Johannesburg Area Research Articles

Results of the Sukuma Ndoda ("Stand up, Man") HIV Self-Screening and Assisted Linkage to Care Project in Johannesburg: A Quasi-Experimental Pre-Post Evaluation.

HIV testing rates among South African men lag behind rates for women and national targets. Community-based HIV self-screening (HIVSS) distribution and follow-up by community health workers (CHWs) is a scalable option to increase testing coverage, diagnosis, and treatment initiation. We provided HIVSS and assisted linkage to care to men not recently tested (within the past 12 months) residing in high-HIV-burden areas of Johannesburg. CHWs distributed HIVSS in 6 clinic catchment areas. Follow-up to encourage confirmatory testing and antiretroviral therapy initiation was conducted through personal support (PS) or an automated short message service (SMS) follow-up and linkage system in 3 clinic areas each. Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design, we compared differences in the proportion of men testing in the clinic catchment areas during the HIVSS campaign (June-August 2019) to the 3 months prior (March-May 2019) and compared treatment initiations by assisted linkage strategy. Among 4793 participants accepting HIVSS, 62% had never tested. Among 3993 participants with follow-up data, 90.6% reported using their HIVSS kit. Testing coverage among men increased by 156%, from under 4% when only clinic-based HIV testing services were available to 9.5% when HIVSS and HIV testing services were available (z = -11.6; P < 0.01). Reported test use was higher for men followed through PS (99% vs. 68% in SMS); however, significantly more men reported reactive self-test results in the SMS group compared with PS (6.4% vs. 2.0%), resulting in more antiretroviral therapy initiations in the SMS group compared with PS (23 vs. 9; P < 0.01). CHW HIVSS distribution significantly increases testing among men. While PS enabled personalized follow-up, reporting differences indicate SMS is more acceptable and better aligned with expectations of privacy associated with HIVSS.

Adoption and desirable characteristics of Information and Communication Technologies for urban small-scale food producers in South Africa

Small-scale food producers can benefit significantly from the adoption and effective utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). For example, ICTs can help improve food production and access to markets, which is particularly valuable in many Sub-Saharan African countries that both urbanize rapidly but whose food systems still rely significantly on small-scale food producers. This study examines the adoption patterns and desirable characteristics of ICTs, as well as the factors influencing them, among small-scale food producers engaged in urban agriculture in South Africa. We administered 85 in-person surveys through referrals from local producers’ network in disadvantaged areas of Cape Town (n = 21; Gugulethu, Philippi, Khayelitsha) and Johannesburg (n = 64; Central Business District, Soweto, Orange Farm). A substantial proportion of the respondents articulated the need for food-related mobile applications with functions that facilitate price comparisons, and the sharing of best practices and health advice. User-friendliness, low internet data use, and affordability were perceived as the most important characteristics for such food-related mobile applications. Redundancy analysis (RDA) reveals that the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of respondents significantly influence the desired functionalities of food apps and their preferred activities among the respondents. Producers that are married and have more children, have higher income and education, and own larger land holdings, show very distinct patterns in terms of desirable functions and uses for food apps. Our research underscores the need for comprehensive approaches to the development and promotion of food-related ICTs when targeting small-scale food producers. The barriers and needs identified here can help ICT developers, development agencies and policy-makers design fit-for-purpose interventions and policies to facilitate ICT adoption among urban small-scale food producers in rapidly urbanizing areas.

The possible application of fly ash (FA) to ameliorate acid mine water (AMD) for irrigation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Some areas in Johannesburg abounds with mine wastes namely, acid mine drainage (AMD) as well as fly ash (FA), which are by-products of gold mining and coal burning, respectively. Studies show that a solution formed through mixing these wastes neutralises the acidity of AMD and is an alternative source of irrigation. While studies show improved growth and yield of plants irrigated with fly ash-amended AMD, there are rarely sufficient studies conducted in South Africa showing evidence of altered pH of AMD and that food crops irrigated with fly ash-amended AMD exhibit improved concentration of essential nutrient elements. In this study, AMD was sourced from a gold mine in Johannesburg and fly ash collected from a coal-burning power station in the Mpumalanga Province, mixed at 1:0, 1:1, and 3:1 (w/v) of fly ash to AMD and used to irrigate potatoes. The objective was to assess whether the solutions of FA-amended AMD alter the pH of the AMD and to evaluate if irrigating potatoes with the aforementioned improve the concentration of essential nutrient elements and heavy metals in the tubers. Results show that the pH of AMD was increased in the 1:0 and 1:1 solutions but decreased in the 3:1 solution. The concentrations of Pb and Co were decreased in tubers irrigated with the 50 % AMD and 75 % AMD while that of Ni and Cd were markedly increased in tubers irrigated with solutions of fly ash-amended AMD. In the main, the potato tubers exhibited significantly higher concentrations of Al, Mo, Cu, Ca, Mg, and Zn when irrigated with fly-ash-amended AMD. The pH range levels from FA-AMD treated samples were within the acceptable pH range (5.5–6.5) which is acceptable for water that could be used for irrigation of crops. Also, the decreased Co and Pb and improved concentration of essential nutrient elements indicate that the constituents absorbed large quantities of the heavy metals while releasing the nutrients. In conclusion, the selected fly ash has proven as an alternative low-cost readily-available, affordable, and accessible adsorbent that neutralize the acidity of AMD, decrease the concentration of heavy metals, and increase the concentration of essential nutrient elements. Importantly, the liming potential among other traits of the fly ash improved the quality of the AMD such that the wastes were proven in this study suitable to irrigate potatoes.

