South Africa Research Articles

Hoping to Adhere? Examining the Relationship Between Hope and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Willingness, Adherence, and Persistence Among Young Women in South Africa and Zimbabwe (HPTN 082).

Hope is a powerful psychological construct which is linked to positive health. Greater hope is associated with improved antiretroviral therapy adherence; however, less is known about the impact of hope on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) outcomes. HIV Prevention Trials Network 082, was an open-label PrEP study among young women (ages 16-25) in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Hope was measured at baseline and follow-up using a subset of the Hope for the Future Scale (score range 6-24) and PrEP willingness was measured using a subscale of the HIV Prevention Readiness Measure (score range 6-30). Intracellular tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) concentrations were obtained from dried blood spot samples at weeks 13, 26, and 52; high PrEP adherence was defined as TFV-DP concentrations ≥ 700 fmol/punch. Persistence was defined as TFV-DP > 16 fmol/punch at weeks 26 and 52. Linear regression and generalized estimating equations were used to assess the relationship between hope and PrEP willingness, adherence, and persistence. The median age of participants (n = 432) was 21years (interquartile range [IQR]: 19-22). The mean hope score at baseline was 21.0 (SD = 3.4). Although hope was positively associated with PrEP willingness (β = 0.22, 95% CI 0.15, 0.37), it was not associated with high PrEP adherence (aRR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.96, 1.05), or persistence at follow-up (aRR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.99, 1.05). While cultivating hope may be an important strategy in building willingness to take oral PrEP, it may not be enough to sustain PrEP adherence or persistence.

Comparing the South African and Brazilian student uprisings (2015–2016): Similarities, Circulations, and Distance

ABSTRACT South Africa and Brazil are notorious for having some of the highest levels of (racialised) inequality on the planet, and dysfunctional education systems failing millions in their aspirations for a better life. Over 2015-16, student protests erupted across Brazilian and South African schools and universities, challenging these conditions through strikes, occupations, on-campus and street protests, and intellectual production. This paper builds on a World-Systems theoretical framework to understand the similarities, circulation, and distance between the two contemporaneous movements. In Brazil, the ‘Primavera Secundarista' high school occupations dealt primarily with local political dynamics, such as school closures, and intersectional forms of oppression. In South Africa, the ‘Fallist' university mobilisations demanded free, decolonised education, alongside addressing issues of outsourcing and institutional racism. In the first section, I give a comparative overview of these student movements’ similarities, situating them in their context and highlighting the key concerns and political and pedagogical practices of student activists in each. While these movements did not generally engage with each other, there were some important points of interaction, discussed in the second section. While highlighting these points of connection, I also advance an argument in the third section for why there was nevertheless relatively little direct engagement between these contemporaneous movements that otherwise had so much in common. The points of connection and disconnection between these similar movements offers insights about the functioning of the contemporary World-System and the modes of transnational circulation between movements therein, with lessons for transnational understandings of social movements, especially South-South movements.

Redressing urban land dispossession of Indians in Cato Manor, Durban, South Africa

ABSTRACT In South Africa, the 1913 Land Act and the Group Areas Act of 1950 resulted in about 3.5 million people being dispossessed of their land and business sites, with little or no compensation. Cato Manor, one of the earliest settlements occupied by Indians after the completion of indenture, was one such site of displacement in Durban. In the democratic era, the Durban City Council used the Section 34 application by the Cato Manor Development Agency (CMDA) to rule out the restoration of land lost by those dispossessed by the Group Areas Act in Cato Manor. Drawing from data collected from the Land Claims Commission, proceedings of the Land Claims Court, and participation in urban restitution workshops, this paper analyses the Cato Manor Section 34 application to illustrate the conflict between two competing public interests: low-cost housing and the need for restoration of land to those who were dispossessed by apartheid forced removals.

Evaluating the Socioecological Classroom in Full-Service Schools: A Whole-School Approach to the Inclusive Education Context in South Africa

This paper evaluates the socioecological classroom in the context of a whole-school approach to inclusive education, which has evolved beyond the traditional classroom setting. Inclusive education calls for a paradigm shift to accommodate learners previously marginalised, with the classroom transforming into an ecosystem. The socioecological paradigm steers away from the notion that psychological and physiological elements are the main causes of disability. The importance of addressing multiple layers of influence is emphasised to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment. First, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, which emphatically explains how a learner’s development is influenced by the systems in the environment that surrounds them, and then Foucault’s Theory of Power and Knowledge, in which power and knowledge are interconnected and inseparable, with power being exercised through the creation and control of knowledge, guided this study. A qualitative approach was adopted, and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and non-participant observation were used to collect data. Phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data from these data-collecting instruments. It was found that learners with disabilities need support at home, with imbalances being found in the power–knowledge relations between teachers and parents, and teachers occupying a superior position regarding academic knowledge. Some teachers still believe in the Medical-Deficit Model. A strengths-based approach should rather be adopted. Strategies for enhancing community–school collaboration that balances teacher–parent power dynamics should be explored.

