Browsing by Author "Mthembu, Nompumelelo"

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    Microbiological evaluation of the Mhlathuze River in KwaZulu-Natal
    (2004) Mthembu, Nompumelelo; Lin, J.; Basson, A.K.
    High levels of faecal coiifonns pose a treat to the health of the rural community that uses the river water directly for domestic use without treatment. The microbiological, physical and chemical analysis of the Mhiathuze River was investigated over a twenty-one months period. Five water samples were collected along the Mhiathuze River and analysed to monitor the indicator bacteria pollution with changing seasonal patterns. Surface water temperarure and rainfall during the period of study appeared to be some of the factors affecting the increased bacterial counts. Elevated levels of indicator microorganisms (both faecal and total coiifonns) and heterotrophic plate count bacteria were observed from March 1998 to November 1999. Bacteria isolated from the river included Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp.r Serraiia spp,, Klebsiella spp. and Aeromonas hydrophila. The average monthly pH values ranged between 6.5 and 8.5. The turbidity, dissolved oxygen, hardness, ortho- and total phosphates values obtained did not show any major changes that would call for caution. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to amplify E6S rRNA and phoP gene fragments from the isolated bacteria and directly from the water resource. Annealing temperature was adjusted to set up the optimum conditions of the PCR mixture. Performing serial dilutions of DNA carried out the sensitivity of detection for PCR products. It was deduced that amplifications with phoP and 16S rRNA primers were visualised up to 10"' and 10"° ug of DNA, respectively. Multiplex PCR with the two primers generated an amplification product of approximately 755 bp for all environmental isolated used and an additional 299 bp product for E. coll C. freundii and C. ctversus. Rsa I and Hinf I restriction enzymes were also used for double digestion ofE.coli and P. vuigaris.
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    Tourism crime, safety and security in the Umhlathuze District Municipality, KwaZulu Natal
    (2009) Mthembu, Nompumelelo; Magi, L.M.; Nzama, A.T.
    Recreation and Tourism as a profession is new in South Africa. In the past not much concern was given to the provision and utilisation of recreation and Tourism facilities for the previously disadvantaged communities. Recreation has not been taken as a significant component of life for Blacks because of the apartheid system that existed. In the recent history of South Africa, recreation facilities were mainly made available to the White population areas, with Black areas and being neglected. As such there has been alienation between communities, tourists and hosts, as well as tourism service providers and tourism authorities. These stakeholders have not successfully tackled tourism problem, and more specifically that of tourism crime, safety and security. The focus of this study was to investigate the tourism crime, safety and security in uMhlathuze District Municipality, with special reference to policy formulation and its practise. The main objectives of this study are the following; • To find out whether the local community understands the importance of tourism crime, safety and security in the study area. • To establish the extent to which tourists feel safe and secure in and around the uMhlathuze District area. • To reveal whether there are adequate policies that address situations of tourism safety and security in the study area. • To investigate the levels to which tourism policies are practiced or implemented in the study area. • To indicate the perceived management of tourism crime, safety and security in the near future for the study area. Data was collected by means of interviews and questionnaires that were administered to 124 participants in uMhlathuze District to establish the state of tourism crime, safety and security, affecting domestic and international tourism. Data analysis was accomplished through using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) computer technique. The method used for analysing information appeared to be effective because clear outcomes of the finding were achieved. The most important findings were that, there are criminal activities that are occurring in the study area and some of these activities are not reported and the policies and practices are not known by the members of the community and some of the tourism officials and authorities. The latter suggests that the local people should be taught about the importance of tourism and the tourist in the study area. It was further discovered that some of the crimes that takes place are done by the local people because they do not understand the importance of the tourists in the study area. The importance of safety and security is not known to them and they are not told about it. The local people needs to be told about the importance of tourism activities that are taking place in the study area and they should be encouraged to participate in the activities that can make them to see how important is the tourism and its resources. Safety and security should be applied in order to protect the study area. It was also discovered that the Umhlathuze tourism association should be a major role in making the policy and practices to be known by everyone in the study area who can promote the safety and security of the tourists in the study area. This is the big challenge that the local government is facing. Since local municipality is the government that is closest to the people and represents the interests of the residents, it is responsible for fulfilling the developmental role (DLG; 1998). Therefore, it is clear that local people should be taught about the importance of tourism activities and to make the tourism policies and practices to be known by every stakeholder that is involved in promoting the safety and security in the study area. Further that the local government needs to play a leading role to ensure that they provides the training to the local community about the safety and security of the tourist in the study area even the destination itself.