The Relationship between Financial Literacy and Retirement Planning among Informal Sector Workers in Randburg, South Africa

Abstract Research background Retirement planning is viewed as one of the cornerstones of long-term household financial security. The responsibility of retirement planning has now been shifted to the individual and is no longer the responsibility of the employer. Purpose This paper examines the link between financial literacy and retirement planning among informal sector traders in the Randburg area of Johannesburg, South Africa. Research methodology A questionnaire approach was used to collect data from 269 randomly selected informal sector respondents. The data was analysed using ordinal regression. Robustness tests were executed using the Wald test. Results Findings reveal that financial literacy is linked to retirement planning, and especially with reference to informal sector workers. Additionally, education, income and the informal business sector were observed to have a positive and significant influence on retirement planning. Novelty The paper contributes to both theoretical and practical discourses on retirement planning for informal sector entrepreneurs which has not received much attention. These results are important for policy makers in retirement planning as well as curriculum development.

Real world outcomes of patients with endometrial cancer from a South African radiation oncology unit

Background: Endometrial cancer adds significantly to the burden placed on the South African health care system with GLOBOCON 2020 cancer statistics ranking it as the 5th most frequently diagnosed cancer in South African women.Aim: A retrospective audit to assess real-world clinical outcomes in women with endometrial carcinoma that received radiation as a treatment modality.Setting: A radiation oncology unit at a public tertiary hospital in the Johannesburg area, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) in South Africa.Methods: Medical records between 2010 and 2020 were evaluated for patients who received either combination external beam (EBRT) and vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) or VBT alone. Overall survival rates (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed.Results: One hundred and two patients were analysed. Demographic profiles were 76,5% black people, 18.6% white people, 3.9% asian people and 1% mixed race. Median age was 66 years (range: 64 years—67 years).Type 1 histology in 70%.OS at 5-year was 61.75% and at 10-year was 40% with stage and histological type being significant contributors. Statisical significance in survival occurred with a combination of LVSI with greater than 50 % myometrial invasion(P=0.038) and a combination of greater than 50% myometrial invasion with positive margins (P=0.032).Radiation treatment was completed in 102 (100%) of the patients.Conclusion: Real world outcomes of overall survival rates of endometrial carcinoma are lower than projected in our developing country, although contributory high risk factors play a role in keeping with international literature and historic landmark trials.Contribution: This study contributes to the growing body of research on endometrial cancer outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The essence of displacement: A phenomenological analysis of inner-city residents’ experiences in South Africa

ABSTRACT Gentrification has led to the eviction and displacement of many people from working-class areas around the world. However, the relationship between gentrification and displacement has sparked much debate in the literature, with some researchers downplaying displacement, while others have argued that gentrification can occur without the displacement of people. These studies have tended to be quantitative in nature. However, there are few qualitative accounts of the experience of displacement and there is little consideration of the affective or phenomenological dimensions of displacement in current debates about gentrification. This is in part because researchers have tended not to engage directly with displaced people as it is often difficult to locate them. The purpose of this article is to describe the essence of displacement from the perspective of a group of individuals who were evicted from their homes in a gentrifying inner-city area of Johannesburg, South Africa. Through the methodology of transcendental phenomenology, five interrelated themes were derived from in-depth interviews with the participants. The findings show that the essence of displacement is one of great pain, loss and trauma, which disrupts the lifeworld of those displaced and impacts their overall health and well-being.

