Activities In South Africa Research Articles

Parental involvement in school activities in South Africa to the mutual benefit of the school and the community

This article reports on an investigation into parental involvement in school activities. The study employed the quantitative approach of data collection, using a questionnaire comprising a profile of respondents, which included their parental involvement in school activities, their satisfaction with the school, their knowledge of legal rights and responsibilities and their involvement with, and concern about, their children's education. The mothers of learners were found to be more involved in the school life of their children than were the fathers. The findings also show that parents are more comfortable with private, rather than with public, involvement. The parents showed much satisfaction with the significant improvement of their relations with the educators, with the former having come to perceive the latter as part of their community. The parents were found to be extremely knowledgeable about their rights and responsibilities.

Missed opportunities for tobacco use screening and brief cessation advice in South African primary health care: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundPrimary health care (PHC) settings offer opportunities for tobacco use screening and brief cessation advice, but data on such activities in South Africa are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which participants were screened for and advised against tobacco use during consultations.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 500 participants, 18 years and older, attended by doctors or PHC nurses. Using an exit-interview questionnaire, information was obtained on participants' tobacco use status, reason(s) for seeking medical care, whether participants had been screened for and advised about their tobacco use and patients' level of comfort about being asked about and advised to quit tobacco use. Main outcome measures included patients' self-reports on having been screened and advised about tobacco use during their current clinic visit and/or any other visit within the last year. Data analysis included the use of chi-square statistics, t-tests and multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf the 500 participants, 14.9% were current smokers and 12.1% were smokeless tobacco users. Only 12.9% of the participants were screened for tobacco use during their current visit, indicating the vast majority were not screened. Among the 134 tobacco users, 11.9% reported being advised against tobacco use during the current visit and 35.1% during any other visit within the last year. Of the participants not screened, 88% indicated they would be 'very comfortable' with being screened. A pregnancy-related clinic visit was the single most significant predictor for being screened during the current clinic visit (OR = 4.59; 95%CI = 2.13-9.88).ConclusionOpportunities for tobacco use screening and brief cessation advice were largely missed by clinicians. Incorporating tobacco use status into the clinical vital signs as is done for pregnant patients during antenatal care visits in South Africa has the potential to improve tobacco use screening rates and subsequent cessation.

The financial burden of national road infrastructure and the equity thereof: A South African perspective

Economic activities in South Africa during the past decade have caused, inter alia, road traffic congestion to accelerate annually and road infrastructure to deteriorate rapidly. Motor vehicle sales, correlated with economic trends and the economic empowerment of citizens, have and still are increasing at a faster rate than the supply of necessary infrastructure. As such, congestion, especially in the Gauteng area, has reached unacceptable levels during peak hours, necessitating the upgrading and continual maintenance of these roads and other national roads. The financial burden of upgrading and maintaining road infrastructure is enormous and, although the South African government makes contributions, an income from the road infrastructure is necessary to sustain quality infrastructure. However, a road-user paying approach, especially the structure thereof, should be acceptable to society in terms of economic efficiency and various means of equity. This article reviews the relevance of a road-user paying approach as applied in South Africa.

Risk management practices of high school sport coaches and administrators

Sport and recreation constitute a significant part of the learning experiences at schools in South Africa. They provide the subject matter of learning and instruction in sport and physical education. Research on safety in sport has been conducted in the USA, Britain, Canada, Australia and other developed countries since the 1950s. There is a paucity of empirical, evidence-based information on safety and security of learners participating in sport activities in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to identify the key safety dimensions of school sport, and to assess the risk management practices implemented by coaches and administrators at high schools. The aim was also to highlight the chief problems associated with safety in sport and to develop strategies to protect learners. The findings could raise awareness of coaches, administrators and relevant role players concerning their legal duties. A previously validated and pilot tested instrument was used to gather data. Purposive sampling was done in three provinces. Several dimensions and individual safety factors were not adequately addressed by relevant personnel, and certain basic minimum requirements were not met at a fair number of schools. These findings support previous reports by researchers that coaches and administrators are not adequately aware of, or do not fully appreciate the implications of their legal liability relative to sports activities at schools. Recommendations and guidelines have been offered to enable coaches and educators manage potential risks so that athletes and other learners experience a non-threatening environment where they gain optimally from sports activities.

