstanding the fact that the people still use the river for domestic and agricultural purposes. These perceptions coincided with objective scientific evaluations of the water quality, which also concluded that the upper river section was highly acidic (pH 3.26), with considerable levels of arsenic (0.024 μg/L) and mercury (0.006 μg/L While formal inferential statistical tests were not conducted, comparative analysis of environmental indicators between the baseline period (T1) and the most recent period (T2) demonstrates a clear increase in land-use disturbance, vegetation loss, and water-quality alteration over time. All heavy metals that were measured were within the threshold of the SANS 241 standards; however, the acidic environment promotes metal solubility and poses a long-term threat to the ecosystem and human health. The Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) were all revealed to be lower than 1, which indicates a low chance of causing non-carcinogenic diseases. In conclusion, the study showed negative impacts attributed by the mine. From changes in land use and land cover, to impacts on human health as well as changes in water quality. Although water quality indices revealed that the impacts of the mine on water quality are not yet severe for assessed heavy metals, this might not be the case with other heavy metals. The study recommends a strong enforcement of environmental regulations, monitoring and rehabilitation, and community engagement in the mining decisions. Moreover, more risk assessments of other heavy metals are encouraged to generalise the quality of the nearby river.; Ngaphandle kokumelana nokubaluleka kwezomnotho wezimayini, lomkhakha uvamise ukukubukela phansi ukuhlolwa komthelela wawo kwezemvelo. Izinhlekelele ezinkulu kwezemvelo zidala ubungozi kwizempilo emiphakathini yasemazweni asafufusa, futhi kuphazamisa izitshalo kanye nemithombo yamanzi ngenxa yemisebenzi yokumba ezimayini. Inhlosonqangi yalesisifundo ukubheka umthelela emphakathini waseVosman eMalahleni, esifundazweni saseMpumalanga, eNinizimu Afrika, umthelela odalwa inkampani emba amalahle i-Eyethu. Indlela yokwenza ucwaningo oluhlanganisile yasetshetshenziswa, lapho kwakusetshenziswa I -remote sensing ukubheka ukusetshenziswa komhlaba,kanye nokuguquguquka komhlaba eminyakeni, (lolucwaningo lwenziwe kubantu abangama-197) ukubheka umthelela yezimayini, khathi kubhekwa futhi isimo samanzi kanye nobungozi emfuleni eseduzane. Imiphumela ebalulekile yaveza ukuthi inkampani yemayini i-Eyethu ibe nomthelela omkhulu ekucekelekeni phansi kwemvelo kulendowo okade kwenziwa kuyo ucwaningo kanye nasezindaweni eziyakhele, ikakhulukazi ukuphazamiseka kwezimila zemvelo. Izakhamizi/ Abahlali baphinda baveza ukungaqini kahle komhlabathi (amaphesenti angama-65.9), okukhubazeka kwezempilo (amaphesenti angama-55.9, ikakhulukazi inkinga yokuphefumula) umoya abawuphefumulayo ongekho ezingeni ngenxa yokungcoliseka (amaphesenti angama-55.4) kanye nokuphazamiseka kwezinga lamanzi ngenxa yokungcoliseka (amaphesenti angama -55.9), ngaphezu kwakho konke lokhu abantu basebenzisa wona umfula ukuthola amanzi okusetshenziswa emakhaya kanye nokuchelela izitshalo. Ngaphandle nje kokuqonda ukuqondana kwezinhloso zokubheka izinga lamanzi ngokwesayensi, okwathola ukuthi amanzi enhla nomfula anesimuncwane(i-acid) eningana (Ph3.26), kanye ne arsenic(ubuthi), obuwu (0.024ug/L) kanye ne-mercury ewu(0.006ug/L), lokkhu kuyinkoba yokuthi indawo la ukungcoliseka kwenzeka khona. Zonke izinsimbi ezisindayo zakalwa kwatholakala ukuthi ziphakathi kombundu ongama-241 SANS, ngokwamazinga, nomakunjalo, imvelo/umhlaba one -acidi kudala ukuncibikala kwensimbi futhi kudala ukuphazamiseka kwimvelo kanye nezimpilo zabantu ekuhambeni kwesikhathi. I- Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ) kanye ne Hazard Index (HI) kwavela ukuthi kungaphansi kuka1, okukhombisa amathuba amancane okuphathwa izifo ezidala umdlavuza. Esiphethweni, lolucwaningo/ lesisifundo sikhombisa umthelela ongemuhle odalwa izimayini, kusukela ekuguqukeni kokusetshenziswa komhlaba kuya ekuphendukeni kwawo, umthelela ezimpilweni zabantu, kanye nokushintsha kwezinga lamanzi. Noma inkomba ivezaukuthi umthelela wezimayini ezingeni lamanzi kawukho mubi kangako ngokocwaningo lwensimbi , lokhu kungenzeka kungafani uma ubheka olunye