2012 newsletter

Transcription

2012 newsletter
SOCIETY
OF
SOUTH AFRICAN GEOGRAPHERS
(SSAG)
2012
NEWSLETTER
Newsletter was compiled using the unedited
submissions of representatives of each department
Melanie Nicolau
nicolmd@unisa.ac.za
Cell 0826957551
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Open Rubric
2012 Newsletter
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Table of Contents
Foreword ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
New SSAG Council (2012 – 2014) elected at the BGM in 2012............................................................... 5
Society of South African Geographers 2012 citations for the presentation of Gold Medal and
Fellowship Awards ......................................................................................................................................... 6
SSAG Student Conference at UCT from 18 to 19 June 2012.................................................................... 9
Building Critical Conversations in Geography, 9th Biennial Conference, Society of South African
Geographers, 21-22 June 2012 .................................................................................................................. 12
Professor Ron Davies toast during the 9th Biennial Conference and 75 years of Geography at UCT . 15
An Affectionate Memoir from an International Geographical Union, Urban Commission member for . 17
News of the 2014 SSAG 10th Biennial Conference at Fort Hare ............................................................. 19
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. School of Education, Faculty of Humanities,
Geography Department, Social & Economic Sciences Division. ............................................................. 20
Stellenbosch University, Geography and Environmental Studies ........................................................... 25
University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies ...... 34
University of South Africa, Department of Geography .............................................................................. 40
University of Fort Hare, Department of Geography and Environmental Science ................................... 56
University of Cape Town, Environmental & Geographical Science ......................................................... 68
University of Zululand, Geography and Environmental Studies .............................................................. 72
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), Geosciences Department ....................................... 76
University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Department of Geography & Environmental Studies ........ 81
University of Johannesburg, Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy
Studies .......................................................................................................................................................... 87
University of Venda, Geography and Geo-information Sciences ............................................................ 97
North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus...................................................................................... 101
University of the Western Cape, Geography and Environmental Studies ............................................ 108
Rhodes University ...................................................................................................................................... 110
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University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences ................. 116
University of the Free State: Department of Geography ........................................................................ 123
UKZN’s initiative river health initiative (submitted by Dr L Hurry) .......................................................... 129
Gauteng City-Region Observatory (Universities of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand), submitted
by Dr SA Perberdy ..................................................................................................................................... 131
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Foreword
We hope you enjoy the Newsletter and find its contents useful. It is
an informative, up-to-date report on South African geography, a
record of the past year and insight into the current activities of
departments and their varied dynamics across the country. The SSAG
Council thanks Melanie Nicolau in the Geography Department at
UNISA for her extensive work and commitment to its compilation. We
look forward to seeing you and your students at the annual Student
Conference at the University of Free State and wish everybody a
productive and interesting 2013.
Sophie Oldfield
President, SSAG
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Geographical
Science, University of Cape Town
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New SSAG Council (2012 – 2014) elected at the BGM in 2012
NAME
AFFILIATION
ADDRESS
E-MAIL
Prof Sophie Oldfield
University of Cape Town, Dept
of Environmental and
Geographical Science
University of Fort Hare, Dept of
Geography and Environmental
Studies
UNISA: Department of
Environmental Sciences
UNISA: Department of
Geography
ENGEO DEPT, Private bag,
Rondebosch, 7701
sophie.oldfield@uct.ac.za
P/Bag X 1314, Alice, 5700
cseethal@ufh.ac.za
PO Box 131308, Northmead,
1511
PO Box 12340, Die Hoewes X2,
0157
mearnkf@unisa.ac.za
Prof Cecil Seethal
Prof Kevin Mearns
Ms Melanie Nicolau
(Retires end September
2013)
Prof Brij Maharaj
Prof Trevor Hill
Dr Babatunde Adiodun
School of Agricultural, Earth &
Environmental Sciences, UKZN
School of Agricultural, Earth
&Environmental Sciences,
UKZN
Prof Ronnie Donaldson
University of Cape Town, Dept
of Environmental and
Geographical Science
University of Stellenbosch
Ms Bongie Ndimande
University of Zululand
Prof Richard Ballard
University of KwaZulu Natal
Prof Luke Sandham
North West University
Ms Tracey McKay
University of Johannesburg
Ms S Brits
University of the Free State,
Dept of Geography
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2012 Newsletter
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nicolmd@unisa.ac.za
Private Bag X01, Scottsville,
3209
School of Agricultural, Earth
&Environmental Sciences,
UKZN, Private Bag X01,
Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg,
3209
ENGEO DEPT, Private bag,
Rondebosch, 7701
maharajB@ukzn.ac.za
Dept of Geography
P/Bag X 1
Matieland
7602
Department of Geography and
Environmental Studies, BLOCK
C, Private Bag X1001
Kwadlangezwa
3886
Built Environment and
Development Studies
Durban
4041
Potchefstroom Campus
School of Geo and Spatial
Sciences
Private Bag X6001
Potchefstroom
2531
Dept of Geography,
Environmental Management and
Energy Studies
Auckland Park Campus
P O Box 524
Auckland Park
2006
PO Box 339, Bloemfontein,
9300
rdonaldson@sun.ac.za
hillt@ukzn.ac.za
babatunde.adiodun@uct.ac.
za
nndimande@pan.uzulu.ac.za
ballardr@ukzn.ac.za
luke.sandham@nwu.ac.za
traceymc@uj.ac.za
britss@ufs.ac.za
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Society of South African Geographers 2012 citations for the
presentation of Gold Medal and Fellowship Awards
Three nominations for the Society of South Africa Geographers’ Gold Medal and Fellowship
Awards were received in October-November 2010. Three Fellows of the SSAG were invited
to assist in the adjudication process and they made recommendations to the Council of the
Society on each of the nominations. The recommendations of the Fellows were obtained
towards mid-2011 and then tabled at the September 2011 meeting of Council. At this
meeting, Council unanimously accepted the recommendations of the Fellows. Subsequently
the three nominees were advised of Council’s decision, with each nominee was invited to
accept the honour of the Award.
The Society of South African Geographers Gold Medal is awarded in recognition of
meritorious contribution to Geography in Southern Africa. The Award carries with it honorary
membership of the Society. On behalf of Council and the Society I am pleased to advise that
the SSAG Gold Medal Award for 2012 goes to Professor Peter Beets of Stellenbosch
University.
The Fellowship of the Society of South African Geographers is awarded in recognition of
outstanding scholarship contributing to the advancement of Geography. This Award also
carries with it honorary membership of the Society. On behalf of Council and the Society I am
pleased to formally announce that the Society’s Fellowship Award for 2012 goes to Professor
Maano Ramutsindela of the University of Cape Town and to Professor Kevin Hall.
Unfortunately Professor Kevin Hall is at the University of Northern British Columbia and is
unable to attend tonight’s function. He has advised Council that one of his graduate
students, Faye Hirshfield, will accept the Fellowship Award on his behalf.
It is my distinct pleasure to first present a brief citation on Professor Peter Beets’ work as a
geographer on the occasion of the award of the Society’s Gold Medal to him. I will then
present brief citations highlighting the work of the Society’s latest Fellows: Professor Maano
Ramutsindela and Professor Kevin Hall.
The Director of Ceremonies, Ladies and
Gentlemen, I wish to advise that the details in respect of the citations are presented as per
the nominations in October-November 2010.
Professor Peter Beets
The Gold Medal Award to Professor Beets is made in recognition of his multi-faceted and
meritorious contribution to Geography in South Africa. In particular, the Society recognises
Peter Beets for his sustained contribution to Geography and more particularly Geography
Education, first at the grass roots levels in schools and then at university. He has been
consulted widely as committee office bearer in Geography Education at various levels, and
as external examiner, peer reviewer, research supervisor, adviser for atlas and museum
projects, and conference speaker. His professional networks and influence are extensive.
His work at the national level for the national standards and curricula bodies is especially
laudable.
This includes representing the Geography sector in the South African
Qualifications Authorities National Standards Body (Human and Social Studies), and
participating in the writing of the National Curriculum Statement. Peter Beets’ interest in
teacher education and assessment practice and in distance education and education for
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marginalised people is exceptional. His commitment and contributions as lead author on
several text books is noteworthy, as indeed are several jointly authored peer reviewed
articles in national and international journals, including one in the South African Geographical
Journal. Professor Beets’ completed his PhD in 2007. The Society wishes to place on record
its thanks to Professor Joan Fairhurst for nominating Professor Peter Beets for the Gold
Medal Award.
On behalf of the Society of South African Geographers it is my special privilege and pleasure
to present to Professor Beets the Society’s Gold Medal for serving South African Geography
with distinction and for his meritorious contribution to Geography in Southern Africa.
Professor Maano Ramutsindela
Professor Michael Meadows nominated Professor Maano Ramutsindela for the Award of
Fellow of the Society of South African Geographers. The award of the Fellowship to
Professor Ramutsindela is made on the grounds of his substantial and critical contributions to
geographical scholarship in general and South African geographical scholarship in particular.
Ramutsindela’s scholarly output in October-November 2010 comprised three commercially
published books, 21 book chapters and 46 peer-reviewed journal articles. Framed within the
context of South Africa’s recent history and education, Professor Ramutsindela’s scholarship
represents a remarkable achievement.
Professor Ramutsindela’s varied publications and research, including his work on the politics
of territorial restructuring, land reform and rural development, are innovative and exciting and
have demonstrated a particular willingness to experiment with new approaches. In addition,
he has received international recognition for his scholarship, particularly for his research on
transfrontier parks in Southern Africa. His varied research is documented in highly respected
international journals such as the Journal of Southern African Studies, Political Geography,
Journal of Rural Development, Geojournal, Geoforum and Area.
Professor Ramutsindela’s visiting international professorships; his external examining and his
responsibilities as a peer reviewer are further testament to his stature as a scholar. Given his
scholarship, Professor Ramutsindela has served as a member of several editorial boards,
task teams and steering committees, and has presented several conference plenary and
keynote addresses. Professor Ramutsindela has also played a critical role as co-Editor of
the South African Geographical Journal for almost a decade, and in ensuring that the Journal
attained an ISI-rating. Professor Ramutsindela was also honoured with the National
Research Foundation President’s Award in 2002.
On behalf of the Society of South African Geographers, it is my distinct privilege and pleasure
to award the Fellowship of the Society to Professor Maano Ramutsindela.
Professor Kevin Hall
We are proud this evening that the third recipient of the Society’s Awards complements the
specialty areas of our two earlier awardees, with Professor Kevin Hall being honoured for his
work in Physical Geography.
The Fellowship of the Society of South African Geographers is awarded to Kevin Hall in
recognition of his outstanding scholarship and contribution to the advancement of Geography
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particularly in the field of cold-regions Geomorphology, and most notably in rock weathering a field in which he is regarded as one of the world’s leading scholars.
In a career spanning 37 years (to 2010) Kevin Hall published 150 research articles and has a
very high citations index. In recognition of his outstanding scholarship he was awarded the
DSc degree at the then University of Natal in 2002, and he currently holds an extraordinary
professorial appointment at the University of Pretoria.
The Society’s Fellowship Award is made to Kevin Hall in recognition of the indelible mark he
has made on Geography in South Africa through globally respected research and for the
large number of students he has developed in the discipline in the country. In addition, the
Award is made in recognition of Kevin Hall’s prolific and sustained publication record, his
extensive professional assignments and collaborations, visiting professorships, conference
engagements and editorial appointments, and his continued professional links with South
African geomorphologists.
Professor Ian Meiklejohn, a former student of Professor Kevin Hall, nominated Kevin Hall for
the Society’s Fellowship Award.
It is my privilege and pleasure to call upon Faye Hirschfield to receive – on behalf of
Professor Kevin Hall - the Award of the Fellowship of the Society of South African
Geographers.
Prof Cecil Seethal
Past President: SSAG
21 June 2012
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SSAG Student Conference at UCT from 18 to 19 June 2012
Compiled by Saskia Greyling, UCT
This year, the SSAG student conference was hosted by the Environmental and Geographical
Science department at the University of Cape Town. With 130 presenters and 180 delegates
from universities around South Africa, the theme, ‘Building Critical Conversations in
Geography’ was explored within presentations and discussion time, as well as in the opening
welcomes by Associate Professor Sophie Oldfield (SSAG president elect; Environmental and
Geographical Science, UCT) and Professor Crain Soudien (Deputy Vice-Chancellor,
University of Cape Town), and in the keynote lecture by Associate Professor Ralph Hamann
(Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town).
The delegates were welcomed to the SSAG student conference 2012 by Sophie Oldfield (SSAG president elect)
In an effort to foster multidisciplinary dialogue, the student conference sessions were
organised thematically rather than within geographical disciplines. A broad array of
interesting and relevant research was presented, including topics of food security; remote
sensing and its applications; climate change and its impacts, adaptation and strategies;
housing, place and space; water; sustainable development and alternative energies;
conservation and nature-society relations; tourism; soils and sedimentology; planning; and
environmental management. Each session provided time for group discussion after
presentations, encouraging delegates and presenters to interact and prompt debate. In
addition to this, poster presentations were displayed for the duration of the conference, and
the authors of these spoke about their work during a lunchtime poster presentation session.
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A delegate presents his research at the SSAG student conference 2012, hosted by the Environmental and Geographical Science
department at UCT
It wasn’t all work though! A gala dinner was held at the UCT club, where students mingled
and got to know fellow geography students from different universities. The evening included a
rousing rendition of the national anthem from the head of the EGS department, Professor
Mike Meadows and a competitive quiz that had most teams questioning their geographical
and general knowledge.
A winning quiz team at the Gala dinner
In addition to the gala dinner, a prize-giving celebration was held at the UCT pub, where
certificates were awarded to the best speakers, as voted by their peers during each
presentation session. The winners were:
•
David Phoofolo (University of the Free State, best poster presentation)
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sarita Pillay (Rhodes University, best human geography presentation)
Tafadzwa Marara (North-West University, best water related presentation)
Kamleshan Pillay (University of Kwazulu-Natal, best physical geography presentation)
Philippa Kleyn (Rhodes University, best GIS and remote sensing presentation)
Zipho Tyoda (Stellenbosch University, runner up winner for GIS and remote sensing
presentation)
Johannes Scheepers (University of Johannesburg, best environmental science
presentation)
Raencine Kathlyn Aboo (University of Kwazulu-Natal, runner up winner for
environmental science presentation)
Joining with the academic conference for the field trips, students who had chosen to take part
in these learnt more about Cape Town. Field trips included an exploration of the historical
morphology of central Cape Town; a trip around Cape Town exploring its food system; an
urban ecology session; a session on the Reclaim Camissa project; an urban river
management field trip focussing on the Liesbeek River; as well as a tour of the SAB brewery.
The 2012 SSAG Student Conference was a great success. The EGS department was proud
to host so many young geographers and to be part of this experience of sharing research and
fostering links between universities. The conference was organised by post-graduate
students in the department: Hannah Baleta, Evan Blake, Saskia Greyling, Nick Kearns,
Anesu Nyemba and Raymond Siebrits, and was generously funded by ESRI South Africa,
the SSAG and the EGS department.
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Building Critical
Conversations in
Geography, 9th Biennial
Conference, Society of
South African
Geographers, 21-22 June
2012
The 9th Biennial Conference of the Society of South African Geographers was hosted by the
Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town
June 21-22, 2012. The conference proved a great success, with close to 180 registered
delegates. The conference opening included introductory comments and welcomes from
Associate Professor Sophie Oldfield, the Conference Chair, Professor Cecil Seethal the
President of the Society, as well as Professor Anton Le Roux, the Dean of the UCT Science
Faculty, and Professor Mike Meadows, the Head of UCT Geography. Professor Gillian Hart,
University of California Berkeley, presented a stimulating Serton Memorial Lecture:
Replacing the Nation: South Africa after Apartheid and Associate Professor Maano
Ramutsindela, Geography UCT, gave the Prestige Memorial Lecture: The ‘Gang of Nine’ and
the trajectory of cross-border conservation in Africa.
Twenty-six paper sessions, organized in four sets of parallel sessions, with seven provided
an opportunity to explore themes of national transformation, urban dynamics, environmental
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management, social and health geographies, as well as tourism and physical and climatefocused research. Four panel discussions focused on ‘critical conversations in geography’:
Embedding Climate Information into Society: Models, Information, Action!; Knowledge
Building for More Resilient Cities: A Dialogue between Researchers in the City of Cape Town
and Durban; Critical Issues in South African City Studies; Journal Editors’ Conversation with
Authors. These panels provided stimulating contexts to debate and discuss contemporary
issues in our discipline as well. Overall, 130 researchers shared their work.
While conferences are an opportunity, of course, for the formal sharing of academic
research, they are equally important for building relationships across the Society. Held on
the UCT campus in the EGS building and surrounding venues, the conference provided lots
of opportunities for collegiality, opportunities to catch up with colleagues and to meet new
ones.
The conference also proved a moment to recognize achievements in our discipline more
broadly In this light, we marked and celebrated ‘75 years of Geography at UCT, ’ with a
memorable and special address by the now late Professor Ron Davies. Moreover, we
recognized leading scholarship with the awarding of Society Fellowships to: Professor Peter
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Beets (University of Stellenbosch), Associate Professor Maano Ramutsindela (University of
Cape Town), and Professor Kevin Hall (University of Northern British Colombia). Lastly, we
toasted the end of the conference with a glass of wine and a ‘Celebration of (the many)
Books,’ published by South African Geographers between 2010 and 2012.
Special thanks to the Conference Committee as well as to Sharon Adams and the entire EGS
department for all the work and colleagialty required to organise and to welcome
Geographers from around the country and region to UCT.
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Professor Ron Davies toast during the 9th Biennial
Conference and 75 years of Geography at UCT
In memory of Prof Ron Davies we have included the toast he proposed at the 9th Biennial Conference
of the SSAG hosted by the University of Cape Town.
“Thank you for asking me to propose the toast to the Department on this very important occasion in its
life – I am very highly honoured.
Two other occasions when I was asked to propose a toast at a Society Conference dinner spring to
mind. As is the case on this occasion, both were associated with jubilee events. The first was during
the 50th anniversary Jubilee Conference in Durban in 1967 and the second during the 1979 Society
Conference here, when we were invited to share in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding
of UCT.
Both of these jubilee occasions were platforms for reflection on the achievements of the discipline, the
Society and individual departments but, perhaps more importantly, they were also encouraging
springboards into new academic ventures. In the era of the quantitative revolution, that older
members of the Society will remember with some angst, the Durban conference encouraged a series
of post-conference workshops that brought our South African academic geographers, in both physical
and human geography, up to speed in the statistics field both in teaching and research – we were
really made to work very hard but the evidence shows that we go there! At the same time powerful
strides were made in the opening up of specialist fields – particularly in urban geography, climatology
and geomorphology.
Our guest of honour during the 1979 Conference was Ed Soja from UCLA and a co-worker with David
Harvey, then the guru of human geography. In a series of workshops, he introduced us to the
frameworks and basics of meta-theory. Among other things we learnt (probably illegally at that time)
the basics of structuralism and Marxism, then strongly influencing research method and interpretation
of human geography. That work was the springboard to new approaches in course work and
research.
That jubilee conference was also to encourage academic developments in the study of change in
colonial cities, the study of environmental science and environmental management as components in
the geography curriculum and the study of GIS. Those new fields were progressively and positively
incorporated in the curricula of most departments and were encouraged as important avenues of
research, application and employment for our students. Here we made the very positive move to link
with the School of Environmental Studies to form our present department of Environmental and
Geographical Science.
As a department we were so busy preparing for our new building in 1987 that we completely forgot to
celebrate our 50th golden jubilee! The pulse of jubilee encouragement was in strong operation
nonetheless. Since that time we have seen the flowering of environmental studies and the
Environmental Evaluation Unit, the achievement of international status for the research of our Climate
Systems Studies Group, studies in Biogeography, Geomorphology, and the geography of
transnational Game Parks and Urban Social Geography. More recently we agreed to host the African
Cities Centre that is now producing excellent research covering several important urban fields.
I am sure that we will reflect on the 2012 jubilee conference as an event that illuminated the shift
away from meta-theory and the on-going adoption of post-modern thought in human geography in the
diversity of its programme and the approaches and interpretations of research results. Our colleagues
in physical geography, though, seem to have deserted us in the pursuit of work of outstanding quality
in specialist institutions. For one brought up to appreciate the output of both broad fields, that is a
matter of regret and we should encourage them to share their work with us.
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As a springboard for the future this jubilee conference could well reflect on the enormous
opportunities for research that present themselves at this turning point in the history of our country, for
all of geography. We need to look positively at those opportunities for the benefit of our people and,
as in the past, be encouraged by the achievements of the jubilee!
On that note may I ask you to rise to drink a toast to the Department of Environmental and
Geographical Science here in UCT. Congratulations on 75 years of achievement and may you go on
from strength to strength!”
Prof Ron Davies
21 June 2012
th
This picture of Ron Davies was taken recently at the 9 Bi-Annual South African Society of Geographers Conference, hosted by the
Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, 21-22 June 2012 where he gave the speech to
celebrate 75 years of Geography at UCT.
Ron was appointed to UCT in January of 1975. Despite taking early retirement in December 1993,
Ron continued to be very active in the Department and the geographical and urban studies
communities. We are grateful for his meaningful contributions to the academic and social life of our
department and pass on our condolences to his family.
Department of Geographical and Environmental Sciences, UCT
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An Affectionate Memoir from an International Geographical
Union, Urban Commission member for
Professor Ronald J. Davies,
1931-2012
M.Sc. Rhodes, Ph.D. London.
Professor of Geography, at University of Natal, Durban (1967) and later at the
University of Cape Town
It was with great sadness that I heard of the sudden death on September 13th of my good friend and
colleague, Ron Davies. He was one of the most distinguished geographers of his generation in South
Africa. Since his national colleagues will testify to the quality of his work in his country elsewhere, I would
like to focus on some of his important contributions to the International Geographical Union’s Urban
Commission and also on his fascinating character.
Ron was a regular participant in our meetings in various parts of the world for over twenty years. He
always presented excellent, well-researched papers and provided sharp incisive comments in the
discussions on other lectures. But he also came into his own in the informal field trips in cities around the
world in which we held meetings. He combined his wealth of knowledge about the morphology and growth
of cities with a sharp critical eye to unravel the uniqueness of urban places. He revelled in what he called
‘fossiking’ around places, providing, for those of us who were privileged to be with him, unique insights into
the character of cities. All of us learned so much from him. He was a fund of knowledge about cities, even
when he had never previously visited the place we were in, testifying to the breadth of his reading.
All the long term members of the Commission around the world agree that the meeting he ran in
Cape Town in 1995 was one of the best we have experienced, given the quality of the papers, the local field
trips, discussions, and the support we received from his many colleagues. This led to his editing of a fine
volume of 541 pages in the following year, based on selected papers presented at the meeting
(Contemporary City Structures). It was an editorial task to which Ron brought his keen sense of style to
enliven many of the papers, as well as showing his tact in convincing contributors who saw no reason to
change their work, that they should do so!. But it was the long field trip that preceded the meeting that will
also long live in our memories as the best ever. Starting In Johannesburg, and generously helped by two
colleagues from Cape universities and his good wife Shirley, as well as being assisted by other experts in
various cities we visited, we had a remarkable tour: first around the economic heartland, across the Veld,
down the Drakenbergs to Durban and Hluhluwe park, then along the Garden Coast route and into the
Karoos before reaching Cape Town. Ron, with his usual dedication and diligence, also wrote a lengthy field
guide for us, describing the salient features of everywhere we visited - clearly a task of many weeks. All the
participants have their own stories of various events on the excursion - stories that are always being retold
at subsequent commission meetings. All agree it provided us with wonderful insights into the geographical
character and problems of the different areas of South Africa and its major cities at a critical time in its
history. With his usual modesty Ron dismissed our praise, arguing that he was simply giving back to the
Commission. He claimed it was a return for the support he received from the Commission members during
the apartheid years when so many people boycotted South African academics. He knew he was always
welcome in the Commission and felt it provided him with an outlet to the world, instead of isolation. But
there can be little doubt that despite his often expressed concern for the politics of his country he was
deeply proud of his land and its many different peoples and he wanted us to understand its strengths and
problems. Ron had clearly devoted months to the preparation of the excursion and the subsequent meeting.
Few of us have come anywhere close to such a commitment! It was typical of his selflessness and
generosity with his time. Indeed the latter can be seen by the warm welcome he always gave to many,
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many visitors from other universities around the world to South Africa, taking them on similarly memorable
field excursions. Ron was tireless in these endeavours. Indeed, only a week before he died he was
lecturing to yet another group of students, despite his long so-called ‘retirement’. This clearly showed his
life-long interest in, and commitment to, his field of enquiry, in addition to his willingness, and indeed
passion, in communicating his knowledge.
On a personal level Ron was a caring and compassionate man. He had a remarkable ability to put
people at ease, even those from the most humble of circumstances, as we saw on many a field excursion.
All who knew him considered him a friend, perhaps helped by the fact that he rarely made critical remarks
about others. He also frequently revealed surprising skills. For example, on another international field
excursion in the low veld, he was asked to read one of H.C. Bosman’s short stories to give us a flavour of
South African’s premier humorous story teller of rural Africaner life. Ron gave a masterful performance especially since he read the text without practice – a performance helped by his usual fieldwork attire of
long shorts, socks and bush jacket. Peering over his spectacles at his spell-bound audience, he made us
believe it was Oom Schalk himself who was addressing us! Of course, like all of us, Ron had his
peculiarities, which actually were part of his charm. He did have occasional lapses in punctuality and
organization, which showed they were not his strongest skills, although explained by the fact he was always
over-committed or pre-occupied. Sometimes his organization had a puckish element. He once took me on a
tour around the vineyards of Stellenbosch and managed to visit all the cheap plants first, so that by the time
we got to the high quality places I could no longer take part in any wine tasting - to his great, and perhaps
planned amusement. Yet Ron could also be surprising in his vulnerabilities, for he was often an
unnecessary worrier. I frequently shared a room with him at meetings and found that the night before his
paper he would always be revising the overheads for his paper with his impressive array of multi-coloured
pens - even though his older versions were excellent. I regularly had to plead with him to turn out the lights.
But whatever limitations he possessed were minor and never detracted from Ron’s overall abilities and
values: his sense of fair play; his caring nature; concern about his country; and eternal fascination with his
subject. One can only conclude that Ron was a scholar from the old school, a true gentleman that we all
respected, and loved.
In our 2012 meeting In Dortmund we heard that Ron had agreed to help the organisers of the next
2013 Urban Commission in South Africa. All who knew him were looking forward to meeting him again and
seeing through his perceptive eyes the many recent changes that have taken place in South Africa cities.
So the news of his sudden death came as a great shock and a real blow. He was irreplaceable. I can only
conclude with the hopeful expression that ended most of his communications to others.
Go Well, Ron. You enlightened our world with your intellect, knowledge and good humour.
Wayne K. D. Davies, Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Calgary, Canada - formerly
from Wales, the land of Ron’s grandfather.
18 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
News of the 2014 SSAG 10th Biennial Conference at Fort Hare
Discipline: Geography and Environmental Science
Faculty of Science and Agriculture
University of Fort Hare
Private Bag X1314
Alice 5700
Eastern Cape
Republic of South Africa
Telephone: (27)40-6022080 Facsimile: 0866282399
Email: cseethal@ufh.ac.za; Mobile/Cell: (27)82-2004701
05th December 2012
SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICAN GEOGRAPHERS
CONFERENCE – JUNE 2014
The Council of the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG) has entrusted the Department of Geography and Environmental
th
Science at the University of Fort Hare with the hosting of the 10 Biennial Conference. The University of Fort Hare is pleased to host
the 2014 SSAG Conference.
The 10th SSAG Conference will be held at the University of Fort Hare’s East London Campus from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th June,
rd
th
2014. The South African Geography Students Conference will be held on Monday and Tuesday (23 – 24 June 2014); field trips are
th
th
th
planned for Wednesday 25 June 2014, and the Academic Conference will be held on Thursday and Friday (26 - 27 June 2014).
The venue for the 2014 Conference is the University’s new environmentally designed Teaching and Learning Centre in downtown East
London in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
The 2014 SSAG Conference will mark the 98th anniversary of organised Geography in South Africa. The Year 2014 also marks the
98th anniversary of the founding of the University of Fort Hare in Alice.
Arrangements to date include confirmation from Professor Audrey Kobayashi (Past President of the Association of American
Geographers) and Professor Cindi Katz (City University of New York [CUNY]) as distinguished guest speakers at the Conference.
Negotiations have commenced with institutions that provide a broad range of accommodation in East London’s downtown and
esplanade areas to secure discounted rates for delegates to the Conference. Arrangements have also been made for the hosting of
th
the Students’ social evening on Tuesday, 24 June, at a popular beach-front venue. The 2014 SSAG Conference dinner is planned for
th
Thursday, 26 June. The University of Fort Hare’s Marketing and Communications Directorate has agreed to assist the Department of
Geography and Environmental Science with organizational arrangements for the 2014 Conference.
The formal call for abstracts of paper presentations will be circulated in the first half of next Year (2013) with details of the Conference
theme, accommodation places and planned field trips. The Department of Geography and Environmental Science, and the University
of Fort Hare, look forward with joy at hosting all delegates at the June 2014 Conference. The part of the Eastern Cape in which the
University of Fort Hare is situated is a most significant and spectacular destination. We hope that as you plan to attend the 2014 SSAG
Conference at Fort Hare, you will also consider enjoying with us the multifaceted, diverse and wonderfully rich historical, cultural and
environmental opportunities and tourist destinations that our part of the world has to offer: the University campus at Alice (including the
NAHECS Centre that incorporates the African National Congress and Liberation Archives, the De Beers Art Gallery, the Old Fort), the
residence of the late Z.K. Matthews in Alice; Healdtown Secondary School where President Nelson Mandela studied; Lovedale
College; the Bhisho Massacre Memorial; the Steve Biko Centre at Ginsberg in King Williams Town; the Hogsback; the National Arts
Festival in Grahamstown in the Makana Municipality; the Wild Coast; the Addo Elephant National Park; and the Mountain Zebra
National Park where you might even venture to go cheetah tracking!
