Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Hybrid-additive manufacturing cost model: A sustainable through-life engineering support for maintenance repair overhaul in the aerospace(2020) Oyesola, MO; Mpofu, K; Mathe, Ntombizodwa R; Daniyan, IAThe drive for a more flexible Through-life Engineering servicing technology that can enhance both productivity and profitability for the operation of maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) in the aerospace implores harnessing the innovation of hybrid-additive manufacturing (HAM). Hybrid manufacturing system seeks to reduce cost by utilizing the tool-less production principle of additive manufacturing combine with the conventional subtractive manufacturing for product finishing or post-processing. HAM has many merits that make it an attractive option in manufacturing of high performance products as peculiar to MRO businesses. Therefore, this paper aims to establish a cost model derived from a “Time Driven Activity Based Costing” approach for the technological integration of Hybrid system to increase economic competitiveness of highly MRO services in the aerospace industry. Hence, a unique cost formulation method was investigated through analytical technique in cost engineering models for the purpose of manufacturing processes.Item In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of plantago major, cannabis sativa and ranunculus multifidus on LPS-stimulated raw 264.7 macrophages(2026-10) Nxumalo, Precious Z; Gom, Buntubonke; Masuku, N; Theron, Anjo; Mokoka, T; Bareetseng, Andries; McGaw, LChronic inflammation is a major contributor to cancer progression, driven by persistent pro-inflammatory signalling and oxidative stress. Plant-derived bioactive compounds offer therapeutic potential by modulating these pathways. This study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of leaf extracts from Cannabis sativa L., Plantago major L., and Ranunculus multifidus Forssk. in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Extracts were tested for cytotoxicity (MTT assay), nitric oxide (NO) inhibition (Griess assay), cytokine modulation (ELISA), antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays), and 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) inhibition. UPLC-MS analysis was used to identify potential phytochemical constituents. All extracts were non-cytotoxic at 5 - 15 µg/mL concentrations. The extract from R. multifidus had the highest NO inhibition (20%), followed by P. major (17%), while C. sativa exhibited no significant effect. The ELISA assay revealed extract-specific cytokine modulation. P. major strongly suppressed IL-6 and IL-1β and enhanced IL-10 secretion, while C. sativa inhibited IL-6, PTGS2 and moderately reduced iNOS. In contrast, R. multifidus showed variable effects and did not inhibit iNOS and IL-1β. However, it induced variable effects on IL-6 inhibition and IL-10 secretion. The antioxidant assays revealed potent radical scavenging: C. sativa achieved 92.5% DPPH scavenging comparable to ascorbic acid, while ABTS scavenging exceeded 90% for P. major and R. multifidus, closely matching Trolox. All extracts inhibited 15-LOX, with C. sativa showing the highest inhibition (96.2%). UPLC-MS identified the presence of cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and Δ⁹-THC in C. sativa and verbascoside in P. major, while no major compounds were conclusively identified in R. multifidus. These findings provide the first evidence of cytokine modulation and anti-inflammatory activity by R. multifidus. Moreover, they highlight the complementary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of C. sativa and P. major, supported by phytochemical evidence. These extracts represent promising natural immunomodulatory agents.Item Wear characteristics of laser-deposited AlCoCrCuFeNi high entropy alloy with finite element analysis(2022-11) Dada, M; Popoola, P; Mathe, Ntombizodwa R; Adeosun, SWear is a destructive phenomenon and one of the principal causes of material failure in moving components during surface interaction while in service. AlCoCrCuFeNi high-entropy alloy with its many properties is a potential material for aero-engine applications attributed to its outstanding relatively lightweight, high strength, good thermal, oxidation, and corrosion resistance properties. Hence, the investigation into the tribological behaviour of AlCoCrCuFeNi high-entropy alloys is essential to reduce maintenance costs and prolong the service life of this advanced material for aerospace applications. Most AlCoCrCuFeNi high-entropy alloy compositions were fabricated via arc melting, which has been reported to have defects attributed to slow solidification, consequently reducing the mechanical properties of the alloy with limited reports on other fabrication methods. Therefore, there is a need for the use of advanced manufacturing techniques for fabricating these alloys to improve the tribological properties. In this study, AlCoCrCuFeNi high-entropy alloy was