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Welcome to the NWU Repository, the open access Institutional Repository of the North-West University (NWU-IR). This is a digital archive that collects, preserves and distributes research material created by members of NWU. The aim of the NWU-IR is to increase the visibility, availability and impact of the research output of the North-West University through Open Access, search engine indexing and harvesting by several initiatives.

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FIBRIN NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS AND RED PALM OIL IN HYPERFIBRINOGENAEMIC, HYPERCHOLESTEROLAEMIC SUBJECTS
(North-West University, 2002) M. Pieters; Jerling J.C
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death world-wide. Extensive research has been done on the many risk factors for CVD in order to prevent and/or treat CVD. A contributing factor that has not received much attention as yet is the structure of the fibrin networks that forms the basis of blood clots. These fibrin fibres that form when coagulation has been activated, have been shown to vary in length and width. These variations lead to alterations in the character of the fibrin network, causing it to be either more atherogenic or more easily lysable. Long, thin fibres are associated with tight, brittle fibrin networks with large amounts of cross-linking and branching, making the clot less permeable to fibrinolytic enzymes, therefore making it more atherogenic. Short, thick fibres on the other hand, form loose, elastic clots with large pores enabling fibrinolytic enzymes to digest the clots more easily resulting in clots with much less atherogenic potential. The fibrin network characteristics (FNC) measured in this thesis included: the permeability of the clot, the mass-length-ratio of the fibres and the compaction of the clot. The fibrin content of the clot itself was also measured in one study. Diet plays an important role in the primary and secondary prevention of CVD. Little is known about the effect of dietary factors on FNC. One of the studies that form part of this thesis was therefore a 4 week dietary intervention, investigating the effect of 25 g of palm oil (PO), red palm oil (RPO) (rich in antioxidants) and sunflower oil ingested daily, on FNC. ·The type of fat in the diet and antioxidants are two dietary factors that have been shown to affect other CVD risk factors. The other study that fo1ms part of this thesis attempted to answer some fundamental, methodological questions. The first fundan1ental question addressed was the effect of freezing on FNC. Currently most plasma samples are stored frozen for different durations until analysis. Therefore it is necessary to know whether the process of freezing and/or frozen storage have any significant effect on FNC. Together with the effects of freezing and frozen storage we also investigated the effect of freeze-drying on FNC since most control plasmas and standards are in lyophilised form. The second fundamental challenge was to incorporate between-day and within-day analytic variation into the interpretation of the results since no commercial standards or control plasmas are available to ensure quality control. We first undertook the methodological study and then incorporated the results into the dietary intervention study. The reader is referred to the abstracts at the beginning of each separate paper (Chapters 3 and 4), for a description of the subjects, study design and analytical methods used in each study. The results of the methodological study showed that: a) Freezedrying was less deleterious on FNC than freezing. The FNC and fibrinogen concentration of the freeze-dried samples compared better with the fresh samples than did the frozen plasma;b) Frozen storage for up to 4 months at - 83 °C resulted in a linear decrease in mass-lengthratio and compaction of the fibrin fibres and a linear increase in the fibrin content of the clot. This indicates that these variables were probably not stable over the 4 month storage period; c) Storage in the freeze-dried form resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.001) in plasma fibrinogen but a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the fibrin content of the clots. The results of the dietary intervention showed that: a) Changes in plasma fatty acid concentration may influence FNC. It appears as though decreases in plasma saturated fatty acids together withincreases in plasma unsaturated fatty acids significantly increased (p < 0.001) the masslength-ratio of the fibrin fibres. Increased fibre mass-length-ratio is usually associated with less atherogenic fibrin clots; b) Plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer decreased significantly in the sunflower oil group (p = 0.007 and p = 0.04 respectively); c) Significant correlations were found between the FNC and markers of fibrinolysis, indicating that the fibrin clot structuremay play an important role in fibrinolysis. Although the methodology of FNC determination still needs some refinements new methods are currently being developed. These new developments will hopefully establish a clinical role for FNC and help us understand the exact role and importance thereof in the prevention and treatment of CVD.