Co-constructing identities and ideological positions in conversational storytelling among friends

Research has shown that identities and ideologies result from a complex interplay between various social, cultural and psychological factors, such as socialisation, shared experiences, cultural backgrounds and institutional practices in media, education and family. However, due to this tendency to focus on macro identity categories and macro-level ideological processes, more research is needed on how these categories and ideologies are co-constructed and operationalised within micro contexts, such as between friends. In doing so, we can explore the malleability of ideologies and identities as individuals (re)negotiate their beliefs and affiliations over time, often within micro, everyday activities. Using ethnographic methods and a practice approach to narrative, this paper shows how the analysis of conversational practices, specifically storytelling, can provide a window into the granular semiotic and discursive processes through which group identities and ideologies are (re)negotiated in mundane everyday discourse. The analyses of naturally occurring conversations between friends in Cape Town, South Africa, show that, through the use of constructed dialogue and other evaluative devices, interlocutors jointly negotiate complex alignments and positions in relation to a variety of social issues and ordinary occurrences, simultaneously and implicitly (re)establishing or (re)defining their group positionalities and ideologies.

“An Emotional Cycle”: Excitement, Worry, and Joy in a Citizen Science Biodiversity Project Using Bee Hotels

ABSTRACT This paper considers the affective and emotional aspects of citizen scientist engagement in a research project aiming to map solitary bee diversity across Johannesburg, South Africa. In social media engagement by people participating as citizen scientists, expressions of emotions were a key feature. To further understand the implications of emotions for the science and for the citizens, we undertook interviews with a sub-set of recruited participants. These are contextualized by a discussion of key literature on citizen science and human-insect relations. The findings presented show how excitement, worry and joy were expressed by participants at different stages of the citizen science project. We then theorize on the role of emotion in this specific citizen science project and argue that emotion should be considered at the design stage of other citizen science projects as it can play a key role in creating experiences that are rewarding for citizens, as well as producing useful data for scientists.

Idea generation and planning time in second language academic writing: An empirical investigation at Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Idea generation is a cognitive process which underlies the production of coherent writing. However, little is known about the nature of this process and how it is affected by different preparatory conditions. The current study examines the effects of three planning time conditions: ‘planning time’ (10 minutes), ‘extended planning time’ (20 minutes) and ‘no planning time’ and two task conditions, namely ‘topic given’ and ‘topic and ideas given’, and their effect on the quality and the quantity of idea units produced in the planning notes and essays of 30 English Second Language (ESL) learners at a South African university. The study aims to replicate an earlier study by Ong, and tests four hypotheses: hypotheses 1 and 2 state that an extended planning time has a positive effect on both the quantity and the quality of ideas generated in planning notes (hypothesis 1) and essays (hypothesis 2). Hypotheses 3 and 4 state that additional ideas alongside a topic enhance the idea generation process in both planning notes (hypothesis 3) and essays (hypothesis 4). Our findings do not verify hypothesis (1) as neither in the planning notes nor the essays was the quantity of ideas affected by the planning time conditions. Hypothesis 2 was partially verified as the quality of ideas in the essays — but not in the planning notes — improved as an effect of an extended planning time. These results differ from Ong whose data fully support both hypotheses 1 and 2. Our data falsify hypotheses 3 and 4 as the topic-given condition consistently produced both a better quality and a larger quantity of ideas in the planning notes and in the essays of the participants. This finding concurs with Ong. In conclusion, the attempt at a replication of Ong only partially yielded the same results. Interestingly, the data indicate that the idea-generation process differed between the production of the planning notes and the production of the essays.

Green beauty: examining factors shaping millennials’ attitudes toward organic personal care products in South Africa

PurposeThis study aims to explore the factors that influence millennials’ attitudes toward organic personal care products, focusing on the role of health consciousness, environmental concerns and quality perceptions.Design/methodology/approachAn electronic, self-administered survey was used to collect 377 responses. The data analysis utilized partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe findings reveal that environmental concerns, health consciousness and perceived behavioral control play a significant role in shaping millennials’ attitudes toward organic personal care products, while the perceived quality of organic personal care products significantly influences their purchase intentions.Practical implicationsThe results of this study provide valuable insights for personal care product manufacturers, retailers and marketers looking to target millennial consumers. By understanding the key factors that influence millennials’ attitudes and purchase intentions, marketers in the personal care product industry can tailor their strategies effectively.Social implicationsThe study’s findings inform strategies that promote healthier and more environmentally conscious consumer behavior. This aligns with broader societal goals of promoting sustainability and health consciousness, contributing to a more environmentally and socially responsible consumer culture.Originality/valueThe study’s contribution lies in its focused exploration of the interplay between health consciousness, environmental concerns and quality perceptions on millennials’ attitudes toward organic personal care products.