Public support for participation in local development

Public participation in local development is an integral part of democratic agendas across the world. Yet not much research specifically focuses on people’s perspectives of participation, especially among underprivileged populations. Gaining a better understanding of people’s support for public participation is, however, important as it may inform people’s interest in future engagements with the state for local development. This paper contributes to the extensive interdisciplinary literature on public participation in local development by taking a people-centric view. Drawing on an original face-to-face vignette survey experiment (n = 502) and group interviews in Bramfischerville, a low-income residential area in Johannesburg, we examine whether people generally support public participation in local development and explore how different design features of participatory processes inform public support for participation. Overall, our mixed methods study reveals strong support for public participation, with higher support levels for more inclusive and interactive forms, meaning processes, which are open to all residents and where participants are invited to discuss priorities and needs. This, despite people’s awareness of the transaction costs of participation, such as time and energy. Moreover, we find that people’s support for participation is influenced by their experiences and satisfaction with infrastructure provision. These findings underline the importance of understanding the specificities of the given socio-economic context and people’s everyday lived realities. It also draws attention to people’s relationship with the state, as the main provider of this infrastructure. Therefore, a context-sensitive interpretation of people’s infrastructural preconditions and their relationship with the state are necessary to understand their attitudes towards participation and, more generally, for advancing participatory governance in the given context and beyond.

English Literature in the Grade R Classroom: Exploring the Implementation of Children’s Literature Curricula in Selected Early Childhood Development Centres

The reading challenges children face in the lower grades of primary school in South Africa are well publicised. Children’s literature is critical in early childhood education, supporting growth in multiple domains. The study aimed to explore the implementation of Grade R children’s literature curricula at selected early childhood development (ECD) centres in Johannesburg. Four Grade R teachers teaching at different ECD centres were chosen as the study’s participants. The four ECD centres selected were in demographically disparate areas of Johannesburg. Two followed the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) curriculum, one followed the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) curriculum, and one followed the Reggio-Montessori curriculum. The study is a generic qualitative inquiry, and data were generated using semi-structured interviews with Grade R teachers at the ECD centres, observations of lessons, and document analysis. Three themes emerged from the data analysis. Firstly, the Grade R children’s literature curricula’s content, design, and implementation aim to develop children holistically. Secondly, Grade R teachers use different methods to teach children’s literature. Finally, Grade R teachers pay close attention to their classroom contexts when planning and executing children’s literature lessons. The authors conclude that the architecture of the children’s literature curriculum at the selected centres is a complex function of various factors. These include the content of the curriculum, the methods used by the teachers in delivering it, and the teacher’s responses to the contexts in which they teach.

Google Earth Augments Viewing the Spectacle of Ruin in Selected ‘In-Between Places’ of Old Industrial Johannesburg

South Africa is said to have the worst social inequality in the world, and examples of this inequality can be seen in the shack settlements, backyard shacks and hijacked properties in many parts of the city of Johannesburg. These unsafe and neglected ‘interstitial places’ are where the poor live in inadequate housing, squeezed between factory buildings, railway lines and motorways in the city. One of the challenges of capturing visual information about these settlements in these difficult settings is getting access to the areas where photographs can be taken. In Johannesburg, many areas are no longer safe for outsiders to visit. These unsafe, informal and often well-hidden areas can be considered ‘interstitial’ in relation to other areas where middle-income earners live in decent houses in pleasant suburbs with amenities. It is these ‘unsafe’ areas that the author wished to explore as a source of images and impressions for creative works.&#x0D; This study takes an autoethnographic approach to exploring three neglected suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa (Cleveland, Denver and Jeppestown), which all date from soon after the first discovery of gold in 1886. Through this work, the author hoped to make sense of observed changes within the city and the proliferation of informal, survivalist settlements seemingly arising without town planning interventions. Many open areas and dilapidated buildings are now occupied by low-income earners, perhaps because city governance has been overwhelmed by the thousands of work-seeking migrants arriving in the city on an ongoing basis.&#x0D; To explore the many visual indicators of poverty in these selected areas of Johannesburg, the author used Google Earth remote sensing images and Google Earth Street View to augment site visits. Google Earth is a valuable research tool, as one can quickly explore marginal areas that are not safe for outsiders to visit. One can also view activities that are not visible from the street – for example, illegal motor repair operations occurring behind high walls. Ethical issuesabound in these acts of anonymous looking at the poor and destitute and finding the picturesque in neglected buildings, dismal living conditions and slums, as well as the privacy and surveillance issues relating to those being observed. This essay will dwell on some of the benefits of the Google Earth virtual globe software, as well as the ethical discomfort that can result when observing people, poverty and informal living places – whether using remote sensing methods and driving around these areas with a camera, or using the images and perceptions gained for personal use as a source of inspiration for art making and fiction writing.

