Pretoria Region Research Articles

Significance of Entrepreneurship Education of Small and Micro Businesses in Communication and Information Technology Sector in Pretoria region in South Africa

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of entrepreneurship training on performance of small and micro enterprises in Information Communication Technology sector in Pretoria town.
 Methodology: Mixed method research design was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data collected from the open-ended questions was analyzed through content analysis.
 Results: The study revealed that lecture method was mostly used during trainings and trainees preferred discussions or participatory methods. Business characteristics statistically significantly moderate the relationship between entrepreneurship training and firm performance. That is, as age of the business, size of the business and education level of the owner of the business increases, the more positive impact the entrepreneurship training has on firm performance.
 Conclusion: The government needs to regulate and broaden the curriculum of entrepreneurship training.
 Recommendation: The study recommends that trainers should conduct training needs assessments before conducting entrepreneurship trainings. Trainers should give equitable emphasis on entrepreneurial skills, managerial skills, and technical skills training. Still, trainers need to review their training methods in line with the training needs and the trainees’ expectations.

The Impact of Training and Support Interventions on Small Businesses in the Expanded Public Works Programme—Pretoria Region

The small business sector is regarded as a catalyst of employment for the largest number of people around the world. To reduce massive unemployment and inequality in the country, the Government of South Africa introduced various initiatives to stimulate and support small businesses, and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one such initiative. The enterprise development approach, which seeks to transfer income to poor households in the short to medium term, is one of the delivery mechanisms of the EPWP. This study critically assesses the impact and effectiveness of the training and support interventions provided to small businesses through the EPWP. The study employs a quantitative research method due to the size, availability, and ease of access of the participants, and the entire population of 20 small businesses, supported by the EPWP in the Pretoria region, was sampled. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted. The study demonstrates that the training intervention provided by the EPWP has a positive impact and achieves its intended goal of enhancing the business management skills of participants. It also reveals an interesting outcome, i.e., that the majority of the participants are women. The study also identified some weaknesses in the programme, which led to the recommendation that long-term support mechanisms are essential for ensuring the sustainability of emerging enterprises.

Coaching as a support function for potential entrepreneurs

Background: There is a longstanding debate on whether the practice of coaching support is useful for entrepreneurs who lack the skills and assistance needed to make a success of their businesses. Aim: To gain a better understanding of the benefits derived from coaching support, this study explores the debate on whether coaching is useful as a support function for entrepreneurs. Setting: Entrepreneurs who participated in a support intervention programme to assist them with the development or growth of their business. Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design and used 12 semi-structured, face-to-face interviews that were conducted with entrepreneurs from the Pretoria region, who received support intervention for business purposes between August and October 2015. Results: The study found that confusion still exists around the concepts of coaching and mentoring. Furthermore, it was found that both mentoring and coaching are useful as a support function for entrepreneurs, as evidenced through the benefits derived from the intervention. These benefits mainly include the development of skills, particularly of 21st-century skills, new perspectives, enhanced communication, increased self-awareness and learning, and were facilitated by learning. Conclusion: Both mentoring and coaching can benefit potential entrepreneurs; however, each form contributes different benefits. Coaching contributes to the self-development of entrepreneurs, whilst mentoring assists in the development of managerial functions needed to successfully start and grow a business. It is clear that these different forms of support intervention aid in developing different skills, and therefore, entrepreneurs should articulate their required needs before engaging support.

The impact of formative assessment activities on the development of teacher agency in mathematics teachers

Although buoyed by the induction of a democratic government, and the high ideals of our constitution, the South African education system has in many ways not met the expectations of its people, in this case, the mathematics education community. With the birth of an expansive intended curriculum came the monitoring of the outcomes through systemic type testing, the so-called attained curriculum. In time, it became clear that the inevitable ‘teaching to the test’ would constitute a narrowing of the implemented curriculum. Two possible constraining influences of the systemic test were identified, namely, a narrowing of the curriculum, and reliance on only one source of external monitoring. To counteract these, a project titled Assessment Enhanced Teaching and Learning (AETL) has been initiated, involving Grade Nine mathematics teachers. The aim of the project is to provide intermittent markers of progress to the teachers and learners at strategic points throughout the year. Teacher involvement in the design and implementation of these formative assessment tasks is thus central to the project. In this paper, we report on a case study at one school in the Pretoria region, and explore the use of structured assessment tasks as an approach to professional development. The question posed here is, “How does the implementation of strategically designed assessment tasks support professional development and enable professional agency?” Our findings indicate a strong sense of agency motivated by the need to excel in systemic type testing. Keywords : formative assessment; mathematics; professional development; teacher agency

Die <i>Fresh Expression</i> beweging en die Hervormde Kerk – ’n nuwe manier van kerkwees?