The effects of mass media messages, perceived susceptibility and self-rated health on public attitude towards COVID-19 in South Africa

ObjectivesSouth Africa was the worst affected country in Africa by the COVID-19 pandemic and it is important to interrogate the attitude of the populace towards the pandemic for future interventions. Therefore, this study examined effects of mass media messages, susceptibility to COVID-19 and self-rated health on the attitudes of South Africans towards the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData was from the National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) of 2021 which is a nationally representative panel survey of about 7,000 South African individuals in all the nine provinces. Analyses of data were through descriptive statistics, chi square test and logistic regression models.ResultsThe results showed that 61.28% of the resondents did not take COVID-19 test while 91.09% of them engaged in behavioral changes such as social distancing and wearing of face masks. In addition, 74.27% of the respondents had access to mass media information, 70.44% believed they have good physical health while 32.43% felt they were not susceptible to COVID-19. The chi-square results of attitude towards COVID-19 showed significant differences in access to mass media messages on COVID-19, race, and province of residence. Furthermore, respondents who had access to mass media information on COVID-19 (OR = 1.469; p = 0.001) and respondents who believed that they were susceptible to COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.443; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of engagement in behavioral changes to avoid the COVID-19.ConclusionThese findings therefore emphasize the need for increased awareness and sensitization of the people about the susceptibility and adverse effects of diseases to ensure that they adopt the appropriate attitudes that will safeguard them from such diseases outbreak.

Guidelines for the transfer of people living with HIV attending primary healthcare facilities in South Africa: a scoping review

Abstract People living with HIV may move between health facilities: this is called ‘transfer’, and includes up- and down-referral based on clinical condition and lateral transfer (e.g. between primary healthcare [PHC] facilities for reasons such as geographic mobility or stigma). Transfers involving PHC facilities occur frequently and are associated with viraemia and disengagement. We reviewed the South African National Department of Health (NDOH) and Southern African HIV Clinicians Society websites and contacted NDOH officials to identify national guidelines applicable to HIV care in South Africa for recommendations on transfers involving PHC facilities. In total, 21/24 (88%) documents mentioned transfer, using the terms ‘referral’, ‘linkage’, ‘transfer’, ‘transition’ and ‘handover’. Guidelines defined ‘linkage to care’ as connecting individuals to care after HIV testing, but other terms were not well defined. Documents emphasised transfers between different levels of the health system, and transfers between PHC facilities received limited attention. The transfer process was delineated for linkage to care, up- and down-referrals, but not for transfers between PHC facilities. Clinical management of patients transferring between PHC facilities and tracing of patients who requested transfers and missed their visits were not specified. Overall, transfers between PHC facilities were not well addressed and require attention to improve HIV treatment outcomes.

Signature Specimen: Ludlockite at the Johannesburg Geological Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa

Signature Specimen: Ludlockite at the Johannesburg Geological Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa

Exploring the diversity of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) in South Africa: host plants, distribution, and DNA barcoding analysis, with the description of nine new species

Despite relatively extensive historical exploration being carried out on Lepidopteran fauna of South Africa, leaf-mining micromoths of the family Gracillariidae remain a source of discovery, with many new species awaiting description. In the present work, 32 gracillariid species from South Africa are treated. For each species, hostplant and distribution information is provided, supplemented by taxonomic and molecular analysis where necessary. Nine species are described here as new to science: Ectropina spirostachydis sp. nov., Leucocercops curatellifoliae sp. nov., Phodoryctis tephrosiella sp. nov., Telamoptilia cordati sp. nov., Phyllonorycter pseudogrewiella sp. nov., Cameraria melhaniella sp. nov., Phyllocnistis magalismontani sp. nov., P. allisonae sp. nov. and P. faureae sp. nov. Sixteen host plant species are reported for the first time for the family Gracillariidae: Searsia pyroides (Anacardiaceae), Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae), Combretum zeyheri, Terminalia sericea (Combretaceae), Euclea divinorum (Ebenaceae), Spirostachys africana (Euphorbiaceae), Peltophorum africanum, Tephrosia rhodesica, Schotia brachypetala (Fabaceae), Cryptocarya transvaalensis (Lauraceae), Melhania acuminata (Malvaceae), Syzygium guineense (Myrtaceae), Ochna pretoriensis (Ochnaceae), Protea rubropilosa, Faurea saligna (Proteaceae), Englerophytum magalismontanum (Sapotaceae). Caloptilia mwamba De Prins, 2015 is recorded for the first time in South Africa.