Transformative Experiences of Intercessory Prayers in a South African Context of Xenophobia

Abstract This paper explores the effect of intercessory prayers as experienced by Black African migrant women in the context of xenophobia. Drawing on an ethnographic study of the experiences of Black African migrant women at St Aidan’s Anglican Church (saac), located in a migrant-dominated area in Johannesburg, I discuss the transformative experiences of health, wealth and relationships resulting from intercessory prayers that challenged the context of xenophobia in which saac functioned. While the transformation observed in the study was limited in time and space, I argue that certain church practices can be transformative if intentionally designed in ways that are sensitive to the specific context in which that church functions.

Transformations of Race and Class in South Africa: Discussion Article of Book on Urban Inequality: Theory, Evidence and Method in Johannesburg by Owen Crankshaw

ABSTRACT This Discussion Article examines the exciting, innovative new book (2022) by Owen Crankshaw. It focuses on a summary including some comments on Crankshaw‘s key findings for the Greater Johannesburg Area for 1970–2011. It focuses primarily on his book’s Part 1 on issues of “Occupational Class Structure transformations”, but with some consideration also of Part 2 on geographical housing “Spatial Order transformations” by race and class (the author’s concepts). These core findings on socioeconomic transformations over this 40-year period have very important implications for political debate about the future of South Africa. These debates are vital not only for academics, but equally for public intellectuals and social activists in our country, and also for a wider readership in other countries particularly of the South where such urban inequality questions of class, poverty and social marginalization are fundamental. With this broad audience in mind, empirical findings are summarized and its methodology assessed, in general in very favorable light. Nonetheless, critical questions are raised about the book’s reliance on comparative case studies of cities of the North with little reflection on political implications for “Southern” cities. It is also critiqued for insufficient theoretical consideration of the impact of a global post-1970s, knowledge-based Capitalist Industrial Revolution on the class structure of Johannesburg. Notwithstanding, this is a sociological book of very high scholarship whose findings about post-Apartheid South African transformation are a must-read and must-debate.

Make personal information security great again: A case of users’ perspectives on personal identifiable information in South Africa

Background: There is concern that information technology (IT) users are not taking cognisance of personal information security (PIS), with many keen to disclose personal identifiable information (PII) across connected and integrated IT systems that use the Internet. Compromised PII has led to many users being vulnerable to information security risks emanating from malicious software and hackers.Objective: This article elicits perspectives from IT users in the metropole area of Johannesburg, South Africa, in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of oversharing PII across the Internet.Methods: The study uses a quantitative approach to elicit data on user perspectives. The quantitative data were collected through online surveys distributed amongst IT employees working across various companies in Johannesburg.Results: The results revealed that of the four constructs drawn from the literature review, namely training, interest, awareness and action that possibly predict user predisposition to maintain information security at a personal level, of concern is that only the construct interest would not likely predict PIS.Conclusion: Dangers such as identity theft and phishing attacks are exacerbated by the willingness of users to overshare PII across social networks. A concerted user awareness campaign to promote user PIS needs to be revisited whilst incorporating innovative ways to raise interest amongst users regarding these dangers. South African companies are encouraged to invest resources in bespoke ways to increase user interest, which would be seen as an ideal starting point to making PIS great again.

Unlocking Land for Urban Agriculture: Lessons from Marginalised Areas in Johannesburg, South Africa

Amidst the global discourse on the identification of strategic land, there has been a growth in planning support systems aimed at assisting policymakers in unlocking the value of strategic land. Despite planning support systems’ immense benefit of aiding planning, there are limited planning support tools to aid communities in marginalised areas to unlock the value of land. Therefore, this study adopts a GIS-based approach to develop a planning support system to identify, quantify and visualise an index for urban agricultural land in a marginalised area. The proposed solution utilised Greater Orange farm, a marginalised area in the City of Johannesburg, as a case study to inform spatial planning for emerging economies. Using the Charrette visioning process, indigenous knowledge systems were incorporated in formulating the criteria, weights, and rulesets. The results reveal spatial sites ranked through an index where sustainable investment in urban agriculture infrastructure should be targeted. The developed index identifies suitable locations for urban agriculture infrastructure and supporting programs. Furthermore, the solution builds from the existing reservoir of PSS in Southern Africa by demonstrating the potential for planning support systems as sustainable data-based decision-making tools to inform spatial planning. Lessons emerging from this study are that there is an inseparable existential connection between indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary sustainability planning, which is critical for ensuring sustainable development.