The Fresh Expression movement is well-known in Great Britain and other Western countries like the USA, Australia and lately South Africa. During 2013, a task team launched two pilot courses in Cape Town and George that marked the beginning of Fresh Expressions in South Africa. The Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa – NRCA) exposed 125 of her pastors to the Fresh Expression movement by means of the annual continuous theological training program during 2015. Three of the pastors underwent the ‘Train the Trainer’ course and are currently involved in the presentation of courses in the Pretoria region. The Fresh Expression movement hold the possibility for pioneers in church planting to reach the people who have no ties with the established church. By entering a certain context, faith communities are established by means of listening to the people in their context, serving them in a loving way, creating a community, evangelise and discipling them and starting their own unique way of worshipping. The new faith communities are not in competition with the established church but it is rather a question of a mixed economy where different types of church exists alongside each other in mutual respect and support. This study tries to establish basic criteria to distinguish a Fresh Expression from random missional outreaches by a congregation. Two potential Fresh Expressions in the NRCA were evaluated by the set criteria.

English

The SCCmec element is one of the recommended targets for MRSA characterization and several multiplex-PCR SCCmec typing methods have been developed over the past years. However, there are no data on the consistency of the SCCmec types in clinical isolates as detected by these methods. Using different previously published, commonly used M-PCR methods, this report describes the diversity of SCCmec elements in MRSA isolates in the Pretoria region of South Africa and the discrepancies observed in the assigned SCCmec types. Different SCCmec types were assigned to the same clinical MRSA isolates. The discrepancies included the assignment of composite SCCmec types [(SCCmec II and SCCmecury) 20.7% (40/193)] and [(SCCmec type II+IVc) 22.3% (43/193)] to some of the clinical MRSA isolates. Summarily, the combination of the result of the M-PCR methods showed that the MRSA genotypes circulating in the healthcare facility studied potentially carried SCCmec types I, II, IV (subtypes IVa, IVb and IVd) and V. No SCCmec types III or VIII was detected among the isolates. At least 25.91% of SCCmec type IV was detected in this study, thus corroborating previous findings of the global encroachment of MRSA strains into the hospital settings. The associated epidemiological significance of these observations is discussed and we also call for an African consensus SCCmec typing method in order to allow effective epidemiological data comparison across the countries. Key words: MRSA genotype, SCCmec elements, multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), variation.

Short communication: Assessment of the pro-inflammatory activity of water sampled from major water treatment facilities in the greater Pretoria region

Notwithstanding direct detection of microbial/viral pathogens or their associated toxins, the quality of drinking water may also be evaluated according to its pro-inflammatory potential. In this latter setting, contamination with pathogens or their products is determined according to the magnitude of activation of blood-derived immune/inflammatory cells following exposure to test water samples in vitro, usually by monitoring the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The primary objective of the current study was to apply this procedure to evaluate the pro-inflammatory potential of water sampled at entry, as well as at various stages of treatment, from 3 major water treatment facilities in the greater Pretoria region, viz., the Daspoort, Hartbeespoort, and Rietvlei Water Treatment Facilities. Control water samples included domestic tap water, bottled water from a commercial source, and distilled water. Peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) were isolated from the blood of healthy, adult, human volunteers (n=3), enumerated, suspended in tissue culture medium RPMI 1640 containing antibiotics at a concentration of 1x10 6 /ml, and exposed to the various water samples (10%) for 18 h at 37°C. Following incubation, the cell-free supernatants were assayed for the cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), using a quantitative, sandwich, enzyme immunoassay procedure. The mean values for the untreated control system and for a positive control system exposed to bacterial endotoxin (120 ng/ml) were 153.5 ±17 and 1 561 ±30 pg/ml, respectively (p= 0.03). The production of IL-6 was unaffected following exposure of MNL to the control water samples. However, inlet water sampled from all three facilities, especially Hartbeespoort, resulted in significant activation of production of IL-6 by MNL, which declined with progressive treatment, consistent with removal of pro-inflammatory contaminants. Surprisingly, however, a rebound in pro-inflammatory activity was evident in outlet water sampled from Hartbeespoort. In conclusion, the results of the current study appear to support the efficiency of water treatment procedures at the Daspoort and Rietvlei Treatment Facilities, while confirming the usefulness of IL-6-based assays as adjuncts to conventional water quality testing procedures. Keywords : Endotoxin, inflammatory activity, interleukin-6, mononuclear leukocytes, water quality