C.E.P. Seethal
(Professor and Head: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Fort Hare)
(Past President: Society of South African Geographers)
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2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. School of
Education, Faculty of Humanities, Geography Department, Social
& Economic Sciences Division.
Date of Establishment: 2002 (Previously known as the Johannesburg College of Education).
Short description of the vision and mission of the Department:
The teaching of Geography at the Wits School of Education aims to develop an understanding of
major contemporary topics in Geography. These include a range of human and physical
geography topics closely linked to environmental issues. Lectures are complemented by practicals
and fieldwork aimed at applying and extending the geography studied during the various courses.
Students are also taught to develop skills required for geographical studies and develop problem
solving and thinking skills. Appropriate classroom practice and methodology for the learning and
teaching of geography is also actively developed. Our department teaches on both the BEd and
PGCE programmes.
Report compiled by: Clinton van der Merwe clinton.vandermerwe@wits.ac.za
3173
011 717
Head of Department:
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office
Telephone
Number
Mr Clinton David van der Merwe
Heritage Tourism;
Resource &
Environmental
Management;
Introduction to
Earth Sciences;
Applied Climate;
Geography
Methodology.
clinton.vandermerwe@wits.ac.za
011 717 3173
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Rank/Position
Area of
E-mail
specialisation &
Courses
Taught
Dr Paul Goldschagg
Principal Tutor &
Assistant Head of
School:
undergraduate
Programmes
Dr Sue Cohen
Senior Lecturer
Mr Clinton David van
Lecturer
Airport Noise & its
Effects on
Cognition and
Learning;
Development
Geography.
Hazards and
disaster
management;
Population.
Curriculum.
Heritage Tourism;
20 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
Office
Telephone
number
paul.goldschagg@wits.ac.za
0117173172
sue.cohen@wits.ac.za
0117173402
clinton.vandermerwe@wits.ac.za
0117173173
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
der Merwe
Mrs Rhoda
Larangeira
Tutor
Mrs Sally James
Tutor
Resource &
Environmental
Management;
Introduction to
Earth Sciences;
Applied Climate;
Geography
Methodology.
Geography
Methodology
Geographical
Techniques (Map
skills), Urban
Geography
Rural Education
Change and
intervention
strategies in
education; Senior
Primary: Social
Science
Methodology.
rhoda.larangeira@wits.ac.za
0117173767
sally.james@wits.ac.za
0117173402
Rhoda Larangeira, Clinton van der Merwe, Sally James, Paul Goldschagg & Sue Cohen
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Position
Elisabeth Wenger
Administrative
Secretary
Area of subject
specialisation (if
applicable)
E-mail
Office Telephone
number
elisabeth.wenger@wits.ac.za
0117173063
Welcome to Sally James who joins the department as a sessional tutor. Sally is currently reading
towards a MEd at Rhodes University. Her research has focussed on the role of an NGO working
towards school upliftment within seventeen rural schools based within the Umzinyathi Municipality
in KwaZulu-Natal. She previously taught and headed up Geography at Kingsmead College (in
Johannesburg).
21 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Rhoda Larangeira has recently completed her Honours in Geography at UNISA and will embark on
reading towards a MEd in Overcoming Map Skill Difficulties in Secondary Schools.
Sue Cohen again successfully wrote and was included on the DBE’s national catalogue for the
Grade 11 Platinum and the Day by Day Social Sciences textbooks for the Intermediate phase.
Fieldwork in Northcliff
Clinton van der Merwe continues reading towards a PhD in Heritage Tourism at the University of
Johannesburg, and is undertaking his data collection during his 6-month sabbatical in 2013.
Congratulations to Clinton for being awarded a Department of Arts & Culture Bursary for his work
on Heritage Tourism in South Africa. He also formed part of a team of authors for the Grade 12
Platinum Geography textbook – which is due for DBE evaluation and assessment in order to be
considered for the national catalogue in 2014, and is a published author for Grade 11 Life
Sciences. Clinton has also become the resident Geography Teacher on MATRICS UPLOADED
(on SABC1).
Paul Goldschagg continues serving as the Assistant Head of School (Undergraduate) and
teaching on the B Ed programme.
Visit to the Tswaiing Crater
The Geography Department co-hosted (with the Geography Department at UJ) the Grade 11
CAPS Textbook Engagement Workshop for teachers in Johannesburg on the 1st September 2012.
Watch out for our Grade 12 CAPS Textbook Seminar and Evaluation Workshop in 2013.
22 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Testing out the Gautrain
2012 dated publications:
Freedman, R., Marchant, L., McKay, I., Siemensen, R., van der Merwe, C.D., and Webb, J. (2012).
Solutions for All: Life Sciences Grade 11, MacMillan, Cape Town.
Goldschagg, P., Seabi, J., Cockcroft, K. (Forthcoming). Aircraft Noise and Classroom Acoustics:
Effects on Cognitive Functioning of South African School Children. International Journal for
Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education, Volume 5, Issue 3.
Patel, Z. and van der Merwe, C. D. (Forthcoming). Constitution Hill: Just Space or Space of
Justice? In: Simon, J., Temple, N., and Tobe, R. (Eds), Architecture & Justice: Judicial Meanings in the
Public Realm, Ashgate, Farnham, Surrey, England.
Seabi, J., Cockcroft, K., Goldschagg, P., Greyling, M. (2012). The impact of aircraft noise exposure
on South African children’s reading comprehension: The moderating effect of home language.
Noise & Health, September-October, volume 14, number 60.
van der Merwe, C. D. (Forthcoming). Urban Heritage Tourism in South Africa: The case of
Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, Africa Insight, under review.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of presenter (s)
Title of presentation
Format of
presentation
Date of
conference/workshop
Paul Goldschagg. Kate
Cockcroft, and Joseph Seabi
Cognitive
performance of
school pupils:
implications for landuse planning around
airports
Paper
4 to 7 March 2012
The Effects of Aircraft
Noise on Cognitive
Functioning of South
African School
Children: Land-use
planning lessons
Paper
2012 Newsletter
for
Paul Goldschagg, Kate
Cockcroft, and Joseph Seabi
23 | P a g e
th
th
Name of
Conference/workshop
NextGen University of
California Davis
Aviation Noise and
Emissions Symposium
20th – 22nd June 2012
Society of South African
Geographers Biennial
Conference, 2012
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
th
st
Paul Goldschagg, Kate
Cockcroft, and Joseph Seabi
Aircraft Noise and
Classroom Acoustics:
Effects on Cognitive
Functioning of South
African School
Children
Paper
29 October – 1
November
Tracey McKay (UJ) and
Clinton van der Merwe (Wits)
Negotiating textbook
Evaluations – The
case of Geography
Grade 10 CAPS
Paper
20 – 22 June 2012
th
nd
Presented at the Ireland
International Conference on
Education 2012 Conference
Society of South African
Geographers Biennial
Conference, 2012
Short description of the curriculum presented:
Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7):
Postgraduate (NQF level 8):
Postgraduate (NQF level 9):
Postgraduate (NQF level 10):
BEd Social Science and Geography.
BEd Honours (Geography).
MEd (Geography).
PhD
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Fourth year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
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Number
108
61
19
9
1
1
1
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Stellenbosch University, Geography and Environmental Studies
Date of establishment: 1920
Vision
To be the recognised higher education and research centre for Africa in the field of human,
environmental geography and geospatial information management in order to understand and where
possible manage geographical phenomena and processes to the advantage of the Southern African
community.
Mission ("core business")
The discipline of Geography and Environmental Studies analyses the relationship between humans
and their environment as it manifests in earth space and places. The department's mission is therefore
to provide training and do research on the phenomena and problems emanating from this interaction
through three relevant thematic focuses, environmental studies, urban and tourism studies within a
development context; a methodological focus on geographical analysis skills and practical application
of computer information technology and a regional focus on Africa and Southern Africa.
Compiled by Mrs Marianne Cronje mcron@sun.ac.za 021 808 3100
Head/Chair of Department:
Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Area of specialisation
E-mail
Van der Merwe, Hannes
Prof
Environmental Studies; GIT application; Regional
problems; Rural tourism
jhvdm@sun.ac.za
Office Tel
Number
021 808 3103
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Rank/Position
Area of specialisation
E-mail
Boonzaaier Ms Ilze
GIT specialist SGA
GIT
ib@sun.ac.za
021 808 3112
Chasi, Vimbai Ms
Lecturer
Disaster Risk Research; Public
health action in disrupted health
systems; Participatory research
vchasi@sun.ac.za
021 808 9284
Cronjé, Marianne, Mrs
Postgraduate
Program
Coordinator
mcron@sun.ac.za
021 808 3100
hdeklerk@sun.ac.za
021 808 9322
De Klerk, Helen N Dr
De Waal, Jan H Mr
Donaldson, Ronnie SE
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Senior Lecturer
DIMP-Researcher
Associate professor
Spatial analysis, Biogeography,
Species modelling, Fire ecology,
Thresholds of potential concern and
adaptive management for ecological
management
Climate change; Flooding risk
assessment; Urban risk research
with a particular focus on informal
settlements
jannied@gmail.com
Urban development; Tourism
rdonaldson@sun.ac.za
2012 Newsletter
for
Office Tel
number
021 808 9284
021 808 2395
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Prof
research
Du Plessis, Danie DJ, Mr
Senior Research
Analist atCRUISE
Urban morphology; Spatial planning
& modelling; Urban & regional
policy; Migration & urbanization
ddp@sun.ac.za
021 808 3126
Eloff, Piet, JE, Mr
Lecturer
Urban & Environmental Geography
pje@sun.ac.za
021 808 3095
Ferreira Sanette LA Prof
Associate professor
Tourism and Regional
Development, Tourism in Small
towns, Tourism and Crime
slaf@sun.ac.za
021 808 3105
Fortune, Gillian T, Ms
DIMP-Knowledge
Co-ordinator
Research: Loss estimation in
severe weather post-event
assessments
gillianfortune@sun.ac.z
021 808 9383
a
Geyer, Manie HS, Prof
Director: CRUISE
Migration; Urban morphology;
Urban systems
hsgeyer@sun.ac.za
021 808 3107
Geyer, Herman S, Jnr,
Mr
External Worker:
CRUISE
Urban & regional planning; Spatial
economic development
hsgeyerjr@sun.ac.za
021 808 3107
Holloway, Ailsa Jane, Dr
Director: DIMP
Disaster Risk Research & related
policy advocacy; disaster risk
curriculum and expertise in international humanitarian assistance
ailsaholloway@sun.ac.
za
021 808 9281
Horn, Anele Mev
Spatial Analyst
Urban & regional planning;
Development frameworks; Urban
growth management / monitoring
anelehorn@sun.ac.za
021 808 9181
Kemp, Jaco N Dr
Lecturer
GIT; Geomorphology
jkemp@sun.ac.za
021 808 9147
Liederman, Catherine
Mrs
Secretary
catherine@sun.ac.za
021 808 3218
Münch, Zahn, Mrs
Lecturer
GIS; Spatial decision making
zmunch@sun.ac.za
021 808 9101
Poona, Nitesh K, Mr
Lecturer
Remote sensing; Spatial statistics
and modelling
poona@sun.ac.za
021 808 9105
Roux, Wilma, Ms
DiMP- Admin and
financial officer
wmr@sun.ac.za
021 808 9285
Schloms, Bennie HA, Mr
Lecturer
Soil evaluation & use; Pedology;
Water resources and quality
bhas@sun.ac.za
021 808 3108
Stephenson Garth, Mr
GIT specialist SGA
GIT
garth@sun.ac.za
021 808 3112
Van Eeden, Amanda Mrs
GIS Analist:
CRUISE
GIS; Municipal economic
development
avaneeden@sun.ac.za
021 808 9104
Van Niekerk, Adriaan, Dr
Senior Lecturer /
Director: SGA
GIT; Spatial decision making
systems
avn@sun.ac.za
021 808 3101
Van Zyl Minnie, Mrs
Departmental
Officer (Cruise)
minnievz@sun.ac.za
021 808 3104
Willemse, Lodene, Ms
Statistical Analist:
CRUISE
Statistics, Urban development,
Urban open spaces
lodene@sun.ac.za
021 808 9103
Zweig, Trish, Mrs
DIMP- Risk
Reduction Coordinator
Informal Settlements; Low cost
housing policy; Historical Townships
admin; Municipal commonage,
Urban risk;
patriciazweig@sun.ac.z
a
021 808 9282
Department News
26 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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Mr Piet Eloff a very experienced and highly appreciated lecturer will leave the department after 40
years at the end of December and will be missed by his students and colleagues.
Dr Helen de Klerk attended a workshop of the IUCN’s new BIOPAMA programme which aims at
building data, tools and capacity to improve Protected Area management in Eastern and Southern
Africa. This includes a big GIS and remote sensing component.
Training course on the use of remote sensing data in water resources management:
During the week of 2–5 April 2012, internationally acclaimed scientist, Prof. WGM (Wim)
Bastiaanssen presented a four-day training course on the use of remote sensing data in water
resources management. He was very ably assisted by Dr Caren Jarmain of the University of
KwaZulu-Natal. Prof. Bastiaanssen, an Honorary Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and
Director of WaterWatch BV., the Netherlands, is internationally known for the development of the
SEBAL model. The SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land) model uses the energy
balance to estimate aspects of the hydrological cycle. SEBAL can be used to map
evapotranspiration, biomass growth, water deficit and soil moisture.
The lectures covered different remote sensing products available for rainfall, evapotranspiration and
land use, as well as how to integrate these data sets in models. Water accounting using remote
sensing was also discussed. Twenty six delegates from university departments such as Geography
and Environmental Studies, Computer Science, Horticulture, Soil Science, Forestry, Genetics and
Conservation Ecology attended the course. The delegates used ERDAS IMAGINE for the practical
exercises. The general consensus amongst the course attendees was that they were challenged by
the new concepts and the possibilities of using this technology.
The training course formed part of a Water Research Commission funded project (K5/2079//4)
headed up by Dr Caren Jarmain on water use efficiency of irrigated agricultural crops determined
with satellite imagery. Two students, one from the Department of Geography and Environmental
Studies, Carl Cloete under supervision of Ms Z Münch, and one from the Department of Computer
Science, Arne Esterhuizen supervised by Brink van der Merwe, have been involved in this project
and completed their Honours degrees at the end of 2012.
27 | P a g e
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Visitors
Host
Visitors
When
Ronnie Donaldson
SANPAD-group : Dr T de Jongh, Prof O Verkoren,
Henk Huisman, Proffs Annalise Zoomers and Guus van
Western Utrecht University Geography Department
January
Sanette Ferreira
SANPAD-group : Dr T de Jongh, Prof O Verkoren,
Henk Huisman, Proffs Annalise Zoomers and Guus van
Western Utrecht University Geography Department
January
Hannes van der Merwe
Dr Michael Zemp from University of Zurich, Dept
of Geography
October
2012 dated publications:
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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ADENDORFF MA, DONALDSON R (2012). Knowledge-based service industry in a South African
university town. Development Southern Africa 2012; 29(3) : 418-433.
AREGBESHOLA M, MEARNS K, DONALDSON R (2012). Comparing I&APs and consultants’
opinions on the Gautrain EIA process. Journal of Public Administration 2012; 26(4) : 1274-1287.
BIJKERK C, DE RIDDER R, DONALDSON R (2012). On the fringe of the FIFA world cup 2010:
non-host local government strategies. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation
and Dance (AJPHERD) 2012; 0 : 0.
DONALDSON R, VAN NIEKERK A, DU PLESSIS DJ, SPOCTER M (2012). Alternative
developmental interventions for small towns in the Western Cape province of South Africa. South
African Geographical Journal 2012; 1 : 1.
DONALDSON R, VAN NIEKERK A, DU PLESSIS DJ, SPOCTER M (2012). Non-metropolitan
Growth Potential of Western Cape Municipalities. Urban Forum 2012; 23 : 367-389.
DU PLESSIS H, VAN NIEKERK A (2012). A curriculum framework for Geographical Information
Science (GISc) training at South African universities. South African Journal of Higher Education
2012; 26(2) : 329-345.
FERREIRA SLA (2012). Moulding Urban children towards environmental stewardship:The Table
Mountain national park experience. Environmental Education Research. Environmental Education
Research 2012; 18(2) : 251-270.
FERREIRA SLA (2012). South African Tourism Road to Recovery: 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup
as vehicle. Tourism Review International 2012; 15(1-2) : 91-106.
FOURIE C, VAN NIEKERK A, MUCINA L (2012). Semi-automated segment generation for
geographic novelty detection using edge and area metrics. South African Journal of Geomatics
2012; 1(2) : 133-148.
GOLDHABER R, DONALDSON R (2012). Alternative reflections on the elderly’s sense of place in
a South African gated retirement village. South African Review of Sociology (Society in Transition)
2012; 0 : 0.
GOLDHABER R, DONALDSON R
(2012). An ‘Age-regation’ process as theoretical
understanding of the gated retirement village. Acta Academica ; 0 : 0.
GRELLIER S, KEMP JN, JANEAU J-L, FLORSCH N, WARD D, BAROT S, PODWOJEWSKI P,
LOHRENZ S, VALENTIN C (2012). The indirect impact of encroaching trees on gully extension: a
64 year study in a sub-humid grassland of South Africa. Catena 2012; 98 : 110-119.
JÜRGENS U, DONALDSON R (2012). A review of literature on transformation processes in South
African townships. Urban Forum 2012; 0 : 0.
LINDER HP, DE KLERK HM, BORN J, BURGESS ND, FJELDSA J, RAHBEK C (2012). The
partitioning of Africa: statistically defined biogeographical regions in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of
Biogeography 2012; 39 : 1189-1205.
MASHIMBYE ZE, CHO MA, NELL JP, DE CLERCQ WP, VAN NIEKERK A, TURNER DP (2012).
Model-based integrated methods for quantitative estimation of soil salinity from hyperspectral
remote sensing data: A case study of selected South African soils. Pedosphere 2012; 22 : 1-10.
NAUDE S, KLEYNHANS TE, VAN NIEKERK A, ELLIS F, LAMBRECHTS JJN (2012).
Application of spatial resource data to assist in farmland valuation. Land Use Policy 2012; 29(3) :
614-628.
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VAN DER MERWE JH, FERREIRA SLA, VAN NIEKERK A (2012). Resource-directed Spatial
Planning of Agritourism with GIS. South African Geographical Journal 2012; **MISSING
JOURNAL VOLUME** : 1.
VAN DER MERWE JH (2012). Locating opportunities for outdoor action and adventure
recreationand tourism in the Western Cape: a GIS application. South African Journal for Research
in Sport Physical Education and Recreation 2012; 34(2) : 197-214.
WILLEMSE L, DONALDSON R (2012). Community Neighbourhood Park (CNP) use in Cape
Town's townships . Urban Forum 2012; 23(2) : 221-231.
CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
DONALDSON R, MARAIS L. Preface: Small town geographies. In Donaldson, R & Marais, L
Small Town Geographies in Africa: Experiences from South Africa and elsewhere, Nova Science
Publishers, New York, USA, 2012: 10.
DONALDSON R, MORKEL J. The Quartering of Stellenbosch’s Urban Space. In Sustainable
Stellenbosch 2030, M Swilling & B Sebitosi (Eds), SunMedia, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2012: 0.
DONALDSON R, VERMEULEN L. Book Town Tourism as a Private Development Initiative for
Small Town Revival: The Case Of Richmond, South Africa. In Donaldson, R & Marais, L Small
Town Geographies in Africa: Experiences from South Africa and elsewhere, Nova Science
Publishers, New York, USA, 2012: 163-180.
DONALDSON R. Coastal Spaces as ‘Walls’: Gated Developments In Small Towns on the West
Coast. In Donaldson, R & Marais, L Small Town Geographies in Africa: Experiences from South
Africa and elsewhere, Nova Science Publishers, New York, USA, 2012: 263-274.
NHANTUMBO ESN , FERREIRA SLA. Tourism development and community response: The case
of the Inhambane coastal zone, Mozambique. In Donaldson, R & Marais, L Small Town
Geographies in Africa: Experiences from South Africa and elsewhere, Nova Science Publishers,
New York, USA, 2012: 365-382.
PAQUET T, DONALDSON R. Local Implementation of National Policy: “Breaking New Ground” in
the Coastal Towns of the Overberg Municipal Area?. In Donaldson, R & Marais, L Small Town
Geographies in Africa: Experiences from South Africa and elsewhere, Nova Science Publishers,
New York, USA, 2012: 297-310.
RESEARCH REPORTS
Donaldson, R. WORLD MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE DELEGATE TRACKING SURVEY.
Report prepared for CTRU Cape Town.
Donaldson, R; Ferreira, S & M Spocter. QUALITATIVE PHASE: UNLOCKING LATENT
POTENTIAL AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS FOR
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. A research study to be undertaken for the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Development Planning of the Western Cape Provincial Government. 96
pp.
Donaldson, R. EVENT SATISFACTION AND DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF
THE PRINCE ALBERT OLIOVE FESTIVAL. Report prepared for CTRU, Cape Town
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Donaldson, R; Van Niekerk, A; Stephenson, G; Du Plessis, D & A Lombard. MATZIKAMMA
LAND AUDIT. Report prepared for the department of Rural Development and Land Reform. RSA
Government.
Nell JP, Vermeulen D, Muller SJ, Kemp J, Pauw T, Stephenson G & Van Niekerk A.
Appropriate methods for monitoring salt accumulation and water logging. ISCW Report No.
GW/2012/GW/69, (110p), Pretoria: Agricultural Research Council.
Donaldson R, Van Niekerk A, Stephenson G, Du Plessis D, Pauw T & Lombard A 2012.
Matzikamma land audit. Report prepared for the Department of Rural Development and Land
Reform. Pretoria.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of presenter(s)
Title of presentation
Du Plessis H & Van
Niekerk A
A comparison of Geographical
Information Science competency
requirementsISBN 978-0-62052913-6
Ronnie Donaldson
Format
of
present
ation
Oral
present
ation
Date of
conference
/ workshop
Name of Conference/workshop
2-4 Oct
2012
GISSA Ukubuzana 2012,
Johannesburg, South Africa
26-31
August
IGU Cologne
Urban renewal of the Khayelitsha
business district
Oral
present
ation
Sanette Ferreira &
Adriaan Boshoff
Post 2010 FIFA World Cup: The
oversupply of Luxury tourist beds in
Cape Town
Oral
present
ation
26-31
August
IGU Cologne
Sanette Ferreira en
Andrea Lombard
Space, Place and Ownership: Wind
power landscapes on the West
Coast of South Africa.
Oral
present
ation
21 June
2012
South Africa, Geography Society,
University of Cape Town
Zahn Munch
Multi-temporal remote sensing landcover change detection as tool for
biodiversity conservation in the Berg
River catchment
Oral
present
ation
2-4
October
2012
GISSA Ukubuzana 2012: “An African
Dialogue: Geomatics for Infrastructure
Development and Service Delivery”,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Zahn Munch
Geohydrological conceptualization
from a remotely sensed simplified
water balance in the Sandveld,
South Africa.
Oral
present
ation
22-27 July
2012
IEEE International Geoscience and
Remote Sensing Symposium: Remote
Sensing for a Dynamic Earth, Munich,
Germany
Pauw, T & Van
Niekerk, A
Automated wetland classification
using OBIA: Agulhas Plain, South
Africa
Oral
present
ation
21-27 July
2009 IEEE International Geoscience
and Remote Sensing Symposium,
Munich, Germany
Stuckenberg T,
Münch Z
& Van Niekerk A
Multi-temporal remote sensing landcover change detection as tool for
biodiversity conservation in the Berg
River catchment. ISBN 978-0-62052913-6
Oral
present
ation
GISSA Ukubuzana 2012,
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Smit H & Van der
Merwe JH
Military environmental literacy in the
South African Army
Oral
present
ation
20-22 June
2012
Ninth Biennial Conference of the
Society of South African Geographers
(SSAG), University of Cape Town;
Theme: Building Critical Conversations
in Geography.
Van der Merwe JH
GIS for geospatial development
planning: A tourism data base and
Oral
present
20-22 June
2012
Ninth Biennial Conference of the
Society of South African Geographers
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2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
ation
its application in sun-and-sea
product resource evaluation
Van der Merwe JH
Van der Merwe JH
&Wild T
GIS for geospatial development
planning: A tourism data base and
its application in sun-and-sea
product resource evaluation
Monitoring the urban impact
footprint on an agricultural
hinterland: a Sandveld case study.
Oral
present
ation
Oral
present
ation
(SSAG), University of Cape Town;
Theme: Building Critical Conversations
in Geography.
20-22 June
2012
Ninth Biennial Conference of the
Society of South African Geographers
(SSAG), University of Cape Town;
Theme: Building Critical Conversations
in Geography.
27-29
August
2012
International Association of Impact
Assessors (IAIAsa) Annual Conference,
Somerset West; Theme: Integrated
environmental management in urban
evolution: creating tomorrow's cities
today.
Research Master Dissertations completed in 2012:
Brill, G. The tip of the iceberg: Spatio-temporal patterns of marine resource confiscations in Table
Mountain National Park. Stellenbosch University, MSc. Supervisor: Ferreira SLA.
De Waal, JH. Extreme Rainfall Distribution: An analysis of changing extreme rainfall patterns for the
Western Cape (South Africa). Stellenbosch University, MSc. Supervisor: Kemp JN.
Lotz, T.
A fine-scale classification of land cover in the north-west Sandveld.
University, MSc. Supervisor: Van der Merwe JH.
Stellenbosch
Myburgh, G. The impact of training set size and feature dimensionality on supervised object-based
classification: a comparison of three classifiers. Stellenbosch University, MSc. Supervisor: Van
Niekerk A.
Pauw, T. Assessment of SPOT 5 and ERS-2 OBIA for mapping wetlands. Stellenbosch University,
MSc. Supervisor: Van Niekerk A.
Remas, H. The identification of natural terroir units in the Robertson Wine District using GIS and
remote sensing. Stellenbosch University, MSc. Supervisor: Van Niekerk A.
Stuckenberg, TM. Land cover change in the Berg River catchment: implications for biodiversity
conservation. Stellenbosch University, MA. Supervisor: Van Niekerk A, Münch, Z.
Van der Mescht, D. Mountain wave turbulence over the Hex River Valley. Stellenbosch University,
MSc. Supervisor: Eloff PJ.
Mphil’s completed in Urban and Regional Science in 2012
Desmond Booysen
Howard Gabriels
Christine Khosa
Sharthi Laldaparsad (cum)
Risenga Muleleke
Seth Mohoto
Dunstan Morudu
Nthambeleni Mukwevho
Arul Naido
32 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Patric Naido
Helen North
Kevin Perry (cum)
Isabel Schmidt (cum)
Harmans Thema
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
33 | P a g e
Number
288
184
108 (141 in 334)
26
37
20
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geography,
Archaeology and Environmental Studies
Date of establishment: Geography was established as a separate university department at Wits
in 1918
Short description of the vision and mission of the Department:
In alignment with the vision of being a TOP 100 University, the geographers would like our School
to be a TOP 100 school or at least the preferred destination for research and study of Geography
in South Africa if not Africa.
Compiler of the report: Dr G Hoogendoorn, Gijsbert.hoogendoorn@wits.ac.za
Head/Chair of Department:
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office Telephone
Number
Professor Karim Sadr
Archaeology :
Karim.Sadr@wits.ac.za
011 717 6541
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname,
Initials)
Rank/Position Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Mrs C
Chamberlain
Principal Tutor
Cheryl.chamberlain@wits.ac.za
011 717 6514
Dr C Curtis
Senior Lecturer
Christopher.curtis@wits.ac.za
011 717 6505
Prof. T Dirsuweit
Associate
Professor
Professor
Geography
Education/Environmental
Education
Biogeochemical studies,
aquatic monitoring of air
pollution and climate
change impacts
Urban Studies and
Cultural Geography
Climate
Change/Geomorphology
Urban & Rural
Geography, Small
Towns, Second Home
Tourism
Physical Geography &
Climatic Change
Air Quality, Health Risk
Assessment and
Climatology and
Meteorology
GIS, Remote Sensing
and Geo-Informatics
Teresa.dirsuweit@wits.ac.za
011 717 6516
Stefan.grab@wits.ac.za.
011 717 6512
Gijsbert.hoogendoorn@wits.ac.za
011 717 6521
Jasper.knight@wits.ac.za
011 717 6508
Raeesa.moolla@wits.ac.za
011 717 6522
Yashon.ouma@wits.ac.za
011 717 6532
Climate change Urban
transformations, Rural
and urban agriculture,
Environment and
migration
GIS and Remote
Sensing in archaeology;
Danny.simatele@wits.ac.za
011 717 6515
Stefania.merlo@wits.ac.zat
011 717 6533
Prof. S Grab
Dr G
Hoogendoorn
Lecturer
Dr J Knight
Senior Lecturer
Mrs R Moolla
Associate
Lecturer
Dr Y Ouma
Senior Lecturer
New Lecturer
2013
Lecturer
New Lecturer
2013
Dr D Simatele
Dr S Merlo
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Lecturer
New Lecturer
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
2013
Cultural landscapes;
African archaeology
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Position
Area of
subject
specialisation
(if applicable)
Ms Donna Koch
Senior
Administrative
Officer
Mr Thandiswe
Ntsimbi
Senior Technician
Mr Andre Frank
LAN Administrator
Ms Chantele Grobler
Assistant Finance
Officer
Ms Wendy Phillips
Cartographer
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
n/a
Donna.koch@wits.ac.za
011 717 6503
n/a
Thandizwe.ntsimbi@wits.ac.za
011 717 6520
n/a
Andre.frank@wits.ac.za
011 717 6511
n/a
Chantele.grobler@wits.ac.za
011 717 6584
n/a
Wendy.phillips@wits.ac.za
011 717 6504
Department News
Recent Appointments:
Dr Yashon Ouma
Dr D Simatele
Dr Stefania Merlo
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer
Workshops Run:
Presented by:
Alex Wafer: Centre for Migration Studies
Informality, State Power and the Post-Apartheid Spatial
Imagination
Pre-colonial mining in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, South Africa
Prof Robert Thornton, from Anthropology, Wits University
Professor David Nash: University of Brighton
"Writing about the weather: using documentary sources to
reconstruct past climate variability and extreme weather events"
Alienation and obligation: The role of religion and kingship in
social change in Samoa.
