South Africa Research Articles

Regenerative agriculture: A paradigm shift for food production in South Africa

Agriculture and other land use practices have severely affected the quality of soils and food production systems in South Africa. In addition, these practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Soil quality is generally associated with soil organic matter (SOM) along with elemental Carbon (C) and Nitrogen (N). Approximately 58% of South African soils contain <0.5% organic C, 38% contain 0.5–2% organic C, and 4% contain >2% organic C. The extensive aridity and lack of SOM content in South African soils cause them to lack resilience and have a delicate nature compared to soils in temperate regions. In a country where almost 60% of the land is degraded, and 91% is prone to desertification, farming practices require a revised framework for land management. The challenge of producing food on degraded land that is often water-scarce and particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change is a threat to South Africa's food and nutritional security. Therefore, this review aims to equip farmers with knowledge and principles of innovative and sustainable alternatives such as regenerative agriculture that naturally and progressively improves soil quality/fertility and ecosystem health; and reduces GHG emissions through carbon sequestration. Quantitative studies in South Africa show that during 5–90 years of crop cultivation in the Free State province resulted in a 10–73% reduction in C and N relative to natural grasslands. Similar studies reported a 50% reduction in C after 50 years of cultivation on Hutton soil in Pretoria; and a 50% reduction in C after only 3.5 years of cultivation in the Free State. Considering that the world's food systems are responsible for more than a third of anthropogenic GHG emissions, we are convinced that the shifting trend toward regenerative agriculture is a sustainable climate-smart solution for global food production systems.

Food systems modelling to evaluate interventions for food and nutrition security in an African urban context

AbstractIn the context of rapidly growing African cities, a thorough understanding of the complexities of urban food systems is essential for addressing the challenges of food insecurity and undernourishment for city dwellers. Particularly in South Africa, where pre-existing inequalities drive disparities in food access and diet-related health outcomes, a comprehensive perspective including the spatial distribution of malnutrition in urban environments is required to develop effective interventions. The present study examines the essential elements of an urban food system by employing a Bayesian network as a causal framework. By integrating survey data from households and food outlets with spatial information, a food systems model was created to test policy interventions. The study demonstrates the challenges of intervening in complex urban food systems, where dietary choices are shaped by various factors, often in a spatially heterogeneous manner. Interventions do not always benefit the targeted groups and are sometimes ineffective as result of system interactions. Our study shows that Bayesian network models provide a powerful tool to effectively analyse the complex interactions within such systems, thereby enabling the identification of optimal combinations of multifactor interventions. In our case study for Worcester, South Africa, the results reveal that the largest potential for improvement of food and nutrition security lies in the informal food sector, and support for affordable and local fresh produce is a viable measure for enhancing local nutrition, though the extent of impact varies across the city.

The efficacy of wastewater treatment plant on removal of perfluoroalkyl substances and their impacts on the coastal environment of False Bay, South Africa

AbstractPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which have their origins in both industrial processes and consumer products, can be detected at all treatment stages in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Quantifying the emissions of PFAS from WWTPs into the marine environment is crucial because of their potential impacts on receiving aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the levels of five PFAS were measured in both influent and effluent sewage water samples obtained from a municipal WWTP, the discharges of which flow into False Bay, on the Indian Ocean coast of Cape Town, South Africa. Additionally, seawater, sediment, and biota samples from eight sites along the False Bay coast were also analysed. Results showed high prevalence of PFAS in the different environmental matrices. Perfluorononanoic acid was most dominant in all these matrices with maximum concentration in wastewater, 10.50 ng/L; seawater, 18.76 ng/L; marine sediment, 239.65 ng/g dry weight (dw); invertebrates, 0.72–2.45 µg/g dw; seaweed, 0.36–2.01 µg/g dw. The study used the chemical fingerprint of five PFASs detected in WWTP effluents to track their dispersion across a large, previously pristine marine environment and examined how each chemical accumulated in different marine organisms. The study also demonstrates that primary and secondary wastewater treatment processes cannot fully remove such compounds. There is thus a need to improve effluent quality before its release into the environment and promote continuous monitoring focusing on the sources of PFAS, including their potential transformation products, their environmental fate and ecological risks, particularly in areas receiving effluents from WWTP.