Online shopping behaviour and service quality perceptions of young people in South Africa: A COVID-19 perspective

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on business operations and consumer behaviour across the world. The South African online retail environment also encountered different opportunities and last-mile logistics challenges. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on online consumer behaviour has received limited attention. Furthermore, limited studies exist which have measured the online buying behaviour of young people, an important online market segment.Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the online shopping behaviour of young people and to provide online retailers and consumer behaviour theorists with a better appreciation of young consumers’ online purchasing needs, which will assist them in developing and effecting appropriate last-mile logistics strategies.Methods: A quantitative research design was used, and empirical data were collected from two non-probability sampling surveys conducted in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) of 461 young people in the Johannesburg area. A self-administered online questionnaire was used to collect the research data.Results: The results indicate that online shopping behaviour either did not change or increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic for most respondents. Young online consumers consider order fulfilment aspects to be more important than the tangible considerations of online retailers.Conclusion: This research study provides a distinct perspective of young people’s perceptions of online shopping and makes a meaningful contribution by identifying the important fulfilment-related service quality expectations of young online customers in South Africa.

Addressing the migrant gap: maternal healthcare perspectives on utilising prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa

ABSTRACT Background The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programming in South Africa. In 2020, it was estimated that there were 4 million cross-border migrants in South Africa, some of whom are women living with HIV (WLWH), who are highly mobile and located within peripheral and urban areas of Johannesburg. Little is known about the mobility typologies of these women associated with different movement patterns, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mobility typologies of women utilising PMTCT services and on how changes to services might have affected adherence. Objective To qualitatively explore experiences of different mobility typologies of migrant women utilising PMTCT services in a high mobility context of Johannesburg and how belonging to a specific typology might have affected the health care received and their overall experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 40 pregnant migrant WLWH were conducted from June 2020-June 2021. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling at a public hospital in Johannesburg. A thematic approach was used to analyse interviews. Results Forty interviews were conducted with 22 cross-border and 18 internal migrants. Women in cross-border migration patterns compared to interprovincial and intraregional mobility experienced barriers of documentation, language availability, mistreatment, education and counselling. Due to border closures, they were unable to receive ART interrupting adherence and relied on SMS reminders to adhere to ART during the pandemic. All 40 women struggled to understand the importance of adherence because of the lack of infrastructure to support social distancing protocols and to provide PMTCT education. Conclusions COVID-19 amplified existing challenges for cross-border migrant women to utilise PMTCT services. Future pandemic preparedness should be addressed with differentiated service delivery including multi-month dispensing of ARVs, virtual educational care, and language-sensitive information, responsive to the needs of mobile women to alleviate the burden on the healthcare system.

The association of vitamin D binding protein levels and genotypes with type 1 diabetes in the black South African population

BackgroundVitamin D deficiency and the vitamin D pathway have previously been associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The majority of vitamin D is transported through the blood bound to the vitamin D binding protein (VDBP). Two polymorphisms in the VDBP gene (rs4588 and rs7041) result in different VDBP variants and have been associated with T1D, however the results are not consistent. The association of VDBP levels and its polymorphisms with T1D have not been investigated in the black South African population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether rs4588, rs7041 or serum VDBP levels were associated with T1D in this population.MethodsParticipants with type 1 diabetes and controls were recruited from the greater Johannesburg area, South Africa. Participants were genotyped for rs4588 and rs7041 using PCR-RFLP and serum VDBP levels were determined by ELISA.ResultsThere was no difference in VDBP allelic or genotypic frequencies between participants with T1D and controls (rs4588 C allele frequency 0.92 vs. 0.94; p = 0.390 and rs7041 T allele frequency 0.95 vs. 0.95; p = 0.890). In univariate analysis, the rs4588 CC genotype was associated with increased serum VDBP levels, however, this association was lost with multivariate analysis. The VDBP genotypes were not associated with any other study variables. In logistic regression analysis, higher VBDP levels were associated with T1D (OR: (95% CI): 6.58 (1.45–29.9); p = 0.015), and within a linear regression analysis, T1D disease status was found to be associated with 0.044 mg/ml higher VDBP levels (p = 0.028).ConclusionsThese data suggest that serum VDBP levels are positively associated with the presence of T1D in the African population. Whether VDBP lies in the causal pathway or its elevation is an effect of T1D is uncertain and requires further investigation.