fabricated via laser metal deposition. The influence of the laser processing parameters, rapid solidification, and the applied load on the tribological properties of the as-built alloys under dry conditions has been studied for aerospace applications. The counter ball rolling friction analysis was also investigated using COMSOL Multiphysics.Item High-temperature corrosion of Ti6Al4V and in-situ reinforced composites fabricated by laser additive manufacturing(2026-09) Kgomo, Matsela TH; Masina, Bathusile N; Mathoho, Ipfi; Mulaudzi, VThis study investigates the high-temperature corrosion behaviour of directed energy deposited (DED) Ti6Al4V (Ti64) and its in-situ composites (TiC/Ti64 and TiBw/Ti64) in oxygen-rich NaCl- Na2SO4 environments at 300 °C, 600 °C, and 900 °C. DED produces refined microstructures with reinforcement phases distributed along grain boundaries, fundamentally altering corrosion mechanisms. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that TiBw/Ti64 exhibited superior resistance (activation energy: 282 kJ/mol) due to the formation of stable boron oxides (B2O3) that maintained protective layer integrity through self-healing mechanisms. TiC/Ti64 showed intermediate performance (276 kJ/mol), with TiC particles acting as oxygen diffusion barriers but undergoing oxidation at > 800 °C to form TiO2 and carbon residues. Unreinforced Ti64 suffered severe material loss (198 kJ/mol) via volatile TiCl4 formation that disrupted the oxide scale. Microstructural analysis demonstrated that AM-induced grain refinement enhanced oxide nucleation site density, while reinforcement distribution influenced galvanic interactions. These findings establish that in- situ TiBw/Ti64 fabricated by DED offers optimal performance for aerospace and marine. applications below 600 °C, with degradation mechanisms transitioning from surface oxidation to bulk volatilization above this threshold.Item Insights from ‘Unlocking COVID-19 current realities, future opportunities: Artificial intelligence in the time of COVID-19’(2021-03) Mathe, Ntombizodwa RThe University of Cape Town, in partnership with Standard Bank, hosted a webinar entitled ‘Unlocking COVID-19 current realities, future opportunities: Artificial intelligence in the time of COVID-19’ on 19 August 2020. The webinar was facilitated by Professor Tommie Meyer from the University of Cape Town’s Centre of Artificial Intelligence Research at the Department of Computer Science. The two speakers for the event were Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg and a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa and the Deputy Chair of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The second speaker was Mr Nanda Padayachee, Head AI, Automation and APIs at the Standard Bank Group. He has extensive experience in digitisation of capabilities and established the Inaugural Data Science capabilities within the Standard Bank Group.Item Terrain-aware head gesture recognition for turret control using helmet-mounted IMUs and vehicle vibration fusion(2026-09) Rooibaard, Lonwabo; Modungwa, Dithoto M; Sibiya, M; Pandelani, THead gesture-based control using inertial measurement units (IMUs) provides an intuitive alternative to conventional human–machine interfaces for mobile and vehicle-mounted systems. However, gesture recognition reliability degrades significantly under terrain-induced vibration and mechanically dynamic operating conditions. This study investigates terrain-aware head gesture recognition through the integration of helmet-mounted IMU measurements and vehicle vibration sensing to improve discrimination between intentional gestures and non-intentional motion artefacts. Vehicle vibration data were collected from a patrol vehicle traversing the Ndumo Border Patrol route, characterised by variable terrain roughness and dynamic excitation profiles. Triaxial seat-rack acceleration data were acquired at 10 kHz, anti-alias filtered and down sampled to 100 Hz before being integrated with IMU-derived head motion measurements using both vibration-aware data augmentation and early sensor fusion strategies. FFT-based spectral processing and classification using a lightweight fully connected neural network (FCNN) were implemented using the Edge Impulse framework. Experimental evaluation was performed using temporally independent training and testing segments to reduce overlap leakage and ensure realistic generalisation assessment. Results demonstrate that terrain-informed sensing substantially improves operational robustness under mobile conditions. The early-fusion approach achieved 98.45% independent-test accuracy under float32 inference and maintained 90.02% accuracy after int8 quantization, corresponding to an accuracy reduction of 8.43 percentage points. In comparison, the Clean IMU and vibration-augmented models exhibited reductions of 20.13 and 27.02 percentage points, respectively, demonstrating greater sensitivity to quantization. The evaluated models also exhibited low inference latency and compact