How significant is intersectoral outsourcing of employment in South Africa?

South Africa, like many other middle-income countries as well as most upper-income countries, has seen an increase in services and fall in manufacturing as shares of total employment. There has been speculation about the extent to which these changes actually represent a genuine structural shift, as opposed to a statistical artifact deriving from the domestic outsourcing of activities from manufacturing to services. Very limited evidence is available as to how much of the apparent changes in the sectoral composition of employment are explained by intersectoral outsourcing. This article develops a methodology, using household and labor survey data, to analyze the extent of intersectoral outsourcing of specific labor-intensive activities in South Africa from 1997--2007. It is shown that the relatively high growth in services employment is driven by expansion of employment of cleaners and security guards, and in particular by outsourcing-type reallocation of these activities from manufacturing and the public sector toward private services. Once outsourcing is accounted for, employment seems to have grown at similar rates in manufacturing and in private services. The analysis has implications for understanding changes in the sectoral structure of middle-income economies, and whether services employment is as dynamic as it appears to be. Copyright 2010 The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Associazione ICC. All rights reserved., Oxford University Press.

Making space: the counterpublics of post‐apartheid independent literary publishing activities (1994–2004)

This article explores how independent literary publishing activities in South Africa during the period 1994–2004 sought to engage in public debate and deliberation, and thereby moved beyond purely literary concerns. It focuses on the publishing activities of five publishers – Dye Hard Press, Botsotso, Timbila, Kotaz and Chimurenga – and draws on a series of interviews with the publishers. The article considers how the publishers understood their publishing activities as acts of public engagement and contestation, and argues that they can usefully be thought of as counterpublics, a characteristic which feels unique to the post‐apartheid period. It argues that public sphere theory offers a way of talking about the divergent characteristics of the publishing activities, which can be considered acts of poetic world making that position themselves in contestation with the post‐apartheid mainstream. However, it suggests that their relationship to the mainstream is at times ambivalent and their independence not always assured. This is particularly felt in the reliance of some of the publishers on state and state‐aligned arts bodies for funding for their survival, but also in other areas such as their difficult relationship with commercial book dealers and the mainstream media. Their proximity to the mainstream in terms of state funding also suggests the need for a theorisation of what we might call ‘embedded counterpublics’ in highly stratified societies such as South Africa.

To what extent do youth-focused prevention programmes reflect evidence-based practices? Findings from an audit of alcohol and other drug prevention programmes in Cape Town, South Africa

Despite considerable effort directed towards youth focused prevention activities in South Africa, little is known about the content of these activities. A major concern is the extent to which substance abuse prevention programmes reflect evidence-based practices (EBPs). This paper reports on the findings from a cross-sectional audit of youth-focused alcohol and other drug prevention programmes conducted in the Cape Town Metropole in 2007. This audit explored the extent to which EBPs are used in prevention programmes and examined possible barriers to their adoption. Key findings suggest that most prevention programmes are not guided by EBP and are implemented in the absence of evidence on their effectiveness. The lack of a national regulatory regime for prevention programmes and limited funding are major barriers to implementing sustainable and effective prevention programmes. Based on these findings, strategies to assist in improving substance abuse prevention services and recommendations for improving service delivery systems are provided. Key Words: Youth, prevention programmes, South Africa, evidence-based practices

Usage of Internal Auditing Standards and internal auditing activities in South Africa and all respondents

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the responses of South African respondents with all Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) 2006 respondents in the areas of compliance with the Institute of Internal Auditors' (IIA) International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (Standards) and several areas of the internal audit activity's (IAA) operations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper summarises and discusses the survey results from questionnaires sent to the IIA members as of September 2006. For selected topics, the CBOK 2006 database is compared for South African respondents and non‐South African respondents.FindingsThe paper finds that South Africans have a higher level of compliance with the Standards than those respondents residing in other parts of the world. Since the internal auditing profession is so young in South Africa, compliance with the Standards gives structure and support to the new IAAs and internal auditors.Originality/valueThis is the first study comparing the status of the South African internal auditing profession with the global state of internal auditing, activities performed by internal auditors and the perception of the IAAs in their organizations.

