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Public libraries are established to promote literacy, cultural heritage, and the dissemination of information. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, public libraries across the globe had to close their physical spaces and change their service models. This qualitative study investigated information provision by a public library in the Limpopo Province, South Africa, during the national public health restrictions to determine what means were applied to sustain service provision. The paper reports on ways used by the library to provide information to users at the time. Data were collected from the chief librarian and four librarians using face-to-face interviews and one focus group. The data were thematically analysed. Findings indicated that no services were offered to users during the time of the Covid-19 restrictions. The paper recommends the digital literacy training of users, the use of free databases, and the introduction of online library services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sub-Saharan cities are growing and changing due to immigration and modernization. One of the consequences of the current urbanization is that an increasing number of families residing in peri-urban areas of small rural towns lack access to basic municipal and ecosystem services. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the impacts of peri-urban expansion on municipal services provided by the governments and on ecosystems services through a case study of a small rural town called Makhado Biaba in Limpopo Province of South Africa. Makhado Biaba has been experiencing incessant rapid physical expansion over the years. Such spatial expansion into the peri-urban zone impacts the provision of municipal services such as water, electricity, sewerage, and refuse collection. In 2020, an exploratory mixed-methods study of some anthropocentric and ecosystem changes in Makhado Biaba Local Municipality in northeast South Africa was executed. Land use was mapped for the time period of 1990–2020, data were gathered through a household questionnaire in six villages, and interviews were held with municipal officials. Among others, the study showed that several municipal services are available in the peri-urban villages of Makhado Biaba Town despite the distant locations outside the urban core. However, services are not uniformly distributed due to that new peri-urban developments that are leapfrogging into vacant land without supporting infrastructure. The pace of the municipality in providing the necessary municipal services such as water and energy supply, as well as sanitation and refuse removal, is lagging behind the development of new and unplanned housing areas. The findings bring about information about the suburban livelihoods and how the administration of the peri-urban areas can respond to the needs of the inhabitants as well as to future challenges. For instance, to facilitate local development, recurrent and well-structured citizen dialogs with local groups to identify delivery failures are strongly recommended. In addition, the impact on ecosystem services by the city development and land use change stresses the need for guided urban development and expansion and also settlement upgrading programs in peri-urban zones to limit the bad effect on ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Substance use is an escalating public health problem in South Africa resulting in risky behaviours and poor educational attainment among adolescents. There is a huge battle to overcome substance use among learners as more drugs become easily available with the mean age of drug experimentation reported to be at 12 years of age. It is important to continuously understand the trends in substance use in order to assess if there are positive changes and provide evidence for the development of context-specific effective interventions. This paper outlines the prevalence of substance use among selected high schools in a district in Limpopo province. Methods: To determine the prevalence of substance use among selected high school learners in a district in Limpopo Province, a cross-sectional school survey of 768 learners was conducted. Data was analysed using SPSS v 26. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the independent and dependent variables and Chi-Square test was used to investigate associations between demographic characteristics and substance use among high school learners. Results: The most abused substances by learners were alcohol (49%), cigarettes (20.8%) and marijuana (dagga/cannabis) (16.8%). In a lifetime, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in cigarette smoking with gender, school, and grade; with more use in males (14.2%) than females (7.6%); in urban schools (14.6) than peri-urban (6.7%) and more in Grade 12 (6.4%). There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in alcohol use with more use in Grade 10 (12.6%) and varied use among male and female learners but cumulatively more alcohol use in females (27.7%). Drug use varied, with an overall high drug use in urban schools (20.7%). Conclusions: Substance use is rife among high school learners in the district and health promotion initiatives need to be tailored within the context of socio-demographic characteristics of learners including the multiple levels of influence such as peer pressure, poverty, unemployment and child headed families. Additional research is required to investigate the factors leading to a notable gradual increase in use among female learners and into the environmental and family settings of learners in influencing substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the joint modelling of compound extreme events such as high temperatures and low rainfall. The increase in the frequency of occurrence of these events in many regions has necessitated the development of models for estimating the concurrent probabilities of such compound extreme events. The current study discusses an application of copula models in predicting the concurrent probabilities of compound low rainfall and