uhlobo lwensimbi. Lesisifundo siphakamisa kakhulu ukulandelwa kwemithetho elawula ezemvelo, ukuqapha kanye, nokuvuselela kanye,nokuxhumana nemiphakathi kwizinqumo zezimayini. Ngaphezu kwalokho,kugqugquzelwa ukuvamisa ukuhlola ubungozi bezinye izinsimbi ezisindayo emfuleni oseduzane.; Hu sa londwi ndeme ya ikonomi ya migodi, kanzhi sekithara iyi i dzhiela fhasi ṱhoḓisiso ya masiandoitwa ayo kha mupo. Masiandoitwa a mupo a vhaisaho vhukuma na a khombo ane a vhea khomboni mutakalo wa zwitshavha zwapo kha mashango a khou bvelelaho na ane a vhea khomboni zwibveledzwa zwavho zwa vhulimi na zwiko zwa maḓi zwi kolodwa mishumo ya migodi. Ndivho ya ngudo iyi yo vha i ya u sedzulusa masiandoitwa a migodi ya malasha ya Eyethu kha tshitshavha tsha Vosman ngei Emalahleni, kha vunḓu ḽa Mpumalanga, Afrika Tshipembe. Nḓila ya ṱhoḓisiso yo ṱhanganelano yo shumiswaho, hune u shumiswa ha u pfa zwi re kule u itela u vhona tshanduko dza u shumiswa ha mavu na u fukedzwa ha mavu kha miṅwaha zwo ḓadziswa nga tsedzuluso (vhafhinduli vha 197) u itela u ṱola masiandoitwa a mutakalo wa mugodini, ngeno tsedzuluso ya vhuimo ha maḓi na tsedzuluso ya khombo zwo dovha zwa shumiswa u sedzulusa masiandoitwa kha u gonya ha maḓi. Mawanwa a ndeme o sumbedza uri migodi ya malasha ya Eyethu yo shela mulenzhe vhukuma kha u tshinyadza mupo wa ngudo na fhethu ho ṱanganaho na hone, nga maanḓa u tshinyadzwa ha zwimela zwa mvelo. Vhadzulapo vho dovha vha vhiga u sa dzika ha mavu (65.9%), u sa dzika ha mutakalo (55.9%, zwihulusa malwadze a u fema), u shandukiswa ha vhuḓi ha muya (54.4%) na u tshikafhadzwa ha vhuḓi ha maḓi (55.9%), hu sa londwi uri vhathu vha kha ḓi shumisa mulambo kha ndivho dza hayani na dza vhulimi. Hezwi zwine zwa dzhiiwa zwo ṱangana na ṱhoḓisiso dza saintsi dzine dza vha na tshipikwa dza vhuḓi ha maḓi, zwe zwa dovha zwa fhedziswa nga ḽa uri tshipiḓa tsha mulambo wa nṱha tsho vha tshi na dungi nnzhi (pH 3.26), na zwikalo zwihulwane zwa aseniki (0.024 μg/L) na mekhuuri (0.006 μg/L), na uri zwi vhidzwa tshikafhadzo ya u fhisa i khalini. Tsimbi dzoṱhe dzi lemelaho dze dza kaliwa dzo vha dzi nga ngomu ha tshikalo tsha zwilinganyo zwa SANS 241; fhedzi fhethu hune ha vha na dungi zwi ṱuṱuwedza u ṱangana ha tsimbi nahone zwi vhea khombo ya tshifhinga tshilapfu kha fhethu hune zwimela, zwipuka na zwiṅwe zwivhumbiwa, khathihi na mutsho na mbonalo ya shango, zwa shumisana u itela u vhumba mapulo a vhutshilo na mutakalo wa vhathu. Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) zwoṱhe zwo dzumbululwa zwi fhasi ha 1, zwine zwa sumbedza khombo ya fhasi ya u vhanga malwadze a sa ḓivhei uri a nga vhanga pfuko. Musi hu tshi pendelwa, ngudo yo sumbedza masiandoitwa mavhi o ṱanganedzwaho nga mugodini, u bva kha tshanduko kha tshumiso ya mavu na u fukedzwa ha mavu, u ya kha masiandoitwa kha mutakalo wa vhathu, khathihi na tshanduko kha vhuimo ha maḓi. Naho vhuimo ha maḓi nga nomboro ṱhukhu ine ya papamala ine ya bvisela khagala uri masiandoitwa a mugodini kha vhuḓi ha maḓi ha athu vha mahulwane kha tsimbi dzi lemelaho dzo senguluswaho, hezwi zwi nga kha ḓi sa vha zwone kha dziṅwe tsimbi dzi lemelaho. Ngudo i themendela u kombetshedzwa ho khwaṱhaho ha milayo ya mupo, u ṱola na u vusuludza, na u dzhenelela ha tshitshavha kha tsheo dza migodi. Zwiṅwe hafhu, u ṱola khombo nnzhi dza dziṅwe tsimbi dzi lemelaho hu u ṱuṱuwedzwa u itela u angaredza vhuimo ha mulambo wa tsini. Text in English with summaries in Zulu and Venda 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31967 Synthesis of magnetic nanoadsorbents derived from maize waste and their application for the adsorptive removal of selected heavy metal ions from wastewater samples Mahlaule Glory, Louisah Mmabaki Over the past few years, heavy metal ion (HMI) pollution has become a crucial matter due to their threat to human health and ecological systems.,. Furthermore, HMIs have been reported to be hazardous, persistent, and in some of the global health organizations reports, they have been declared as carcinogens. These HMIs include Pb (II) and Cr (VI) and they are very reactive and highly oxidizing in nature. Thus, the need to remediate these HMIs from wastewater using magnetic nano adsorbents. In this study, three nano-adsorbents such as cellulose nano crystals (CNC), magnetite (M), and magnetic cellulose nanocrystal (MCNC) were