memory requirements, supporting their suitability for real-time edge implementation. These findings demonstrate that treating terrain vibration as contextual information, rather than solely as environmental noise, can improve the quantization robustness and deployment characteristics of IMU-based gesture-recognition systems intended for mechanically dynamic platforms.Item In-situ reactive synthesis and characterization of a high entropy alloy coating by laser metal deposition(2022-03) Dada, M; Popoola, P; Mathe, Ntombizodwa R; Pityana, Sisa L; Adeosun, SIn this study, we investigate the influence of in situ reactive synthesis of Ti6Al4V– AlCoCrFeNiCu high entropy alloys by laser metal deposition on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the as-built alloy as opposed to the traditional method of mixing powders via a ball mill prone to contamination and segregation. We explore the capability of a new alloy design by combining two base alloys via in situ reactive alloying, delivering the Ti6Al4V and AlCoCrFeNiCu high entropy alloy powders from multiple powder feeders and regulating their feed rate ratios. The nano mechanical, tribological and microstructural morphologies of the alloys were characterized using a nanoindentation tester, a tribometer, XRD and SEM, respectively. The results showed that satelliting the high entropy alloys powder and the Ti6Al4V powder fraction using double powder feedstock had a homogeneous distribution with dendritic structures. Optimization was achieved at a laser power of 1600 W, a scan speed of 12 mm/s and a powder flow rate of 2 g/min. The surface roughness (Ra) for Ti–6Al–4V, AlCoCrCuFeNi and (Ti–6Al–4V)-(AlCoCrCuFeNi) alloy was 0.5 μm, 0.63 μm and 0.80 μm, respectively. The high wear resistance of the novel Ti6Al4V– AlCoCrFeNiCu alloy was influenced by the hardness of the alloy which was higher than the Ti6Al4V alloy and the AlCoCrFeNiCu alloy. This study successfully defines the capabilities of in situ fabrication of high entropy alloys and presents novel techniques for multiple powder preparation of high entropy alloys using laser additive manufacturing, to permit the next generation of compositionally graded materials for aerospace components.Item Optimization of selective laser melting process parameters for surface quality performance of the fabricated Ti6Al4V(2021-03) Oyesola, M; Mpofu, K; Mathe, Ntombizodwa R; Fatoba, S; Hoosain, Shaik E; Daniyan, DThe purpose of this study is to study the influence of the laser power and the scanning speed on the surface hardness, and top surface and side surface roughness of Ti6Al4V metal specimens fabricated via the selective laser melting (SLM) technique. The laser power was varied between 150 and 300 W while the scan speed was varied between 800 and 1400 mm/s. Response surface methodology (RSM) in the Design Expert 11 software environment was used for the design of experiment and results analysis. The distance for surface indentations were targeted at 10–20 μm for the top surface and 60–80 μm for the side surface while the surface hardness profiling was studied using an indenter with the indentation performed at a load of 500 gf and at a dwelling time of 15 s. The study revealed that as the laser power was increased, the surface hardness increases, while the top surface and side surface roughness reduces. Then, when the scanning speed increased, the surface hardness, and top surface and side surface roughness were found to also increase. The optimum range of the process parameters selected are laser speed 300 W and scan speed 1400 mm/s. This produces a minimum surface roughness of 13.006 μm for the top surface roughness and 62.166 μm for the side surface roughness with a corresponding hardness value of 409.391 HV. The findings of this study will assist manufacturers in the process design of the SLM of titanium alloy for aerospace applications.Item A review and synthesis of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research’s work on climate-induced extreme rainfall and floods, 2012–2023(2026-09) Chikozho, C; Mukherji, A; Bosire, C; Kujinga, K; Managa, Lavhelesani RIn recent decades, the increased frequency of extreme rainfall events has significantly affected agri-food systems, accounting for 19% of the total crop damage across the world and 18–43% of observed anomalies in global crop yields. Some studies indicate a global weighted mean rice yield loss of 9.0% by 2080 under a high-emissions scenario. In sub-Saharan Africa, crop yield losses from extreme rainfall can vary significantly, with one source citing a 33% reduction over the past 60 years due to climate-induced weather extremes, including floods. It is estimated that in Africa, about 12% of the people that experienced food insecurity from 2009 to 2020 had their food security status affected by flooding. The Sixth IPCC assessment report warns that climate change could push an additional 32–132 million people into extreme poverty by 2030 if the world does not immediately scale up adaptation