'Sinking Island Spectacle: Climate Change
and Narratives of Disappearing Islands ‘
Potential for urban transformation from vulnerability to
sustainability through the utilisation of stormwater infrastructure
35 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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Dr Alec Thornton: University of New South Wales Canberra
Ms Fanny Thornton: College of Law, The Australian National
University
Ms Maryna Storie: Gauteng City-Region Observatory
(GCRO),
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
"24 hours of reality"
liDar uses and possibilities
Dr Jeunesse Park : Food and Trees for Africa
Mountain Hydrology and Climate Change: Research, Modelling
and Monitoring in Switzerland
Mapping and Geospatial Data Analysis Using MATLAB
Dr Tobias Jonas (Head: Snow Hydrology Research Group,
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research,
Switzerland)
Ms Vicky Bensan: Math Lab Optimum Solutions
A Tool for Finding Politically Feasible Ways to Manage RanchKept Wildlife
Prof Tim Haas: University of Wisconsin,
Milwaukee
Influence of climate change and variability on Coffea arabica in
the East African highlands
Improved mango yields in a sub-tropical region
Mr Alessandro Craparo: Masters student Wits University
Mr Adriaan Combrink & Ms Samantha Houniet: CK Aerial
Surveys
Ms Jennifer Fitchett: Masters student Wits University
2012 dated publications:
Mills S, Grab SW, Rea B, Carr S, Farrow A. (2012). Shifting westerlies and precipitation patterns
during the Late Pleistocene in southern Africa determined using glacier reconstruction and mass
balance modelling. QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS, 55 pp. 145 - 159.
Roshan G, Grab SW (2012). Regional climate change scenarios and their impacts on water
requirements for wheat production in Iran. International Journal of Plant Production, 6 (2), pp. 239 266.
Knight J(2012). Glacitectonic sedimentary and hydraulic processes at an oscillating ice margin.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION, 123 pp. 714 - 727.
Knight J (2012). The shape of glacial valleys: comment on Hall (2010). South African
Geographical Journal, 94 (1), pp. 1 - 3.
Grab SW (2012). On the burrowing impacts of ice rats otomys sloggettii robertsi at a wetland
fringe in the Afro-alpine zone, Lesotho . South African Geographical Journal, 94 (1), pp. 75 - 84.
Hoogendoorn G, Visser G (2012). Stumbling over researcher positionality and political-temporal
contingency in South African second-home tourism research. Critical arts - South-North cultural
and media studies, 26 (3), pp. 254 - 271.
Hoogendoorn G, Nel E (2012). Exploring small town development dynamics in rural South
Africa's post-productivist landscapes. . Chapter 29. In R. Donaldson (ed.), Small town geographies
in Africa: experiences from South Africa and elsewhere (pp. 21-34). New York: Nova Science
Publishers. 978-1-62100-104-1.
Hammett D, Hoogendoorn G (2012). Geographies of the discipline: experiences of young human
geographers researching South Africa. SINGAPORE JOURNAL OF TROPICAL GEOGRAPHY, 33
pp. 283 - 286.
Hoogendoorn G(2012). Becoming a geographer in South Africa. SINGAPORE JOURNAL OF
TROPICAL GEOGRAPHY, 33 pp. 300 - 303.
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2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Knight, J. and Harrison, S. 2012. Evaluating the impacts of global warming on geomorphological
systems. Ambio, 41 (2), 206-210.
Knight, J. 2012. Lightning as a Geomorphic Agent in Low-Latitude Mountains. Vignettes – Key
Concepts in Geomorphology. Available at http://serc.carleton.edu/67741.
Knight, J. 2012. Development of Palimpsest Landscapes. Vignettes – Key Concepts in
Geomorphology. Available at http://serc.carleton.edu/67822.
Knight, J. 2012. The last glaciation of Aran Island and Cruit Island, County Donegal, north-west
Ireland. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, 30, 49-58.
Knight, J. 2012. Glacitectonic sedimentary and hydraulic processes at an oscillating late
Devensian ice margin. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 123 (5), 714-727.
Knight, J. 2012. The shape of glacial valleys: comment on Hall (2010). South African
Geographical Journal, 94 (1), 1-3.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of presenter
(s)
Title of
presentation
Format of
presentation
Date of
Name of
conference/workshop Conference/workshop
Piketh, S. & Moolla, R.
“BTEX Concentrations
and Associated Health
Risk Impact at
Robinson Deep Landfill
Site, South Africa”
Paper
Presentation
October 2012
Wastecon 2012 “Wrestling
with Waste”
Müller, D. K. and
Hoogendoorn, G.
“Second homes: curse
or blessing? A review
36 years later.”
Paper
presentation
November 2012
21st Nordic Symposium in
Tourism and Hospitality
Research in Umeå,
Sweden
Jennifer Fitchett
An analysis of the
phenological response
of Citrus flowering
dates to climate
variability and change
in Iran from 1960 to
2010
Paper
presentation
June 2012
SSAG Bi-Annual
conference
Jennifer Fitchett, Stefan
Grab, Dave Thompson
Improved mango yields
in a sub-tropical region:
The impacts of range
shifts in perennial
agricultural crops under
climate variability and
change
Paper
presentation
September 2012
Phenology 2012,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
USA
Jasper Knight
Climate change and
challenges for Earth
surface system
dynamics in South
Africa
Paper
presentation
November 2012
NRF Conference on Global
Change
2012 Newsletter
for
37 | P a g e
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Jasper Knight and
Stephan Harrison
The fate of glacierized
mountain systems in a
+4oC world
Paper
presentation
December 2012
American Geophysical
Union Fall Meeting
Short description of the curriculum presented:
Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7):
Geography 1 (GEOG1000)
•
Landscape of Southern Africa
•
Environmental Change
•
Space and Society
•
Atmospheric Science
Geography 2 (GEOG2008
Geog 2010 Earth and Atmospheric Processes (Climatology Research Group,
•
Geog 2011 Climate Change and Society
•
Geog 2012 Environmental Governance: From Local to Global
•
Geog 2013 Methods, Models and GIS
Geography 3
•
GEOG3017 Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing III
•
GEOG3018 Fundamentals of Conservation Biogeography III
•
GEOG3019 Economic Geography
•
GEOG3020 Climate and Environmental Change
•
GEOG3021 Advanced Atmospheric Science III
•
GEOG3022 City Cultures III
Postgraduate (NQF level 8):
Bachelor of Science with Honours - BScHons
1 year full-time or 2 years
In the following fields: Ecology, Environment and Conservation,
part-time
Geography, Science Education
1 year full-time or 2 years
Postgraduate Diploma in Science - PGDipSc
part-time
Postgraduate Diploma in Scientific Studies
1 year full-time
Postgraduate (NQF level 9):
Master of Science - MSc
1 year full-time or 2 years
part-time
MSc by coursework and research report in the fields:,
Environmental Sciences, Geography and Environmental
Studies,
1 year full-time or 2 years
part-time
Master of Science by dissertation - MSc (Dissertation)
1 year full-time or 2 years
part-time
38 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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Postgraduate (NQF level 10):
Doctor of Science - PhD
2 years full-time or 4 years part time
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
Number
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
135 & 47 Planners
86
66
44
19
10
39 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
University of South Africa, Department of Geography
Date of establishment: 1946
VISION
The vision of the Department of Geography is the promotion of Geography as a discipline through
research, teaching and community engagement in the School of Environmental Sciences in the
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences within the University of South Africa
MISSION
We are committed to harness the rich and unique time-spatial perspective of Geography on the
relationship between humankind, the environment and its sustainability, in the promotion and
execution of tuition, research and community engagement.
Compiled by: Anna de Jager, Telephone: 011 4712022, Email: djageae@unisa.ac.za
Chair of Department:
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
E-mail
Office Telephone Number
Ms Nicolau MD (Senior Lecturer)
nicolmd@unisa.ac.za
011 471 2084
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name
Rank
Area of specialisation
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Prof Mini SE
Professor
Urban and Social Geography
minise@unisa.ac.za
(011) 4712348
Prof Horn AC
Professor
Urban and Social geography
hornac@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 2168
Mr Vlok AC
Senior Lecturer
Cartography, GIS
vlokac@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 3120
Mr Pretorius RW
Senior Lecturer
Teaching and learning in
Geography
pretorw@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 3680
Mrs Coetzee R
Lecturer
Coetzr@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 3437
Mrs de Jager AE
Lecturer
djageae@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 2022
Ms du Plessis A
Mrs Viljoen, GA
Lecturer
Lecturer
duplea@unisa.ac.za.
viljoga@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 2877
(011) 4713105
Mr Hedding DW
Mr Immelman J
Lecturer
Lecturer
Teaching and learning in
Geography;
Urban geography, services
provision, Tourism, quality of
life
Water
Human Geography, (Urban
Geography
Geomorphology
Remote Sensing, GIS
heddidw@unisa.ac.za
Immelj@unisa.ac.za
Ms Nenwiini S
Lecturer
Climate Change
nenwisc@unisa.ac.za.
Mr van Heerden,
SW
Ms Khotoo, A.
Lecturer
Urban Geography, GIS and
Land Reform
Human Geography
vheersw1@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471-2120
(011) 471
2520
(011) 471
2525
(011) 471 2752
khotoa@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 2749
40 | P a g e
Junior Lecturer
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Ms Nkooe E
Junior Lecturer
Urban/Cultural
Geography
nkooees@unisa.ac.za
(011) 471 2107
Dr Gunter will be joining Unisa in the second semester of 2013.
New fixed term appointments for 2013
Mr B Khanye
Fixed term Junior Lecturer
Completed his Hons at UJ
khanyb@unisa.ac.za.
Mr A Makhuba
Fixed term Academic Assistant
Makhufa@unisa.ac.za.
Mr DR Calvert
Fixed term Research Assistant
Mr C Hamann
Fixed term Research Assistant
to Prof Horn
Registered as an Hons
student at Unisa
Registered as an Hons
student at Unisa
Completed his Hons at UP
Mr P Ramasunga
Fixed term Research Assistant
to Prof Mini
Completed his Hons at
Venda
ramasp@unisa.ac.za
Ms B Robb
Fixed term Junior Lecturer
robbb@unisa.ac.za
Ms R Pienaar
Fixed term Junior Lecturer
Registered for Masters at
Rhodes
Completed her Hons at UJ.
Mr Q Haywood
Fixed term Junior Lecturer
Completed his Hons at UJ
haywoqa@unisa.ac.za
Mr S Tshabalala
Fixed term Junior Lecturer
Completed his Hons at
Monash
Tshabas1@unisa.ac.za
calved@unisa.ac.za.
hamanc@unisa.ac.za
pienar@unisa.ac.za
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name
Steenkamp HE
Potgieter, C
Position
Administrative officer
Technical assistant
E-mail
steenhe@unisa.ac.za
potgice@unisa.ac.za
Mapholo, M
Administrative officer
mphomr@unisa.ac.za
Department News
2012 was a dynamic year in terms of staff in the Department of Geography. There were a number
of resignations, appointments and promotions – as reflected in the above list of staff members. We
can highlight two of these: Prof Andre Horn joined the Department in 2012. He is well known in the
Geography community as staff member in the University of Pretoria and previous member of the
steering committee of the IGU Urban Commission. Laura Steyn retired after working 15 years as
technical assistant.
The Departmental academic associates, Prof Elri Liebenberg, Prof Joan Fairhurst and Dr Lorainne
Innes made valuable contributions to the academic outputs of the Department in 2012.
The Department was again responsible for hosing various workshops and events, including World
Environment day and World Aids day.
Teaching and learning Geography is an important focus area in the Department
41 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
At the Society of South African Geographers Biannual conference held at the Department of
Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Cape Town with the theme Building
Critical Conversations in Geography we participated in various discussions, including on
Geography education. Contributors to the themed session entitled Geographical thinking in
education: equipping for societal relevance were: Prof Joan Fairhurst, Melanie Nicolau, Peter
Beets, Peter Ranby, Kathima Najjaar and Lorraine Innes. Cecil Seethal as invited to comment as a
discussant on behalf of the Society of South African Geographers. The idea of the presentation
was to bring practising higher and school education geographers together to share in conversation
about our discipline at national and international level and to endorse Geography’s rightful place in
our country’s education system.
ODL pre-conference workshop
A workshop on teaching and learning science in open and distance learning convened on 4
September 2012 at the Roodepoort Country Club. It was organised with the help of two staff
members of Geography, Rudi Pretorius and Coetzee. Rudi also chaired the workshop, which was
part of the Unisa International ODL Conference. Two staff members of the Open University (UK)
were facilitators: Dr. Carlton Wood (biologist, academic member of staff & staff tutor) and Dr. John
Baxter (chemist-generalist & regional academic/staff tutor). Their keynote reflected on their
experience in teaching science at the Open University over the past few years and the
transformations they went through from paper based to online offerings. This was followed by a
panel discussion during which Unisa staff members (also geographers) had the opportunity to
share challenges and innovative work concerning ODL at Unisa and also to pose questions to the
speakers.
Academic visits
Mr Jirka Panek of Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, joined the Department during his
Research and Development Leave from August to October 2012. His visit provided a valuable
incentive in the Department to introduce a GIS component in the Roots Driven Change Project in
the North West Province. During his stay he was able to work on three journal articles with
colleagues in the GIS research group.
Dr H Ouma, from Kenya gave an African Scholar presentation on the application of GIS and
remote Sensing as a tool to relieve poverty in Africa.
Rudi Pretorius visited Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 to participate in the Word Symposium on
Sustainable Development at Universities (WSSDU-2012) This official parallel event to the United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) attracted representation from all
continents and provided universities with an international platform to display and share their
42 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
innovative contributions relating to education for sustainable development (ESD) at university
level. The Department of Geography at Unisa obtained recognition for its pivotal work in this
regard with the paper read by Rudi Pretorius on the role of authenticity to add value to ESD,
specifically in the open and distance learning context. This paper has been published in No 34 of
the award-winning book series “Environmental education, communication and sustainability” (Peter
Lang Scientific Publications).
Prof Andre Horn attended the IGU Urban Commission: Transformations of the Urban (Dortmund,
Germany). He retired from the commission after serving for 12 years.
Prof Elri Liebenberg was invited by the Department of Geography of the University of Ghent,
Belgium, and the Brussels International Map Collectors’ Circle (BIMCC) to present a lecture on
maps of the Anglo Boer war. She was on the organising committee for the 4th International
Symposium of the ICA (International Cartographic Association) Commission on the History of
Cartography in Budapest, Hungary, from 28-29 June 2012, after which she presented an invited
guest lecture at the Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics, EötvösLorand University,
Budapest, Hungary.
Prof Joan Fairhurst visited the University of Berne, Switzerland where she attended The National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South 3rdInternational Conference on Research
for Development (ICRD 2012), with the theme ‘Research for Global transformation’.
Awards.
Melanie Nicolau, David Hedding and Ernestina Nkooe shared the Principals Excellence in Tuition
award for the a third level modules in environmental awareness and responsibility. This module
was presented fully online (a first for the Department of Geography) and has been selected as one
of the Unisas’ six signature modules. All students who register at Unisa have to complete at least
one of the six signature modules. The fact that a Geography module has been chosen as one of
the six modules that address the “graduateness” of a Unisa student is particularly exciting.
David Hedding received the Principals’ Award for Excellence in Research
Mr Chris Vlok received honorary life membership of the Geo-Information Society of South Africa.
Terrence Turnbull, masters’ student in the department, scooped an award for best paper
presented in session at the annual post graduate science symposium of the Sa Academy of
Sciences and Arts. In addition he also scoped the award for the best paper by a non-mother
tongue speaker of Afrikaans.
Community engagement
The community engagement project in North West Province, focus on the Koffkiekraal/ Skuinsdrift
communities in the Groot Marico region. A formal memorandum of agreement with the Greater
Rustenburg Community Foundation and funding from BATSA supported community engagement
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for the Geography department and also the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
A CAMP methodology for roots driven change is applied and the activities of this process are
captured on a number of short DVDs clips that are placed on YouTube. Three short learning
programmes have developed out of this project. Team members have been invited to participate in
round table discussions with The Department of Social Development that aims at developing
national policy on roots driven development in South Africa.
Workshops were conducted on the following themes:
-
GIS for learners and teachers,
Water management and conservation,
Community based tourism
HIV
World Environment Day and Aids Day celebrations also formed part of the community engagement
initiatives in the rural areas of Groot Marico.
2012 dated publications:
ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN ACCREDITED SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS
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Innes, L. 2012. South African school geography: underpinning the foundation of geospatial
competence. Published in South African Journal of Geomatics, ISBN 2225-8531,
http://www.sajg.org.za/index.html CONSAS Conference.
Liebenberg, E.C. 2012. The cartography of exploration: Livingstone’s 1851 manuscript sketch
map of the Zambesi River. Terrae Incognitae, Journal of the Society for the History of Discoveries.
Vol.44. No.2, 89-109.
Note: The journal Terrae Incognitae is an international peer-viewed scientific journal published by
ManeyPublishing (UK) and hosted online at www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney.
Moyo, I; Nicolau, MD & Fairhurst, UJ, 2012. Migration theories and Zimbabwean migrant
teachers as reflected in a South African Case Study. Scientific Annals of Alexandru Ioan Cuza –
University of Iasi – Geography series. Vol 58. No.2, 123-146
Mini, SE, 2012. Spatialisation of post-apartheid urban inequalities: a new type of spatial –social
inequalities in South African cities. Scientific Annals of Alexandru Ioan Cuza – University of Iasi –
Geography series. Vol 58. No.2, 147-170
CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
Liebenberg, E. 2012. Chapter 14: Unveiling the Geography of the Cape of Good Hope: Selected VOC
Maps of the Interior of South Africa, in: E. Liebenberg &IJ Demhardt (ed.), History of Cartography.
International Symposium of the ICA Commission, 2010. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Pretorius, R.W. 2012. The value of authentic learning spaces to facilitate education for sustainable
development in open and distance learning. Chaper 14 (pp 169-182). In Leal Filho, W. (Ed.) Sustainable
Development at Universities: New Horizons.Peter Lang Scientific Publishers, Frankfurt.
BOOKS PUBLISHED
Liebenberg, E and Demhardt, IJ (ed.). 2012. History of Cartography. International Symposium of the ICA
Commission, 2010. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of presenter (s)
Title of presentation
Format of
presentation
Date of conference/
workshop
Name of Conference/workshop
E.C. Liebenberg
Maps of the Boer War,
1899-1902.
Oral
21 April 2012
L Innes
The impact of school
geography curriculum
change on spatial skills
Oral
20 March 2012.
E.C. Liebenberg
The “Major Jackson’s
Transvaal and Natal
Series” of the AngloBoer War (1899 –
1902): A
cartobibliographic
framework.
Oral
28-29 June 2012
Invited lecture by the
Department of Geography of the
University of Ghent, Belgium,
and the Brussels International
Map Collectors’ Circle (BIMCC).
Annual General Meeting of the
Geo – Information Society of
South Africa (GISSA) Mowbray,
Cape Town
4th International Symposium of
the ICA (International
Cartographic Association)
Commission on the History of
Cartography in Budapest,
Hungary
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R.W. Pretorius
“The value of authentic
learning spaces to
facilitate education for
sustainable
development in open
and distance learning”
Oral
5-6 June 2012
World Symposium on
Sustainable Development at
Universities, Rio de Janeiro.
A.E. de Jager
A proposed framework
for guiding efficient
map making for
tourism development
Oral
20-22 June 2012
Society of South African
Geographers Biannual
conference: Building critical
conversations in Geography,
Cape Town
J Fairhurst, M.D.
Nicolau, P Beets,
P Ranby,K
Najjaarand, L Innes
Geographical thinking
in education: equipping
for societal relevance
Themed session
21-22 June 2012
Society of South African
Geographers Biannual
conference University of Cape
Town with the theme Building
Critical Conversations in
Geography.
L M Innes
Making map skills
relevant in and beyond
the Geography
Classroom
Oral
20-22 June 2012
2012 SAAG Conference
R,W. Pretorius & P
Liknaitzky
Interrogating the
teaching and learning
of climate change in
the secondary school
Geography curriculum
Oral
20-22 June 2012
2012 SAAG Conference
E Liebenberg
South Africa’s
contribution to 20th
century cartography
Oral
27 June 2012
E Liebenberg
The “Major Jackson’s
Transvaal and Natal
Series” of the AngloBoer War (1899 –
1902): A
cartobibliographic
framework
Oral
28-29 June 2012
Invited by the Department of
Cartography and
Geoinformatics, EötvösLorand
University, Budapest, Hungary.
th
4 International Symposium of
the ICA (International
Cartographic Association)
Commission on the History of
Cartography in Budapest,
Hungary,
UJ Fairhurst, & A
Musyoki
Women and rural
development in South
Africa: facing the
realities of a changing
socio-political
environment
Oral
20-22 August 2012
The National Centre of
Competence in Research
(NCCR) North-South
rd
3 International Conference on
Research for Development
(ICRD 2012),with the theme
‘Research for Global
transformation’, held at the
University of Berne, Switzerland
A.C. Horn
From segregation to
fragmentation: race
and income
distributions in
Tshwane, South Africa
Oral
21 – 27 August 2012
IGU Urban Commission:
Transformations of the Urban
(Dortmund, Germany)
M.D Nicolau
Community asset
mapping as a tool to
achieve roots driven
change in the rural
communities of the
Bojanala Region,
Oral
3 -7 September 2012
Carnegie Conference, UCT
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R.W. Pretorius
North West Province,
South Africa
Adding value to open
and distance learning
in geography with
inquiry based
approaches
Oral
5- 7 Sept 2012
Unisa International ODL
Conference
D.W. Hedding
Pronival ramparts:
modes of genesis and
diagnostic criteria
Oral
8-12 September 2012
2012 SAAG Conference
A.C. Vlok & J Panek
CAMP for Change in
the Bojanala Region of
North West Province
Oral
2 – 4 October 2012
GISSA Ukubuzana 2012
I. Henrico & A.C. Vlok
Orthoretifying SPOT5
level 1A images using
ERDAS IMAGINE
2011 software
Poster
2 – 4 October 2012
GISSA Ukubuzana 2012
Research Master and Doctoral Dissertation/Thesis completed in 2012:
Student’s Name
Title of dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
A.C. Mkwalo
Assessment of
potential and
impacts of
afforestation in the
Letaba catchment,
Limpopo province,
South Africa
Unisa
MSc
D.W. Hedding
n/a
I.Henrico
An analysis of
applied methods to
satellite image
interpretation as
performed by
Image Analysts in
the SANDF
Unisa
MSc
A.C. Vlok
D.W. Hedding
K Govindasamy
Adventure Tourism
in the KwaZuluNatal Province :
Identification of
Hotspots and
Mobile Knowledge
Unisa
MA
A.C. Vlok
Dr A.C. Harmse
KO Acheampong
The tourism sector,
development policy
and inequalities in
the development of
the Eastern Cape
Unisa
DLitt et Phil
Dr S YirenkyiBoateng
n/a
Short description of the curriculum presented:
Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7): Geography can be taken as a major for a BA or BSc at
NQF levels 5, 6 and 7:
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Geography at Unisa is a major in a number of generic degrees at Unisa. In addition, many of the
individual Geography modules are compulsory in a variety of vocational programmes. The
Department is the coordinator of the multi-inter and trans disciplinary undergraduate degrees in
Environmental Management. The Department is privileged to offer one (GGH3708) of the six
signature modules offered at Unisa. The purpose of these modules is the address the overall
graduateness of the Unisa student.
Major combinations:
NQF Level: 5: GGH1501, GGH1502, GGH1503 (BSc major students must complete all three
modules, while BA major students only need to complete GGH1501 and GGH1502).
NQF Level: 6: Select any FOUR of GGH2601, GGH2602, GGH2603, GGH2604, GGH2605 and
GGH2606.
NQF Level: 7: Select any FIVE of GGH301W, GGH302X, GGH303Y, GGH3043, GGH3054,
GGH3076 and GGH3708.
NQF Level: 8: HPGGH80, HRGGH81, GGH4802, GGH4804, and GGH4805. Students, who
registered prior to 2013, may register for GGH4801 and GGH4803
Know Your World: Introduction to Geography - GGH1501
Semester module
NQF Level: 5
Credits: 12
Purpose: The nature and scope of geography as a science; representation of the earth on maps
and map use; sustainable development as a geographical concept; a selection of world spatial
patterns and processes from the following themes: climate, ecosystems and biomes, landforms,
minerals and soils, energy and water resources, population, HIV-AIDS, development and wealth,
culture, and globalisation. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access
to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the
World Wide Web.
World Issues: A Geographical Perspective - GGH1502
Semester module
NQF Level: 5
Credits: 12
Purpose: Global change and global problems, resource use and exploitation in both the physical
and human resource systems; the conservation and sustainable development of the human
resource base; techniques used for environmental monitoring. A selection of issues from the
following: population problems, poverty, quality of life, urban problems, food, conflict and war, the
energy crisis, air pollution, water pollution, land degradation, biodiversity, and the problem of
waste. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to
download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Our Living Earth - GGH1503
Semester module
NQF Level: 5
Credits: 12
Purpose: To gain insight into some of the underlying scientific principles of the world we live in,
and its sustainability. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a
computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa
module site.
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The African Challenge: People and Environment - GGH2601 (GGH201T)
Semester module
NQF Level: 6
Credits: 12
Purpose: The challenge for development against the background of the natural and human
environment in Africa. Distribution, growth and diversity of the population; impacts of HIV-AIDS;
geopolitical evolution; economic development; urbanization; food production and agriculture; the
use and exploitation of land and natural vegetation; climate and drought; desertification. Students
registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read
essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
The Geography of Services Provision - GGH2602 (GGH202U)
Semester module
NQF Level: 6
Credits: 12
Purpose: Spatial dimensions of basic services provision; sustainable development; needs
assessment; provision and
accountability; public participation and conflict management; accessibility; aspects of locational
analysis; optimal location of services; South African case studies. Students registering for this
module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study
material from the myUnisa module site.
The Interpretation of Maps, Aerial Photographs and Satellite Images - GGH2603 (GGH203V)
Semester module
NQF Level: 6
Credits: 12
Purpose: The nature of geographical data; map types; map elements; fundamentals of the use of
aerial photographs
and satellite images; measurements on maps and aerial photographs; the analysis of point, line
and area patterns; the identification and interpretation of topographical features, landscapes and
cultural phenomena; thematic mapping; the basics of Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to
download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
People and The Natural Environment: Use and Impact (Geography) - GGH2604 (GGH204W)
Semester module
NQF Level: 6
Credits: 12
Purpose: The current environmental dilemma and reasons for it; the development of
environmental awareness; use and exploitation of the natural environment by people with
reference to the: biosphere, atmosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere;
transformation towards sustainability. Students registering for this module are required to have
regular access to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa
module site.
Environmental Politics (Geography) - GGH2605 (GGH205X)
Semester module
NQF Level: 6
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Credits: 12
Purpose: The political perspective on the environment, including the following topics and
phenomena: appropriate concepts and definitions; political theories and environmental conflict; the
role of environmental social movements, nongovernmental organisations, political parties, and the
business sector; institutional politics, policy and green administration; environmental politics on the
global scale. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a
computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Geography of Tourism - GGH2606 (GGH206Y)
Semester module
NQF Level: 6
Credits: 12
Purpose: Global, national and local tourism resources (natural, human and cultural); spatial
patterns of tourism resources; spatiotemporal interactions in the tourism system; environmental,
economic and socio-cultural impacts of tourism; sustainable tourism development; strategic
importance of tourism for South Africa; destination image of South Africa. Students registering for
this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study
material from the myUnisa module site.
State of the Environment in Southern Africa – GGH3701 (GGH301W)
Semester module
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 12
Purpose: Sustainable development in Southern Africa. Geographical phenomena underlying this
challenge are climate, vegetation, soil and water resources, people, and the evolution of the
politicospatial, social and economic landscapes. Issues which are addressed are: the constraints,
problems and management of the natural and human environments, the conservation of Southern
Africa’s ecological and cultural heritage linked to sustainability and tourism; and problems relating
to politicospatial accommodation, regionalisation and local government in South Africa. Students
registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read
essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Spatial Economic Development – GGH3702 (GGH302X)
Semester module
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 12
Purpose: Spatial economic development in South Africa in terms of the following: theories;
primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary activities; uneven spatial development; the
infrastructure of transportation and communication; spatiotemporal evolution of the economy;
spatial development planning. Students registering for this module are required to have regular
access to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Introduction to Geographical Information Systems - GGH3703 (GGH303Y)
Semester module
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 12
Purpose: Origin, nature and theoretical foundations of GIS; generic GIS applications; collection,
input, storage, retrieval and management of spatial data; data analysis and modeling; output,
display and communication of geo-referenced data; spatial decision support systems; applying
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basic DIS functionalities. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access
to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Development of Urban Space – GGH3704 (GGH3043)
Semester module
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 12
Purpose: Urban spatial patterns, socio-economic structure of the city; the urban environment;
movement in urban space; urban planning and management; local economic development
planning; spatial data management for urban development; the marketing of urban areas; current
issues in urban areas. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to
a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Environmental Evaluation and Impact Assessment – GGH3705 (GGH3054)
Semester module
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 12
Purpose: Overview of environmental assessment; South African case studies; approaches to and
a framework for environmental evaluation and impact assessment in transitional and developing
countries; the role of legislation, politics, stakeholders and interest groups; procedures and
techniques for impact assessment; application in terms of practical examples; future perspectives.
Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to
download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Ecotourism – GGH3707 (GGH3076)
Semester module
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 12
Prerequisite; TRT101X (Prerequisite applies to BCom Tourism Management students only.)
Purpose: Ecotourism in terms of the following: concepts; sustainable (responsible) tourism;
specialist travel markets; resources (also in South Africa); environmental impacts; policy and
regulation; planning, development and management of ecotourism destinations; the ecotourism
business; communities and ecotourism destinations; ecotourism projects in South Africa. Students
registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read
essential study material from the myUnisa module site.
Environmental Awareness and Responsibility - GGH3708
Semester module
NQF Level: 7
Credits: 12
Purpose: Environmental principles are presented in a generic fashion to encourage the
development of a value system in terms of their environmental awareness and responsibility. The
module uses a strong interdisciplinary focus and will make use of a variety of global case studies
to enable students to understand how human activities impact on the environment. Students must
reflect constructively on these impacts, and develop a value system and a sense of responsibility
in this regard. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a
computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa
module site and the World Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material
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will be posted for this module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative
assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
NQF level 8: Bachelor of Science Honours in Geography
Geography in action: from problem identification to methodology - HPGGH80
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
Purpose: To develop a student’s ability to identify a real life geographical scenario that justifies
research and to present an acceptable research proposal on the identified scenario. Students
registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in
order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World
Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material will be posted for this
module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative assessment for this
module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
The geographer as a researcher - HRGGH81
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
Co-requisite: HPGGH80 (Students are however advised to complete HPGGH80 before they
register for HRGGH81.)
Purpose: To guide students to, undertake the research on their chosen geographical scenario,
and to report on their research findings. Learners can provide personal reflections on how the
research experience has contributed to their own sense of citizenship and employability. Students
registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in
order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World
Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material will be posted for this
module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative assessment for this
module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
Geographical Information Systems - GGH4801
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
This module is only available to students registered prior to the 2013 academic year. Last year of
registration for the module is 2014
Purpose: Nature of GIS (definitions, geographical concepts, functional elements, components);
GIS data structures (raster and vector); GIS data acquisition (data sets, quality); Preprocessing
(format conversion, data reduction and generalization, error detection and editing, merging, edge
matching, rectification and registration, interpolation, photo interpretation); GIS data management
(basic principles, efficiency, conventional database management systems, spatial database
management); GIS data manipulation and analysis (reclassification and aggregation, geometric
operations, centroid determination, data structure conversion, spatial operations, measurement,
statistical analysis, modeling); Output (types, hardware components); Remote sensing and GIS
(historic overview, technology, image processing, interfacing remote sensing and GIS
applications); GIS implementation and application (application areas, needs, project management);
Cartography for GIS.
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The geography of everyday living in human settlements - GGH4802
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to guide students to explore various factors that impact
life in human settlements to enable them to make informed contributions related to everyday living
in human settlements. The module forms part of an honors programme that provides learning
experiences and opportunities to develop capacity to investigate various geographical problems
related to how resource use and environmental change could impact on quality of life in various
contexts. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer
and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module
site and the World Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material will be
posted for this module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative
assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
The Geography for Tourism - GGH4803
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
This module is only available to students registered prior to the 2013 academic year. Last year of
registration for the module is 2014.
Purpose: Tourism as a geographical phenomenon; Factors, influencing tourism; spatiotemporal
patterns of international tourism; Tourism maps and destination images; Tourism resources in
various environments; Tourism and economic development - a national and regional perspective;
Sustainable tourism; Theoretical aspects of the use of GIS in tourism.
Geographic perspectives of environmental change - GGH4804
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
Purpose: In this module, a student’s capacity to deal with environmental change from a
geographical perspective will be developed. A holistic approach will be followed that acknowledges
the spatio-temporal patterns and interrelationships of natural and anthropogenically-induced
phenomena. This module contributes to the Honours Program in Geography by elucidating the
landscape responses to environmental change and how these responses impact the natural and
built environments. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a
computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa
module site and the World Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material
will be posted for this module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative
assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
The geography of people-resource interactions in the Global South - GGH4805
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
This module guides students in developing their own voice on issues related to the interaction
between people and resource use in different regions of the Global South. They should develop
the capacity to make informed contributions to future resource use in a variety of local contexts.
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The Honours in Geography is supported by this module with its unique regional perspective on
resource use and the implications thereof, with a strong focus on people and their roles in different
spatiotemporal contexts. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access
to a computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the
myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study
material will be posted for this module. Formative assessment must be completed online and
summative assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
Geography in action: from problem identification to methodology - HPGGH80
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
Purpose: To develop a student’s ability to identify a real life geographical scenario that justifies
research and to present an acceptable research proposal on the identified scenario. Students
registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in
order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World
Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material will be posted for this
module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative assessment for this
module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
The geographer as a researcher - HRGGH81
Year module
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 24
Co-requisite: HPGGH80 (Students are however advised
to complete HPGGH80 before they register for HRGGH81.)
Purpose: To guide students to, undertake the research on their chosen geographical scenario,
and to report on their research findings. Learners can provide personal reflections on how the
research experience has contributed to their own sense of citizenship and employability. Students
registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in
order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World
Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material will be posted for this
module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative assessment for this
module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio.
NQF Level 9: Master of Science in Geography
Full dissertation
NQF level 10: PhD in Geography
Full thesis.
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
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1787
924
289
112
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Events planned for 2013
The ICA’s Barbara Petchenik children’s world map competition will again be coordinated by the
Geography department at Unisa.
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University of Fort Hare, Department of Geography and
Environmental Science
Date of establishment: Short description of the vision and mission of the Department
The Department is committed to academic excellence. Its undergraduate degree programme is
carefully balanced between Physical and Human Geography, with emphasis on their integration,
particularly through field studies. The postgraduate programme is strongly conceptually and
deductively informed, thereby providing a rich theoretical foundation for empirical research. The
Department’s principal objective is to build and sustain a strong, vibrant and critical cohort of
undergraduate and postgraduate students, dedicated to challenging established modes of thinking
and research in selected Geographical and Environmental niche areas.
Compiler of the report: Prof CEP Seethal; cseethal@ufh.ac.za
Head of Department
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office Telephone
Number
Professor Seethal, C.E.P.
Human Geography:
Urban-Political
Geography
cseethal@ufh.ac.za
(040) 6022080
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Rank/Position
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Prof. Seethal, C.E.P.
Professor
Human Geography:
Urban-Political
Geography
cseethal@ufh.ac.za
(040) 6022080
Prof. Nel, W.
Physical Geography
wnel@ufh.ac.za
(040) 6022146
Dr. Tesfamichael, S.G.
Associate
Professor
Senior Lecturer
stesfamichael@ufh.ac.za
(040) 6022459
Mr. Magagula, H.B.
Ms. Mzitshi, Z.A.F.
Mr. Mosiane, B.
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer
Spatial Analysis and
Environmental
Geography
Physical Geography
Human Geography
Human Geography
hmagagula@ufh.ac.za
zmzitshi@ufh.ac.za
bmosiane@ufh.ac.za
(040) 6022157
(040) 6022149
(040) 6022147
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Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Position
Area of subject
specialisation
(if applicable)
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Ms. Okecha, K
Senior Laboratory
Assistant
Human Geography
kokecha@ufh.ac.za
(040) 6022147
Department News
At the invitation of Association of American Geographers (AAG) Professor Cecil Seethal, President
of the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG) presented a paper at the 2012 AAG
Convention in New York City on the State of Geography in South Africa. Professor Werner Nel
visited Marion Island in April/May 2013 as team leader of the NRF/SANAP Landscape Processes
in Antarctic Ecosystems research team. Professor Nel is also on the steering committee of the
newly appointed IGU Commission on Geomorphology and served as President of the South
African Association of Geomorphologists. Mr. H.B. Magagula received NRF Thuthuka funding for
his Ph.D. research on environmental management in the South African National Defence Force.
He has established research collaborations with Dr. O.J. Odindi at UKZN and Cdr. H.A.P. Smit at
Stellenbosch University, Saldanha Military Academy.
Dr. Tesfamichael submitted a manuscript for publication to the International Journal of Remote
Sensing and is awaiting feedback. He has been instrumental in setting up of the RAVAC computer
laboratory with 40 work stations in the Department for use by local government officials in the
Province and for undergraduate Geography students studying GIS and Remote Sensing (see
Figure 1). He has secured access to GIS and Remote Sensing data for research from an Institute
in France to the value of R200 000.00. This has enabled the setting up of several research
collaborations with the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (DAFF);
Amatole Water; ESRI; and the Eastern Cape Parks Board. Ms. Mzitshi has published a book with
Lambert Academic Publishing, with Professor Seethal as co-author.
Professor Sophie Oldfield from the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the
University of Cape Town (UCT) and current President of the SSAG visited the Department’s Alice
and East London campuses in October 2012 (see Figure 2). Professor Oldfield presented a paper
entitled, “Resistance and engagement: the politics of community activism and research” to staff
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and students at the Departmental seminar on the 16th of October. The Department also took the
opportunity to share with Professor Oldfield details of the SSAG 2014 Conference to be held at the
University of Fort Hare’s East London Campus.
Members of staff of the Department have played an important role in facilitating the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Fort Hare and the South African
Weather Services (SAWS) on 6th August 2012. Professor Seethal has been appointed to the
University’s three-person Task Team to advance items as set out in the MOU with the SAWS.
The Department hosted a workshop in October 2012 for 45 Grade 12 Geography learners from the
Loyiso Senior Secondary School in Mount Frere.
2012 dated publications
Mzitshi, Z.A.F. and Seethal, C.E.P. (2012). Citrus, labour and gender: The case of Kat River Area.
Lambert Academic Publishing.
Nel, W. (2012). A preliminary synoptic assessment of soil frost on Marion Island and the possible
consequences of climate change in a maritime sub-Antarctic environment. Polar Research, Vol.
31, 17626, DOI: 10.3402/polar.v31i0.17626
Nel, W., Mongwa, T., Sumner, P.D., Anderson, R., Dhurmea, K.R., Boodhoo, Y., Boojhawon, R.
and Rughooputh, S.D.D.V. (2012). The nature of erosive rainfall on a tropical volcanic island with
an elevated interior. Physical Geography, Vol. 33 No. 3, 269-284.
Okecha, K. and Seethal, C.E.P. (2011). Regime politics and service delivery: The Cape Town
Unicity Council area: A case of Parkwood Estate and Ottery, Cape Town. Germany: Lambert
Academic Publishing. pp.188.
Seethal, C.E.P. (2012). South Africa’s local government elections of 2011. South African
Geographical Journal, Vol. 94, No. 1, pp. 9-21.
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Sumner, P.D., Hall, K., Meiklejohn, K.I., and Nel, W. 2012: Chapter 4: Weathering In Holmes, P.J.
and Meadows, M. (Eds.). The Geomorphology of Southern Africa. pp. 73-91.
Conference Presentation in 2012
Name of presenter (s)
Title of presentation
Format of
presentation
Date of
conference/workshop
Name of
Conference/workshop
Magagula, H.B.
Challenges of the South African
National Defence Force in
implementing the Environmental
Management System within its
Military Sites
Paper
June 2012
SSAG 2012
Conference at UCT
Mosiane, N.B.
Participation at Workshop hosted by
RUCORE Sustainability Foundation at
the Tlholego Ecovillage, Rustenburg
Workshop
Presentation
May-June 2012
RUCORE
Nel, W.
A synoptic assessment of soil frost on
Marion Island and the possible
consequences of climate change in a
maritime sub-Antarctic environment.
Paper
September 2012
SAAG Bi-annual
Conference
Seethal, C.E.P.
The state of Geography in South
Africa
Paper
February 2012
AAG Annual
Convention, New
York City
Seethal, C.E.P.
Human rights and human trafficking in
the Eastern Cape Province of South
Africa
Paper
February 2012
AAG Annual
Convention, New
York City
S. Tesfamichael
Mapping the vegetation distribution of
Eastern Cape Province using remote
sensing techniques
Paper
June 2012
SSAG 2012
Conference at UCT
Research Master Dissertations completed in 2012
Student’s Name
Title of dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
M.B Zilindile
An assessment of
needle ice, snowfall
and the zero-curtain
effect and its
relationship with soil
frost dynamics on
sub-Antarctic
Marion Island.
Fort Hare
M.Sc.
Geography
W. Nel
-
Master Dissertations of limited scope completed in 2012
Student’s Name
Title of dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
N.V. Sibane
Environmental
Politics: The case
of the Xolobeni
Mining Project in
the Mbizana Local
Municipality in the
Fort Hare
M. Phil.
(Environmental
Studies)
C.E.P. Seethal
-
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Eastern Cape
N.A. Nini
Illegal Abalone
harvesting in the
East London Area,
Eastern Cape
Province, South
Africa
Fort Hare
M. Phil.
(Environmental
Studies)
C.E.P. Seethal
-
Short description of the curriculum presented:
Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7):
GEG 111:Geomorphology; Economic Geography and Population Geography (Introduction
to Human Geographies I)
Contents: (1) Geomorphology: The Geomorphology component of this module focuses on the
earth as a dynamic planet whose surface is actively shaped by physical forces. The emphasis is
on the following topics: Earth's internal structure and dynamic crust; tectonic processes,
earthquakes and volcanism; rock formation, weathering and mass movement; slope development
theories; river systems and landforms; coastal processes and landforms; aeolian processes and
arid landscapes.
(2) The Human Geographies sub-module focuses on selected themes. The first set of themes
has two components. The first examines the relationship between culture and nature, including
how nature is shaped by the human imagination and the Marxist concept of producing nature. The
second investigates the interaction between society and space, specifically focusing on how
spatial patterns reflect social structures, and how place and space actively contribute to the
construction and reproduction of social identities.
The second set of themes concentrates on two principal areas of study, namely, Local-Global
Relations with reference to local matters and global visions, and mosaics, systems and networks;
and a focus on Control and Freedom with reference to multiple spaces and locating freedoms.
GEG 121: Climatology; Settlement Geography and Regional Geography (Introduction to
Human Geographies II)
Contents:(1) Climatology: This sub-module focuses on the study of fundamental climatology and
meteorology at the global, regional and local scale. Course content: Composition of the
atmosphere, vertical structure of the atmosphere, physical processes for heating and cooling,
horizontal winds in the atmosphere, primary, secondary and tertiary circulation, global winds,
major and minor disturbances, South African climate, weather symbols and climate classification.
(2) The Human Geographies sub-module focuses on selected themes. The first set of themes
concentrated on three principal areas of study, namely, self-reflexivity in the study of Human
Geography; the critique of geographical images; and distinctions between masculinist and
feminist geographies.
The second set of themes concentrates on two principal areas of study, namely, Human
Geography: Science-Art; and Histories of Human Geographies, and the Art of Human Geography.
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GEG 211:Pedology, Population, Climatology, Settlement Geography, Environmental
Studies
Contents: (1) Pedology: Soil formation and soil properties, the geography of soils, soil
classification systems, soil types and general soil classification.
(2) Population: Population growth and its impact on renewable resources, food security, job
opportunities, health and service delivery. Population size, distribution and density; population
census and demographic characteristics. Population trends in South and southern Africa are
discussed, and compared with those of the First World.
(3) Climatology: This sub-module provides an in-depth understanding of the generic processes
governing atmospheric circulation and those specific to southern Africa. The course content
includes: Pressure, temperature and density relationship; radiation laws; large-scale weather
processes and systems; general circulation of the southern hemisphere; atmospheric circulation
and weather over southern Africa; air masses and cyclonic storms; fronts and depression;
weather and climate in temperate latitudes and the laws of thermodynamics.
(4) Settlement Geography: This sub-module focuses on the challenges facing urban settlements,
namely, urbanisation and counter-urbanisation, gentrification and loft living in the central city, and
inequality in the global city. It also includes aspects that focus on sensing the city-urban
experiences; sensing everyday geographies; the blurring of country and city; and commodifying
the countryside.
(5) Environmental Studies: Introduction to principal concepts: Environmental studies,
environmental science, multi-disciplinarity, inter-disciplinarity, stewardship, domination and the
precautionary principle of environmental management. Relationship between environmental
studies and coastal and tourism development in South and southern Africa. Gender and
environment studies.
GEG 221: Economic Geography, Geomorphology,
Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing
Statistics
for
Geographers,
Contents: (1) Economic Geography: This sub-module has two key themes. The first theme
introduces students to development geographies, with a focus on select theories of economic
development and underdevelopment; criticisms of these theories and alternative ways of viewing
of development and underdevelopment; and local and global resistance to neo-liberal economic
policies and practices. The second theme introduces students to economic geographies,
concentrating on production geographies; the geography of money and finance; and consumption
geographies.
(2) Geomorphology: This sub-module provides a systematic overview of the forms and processes
associated with rivers and drainage basins. Topics include: Basin hydrology, drainage networks,
river hydraulics, sediment transport processes, channel morphology, channel change, and human
impacts on fluvial systems. Under human impacts the following are examined: How land uses
such as grazing, agriculture (cultivation), logging, urbanization, floods and erosion control affect
fluvial processes, morphology, and riparian ecology and habitat?
(3) Statistics for Geographers: This sub-module focuses on the application of statistical methods
in research in both human and physical geography. It is concerned with the scientific method of
collection, presentation, organisation, analysis and interpretation of numerical data. The course
content includes the introduction to statistical methods, central tendency, dispersion and
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variability, frequency distribution, sampling, sample characteristics and statistical estimation,
statistical inference and the testing of hypothesis in both parametric and non-parametric tests and
relationships.
GEG 312: Economic Geography and Geographical Research
Content: The Evolution of Economic Geography as a Discipline; The Spatial Organization of the
World Economy; International Trade, Globalization, Trade reform and liberalization, Development
strategies in Asia and Latin America, Trade agreements (e.g., Asia Pacific Economic CoOperation), Patterns in International Trade; Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the Growth of
Multinational Enterprises; The Spatial Transformation of the Periphery, and Transnational
Corporations. The Geographical Research component introduces students to the steps in the
presentation of a dissertation proposal, the importance of the conceptual framework in research,
the compilation of the literature review, the identification of gaps in their chosen field of research,
the establishment of the research problem and research questions, and the presentation of the
aims and objectives of their research. The research may be in Human Geography, Physical
Geography or in Environmental Studies.
GEG 313: Biogeography
Content: Introduction to biogeography, biogeographical processes: speciation, diversification,
extinction; biogeographical patterns: distributions processes; ecological biogeography: ecosystem
processes, habitats, ecological niche; conservation biogeography: South African biomes,
biodiversity
GEG 322: Climatology and Geomorphology
Content:Climatology: Ocean – atmospheric interactions, wind and ocean movement, upwelling,
thermohaline circulation, the Walker circulation and ENSO, ENSO and South African rainfall;
boundary layer processes: turbulence in the boundary layer, boundary layer modification by urban
areas, air pollution climatology; extreme climatic events and hazards: tropical cyclones, floods and
droughts, thunderstorms and tornadoes, climate and health, recent global climate change
Geomorphology: Slope forms, processes and structural control, weathering processes, mass movement
processes, scarification; landscape evolution, slope development theories, factors controlling slope
development; geomorphic aspects of soil erosion, soil erosion processes, gully development, soil
erodibility; soil erosion distribution in South Africa, social aspect of soil erosion, soil erosion and land
tenure, government intervention; political aspects of soil degradation: marginalization and soil/land
degradation, political unrest and land degradation; soil management and conservation.
GEG 323: Settlement Geography and Geographical Research
Content:
The themes selected for study in the Settlement Geography sub-module include:
paradigms in human geography studies; urban power and the political economy of cities, including
local governance, the change from managerialism to entrepreneurialism, and the consequences
for residents at the local sphere; state restructuring, local politics and civil society in South Africa’s
urban environment; postmodern urban structure; postmodern perspectives on urban politics in
South Africa; global cities discourse; and a study of urban dynamics in East London.
The Geographical Research component includes sampling, qualitative and quantitative data
collection techniques, geographical information systems and remote sensing. Students prepare
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their data collection instruments; pilot these; collect data; engage in data analysis; and present a
bound copy of their research project within prescribed norms for a dissertation.
Postgraduate (NQF level 8):
GEG 501/GEG 501E: Theory of Geography
Content:
Geography as a changing discipline with reference to the paradigms: Postmodern
Geographies, Feminist Geographies, Regional Geography, Geography as Spatial Science,
Humanistic Geography, Applied Geography and Radical Geographies, and their influence on
South African Geography. Research methodology, research designs, qualitative and quantitative
research techniques, remote sensing and geographical information systems in geographical and
environmental research. Requirements for preparation of research proposal; structure and
technical requirements for presentation of research project
GEG 502/GEG 502E: Dissertation (compulsory)
Contents: The preparation of the dissertation is conducted in parallel with the Theory of
Geography (GEG 501/GEG 501E) module which incorporates research methods and techniques.
The selection of the research topic and the research problem must be undertaken in consultation
with the Supervisor and the Head of the Department: Geography and Environmental Science.
Prepare, present and submit for approval written dissertation proposal at a seminar in the
Department. Complete and submit written dissertation in accordance with approved research
proposal. The dissertation must be completed in accordance with the Department’s scientific
style and guidelines.
For the dissertation, students need to design, undertake and defend their research on a problem
within a specified field in geography or environmental studies/science. Students need to review
critically current literature in the field of research; justify selection of research problem; explain
research methodology and techniques to be used; select research location; collect, analyze and
present research data; display mastery of technical aspects and literary requirements in
dissertation writing; establish conclusions; make recommendations based on research; defend
findings and relate these to other research. Develop research and creative skills for application in
novel and applied research. Provide training in the preparation and sharing of dissertation results
in seminars and at student conferences. Develop appreciation for comments and critiques on
research.
The last date for submission of the final draft of the mini-dissertation to the internal examiner in
the Discipline for comment shall be the first Friday in November of each year. This will enable the
supervisor to return the final draft with comments by the end of the academic year. Students are
required to make necessary revisions before final deposit of their mini-dissertations on 09 January
in accordance with University regulations.
GEG 508/ GEG 508E: Cartography, Geographical Information Systems and Remote
Sensing
Contents: This module is offered to students who are registered only on a full time basis. It
concentrates on the various spatial data gathering processes, the visualization of spatial data and
the making of maps using computers, introduction to remote sensing, the use of remote sensing
techniques in environmental studies, the utilization of geographical information systems (GIS) in
decision making and integrated development planning. The module is designed to provide
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candidates with skills in the application of GIS and remote sensing for research purposes,
particularly for their mini-dissertations.
GEG 515/GEG 515E: Physical Geography: Climatology
Contents: This module deals with climatological and weather patterns via multidisciplinary and
interdisciplinary approaches. It equips students with advanced theories on climatological and
meteorological processes and provides an analytical and interdisciplinary perspective on climate
change issues. The course includes the following: General circulation of the southern
hemisphere, southern African weather and climate, frontal system, frontogenesis and frontolysis,
cyclone and cyclogenesis, convective activity and formation of convectional cell, urban-rural
micro-climates, climate and weather hazards, stratospheric ozone, drought and desertification,
global warming, El Niño and La Niña, management of climatologically-induced disasters,
environmental risk assessment and analysis, diurnal forcing and local circulations, ocean
circulation, climate prediction, interannual variability of the atmosphere-ocean system, dynamics
of tropical climates, and planetary micro-scale boundary layer climates.
GEG 517/GEG 517E: Human Geography: Economic Geography
Contents: This module is focuses on specific themes within Economic Geography. The themes
are selected to cover a broad range of spatial economic scales from the global to the local.
Emphasis centres on global organizations, institutions and systems that impact on economic
development at the regional and local level, and on the differences and interrelationship between
the North and the South. The module also focuses on South Africa's newly emerging postapartheid economic spatial framework, as well as the emerging dimensions within the Southern
African Development Community, and the rest of Africa (including, New Programme for African
Development [NEPAD]).
GEG 523/GEG 523E: Integrated Environmental Management
Contents: This is a one Semester module. The course entails the management and utilization of
resources. Participants gain insights into human activities and the implications of local, national
and international policies on environmental issues. Learners partake in the assessment of
decisions taken by governments and practitioners by relating to theoretical base of environmental
economics, waste management and land degradation. Sustainable development of resources is
emphasized in the practice of ecosystem management. The contents of the module include
resource analysis; principles of environmental management; compartmental and ecosystem
approaches to environmental management; land as a resource; land tenure systems in Africa; the
agrarian question; environmental legislation and environmental justice; communities and game
park management; introduction to environment impact assessment practices; environmental
auditing and monitoring; and ISO 9000 and 14000 regulations and standards.
GEG 524: Physical Geography: Geomorphology
Contents: This module focuses on the application of geomorphology into real life problems. The
emphasis is on weathering, slope instability (scarification), soil erosion, land degradation, soil
conservation, geomorphology in environmental management, geomorphology in impact
assessment, and the Landcare programme (Landcare South Africa). Students are required to
submit a minor research project based on a selected topic in Geomorphology.
GEG 526/GEG 526E: Human Geography: Settlement Geography
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Contents: The module concentrates on selected themes within Settlement Geography, with
reference to urban-political geography and the South African urban environment. The themes
include: (1) Fordism, Flexible Accumulation, the New International Division of Labour (NIDL), and
the Regulation Approach to Development; (2) The Political-economy of Cities and Communities;
(3) Postmodernism and Settlement Geography, Engendering Settlement Geography, and
Postmodern Urbanism; (4) World Cities: Formation, Theory and Discourse; The Global Economy,
Glocalization and Microgeographies; Globalization, Urbanization and Uneven Development;
Perspectives on the Global City in (and from) the Global South; and (5) The South African Urban
Environment: Progrowth Coalitions, Urban Regimes and Postmodern Politics.
Postgraduate (NQF level 9):
MASTERS OF SCIENCE (M Sc) DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY
Students are required to produce a dissertation within the prescripts of acceptable scientific writing
on an Faculty approved topic of research in Geography or Environmental Science.
M PHIL DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
The M. Phil. programme is designed for students who wish to study for the Masters Degree in
Environmental Studies by coursework and dissertation, do not necessarily have a B. Sc. Honours
degree, and are precluded from registering for the M. Sc. degree. The M. Phil. Degree is
designed to run over a minimum period of two years of study for full-time students. Full-time
students normally complete their coursework and engage in preliminary work towards their
dissertation in the first year of registration. This preliminary work normally includes the formal
presentation in the Department of the dissertation proposal. The completion of the dissertation is
usually undertaken in the second year of study and after the successful completion of the other
three modules. Full-time students may register for all the four modules in the first year of study.
GEG 701/GEG 701E: Research Methodology and Research Reports
Contents: Analyse contribution of the different paradigms in Geography to the development of
research methods in environmental studies. Discuss the external and internal environmental
contexts contributing to the adoption of different paradigms and research methods in
environmental and geographical studies. Compare and contrast paradigms and methodological
changes in South African environmental studies with those elsewhere. Identify contribution of
individual scholars in shaping the development of geographical and environmental studies thought
and research methods. Appreciate philosophical and methodological debates amongst scholars
within, and between, different paradigms with specific reference to geographical and
environmental studies. Study research designs, methods and techniques in geographical and
environmental studies. Determine application of philosophies and research methodologies to
empirical research designs in geographical and environmental studies. Understand principles of
research project leadership and research project management. Develop appreciation of research
integrity and research ethics. Assimilate techniques, skills and style in
GEG 712/GEG 712E: Natural Resources Management
Contents: This is a one-semester module. This module caters specifically for persons with a
natural and/or physical sciences background who intend to pursue a career in the field of
environmental science. This module is particularly suited to persons already in consulting,
education, and research. The contents of this module include natural resources management;
environmental impact assessment; applied geomorphology; land resources management; aspects
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of pedology, applied hydrology and applied climatology; water resources and catchment
management; environmental auditing, risk assessment and risk management; integrity and
environmental ethics; conflict management in environmental resources; environmental resources
management policy issues; and aspects of South Africa's environmental law.
GEG 723/GEG 723E: Environmental Impact Assessment
Contents: This is a one-semester module. This module is suitable for persons with a human
and/or social sciences background who intend to pursue a career in the field of environmental
management. This module is particularly suited to persons already in consulting, education and
research. The contents of this module include: Policy and environmental implications of
environmental impact assessment; environmentally sustainable development and natural
resources utilization; economic and social aspects of environmental resources management;
global environmental issues (ISO 1400) and environmental auditing; risk assessment and risk
management; integrity and environmental ethics; conflict management in environmental
resources management; environmental resources management policy issues; north-south trade
relationship and environmental economics; and aspects of South Africa's environmental law.
GEG 724/GEG 724E: Ecological Basis of Integrated Environmental Management
Contents: The module deals with the scientific basis of ecosystem management and the
processes of environmental maintenance. The operational and managerial requirements for the
safeguard of local and global environments are emphasized. The contents of the module include
the ecological basis for integrated environment management; approaches, principles and
procedures of protected areas; approaches to terrestrial ecological resources management;
coastal zone management and coastal resources management; sustainable development and
policy issues on coastal-terrestrial resources utilization; and international and national issues of
biodiversity.
GEG 705/GEG 705E: Mini-dissertation
Contents: The preparation of the dissertation is underpinned by a readings course in research
methods and techniques (see GEG 701/GEG 701E). For the coursework dissertation, students
need to design, undertake and defend their research on a problem of their choice within a
specified field in environmental studies. This involves: Reviewing critically current literature
related to the topic of research; justifying selection of research problem; explaining research
methods and techniques to be used; selecting research location; and collecting, collating,
assimilating, interrogating, analyzing, synthesizing and representing data. Display mastery of
technical components and literary requirements in dissertation writing. Draw conclusions and
make recommendations based on research. Defend findings, relate these to other research, and
if possible, contribute to the development of knowledge. Acquire research skills for application in
novel and applied environmental situations and in the resolution of societal problems. Provide
training in the preparation and dissemination of research findings, for example, in manuscripts for
publication in periodicals. Develop responsiveness to comments and critiques on research.