Zerlasiran—A Small-Interfering RNA Targeting Lipoprotein(a)

ImportanceElevated lipoprotein(a) increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and aortic stenosis.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of zerlasiran, a small-interfering RNA targeting hepatic synthesis of apolipoprotein(a), on lipoprotein(a) serum concentration.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA multicenter trial in patients with stable ASCVD with serum lipoprotein(a) concentrations greater than or equal to 125 nmol/L at 26 sites in Europe and South Africa between January 3, 2023, and April 27, 2023, with last follow-up on July 1, 2024.InterventionsParticipants randomized to receive a subcutaneous dose of placebo every 16 weeks for 3 doses (n = 23) or every 24 weeks for 2 doses (n = 24) or zerlasiran 450 mg every 24 weeks for 2 doses (n = 45), 300 mg every 16 weeks for 3 doses (n = 42), or 300 mg every 24 weeks for 2 doses (n = 44).Main Outcome and MeasuresThe primary outcome was the time-averaged percent change in lipoprotein(a) concentration from baseline to 36 weeks, with follow-up to 60 weeks.ResultsAmong 178 patients, mean (SD) age was 63.7 (9.4) years, 46 (25.8%) were female, with a median (IQR) baseline lipoprotein(a) concentration of 213 (177-282) nmol/L; 172 patients completed the trial. Compared with the pooled placebo group, the least-squares mean time-averaged percent change in lipoprotein(a) concentration from baseline to week 36 was −85.6% (95% CI, −90.9% to −80.3%), −82.8% (95% CI, −88.2% to −77.4%), and −81.3% (95% CI, −86.7% to −76.0%) for the 450 mg every 24 weeks, 300 mg every 16 weeks, and 300 mg every 24 weeks groups, respectively. Median (IQR) percent change in lipoprotein(a) concentration at week 36 was −94.5% (−97.3% to −84.2%) for the 450 mg every 24 weeks group, −96.4% (−97.7% to −92.3%) for the 300 mg every 16 weeks group, and −90.0% (−93.7% to −81.3%) for the 300 mg every 24 weeks group. The most common treatment-related adverse effects were injection site reactions, with mild pain occurring in 2.3% to 7.1% of participants in the first day following drug administration. There were 20 serious adverse events in 17 patients, none considered related to the study drug.ConclusionsZerlasiran was well-tolerated and reduced time-averaged lipoprotein(a) concentration by more than 80% during 36 weeks of treatment in patients with ASCVD.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05537571

Bilingual teaching in South Africa: a qualitative inquiry into the strategies used for the preparation of mathematics teachers in the foundation phase

Bilingual teaching in South Africa: a qualitative inquiry into the strategies used for the preparation of mathematics teachers in the foundation phase

Navigating Consumer Engagement during COVID-19: The Case of a Fast-Food Chain in South Africa

Navigating Consumer Engagement during COVID-19: The Case of a Fast-Food Chain in South Africa

The impact of institutional and managerial ownership on the pay-performance relationship: Evidence from JSE-listed firms

Abstract This study explores how institutional and managerial ownership influence the connection between executive directors’ pay and firm performance in South Africa. Employing panel linear regression models and Johnson-Neyman analysis, complex insights are revealed. This study revealed that institutional ownership acts as a double-edged sword, positively moderating the link between long-term and total incentive remuneration and Return on Assets (ROA), while negatively influencing the relationship with market-based metrics like Tobin’s Q. This suggests that institutional shareholders play a dual role in enhancing long-term alignment and tempering short-term performance pressures. Managerial ownership also demonstrates mixed impacts, positively moderating the relationship between both short-term and total incentive remuneration, and ROA, but negatively moderating the link between long-term incentive remuneration and Total Shareholder Return (TSR). These findings underscore the delicate balance between managerial incentives, shareholder interests, and long-term value creation. While higher managerial ownership aligns with short-term shareholder goals, it may also lead to managerial entrenchment and short-termism in certain contexts. This study contributes to literature on corporate governance and executive remuneration in an emerging market setting.. By revealing the nuanced effects of institutional and managerial ownership on the pay-performance relationship, the paper provides valuable insights for policymakers, investors and corporate leaders aiming to improve governance practices and foster sustainable value creation. Our study offers essential implications for corporate governance practices and sets the stage for further inquiry into the intricate relationship between ownership structure, executive compensation, and firm performance.

Flotation of a South African Low-Grade Banded Iron Formation (BIF)

AbstractDue to declining iron ore grades, low-grade ores with complex mineralogy, namely, banded iron formation (BIF), are being explored to maximize iron ore resources and increase the life of mine. Flotation is the standard global process used for the beneficiation of BIF ores, as it is a complex ore reserve, and liberation is typically achieved below 1 mm. This study focuses on flotation of a South African BIF evaluating its response to different collectors, as well as effect of grind. Since flotation is an expensive process and South Africa ranks high on the production cost curve, pre-concentration via gravity or magnetic separation is performed prior to flotation. Thus, flotation was also performed on a gravity concentrate to determine if a grade suitable for steelmaking (~ 63%) is achievable. The results indicate that the use of an alkyl ether amine-based collector partially neutralized with acetic acid is suitable for separation of hematite from illite and quartz at high pH values. Further optimization tests are being pursued to improve overall recovery and grade.