solutions. This review articulates the CGIAR’s contribution to scientific knowledge on climate-induced extreme rainfall for the period 2012–2023. The review discusses research methods applied, main impacts of extreme rainfall on agri-food systems, and innovative adaptation solutions deployed. Out of 2846 identified papers, 73 studies met our search criteria and were included in the review. Our analysis reveals that the main impacts of extreme rainfall addressed by the CGIAR include physical loss of crops due to coastal area inundation, waterlogging, and salinity intrusion. Adaptation options that build the resilience of smallholder farming systems include scientific methods for forecasting changes in rainfall patterns; flood early warning systems; climate-smart agricultural technologies; flood-resilient seed varieties; and agroforestry. However, lack of finance and knowledge tends to limit smallholder farmers’ ability to adopt some of the technological innovations, suggesting the need for capacity building and policies for better access to microcredit, low-interest loans, and climate risk insurance schemes. Research gaps identified in the study call for the CGIAR to also focus on currently underexplored themes such as roots and tubers, livestock, fish, and peri-urban agriculture. The integration of attribution studies that address direct links between extreme rainfall and climate change could inform targeted interventions arising from CGIAR research. Studies that specifically quantify economic losses from floods could also generate important insights for effective agricultural investment and risk management. This review identifies key areas of focus and critical knowledge gaps to be addressed by future CGIAR research. It informs the agenda of decision makers and policy makers who grapple with the challenges of scaling adaptation solutions to strengthen farmers’ resilience to extreme rainfall.Item Bioinspired electrospun chitosan–based materials for tissue regeneration(2026-06) Mokhena, TC; Mtibe, Asanda; Hlekelele, Lerato; Nhlapo, A; Shingange, K; Mapukata, S; Mapossa, AB; Mochane, MJ; Mathete, E; Shumbula, N; Ntwaeaborwa, OMChitosan (CS) is a cationic biopolymer that has shown unique opportunities in tissue engineering. The well-defined geometry, porosity, easy processability, and antimicrobial and antifungal properties are particularly beneficial for tissue regeneration. This review outlines the progress made in the preparation of bioinspired electrospun CS for tissue regeneration. The article concentrates on bioinspired electrospun CS and CS-based composites which have appeared in a good number of publications in the literature and enriched the field of tissue engineering. It also highlights the upscaling of electrospun nanofibers with recent advanced technologies. Finally, the overall summary, challenges, and future perspective in tissue regeneration based on bioinspired CS and related composite materials is presented.Item Functionalized bio-based materials for water treatment: Advances in cellulose, lignin, melanin, and hybrid systems(2026-10) Paolino, F; Mtibe, Asanda; Nomadolo, Elizabeth E; D'Orsi, R; Lucejko, JJ; Operamolla, A; Maya, Mathew JAccess to safe drinking water remains a global challenge due to increasing contamination by heavy metals, organic pollutants, dyes, pharmaceuticals, oils, and pathogenic microorganisms. In this context, sustainable and low-impact materials for water purification are gaining increasing attention. This review focuses on bio-based materials, specifically cellulose, lignin, and melanin, as well as their functionalized derivatives and hybrid systems, for water purification applications. These materials are integrated within a common framework, allowing direct comparison of their structure–property–performance relationships and highlighting potential complementary functionalities. Emphasis is placed on adsorption–filtration processes, membrane technologies, and electrospun fibrous systems. Nanocellulose-based materials, including cellulose nanocrystals, nanofibers, and bacterial cellulose, are discussed in terms of extraction methods, surface functionalization, adsorption behavior, and performance toward a wide range of contaminants. Lignin-based systems, such as sorbents, hydrogels, foams, aerogels, and hybrid membranes, are examined with attention to the effects of chemical modification on adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability. Emerging melanin and melanin-like materials, particularly polydopamine-based systems, are also considered, highlighting their ability to bind metal ions and organic pollutants and their integration into multifunctional composites and membranes. Across all material classes, the role of surface chemistry, porosity, and structural organization in determining adsorption performance is discussed, together with adsorption models, regeneration behavior, practical constraints, and the current level of technological maturity of the different material systems. After an overview of