Proteomics in South Africa: Current status, challenges and prospects

Proteomics is a biotechnology research area that is generally defined as the large-scale study of protein expression, structure and functions. Primarily, proteomics is used to study relative cellular, subcellular and extracellular abundances of proteins expressed at a defined physiological state on a large scale. In contrast to the analysis of mRNA expression studies, generally referred to as transcriptomics, proteomics approaches take into consideration the post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational modifications of polypeptides. Over the past 10 years, the proteomics field has been growing tremendously and contributing positively to biotechnology, particularly in North America, Europe and Asia. Research output in Africa is still very low in comparison. This article reviews proteomics capacity as well as research activities in South Africa. We highlight, with examples, the potential that this technology has in the acceleration of disease biomarker discovery and its role in drug design. Our ultimate objective is to promote further developments, research and applications of proteomics in South Africa, aiming for the generation of new scientific knowledge for our continent and for the rest of the world.

Heliospace Physics in South Africa: IHY 2007

An overview is given of research activities in South Africa related to the International Heliophysical Year in 2007. The emphasis is on Space Physics (Geospace and Heliospace). A short historical perspective is given, followed by a description of the main research efforts.

Community Members' Perceptions of Enablers and Inhibitors to Participation in HIV Vaccine Trials

We present the findings of a qualitative investigation into the factors that may enable or inhibit participation in a future HIV vaccine trial. Thirty-seven semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted with trial site community members who had attended HIV vaccine education workshops conducted by the community involvement programme of the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI). Our findings indicate that enablers and inhibitors to participation in HIV vaccine trials may. be further classified as either abstract or concrete. Each sub-theme was classified as an abstract inhibitor, abstract enabler, concrete inhibitor, or concrete enabler. Abstract inhibitors were fear of illness or death, lack of information about HIV/AIDS and HIV vaccines, and an HIV vaccine trial's association with HIV/AIDS. Abstract enablers were participants' reported sense of altruism and quality of life issues, such as protection from becoming infected with HIV. Concrete inhibitors were the monetary costs associated with participation, fear of being tested for HIV and receiving test results, negative reactions from family and community members, time delays between receiving trial participation information and actual enrolment, and a general mistrust of researchers. Concrete enablers were practicalities and convenience, financial rewards, a safe testing environment, positive family reactions to trial participation, the different levels of participation available to different members of the community, the salience of HIV in communities, positive community reactions to vaccine trials, and the presence of role models. In addition to these quadrants, the enablers and inhibitors have also been located within a contextual framework that includes the individual; family, community, and societal levels. Our research contributes to an understanding of the concerns of potential HIV vaccine trial participants within the South African context. Our findings illustrate the applicability of international research to proposed vaccine-trial activities in South Africa and should, therefore, inform the development and implementation of successful community preparedness activities.

Land Rover and colonial-style adventure

This article examines the infamous Land Rover ‘Himba’ advertisement (2000) that shocked South Africans because of its racism and sexism. The South African Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the advertisement constituted a violation of human dignity that perpetuated gender and cultural inequality. This article takes the position that the Himba advertisement builds on the colonial notions of adventure, exploration and discovery of the African continent by the western male. The mystique of travel and discovery during the nineteenth century inscribed the control of the African landscape and its people; colonial explorers and travellers consequently feminized Africa to signify conquest and control. It is proposed that these ideas are re-inscribed in the deeply embedded cultural connotations attached to the Land Rover and Africa as its so-called spiritual home. An investigation into some of the myths and ideologies in the Himba advertisement reveals that a set of binary oppositions operates that draw attention to the distinctions between culture/nature, power/powerlessness, male/female, technology/primitivism and West/Africa. An interrogation of this advertisement is important because of the contentious nature of its content, and because fantasy adventure is a significant tendency in tourism and leisure activities in South Africa.