MOONTLIKE IMPLIKASIES WAT NARRATOLOGIE VIR NARRATIEWE TERAPIE MAG INHOU
(North-West University, 2002) Frans Pieterse; BOTHA K.F.H DU PLOOY H.G.W
The aim of this research was to determine which implications narratology might have for narrative therapy. The research was of a theoretical nature since the literature on narratology and narrative therapy was reviewed, interpreted and integrated to some extent.First an exposition was given of a basic narratological model. It transpired that a narrative can be analyzed on three different levels, viz. the level of the story (plot), that of the narrative and that of the telling. On each of the above-mentioned levels there are certain structures according to which the narrative can be analyzed. In the explanation of the model it was also pointed out that authoritative narrative theoreticians/therapists - possibly without realizing it most of the time - make use of these narratological structures in their theorizing/therapy. Secondly, it is demonstrated according to a hypoth~tical case study, how a narrative therapist could incorporate all the structures of the suggested narratological model in his/her work. It was found that narratology offers an integrating and comprehensive model for narrative therapists dealing with the narratives of their clients. It also provides a certain vocabulary and levels of abstraction for speaking and thinking about the narratives of clients. It is recommended that more narratives be analyzed on the lines of the narratological model and be compared to render future research on narrative therapy more reliable and valid.
GEMEENSKAPSONTWIKKELING IN DIE STEDELIKE AGTERBUURT: n SOSIOLOGIESE PERSPEKTIEF
(North-West University, 1982) Lukas Johannes Pieterse; Kruger J.E
Compliance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms under the National Water Act 36 of 1998 for the prevention of water resource pollution by Water Services Authorities
(North-West University (South Africa), 2026) Maphutha, Setsopo Tsibiso; Erasmus, Leandi .J
South Africa is a water-scarce country that cannot afford to diminish the value of the little water resources it has through continuous pollution by untreated or partially treated wastewater. The National Water Act 36 of 1998 has established legal tools to assist in the prevention of water resource pollution in general. This study examines the extent to which the Department of Water and Sanitation, as custodian of South Africa's water resources, utilises the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement tools provided under the National Water Act 36 of 1998 to ensure compliance with water resource protection measures by Wastewater Treatment Works owned and operated by Water Services Authorities (municipalities). The study found that, historically, the Department of Water and Sanitation has relied predominantly on administrative enforcement tools, such as Notices and Directives. Yet, persistent non-compliance highlights the limited effectiveness of these measures. Recent shifts toward criminal enforcement assume that Water Services Authorities are unwilling rather than unable to comply, without fully accounting for the underlying causes of non???compliance. This study advocates for a holistic and targeted approach to compliance monitoring, involving multiple role players, to address water resource pollution by Water Services Authorities as a matter of emergency. The study further recommends that the Department of Water and Sanitation adopt a comprehensive approach, applying the full spectrum of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement tools to assess their relative effectiveness under varying circumstances and establish a multiparty standing structure of support to Water Services Authorities
Examining the right to have access to sufficient water in Sebokeng, South Africa
(North-West University (South Africa), 2026) Dube, Peculiar; Viljoen, Germarié
Water is a fundamental human right and a constitutionally protected right in South Africa. Section 27 (1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Constitution), guarantees that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water. Since the promulgation of the Constitution, the legislature has adopted progressive laws to give effect to the constitutional water rights. These include, among others, the Water Services Act 108 of 1997 and the National Water Act 36 of 1998. Nevertheless, despite these legislative interventions, the realisation of this right remains uneven across social groups in South Africa. Research indicates that this challenge is deeply rooted in South Africa's political legacy. Historically, water governance in the country has been characterised by structural inequality, stemming from apartheid-era spatial planning and discriminatory service provision that benefitted a select and privileged minority. Sebokeng, within the Emfuleni Local Municipality in Sedibeng District of Gauteng, exemplifies the enduring effects of these historical injustices. Predominantly low-income, the community is marked by high unemployment rates, persistent socioeconomic inequality, and severe infrastructural neglect, all of which continue to constrain access to sufficient water. This study critically examined the progressive realisation of the constitutional right to access sufficient water in Sebokeng, South Africa. The study situated this right within international and regional human rights commitments, and proceeds to: 1) provide a historical and theoretical account of South Africa's water governance framework; 2) identify and analyse a number of challenges in the realisation of the constitutional water right in Sebokeng and examine the regulatory and institutional barriers to the effective implementation; and 3) explore mechanisms to strengthen the existing legal and governance framework to progressively realise the right to have access to sufficient water in Sebokeng, South Africa.