biodegradability and sustainability aspects, the review critically examines key limitations, including long-term stability, regeneration efficiency, validation under realistic wastewater conditions, and scalability, which currently hinder large-scale implementation. These aspects are discussed to outline future research directions toward the development of effective and sustainable water purification technologies based on renewable bio-based materials.Item Explainable data-driven approach for smart crop yield prediction in Sub-Saharan Africa: Performance and interpretability analysis(2026-04) Olatinwo, DD; Myburgh, HC; De Freitas,A; Abu-Mahfouz, Adnan MIThe increasing demand for innovative strategies in sustainable food production—driven by rapid global population growth, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)—necessitates urgent attention to agricultural resilience. Recent technological advancements have enhanced crop productivity, post-harvest preservation, and environmentally sustainable farming practices. However, three critical bottlenecks remain: (i) the lack of accurate, maize-specific yield prediction methods tailored to SSA; (ii) limited multimodal modeling approaches capable of capturing complex, nonlinear interactions among heterogeneous data sources; and (iii) a lack of explainability mechanisms, which render high-performing models “black boxes” and hinder stakeholder trust. To address these gaps, this study presents an explainable machine learning framework for smart maize yield prediction. We integrate multimodal SSA-specific soil, crop, and weather data to capture the multi-dimensional drivers of maize productivity. Six diverse algorithms—including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient boosting machine (LGBM), categorical boosting (CatBoost), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and an artificial neural network (ANN) combined with a k-nearest neighbors (kNN)—were benchmarked to evaluate predictive performance. To ensure robustness against spatial heterogeneity, we employed a Leave-One-Plot-Out (LOPO) cross-validation strategy. Empirical results on unseen test data identify CatBoost as the best-performing model, achieving a coefficient of determination of (𝑅2 =~76%), demonstrating its ability to capture complex, nonlinear relationships in agricultural data. To enhance transparency and stakeholder trust, we integrated Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME), providing plot-level insights into the physiological and environmental drivers of maize yield. Together, these contributions establish a scalable and interpretable modeling framework capable of supporting data-driven agricultural decision-making in SSA.Item Trait–based adjustments: Key to improving model representation of the bloom seasonal cycle in the Subantarctic Zone(2025-11) Mashifane, Thulwaneng B; Tagliabue, A; Thomalla, Sandy JSouthern Ocean phytoplankton have unique traits that allow them to survive extreme environmental conditions of low iron, light, and temperature. These traits are not well represented in Earth System Models and may lead to misrepresentation of the bloom seasonal cycle in this critical oceanic region. This has implications for understanding the role of the biological carbon pump in driving ocean carbon uptake and storage. We conduct a sensitivity analysis using a 1D model in the Subantarctic Zone to identify (a) the most sensitive parameters for improving representation of the seasonal cycle and its mechanisms and (b) the impact of these changes on carbon export. Lowering the phytoplankton iron quota or increasing zooplankton iron stoichiometry and both improve the seasonal cycle timing and amplitude, aligning chlorophyll and carbon seasonal cycle. However, the resulting increases in bloom amplitude translates into minimal change in carbon export due to enhanced cycling through the dissolved organic carbon pool.Item Isolation and characterisation of phage-displayed scFv antibodies targeting PfHSP70 and PfLDH of plasmodium falciparum(2026-07) Gasa, NL; Zuma, LK; Chiliza, TE; Kwezi, Lusisizwe; Luthuli, SD; Pooe, OJPlasmodium falciparum is the most virulent human malaria parasite and is responsible for numerous deaths annually. The increasing resistance of P. falciparum to antimalarial drugs necessitates the development of improved diagnostic tools for timely malaria detection. Malaria biomarkers such as PfHSP70 and PfLDH are highly valuable for malaria detection because they are essential for parasite survival and are consistently expressed during infection. PfHSP70 is associated with the parasite’s stress adaptation and proteostasis mechanisms under febrile and drug-induced conditions, while PfLDH plays a central role in glycolytic metabolism and redox balance. Their functional importance, parasite specificity and elevated expression during active infection make these proteins reliable molecular indicators for the sensitive and specific detection of P. falciparum, thereby supporting their