Prepare and submit dissertation.
Postgraduate (NQF level 10):
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GEOGRAPHY
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Students may be admitted to study for the Ph.D. in Geography (or Environmental Science) on an
approved topic of research and within the research interests of faculty members in the
Department. To be admitted to the Ph. D. Programme students need to submit a preliminary
proposal detailing their research intent.
Student Numbers (2012)
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
Number
52
48
29
5
11
4
Any other information not included above, that you would like to include in the newsletter:
The Department of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Fort Hare has been
entrusted with the responsibility of hosting on behalf of the Society of South African Geographers
the 10th biennial conference in 2014. This conference will be held at the University’s East London
Campus from 23rd to 27th June. This conference will combine the South African Geography
Students’ Conference (23rd – 24th June) with the Academic Conference scheduled for 26th – 27th
June 2014.
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University of Cape Town, Environmental & Geographical Science
Head/Chair of Department: Professor Michael Meadows
Compiler of the report: Maano Ramutsindela, email: Maano.Ramutsindela@uct.ac.za
2012 dated publications:
Journal Articles
Abiodun, B., Adeyewa, Z., Oguntunde, P., Salami, A. and Ajayi, V. 2012 Modeling the impacts of
reforestation on future climate in West Africa. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 110: 77-96.
Anderson, P. and O’Farrell, P. 2012 An ecological view of the history of the City of Cape Town.
Ecology and Society 17(3): 28.
Anderson, PML, Elmqvist, T 2012, Urban ecological and social-ecological research in the City of
Cape Town: Insights emerging from an urban ecology city lab, Ecology and Society, 17 (4): 23
Baleta, H. and McDonnell, R. 2012 Water quality standards or carbon reduction: is there a
balance? Area 44(2): 217-225.
Battersby-Lennard, J. 2012 Beyond the food desert: finding ways to speak about urban food
security in South Africa. Geografiska Annaler Series B-Human Geography 94(2): 141-159.
Burrough, S., Thomas, D., Bailey, R. and Davies, L. 2012 From landform to process: morphology
and formation of lake-bed barchan dunes, Makgadikgadi, Botswana. Geomorphology 161/162: 114.
Chase, B, Scott, L, Meadows, M E, Gil-Romera, G, Boom, A, Carr, A, Reimer, P, Truc, L,
Valsecchi, V. and Quick, L 2012, Rock hyrax middens: a palaeoenvironmental archive for southern
African drylands, Quaternary Science Reviews, 56, 107-125.
Daya, S, and Ramdeo, A.R. 2012 Self, others and objects in an 'alternative economy': personal
narratives from the Heiveld Rooibos Cooperative, Geoforum, 43, 885-893.
Farrell, LAF, Hamann, R, and Mackres, EBM 2012, A clash of cultures (and lawyers): Anglo
Platinum and mine-affected communities in Limpopo Province, South Africa, Resources Policy, 37,
194-204.
Favre, A, Hewitson, B C, Tadross, MA, Lennard, C, and Cerezo-Mota, R. 2012, Relationships
between cut-off lows and the semiannual and southern oscillations, Climate Dynamics, 38, 14731487.
Halladay, K, Malhi, Y, and New, M 2012, Cloud frequency climatology at the Andes/Amazon
transition: 1 Seasonal and diurnal cycles, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 117, 115.
Halladay, K, Malhi, Y, and New, M. 2012, Cloud frequency climatology at the Andes/Amazon
transition: 2.Trends and variability, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 117, 1-19.
68 | P a g e
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Hewitson, B., Lennard, C., Nikulin, G. and Jones, C. 2012 CORDEX-Africa: a unique opportunity
for science and capacity building. CLIVAR Exchanges 60(17): 6-7.
Meadows, M E 2012, Quaternary environments: Going forward, looking backwards?, Progress in
Physical Geography, 36(4), 539-547.
Meadows, M E 2012, The doctoral degree in geography: A South African perspective, Journal of
Geography in Higher Education, 36(1), 49-55.
Mwalukomo, H and Patel, Z 2012, Chieftaincy and democratic local governance in rural South
Africa: Natural resources management in QwaQwa, Development Southern Africa, 29(2), 259-272.
O'Farrell, P, Anderson, PML, Le Maitre, D, and Holmes, P 2012, Insights and opportunities offered
by a rapid ecosystem service assessment in promoting a conservation agenda in an urban
biodiversity hotspot, Ecology and Society, 17:27(3), 1-14.
Oguntunde, P, Abiodun, BJ, and Lischeid, G 2012, Spatial and temporal temperature trends in
Nigeria, 1901-2000, Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, 118, 95-105.
Parnell, S. and Robinson, J. 2012 (Re)Theorizing cities from the global south: Looking beyond
neoliberalism. Urban Geography 33(4): 593-617.
Rahiz, M, and New, M 2012, Spatial coherence of meteorological droughts in the UK since 1914,
AREA, 44(4), 400-410.
Ramutsindela, M. and Noe, C 2012, Scalar thickening: wildlife management areas and
conservation scales in southeast Tanzania. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 33, 137-151
Siebrits, R 2012, Swimming pools and intra-city climates: influences on residential water
consumption in Cape Town, Water SA, 38(1), 133-144.
Smit, W, Parnell, S 2012, Urban sustainability and human health: an African perspective, Current
Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 4, 443-450.
Stager, J, Mayewski, P, White, J, Chase, B, Neumann, F, Meadows, M E, King, C, Dixon, D 2012,
Precipitation variability in the winter rainfall zone of South Africa during the last 1400yr linked to the
austral westerlies, Climate of the Past, 8, 877-887.
Thomas, DSG, and Burrough, S 2012, Interpreting geoproxies of late quaternary climate change in
African drylands: implications for understanding environmental change and early human
behaviour, Quaternary International, 253, 5-17.
Thomas, DSG, Burrough, S, and Parker, A 2012, Extreme events as drivers of early human
behaviour in Africa? The case for variability, not catastrophic drought, Journal of Quaternary
Science, 27(1), 7-12.
van Niekerk, J, and Wynberg, R P 2012, The trade in Pelargonium sidoides: rural livelihood relief
or bounty for the 'bio-buccaneers'?, Development Southern Africa, 29(4), 530-547.
69 | P a g e
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Milandri, S G Winter, KJ Chimphango, SBM Armitage, NP Mbui, DN Jackson, GE and Liebau, V.
2012 The performance of plant species in removing nutrients from stormwater in biofiltration
systems in Cape Town. Water SA 38(5): 655-662
Chapters in Books
Battersby-Lennard, J. 2012 Urban food security and climate change: a system of flows. In: Frayne,
B., Moser, C. and Ziervogel, G. (eds) Climate change, assets and food security in Southern African
cities. Oxon: Earthscan, 36-56.
Battersby-Lennard, J. 2012 Size matters: land restitution in Knysna. In: Donaldson, R. and Marais,
L. (eds) Small town geographies in Africa: experiences from South Africa and elsewhere. New
York: Nova Science, 311-326.
Cartwright, A, Oelofse, G, Parnell, S, and Ward, S 2012 Emerging lessons from the climate
change think tank. In: Cartwright, A, Oelofse, G, Parnell, S, Ward, S. (eds) Climate change at the
city scale: impacts, mitigation and adaptation in Cape Town, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, 1-8.
Cartwright, A, Parnell, S, and Oelofse, G 2012, Climate at the city scale: the Cape Town climate
think tank. In: Cartwright, A, Oelofse, G, Parnell, S, Ward, S (eds) Climate change at the city scale:
impacts, mitigation and adaptation in Cape Town, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, 263-270.
Eckardt, F, Barker, C, and Meadows, M E 2012, Landscape inventories and remote sensing. In:
Holmes, P. and Meadows, M (eds) Southern African Geomorphology: recent trends and new
directions, Sun Press, Bloemfontein, 373-399.
Frayne, B, Moser, C, and Ziervogel, G 2012, Understanding the terrain: the climate change, assets
and food security nexus in Southern African cities. In: Climate change, assets and food security in
Southern African cities, Earthscan, Abingdon, Oxon, 1-34.
Frayne, B, Moser, C, and Ziervogel, G 2012, Constructing the climate change-asset adaptationfood security nexus for pro-poor urban development. In: Frayne, B, Moser, C, Ziervogel, G (eds)
Climate change, assets and food security in Southern African cities, Earthscan, Abingdon, Oxon,
186-197.
Hagell, Ann; Curtis, Sarah; Daya, Shari; Khatib, Yasmin;Pain, Rachel; Rothon, Catherine;
Stansfeld, Stephen and Fuller, Sara (2012) Some thoughts on the broader context:
neighbourhoods and peers. Hagell, A. (ed) Changing Adolescence: Social trends and mental
health. Bristol: Policy Press. 151-164.
Harris, R, Luger, S, Sutherland, C, and Tadross, MA 2012 Potential impact of climate change on
coastal flooding: a case study of the Salt River, Cape Town. . In: Cartwright, A, Oelofse, G,
Parnell, S, Ward, S. (eds) Climate change at the city scale: impacts, mitigation and adaptation in
Cape Town, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, 38-72.
Harris, R, and Parnell, S 2012, The turning point in urban policy for British Colonial Africa, 19391945. In: Fassil Demissie (ed) Colonial architecture and urbanism in Africa: intertwined and
contested histories, Ashgate, Surrey, 127-151.
70 | P a g e
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McEwan, C and Daya, S. 2012 Geography, culture and global change. In: Daniels, P., Bradshaw,
M., Shaw, D. and Sidaway, J. (eds) Human Geography, Issues for the 21st Century. London:
Pearson, 272-287.
Meadows, M E 2012 Landscapes and environmental change. In: Holmes, P. and Meadows, M
(eds) Southern African Geomorphology: recent trends and new directions, Sun Press,
Bloemfontein, 331-350.
Nash, D and Meadows, M E 2012: Africa. In: Nash, D and Metcalfe, SE. (eds): Quaternary
Environmental Change in the Tropics. Wiley, London, 79-150.
Tadross, MA, Taylor, A, and Johnston, P A 2012, Understanding Cape Town's climate. In:
Cartwright, A, Oelofse, G, Parnell, S, Ward, S. (eds) Climate change at the city scale: impacts,
mitigation and adaptation in Cape Town, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, 9-20.
Ziervogel, G, and Parnell, S 2012 South African coastal cities: governance responses to climate
change adaptation. In: Cartwright, A, Oelofse, G, Parnell, S, Ward, S. (eds) Climate change at the
city scale: impacts, mitigation and adaptation in Cape Town, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, 223-243.
Books
Cartwright, A, Oelofse, G, Parnell, S, Ward, S. (eds) Climate change at the city scale: impacts,
mitigation and adaptation in Cape Town, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon.
Frayne, B, Moser, C, Ziervogel, G (eds) Climate change, assets and food security in Southern
African cities, Earthscan, Abingdon, Oxon.
Holmes, P. and Meadows, M (eds) Southern African Geomorphology: recent trends and new
directions, Sun Press, Bloemfontein.
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
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Number
229
149
121
22
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2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
University of Zululand, Geography and Environmental Studies
Date of establishment: 1960
Short description of the vision and mission of the Department:
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies strives to be in the fore front in
providing quality career focused programmes through teaching, research, scholarship and
community outreach.
Mission statement of the Department of Geography is: (a) to provide access to students from
diverse backgrounds to an enabling and caring learning and teaching environment. (b) to respond
to the global demand for human resource development by training graduates in relevant
programmes. (c) to generate knowledge through research in geography and to disseminate it
through publications, teaching and development, in partnership with the community and other
constituencies.
Person who compiled the report: A.T. Mthembu, mthembua@unizulu.ac.za (Phone 035 902
6329, Fax 035 902 6647)
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname,
Initials)
Rank/Position
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Mr Mthembu, A.T.
Lecturer
mthembua@unizulu.ac.za
035 9026329
Mrs Ndimande, N.P.
Lecturer
nndimande@pan.uzulu.ac.za
035 902 6330
Mr Chikoore, H.
Lecturer
hchikoor@pan.uzulu.ac.za
035 902 6325
Mr Xulu, S.
Junior Lecturer
Demographics and
Community Health;
Cultural and
Physical
Environments
Rural Geography
and Environmental
Management
Environmental
Management and
Atmospheric
Science
Environmental
Management,
sifisoxulu@gmail.com
035 902 6331
035 902 6332
Atmospheric
Science and GIS
Miss Myeni, N.B.P.
Junior Lecturer
Environmental
Management and
Rural Geography
myeninbp@gmail.com
Mr Ocholla, P.
Lecturer
Environmental
Management and
GIS
peterocholla@gmail.com
35 2 6332
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
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Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Position
Mrs Khumalo, D.
Secretary
Area of subject
specialisation (if
applicable)
E-mail
Office Telephone
number
Dkhumalo@pan.uzulu.ac.za
035 902 6318
Department News
Department of Geography and the Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems (ACCESS) hosted a
Workshop on Climate Change from the 25th of August to the 2nd of September 2012. The workshop was
attended by honours students from various Universities of South Africa including our students. There was a
delegation of academics from Japan who presented in the workshop (Professors Moto Ikeda, Sergey
Varlamov and Takeshi Doi).
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of presenter (s)
Title of presentation
Format of
presentation
Date of
conference/workshop
Name of
Conference/workshop
Chikoore, H.
Analysis of heavy
rain and flood events
of December 2007
over Zimbabwe
Poster
24-28 April 2012
10 International
Conference on
Southern Hemisphere
Meteorology and
Oceanography,
Noumea, New
Caledonia
Mthembu, A.T.
Spatial mobility and
health care services
in parts of
Umkhanyakude
District Municipality
Oral
21-22 June 2012
Society of South
African Geographers
th
9 Biennial
Conference,
University of Cape
Town
Chikoore, H.
A climatology for
severe and high
impact weather for
KwaZulu-Natal
Oral
21-22 June 2012
Society of South
African Geographers
th
9 Biennial
Conference,
University of Cape
Town
Chikoore, H.
The exceptional
2011/12 tropical
cyclone season over
the SW Indian
Ocean
Oral and Poster
26-27 September
2012
South African Society
for Atmospheric
Science Annual
Conference, Cape
Town
Xulu, S.
Geospatial analysis
of landuse/cover
change and
settlement
intensification in the
uMhlathuze area
Oral
2 November 2012
Postgraduate
Symposium, Faculty
of Science and
Agriculture, University
of Zululand,
KwaDlangezwa
Chikoore, H.
Meteorological
structure of drought
over southern Africa
Oral
2 November 2012
Postgraduate
Symposium, Faculty
of Science and
Agriculture, University
of Zululand,
KwaDlangezwa
Chikoore, H.
A climatology of
drought over
Poster
26-28 November
DST/NRF First
National Global
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th
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
2012
southern Africa:
structure,
characteristics and
impacts
Change Conference,
Johannesburg
Short description of the curriculum presented:
Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7):
Geography 1 (SGES100)
•
Earth Science
•
Atmospheric Science
•
Environmental Management
•
Cultural Environment
•
Tourism
Geography 2 (SGES200)
•
Global Landforms
•
Cartography and Thematic Mapping
•
Demographics and Health
•
Sustainable Development
•
Hydrometeorology
Geography 3 (SGES300)
•
Urban Geography
•
Recreation Geography
•
Land Use and Resource Management
•
Environmental Management
•
Environmental Research
•
Atmospheric processes
•
Climate dynamics
Postgraduate (NQF level 8):
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – BA Hons
Bachelor of Science (Honours) – BSc Hons
Postgraduate (NQF level 9):
Master of Arts – MA
Master of Science – MSc
Postgraduate (NQF level 10):
Doctor of Science – PhD
74 | P a g e
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Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
Number
429
233
87
3
0
2
Additional information:
•
•
Prof M.R. Jury is now a research fellow in the Department of Geography.
Prof L.M. Magi continues with the supervision of postgraduate students.
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Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), Geosciences
Department
Date of establishment: The geography department was established in 1965. It was one of the
core subjects introduced when the University was established.
Short description of the vision and mission of the Department:
Vision:
To generate and impart geological and geographical knowledge that is relevant and responsive to
local, national and global sustainable development needs through the creation of environmental
and spatial awareness.
Mission
The Department strives to develop an atmosphere in which its vision is attainable; through
excellence in teaching and research.
Person who compiled the report: Dr PQ Siyongwana, Pakama.Siyongwana@nmmu.ac.za, tel: 041
504 2543
Chair of Department: Prof V. Kakembo
Name: Title, Surname, Initials
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office Telephone
Number
Assoc. Prof. Kakembo, V
Physical Geography
vincent.kakembo@nmmu.ac.za
041-5044516
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Dr N Webb
Dr PQ Siyongwana
Dr A de Wit
Rank/Position
Ms W Britz
Lecturer
Ms L Williams
Lecturer
Ms D Ah Goo
Lecturer
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Principal Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Lecturer
Area of
specialisation
Urban agriculture
Urban geography
Environmental
Management
GIS &
Cartography
Housing studies:
Sense of Place
Human geography
2012 Newsletter
for
E-mail
Nigel.Webb@nmmu.ac.za
Pakama.Siyongwana@nmmu.ac.za
Anton.dewit@nmmu.ac.za
Office Telephone
number
5042028
504 2543
504 2498
Wilma.Britz@nmmu.ac.za
504 2432
Leizel.Williams@nmmu.ac.za
504-1184
Delia.Ahgoo@nmmu.ac.za
5041513
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Position
Prof AJ Christopher
Associate
Researcher
Area of subject
specialisation (if
applicable)
Political & Population
Geography
E-mail
Office Telephone
number
5042355
Department News
Mrs L Williams-Bruinders was awarded an exchange scholarship on the Erasmus Mundus Action
to South Africa programme and spent 10months at the Planning and Development Unit within the
Architecture and Spatial Planning Department (ASRO) at University of Leuven, Belgium, where
she worked on doctoral studies.
Vincent Kakembo went on a study visit to Oldenburg University, Germany between 20 June and
24 July 2012, where he presented a paper at the DAAD Clim-A-NET Workshop. He also made a
presentation to Masters Students.
2012 dated publications
Manjoro, M., Kakembo V. and Rowntree, K. (2012) Trends in soil erosion and woody shrub
encroachment in Ngqushwa district, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Environmental
Management. 49, (3), 570-579. DOI: 10.1007/s00267-012-9810-0.
Mugagga, F., Kakembo V and Buyinza, M. (2012). A Characterization of the Physical Properties
of Soil and the Implications for Landslide Occurrence on the Slopes of Mount Elgon, Eastern
Uganda, Natural Hazards, 60,(3), 1113-1131, DOI : 10.1007/s11069-011-9896-3.
Kakembo, V., Ndlela, S. and Cammeraat, E. (2012). Trends in vegetation patchiness loss and
implications for landscape function: the case of Pteronia incana in the Eastern Cape. Land
Degradation and Development. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2175.
Mhangara, P., Kakembo, V. and Kyoung J (2012) Soil Erosion Risk Assessment of the
Keiskamma Catchment, South Africa using GIS and Remote Sensing, Environmental Earth
Sciences, 65: 2087-2102 DOI 10.1007/s12665-011-1190-x.
Mugagga, F., Kakembo V and Buyinza, M. (2012). Land use Changes on the Slopes of Mount
Elgon and the Implications for the Occurrence of landslides, Catena, 90, 39–46
doi:10.1016/j.catena.2011.11.004
Odindi J., Mhangara P. and Kakembo V. (2012). Remote sensing land-cover change in Port
Elizabeth during South Africa’s democratic transition. S Afr J Sci. 2012;108(5/6).
doi.org/10.4102/sajs. v108i5/6.886.
Manjoro, M., Rowntree, K.M., Kakembo, V and Foster, I.D.L. (2012). Gully-fan morphodynamics
in a small catchment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Land Degradation and Development, DOI:
10.1002/ldr.2174.
Mhangara, P. and Kakembo, V. (2012). An object-based classification and fragmentation
analysis of land use and cover change in the Keiskamma catchment, Eastern Cape, South
77 | P a g e
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Africa. World Applied Sciences Journal, 19 (7): 1018-1029, DOI:
10.5829/idosi.wasj.2012.19.07.955.
PQ Siyongwana and Binza, SM, 2012. Challenges of the transformation of public transport in
Nelson Mandela Bay. History in making. Journal for Contemporary History, 37 (191-212)
Webb, N.L., Goosen, N. and Speyers, T. 2012. Short-term Festivals as Examples of Ecotourism?
An Evaluation of the Kirkwood Wildlife Festival, South Africa.In Kozak, M. and Kozak, N. (eds) 2nd
interdisciplinary Tourism Research Conference Proceedings Book. Ankara: Detay Yayincilik,
1172-1185.
Chapters in books:
Kakembo, V. 2012. Land disturbance, vegetation invasions and implications for land degradation.
In Landscapes: Historic Disturbances, Environmental Variation and Implications for Species
Diversity, Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Kakembo, V. 2012. Communal Game Farming: A sustainable land use option? In National Parks:
Sustainable Development, Conservation Strategies and Environmental Impacts, Nova Science
Publishers, Inc.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of presenter (s)
Title of presentation
Format of
presentation
Date of
conference/workshop
Name of
Conference/workshop
Nigel Webb
Ecotourism? An
Evaluation of the
Kirkwood Wildlife
Festival, South
Africa.
Oral
April 2012
2nd Interdisciplinary
Tourism Research
Conference
Mrs Mehlomakulu, T., &
Pakama . Siyongwana
Relocation: To be or
not to be a black
diamond in a South
African township
Oral
June, 2012
SSAG- Conference
Cape Town
Mrs L Williams-Bruinders
& Dr A de Wit
“Making Spaces or
Building Places?
Towards a
theoretical
framework for
analysing low-cost
housing in South
Africa
Oral
August 2012.
IGC-Cologne- Germany
Oral
June 2012
SSAG- Cape Town
A classification of
erosion features and
characterisation of
the physico-chemical
soil properties in the
Keiskamma
catchment, Eastern
Cape Province
Oral
08 – 12 September,
2012,
SAAG, Gobabeb,
Namibia.
2012 Newsletter
for
Ms D Ah Goo
V. Kakembo
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Research Master Dissertations completed in 2012:
Student’s Name
Title of dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Smith, J.
A spatial and temporal
analysis of elephant
induced thicket
degradation in Addo
Elephant National Park.
NMMU
MSc (Cum
Laude)
V. Kakembo
Finca, A.
Modelling trends in
evapotranspiration using
the Modis LAI for
selected Eastern Cape
Catchments.
NMMU
MSc
T. Palmer
Nyaradzo Dhliwayo
Social Sustainability of
Biogas production in
Sogwala village, Lower
Gweru District,
Zimbabwe
NMMU
MSC
Dr A. De Wit
Co-supervisor
V. Kakembo
PhD Thesis’s completed in 2012:
Student’s Name
Title of thesis
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
Manjoro, M.
Soil erosion and
sediment source
dynamics of a
catchment in the
Eastern Cape
Province, South
Africa: an approach
using remote
sensing and
sediment source
fingerprinting
techniques.
NMMU
PhD
V. Kakembo
Prof K. Rowntree
Short description of the curriculum presented:
BSc Geography (Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7):
The geography courses for a Baccalaureus Scientiae degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University are as follows:
Geography 1 (Education students have parallel modules with their own codes
GEO111 Introduction to Economic and Settlement Geography
•
•
•
•
•
GEO101 for Education Students [Term 1]
GEN101 Introduction to Meteorology and Climatology [Term 2]
GEN102 Introduction to Geomorphology [Term 3]
GIS101 Introduction to Geo-Information Science & Cartography
GEO 103 for Education students (Term 4)
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Geography 2
•
•
•
•
GEN211 Pedo-Geomorphological Studies (Term 1)
GEO212 Economic and Development Geography (Term 2)
GIS211 Introduction to Cartography and GIS (Term 3)
GEN212 Society and Environment (Term 4)
Geography 3
•
•
•
•
GIS301 Geo-Information Systems (Term 1)
GEN301 Geomorphology or GEO302 Urban Social Geography (Term 2)
GIS304 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (Term 3)
GEN313 Environmental Resource Management (Term 4)
BSc Hons Geography: Environmental Geography (Postgraduate (NQF level 8):
The modules for a Baccalaureus Scientiae Honours degree in Geography: Environmental
Geography are as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
GEN411 Research Project
GEN401 Human Environment Interaction GEN402 Environmental Impact Studies
GEN404 Applied Physical Geography
GEN405 Geographical Information Systems-Elective
GEO406 Urban Geography - Elective
OR
•
Any other post-graduate module in The School of Environmental Sciences with credit value
not less than 24
The programme consists of 5 modules - four compulsory modules and one elective.
BSC Hons Geography: Geo-Information Systems (Postgraduate (NQF level 8):
The modules for a Baccalaureus Scientiae Honores degree in Geography: Geo-Information
Systems at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University are as follows:
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
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Number
163
40
28
12
4
8
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Department of
Geography & Environmental Studies
Date of establishment: 1960
Short description of the vision and mission of the Department:
Vision: To produce capable environmental practitioners for solving environmental problems especially
in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mission: To train competent and functional geographic and environmental professionals for SubSaharan Africa through teaching, research and community engagement.
Person who compiled the report: Dr. G. T. Tengbeh, Tel. 015 268 3197, george.tengbeh@ul.ac.za
Head/Chair of Department:
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of specialisation
E-mail
Office Telephone
Number
Dr. Tengbeh, G. T.
Applied
Geomorphology: Soil
erosion, pollution and
conservation studies;
Rainwater harvesting
for households;
Geography Education
George.tengbeh@ul.ac.za
(+27) 15 268 3197
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Rank/Position
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Mrs. Letsoalo, J. M.
Lecturer
Tourism Studies,
Solid Waste
Management,
Indigenous Plant
Use and
Conservation of
Biodiversity
Josephine.letsoalo@ul.ac.za
015 268 2324
Mr. Ramudzuli, M. R.
Lecturer
Marubini.ramudzuli@ul.ac.za
015 268 2330
Mr. Angwenyi, D.
Lecturer
Resource
Perception and
Management,
Sustainable
Development,
Tourism, GIS/RS
Applications.
Climatology,
Climate Change,
Biogeography,
Natural resources
Management
Impact
Daniel.angwenyi@ul.ac.za
015 268 3765
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Mr. Dhau, I.
Lecturer
Assessments, GIS,
and Tourism and
Ecotourism
Environmental
Impact assessment,
GIS/RS
Applications
Inos.dhau@ul.ac.za
015 268 2993
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Position
Mrs. Burger, S.
Senior Research
Officer
Ms. Ramokolo, S.
Secretary
Area of subject
specialisation (if
applicable)
Computer Graphics,
Computer assisted
Cartography, Data
base design and
GIS.
Office Management
E-mail
Office Telephone
number
Sandra.burger@ul.ac.za
015 269 2991
Salphy.ramokolo@ul.ac.za
015 268 3756
Department News:
i)
The Department re-aligned the existing 3-year undergraduate BSc degree programme in
Environmental & Resource Studies to a 4-year degree programme of the same name.
ii)
Mr. Inos Dhau was appointed Lecturer in GIS & Remote Sensing as of 1st July.
iii)
Ms. S. Ramakolo was appointed as a departmental secretary as of 1st August.
iv)
Transnet sponsored the purchase of Erdars Imagine (remote Sensing software) and the
training of two technicians to an amount of R324,974.00.
v)
The department invited SANSA to workshop and build capacity of students in GIS and
remote Sensing.
2012 dated publications:
Logan, B. I., Tengbeh, G. and Petja, B. 2012: Towards a reorientation in land reform: From a
market to locality-driven approach in South Africa’s land restitution programme. Progress in
Development Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2 & 3, 173 – 191.
Short description of the curriculum presented:
Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7):
NQF Level 5:
First semester
82 | P a g e
Second semester
2012 Newsletter
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the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Module
credits
Module
Elementary Mathematics
Elementary Statistics
Health Education and Life Competencies
Health Education and Life Competencies
Credits
NQF Level 6
First semester
Second semester
Module
credits
Module
Air Photo Reading and interpretation
Plant Biology
Cartographic Techniques
Introduction to the Human Environment
Introduction to Biological Studies
Regional Studies: South Africa, Space,
People, and Environment
Introduction to the Physical Environment
Regional Studies – Africa and the World:
People, Space and Environment
Introduction to Geomorphology
Introduction to Remote Sensing and
Geographic Information Systems
Computer-Assisted Cartography (CAC)
Demographic and Population Studies
Quantitative Techniques I
Economic Geography
Introduction to Resource Management
Introduction to Climatology
credits
Plant Taxonomy and South African Flora
NQF Level 7
First semester
Second semester
Module
credits
Module
Applied Geomorphology
Environment and Resource Planning and
Management
Tourism Studies
Natural Resource Ecology
Quantitative Techniques II
Solid Waste Management
Human Settlements
Remote Sensing and Geographic
Information Systems Applications
Applied Climatology
Impacts Studies
Credits
Undergraduate NQF Level 8
First semester
Module
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Second semester
credits
2012 Newsletter
for
Module
credits
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Research Project
Demographic Studies
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Applications
Advanced Natural Resource Ecology
Elements of Environmental Management
Sustainable Resource Development
Land Degradation
Waste Management
Postgraduate NQF Level 8 (BSc Stream)
The curriculum consists of 6 modules chosen from the following list, with Development of
Philosophy and Methodology of Geography, Research Methods in Geography and the Research
Project being compulsory
First semester
Second semester
Module
credits
Module
Development of Philosophy and
Methodology of Geography
Research Project
Research Methods in Geography
Elements of Environmental Management
Demographic Studies
Land Degradation
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Applications
Computer Assisted Cartography
credits
Sustainable Resource Development
Natural Resource Ecology
Postgraduate NQF Level 8 (BA Stream)
The curriculum consists of 6 modules chosen from the following list, with Development of
Philosophy and Methodology of Geography, Research Methods in Geography and the Research
Project being compulsory
First semester
Second semester
Module
credits
Module
Development of Philosophy and
Methodology of Geography
20
Research Project
Research Methods in Geography
20
Elements of Environmental Management
Demographic Studies
20
Land Degradation
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Applications
20
Computer Assisted Cartography
Sustainable Resource Development
20
Transport and Spatial Integration
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Credits
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Natural Resource Ecology
20
Tourism Development
Postgraduate (NQF level 9): MSc and MA in Geography and Environmental Studies, by research.
