University of Limpopo

Phenotypic, bioactive and metabolomic diversity among indigenous Southern African underutilised monkey orange (Strychnos spinosa Lam.) fruit accessions

Strychnos spinosa Lam. is an indigenous African fruit tree with considerable phenotypic diversity, yet the extent to which visible fruit morphotypes correspond to biochemical and metabolic variation remains poorly resolved. This study integrated fruit morphology, physicochemical...

Linking environmental variability to diatom assemblages in seasonal wetlands

Seasonal wetlands undergo recurrent inundation and contraction, creating strong hydrochemical variability and non–independent observations within pans. We tested whether this variability translated into diatom differentiation in five pans within each of two South African Ramsar w...

An experimental study on the performance of Resin-grouted bolts under pull-out tests in laboratory and in-situ environments

Abstract Adhesive anchors are widely used in geotechnical engineering, yet few studies compare resin systems under matched conditions in both laboratory and field settings. This study evaluates the tensile capacity, governing failure mode and failure mechanisms of epoxy and vinyl...

Investigating the Impact of El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Rangeland Productivity in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major driver of climate variability that influences rainfall patterns and vegetation productivity across semi‐arid regions of southern Africa. Understanding how ENSO affects rangeland productivity is essential for improving cl...

Food assistance for assets: programme reach and household food security in Mudzi District, Zimbabwe

Recurrent drought and constrained productive assets make rural households in Mudzi District vulnerable to food insecurity. This study assessed the reach and accessibility of the Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) programme and described beneficiary-reported food-security outcomes....

Preparing pre-service teachers for ICT integration: A systematic review with implications for rural South African universities

This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) spanning 2000 to 2025 to critically investigate the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in pre-service teacher education. Anchored in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTA...

The strategic integration of the Youth Employment Service into corporate value chains: an ecosystem perspective on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment compliance

This paper hypothesises that strategically integrating the Youth Employment Service (YES) into corporate value chains may enhance Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) compliance while advancing inclusive economic outcomes. Established in 2018 as part of South Africa’s...

Challenges to Effective Nursing Assessment Practice in a Selected Public Hospital in South Africa: A Qualitative Study

Background Efficient and practical nursing assessment is essential for developing accurate care plans, serving as the foundation for clinical decision-making, and ensuring optimal patient outcomes. This study aimed to explore and describe the challenges professional nurses face w...

Mothers’ Experiences Regarding the Care of Preterm Babies Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, and South Africa: A Phenomenological Study

Background Globally, an estimated 13.4 million babies were born prematurely; it is a global health burden that accounts for the death of one million preterm neonates every year. In South Africa, approximately 84,000 preterm babies are born each year. Yet, there is a huge gap in t...

Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms among Undergraduate Health Sciences Students at a Rural South African University: Prevalence and Multivariable Correlates

Introduction/Objective Health sciences students may experience substantial anxiety and depressive symptoms, yet evidence from rural South African faculties remains limited. This study estimated the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms and examined associated...

Mentorship Efficacy and Novice Teacher Retention: A Comparative Longitudinal Analysis in Rural Eastern Cape Schools

High attrition rates among novice teachers in rural South African schools undermine educational quality and continuity. Mentorship programmes are widely advocated as a retention strategy, yet robust longitudinal evidence of their efficacy in under-resourced rural contexts remains...

Mentorship Efficacy and Novice Teacher Retention: A Comparative Longitudinal Analysis in Rural Eastern Cape Schools

High attrition rates among novice teachers in rural South African schools undermine educational quality and continuity. Mentorship programmes are widely advocated as a retention strategy, yet robust longitudinal evidence of their efficacy in under-resourced rural contexts remains...

Fathers at the Centre: Exploring the Roles of Fathers in Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Fathers play a vital role in caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Fathers of children with ASD today have moved far beyond the “occasional helper” role. They are deeply involved in daily caregiving routines, supporting their families financially and emotionall...

Evaluation of antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plant extracts for dental applications

Ethnopharmacological relevance Oxidative stress from chronic inflammation is linked to uncontrolled bacterial growth, especially oral pathogens, leading to dental issues. With rising antibiotic resistance, this study examines the medicinal properties of five plants: Sesamum senec...

Phase stability prediction in Ti–Zr–Hf–Ni–Fe–Co high entropy alloys for hydrogen storage: a comprehensive DFT and thermodynamic assessment

Abstract High-entropy alloys (HEAs) based on early transition metals have attracted growing interest for solid-state hydrogen storage due to their compositional flexibility, lattice distortion, and tunable thermodynamics. However, the interplay between phase stability, crystal st...

Field Reporting Practices of Community Radio Journalists Covering Service Delivery Protests in a South African Municipality

Community radio journalists in South Africa occupy a precarious frontline when covering service delivery protests, yet little is known about how they practically negotiate safety, ethics, and community expectations on the ground in specific municipal contexts. This study examines...

Climate-driven patterns of functional structure of nematode communities along Limpopo grasslands, South Africa

Abstract Soil nematode communities are valuable indicators of ecosystem functioning and soil food-web structure. This study assessed nematode diversity, trophic composition, and ecological organization across four grassland sites in Limpopo Province, South Africa: Dalmada (D), Ha...

Lecturers’ and Students’ Views on The Impact of Student Support Services on Student Retention and Throughput Rates

Recent studies have demonstrated a decline in numbers of students graduating within the allotted time at various institutions of higher learning. Despite several current discussions in the Technical and Vocation Education and Training (TVET) sector to unpack the role of colleges...

The Impact of Unemployment, Inflation, and the Exchange Rate on Economic Growth in South Africa (1994–2022)

ABSTRACT South Africa's macroeconomic environment continues to be shaped by persistent structural imbalances, including high unemployment, inflationary pressures, and exchange rate fluctuations, all of which have important implications for the country's long‐term economic perform...

The Balbi operational model, a simplified physical model for surface fires spread. Part II – model parameterisation and evaluation

Background The ‘Balbi model’ is a simplified physical model for surface fires which provides the main physical characteristics of a fire front and its rate of spread (ROS) as a function of general environmental conditions. In the first part of this work, we describe a simplificat...