potential application in rapid diagnostic and biosensing platforms for malaria surveillance and disease management. In this study, an M13 phage-displayed single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library was used to screen for antibodies against recombinant PfHSP70 and PfLDH. Four rounds of biopanning were conducted to enrich high-affinity binders, followed by ELISA, UV-visible spectroscopy and microscale thermophoresis (MST) to evaluate specificity and binding affinity. Functional interactions were assessed in Escherichia coli expressing PfHSP70 or PfLDH. Recombinant PfHSP70 and PfLDH were successfully expressed and purified from E. coli, with approximately 50% of selected colonies demonstrating significant binding to both targets, confirming the enrichment of antigen-specific phages. Specific phages were validated using ELISA and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Selected scFvs exhibited strong target binding, with MST-determined dissociation constants (Kd) of 7.47 μM for PfHSP70 and 3.64 μM for PfLDH. Exposure to scFv-displaying phages impaired the survival of PfHSP70- and PfLDH-expressing E. coli and induced spectral shifts consistent with protein–antibody interactions. This study validates phage display as a robust platform for isolating high-affinity scFvs against P. falciparum targets. These binders have the potential to develop into low-cost diagnostic tools, addressing the urgent need for novel diagnostic interventions. Nevertheless, further studies are required to confirm binding specificity and assess translational applicability.Item Dry sliding wear behaviour of laser cladded altisicrco high entropy alloy coatings on Ti6Al4V: influence of CR/CO and AL/TI enrichment(2026-08) Raselabe, KM; Makhatha, ME; Makoana, Nkutwane W; Skhosane, Besabakhe SThis study investigated how compositional variation within the AlTiSiCrCo high-entropy alloy (HEA) system affects the microstructure, hardness, and dry sliding wear behaviour of laser-cladded coatings on Ti6Al4V. Three coatings, namely, equiatomic (HEA 1), Cr/Co-enriched (HEA 2), and Al/Ti-enriched (HEA 3), were characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD, and Vickers microhardness and tested for dry sliding wear using a ball-on-disc tribometer at 5 N and 15 N. All coatings comprise a BCC solid solution matrix reinforced by intermetallic precipitates. HEA 2 and HEA 3 gave the highest hardness (755 HV and 754 HV, respectively) against 705 HV for HEA 1 and 345 HV for the Ti6Al4V substrate. All HEA coatings reduced wear rate relative to Ti6Al4V; HEA 2 recorded the lowest rate (4.570×10−5 mm3/N.m and 2.744×10−4 mm3/N.m at 5 N and 15 N, respectively), well below the substrate (2.257×10−4 mm3/N.m and 0.0014 mm3/N.m at 5 N and 15 N, respectively). Worn surface analysis showed abrasive/delamination at 5 N transitioning to more severe abrasive, adhesive, and delamination wear at 15 N. The enhanced wear resistance of HEA 2 stems from the BCC solid solution strengthening, intermetallic reinforcement, and high chromium content, which aids in the formation of the Cr2O3 protective oxide film. Overall, enriching the coating with chromium and cobalt proved to be the most effective approach for improving the tribological performance of laser-cladded AlTiSiCrCo HEA coatings on Ti6Al4V.Item Assessing institutional readiness for implementing the National Language Policy Framework for public higher education institutions in South Africa(2026-06) RavyseI, N; Van Dyk, T; Wilken, Ilana; Du Plessis, DThis article investigates the institutional readiness of South African public higher education institutions for the implementation of multilingual language policies, specifically focusing on the recently promulgated National Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions (NLPFPHE). Drawing on applied linguistics, Weiner’s (2009) theory of organisational readiness for change, and policy implementation studies, the authors explore how various institutional factors shape the capacity to implement language policies effectively. Using a mixedmethods approach, data from the national language audit (Van Dyk, Wilken, Ravyse, Du Plessis, Khumalo and Steyn, 2023) to assess current preparedness is analysed. The findings highlight key areas where institutions demonstrate readiness, such as staff engagement with policy, but also expose critical gaps in resources and student awareness. Moreover, the authors advocate for applying organisational readiness theory as a framework for guiding language policy implementation without specific models from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). By outlining challenges and opportunities in the current landscape, this article offers practical insights for institutions that foster linguistic inclusivity and excellence. It aims to empower stakeholders with a structured approach to assess readiness, address gaps, and enhance the implementation of multilingual language policies.Item Using Landsat, Sentinel-1 and -2 and GEE to assess changes