high-temperature events using data from the Lowveld region of the Limpopo province in South Africa. The second stage discussed two indicators for monitoring compound high temperature and low rainfall events. Empirical results from the study show that elevations ranging from 100–350 m, 350–700 m and 700–1200 m exhibit varying probabilities of experiencing drought, with mild droughts having approximately 64%, 66%, and 65% chances, moderate droughts around 36%, 39%, and 38%, and severe droughts at approximately 16%, 19%, and 18%, respectively. Furthermore, the logistic regression models incorporating the southern oscillation index as a covariate yielded comparable results of copula-based models. The methodology discussed in this paper is robust and can be applied to similar datasets in any regional setting globally. These findings could be useful to disaster management decision makers, helping them formulate effective mitigation strategies and emergency response plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa's major cities are periodically wracked by large-scale xenophobic violence directed at migrants and refugees from other countries. Informal sector businesses and their migrant owners and employees are particularly vulnerable targets during these attacks. Migrant-owned businesses are also targeted on a regular basis in smaller-scale looting and destruction of property. There is now a large literature on the characteristics and causes of xenophobic violence and attitudes in South Africa, most of it based on quantitative and qualitative research in the country's major metropolitan areas. One of the consequences of big-city xenophobia has been a search for alternative markets and safer spaces by migrants, including relocating to the country's many smaller urban centres. The question addressed in this paper is whether they are welcomed in these cities and towns or subject to the same kinds of victimization as in large cities. This paper is the first to systematically examine this question by focusing on a group of towns in Limpopo Province and the experiences of migrants in the informal sector there. Through survey evidence and in-depth interviews and focus groups with migrant and South African vendors, the paper demonstrates that xenophobia is also pervasive in these smaller centres, in ways that both echo and differ from that in the large cities. The findings in this paper have broader significance for other countries attempting to deal with the rise of xenophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Opuntia ficus‐indica, commonly known as prickly pear, is a widely distributed plant originating in central America. Its wide distribution and popularity as a cultivated plant are due to the sweetness of its fruits. Here, the role of O. ficus‐indica in the livelihoods of people in Limpopo Province, South Africa, was investigated. Roadside traders of prickly pear were surveyed 2019–2020 using paper‐based questionnaires and a convenience sampling strategy. Evidence of O. ficus‐indica trading as a means to generate income was uncovered. Notably, none of the traders knew about invasive species. Future studies should seek to understand the motivations of purchasers. The extent to which rural communities use this species for food security and poverty alleviation is not fully understood. Summary: The Opuntia ficus‐indica (whose fruits are traded in South Africa) is a species that is classified according to the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004) Alien and Invasive Species (NEM:BA A&IS) regulations as an invasive species. This study sought to provide an understanding of the socio‐economic value of O. ficus‐indica and the characteristic profiles of the people who trade with O. ficus‐indica in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.A convenience sampling strategy was conducted along trading roads in Limpopo province, and the data were collected by surveying traders' attitudes toward the prickly pear trade using questionnaires.Our findings show that at the time of sampling 72 traders participated in prickly pear trading along the roadside. Unemployment is cited as the primary reason for their involvement in trading. O. Ficus‐indica is an important fruit for rural communities in Limpopo province. It helps communities living below the poverty line to generate income and to support their livelihoods.Our study highlights the need for the establishment of a Prickly Pear Traders' Agency in order to promote the trade of O. ficus‐indica as a measure to generate income, alleviate poverty, and ensure food security. The paper concludes with recommendations for local government support for O. ficus‐indica traders through the formalization of the trade and through monetary support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiversity of our planet is under threat, with approximately one million species expected to become extinct within decades. The reason: negative human actions, which include hunting, overfishing, pollution, and the conversion of land for urbanisation and agricultural purposes. Despite significant investment from charities and governments for activities that benefit nature, global wildlife populations continue to decline. Local wildlife guardians have historically played a critical role in global conservation efforts and have shown their ability to achieve sustainability at various levels. In 2021, COP26 recognised their contributions and pledged USD 1.7 billion per year; however this is a fraction of the global biodiversity budget available (between USD 124 billion and USD 143 billion annually) given they protect 80% of the planets biodiversity. This paper proposes a radical new solution based on "Interspecies Money", where animals own their own money. Creating a digital twin for each species allows animals to dispense funds to their guardians for the services they provide. For example, a rhinoceros may release a payment to its guardian each time it is detected in a camera trap as long as it remains alive and well. To test the efficacy of this approach, 27 camera traps were deployed over a 400 km 2 area in Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo Province in South Africa. The motion-triggered camera traps were operational for ten months and, using deep learning, we managed to capture images of 12 distinct animal species. For each species, a makeshift bank account was set up and credited with GBP 100. Each time an animal was captured in a camera and successfully classified, 1 penny (an arbitrary amount—mechanisms still need to be developed to determine the real value of species) was transferred from the animal account to its associated guardian. The trial demonstrated that it is possible to achieve high animal detection accuracy across the 12 species with a sensitivity of 96.38%, specificity of 99.62%, precision of 87.14%, F1 score of 90.33%, and an accuracy of 99.31%. The successful detections facilitated the transfer of GBP 185.20 between animals and their associated guardians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to explore the factors leading to the disappearance of African indigenous knowledge of water conservation and management in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Throughout time, indigenous people developed methods of conserving and managing water to ensure that there is water availability. Although indigenous knowledge enabled communities to conserve and manage water for years, it faces challenges of disappearance in the modern society. Currently, little knowledge exists about African indigenous knowledge of water conservation and management. This study was grounded in the Sankofa paradigm. An exploratory qualitative research design was adopted. Data were collected, using one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The target participants were sampled, using non-probability sampling and purposive sampling. The study found that the factors contributing to the disappearance of African indigenous knowledge of water conservation and management include: lack of systematic documentation; colonisation; a dominance of the Christian religion; and families' loss of traditions and history. The paper recommended a systematic documentation of indigenous knowledge and acknowledgement and implementation of the African indigenous knowledge methods of water conservation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon hence it requires a multipronged approach in terms of analysis and solutions. This paper investigated the drivers of multidimensional poverty among households in rural Limpopo province, South Africa. Primary data were collected from a random sample of 407 households in Sekhukhune and Capricorn District Municipality of rural Limpopo Province, South Africa. The sampling methods used included purposive and simple random sampling. While descriptive statistics was used to profile households' socioeconomic characteristics, the Alkire-Foster methodology was employed to analyse multidimensional poverty. The logistic regression model was also used to analyse the drivers of multidimensional poverty in the study area. The results of data analysis revealed that the incidence of multidimensional poverty was high among the households. The results also indicated that employment, sanitation type, type of fuel for heat and cooking, and years of schooling contributed to the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in the study area. The results further revealed that the gender of the household head, years of schooling, association and cooperative membership, access to grants, and income influence the incidence of multidimensional poverty. The paper concluded that multidimensional poverty spread across both the income poor and non-income poor as the majority of them were deprived of sanitation, the type of fuel used for heating, and asset ownership. Improved sanitation system and electricity subsidies especially in the winter to access clean fuel for heat, could minimise multidimensional poverty in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global climate change, droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in many regions such as in South Africa. In Limpopo, observed high climate variability and projected future climate change will likely increase future maize production risks. This paper evaluates drought patterns in Limpopo at two representative sites. We studied how drought patterns are projected to change under future climatic conditions as an important step in identifying adaptation measures (e.g., breeding maize ideotypes resilient to future conditions). Thirty-year time horizons were analyzed, considering three emission scenarios and five global climate models. We applied the WOFOST crop model to simulate maize crop growth and yield formation over South Africa's summer season. We considered three different crop emergence dates. Drought indices indicated that mainly in the scenario SSP5-8.5 (2051–2080), Univen and Syferkuil will experience worsened drought conditions (DC) in the future. Maize yield tends to decline and future changes in the emergence date seem to impact yield significantly. A possible alternative is to delay sowing date to November or December to reduce the potential yield losses. The grain filling period tends to decrease in the future, and a decrease in the duration of the growth cycle is very likely. Combinations of changed sowing time with more drought tolerant maize cultivars having a longer post-anthesis phase will likely reduce the potential negative impact of climate change on maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is a nation of diverse groups, each with its own characterised ethnicity, cultural heritage, language, history, and beliefs. The various public entities that make up the multicultural landscape of South Africa are marked by toponyms that allude to the above-mentioned characterising sociocultural aspects. Institutions of learning such as public schools are among the many entities which carry toponyms that are reflective of societal structures and shared community values. It is important to consider the historical background, and motivations behind the names of public schools in order to gain insight into the sociocultural factors and power relations at play. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to explore the significance of public school names and their meanings at Ga-Sekororo. The study was conducted using a qualitative research approach in the interpretive paradigm, with a case study as the research design. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were administered, with 12 participants that included 4 school principals, 4 community leaders, 2 regional circuit officials, and 2 of officials from the Departments of Education from Limpopo province, South Africa. The study's findings revealed that the significance of public school names at Ga-Sekororo is to commemorate persons from royalty and preserve their identity and history. In addition, the data suggest that public school names denote land custodianship to tribal authorities and that the schools named after geographical features are helpful in linking the schools with the environment they are found at. It is recommended that the names of public schools should be expanded to include not only names of members of the royal council, but also names of individuals who have made significant contributions to the community. Names of public schools should draw inspiration from a memorable event in the community regardless of whether persons associated with the event are royalty or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper was to analyze factors affecting domestic water consumption in Thohoyandou, Limpopo province, South Africa. A structured questionnaire was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data in the study area. A total sample of 100 households participated in answering the questionnaire. The results of the analysis found that average bath water consumption was 122 l/c/d, toilet flushing was 26 l/c/d, drinking and food preparation was 20 l/c/d, washing clothes was 5 l/c/d, washing cars was 2.5 l/c/d and home gardening was 6 l/c/d. The average water consumption of one household in the area was 190 l/c/d. Factors influencing water consumption in Thohoyandou were: education level of household head, age of household head, occupation of household head, gender of household head, family size, and tariff. SPSS performed correlation matrix and it was used to analyze factors affecting water consumption. Correlation matrix results showed that education level of household head was −0.627**, family size was 0.947**, tariff was 0.533**, female household heads was 0.647**, male household heads was (−0.634**), and age of household heads was (0.372**). Education level of household head results showed a negative correlation in all sub areas. The consequences of having more household heads with a low level of education was high water consumption, which is not in line with the Water Conservation Act. The contribution of the research was that household heads who have a high level of education typically consume less water than household heads who have a low level of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The components of information systems (ISCs) have become a critical factor in the adoption of enterprise application architecture (EAA) for supply chain management (SCM) within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) when used reciprocally with competent capital formation, mainframe and personal computers, application software systems, and information technology expert. The current study examined information systems components (ISCs) as they were used in the adoption of EAA in SMEs, scrutinised the Theory of Planned Behavior, and systematic literature review. Objective: This paper seeks to contribute to the fundamental aspects of ISCs that influence the adoption of EAA for SCM in small and medium enterprises (SMSs) in South Africa, located in Limpopo Province of Capricorn District Municipality. Methodology: A quantitative survey presented both diagnostic tests and data analysis as that of the methodological modus operandi. Descriptive data analysis generated Pearson's correlation and coefficient, along with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression. Data was collected through stratified random sampling of SME owners and managers. Results: The most substantial results indicate that ISCs should be integrated with transactional support systems (TSSs), management information systems (MISs), information systems governance (ISG), decision support systems (DSSs), executive support systems (ESSs), knowledge management systems (KMSs), and web application architecture (WAA) to predict EAA acceptance. Conclusion: This article described the greatest possible direction for considering ISCs when planning to integrate EAA adoption. Furthermore, the research results provide a preliminary overview and analysis of the results that support the alternative hypothesis that ISCs influence SCM adoption and implementation of EAA in SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa has about 2.5 million households without electricity access, most of which are located in rural areas and urban informal settlements. The nexus of energy poverty and gender is at play in the affected communities, as women and girls are culturally stereotyped with the task of collecting unclean fuels (e.g., firewood) and using these for their households' energy demands. Therefore, this study prioritized rural women and girls as respondents in the provinces most affected by gendered energy poverty (GEP) in the country. The study was carried out in selected rural unelectrified areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces using structured interviews. The study revealed that GEP in the rural areas has exposed women and girls living there to security concerns, health hazards, premature death, domestic fire accidents, time poverty, income poverty, illiteracy, drudgery in households and farm tasks, etc., at different levels of severity. It also showed the effects of perceptions, age, income, and culture on the choice of energy use among the respondents. Mitigation strategies against GEP in rural South African communities through clean energy adoption are also proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]