Latent class analysis of polysubstance use, sexual risk behaviors, and infectious disease among South African drug users

BackgroundHIV transmission risk among non-injection drug users is high due to the co-occurrence of drug use and sexual risk behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to identify patterns of drug use among polysubstance users within a high HIV prevalence population. MethodsThe study sample included 409 substance users from the Pretoria region of South Africa. Substances used by 20% or more the sample included: cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and heroin in combination, marijuana and cigarettes in combination, and crack cocaine. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns of polysubstance use based on types of drugs used. Multivariate logistic regression analyses compared classes on demographics, sexual risk behavior, and disease status. ResultsFour classes of substance use were found: MJ+Cig (40.8%), MJ+Her (30.8%), Crack (24.7%), and Low Use (3.7%). The MJ+Cig class was 6.7 times more likely to use alcohol and 3 times more likely to use drugs before/during sex with steady partners than the Crack class. The MJ+Cig class was 16 times more likely to use alcohol before/during sex with steady partners than the MJ+Her class. The Crack class was 6.1 times more likely to engage in transactional sex and less likely to use drugs before/during steady sex than the MJ+Her class. ConclusionsFindings illustrate patterns of drug use among a polysubstance using population that differ in sexual risk behavior. Intervention strategies should address substance use, particularly smoking as a route of administration (ROA), and sexual risk behaviors that best fit this high-risk population.

Quality of General Practitioner Referral Letters to a South African Tertiary Hospital: Determinants of Quality Content and Good Practice

The aim of this paper is to describe the essential elements of information, to assess the quality of content, to audit the referral practice and to identify the determinants of both good referral and practice from the general practitioners’ referral letters received at a tertiary hospital. A cross-sectional descriptive and evaluative study was conducted at theOutpatient Department of the Dr. George Mukhari Hospital in Pretoria. A sample of 303 general practitioner (GP) referral letters was collected from 25 May to 25 June 2004. Univariate (chi-square test) and multivariate (logistic regression model) identified potential and independent determinants of Good referral and Good practice, respectively. The reason for the referral was reflected in 267 (88%) of the letters. 186 (61.3%) of the referral letters were entirely legible. Proportions of optimal referral letter and good practice were 24.9 (n=77) and 6.5% (n=20), respectively. Presence of past medical history (OR=4.2 95% CI 1.9 – 9.2; P<0.001), systemic examination (OR=13 95% CI 5.8-29.2; P<0.0001), involved system (OR=7 95% CI 3.2- 15.3; P<0.0001) and differential diagnosis (OR=11.7 95% CI 3.6 – 38.5; P<0.001) were the independent determinants of Good referral. Systemic examination (OR=4.8 95% CI 1.9 – 12.3; P<0.001) and side-room tests (OR=4.1 95% CI 1.2 – 14.6; P= 0.008) were the independent determinants of Good practice. There is an urgent need for improvement in the deficient areas to optimise patient care in Pretoria Region. Key words: General practitioners. Dr George Mukhari Hospital, referral letters, quality, legibility.

The Association Between Poly-Substance Use, Coping, and Sex Trade Among Black South African Substance Users

The current study examined the relationship between poly-substance use and sex trade among 343 black South African substance users recruited from the Pretoria region between 2002 and (57% males; mean age 24 years). The assessment comprised a HIV-risk behavior interview, urinalysis to confirm self-report of drug use, and an HIV test. Logistic regression analyses indicated poly-substance use was positively associated with sex trade among persons using drugs to cope with stress. Results indicate the importance of considering coping strategies as modifiable psychosocial factor related to sexual risk-taking behaviors and substance use. The study's implications and limitations are discussed.

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of gonococcal isolates in Pretoria, South Africa, over a 20-year period (1984-2004)

This paper reviews the susceptibility profles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae over a 20-year period in the Pretoria region. Endourethral specimens were collected from adult men with symptoms of urethritis attending primary health care clinics and private medical practitioners. These swabs were plated on enriched media for isolation of N. gonorrhoeae. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the organisms was performed using the disc diffusion and agar dilution methods. Plasmid analyses were performed on beta-lactamase-producing isolates. Penicillase-producing N. gonorrhoeae strains increased from 4% to 16%, whilst chromosomally mediated penicillin-resistant strains increased dramatically from 0% to 16% from 1984 to 2004. There was an equal distribution of the 3.2 MDa African and 4.4 MDa Asian plasmids. High-level tetracycline-resistant strains (36%) were detected for the frst time in 2004. Ciprofoxacin resistance emerged at 7% in the same year. Gonococcal isolates remained susceptible to cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, cefpodoxime, and spectinomycin. However, the minimum inhibitory concentration values for spectinomycin were very close to the breakpoint. We have shown a continuing increase in resistance to penicillin (plasmid and chromosomal), the emergence of high-level tetracycline resistance and an emergence of resistance to ciprofoxacin. Susceptibility testing is essential for successful therapeutic outcomes and needs to be performed in an ongoing basis.