in wetland Ecosystem Functional Groups in the Maputaland Coastal Plain of South Africa(2026-12) Apleni, P; Naidoo, L; Tsele, P; Van Deventer, HeidiConsistent monitoring of wetland Ecosystem Functional Groups (EFGs) over large areas and long periods remains challenging owing to uneven availability, varying spatial resolutions, and spectral similarity of some EFGs. A Google Earth Engine (GEE)-based Earth Observation workflow was developed to map and quantify changes in wetland EFGs across the Maputaland Coastal Plain (MCP) in South Africa. The study included Landsat imagery for 1990, 2000, 2006 and 2014; and Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery for 2018, 2020 and 2022.Item Microstructure, hardness, and wear behaviour of laser-cladded Inconel 625 and 718 powders on Hadfield steel(2026) Williams, I; Maledi, Nthabiseng; Bamisaye, OS; Bodunrin, M; Skhosane, Besabakhe S; Sitimela, TLaser cladding offers enhanced mechanical and microstructural properties in rail crossings, thereby improving the surface characteristics required for high-speed and heavy-haul rail transportation. In this study, the Inconel 625 and 718 powders were deposited on Hadfield steel to evaluate the microstructural, hardness, and wear properties. The laser-cladded Inconel 625 and 718 showed a strong metallurgical bond at the substrate-clad interface. Columnar and equiaxed dendritic microstructure was observed in the clads. The average microhardness of Inconel 625 and 718 clads was 269 HV and 243 HV, respectively. The Inconel 718 clad had a lower wear rate of 2.31×10−3 mm3/Nm compared to the Inconel 625 samples at 2.46×10−3 mm3/Nm. Based on these findings, Inconel 625 and 718 are promising deposition materials for repairing rail crossings by laser cladding.Item Leaf spectroscopy reveals post-fire phenolic chrono sequence in the Fynbos biome(2026-08) Sibiya, Sihle B; Cho, Moses A; Mutanga, O; Odindi, J; Masemola, Cecilia; Van Staden, J; Vambe, MFire is a key physical driver of ecosystem change, while plants rely on secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds for chemical defense. Despite their importance, fire effects on secondary metabolites are often studied separately. Consequently, the mechanisms by which post-fire conditions shape the levels and diversity of secondary compounds in plant communities remain poorly understood. In this study, we used leaf spectroscopy to investigate how post-fire affects secondary metabolites in the fire- driven fynbos biome, a system rich in secondary metabolites. Results showed that both fire and secondary metabolites contribute to ecosystem rejuvenation. Areas subjected to recent fires in 2015, 2016, and 2021 exhibited high phenolic levels, whereas regions with limited fire in 2010 or no recent fire (“never_exp”) had low phenolic concentrations. Using continuum removal, we identified the strongest spectral features for total phenols at 1660 nm and for flavonoids at 415 nm. Because chlorophyll also absorbs strongly in the 410–430 nm region, we evaluated and adjusted multiple spectral indices to improve flavonoid sensitivity. The Flavonoid Index (FI)415,710 and FI420,710 showed the strongest relationships with phenolic content (R flavonoids: R 2 = 0.55; RRMSE ≈ 1.98– 1.99%). Phenolic concentrations were also estimated using random forest regression. Prediction of total phenols was generally more accurate than flavonoids (total phenols: R 2 2 = 0.82, RRMSE = 12.54%; = 0.81, RRMSE = 10.75%). Total phenols were best modeled using short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectra, while flavonoids were best modeled using full (VSWIR) spectra. Overall, our findings clarify the coupled roles of fire and secondary metabolites in supporting fynbos resilience and regeneration.Item Riverine microplastics in South Africa: Unravelling pollution sources from source to sediment(2026-02) Malambule, NL; Kumar, A; Amoah, ID; Tyrone Moodley, T; Malla, MA; Nnadozie, CF; Thangwane, Christabel S; Kumar, SMicroplastics (MPs) are persistent environmental pollutants of growing concern, threatening aquatic ecosystems worldwide. This study examined the influence of different pollution sources on the abundance, types, and polymer composition of MPs in two South African river systems, the uMsunduzi and Swartskop Rivers. Surface water and sediment samples were collected from sites impacted by industrial, wastewater, agricultural, and urban activities. Both rivers showed high MP contamination, with the highest concentrations detected in industrial and agricultural zones. Fibers dominated the particle shapes, while polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the most common polymers, alongside site-specific contaminants such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Sediments generally contained higher MP concentrations and smaller particles than surface waters. These findings highlight the role of land use in shaping MP pollution profiles and the need for targeted mitigation strategies to protect freshwater systems.