Impending doom or unnecessary panic? The struggle for discursive hegemony in South Africa’s acid mine drainage policy problem

ABSTRACT This article contributes to the literature on environmental policy controversies. We utilize an Argumentative Discourse Analysis (ADA)-based approachto analyze the struggle for discursive hegemony that took place between competing story-lines in the context of the acid mine drainage (AMD) environmental policy problem, located in the gold mining areas of greater Johannesburg, South Africa. With this article we make a theoretical contribution by presenting and applying an adapted ADA framework strongly focused on the operationalization of key ADA concepts. Our empirical contribution lies in providing a rich and deep analysis of an environmental policy controversy that has not yet been studied from an ADA perspective. In particular, we demonstrate and discuss the complex path to discourse institutionalization followed by the dominant emergent AMD story-line. In conclusion , we recommend steps for updating the ADA approach and developing an accompanying set of guidelines to further enable the operationalization of its concepts.

Household Pharmaceutical Waste Management Practices in the Johannesburg Area, South Africa.

Pharmaceutical wastes are expected to increase given the increasing population growth rates and rapidly rising economic burden of human diseases. This challenge calls for appropriate measures for the management of such hazardous wastes. The purpose of this survey was to document and investigate existing practices for the handling, storage, and disposal of household pharmaceutical wastes (HPWs) in the Johannesburg area. Primary data were collected via online surveys with self-administered questionnaires completed by respondents. The research found that 77% (n = 286) of respondents claimed some knowledge about HPWs. Types of medicines that contributed to HPWs included painkillers or analgesics (73%, n = 270) and drugs for treating colds and flu-related illnesses (52%; n = 193). Although there were a few exceptions, the respondents generally exhibited strong disagreements with environmentally unfriendly and health-threatening disposal practices. Moreover, most participants were willing to return expired medicines to pharmacies (40.7%, n = 151), whereas only 8.6% (n = 32) opposed this solution. Awareness levels tended to vary with employment status, educational qualifications, and place of residence. However, place of residence and household size did not correlate with types of pharmaceutical waste. Additionally, the study found that education attainments significantly influenced the willingness of respondents to return pharmaceutical wastes. Finally, there were no significant differences amongst respondents in terms of waste disposal practices. Altogether, the findings suggest the need for targeted efforts to bring about sustainable waste management at a household level.

A long walk to freedom: the epidemiology of penetrating trauma in South Africa - analysis of 4 697 patients over a six-year period at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital

BACKGROUND: Despite the city of Johannesburg having one of the highest rates of crime in the world, no national databank for trauma exists. This study profiles the victims of penetrating trauma and identifies geographical areas in which it occurs, while describing the outcomes and patterns of injury. METHODS: A retrospective study including penetrating trauma patients triaged as Priority 1, presenting at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital's (CHBAH) trauma department over a six-year period (2011-2016). RESULTS: A total of 4 697 patients were included. The majority of victims were Black African males (92.1%) between the ages of 29-40 years, and stabbings were the most common mechanism of injury (71.8%), followed by gunshots. The commonest body area affected was the thorax, with a consequent haemothorax the most likely result. Weekends accounted for over 48% of all presentations - the last weekend of the month being the busiest. Region D was the area in Johannesburg with the highest trauma incidence (51.9%), with the oldest townships in Soweto found to be "hot spots". CONCLUSION: Penetrating trauma is inherently linked to alcohol abuse and interpersonal violence in South Africa,1 primarily affecting its young economic, working-class citizens. The data provided some insight into the burden, structure and challenges of our trauma system. These should be regarded as opportunities to implement change and improve our surveillance and prevention, beginning with a national trauma databank.

Race around the Mountain

Abstract Early accounts place the origins of bicycle racing among the Coloured population of Cape Town at the turn of the twentieth century. By 1930, an active sporting landscape had emerged that included numerous organized clubs, regular road and track events, a regional organizing board, and an established set of local racing stars. Yet as the period moved forward, competitive cycling became subject to a set of larger forces that would affect uses of urban public space, access to municipal facilities, and community support for clubs. While some aspects of this history parallel the growth of bicycle racing in the Johannesburg area, the Cape scene differed significantly. To reconstruct this history, the article attempts to not only establish a baseline for the rich set of characters and events through these years but also place them into a broader context to assess the relationship between sport and resilience under a divided system.