synthesized for the removal of Pb (II) in wastewater. The magnetic cellulose nanocrystals (MCNCs) were synthesized using a co-precipitation method from the magnetite (Fe3O4) and cellulose nano crystals (CNCs) were used as a base for stability and easy dispersion of iron for the adsorptive removal of Pb (II) ions. Furthermore, to enhance the adsorption capacity and to improve selectivity of the CNC towards -targeting anionic Cr (VI) ions, the surface modification was conducted by crosslinking CNCs with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy (TEMPO), thereby oxidising the material to form a bridge with the grafting of the polyethyleneimine (PEI). The surface of the CNC-TEMPO-PEI was further magnetised by introducing iron on to the surface material via a co-precipitation method. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of C=O, COOH, CH, OH and FeO stretching frequencies in MCNC, while powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) confirmed the formation of MCNC and the monoclinic type 1 cellulose with 1β lattice and magnetite cubic spinel phases of the CNC. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) showed the presence of both CNC and magnetite at 400 nm. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated a smooth fibroid surface of CNCs while magnetite (M) displayed 2 morphologies, the rod like and spherical morphology, indicating the presence of iron and oxygen. The MCNC were stable after 600 ⁰C as shown on the thermograms generated from the thermogravimetric analyser (TGA). Last, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) displayed surface area, pore size and pore volume improvement of 56 m2/g, 98 Å and 0,1465 cm3/g. Å, respectively, for the MCNC. Following the characterization of the MCNCs nanocomposites, the material was used for adsorptive removal of Pb (II). It was discovered that for the Pb (II) removal efficiency was 97 % with an acceptable precision of ≤ 3 %. The highest efficiency was obtained at optimal conditions of 60 mg dosage, 0,1 ppm concentration within a rapid contact time of 5 min at a temperature of 60 ⁰C and at a pH of 6. These parameters were optimised by using multivariate optimization tools (Minitab) and were also validated against the magnetite and the CNC. A maximum adsorption capacity of MCNC was also obtained at 47,70 mg/g for Pb (II) and the material was re-used for up to 4 cycles. The results revealed that the reaction followed Freundlich isotherms and Pseudo First Order kinetic model with a regression coefficient of 0,98 and 0,96 respectively. The adsorption thermodynamics studies indicated a spontaneous process and an exothermic reaction. On the other hand, the MCNC-TEMPO-PEI was characterised with FTIR, P-XRD, TEM and SEM-EDS techniques. The FTIR confirmed a successful formation and the presence of COOH, OH, Fe-O band and NH2 groups on the nanocomposite. The P-XRD confirmed the crystal structure of CNC-TEMPO and the amorphous structure of both the CNC-TEMPO-PEI and the MCNC-TEMPO-PEI. The SEM-EDS results demonstrated the rod-like, oval and irregular cubic morphology for successful preparation of MCNC-TEMPO-PEI nanocomposite. The adsorption performance of MCNC-TEMPO-PEI on Cr (VI) ions was investigated by using univariate optimization tools. The MCNC-TEMPO-PEI was efficient at 5 ppm, using a 30 mg dosage at 25 ⁰C within the acidic conditions at pH 2 within a rapid contact time of 15 min. The optimised parameters were further validated using 5 various adsorbent materials and the results indicated that the MCNC-TEMPO-PEI was the most efficient by exhibiting the highest adsorption capacity of 4,4 mg/g with a 98% removal. The interaction between the MCNC-TEMPO-PEI and the Cr (VI) ions indicated a chemisorption of the electrostatic forces governing the magnetic and ionic exchange interaction between of the adsorbate and the analyte. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm displayed a correlation coefficient of 0,94 following the PSO kinetic model against the adsorptive removal of Cr (VI) ions. The thermodynamic interaction indicated a non-spontaneous endothermic reaction with a favourable reaction. The adsorbent could be reused at least 8 times with a removal efficiency above 75 %. The results revealed that the real wastewater samples analysed from this study did not contain Cr (VI) ion. Text in English 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31949 A GIS-based approach to analyse potable water acccessibility in Langeloop Village in Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Mpumalanga Mathaba, K. M. Potable water accessibility is fundamentally a human right, crucial for sustaining life and ensuring the well-being of individuals and communities. However, in rural areas, people struggle to find enough clean water to cook and drink; they travel or walk long distances to access potable water. Langeloop settlement is a rural area that struggles to access potable water. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse potable water accessibility to the Langeloop community using a GIS-based approach. Langeloop settlement consists of 11 sections/extensions used in this study. The mixed method research approach was used, and potable water sources such as standpipes were captured using a GPS, while observations and a questionnaire were used to conduct a survey. Spatial service area network analysis was performed. The findings of the study are that water accessibility is below average, and many households still do not have access to potable water. This study also found that water availability is a more prominent problem than water proximity. The recommendations of the study include 140 proposed standpipes in the areas where potable water is not accessible. However, it reflects the importance of resource allocation and targeted interventions to improve water access for communities in need. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31942 Ascension of women to senior management positions : a case of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Gauteng province Ngwenyama, N. P. Inherited colonial and patriarchal laws have created barriers for women to gain entry to employment opportunities and hierarchically advance to senior management positions (SMS). Although government is making strides in promoting women representation and gender equality in the public sector, women remain underrepresented at SMS. The aim of the study was to investigate if women at the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) advance hierarchically at the same pace as their male counterparts to SMS. The study applied a qualitative research approach to address the research objectives. Data was collected through desktop research by reviewing secondary data sources available in the public domain. The study found that women at DWS are underrepresented at SMS positions as males predominantly occupy these positions. This further widens the inequality gap, which shows that men continue to enjoy the benefits of patriarchal norms over women. Moreover, the majority of national government departments including DWS have not achieved the set employment equity target of 50% for women at SMS, and the 2% target for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The study revealed that it is a challenge to determine the level of compliance for women with disabilities at SMS as the composition of the gender and racial demographics for the 2% is not clearly defined by government. The study also found that barriers exist within the public sector which hinder the advancement of women, such as glass ceiling, glass cliff, patriarchal practices, gender stereotypes, gender bias and discrimination, exclusion of women in strategic decision-making structures, unequal salaries, harassment, bullying and intimidation, and unaccommodated disability needs, amongst others. The lack of support programmes and empowerment interventions for women to strive and self-actualise their potential to assume leadership positions has also been found to be amongst the barriers. The study recommends that for gender equality to be achieved, DWS should provide support programmes and empower women through skills development, nurturing talent, mentorship, coaching, gender mainstreaming, and provision of a gender-focused budget. Other recommendations brought forward are the inclusion of men in gender forums to drive transformation, development of gender-neutral policies, supervisor-subordinate support, and flexible policies to enable women to achieve a work-life balance. Text in English 2024-05-07T00:00:00Z