An Assessment of Drinking Water Quality in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, South Africa: A Case Study of the Elukwatini Water Supply Scheme

This study analysed the water quality of 156 samples collected from 13 different points within the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality between January and December 2021, focusing on compliance with the South African National Standard 241 (SANS 241). Microbiological assessments revealed widespread contamination, with heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) exceeding the recommended range in nearly all samples. The median HPC levels were particularly concerning, with the untreated source (RE000) exhibiting a median of 2555 CFU/mL. Total coliforms and Escherichia coli were present at alarming levels, indicating significant faecal contamination; the highest total coliform count, 2420 CFU/100 mL, was recorded at RE000. Physically, while all samples complied with electrical conductivity standards (0–70 µS/cm), turbidity levels showed variability, with nine samples exceeding the acceptable threshold of 1 NTU. The highest turbidity, 7.55 NTU, was recorded at the untreated source (RE000). Chemically, pH levels fell within safe ranges (6.0–9.0), with all samples being compliant with standards. However, only one sample (E001) met the free chlorine standard of 0.3–0.6 mg/L, suggesting inadequate disinfection practices. The untreated source was classified as ‘Unsuitable for drinking’ (WQI = 207.27). These findings highlight the critical need for enhanced monitoring and remediation strategies to improve drinking water safety in the region.

Derivative Markets and Economic Growth: A South African Perspective

It is well established that financial development and innovation promote economic growth through improving the allocation of capital, enhancing risk management, contributing to price discovery, and increasing market efficiencies. While a vast empirical literature is devoted to the nexus between financial development and economic growth, however, substantially less research has been done on the relationship between derivatives and growth, especially in the emerging-market context. Derivatives can be viewed as a specific category of financial innovation, which may advance economic growth through its specialised functions of risk management and price discovery. This paper contributes to bridging this gap in the literature by exploring the impact of exchange-traded futures derivatives on South African economic growth, output, and economic growth volatility. It employs ARDL bounds tests, Granger causality tests and GARCH volatility modeling to analyse the effects of exchange-traded futures derivatives on various measures of South African economic activity. The main result is that exchange-traded futures derivatives contribute positively to South African economic growth and economic activity. This may suggest that opportunities might exist in other emerging economies, with financial structures comparable to that of South Africa, to encourage the development of organised and well-regulated derivatives markets to unlock economic growth in these economies.

Who are the fathers? Profiling fathers of children born to teenage mothers in South Africa using the Recorded Live Births 2016–2020

Abstract Aim Despite the huge investment in reducing cases of teenage pregnancy in South Africa, the incidence remains high. Interventions are targeted at girls with minimal consideration for the men who father children with teenagers. Our study aimed to profile the men who have children born to teenage mothers. Subject and methods We used South Africa’s Recorded Live Births 1998–2021 dataset containing cumulative live birth registrations recorded by Statistics South Africa. The birth notifications are received from the Department of Home Affairs. Our sample consisted of N = 97,161 registered births for mothers 19 years and younger for births which occurred between 2016 and 2020 with father information available. Results Majority of men who fathered children with teenage girls were between the ages of 20 and 29 years (89.70%); teenage girls are having children fathered by older men, with an average six-year age gap. For every unit increase of mothers’ age, so too the odds of having children with an older father—our findings show 36% reduced odds (adjusted odds ratio 0.54) for a 12-year-old mother having a child with a non-peer father and double the odds (adjusted odds ratio 1.84) for an 18-year-old mother having a child with an older father. The odds of teenage girls having children with older men increased annually and were saturated in rural provinces and district municipalities in South Africa. Conclusion Our study provided a geographic and age profile of men who father children with teenage girls in the country which should be used as a starting point for programmes directed at men to augment interventions to make an accelerated dent in teenage pregnancy cases in the country.

The Fact of Anti-Blackness in South African Farms

This article uses the 2020 protest by a group of white farmers in Senekal as an entry point to the continuing anti-Black racist violence in South Africa’s white-owned farms. It argues that the key demand by the white farmers reflected the living violent history of white farmers, particularly as articulated in the country’s farmlands. The article contends that the history of white racial violence that produced the current racial disparities of land ownership in South Africa is, to an extent, kept alive by the ongoing exploitative and racist practices that have become a defining feature of white farming practices in South Africa. These exploitative and racist practices are well documented in the research on post-1994 white farms. As was the case in the past, anti-Black racist violence in contemporary South Africa relies on the narrative that historically constructed Blacks as subhuman and therefore were regarded as deserving of exploitation and unfair treatment. Blacks in this narrative are cast as not worthy of being treated with dignity and hence the dominant theme of this narrative portray Black life as insignificant, meaningless and disposable.