SASOL PLANS SURFACTANTS SALE

REVERSING A STRATEGY EMbarked upon less than five years ago, Sasol has decided to divest its olefins and surfactants (O&S) business, which it entered when it acquired Condea in March 2001. Any sale would exclude the business's polyethylene comonomers activities in South Africa. Sasol acquired Condea—whose roots go back to the detergent alcohols operations of the oil company Conoco—from Germany's RWE DEA for roughly $1.5 billion. Most of Condea was shaped into Sasol O&S, which has production in the U.S., Europe, and South Africa. A smaller part of Condea was folded into Sasol Solvents, a global solvents business that will be retained by Sasol. In the first half of fiscal 2005, which ended on Dec. 31, 2004, the O&S division showed an operating loss of $20 million on sales of $1.37 billion. The division accounts for 26% of Sasol's overall sales. Since the acquisition, substantial success has been achieved in reducing costs and ...

Sources and credibility of nutrition information among black urban South African women, with a focus on messages related to obesity.

(1) To identify the major sources of nutrition information, and the perceived credibility thereof, among urban black South African women; and (2) to determine the level of knowledge regarding nutrition, particularly regarding the topic of obesity. A cross-sectional descriptive study that was both qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative (individual questionnaires). Three hundred and ninety-four black women aged 17-49 years were conveniently sampled from the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces in South Africa. Four focus groups were held with 39 women to identify common themes relating to nutrition knowledge. Based on these data, a questionnaire instrument was developed and administered to 394 women by trained fieldworkers. The most frequently encountered source of nutrition information was the media, particularly the radio and TV (73.4% and 72.1% of subjects, respectively, obtained information from this source in the past year), followed by family/friends (64.6%). Despite only 48.5% of subjects having received nutrition information from a health professional, this was the most highly credible information source. Factors being most influential in choice of foods were taste, preferences of the rest of the family, and price. A lack of knowledge on certain aspects of nutrition was identified, as well as misconceptions regarding diet and obesity. To improve nutrition knowledge and the effectiveness of nutrition education activities in South Africa, it is recommended that health and nutrition educators become more actively involved with the training of health professionals, particularly those engaged in delivery of services at primary care level, and in turn encourage health professionals to engage more with media sources. Nutrition messages delivered from health professionals via the media will enable public exposure to nutrition information which is not only easily accessible but also perceived to be highly credible.

Mainstreaming biodiversity: the role of taxonomy in bioregional planning activities in South Africa

Bioregional planning processes, which employ an essentially holistic view of the environment as far as current and proposed land–use practices are concerned, are justifiably gaining ground worldwide. This is also true for South Africa, a country that harbours remarkably rich biota. The concept of bioregional planning prominently includes aspects such as informed conservation planning and the sustainable use of biodiversity, among a range of other equally important environmental considerations. This paper argues that support of on–going, basic taxonomic studies in bioregions are critically important to ensure the comprehensive and accurate documentation and inventorying of biodiversity at any scale. As such, taxonomists fulfill an essential role in the initial and follow–up phases of bioregional planning processes. Insufficient attention to checklisting activities will severely hamper the implementation of workable bioregional plans.

Volunteer tourism: The case of Habitat for Humanity South Africa

Volunteer tourism as a subset of alternative tourism is the focus of analysis. This paper contributes to the limited writings on volunteer tourism by investigating the activities in South Africa of Habitat for Humanity, a grassroots ecumenical Christian organization that works in partnership with communities to eliminate poverty through the provision of shelter. A profile of the volunteer tourist and of their tourism experience in South Africa is presented which is based largely upon the return of 123 questionnaires from volunteer tourists in South Africa working with the local branch of Habitat for Humanity.