Total credits is 240.
Postgraduate (NQF level 10): PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies, by research. Total
credits is 360
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
Number
80
60
63
22
0
0
Dr. A..S. Ndhlovu (Rep. of the VC), Dr. G. T. Tengbeh (HOD), Dr. E. Khoza (GM Transnet), Ms. F. Nyika (Transnet
Consultant), Prof. D. Norris (Director, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) and Mr I. Dhau (Lecturer in
GIS and Remote Sensing)
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Dr E. Khoza (GM Transnet), Dr. G.T. Tengbeh (HOD) and Transnet sponsored students
SANSA Event (v)
SANSA capacity building workshop for Staff and GIS and remote Sensing students
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University of Johannesburg, Department of Geography,
Environmental Management and Energy Studies
Date of establishment: 2005 (with the merger of RAU, Vista University (Soweto and East Rand
campuses) and Witwatersrand Technikon)
Compiler of the report: Mrs Elizabeth Block, eblock@uj.ac.za, 0115592173
Head of Department:
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office Telephone
Number
Prof Harmse, JT
Water Quality
studies, soil erosion
tharmse@uj.ac.za
0115592428
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Prof Ahmed, F (Professor
Fethi Ahmed to take over
as HOD from January
2013)
Prof Annegarn H
Rank/Position
E-mail
PROF
Area of
specialisation
Remote Sensing,
GIS, Environmental
Science
fahmed@uj.ac.za
Office Telephone
number
4628
PROF
Air Pollution
hannergarn@uj.ac.za
3927
Prof Harmse T
ASS PROF
Soil
tharmse@uj.ac.za
2428
Prof Kotze N
ASS PROF
Urban studies
nicok@uj.ac.za
3810
Prof Ledger J
ASS PROF
Energy
John.ledger@wol.co.za
4275; 0116801553
Dr Rampedi I
SNR LEC
isaacr@uj.ac.za
2429
Dr Scheepers L
SNR LEC
lscheepers@uj.ac.za
2434
Dr Kelso C
LECT
ckelso@uj.ac.za
2432
Mrs Block E
LECT
eblock@uj.ac.za
2173
Mrs McKay T
LECT
traceymc@uj.ac.za
3302
Mrs Schoeman T
LECT
Environmental
Management
Urban Geography,
GIS
Climate,
Environmental
Management,
Environmental
Justice
Population, Urban
Geography, Map
Skills
Tourism,
Environmental, water
Waste Management,
GIS, Cartography
theas@uj.ac.za
3226
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Position
Mrs Enslin, EE
Mrs Scott, M
Technical Assistant
Secretary
87 | P a g e
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Area of subject
specialisation (if
applicable)
for
E-mail
Office Telephone
number
eenslin@uj.ac.za
mscott@uj.ac.za
3736
2433
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Department News
Dr John Ledger was awarded a SANEA award for Energy Education.
MA student, Hans Scheepers was awarded the prize for best paper delivered in Environmental
Management at the SAGS student conference in Cape Town, in June
The following academics visited the department and some delivered public lectures
Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, and
formerly Executive Director of UNEP.
Prof Ludger Eltrop, IER, University of Stuttgart x4 visits
Dr Ulrich Fahl, IER, University of Stuttgart, x 2 visits
Prof Bram Buscher, Institute for Social Studies, Erasmus University, The Hague, Netherlands
Prof RJ Swap, University of Virginia, USA.
Professor Jarkko Saarinen delivered a lecture entitled ‘Sustainable Tourism and Climate Change’
to students and academics.
Dr Jennifer Lalley (a bio-geographer) and Prof Richard Grant (an urban geographer) were made
visiting associates in this department.
Professor M Ahmed, Dr A Darwish and Dr K AbuTaleb of the Egyptian National Authority for
Remote Sensing and Space Sciences visited the Department during the period 29-31 May for a
project kick-off Workshop. The project is funded by a joint research grant under the South African /
Egypt research partnership programme bilateral agreement. The project investigates Urban Heat
Island Effects in South African and Egyptian cities using Remote Sensing.
Fethi Ahmed and co-authors were presented with the SA Institute of Forestry award for scientific
writing (23 July 2012). The purpose of the award is to give recognition to high quality scientific
writing, as published in the Southern Hemisphere Forestry Journal, and which is considered
outstanding.
2012 dated publications
Annegarn H.J. and R.J. Swap (2012) SAFARI 2000: A Southern African Example of Science
Diplomacy in Practice, Science and Diplomacy.
Arsel M. and B. Büscher (2012). Nature™ Inc: Changes and continuities in neoliberal conservation
and market-based environmental policy. Development & Change, 43(1):53-78.ISSN: 0012-155X .
Büscher, B. and W. Dressler (2012). Commodity Conservation: The restructuring of community
conservation in South Africa and the Philippines. Geoforum, 43(3):367-376.
ISSN: 0016-7185
Büscher, B. and M. Arsel (2012). Introduction: neoliberal conservation, uneven geographical
development and the dynamics of contemporary capitalism. Journal of Economic and Social
Geography, 103(2):129-135.
ISSN: 0040-747X
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Büscher, B. (2012). The Political Economy of Africa’s Natural Resources and the ‘Great Financial
Crisis’. Journal of Economic and Social Geography (TESG), 103(2):136-149.
ISSN: 0040-747X
Büscher, B. (2012). Payments for Ecosystem Services as Neoliberal Conservation: (reinterpreting)
Evidence from the Maloti-Drakensberg, South Africa. Conservation and Society, 10(1):29-41.
ISSN: 0972-4923
Büscher B., S. Sullivan, K. Neves, J. Igoe. and D. Brockington (2012) Towards a Synthesized
Critique of Neoliberal Biodiversity Conservation. Capitalism Nature Socialism (CNS), 23(2):4-30.
Carmody, P. (2012): A knowledge economy or an information society in
Africa? Thintegration and the mobile phone revolution. Information Technology for Development,
DOI:10.1080/02681102.2012.719859.
Carmody, P. 2012. Another BRIC in the Wall? South Africa’s Developmental Impact and
Contradictory Rise in Africa and Beyond. European Journal of Development Research advance
online publication, 1 March 2012; doi:10.1057/ejdr.2012.8
Hunt, H., Rogerson, C. M., Rogerson, J. M. and Kotze, N. (2012). Agriculture – tourism linkages in
Botswana: Evidence from the safari lodge accommodation sector. Africa Insight. (submitted and
under review.)
Kimemia, D.K. and H.J. Annegarn (2012). Productive uses of energy and fuel transitions in the
micro cooking enterprises of urban South Africa. Energy and Environment Research, 2:103112.ISSN: 1927-0569.
Kotze, N. & Mathola, A (2012) Satisfaction levels and the Community’s attitude towards Urban
Renewal in Alexandra, Johannesburg. Urban Forum, 23.
Kotze, N. & Moolla, E. (2012) Grameen Bank replicas in South Africa: Lending patterns and
adaptations. In Van der Berg, J.M.M. (Ed.): Managing in turbulent times. Proceedings of the 24th
Conference of SAIMS- 2012, The South African Institute for Management Scientist, Stellenbosch.
Ledger, J A & Hitchcock, R K (2012). The fight over fish in the Lesotho Highlands, p 328 in
Johnson, BR (Editor-in-Chief). Water, Cultural Diversity and Global Environmental Change.
UNESCO & Springer SBM, The Netherlands.
Makonese T., J. Robinson, C. Pemberton-Pigott, D.K. Kimemia, H.J. Annegarn (2012).
Performance evaluation and emission characterization of three kerosene stoves using a
Heterogeneous stove Testing Protocol (HTP), Energy for Sustainable Development. 16:344–351.
ISSN: 0973-0826
Mather, C. (2012) Biosecurity and globalising economic spaces. DOI: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en2012-23-supplement-2-017.
Ojelede M.E., H.J. Annegarn, M.A. Kneen (2012). Evaluation of aeolian emissions from gold mine
tailings on the Witwatersrand, Aeolian Research, 3:477–486.
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Oguntoke O., A.T. Odeshi and H.J. Annegarn (2012). Assessment of noise emitted by vibratorblock factories and the impact on human health and urban environment in Nigeria. International
Journal of Applied Environmental Science (India), 7:57–68.
Oguntoke O., A.G. Omonijo and H.J. Annegarn (2012). Seasonality and influence of weather
parameters on tuberculosis morbidity in South-west Nigeria. African Journal of Health Sciences, 20
(1-2):69–77.
Oguntoke O., T. Adebulehin and H.J. Annegarn (2012). Biomass energy utilization, air quality and
the health of rural women and children in Ido LGA, Southwestern Nigeria. Indoor and Built
Environment (UK), 7 pp. Online 20 April 2012, doi:10.1177/1420326x12444784.
Olivier, J, E A. Symington, C. Z. Jonker, I.T. Rampedi, and T. S. van Eeden. 2012. Comparison of
the mineral composition of leaves and infusions of traditional and herbal teas. South African
Journal of Science; Vol 108, No 1/2 (2012), 7 pages. doi: 10.4102/sajs.v108i1/2.623.
Rogerson, J. M. (2012). The changing location of hotels in South Africa’s coastal cities, 19902010. Urban Forum, 17, 73-91.
Rogerson C. M., & Rogerson J. M. (2012). Business development and local economic
development in South Africa: Addressing the disconnect. Acta Academica, 44, 41-69.
Rogerson, J. M., & Sims, S, R. (2012). The greening of urban hotels in South Africa: Evidence
from Gauteng. Urban Forum, 23, 391-407.
Rogerson, J. M. (in press). Reconfiguring South Africa’s hotel industry 1990-2010: Structure,
segmentation, and spatial transformation. Applied Geography.
(doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.004)
Rogerson, J. M. (2012). Hotels as a property asset class: International and South African trends.
Africa Insight, (submitted and under review).
Zhang, J, Kotze, N. & Yu, M. (2012) Living in a changing Chinese urban landscape: the Dalian
case study. Urbani Izzuv (in press).
Book
Khalema-Malebese, L and F. Ahmed (2012) Hydrological Flow Modelling Using Geographic
Information Systems (GIS): Application of GIS to model the flow and accumulation of water in
order to determine suitable dam sites. [Paperback] LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing (May 21,
2012). (ISBN-10: 3659110787 ISBN-13: 978-3659110788).
Chapters in Books
Ismail, R, Norris-Rogers, M, Ahmed, F, and Mutanga, O. 2012. Geographic Information Systems
and Remote Sensing Applications in Forest Management. In B. Bredenkamp and S.J. Upfold
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(Eds.) South African Forestry Handbook 5th Ed. 229-238. South African Institute of Forestry, Menlo
Park, South Africa (ISBN: 978-0-620-52932-7).
S Naidoo and F Ahmed (2012) Wood properties of Eucalyptus spp. grown for pulp and paper
production in South Africa. In B. Bredenkamp and S.J. Upfold (Eds.) South African Forestry
Handbook 5th Ed. 639-651. South African Institute of Forestry, Menlo Park, South Africa (ISBN:
978-0-620-52932-7).
E.M. Abdel-Rahman, F. Ahmed, and R. Ismail (2012) Random Forest Regression for Sugarcane
Yield Prediction in Unfolozi, South Africa Based on Landsat TM and ETM+ Derived Spectral
Vegetation Indices. In João F. Goncalves and Kauê D. Correia (Eds.): Sugarcane: Production,
Cultivation and Uses. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, New York. (ISBN: 978-1-61942-2148)
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of presenter (s)
Title of
presentation
Format of
presentation
Date of
conference/workshop
Name of
Conference/workshop
Clare Kelso
“Rescued from
Hottentot
Degradation and
Pagan Vices” –
Representation
and
Expropriation.
Paper
presentation
24-26 October 2012
Association of American
Geographers: Race,
Ethnicity and Place, San
Juan, Puerto Rico.
Clare Kelso
Representations
of the Namaqua
Khoikhoi in the
th
19 Century.
Paper
presentation
21-22 June 2012
Society of South African
Geographers, Cape Town
Rampedi, I.T. & Olivier, J.
Environmental
resource
utilization: Case
study of wild
plant species,
IKS and
traditional
beverages in the
Vhembe District,
Limpopo
province.
Lecture
2-5 July 2012
2012 Indigenous Plant
Use Forum (IPUF)
Conference, held at the
University of Venda,
Thoyandou, Limpopo
province.
Spatial change
in South Africa’s
hotel industry
1920 – 2010.
The Greening of
South Africa’s
Hotels – an
Exploratory
Paper
presentation
June 21 – 22 2012
SAGS 9th Biennial
Conference, Cape Town
Paper
presentation
22 – 25 August 2012
IGU Pre-conference
Symposium, IGU
Commission of Tourism,
Leisure and Global
Rogerson, J
Rogerson, J
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Paper
presentation
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Change, Trier, Germany
Analysis
nd
Segmentation
and the
changing
geography of the
South African
hotel sector
1990 – 2010
Grameen Bank
replicas in South
Africa: Lending
patterns and
adaptations.
Paper
presentation
26 – 30 August 2012
32 IGU congress,
Cologne
Paper
presentation
Conference of SAIMS2012, The South African
Institute for Management
Scientist, Stellenbosch
24th, 10 and 11
September 2012.
Kotze, N.
A community in
trouble? The
case of BoKaap, Cape
Town
Paper
presentation
IGU Urban Commission
Dortmund, Germany
22-25 August 2012.
Kotze, N.
Living in a
changing
Chinese urban
landscape: the
Dalian case
study.
Paper
presentation
SSAG Conference cape
Town
20-22 June 2012.
Makonese T., D.K. Kimemia, H.J.
Assessment of
free basic
electricity and
use of pre paid
electricity meters
in South Africa.
Paper
presentation
Domestic Use of Energy
Annual Conference,
CPUT, Cape Town
2-4 April 2012
Potential of biofuel geysers:
characterisation
and performance
evaluation of the
Shiza Manzi BioFuel Geyser.
Paper
presentation
Domestic Use of Energy
Annual Conference,
CPUT, Cape Town,
2-4 April 2012.
Inhalation risk
assessment of
airborne tailings
dust: A case
study of megadumps of the
Witwatersrand
Paper
presentation
National Association for
Clean Air Annual
Conference, Rustenburg,
October 2012
Kimemia D.K., H.J. Annegarn.
Household
energy
transitions for
equity and social
justice.
Paper
presentation
ISS Seminar, The Hague,
October 2012.
Ledger, J
The Planetary
Boundaries
Concept
Keynote
speaker
The Greenest
Conference, Sandton
Convention Centre
5 June 2012
Weir-Smith, G and F. Ahmed
Unemployment
in South Africa:
Paper
Proceedings of the GISSA
Ukubuzana 2012
October 2012
Rogerson, J
Kotze, N. & Moolla, E.
Annegarn.
Makonese T., J. Robinson, V.
Molapo, H.J. Annegarn. A
Maseki J., H.J. Annegarn, M.E.
Ojelede, G. Spiers.
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(2012)
presentation
building a spatiotemporal
understanding
Conference. (ISBN 978-0620-52913-6).
Research Master Dissertations completed in 2012:
Student’s Name
Title of dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
Jarred Bell
‘The changing
climate of
livelihoods in the
Lesotho’: The
vulnerability of
rural livelihoods in
Phelantaba village
in northern
Lesotho to climate
variability and
change
University of
Johannesburg
MA (Geography)
C Kelso
L Leonard
Richard Thaba
The Effect of
legislation on
informal solid
waste salvation
and salvagers on
official landfill sites
in Polokwane.
UJ
MA Geography
G. Chikowore
(Post Doc
fellow),
T Harmse
Ntombifuthi Ntuli
Barriers and
opportunities for
implementation of
clean development
mechanism in
South Africa: a
case study of
Gauteng
Municipalities
UJ
MSc Energy
Studies
HJ Annegarn
R Kober (TUV Rheinland)
Jaco Immelman
The effects of data
reduction on lidarbased dems.
UJ
MSc
Passed with
Distinction
L Scheepers
T Makonese
Protocols for
thermal and
emissions
performance
testing of domestic
fuels and stoves
UJ
MPhil
HJ Annegarn
Master Dissertations of limited scope completed in 2012:
Student’s Name
Title of dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
Nicole Botham
A Critical Analysis
of the Mine Closure
Process as
followed by the De
Beers Oaks
Diamond Mine,
Limpopo Province,
South Africa
UJ
MA
Environmental
Management
C Kelso
HJ Annegarn
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Belinda Lisa Roos
Mercury emissions
from coal fired
power stations in
South Africa.
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
(cum laude)
T Schoeman
Dr K Roos (Eskom)
Takalani Btodget
Thovhakale
Retrofitting to lower
energy
consumption:
comparing two
commercial
buildings in
Sandton,
Johannesburg
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
J M Meeuwis
TJM McKay
Adeline Ngie
A GIS approach for
flood vulnerability
and adaptaion
analysis in
Diepsloot,
Johannesburg.
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
HJ Annegarn
Dr M Storie (GCRO, WITS)
Robert Arthur
Knowles
Managing Hazards:
Fire management
in the Cape
Peninsula
UJ
MSC
Environmental
Management
N J Kotze
Winnie Chikava
Human and
Physical energy
cycles in a rural
subsistence village.
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
(Passed with
Distinction)
HJ Annegarn
Melissa Baker
Assessment of the
environmental
performance of
Little KulalaPremier Camp and
Kulala Wilderness
Camp in Namibia.
UJ
N Bezuidenhout
An investigation
into the
cyanobacteria and
related cyanotoxins
in the Vaalkop
Dam
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
H du Preez
(Rand Water)
J K Verheul
Assessing the
effects of different
land uses on water
quality at the Upper
Wilge River
Catchment.
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
JT Harmse
Sonia Merolla
The effect of floods
and high rainfall on
water quality in
selected sub-areas
of the Upper Vaal
catchment.
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
J T Harmse
Poppy Daphney
Ramaphosa
An inquiry into the
problems
pertaining to the
acquisition o
servitutes for
transmission
powerlines based
on the Life-cycle
UJ
MSc
Environmental
Management
J M Meeuwis
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K Mearns
for
JT Harmse
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
approach.
PhD Thesis’s completed in 2012:
Student’s Name
Title of thesis
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Matthew Ojelede
Risk assessment of
Atmospheric
Emissions from
Gold Mine Tailings
on the
Witwatersrand
UJ
PhD
Environmental
Management
HJ Annegarn
Charles
Paradzayi
Polarimetric
Synthetic aperture
Radar (POLSAR)
above Ground
Biomass Estimation
in Communal
African Sanna
Woodlands.
UJ
DPhil Energy
Studies
HJ Annegarn,
Sello Tebogo
Makube
South African oil
dependency: Geopoliticial, geoeconomic and geostrategic
considerations.
UJ
DPhil Energy
Studies
HJ Annegarn
Olosola Ololade
Evaluation of the
sustainability and
environmental
impacts of mining in
the Rustenburg
Region.
UJ
PhD
Environmental
Management
HJ Annegarn
Yvonne Scorgie
Urban Air Quality
Management and
Planning in South
Africa.
UJ
PhD Geography
HJ Annegarn
Fatima Ferraz
Sustainability
beyond Mining:
Transformations in
systems for
Secondary
Beneficiation
UJ
PhD
Environmental
Science
HJ Annegarn
UJ
PhD Geography
HJ Annegarn
Charles Ntui
Co-supervisor
C Schmullius
(University of Jena)
Short description of the curriculum presented:
Undergraduate (NQF levels 5, 6 and 7): NQF 5: Introduction to Human Geography, Climatology
and Geomorphology
NQF 6: Biogeography, Pedography, Population and Economic Geography: Environmental
Management: Sustainable Development
95 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
NQF 7: GIS, Urban Geography and the South African City; Environmental Management:
Environmental Ethics and Economy, Environmental Administration and Environmental Monitoring.
Postgraduate (NQF level 8): BA and BSc Honours in Geography; BSc Honours in Energy Studies
Postgraduate (NQF level 9): MSc Environmental Management; MA and MSc in Geography
Postgraduate (NQF level 10): PhD
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year: Geography
Environmental Management
Third year: Geography
Environmental Management
Honours: Geography
Energy Studies Year 1
Year 2
Masters: Geography
Environmental Management
(coursework)
Masters Research
Doctoral
96 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
Number
260
150
49
110
59
15
26
17
14
15
6
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
University of Venda, Geography and Geo-information Sciences
Date of establishment: 1982
Vision:
To be a centre of excellence in tertiary education in Geography & Geo-information Sciences in
South Africa & to contribute to sustainable rural & regional development of southern Africa.
Mission:
To offer training & tertiary education in Physical & Human geography, & Geographical Information
Sciences, while actively engaging in research & community work in order to respond to the
development needs of the region, nation & southern Africa.
Compiler of the report: Prof Agnes Musyoki, agnes.musyoki.musyoki@univen.ac.za, +27 (0)
15 962 8586
Head of Department:
Name
Area of specialisation
E-mail
Office Telephone
Number
Dr. Nethengwe, N.S.
GIS & Remote Sensing;
Urban organisation;
Disaster management;
Political ecology &
Participatory GIS;
Quantitative techniques
nthaduleni.nethengwe@univen.
ac.za
+27(0) 159 8593
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name
Position
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Prof. Musyoki, A
Professor of
Human
Geography
Senior
Lecturer
Lecturer
Economic
Geography; Land
reform; Tourism
Tourism, Spatial
Organisation
Population
Geography; GIS
Rural
development;
qualitative
techniques
agnes.musyoki.musyoki@unive
n.ac.za
Dr. T.M
Nelwamondo
Ms. M.E.
Nembudani
Ms. N.V. Mudau
97 | P a g e
Lecturer
2012 Newsletter
for
tshililo.nelwamondo@univen.ac.
za
madzinge.nembudani@univen.a
c.za
Virginia.mudau@univen.ac.za
Office
Telephone
number
+27 (0) 15 962
8586
+27 (0) 15 962
8582
+27 (0) 15 962
8590
27 (0) 15 962
8591
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Mr. M.J.
Mokgoebo
Junior
Lecturer
Mr. E. Kori
Junior
Lecturer
Biogeography;
Quantitative
techniques,
Mapping &
Geomatics
Climatology,
Geomorphology;
Land Reform
Matlutja.mokgoebo@univen.ac.
za
27 (0) 15 962
8581
Edmore.kori@univen.ac.za
27 (0) 15 962
8565
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Position
Area of subject
specialisation
(if applicable)
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Ms. Mathivha, K.H.
Laboratory
Technician
GIS; Population
Khathu.mathivha@univen.ac.za +27 (0) 15 962
8331
Department News
The Department participated in the successful Research and GIS Day on the 29th of November
2012. The event was graced by representatives from ESRI, South Africa, EPSON, and Council for
GeoScience, StatsSA, Coal of Africa, UniSA and the Vhemebe District Municpality. The
book”entitled, “Environment and development: Selected Themes from Eastern and Southern
Africa” which was edited by Prof. Agnes Musyoki and Melckidzedeck Khayesi, was launched.
2012 dated publications:
Musyoki, A. and Khayesi, M (eds.). 2012: Environment and Development: Selected themes from
Eastern and southern Africa. Gaborone: Bay Publishing.
Gondo, T. and Kori, E. 2012: Climate Science Integration and Urban Planning: A Climate Change
Adaptation Exegesis. International Proceedings of Chemical, Biological and Environmental
Engineering, Vol 28.
Kori, E., Gondo, T., and Madilonga, R. 2012: The influence of rainfall variability on arable land
use at local level: realities from Nzhelele valley, South Africa of International Proceedings of
Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Vol. 28.
Mararakanye, N & Nethengwe, N.S. 2012: Gully Features Extraction Using Remote Sensing
Techniques. South African Journal of Geomatics, Vol. 1, No. 2, August 2012, 109-119.
Musyoki, A. 2012: The Emerging Policy for Green Economy and Social Development in Limpopo,
South Africa. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development Occasional Paper Eight
Social Dimensions of Green Economy and Sustainable Development , June 2012.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
98 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Name of presenter
(s)
Title of presentation
Format of
presentati
on
Date of
conference/work
shop
Name of
Conference/workshop
Dr. N.S. Nethengwe
Gully Erosion
mapping Using
Remote Sensing
Techniques in the
Capricorn Municipality.
Oral
25-30 August
2012
International Geographical
Congress (IGC) held in
Cologne, Germany
Prof. A. Musyoki &
Prof. J. Fairhurst
Women and Rural
Development in South
Africa: Facing the
Realities of a changing
socio-political
Environment.
Oral
20-22 August
2012
3rd International
Conference on Research
for Development (ICRD
2012) held at Bern,
Switzerland.
Ms. M.E.
Nembudani
The Impact of
Oral
government policies on
demography and the
education system with
special reference to
primary schools in
Vhembe District,
Limpopo.
21-22 June 2012
SSAG Conference held at
the University of Cape
Town.
Ms. N.V. Mudau
A comparative analysis Oral
of municipal waste
disposal facilities in
Limpopo
municipalities.
21-22 June 2012
SSAG Conference held at
the University of Cape
Town.
Mr. E. Kori
An evaluation of
Oral
environmental
sustainability of
grazing lands using the
Ecological Foot Print
system: A Case of
Chirumanzi District,
Zimbabwe”
21-22 June 2012
SSAG Conference held at
the University of Cape
Town.
Prof. A. Musyoki
South Africa’s path to
a green economy
5-6 November
2012
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
& ENDA Green Economy
Conference held in Darkar
Senegal.
Oral
Research Master Dissertations completed in 2012:
Student’s
99 | P a g e
Title of
Institution
2012 Newsletter
for
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
the Soc iety o f So uth A fr ic an Geo gr aphers
Name
dissertation
Dzaga, R.A.
An assessment of
the Impact of
catchment
Activities on
Water Quality: A
Case of Nandoni
dam, Vhemebe
District, Limpopo
Province, SA.
University Master of
Dr. N.S.
of Venda Environmental Nethengwe
Science
Dr. J. Gumbo
Mokgoebo,
M.J.
Assessment of
the Impacts of
selected Limpopo
Province dams
University Master of
Prof. T.A.
of Venda Environmental Kabanda
Science
Dr. J. Gumbo
Kori, E.
An evaluation of
environmental
Sustainability of
Land reform in
Zimbabwe: A cse
study of
Chirumanzu
District, Midlands
Province
University Master of
Prof. A.
of venda
Environmental Musyoki
Science
Dr. N.S. Nethengwe
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
100 | P a g e
Number
176
130
50
16
04
01
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus
Name of Department: Geography and Environmental Management
Date of establishment: 1935
Vision and mission of the Department: Undergraduate training aims to provide a strong theoretical
foundation in human and physical geography while post graduate training focuses on different
environmental management approaches and tools.
Report compiled by: Prof Luke Sandham 018 299 1585 luke.sandham@nwu.ac.za
Head of Department:
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Associate Prof Luke Sandham
EIA effectiveness
in South Africa
Luke.sandham@nwu.ac
.za
Office Telephone
Number
18 299 1585
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Mr Roelof Burger
Rank/Position
Mr. Dirk Cilliers
Lecturer
Mr Theuns de Klerk
Senior lecturer
Mrs Danica
Liebenber-Weyers
Lecturer
Prof Stuart Piketh
Professor
Lecturer
Prof Francois Retief Associate
professor;
Director School
of Geo and
Spatial
Sciences
Mr. Manna Stander. Lecturer
Ms Carli
101 | P a g e
Lecturer
Area of
specialisation
GIS
and climate
modelling
GIS and Strategic
Environmental
Planning
GIS
E-mail
Office Telephone number
Roelof.burger@nwu.ac.za
018 299 4269
Dirk.cilliers@nwu.ac.za
018 299 1589
Theuns.deklerk@nwu.ac.za
018 299 1583
Biogeography
and
geomorphology
Climatology and
climate modelling
Environmental
Assessment
Danica.LiebenbergWeyers@n
wu.ac.za
018 299 4069
Stuart.piketh@nwu.ac.za
018 299 1582
Francois.retief@nwu.ac.za
018 299 1586
Human
Geography
EIA and
Manna.Stander@nwu.ac.za
018 299 1587
Carli.steenkamp@nwu.ac.za
018 299 1505
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
Steenkamp
Mr Jan-Albert
Wessels
Prof Angus
Morrison-Saunders
Dr Jenny Pope
Extraordinary
associate
professor,
visiting from
Murdoch
University,
Perth
Extraordinary
senior lecturer,
visiting from
Integral
sustainability,
Perth
Environmental
Planning
Environmental
Control Officers;
Post-decision
compliance and
enforcement in
EIA
Environmental
and Sustainability
Assessment
Environmental
and Sustainability
Assessment
janalbert.wessels@nwu.ac.za
018 299 1477
A.MorrisonSaunders@murdoch.edu.au
jenny@integralsustainability.net
Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Position
Ms Vernice Swarts
Secretary
Area of subject
specialisation (if
applicable)
Administrative
support
E-mail
Office Telephone number
Vernice.swarts@nwu.
ac.za
018-299-1511
Appointments:
Prof Stuart Piketh and Mr Roelof Burger joined the department on 1 April 2012 as part of the
Eskom chair in atmospheric science;
Ms Danica Liebenberg Weyers joined the department on 1 February 2012 as a contract lecturer in
physical Geography.