Machine learning-based models for forecasting radio refractivity over the coastal area of South Africa

Surface refractivity is a crucial parameter that determines the bending of radio signals as they propagate within the troposphere. It is greatly influenced by the atmospheric weather conditions and changes rapidly, especially in the coastal areas. This research utilized 50 years (1974-2023) surface temperature, pressure, and humidity data from six coastal stations in South Africa to forecast radio refractivity in the Mediterranean climate. Five machine learning models: Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM), Prophet, and Random Forest were trained for future prediction of surface refractivity at any coastal area in South Africa. The stations latitude, longitude, altitude, surface refractivity and date were applied as the input parameters to train the models. The models were optimized through the randomized searchCV hyperparameter tuning to improve their efficiency. The LightGBM outperformed other models with RMSE and adjusted determination coefficients of 1.67 and 0.96, respectively. The model is recommended for future prediction of surface refractivity needed for the improvement of point-to-point wireless communication, terrestrial radio and television transmissions, and mobile communication networks in the coastal sub-tropical regions.

Family Social Support Mediates the Relationship Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Psychosocial well-being in a Cohort of Young South Africans Newly Diagnosed with HIV.

Poor psychosocial well-being, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and high anticipated stigma, complicates young South Africans' engagement with HIV care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychosocial well-being of young South Africans with HIV may have been impacted by changing levels of social support. This analysis sought to examine whether social support mediates the relationship between the pandemic and psychosocial well-being in young South Africans with HIV. This secondary analysis compared baseline data from two cohorts of young people ages 18-24 who tested HIV positive either before or during South Africa's COVID-19 State of Disaster. Baseline sociodemographic, social support-related, and psychosocial data were analyzed using linear regression and mediation analyses. We found that self-esteem was higher (χ2 = 9.955, p < 0.01) and anticipated stigma (χ2 = 22.756, p < 0.001) was lower in the cohort recruited during the pandemic. Perceived family social support was higher in the cohort recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic (χ2 = 38.69, p < 0.001). Family social support partially mediated the relationship between study cohort and self-esteem (Sobel z=-3.04, p = 0.002), family- (Sobel z=-4.06, p < 0.001) and community-type (Sobel z =-3.44, p < 0.001) anticipated stigma, and depressive symptoms (Sobel z =-2.80, p = 0.005). Overall, compared to young people diagnosed with HIV before the pandemic, young people diagnosed during the pandemic reported higher self-esteem and lower anticipated stigma, an effect mediated by higher levels of family social support. Our findings add to the literature examining young people's psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggests that improvements in family support may have broadly positive effects on multiple indicators of psychosocial well-being.

Promoting Access to Education in South Africa: A Sequential Reflection on a specific case

The South African educational sector and the learners continues to witness restricted access due to deleterious conduct of school management personnel such as school principals and or teachers. This remains a pervasive problem despite the provisions of section 29 of the 1996 Constitution, which provides for the right to access education. Learners are still denied access to education and educational institutions and this problem escalate unabated by those entrusted with responsibilities to promote access and protect learners such as school principals and teachers. Looking into the case of Moko and other predecessor cases reviewed in this study, the paper argue that there is a need to promote access and improve awareness interventions in order to enlighten those entrusted with the responsibilities to combat any conduct aimed at devaluating access to education.

Evaluating work placement supervisors’ ratings of Master’s in research psychology students at an open and distance e-learning institution in South Africa

This paper examines the dataset of work placement supervisors’ feedback from 2014 to 2017 on the skillset of Master in Research Psychology students during their first and second placement periods. A total of 47 placement feedback reports were analysed. The analysis included frequency counts and qualitative content analysis using Microsoft (MS) Excel software. The study reveals that placement supervisors place significant value on soft skills, notably a willingness to learn, and frequently rate students favourably on interpersonal skills. The results highlight the importance of viewing placement supervisors as co-educational partners. By evaluating supervisors' ratings of research psychology students on work placement holds significant value in improving educational programs, enhancing student outcomes, aligning with employer expectations, and contributing to the broader understanding of work-integrated learning in research psychology. For students, it entails identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement in their performance. For the university program, this feedback can inform teaching and learning approaches by providing insights into the specific skills, competencies, and knowledge that students need to develop during their program. It can also help tailor feedback and support by understanding supervisors' feedback, leading to more effective guidance and constructive feedback for students. For the placement organisations, the research can contribute to supervisor training and development, ensuring they have the necessary skills to guide and evaluate students, while also improving work placement design and coordination to align with program learning outcomes and provide meaningful experiences for students.