The source of a debt defeasance receipt

A debt defeasance arrangement is an arrangement whereby a debtor’s obligation to pay a creditor is nullified. The debtor and other parties perform a variety of legal and other actions in order to effect a valid debt defeasance arrangement. One of the actions that should be taken by the debtor is to pay an amount to a third party who takes over the obligation to pay the debt. The money received by the third party is referred to as a debt defeasance receipt. Debt defeasance arrangements are used in countries such as the United States of America and Australia. The financial community in South Africa is becoming increasingly interested in the debt defeasance arrangement. As South Africa is becoming part of the global community, more foreign companies are doing business in South Africa. Because it is a relatively unfamiliar arrangement, that has not yet been addressed by the South African taxation authorities, there are probably a number of unanswered tax questions regarding the arrangement. One issue that is not yet clear is what the source of a debt defeasance receipt would be if it were to be received by a non‐resident in South Africa. A survey was done among South African banks, auditing firms and taxation senior counsel to determine the majority opinion of South African respondents regarding the source of a debt defeasance receipt. Although a variety of alternatives are identified as possible sources, the majority view is that the source is the debt defeasance business activities that are conducted by the recipient. It therefore follows that if the recipient of a debt defeasance receipt conducted his or her debt defeasance business activities in South Africa, the receipt will be of a South African source.

Monitoring and evaluation of loveLife's AIDS prevention and advocacy activities in South Africa, 1999–2001

loveLife is the largest effort ever launched in South Africa to change adolescent sexual behaviour with the aim of reducing the rate of HIV infection among 15–20 year olds by 50%, reducing other STIs, and reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancy. loveLife combines high-powered media awareness and education, development of adolescent-friendly reproductive health services, and outreach and support programmes. The 5-year research and evaluation plan includes a multi-year comprehensive observational study, tracking change in a range of behavioural indicators and in sexual health outcomes. In its first 2 years, loveLife reached more than 4 million youth. Sixty-two percent of youth and 59% of their parents/guardians recognize the brand, while the vast majority of parents (97%) and youth (89%) exposed to loveLife, identified loveLife as being positive. Challenges in the next years are the continued roll out of the programme, and the development of institutional support and behaviour change.

KNOWLEDGE-BASED OR SMART REGIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

ABSTRACT Knowledge-based activities are seen as key drivers for economic growth and for the shaping of international and national spatial systems. The geographical clustering or agglomeration of knowledge-based activities provides the basis for the emergence of ‘smart regions’. In this paper an investigation is undertaken of the scope, locational patterns and comparative regional advantage for knowledge-based activities in South Africa. The specific focus is upon high technology manufacturing and of the information-technology service activities. It is argued that knowledge-based activities in South Africa are strongly clustered in Gauteng province, particularly in the Johannesburg-Pretoria-Midrand area.

Nutrition activities in South Africa

South Africa has had a history of racial inequities. The poverty rate in the black population is more than 60%, compared with less than 5% for the Indian and white populations. Poverty is particularly severe in non-urban areas, where the rate is 73.7%. The inequalities in socio-economic status have been mirrored in the nutritional status of South Africans; on the one hand we have stunted, underweight children, while on the other, obese adults at risk for chronic diseases of lifestyle. Much of the previous nutrition research in South Africa concentrated on nutritional diseases of lifestyle of the higher socio-economic groups; however in the new democratic dispensation there has been a move towards research in the area of under-nutrition. In fact, the very first large research study in South Africa’s new democracy (1994) was the first ever, truly representative national nutrition survey of children under the age of six [1]. This survey revealed that stunting was a major problem as was sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency. These disorders were more pronounced in the historically disadvantaged provinces and in rural compared to urban areas. To address nutritional problems in South Africa, the Integrated Nutrition Programme was established by the government in 1996. This program aims to combine direct nutrition interventions, such as nutrition education, micronutrient supplementation and food fortification, with indirect interventions such as health care, provision of safe and clean water, agricultural production and parasite control [2]. The main aims of the program are to: Enable all mothers to exclusively breastfeed their