Ms Vernice Swarts joined the department as new secretary in March 2012, following the departure
of Mrs Erika du Toit.
Associate professor Francois Retief was appointed Director of the newly establish School of Geo
and Spatial Sciences, comprising of the departments of Geography and Environmental
Management, Geology, and Urban and Regional Planning.
Obituary: Mr WJ Voordewind
102 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Mr Wim Voordewind in Pretoria on 31
October 2012 at the age of 86, after several months of illness. He was a much loved and
respected member of the Geography staff at the erstwhile Potchefstroom University from 1961 to
1999. He was for years a Councillor of the South African Geographical Society and served a term
as President in 1975/6.
Our thoughts are with his wife Riana and his family.
2012 dated publications:
Peer reviewed articles
Morrison-Saunders, A., & Retief, F. 2012:. Walking the sustainability assessment talk —
progressing the practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA). Environmental Impact
Assessment Review, 36(0), 34-41.
Bond, A Morrison-Saunders, AM Pope, J. 2012: Sustainability assessment: the state of the art
Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal Vol. 30, Iss. 1, 2012
Liebenberg, D, Claassens, S and Van Rensburg, L. 2012: A multidisciplinary approach for the
assessment of rehabilitation at asbestos mines in South Africa. Environmental Earth Science. (67),
4, 1237-1244. DOI 10.1007/s12665-012-1650-y
Chapters in books
Retief, F.P. & Cilliers, D.P. (2012) ‘The interface between environmental management and land
use management: complexities, challenges and opportunities’
Retief, F.P. & Cilliers, D.P. (2012) ‘Integration of sustainability with integrated development
planning (IDP) – a key challenge for local government’
Wessels, J.A. (2012) Local governments and the greening of buildings within the South African
built environment. In Local Environmental Law and Governance in South Africa. A du Plessis (ed).
JUTA (scheduled for publication in 2013)
Wessels, J.A. (2012). Green public procurement law and policy – challenges and opportunities for
local government. In Local Environmental Law and Governance in South Africa. A du Plessis (ed).
JUTA (scheduled for publication in 2013)
Conference Presentations in 2012:
Name of presenter
(s)
Title of
presentation
L A Sandham, H C
Coetzee, H S
Geyer.
Differential
Paper
environmental
perceptions in
South African
metropolitan
informal sectors
The quality of
Paper
SIA reports in
L A Sandham, L
Hildebrandt, F P
103 | P a g e
Format of
presentation
2012 Newsletter
for
Date of
conference/wor
kshop
20-22 June
2012
Name of
Conference/workshop
27 May - 1
June 2012.
32nd annual conference
of IAIA, Porto, Portugal,
Ninth biennial
conference of SSAG,
University of Cape
Town
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
Retief.
L Hildebrandt, L A
Sandham, F P
Retief
JA Wessels, FP
Retief, A MorrisonSaunders A
JA Wessels
Maheskumar,
Morwal,
Padmakumari,
Deshpande,
Prabhakaran,
Konwar,
Narkhedkar, Dani,
Nath, Nair,
Sonbawne,
Bhalwankar, Joshi,
Kulkarni, Burger,
Bruintjes, Axisa and
Goswami
M. Konwar, R.S.
Maheshkumar, J.R.
Kulkarni, B
Padmakumari, S.B.
Morwal, C.G.
Deshpande and
B.N. Goswami, D.
Axisa, R.P. Burger
and S.J. Piketh
M. Benjamin and
104 | P a g e
the first decade
of EIA in South
Africa
Perspectives
on the state of
Social Impact
Assessment
(SIA) in South
Africa,
Independent
checks and
verification in
EIA Follow-up:
lessons from a
South African
energy project
The Value of
Independent
Environmental
Control Officers
(ECOs) in EIA
Follow-up
Organized
Cloud Systems
over the
CAIPEEX
Domain and
their Relation
with Large scale
Circulation
Features and
Microphysics
as Revealed by
Observations
from Radars
and
Instrumented
Aircraft
Contrasting
polluted and
pristine cloud
microphysical
properties over
the Arabian
Sea and Bay of
Bengal
The use of
Paper
23-25 August
2012.
17th Annual conference
of IAIAsa - Somerset
West, Western Cape
Paper
28-31 May
32nd annual conference
of IAIA, Porto, Portugal,
Paper
27-29 Aug
17th Annual conference
of IAIAsa - Somerset
West, Western Cape.
Poster
21-25 Feb 2012
OCHAMP:
Opportunities and
Challenges in Monsoon
Prediction in a
Changing Climate
Poster
21-25 Feb 2012
OCHAMP:
Opportunities and
Challenges in Monsoon
Prediction in a
Changing Climate
Presentation
6-10 Aug 2012
3rd WMO/WWRP
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
R. Burger
R. Burger and S.
Piketh
C. Knight, S. Piketh
and R. Burger
M. Benjamin and R.
Burger
R. Burger, S. Piketh
and M. Benjamin
S. Piketh
R. Burger
C. Knight, S. Piketh
and R. Burger
radar and
hydrological
models for flash
flood evaluation
and prediction
Airborne
mapping of air
pollution
Sources and
seasonality of
Namib desert
dust events
The use of
radar and
hydrological
modelling for
flash flood
evaluation and
prediction
Benefits of
radar rainfall
estimates in
flash flood
prediction
Challenges
associated with
water services
and Climate
Change in
South Africa –
A case study
for Ekurhuleni
Metropolitan
Municipality
Groot klas; Lui
dosent
Identification of
Mineral Dust
Using Satellite
Remote
Sensing
International
symposium on
Nowcasting and Very
short range forecasting
Presentation
11 Sep 2012
SA-GEO
Presentation
26-27 Sep
2012
SASAS
Presentation
26-27 Sep
2012
SASAS
Presentation
10-12 Oct 2012
SASDiR
Presentation
10-12 Oct 2012
SASDiR
Presentation
30 Oct 2012
UOIT
Presentation
1-2 Oct 2012
NACA
Research Master Dissertations completed in 2012:
Student’s
Name
Title of
dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
Leandri
Hilderbrandt
The
significance
and status of
NWU
Potchefstr
oom
MSc
Geography
and
Prof LA
Sandham
Prof JA du Pisani
105 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
Social Impact
Assessment
(SIA) in a
South African
context
Campus
Environmen
tal
managemen
t
Master Dissertations of limited scope completed in 2012:
Student’s
Name
Title of
dissertation
Institution
Qualification
Supervisor
Co-supervisor
Carlo de
Waard
Waste Discharge
Charge System:
The practical
implication from a
gold mining
perspective
An assessment of
corporate
environmental
reporting
performance and
its alignment to
environmental
management
systems in a
South African gold
mining company
Co-operative
environmental
governance:
alignment of
environmental
authorisations in
the Province of
KwaZulu/Natal
An analysis of the
operational value
of the
Environmental
Management
Systems (ISO
14001:2004)
implemented at
selected Anglo
Platinum Mines in
South Africa.
A critical analysis
of the
NWU
Potchefstro
om
Campus
Masters in
Environmental
Management
Mr. J.H.
Stander
Prof. I.J. van
der Walt
NWU
Potchefstro
om
Campus
Masters in
Environmental
Management
Prof LA
Sandham
NWU
Potchefstro
om
Campus
Masters in
Environmental
Management
Prof LA
Sandham
NWU
Potchefstro
om
Campus
Masters in
Environmental
Management
Mr. JanAlbert
Wessels
NWU
Potchefstro
Masters in
Environmental
Ms Carli
Steenkam
Brenda
Diseko
Sgnananda
Jikijela
Tshego Tyira
Bongane
Ntiwane
106 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
Mr Jan-Albert
Wessels
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
incorporation of
environmental
issues into land
use and planning
instruments of
selected
municipalities of
the Ehlanzeni
District
Municipality.
om
Campus
Management
p
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
107 | P a g e
Number
190
145
80
21
35
10
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
University of the Western Cape, Geography and
Environmental Studies
Date of establishment: 1960
Report compiled by Mr M Dyssel, mdyssel@uwc.ac.za, 021-959 2426
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of
specialisation
Mr McPherson, EA
E-mail
Office Telephone
Number
emcpherson@uwc.ac.za
021 9592668
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Mr Dyssel, M.
Rank/Position
Lecturer
Area of
specialisation
Environmental
Issues and
Management;
Geographical
skills and
techniques
E-mail
Office Telephone
number
mdyssel@uwc.ac.za 021-959 2426
Department News
Dr Noeleen Murray-Cooke – Joined the Department in January 2012 (Contract appointment for 3
years). Prof Shirley Brooks – Joined the Department in July 2012 (Permanent). Prof Dan Tevera –
Joined the Department in December 2012 (Permanent).
The department established links with the Department of Geography at the University of
Kentucky (UK) in the USA under the auspices of a MOU and cooperative agreement between
UWC and UK. Staff exchanges have been facilitated under this agreement already as visits by
Michael Dyssel to UK and Sue Roberts, Lisa Cliggett and Stan Brunn to UWC occurred in 2011
and 2012.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Name of
presenter (s)
Michael Dyssel
108 | P a g e
Title of
presentation
Format of
presentation
Revisiting
Oral
spatial and
management
anomalies in
the West Coast
National Park
2012 Newsletter
Date of
Name of
conference/workshop Conference/workshop
11-14 September
2012, Rhodes
University,
Grahamstown
for
Conference: Old LandNew Practices? The
changing face of land
and conservation in
postcolonial Africa
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
Michael Dyssel
Peripatetic
Nomadism and
Climate
Variability in
the Great
Karoo
Oral
20 – 22 June 2012, Society of South African
University of Cape Geographers
Town
Conference, (‘Building
Critical Conversations’)
Michael Dyssel
Rachel
Carson, Ants
and Climate
Change
Oral
4 - 13 December
2012, , University of
the Western Cape,
Bellville
Workshop - Applied
Centre for Climate
Change and Earth
Systems Science
(ACCESS)
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
First year
Second year
Third year
Honours
Masters
Doctoral
109 | P a g e
Number
310
Geography – 101; Tourism - 66
Geography - 43; Tourism - 37
20
4
None
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
Rhodes University
HIGHLIGHTS
Staff and postgraduate students from the Department of Geography at Rhodes University have
been carrying out research in a number of contrasting geographic areas, from Antarctica to
Mozambique, and from the Eastern Cape coast to the Drakensberg mountains. Some of our
research activities are highlighted below.
Dr Josh Kirshner initiated research on the effects of extractive industry on urbanization in Tete
Province, Mozambique, in collaboration with the Centro de Análise de Políticas at Eduardo
Mondlane University. The formerly remote region of Tete is home to Africa’s largest coal reserves,
which are spurring foreign investment, property development and urban expansion, regional
transport initiatives, and population increases. A second project stems from Dr Kirshner’s
participation in a study of xenophobia and civil society in South Africa, commissioned and funded
by Atlantic Philanthropies. Dr Kirshner left Rhodes University at the end of t16he year to take up a
research post at Durham University, UK. From this far outpost he will continue his research in
southern Africa. We look forward to possible collaboration.
Prof. Rowntree and Mr van der Waal (PhD student) contributed to a WRC funded project run by
the University of the Free State on the assessment of environmental flows for non-perennial rivers,
using the Mokolo river in Limpopo province as a case study. The final report for this project should
be published in 2013. Rowntree and van der Waal have been awarded funding by the WRC to
research landscape connectivity in the upper Thina catchment, Eastern Cape Drakensberg,
starting April 2013.
The end of the year saw a team of four Rhodes academics and students depart for the Antarctic
continent to conduct research led by Prof Ian Meiklejohn on Landscape Processes in Antarctic
Ecosystems (funded by the NRF). The team set sail on the South African polar research and
supply ship, the SA Agulhas II on her maiden Antarctic voyage. They return to South Africa in mid
February. Student team members were Dr Gwynneth Matcher (Biochemistry, Microbiology and
Biotechnology), Rosie Dwight (Geography), and David Scott (Geography). Collaborators on the
project are Prof Rosemary Dorrington (Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and
Biotechnology), Prof Werner Nel (University of Fort Hare) and Dr Jennifer Lee (University of
Stellenbosch).
Prof. Fox and Ms Ellis (Honours student 2013) from Rhodes University were selected to participate
in the MyCOE / SERVIR Initiative in East Africa for a 10-month fellowship program to conduct
research that addresses themes of Climate Change, Agriculture or Food Security using geographic
technologies. A total of 18 undergraduate and graduate students and their mentors were
competitively selected from among nearly 200 applications for the program based on the feasibility
110 | P a g e
2012 Newsletter
for
the Soc iety of So uth A fr ic an Geo gr apher s
and quality of the proposed research/education activity. In all, 35 participants will directly benefit
from the MyCOE / SERVIR Initiative in East Africa in 2012/2013.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Prof Keith Beavon celebrated his 50th consecutive as a guest lecturer at Rhodes University,
presenting a course on ‘The Historical Geography of 19th Century Paris’ as part of the Geography
102 course, ‘Introduction to Global Development’. Prof Beavon started his lecturing career at
Rhodes University in 1963, thus completing a full circle in his career.
Prof. Meiklejohn organized a South African tour for a group of students from the University of
British Columbia, lead by Prof. Kevin Hall. They were joined by students from the University of
Pretoria and Rhodes University.
Ms Brigitte Melly received the Society’s Bronze Medal Award for her Masters’ dissertation, which
she had completed at Rhodes University under the supervision of Ms McGregor. Further
recognition of our student’s work came from two conferences. At the SAAG conference in Namibia,
PhD Student, Rebecca Joubert (supervisors Prof Ellery, Environmental Science & Prof Rowntree)
won the award for the Best Student Oral Presentation and Honours Student, Rosie Dwight, won
the award for the Best Student Poster Presentation. At the Geography Students’ Conference in
Cape Town prizes were won by Philippa Kleyn for the best GIS presentation and Sarita Pillay for
the best Human Geography presentation.
2012 saw the publication of the Special Issue of Land Degradation and Development devoted to
papers presented at the SAAG conference in 2010 ‘Landscape denudation or landscape
degradation? Interrogating the geomorphic processes of landscape change in southern Africa’.
The special issue was edited by Professors Rowntree, Foster and Meiklejohn. Contributions
demonstrated the wide collaboration that is ongoing between international and South African land
degradation scientists.
PUBLICATIONS
Publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings
Clark, VR, Perera, SJ, Stiller, M, Stirton, CH, Weston, PH, Stoev, P, Coombs, G, Morris, DB,
Ratnayake-Perera, D, Barker, NP & McGregor,GK. 2012. A rapid multi-disciplinary biodiversity
assessment of the Kamdebooberge (Sneeuberg, Eastern Cape, South Africa): implications for
conservation. SpringerPlus 1:56 doi:10.1186/2193-1801-1-56 10.1016/j.cities.2011.12.009.
Curran, P, Smedley, DA, Thompson, P., & Knight, A. 2012. Mapping restoration opportunity for
collaborating with land managers in a carbon credit-funded restoration program in the Makana
Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Restoration Ecology 20: 56-40
Foster, IDL, Rowntree KM, Boardman J, & Mighall T, M 2012. Changing sediment yield and
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sediment dynamics in the Karoo uplands, South Africa: post-European impacts. Land Degradation
and Development, 23(6): 508-522 DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2180
Grenfell, S., Rowntree, K.M. & Grenfell, M. 2012. Morphodynamics of a gully and floodout system
in the Sneeuberg Mountains of the semi-arid Karoo,South Africa: Implications for local landscape
connectivity. Catena, 89: 8-21 doi:10.1016/j.catena.2011.09.007
Kirshner, J. (2012). “We are Gauteng people”: Challenging the politics of xenophobia in Khutsong,
South Africa. Antipode 44(4): 1307-1328. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8330.2011.00953.x
Kirshner, J. (In press). City profile: Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Cities, Available online 28 Jan 2012,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2011.12.009,
Kirshner, J. (accepted) Community tensions between ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ and inclusive placebased identities: the case of Khutsong. In C. Haferburg and M. Huchzermeyer (Eds.) Urban
Governance in Post-apartheid Cities: Modes of Engagement in South Africa’s Metropoles. Berlin:
Schweizer Bart.
Manjoro M, Rowntree, KM Kakembo V & Foster IDL. 2012. An application of finger printing
techniques to distinguish sediment sources in a small gully-fan system, Eastern Cape, South
Africa. Land Degradation and Development, 23(6): 569-576 DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2174
Manjoro, M, Kakembo, V & Rowntree KM. 2012. Mapping spatial and temporal dynamics of soil
erosion and alien shrub invasion using SPOT satellite data in Ngqushwa district, Eastern Cape,
South Africa. Environmental Management doi: 10.1007/s00267-012-9810-0
Mighall TM, Foster, IDL, Rowntree KM, & Boardman J. 2012. Reconstructing recent land
degradation in the semi-arid Karoo of South Africa: a palaeoecological study at Compassberg,
Eastern Cape. Land Degradation and Development, 23(6): 532-533 DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2176
Rowntree KM, Meiklejohn KI, & Foster IDL. 2012. Editorial : Special issue on ‘Landscape
denudation or landscape degradation? Interrogating the geomorphic processes of landscape
change in southern Africa.‘ Land Degradation and Development, 23(6): 505-507
doi:
10.1002/ldr.2171
Rowntree, KM & Foster IDL. 2012. A reconstruction of historical changes in sediment sources,
sediment transfer and sediment yield in a small, semi-arid Karoo catchment, South Africa.
Zeitschrift fur Geomorphology. 56, suppl. 1:87-98 doi: 10.1127/0372-8854/2012/S-00074
Rowntree, KM, Mzobe PN, & van Der Waal B. 2012. Sediment source tracing in the Thina
catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa. In Erosion and Sediment Yields in the Changing
Environment (Proceedings of a symposium held at Chengdu, China, 11-15 October 2012) IAHS
Publ. 356 pp. 404-411.
Smedley, D & Rowntree KM. 2012. Rivers as borders, uniting or dividing? The effect of topography
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and implications for catchment management. Water Science and Technology 66(3):510-6
doi:10.2166/wst.2012.186
Van der Waal, B, & Rowntree KM. A Geomorphological Response Model for predicting sediment
related habitat change in non-perennial river systems. In Erosion and Sediment Yields in the
Changing Environment (Proceedings of a symposium held at Chengdu, China, 11-15 October
2012) IAHS Publ. 356 pp. 276-283.
Van der Waal, BW, Rowntree, KM and Radloff, SE. 2012. The effect of Acacia mearnsii invasion
and clearing on soil movement in the Kouga Mountains, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Land
Degradation and Development, 23(6): 577–585.
Book chapters
Rowntree KM. 2012 Fluvial Geomorphology. In PJ Holmes and ME Meadows (eds). Southern
African Geomorphology: recent trends and new directions. Ch. 5. Sun Press September 2012. 95140.
Sumner, P., Hall, K, Meiklejohn, K.H., Nel, W. 2012. Weathering.n PJ Holmes and ME Meadows
(eds). Southern African Geomorphology: recent trends and new directions. Ch. 4. Sun Press
September 2012. 75-93.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
AAG Annual Meeting New York Feb 24028 2012.
Moeller, J. Using ICTs to Understand Multiple-Use Water Services in Rural South Africa. Session:
Mobile phone data and geographic modelling
Kirshner, J. Bordering Practices and the Politics of Local Demarcation in South Africa: The Case of
Khutsong. Session: Identity Formation and Exclusion in Africa
3rd Sanord International Symposium 2012. Strengthening the role of Universities as hubs of
development through the southern Africa-Nordic University Centre. Aarhus, Denmark. 6-7 June
2012.
Fox, RC, Rowntreee KM, Kaskinen J., Future studies for the southern African region: ’from Africa’
not ‘on Africa’. Session: Tomorrow’s common research priorities for Nordic and southern African
Universities.
IGC in Cologne, Germany. 26-30 August.
Irvine, P. ‘Post-Apartheid Racial Integration in Grahamstown: a time-geographical perspective’,
within the ‘Urban Utopias and Heterotopias: Theorising, Analysing and Evaluating Urban Spaces’
session. Philippa received an IGU Travel Grant to attend this conference as a PhD student.
Ecosummit, Ohio, October 2012 EcoSummit 30 Sep-5 Oct 2012 - Ecological Sustainability
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Restoring the Planet's Ecosystem Services
Rowntree, KM. A political geoecological framework for the conservation and management of
Africa’s riverine ecosystems. Symposium: Ecogeomorphology: A biophysical framework for river
science’.
IAHS-ICCE International Symposium, Chengdu, China. 11-15 October 2012
Van der Waal, B. and Rowntree, K. A Geomorphological Response Model for predicting sedimentrelated habitat change in ephemeral rivers,
Rowntree, KM, Mzobe PN, van Der Waal B. Sediment source tracing in the Thina catchment,
Eastern Cape, South Africa. Erosion and Sediment Yields in the Changing Environment
LOCAL CONFERENCES
The Biennial conference of the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG) ‘Critical
Conversations in Geography’ Conference, 20-22 June 20-22, Cape Town
Attended by five staff members and three students from the Department of Geography.
SSAG Students’ Conference, June 17-20, Cape Town
Eleven Honours students and two senior postgraduates attended the accompanied by their
lecturer, Ms McGregor.
Biennial Southern African Association of Geomorphologists (SAAG), September 8-12, Gobabeb
Research Station, Namibia,
A group of fourteen Honours, Masters and PhD Students and Professors from the Department of
Geography attended the SAAG conference. They were joined by visiting professors, Jan
Boelhouwers (Uppsala University, Sweden) and Ian Foster (University of Northampton, UK), and
Uppsala University PhD student Mikael Jonssan. The Conference coincided with 50 Years of
Namib Desert Research at Gobabeb.
Annual conference of the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists, July 1-5, Cape St Francis
Prof Ellery presented a paper at the co-authored with staff and students from the Geography
Department. The paper presented the results of research into the complex system of the Oyster
Bay headland bypass dunefield.
16th SANCIAHS National Hydrology Symposium Oct 1-3, Pretoria
Lousie Bryson (MSC student, IWR & Geography) presented a paper at the International Visitors
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Teaching and Research Collaboration
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Prof Per Assmo, Linköping University, Sweden and Visiting Professor, Rhodes University 27/02/12
- 16/03/12
Prof J Hooke, Liverpool University April 2012
Prof Tony Parsons, University of Sheffield, 20-21/08/2012
Prof Jan Boelhouwers, Uppsala University, Sweden and Visiting Professor, Rhodes University
26/08/12 - 06/09/12
Prof Ian Foster, Northampton University, UK and Visiting Professor, Rhodes University 26/08/12 18/09/12
Prof H Ibsen, Karslstad University Oct 2012
Visiting international research students
Erika Aarnseth, Karlstad University, April-May
Mr M Jonsson, Uppsala University 26/08/12 - 06/09/12
Stephanie Shenton, Uppsala University, Sept-Nov
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University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Agricultural, Earth
and Environmental Sciences
Head/Chair of Department:
Name (Title, Surname, Initials)
Area of
specialisation
E-mail
Office Tel Number
Prof Modi, A
Crop Science
modiat@ukzn.ac.za 0332605854
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname, Initials)
Rank/Position Area of
E-mail
specialisation
Office
Telephone
number
Prof Maharaj, B
Professor
Geography
maharajb@ukzn.ac.za
0312601027
Prof Hill, T
Associate
Professor
Geography
hillt@ukzn.ac.za
0332605235
Prof Bob, U
Associate
Professor
Geography
bobu@ukzn.ac.za
0312607656
Prof Proches, M
Associate
Professor
Geography
prochess@ukzn.ac.za
0312601278
Dr Odindi, J
Lecturer
Geography
odindi@ukzn.ac.za
0332605539
Dr Ahmed, F
Lecturer
Geography
ahmedf1@ukzn.ac.za
0312603523
Dr Pillay, S
Lecturer
Geography
pillays2@ukzn.ac.za
0312607654
Dr Ramsay, L
Lecturer
Geography
ramsayl@ukzn.ac.za
0312608140
Dr Watson, H
Senior
Lecturer
Geography
watsonh@ukzn.ac.za
0312601390
Dr Narsiah, S
Lecturer
Geography
narsiahi@ukzn.ac.za
0332605343
Mr Foggin, T
Lecturer
Geography
foggint@ukzn.ac.za
0332605273
Mr Lutchmiah, J
Lecturer
Geography
lutchmiah@ukzn.ac.za
0312602455
Dr Sookrajh, R
Lecturer
Geography
sookrajhro@ukzn.ac.za 0312607479
Mr Khanyile, M
Lecturer
Geography
khanyilem@ukzn.ac.za
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Information about the professional and support staff in the Department
Name (Title,
Surname,
Initials)
Position
Area of subject
specialization
(if applicable)
E-mail
Office
Telephone
number
Prof Beckedahl,
H
Associate
Professor
Geomorphology
hbeck@ukzn.ac.za
0332605345
Prof Hughes, J
Professor
Soil Science
hughesj@ukzn.ac.za
0332605422
Prof Mutanga, O
Professor
GIS and Remote
Sensing
mutangao@ukzn.ac.za
0332605779
Prof Savage, M
Senior
Professor
Agrometeorology savage@ukzn.ac.za
Prof
Muchaonyerwa
Associate
Soil Science
muchaonyerwa@ukzn.ac.za 0332605764
Dr M
Gebreslasie
Lecturer
GIS and Remote
Sensing
Gebreslasie@ukzn.ac.za
0312602939
Dr Dent, M
Senior
Lecturer
Water
Management
dent@ukzn.ac.za
0332605730
Dr Finch, J
Lecturer
Biogeography
and
Palaeoecology
finchj@ukzn.ac.za
0312608233
Mrs TrotterRichardson, D
Lecturer
Environmental
Management
trotterd2@ukzn.ac.za
0332605089
Mr Gijsbertsen,
B
Chief
Technician
gijsbertsen@ukzn.ac.za
0332605346
Ms Reid, C
Principal
Technician
reidc1@ukzn.ac.za
0312608168
Mr Abboy, I
Senior
Technician
abboy@ukzn.ac.za
0312602420
Mr De Vos, D
Technician
devosd@ukzn.ac.za
0332606255
Ms Nala, T
Technical
Assistant
nalat@ukzn.ac.za
0332605415
Mr Buthelezi, J
Technical
Assistant
buthelezij@ukzn.ac.za
0332605914
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Mr Powys, E
Technician
powyse@ukzn.ac.za
0312607655
Mr Shezi, I
GIS
Technician
shezizi@ukzn.ac.za
0312607650
Mr Singh, R
Senior
Technician
singhra1@ukzn.ac.za
0332605415
Mrs Govender, S Administrative
Officer
govendersam@ukzn.ac.za
0312607322
Mrs Sherriff, S
Administrative
Officer
sheriffs@ukzn.ac.za
0312602416
Mrs McCosh, P
Administrative
Officer
mccoshp@ukzn.ac.za
0332605775
Mrs Ramroop, S
Administrative
Officer
ramroopsh@ukzn.ac.za
0332605341
News:
Oni Mutanga was promoted from Associate Professor to Professor, with effect from January 2013.
He was also appointed as an Associate Editor of the ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and
Remote Sensing.
2012 dated publications:
Swart, K. and Bob, U. 2012. Mega Sport Event Legacies and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, African
Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance (AJPHERD) September
Supplement 1: 1-11.
Bob, U. and Kassens-Noor, E. 2012. An Indicator Framework to Assess the legacy Impacts of the
2010 FIFA World Cup, African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance
(AJPHERD) September Supplement 1: 12-21.
Hendricks, N.; Bob, U. and Nadasen, N. 2012. A Comparison of Cape Town and Durban Business
Perceptions of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, African Journal for Physical, Health Education,
Recreation and Dance (AJPHERD) September Supplement 1: 63-73.
Bob, U. and Naidoo, S. 2012. Green Goal: Awareness of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup’s
Greening Programmes and Implications for Environmental Education, African Journal for Physical,
Health Education, Recreation and Dance (AJPHERD) September Supplement 1: 95-105.
Proches S, Ramdhani S. 2012. Analyses towards determining Madagascar’s place in global
biogeography. Current Zoology 58: 363−374.
Proches S, Ramdhani S. 2012. The world’s zoogeographical regions confirmed by cross-taxon
analyses. BioScience 62: 260-270.
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Proches S, Wilson JRU, Richardson DM, Rejmanek M. 2012. Native and naturalized range size in
Pinus: relative importance of biogeography, introduction effort and species traits. Global Ecology
and Biogeography 21: 513–523.
Mutanga, O., Adam, E. and Cho, M.A., 2012. High density biomass estimation for wetland
vegetation using WorldView-2 imagery and random forest regression algorithm. International
Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 18: 399-406.
Mansour,K. Mutanga, O. Terry Everson, Elhadi Adam, Discriminating indicator grass species for
rangeland degradation assessment using hyperspectral data resampled to AISA Eagle resolution,
ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Volume 70, June 2012, Pages 56-65,
Fadzai M. Zengeya, Onisimo Mutanga, Amon Murwira, Linking remotely sensed forage quality
estimates from WorldView-2 multispectral data with cattle distribution in a savanna landscape,
International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, Volume 21, April 2013,
Pages 513-524, ISSN 0303
Mansour, K. and Mutanga, O., 2012. Classifying increaser species as an indicator of different
levels of rangeland degradation using WorldView-2 imagery. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing,
6(1): 063558-1-063558-17.
Lottering, R. and Mutanga, O., 2012. Estimating the road edge effect on adjacent Eucalyptus
grandis forests in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using texture measures and an artificial neural
network. Journal of Spatial Science, 57(2): 153-173.
Oumar, Z. and Mutanga, O., 2013. Using WorldView-2 bands and indices to predict bronze bug
(Thaumastocoris peregrinus) damage in plantation forests. International Journal of Remote
Sensing, 34(6): 2236-2249.
