OpenUCT is the open access institutional repository of the University of Cape Town (UCT). It preserves and makes UCT scholarly outputs digitally and freely available, including theses and dissertations, journal articles, book chapters, technical and research reports, as well as open educational resources.
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Open Access
It's a kind of magic: Exploring the manipulation of magic and philosophy in Apuleius' Apologia
(2026) Chernotsky, Kaylie; Shelton, Matthew
My thesis examines how Apuleius manipulates the concepts of magic and philosophy in his self-defence speech, the Apologia. Through careful analysis of the text, I show that Apuleius characterises magic and its practitioners in two distinct ways: according to the common or vulgar view, and according to the intellectual or Platonic view. Although the two conceptions appear to be similar and share the name ‘magic' (magia), they are different, crucially in terms of piety: vulgar magic coerces the gods, while intellectual magic worships the gods. The crowd's narrow understanding of magic leads to the common error that confuses magic and philosophy and leads to the accusation that philosophers practise magic as it is commonly understood. As part of his argument, Apuleius aims to teach the audience about the intellectual view to correct this error. I show that Apuleius identities three groups in his audience: the intellectuals (himself and Maximus), the ignorant (the prosecution), and the uneducated crowd. Apuleius is careful not to equivocate between the crowd and the accusers. I show that Apuleius brings the audience into his rhetorical frame, to correct a wide misunderstanding of philosophy, which he argues has led to this accusation against him. I first examine Apuleius' outline of the different interpretations of magic (Chapter One) and then show how he uses this double conception of magic in his defence through three case studies (Chapters Two, Three, and Four).
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Open Access
Using spectral biology to explore plant diversity and function in a biodiversity hotspot
(2026) Chenge, Simcelile; Slingsby, Jasper; West , Adam
Spectral biology promises to revolutionise plant ecology and ecophysiology by providing hitherto unavailable information on species' identity and distribution, and their physiological and structural properties. Such information is crucial for understanding ecosystem function, while providing tools to monitor and detect change. This thesis investigates the use of leaf scale and imaging spectroscopy to characterise plant diversity and ecophysiology in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, a globally recognised hotspot of plant endemism and diversity. The thesis investigates four main questions: (1) Can leaf spectra capture the physiological responses of the major plant functional types to seasonal water stress? (2) Can the entire leaf spectrum (400–2400 nm) capture seasonal differences among the major plant functional types (3) Are there consistent differences in the leaf spectral reflectance of species in the Cape Restionaceae associated with their hydrological niches? and (4) Can we map the major plant functional types with airborne imaging spectroscopy? Based on partial least squares regression models, I find that leaf spectra can be used to estimate functional responses linked to seasonal plant water stress (water potential) with high accuracy, but performance declines for unseen species. I also find that the full-range spectrum reveals differing functional responses which are more distinct during summer. Furthermore, I show that the full-range spectrum has diagnostic wavelengths that help classify Restionaceae species to their hydrological niches. Lastly, I find that unmixing imaging spectroscopy data allows for accurate mapping of plant functional types in the region. Collectively, the findings advance our understanding of spectra as an alternative or a complement to traditional measures of biodiversity or ecophysiology. In sum, this work breaks new ground in our understanding of spectral biology in a hyperdiverse region and shows the value of leaf and imaging spectroscopy for accelerating our understanding of and ability to monitor biodiversity change across scales.
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Open Access
Towards a professional public service: does the practice of cadre deployment have room in South Africa's constitutional democracy?