Impacts of Supplemental Feeding on Sunbird-Pollination Systems in Young Fynbos Varies with Floral Abundance.

Supplementary sugar-water feeding offers nectarivorous birds a source of spatially concentrated food, as opposed to the dispersed food available in flowers. This could impact bird visits to native flowers and alter plant-bird mutualisms, particularly in young post-fire vegetation. This study examined the effects of sugar-water feeders on nectarivorous birds and their plant mutualists in young (burned 18 months previously) and transitional vegetation (burned 5 years previously). A supplementary feeding experiment was conducted at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa, using sugar-water feeders when floral abundance was low (winter) and high (spring). We compared bird abundance and visitation rates to flowers before, during, and after feeder presence in both seasons. The use of sugar-water feeders by nectarivorous birds was inversely related to floral abundance, with 679 bird visits (6.94 ± 1.40 bird visitation rate per hour) to feeders in winter and only 90 visits (0.41 ± 0.16 visitation rate per hour) during spring. Bird visits were higher at flowers than at sugar-water feeders, in both seasons. Sugar-water feeders did not influence the visitation rate of sunbirds to flowers in both seasons, contrasting with findings from areas abutting suburbia, suggesting that feeder influence on bird visitation rate may not be apparent in areas with no history of sugar-water feeders. We find that low numbers of feeders do not necessarily compete with natural nectar resources but may instead provide birds with an additional food source, particularly when floral resources are low.

Examining the Influence of Socio-Economic and Demographic Transformation on Employment In the Informal Sector From 2017 To 2020

This study explored the impact of socio-demographic changes on informal sector employment in South Africa from 2017 to 2020. Utilizing data from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), descriptive statistics and logistic regression were employed to analyze relationships between age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, and education within the informal workforce. The results revealed significant shifts in employment patterns, particularly affecting youth and marginalized groups. The findings emphasize the vital role of socio-demographic factors in shaping the informal sector and highlight the need for targeted policies to support vulnerable populations and improve their economic opportunities in a fluctuating labor market.

Examining the impact of job location on violent crime: the study of South African metropolitan areas

ABSTRACT The physical separation of people from economic activities creates spatial disparities, fragmentation, and unequal access to opportunities. Contemporary South Africa displays spatially divided communities. Affluent locations are socio-economically integrated with fewer crime activities, while poor communities are disintegrated from economic activities with high crime occurrences. The study explores the relationship between spatial mismatch and violent crime in South African metropolitan areas. The study used regression modelling and choropleth mapping to analyse and present the relation. Data used were acquired from Stats SA, CSIR, and SAPS National Crime Statistics. The findings revealed that areas located closer to jobs are associated with low levels of violent crime. In contrast, poor areas are located away from job opportunities and have high levels of violent crime. The study concludes that spatial mismatch determines the level of violent crime in South African metros.

Prevalence of gonococcal and chlamydial infections among men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STI) including Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) and Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). The lack of robust data on STIs among African MSM has limited the development of evidence-based screening strategies. This study aimed at documenting the pooled prevalence of Ng/Ct among MSM in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Relevant articles from the following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Eligible studies reported on the prevalence of Ng/Ct among the MSM population in SSA. Publication bias was assessed using the Hoy tool, Doi plot, and LFK ratio. Due to heterogeneity among studies, subgroup analyses were performed using the MetaXL add-on tool for Microsoft Excel. Of 525 articles screened, 20 were selected for inclusion. Six were cross-sectional, four had a prospective cohort study design, and one was an epidemiological study. The pooled prevalence of Ng/Ct in MSM was 27% (95% CI, 19-39%), with an I2 of 98% signifying heterogeneity among the studies. Subgroup analysis by country revealed South Africa had the highest prevalence (38%). Interpretation The high prevalence of Ng/Ct infection among MSM in SSA is of concern. Limitations Due to limited data available on Ng/Ct prevalence, the true prevalence of SSA and its associated risk factors is uncertain. As the first study to systematically review the available literature on STI prevalence among the MSM population in SSA, it showed the burden of Ng/Ct is higher than in other regions, warranting the strengthening of health systems to improve education, testing, and treatment in MSM population. PROSPERO CRD42022327095.