Mansour, K., Mutanga, O. and Everson, T., 2012. Remote sensing based indicators of vegetation
species for assessing rangeland degradation: Opportunities and challenges. African Journal of
Agricultural Research, 7(22): 3261-3270.
Cho, M.A. et al., 2012. Potential utility of the spectral red-edge region of SumbandilaSat imagery
for assessing indigenous forest structure and health. International Journal of Applied Earth
Observation and Geoinformation, 16: 85-93.
Govender, S and Maharaj, B.2012. Segregation, buffer zones and transport routes: A case study of
the second access road to Chatsworth. Oriental Anthropologist, 12 (2).
Maharaj, B. 2012. Commemoration, Celebration, Commiseration? 150th Anniversary of Indentured
Labourers in South Africa. In S. Patel and T. Uys (eds.) Legacies, Identities and Dilemmas:
Understanding contemporary Indian and South Africa. Routledge: Abingdon, pp. 77-95. ISBN: 9780-415
Maharaj, B. 2012. Ethnic Identities and political boundaries and the quest for durable solutions. In
D. Elliott and U.A. Segal (eds.) Refugees Worldwide. Praeger ISBN-13: 978-0313378072
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Ramsay, L, Naidoo, R. 2012 Carbon footprints, industrial transparency and community
engagement in a South Durban neighbourhood. South African Geographical Journal, 94:174-190.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
Bob, U. 2012: South African Netherlands Academic Partnerships: Research Co-operation Beyond
Development, 2-3 April 2012, The Hague, Netherlands.
Munien, S. and Bob, U. 2012. A Socio-Spatial Assessment of Solar Energy Implementation in
Rural Areas, Social Aspects on Adaptation to new Solar technology (Norglobal project), 2-3 May
2012, Maputo, Mozambique.
Nyikana, S.; Techaawa, T.; Turco, D.M. and Bob, U. 2012. Perceptions of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup: A Case Study of the Host City Nelson Mandela Bay/ Port Elizabeth, paper presented at the
Sport and the Global South II: Legacies, Possibilities, Transformations conference, 12-14
November 2012, George Mason University, USA.
Techaawa, T. and Bob, U. 2012. The Legacy Impacts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Africa: Case
Studies of Stakeholder and Soccer Fans’ Perceptions in Cameroon and Nigeria, paper presented
at the Sport and the Global South II: Legacies, Possibilities, Transformations conference, 12-14
November 2012, George Mason University, USA.
Bob, U. 2012. The Challenge of Livelihoods in Informal Settlements in Durban/ eThekwini
Municipality, Preparatory Workshop for the Thematic Conference on Rural Migration, Urban
Renewal and Slum clearance – A Challenge for Mega Cities in the South, 25-28 September 2012,
Elangeni Hotel, Durban, South Africa.
Bob, U. 2012: Urbanization in the BRICS: An Ingredient for their Success? (sponsored by IIED,
HSRC, UNFPA and UK-Aid), 5-6 December 2012, Pretoria, South Africa.
Adam, E.M.I., Ismail, R. and Mutanga, O., 2012. A comparison of selected machine learning
classifiers in mapping a South African heterogeneous coastal zone: Testing the utility of an objectbased classification with WorldVeiw-2 Imagery, SPIE Remote Sensing. International Society for
Optics and Photonics, pp. 85380P-85380P-10. 25, October 2012, Edinburgh, , United Kingdom
Adam, E.M.I. and Mutanga, O., 2012. Estimation of high density wetland biomass: combining
regression model with vegetation index developed from Worldview-2 imagery, Proc. of SPIE Vol,
pp. 85310V-1, October 2012, Edinburgh, , United Kingdom
Maharaj, B. “Geography and Human Rights Challenges in the 21st Century: Insights from the postapartheid South African Experience”, paper presented at the International Conference on Human
Rights, 14-15 February 2012 at India International Centre, New Delhi (India).
Maharaj, B. “Geography of Corruption – A neglected area of Study”? Paper presented at the
Biennial Conference of the Society of South African Geographers, 21-22 June 2012, UCT.
Maharaj B. 'The main opposition is the media' - Media freedom under threat in democratic South
Africa? Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, 2428 February 2012.
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Maharaj B. “Mega Events – the Promise and the Betrayal: FIFA 2010 in South Africa”, paper
presented at the 32nd International Geographical Congress in Cologne, 26 - 30 August 2012.
Maharaj B. “Corruption – a cancer that corrodes the promise of a ‘better life for all’ in South Africa”,
paper presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association, 29 Nov – 1
December 2012.
Bauwens I., Franke J., Gebreslasie M., (2012) Earth Observation to support malaria control in
Southern Africa. Proceedings of IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium,
Remote Sensing for a Dynamic Earth. IGRASS, Munich, Germany.
Khanyile, M. Conflicts over land and natural resources in Madlangala, Eastern Cape. Paper
presented at the 32nd International Geographical Congress in Cologne, 26 - 30 August 2012.
Sookrajh R. Resident’s perceptions of Sport Events: A Case Study of the Comrades Marathon.
Paper presented at the South African Geography Society Conference at UCT, June 2012
PhD Thesis’s completed in 2012:
Clement A
Remote Sensing of the distrubtion of subtropical c3 and c4 grasses. Supervised by Prof O
Mutanga and co-supervised by Dr M Cho.
Zakariyya O
Remote sensing of Forest Health. Supervised by Prof O Mutanga.
Short description of the curriculum presented:
The importance of providing students with a broad education in Geography whilst also providing
them with the opportunity to develop skills for their future careers is recognized at UKZN.
Course modules are offered in both human and physical geography, as well as environmental
studies and spatial science, including GIS and remote sensing. The majority of the course
modules offered emphasize the importance of matching the theoretical component with reality
through extensive use of field work.
Human Geography focuses on social, political, economic and environmental interactions that
guide the spatial organization of people and contribute to the solution of social problems in our
society.
Physical Geography and Environmental Sciences together explain the workings of the Earth’s
environmental systems.
Environmental Management is an applied branch of Geography and deals with understanding
the way humans impact on and manipulate ecosystems and resources. It seeks ways to prevent
or reduce negative impacts by deliberate intervention.
Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing are also applied branches of Geography.
These tools concentrate on earth observation using state of the art satellite/airborne image
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information and the satellite/airborne image information and the development of spatial date
integration methods.
Degrees and modules on offer
The Discipline of Geography, UKZN offers a wide range of programme degrees which enable
students to study a mixture of human and physical geography, or to specialize in one or the other.
Undergraduate students can chose from a general studies programme degree (based on majors
where you can combine Geography with another subject) or a named programme degree
(structured and focused curriculum). Majors are offered in both the Humanities and Science
faculties.
At a post-graduate level, students can study for an Honours (BSc Honours Environmental Science;
BSc Honours Geography & Environmental Management; and BSocSc Honours Geography and
Environmental Management), masters and doctoral degrees.
Student Numbers (2012):
Level
HC
PMB
W
TOTAL
First year
339
203
238
780
Second year
198
156
199
553
Third year
126
109
111
346
Honours
19
18
16
53
Masters
20
20
15
55
Doctoral
8
11
10
29
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University of the Free State: Department of Geography
Overview
A Department of Earth Sciences was established at the then University of the Orange Free State in
1918. Professor W von Bonde was appointed Lecturer of Geography in 1919.
Geography, in both Bloemfontein and at Qwaqwa continues to attract students in both the natural
sciences and the humanities because of its vocational possibilities. There is also growing
environmental awareness amongst students, and a significant increase in interest in GIS, which is
perceived as a real value-added component of Geography.
Academic Staff (2012)
Bloemfontein Campus:
Professors: Profs Peter Holmes and Gustav Visser
Senior Lecturers: Drs Charles Barker and Shirley Brooks
Lecturers: Mss Eldalize Kruger, Tobeka Mehlomakhulu and Sheila Vrahimis
Junior Lecturers: Mss Mulalo Rabumbulu, Aretha Steenekamp
Qwaqwa Campus
Senior Lecturer: Dr Hennie Claassen
Lecturers: Mr Alex Adjei, Dr Geoffrey Mukwada and Ms Merle Naidoo
Junior Lecturer: Mr Pululu Mahasa
Contact Details
Dr Charles Barker
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Department of Geography (53)
University of the Free State
PO Box 339
Bloemfontein
South Africa
9300
Telephone: +27 51 401 2255
Fax: + 27 51 401 3816
E-mail: barkerch@ufs.ac.za or vandykn@ufs.ac.za
Website: www.ufs.ac.za
Report compiled by Prof Peter Holmes, holmspj@ufs.ac.za
Current (2013) staff details
Bloemfontein Campus (Fax 051 401 3816)
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Position
Specialisation
GIS, Fluvial
geomorpholog
y
Holmes Peter
Senior
Lecturer &
HOD
Administrato
r
Professor
Kruger Eldalize
Lecturer
Massey Ruth
Lecturer
Mehlomakulu
Tobeka
Lecturer
Rabumbulu
Mulalo
Junior
Lecturer
Steenekamp
Aretha
van Dyk Nolene
Junior
GIS
Lecturer
Administrato
r
Professor
Urban
geography
E-mail
Name
Barker Charles
Brits Sandra
Visser Gustav
barkerch@ufs.ac.za
Phone number
(on 051 401)
2554
britss@ufs.ac.za
2184
Geomorpholog
y
Environmental
management
Urban
geography
Rural
development
holmespj@ufs.ac.za
3570
krugere@ufs.ac.za
2185
masseyr@ufs.ac.za
2183
Geomorpholog
y
rabumbulum@ufs.ac.za
7104
steenekampa@ufs.ac.za
9653
vandykn@ufs.ac.za
2255
visserge@ufs.ac.za
3762
mehlomakhulutc@ufs.ac.z
a
Qwaqwa Campus
Adjei Alex
Lecturer
Tourism
adjeia@qwa.ufs. ac.za
Claassen
Hennie
Senior
Lecturer
Rural
development
claassenjhd@qwa.ufs.ac.z
a
5487
Mahasa Pululu
Physical
geography
mahasaps@qwa.ufs.ac.za
5036
Mokhethine
Nthabising
Mukwada
Geoffrey
Junior
Lecturer
Administrato
r
Senior
Lecturer
mokhethine@qwa.
ufs.ac.za
mukwadag@qwa.
ufs.ac.za
5475
Naidoo Merle
Lecturer
Environmental
sustainability
naidoom@qwa. ufs.ac.za
5478
Environmental
sustainability
(on 058 718)
5477
5476
Bloemfontein Campus
Collaborative research with foreign and local institutions, and the involvement of postgraduate students,
continues to flourish. Details of specific conferences attended and papers presented are provided in full
below. Prof Peter Holmes stepped down as Departmental Chairperson at the end of 2011, and was
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replaced by Dr Charles Barker. Dr Shirley Brookes left the Department at the end of the first semester to
take up a post at the University of the Western Cape. Ms Sheila Vrahimis retired at the end of 2012.
Prof Holmes served on the NRF Chairs panel for the finalising of Chairs in the broad category of water
quality and management, and land use management. Visitors to the Department included Prof Jarkko
Saarinen (Oulu University, Finland), Prof Clive Barnett (Open University), and Dr Alec Thornton
(University of New South Wales).
Eastern Free State (Qwaqwa) Campus
Business plan: Dr Hennie Claassen, Dr Geofrey Mukwada and Ms Merle Naidoo compiled and
submitted the final draft of the new Programme in Environmental Geography in September. The
recommended date of introduction is January 2014. Dr Mukwada is involved in the setting up of the
Montane Research Initiative. The aim of this initiative is to spearhead research in various fields of the
life sciences in the eastern parts of the Free State province. Ms Naidoo chaired the Campus Going
Green Committee. Ms Naidoo attended a postgraduate course on Earth Observation and Integrated
Water Resources Management in Kenya during the first semester. By way of community service, Dr
Mukwada was involved in the training of municipal personnel in LED (Local Economic Development).
Postgraduate degrees
PhD: Mark Ingle (Prof Visser - Centre for Development Studies)
MA: Mulalo Rabumbulu (Prof Holmes)
MA: Mnqobi Ngubane (Dr Brooks)
MSc: Ashley Marchand (Ms Kruger)
MSc: Juanita Moolman (Dr Barker)
Publications
Articles (peer reviewed journals)
Hammett DP, 2012. Envisaging the nation: The philatelic iconography of transforming South African
national narratives. Geopolitics 17, 526-552.
Hammett DP, 2012. W(h)ither South African human geography? Geoforum 43, 937-947.
Hammett DP, 2012. Reworking and resisting globalising influences: Cape Town hip-hop. Geojournal 77,
417-428.
Hammett DP, 2012. Requiring respect: searching for non-racialism in post-apartheid South Africa.
Politikon 39, 71-88.
Hammett DP 2012. Tales from the road: reflections on power and disciplining within the academy.
Environment and Planning A 44, 445-457.
Hammett DP, Hoogendoorn G, 2012. Reflections on the politics and practices of knowledge production
beyond the Anglo-American core: an introductory note. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 33,
283-286.
Hammett DP, 2012. Negotiating the academic periphery: Critical reflections on early career mobility.
Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 33, 286-290.
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Hammett DP, Sporton D, 2012. Paying for interviews? Negotiating ethics, power and expectation. Area
44, 496-502.
Houghton JL, Bass O, 2012. Routes through the academy: critical reflections on the experiences of
young geographers in South Africa. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 33, 308-313.
Holmes PJ, Thomas D, Bateman M, Wiggs G, Rabumbulu M, 2012. Evidence for land degradation from
aeolian sediment in the west-central Free State province, South Africa. Land Degradation and
Development 23, 601- 610.
Hoogendoorn G, Visser GE, 2012. Stumbling over researcher positionality and political-temporal
contingency in South African second homes tourism research. Critical Arts 26, 253-271.
Rabumbulu M, Holmes PJ, 2012. Depositional environments of the Florisbad Spring site and surrounds:
a revised synthesis. South African Geographical Journal 94, 191-207.
Visser GE, Hoogendoorn G, 2012. Uneven tourism development in South Africa: another on-going
struggle. Africa Insight 42, 66-76.
Conference Paper and Poster Presentations
Barker CH, 2012. Missing surface drainage of the western Free State. The biennial meeting of the
South African Association of Geomorphologists, Gobabeb, Namibia, 09-11 September 2012.
Pienaar JJ, Campbell MM, Visser GE, 2012.The use of water consumption data and GIS-information to
detect second-homes/holiday-homes. International Cost Engineering Council 8th ICEC World Congress,
"Quest for Quality: Professionalism in Practice", Durban, South Africa, 23-27 June2012.
Visser GE, 2012.The social impacts of second homes in rural South Africa. 32nd International
Geography Congress, Cologne, Germany, 26-30 August 2012.
Visser GE, 2012. Challenging the gay ghetto: time to move on? 9th Biennial Conference of the Society
of South African Geographers, Cape Town, South Africa, 20-22 July 2012.
Holmes PJ, 2012. Applied aeolian research in South Africa: a way forward? 18th Annual Windy Day,
University of Leicester, 17 October 2012.
Holmes PJ, Scott L, Bateman M, Carr A, Cordova C, Boom A. 2012. A record of Late Glacial-Holocene
environmental change from two adjacent bio-physical regimes in the Southern Cape, South Africa. 9th
Biennial Conference of the Society of South African Geographers, Cape Town, South Africa, 20-22
June 2012.
Rabumbulu M, Holmes PJ, 2012. The geomorphology of the Florisbad spring site and surrounds. 9th
Biennial Conference of the Society of South African Geographers, Cape Town 20-22 June 2012.
Chapters in Books
Holmes PJ, 2012. Lithological and structural controls on landforms. In PJ Holmes and ME Meadows
(eds.), Southern African Geomorphology: Recent trends and New Directions. Sun Press, Bloemfontein,
23-39.
Boardman J, Hoffman MT, Holmes PJ, Wiggs GFS, 2012. Soil erosion and land degradation. In: PJ
Holmes and ME Meadows (eds.), Southern African Geomorphology: Recent trends and New Directions.
Sun Press, Bloemfontein, 305-328.
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Garland GG, Holmes PJ, 2012. Applied geomorphology. In: PJ Holmes and ME Meadows (eds.),
Southern African Geomorphology: Recent trends and New Directions. Sun Press, Bloemfontein, 351370.
Eckardt F, Barker CH, Meadows ME, 2012. Landscape inventories and remote sensing. In: PJ Holmes
and ME Meadows (eds.), Southern African Geomorphology: Recent trends and New Directions. Sun
Press, Bloemfontein, 371-399.
Articles (peer reviewed journals)
Manatsa D, Reason C, Mukwada G, 2012. On the decoupling of the IODZM from Southern Africa
Summer rainfall variability. International Journal of Climatology 32, 727-746.
Manatsa D, Mukwada G, 2012. Rainfall mechanisms for the dominant rainfall mode over Zimbabwe
relative to ENSO and/or IODZM. The Scientific World Journal 2012, 1-15.
Mukwada G, Dhlamini S, 2012. Challenges of event tourism in local economic development: The case
of Bethlehem, South Africa. Journal of Human Ecology 39, 27-38.
Mukwada G, 2012. Scales of vulnerability: Resettlement and exposure to multiple stressors and shocks
in Zimbabwe. Journal of Human Ecology 40, 101-113.
Mukwada G, Manatsa D, 2012. Assessment of community-based natural resource management in the
Savannas using the capacity continuum - multiple drivers model. Journal of Human Ecology 40, 69-84.
Conference presentations
Mukwada, C. Mather, L. Holtman. “When the ‘hard’ and the ‘soft’ have to marry: A case of integrated
research on the link between forest and woodland resource sustainability and rural resettlement in
Zimbabwe.” Paper presented at the 2nd Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies (SURLEC) Colloquium
2012, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa. 1-3 October 2012.
Postgraduate outputs
Ms P.J. Lekhotla graduated (MA) in 2012. Title of dissertation: Limitations on the growth of economic
multipliers in the small business sector in the Eastern Free State. External supervisor/assessor: Dr Tom
Ruhiiga. Internal co-supervisor and assessor: Dr Hennie Claassen.
Student Numbers (2012)
Level
Number
Bloemfontein
Qwaqwa
First year
242
290
Second year
346
798*
Third year
171
375*
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Honours
20
4
Masters
12
0
Doctoral
3
0
*Includes Tourism students
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News from practising geographers outside of academia
UKZN’s initiative river health initiative (submitted by Dr L
Hurry)
Dr L B Hurry: Coordinator Mathuba Schools & Citizens River Health Programme
Departments of Geography and of Environmental Sciences may be interested to know of our
Mathuba Schools & Citizens River Health Programme being facilitated by a small group
within the UKZN’s School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The Mathuba Programme was born of the realisation that, despite many years of legislation
and community law, the rivers around Pietermaritzburg are in poor condition with levels of
pollution from different sources rising year by year. The Mathuba response is an attempt to
encourage individuals to start to think for themselves (as a precursor to action) about the
causes of environmental pollution affecting rivers and what to share ideas on what is
possible, at a personal level, to address the issues. In other words Mathuba is working to
encourage and promote school-based / community-based research activities that will
encourage participants to take a life-long interest in the health of rivers, their immediate
environments and the catchments to which they are connected.
The Programme is attracting attention and support from a wide range of stake-holders,
including (for example): The Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and its
associated programmes (Eco-Schools, Share-Net, SustainEd; Working for Water, Working
for Wetlands); The Environmental Education Association of southern Africa (EEASA); The
Wildlands Conservation Trust and the South African office of the Southern African
Development Community.
How does Mathuba work ? It’s simple really!
Youngsters and adults alike from around the province are using cell-phones to take pictures
of local problems that may be affecting river health. (Blocked drains, overflowing sewers,
piles of rubbish.)
The images (and comments) are sent to flickr (photo-sharing) using the address
gun59quip@photos.flickr.com
where they are picked up by a mentoring person who then posts them to Google-Earth where
they are shown by means of individual flags. The result is a Google-Earth map covered with
flags reflecting the activity of a host of ‘clickers’ from all over the region.
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And by going to the website http://www.flickr.com/photos/schoolsriverhealthProgramme/ the
‘clickers’ can view pictures and comments and then add comments of their own.
How is Mathuba working ? Its early days yet, but things are starting to get interesting !
BUT…. Its important to emphasise that we at UKZN do not see ourselves as the owners of
the Mathuba idea and that the main purpose of this piece of ‘news’ is to encourage
departments at universities to consider providing nodes of Mathuba-type development of their
own that would involve their own communities (students, local school learners, community
leaders and others).
Water is THE crunch issue of our century and we think that Mathuba is something that can
be done relatively easily by many ordinary South African – and with significant impact.
If you would like further information on the Mathuba project at UKZN please contact Dr Lynn
Hurry at lynn@ecology.co.za
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Gauteng City-Region Observatory (Universities of
Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand), submitted by Dr SA
Perberdy
Name of Department: Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) (a research body funded by
Gauteng Province and the Universities of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand and is jointly
located between the two universities)
Date of establishment: 2008
Short description of the vision and mission of the Department: The GCRO is an independent,
university based research centre established as a response to the socio-economic, governance,
political, growth, cultural and other challenges related to the cluster of cities that make up the
Gauteng City-Region (GCR). It is an independent university based research centre, tasked with
benchmarking the GCR’s development, mobilising intellectual capital to consider key policy issues,
providing accurate, reliable spatially aware data and making this available to government,
academia as well as residents. Thus it provides policy relevant and academically rigorous research
related to the GCR.
Report submitted by Dr SA Perderdy, sally.peberdy@gcro.ac.za, Tel 011 717 7280
Executive Director:
Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Area of specialisation
E-mail
Office Telephone Number
Prof Everatt, D
Socio-economic & development,
monitoring & programme evaluation,
political analysis, youth
david.everatt@gcro.ac.za
011-717-7280
Information about the Geographers in the Department
Name (Title, Surname,
Initials)
Dr Peberdy, SA
Rank/Position
Senior Researcher
Area of
specialisation
Internal & cross
border migration &
trade
E-mail
sally.peberdy@gcro.ac.za
Office Telephone
number
011-717-7280
Department News
Completed & on-going research:
•
•
The Territorial Review of the Gauteng City-Region (GCR) of the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) and GCRO was released in a multi-media output in
2011/12. The review profiled, measured & benchmarked the GCR.
In 2011/12 a survey of the Quality of Life in Gauteng was completed and the results released.
The survey provides data on the quality of life of residents of Gauteng as well as their
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
opinions on some political and social. The data can be broken down by metro and
municipality and is available on the GCRO website. Together the 2009 and 2011 Quality of
Life Surveys provide valuable time-series data and enables the GCRO to track change in the
province.
In 2011 the results of a longitudinal study of the experience of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by
small entrepreneurs was released. It assessed the opportunities and costs of hosting megaevents for these entreprreneurs while also engaging with questions around nationbuilding &
xenophobia.
The GCRO also engaged in a research project on non-racialism project with the Ahmed
Kathrada Foundation which will result in a special issue of Politikon in 2012.
Work on ‘conceptualising the Gauteng City-Region’ continues as GCRO is trying to better
understand the ways that the GCR is conceptualised and visualised.
The GCRO continues to undertake research around the environment & sustainability in the
city-region. This includes projects exploring the ‘urban metabolism’ of the GCR; an analysis
the state of green infrastructure in the GCR; the intersection between disaster vulnerability
and sustainability through projects exploring housing issues in dolomitic areas and the
vulnerability of urban areas located in mine residue areas including acid mine drainage.
In the economic sphere the GCRO is undertaking a range of work including: case studies on
Gauteng’s urban space economy; developing a Government Barometer to show key
development trends in the GCR in a user-friendly fashion; examining cross border flows of
large & small scale trade into and out of Gauteng; and examining trends in higher education
institutions and whether they are meeting the needs of GCR’s residents and economy.
In the area of spatial change in the GCR, GCRO is working with the NRF Chair in Planning
and Modelling of the Wits School of Architecture and Planning to examine whether the spatial
form, fabric and function of the GCR can cope with change. As part of this relationship
GCRO is doing undertaking research into the socio-economic & demographic dynamics of
change in peripheral areas of the GCR, including migration and rural-urban linkages.
The first phase of GCRO research exploring mobility in the GCR which has focused on
transport flows is complete and has strengthened relationships with the Universities of
Johannesburg and Pretoria who have worked on the project.
2012 dated publications:
Everatt D. (forthcoming 2012), Guest editor of Special Edition of Politikon: Non-racialism in South
Africa, Politikon 39(1), April 2012.
Everatt D. (forthcoming 2012), 'Non-racialism in South Africa: status and prospects' in Politikon
39(1), April 2012.
Everatt D. (forthcoming 2012), ‘Ring of fire or (commentator’s) puff of smoke? Youth in Gauteng’,
In: Helve et al (Ed.s) Youth and youth transitions, Tufnell Press, London
Nyar A. (forthcoming 2012), ‘Some new perspectives on South African Indians and “non-racialism”:
Findings from the AKF Non-racialism Focus Group Data”‘, Politikon, 39(1), April 2012.
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Schaffler A & Swilling M. (forthcoming 2012), ‘Valuing green infrastructure in an urban environment
under pressure – the Johannesburg case’, Ecological Economics (Special edition to be published
in 2012).
Schaffler A. (forthcoming 2012), ‘Developmental Green Economy Strategy for Gauteng’. In UNHabitat, Towards a Green Economy: case studies from around the world (pending publication)
Wray C & Van Olst R. (forthcoming 2012), ‘Enabling g-government in the Gauteng City-Region’,
African Journal of Information and Communication (Special edition on e-governance to be
published in 2012).
Wray C. (forthcoming 2012), ‘Promoting g-government in the Gauteng City-Region‘ PositionIT,
March, pp. 33-35.
Conference Presentation in 2012:
David Everatt, Graeme Gotz, Alexis Schaffler and Maryna Storie (March 2011), ‘Overview of
GCRO’s sustainability work’, Comparative Dialogue on Sustainable Infrastructure Transitions and
Governance, African Centre for Cities (ACC) and the Sustainability Institute, 31 March 2011.
Chris Wray (April 2011), ‘GCRO GIS website development – lessons learnt’, GeoInformation
Society of South Africa (GISSA) AGM, 8 April 2011.
David Everatt (May 2011), 'The developmental state on the ground: Co-ordination and integration
in South African governance' presented at a workshop on States, Development and Global
Governance at the University of Wisconsin at Madison Law School, May 2011.
Graeme Gotz and Chris Wray (May 2011), ‘The Gauteng City-Region and transportation analysis’,
preparatory workshop on the Mobility Project with UJ Departments of Civil Engineering Science
and Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, 12 May 2011.
Graeme Gotz and Alexis Schaffler (May 2011), ‘Gauteng’s green economy strategy’, presentation
to a conference organised by the national Department of Economic Development, as part of a
panel on the ‘Green Economy: case studies of technology developments in South Africa’, 30 May
2011.
Graeme Gotz (June 2011), ‘Understanding and preserving metropolitan governance’, presentation
to Metros: the key to South Africa’s Growth Roundtable, organised by the Municipal Demarcation
Board, 9 June 2011.
David Everatt served on a panel including Deputy Minister Yunus Carrim, Aubrey Matshiqui and
others, convened by the Helen Suzman Foundation, to discuss the state and future of local
government on the eve of the local government elections.
Maryna Storie (September 2011), ‘Representations of space: a case of karst, community and
change in the urban landscape’, ACC/CUBES Cities Conference, Cape Town, 7-9 September
2011.
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Maryna Storie (September 2011), ‘Addressing urban disaster risk and resilience through a green
lens’, National Disaster Management Institute of South Africa (DMISA) Annual Conference,
Somerset West, 13-16 September 2011.
David Everatt presented a summary of GCRO’s work to the winter political school of the tripartite
alliance Provincial Executive Committees in September 2011.
Chris Wray (September 2011), ‘Developing a Web 2.0 GIS website for the Gauteng City-Region’,
13th annual conference on World Wide Web applications, Johannesburg, 14-16 September 2011.
Annsilla Nyar (October 2011), ‘Some new perspectives on ‘Indian’ South Africans and ‘nonracialism’: Findings from the AKF/GCRO Focus Groups’, Ahmed Kathrada Non-racialism
Conference: Non-racialism in post-apartheid South Africa: Contemporary meanings and relevance,
13 October 2011.
Graeme Gotz (October 2011), 'Green economy transitions: Gauteng’s Green Strategic
Programme', South African National Bio-Diversity Institute (SANBI) Grassland Forum conference
on Powering the Green Economy, 19 October 2011.
Maryna Storie successfully presented her PhD proposal to the WITS School of Architecture and
Planning and external readers on 3 November 2011.
Annsilla Nyar (October 2011), ‘Inside or Outside the Academy: Examining the Possibilities for a
Scholarship of Engagement’, University of Fort Hare/Rhodes University/NRF/HSRC/ conference,
Community Engagement: The Changing Role of Higher Education in Development, 7-10
November 2011.
Alexis Schaffler, Graeme Gotz & Josephine Musango (November 2011), ‘Current Research and
initiatives for a Green Gauteng City Region’, SACN, DBSA Infrastructure Dialogues, Infrastructure
and Greening the Future, 16 November 2011.
Graeme Gotz & Alexis Schaffler, (January 2012), ‘Green Economy Transitions: Gauteng's Green
Strategic Programme’, Nedbank Sustainability Forum, 24 January 2012.
Graeme Gotz & David Everatt, (February 2012), ‘Overview of draft results from the 2011 QoL and
the OECD Territorial Review of the Gauteng City Region’, Wits Colloquium on the NPC National
Vision, 7 February 2012.
Graeme Gotz, (February 2012), ‘The Gauteng City-Region and the West Rand’, ANC West Rand
Lekgotla, 11 February 2012.
David Everatt presented a paper on ‘Ring of fire or puff of (commentator’s) smoke? Youth,
unemployment and the National Planning Commission’ at the second Wits Colloquium on the
National Planning Commission report, March 2012.
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