(2026) Baloyi, Regomoditswe; Ramelekana, Nomfundo
The African National Congress' Cadre Deployment Policy has shaped South Africa's public administration since the advent of democracy, yet its constitutional legitimacy remains contested. In this dissertation, I explore whether cadre deployment is compatible with the principles of the rule of law, the supremacy of the Constitution and the public administration values enshrined in section 195 of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996. In particular, I focus on how political influence in public appointments interacts with the constitutional requirements for impartiality, accountability and merit-based recruitment. I analyse two key cases, Mlokoti v Amathole District Municipality1 and Democratic Alliance v African National Congress2 to illustrate the boundaries that separate acceptable political input from unlawful political interference in public service recruitment decisions. The cases will demonstrate when political actors may offer guidance or policy direction and when such guidance or direction becomes impermissible because it compromises the rule of law. I also consider the Public Service Act3 and the proposed Public Service Amendment Bill4 to assess whether these legislative reforms adequately address the risks posed by political interference in the appointment of senior public service officials. I then conclude that cadre deployment is not inherently unconstitutional but its legitimacy depends on implementation.
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Open Access
Hydraulic and Anatomical Trait Plasticity in Fynbos Growth Forms Across a Climatic Gradient in the Cape Floristic Region
(2026) Arens, Matthew; West, Adam; Skelton, Robert
The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is projected to experience increased frequency and intensity of drought events. Comprehensive understanding of drought tolerance and response across the fynbos vegetation remains limited. This dissertation contributes to addressing these gaps by, first, testing and refining the pneumatic method for constructing xylem vulnerability to embolism curves across three major fynbos growth forms, and second, examining variation of functional traits related to plant hydraulics and xylem anatomy, within and between species along a regional climatic gradient. The pneumatic method was implemented for Protea repens (Proteaceae), Erica monsoniana (Ericaceae) and Cannomois congesta (Restionaceae). A methodological refinement was applied that paired repeat relative water content measurements on pneumatron samples with individual water potential and relative water content relationships to improve water potential estimates. Vulnerability curves generated using the pneumatic method produced coherent metrics, especially at 50% embolised. Additionally, comparisons with published optical and centrifuge datasets showed general agreement. Protea repens and Erica monsoniana were further sampled across three sites spanning a regional climatic gradient to explore for hydraulic and anatomical trait plasticity. Within species, embolism thresholds, sapwood-specific conductivity and vessel diameters were conserved across the gradient. By contrast, osmotic and turgor traits varied among sites. Species differences were consistent, E. monsoniana exhibited more negative vulnerability thresholds and wider hydraulic safety margins than P. repens, aligning with previous understanding of these species' differences in hydraulic strategies. At regional, intraspecific scales, relationships between climate, xylem structure and embolism resistance appear marginal, implying that climatic response of functional traits at this scale primarily manifest at the leaf-level water relations.
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Open Access
Modelling Preferences for Non-Conventional Water Sources for Toilet Flushing: A Discrete Choice Approach
(2026) Andrews, Cameron; Mofokeng, Teboho
Urban water systems in arid and semi-arid regions are increasingly stressed by climate change and rising demand, highlighting a need for decentralised and alternative supplies. While the technical feasibility of options such as desalinated seawater and recycled water is well established, household acceptance remains a key constraint, particularly for its household applications. This study investigated household preferences and underlying decision-making rules for using non-conventional water sources to flush toilets in the coastal, water-stressed context of Hout Bay, Cape Town. A labelled discrete choice experiment (DCE) was developed to compare partially treated seawater, recycled water, and drinking water as flushing sources, with attributes reflecting water aesthetics (stain, colour and odour), cost implications, and disposal practices. The experimental design presented six choice tasks to each respondent and was administered via intercept surveys, following piloting and refinement. A latent class (LC) model revealed two behavioural classes, namely an environmentally conscious group, insensitive to cost and aesthetics, and a cost-conscious group whose acceptance was strongly shaped by cost changes and the colour of the water, alongside support for improved disposal practices. Overall, the results indicate that toilet flushing is a viable entry point for household acceptance of non-conventional water sources, with partially treated seawater emerging as a particularly promising option in a coastal community. Implementation strategies should therefore be framed in relation to affordability for cost-sensitive households and environmental benefits for environmentally oriented households.