A demographic study of homicide–suicide in the Pretoria region over a 5 year period

A study was undertaken to research the occurrence of homicide–suicide events in the Pretoria region from January 1997 until October 2001. It is important to attempt understanding this tragic phenomenon from psychiatric and forensic perspectives. This uncommon phenomenon has attracted widespread and sensational media coverage, but little is known about the causal factors and demographic profile of perpetrators and victims, and possible sites of intervention. Case files of the Pretoria Medico-Legal Laboratory (where all cases of unnatural death in Pretoria are investigated) were reviewed and information collected from relevant investigating officers of the South African Police Services. The average annual incidence of homicide–suicide in Pretoria over the period studied was found to be 1 per 100,000 of the population. Two profiles of typical perpetrators seem to emerge: a younger, single, black male shooting his girlfriend and himself at home; and an older, married, Caucasian male shooting his wife and himself at home. Employment in peace forces and unemployment are shown to play significant roles, suggesting need for the availability of psychological support systems to members of peace forces and for intervention regarding unemployment.

Gender Differences in the Prevalence and Behavioral Risk Factors of HIV in South African Drug Users

South Africa continues to be the global epicenter of HIV infection. Further, extensive gender disparities in HIV infection exist with females four times as likely to be infected with HIV/AIDS as males (UNAIDS, AIDS epidemic update, 2006; WHO, Epidemiological fact sheets on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, 2006). A cross-sectional collection of drug users recruited in the Pretoria region of South Africa (N = 385) was used to model HIV infection as a function of sexual risk behaviors and drug use as modified by gender. Receiving money from illicit sources and knowing someone with AIDS were loosely associated with HIV. Gender interactions were observed for age, cocaine use and condom use. Gender stratified analyses revealed that males who used condoms, were younger and tested negative for cocaine use were less likely to test positive for HIV. Findings suggest that males may have more control of risk behaviors and support the need for gender specific prevention strategies.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) of ciprofloxacin resistant isolates of Pretoria, South Africa

Gonococcal isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin collected from 2004 to 2005, in the Pretoria region, were characterised using Neisseria gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST). The isolates were obtained from men presenting...

Gonococcal resistance: evolving from penicillin, tetracycline to the quinolones in South Africa – implications for treatment guidelines

Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been evolving. This study assessed the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of isolates in the Pretoria region, South Africa. Isolates of N. gonorrhoeae from men with urethritis were tested for susceptibility to eight antimicrobial agents by disc diffusion, Etest and agar dilution methods. Chromosomal resistance to penicillin was found in 16% of isolates, 16% showed plasmid-mediated resistance and decreased susceptibility was seen in 73% of isolates. For the first time, there is evidence of high-level tetracycline resistance (36%). Ciprofloxacin resistance emerged at 7%. All isolates remained susceptible to ceftriaxone. In view of these findings of the emergence of quinolone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae, national treatment guidelines for syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections need to be urgently reviewed. The injectable preparation, ceftriaxone has to be considered as a first-line agent for the management of gonococcal infections. Overall, the gonococcal isolates in the Pretoria region remain susceptible to ceftriaxone, cefoxitin, cefpodoxime and spectinomycin.

Temperature regime during bulb production affects foliage and flower quality of Lachenalia cv. Ronina pot plants

Flowering-sized bulbs of Lachenalia that developed under three different temperature regimes [S. Afr. J. Plant Soil 18 (1) (2001a) 28] were used to assess the quality of subsequent pot plants. Plants were grown in a growth cabinet at a 15/10 °C day/night temperature regime. When the oldest flower of the inflorescences opened, the pot plants were transferred to a growth cabinet that provided a constant temperature of 22 °C with lower lighting conditions to simulate office conditions. The flowering date, keeping ability as well as the morphology of the inflorescences were evaluated. After the senescence of the inflorescences, the plants were harvested and dissected into different plant parts for evaluation. The temperature pre-treatments had a major effect on the performance of the subsequent pot plants. Flowering occurred 8 weeks earlier compared to plants normally grown in outdoor conditions in the Pretoria region (summer rainfall area). Furthermore, the low temperature regime (LTR) treated bulbs produced inflorescences with the longest keeping ability and simultaneous flowering was noticed. The lower the temperature regime during the bulb production phase, the greater is the peduncle length, rachis length, floret number as well as the peduncle diameter of the primary, secondary and tertiary inflorescences.

