Walter Sisulu University

What the Overpotential Does Not Tell You: Diagnosing Non-Comparability Across Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Benchmarking Metrics

Overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 (η10) is the default benchmark for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts, but the number is rarely comparable across studies. This Perspective identifies six measurement and reporting stages, from synthe...

Mental Health-related Challenges faced by Nursing students and Educators in Public and Private Nursing Colleges, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: A Qualitative Study

Background Nursing students and educators face significant mental health challenges that impact their academic performance and well-being. Research on stressors in public and private nursing colleges in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is limited. The demanding nature of...

Patterns of Anthelmintic Resistance in Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Small Ruminants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Anthelmintic resistance (AHR) in gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) threatens sustainable parasite control in small ruminants worldwide. This study estimated the global prevalence of AHR and its associated factors through a PRISMA-compliant systematic review, meta-analysis, and me...

Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Preeclampsia among Antenatal Attendees in Alfred Nzo District, Eastern Cape: A Case–Control Study

Preeclampsia is an obstetric emergency that alters the course of pregnancy and predisposes both the mother and the fetus to adverse outcomes. Understanding the demographic, clinical, and nutritional characteristics of affected women is essential for targeted prevention and manage...

Morphological, Physiological and Antioxidant Responses of Five Dryland Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes to Water-Deficit Stress

Maize (Zea mays) is a critical staple for global food security, particularly in developing nations facing a projected population increase to 9.7 billion by 2050, necessitating enhanced agricultural productivity and drought-resilient cultivars. This study provides a comprehensive...

Entrepreneurship Education and Student Start-Up Intentions in South Africa: Evidence from Four Eastern Cape Universities

This study examines how university stakeholders perceive entrepreneurship education as contributing to students’ start-up intentions through responsive curriculum design, experiential learning, and mentorship in universities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study adopted an...

The Views of Clients and Healthcare Professionals on the Perceived Effectiveness of HIV Prevention Programmes in Selected O. R. Tambo District Municipality Clinics

Aim/Background: This study examined the perceived effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality from the perspectives of both clients and healthcare professionals. Although a range of interventions is available—such as condom distribution, HIV...

A targeted review on pollution, sources and risks associated with PCBs in soil and sediment in Nigeria

ABSTRACT A graphical diagram showing the sources, exposure routes and health risk of PCBs in contaminated soil and sediment in Nigeria. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pose significant environmental risks globally, particularly in underdeveloped countries with inadequate waste h...

Healthcare professionals attitudes towards guardian presence during anaesthetic care of preschool aged children:A qualitative Study

Background The presence of a guardian during paediatric anaesthetic care is increasingly recognised as an important component of family-centred care. International evidence suggests that the presence of a parent or guardian may reduce anxiety, improve cooperation, and enhance per...

Nanomaterial-based remediation of industrial wastewater: trends, mechanisms, and challenges in heavy metal removal

Heavy metal ions are ubiquitous in water resources, toxic, and tend to bioaccumulate. Therefore, they represent a serious threat to the environment and to human health. The use of conventional treatment processes such as coagulation-flocculation, membrane separation, chemical pre...

The Role of USAID Withdrawal in Shaping Social Work Practice with Queer Individuals: A Case Study of a Mthatha-Based Organisation in South Africa

The withdrawal of international donor funding poses significant challenges for organisations serving marginalised populations, particularly where external resources are central to service delivery. This study explored the role of USAID withdrawal in shaping social work practice w...

Newborns of mothers living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment at late pregnancy are more likely to present low birth weight

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effects of ART on the cardiometabolic health of HIV-infected women during late pregnancy and its relationship with adverse outcomes in exposed newborns. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among pregnant women living with HI...

EXPLORING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MATHEMATICS LEARNING STYLES IN RURAL EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRES: A CASE STUDY OF OR TAMBO INLAND DISTRICT, SOUTH AFRICA

This study investigated culturally responsive mathematics learning styles in rural early childhood development centres within the OR Tambo Inland District of South Africa. Recognizing the unique cultural contexts of these communities, the research aimed to identify effective lear...

RECONFIGURING DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: A SOCIOLOGICAL LENS ON SDG IMPLEMENTATION IN SOUTH AFRICAN HIGHER EDUCATION AND GREEN ECONOMY TRANSITIONS

Development planning in South Africa operates within a complex historical context shaped by colonial legacies, apartheid inequalities, and urgent ecological demands. This article examines how development concepts translate into actual planning and management practices, with parti...

EXPLORING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MATHEMATICS LEARNING STYLES IN RURAL EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRES: A CASE STUDY OF OR TAMBO INLAND DISTRICT, SOUTH AFRICA

This study investigated culturally responsive mathematics learning styles in rural early childhood development centres within the OR Tambo Inland District of South Africa. Recognizing the unique cultural contexts of these communities, the research aimed to identify effective lear...

Assessing Teenagers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Acceptance of the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) HIV Message in Mossel Bay Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa: A Qualitative Study

Background: The Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) message that people with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load on antiretroviral therapy cannot sexually transmit the virus is scientifically established, yet awareness among South African adolescents remains poorly under...

Network Analysis of Ct-Derived Molecular Resistance Marker Pathways in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Deciphering Drug-Resistance Architectures in Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa

Background Drug-resistant tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge, particularly in high-burden settings where rapid characterization of resistance patterns is important for surveillance. Molecular diagnostics routinely detect resistance-associated targets, but these...

Bridging the Gap Between Treatment and Accountability: DR-TB Outcomes and Governance Signals in Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa (2020–2024)

Background: Monitoring treatment outcomes is central to evaluating drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) programmes and ensuring accountability, particularly in high-burden settings such as South Africa. However, routine surveillance data are often constrained by small sample sizes...

FROM ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION TO PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF STRATEGIC FLEXIBILITY AMONG SMES IN BIZANA

This study examined how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) dimensions affect SME performance in Bizana, Eastern Cape, with strategic flexibility as a mediator. Grounded in the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capability Theory, a quantitative design was used. Data from 200 SME owner...

Burnout, Workplace Factors, and Retention Indicators Among Nurses in a Rural District Hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Background Burnout-related symptoms among nurses are a growing concern globally and may affect workforce well-being, patient care, and health system performance. In resource-constrained rural stableettings, heavy workloads, staffing shortages, and limited organisational support m...