Severe acute maternal morbidity and maternal death audit--a rapid diagnostic tool for evaluating maternal care.

To analyse severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) and maternal mortality in the Pretoria region over a 2-year period (2000-2001). Public hospitals in the Pretoria region, South Africa, serving a mainly indigent urban population. A descriptive study was performed whereby women with SAMM and maternal deaths were identified at daily audit meetings and an audit form was completed for all cases fulfilling the definition of SAMM ('near miss') and for all maternal deaths. The number of maternal deaths declined slightly but not significantly from 18 deaths in 2000 to 16 in 2001. This represents a change in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) from 130/100,000 live births in 2000 to a MMR of 100/100,000 live births in 2001. However, when data for women with SAMM and maternal deaths were combined, there was a significant increase in major maternal morbidity from 90 cases (SAMM and maternal death rate 649/100,000 live births) in 2000 to 142 cases (SAMM and maternal death rate 889/100,000 live births) in 2001 (p = 0.006). This increase was due to a significant increase in severe maternal morbidity related to abortions and obstetric haemorrhages. Analysis of maternal deaths only in the Pretoria region failed to identify abortions and haemorrhages as major maternal care problems. When data for women with SAMM were combined with data for maternal deaths, however, these problems were clearly identified, and remedial action could be taken. Including SAMM in maternal death audits increases the rapidity with which health system problems can be identified.

The role of the principal, teachers and students in restoring the culture of learning, teaching and service (COLT) in black secondary schools in the Pretoria region

Political and social instability over many years has led to a crisis in the South African education system. One of the crucial changes and challenges that the new democracy faces is to reconstruct a society and an education system that will be able to establish a culture conducive to learning, teaching and services in schools (COLT). This article examines factors that have led to a loss of the culture of learning and teaching (COLT) in South African schools, and the characteristics of a positive culture expected by principals, teachers and students. Results indicate that although principals are attempting to influence this culture, there is little support for such changes from teachers and students. (South African Journal of Education: 2001 21(4): 311-316)

Mechanical failures as a contributing cause to motor vehicle accidents — South Africa

Over the past decades motor vehicles became the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. At the same time an improvement in automotive engineering and manufacturing as well as the phenomena of urbanisation have resulted in more vehicles spending more time on the road at higher speeds. Invariably this leads to driving scenarios where safety critical manoeuvres have to be performed that rely on the mechanical condition of the vehicles. In developing countries, where economic realities force the population to make use of older and less reliable vehicles, the risk of accidents caused by some sort of mechanical failure increases. The casualty rate (events causing death and/or serious injuries) for road traffic accidents in South Africa is amongst the highest in the world. This trend has persisted with little variation over the years, despite the efforts of local road safety organisations and research institutes to decrease them. The main goal of this study was to establish the contribution of mechanical failures to motor vehicle accidents, and furthermore, to compare it with international trends. Data obtained from accident response units (ARU) indicate that tyres and brakes were the main contributors to mechanical failures resulting in accidents in the Pretoria region (Gauteng Province). However, the reported percentage of approximately 3% is comparable to similar statistics from developed countries. Detailed information on the condition of road-going vehicles was then collected in this area. The roadside survey (potential mechanical defect tests (PMDT)) indicated that 40% of the vehicles surveyed on the suburban road and 29% of the vehicles surveyed on the highway had mechanical defects that contravened current road and traffic regulations in South Africa and may, therefore, be at risk of causing an accident due to a mechanical failure. In the Minibus (taxi) survey, large irregularities in tyre inflation pressure were identified as a cause of concern. The main conclusion from this work is that tyres and brakes are the two most dominant components that contribute to the mechanical defects causing accidents, with overloading an additional factor to consider. It is important to acknowledge that these three factors can easily be monitored during simple roadside inspections.

Human Rights in the Name of God?

AbstractThis article is a study of the tension which arises because South Africa is a religious society within a secular state, or a secular state embedded in a religious society. The belief in God among Grade 11 students in the Johannesburg/ Pretoria region is investigated, and questions are posed as to the role belief in God plays in the formation of their attitudes towards human rights. Fundamental aspects of the relationship between belief in God and human rights are dealt with, students' belief in God is investigated and described, and finally, it is asked whether the students believe that there is a God of human rights.