Salinity modulates morpho-physiology, biochemical and antioxidant defence system in Tetragonia decumbens Mill.: a neglected wild leafy vegetable in South Africa

Salinity modulates morpho-physiology, biochemical and antioxidant defence system in Tetragonia decumbens Mill.: a neglected wild leafy vegetable in South Africa

Subsistence and Resistance in the Consumption of Counterfeits in South Africa

Subsistence and Resistance in the Consumption of Counterfeits in South Africa

Characterisation and Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Rare Earth Elements in Discard Coal and Coal Fly Ash

Rare earth elements (REEs) have been identified as valuable and critical raw materials, vital for numerous technologies and applications. With the increasing demand for and supply gap in REEs, many research studies have focused on alternative sources of REEs. This study involved an elemental and mineralogical characterisation of discarded coal from a coal plant and coal fly ash (CFA) from a power station in South Africa for REE presence. XRD results revealed that the discard coal sample consisted mainly of kaolinite, pyrite, siderite, quartz, calcite, gypsum, and muscovite, whereas CFA contained abundant glassy amorphous phases, alumina silicates, quartz, gypsum, calcite, and minute levels of muscovite and hematite. SEM-EDAX showed REE-carrying grains containing phosphorus in both discard coal and CFA samples. This was followed by investigating the leaching potential of REEs using hydrochloric acid from discard coal and CFA. This research’s potential impact is possibly providing a new and sustainable source of REEs. For that purpose, multiple batch leaching tests were performed to investigate the effects of temperature and acid concentration on the leaching efficiencies of REEs from discard coal and CFA. The experimental results indicated that temperature strongly influences REE leaching efficiency, while acid concentration has a lesser impact. This study identifies the best leaching conditions for the total REE recovery as 1 M HCl and 80 °C for discard coal and CFA.

Biological control against Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley (Cactaceae) and the perceptions of land-users in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

ABSTRACT Invasive alien cacti threaten indigenous biodiversity and negatively impact agricultural productivity in the Eastern Cape Province. One of the most problematic species is jointed cactus, Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley (Cactaceae). A biological control agent, the cochineal insect Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto (Dactylopiidae), is mass-reared and released against O. aurantiaca in the province. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of D. austrinus against O. aurantiaca through post-release monitoring as perceived by land-users. Post-release monitoring indicated that the number of cladodes of O. aurantiaca declined from 30 (SE ± 1.1)/m2 to 5 (SE ± 1.7)/m2 during a 30-month study period. Forty-seven land-users who had received D. austrinus for O. aurantiaca were interviewed with standardised questionnaires. Most land-users perceived biocontrol as effective, with 71% of land-users reporting a decrease of O. aurantiaca after the release of D. austrinus, and 62% of land-users indicating that the reduction in O. aurantiaca had resulted in environmental and agricultural benefits. Ninety-four per cent of the land-users perceived biocontrol as a safe method without non-target impacts. This study confirms that biological control has been accepted by land-users and they believe it is effective and that mass-rearing of the agent should be increased so that more releases can be made.

Evaluating policies and regulations used to control corruption among accounting officers in the public sector of South Africa: a systematic literature review

Evaluating policies and regulations used to control corruption among accounting officers in the public sector of South Africa: a systematic literature review

Towards inclusive urban real estate: Innovative strategies for shaping urban real estate developments in South Africa

South Africa, like many emerging economies, grapples with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, unequal access to resources, and historical spatial inequalities. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that reimagines urban real estate development as a catalyst for positive social change. This paper explores the imperative of inclusive urban real estate development in South Africa and presents innovative strategies to promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in urban environments. Following a quantitative inquiry technique, primary data was gathered from 109 built environment professionals with experience in sustainable urban development. To support this, descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used. According to the descriptive analysis using the mean score (MS) ranking technique, the development of affordable housing was one of the higher up-front innovative strategies for reshaping real estate development. Ensuring objectivity in city planning, re-engineering the city streets and buildings to create a safer environment were among the highly ranked strategies. The EFA further demonstrated that “urban redevelopment”, “government regulations”, “spatial planning”, “urban policy” and “diversification” were the underlying groups of new approaches for inclusive development. Implementing these innovative strategies, South Africa can move towards a more inclusive and equitable urban landscape, where urban real estate development becomes a force for positive social change, fostering sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life for all citizens. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on urban development in South Africa and offers actionable insights for policymakers, developers, and community stakeholders invested in shaping more inclusive cities.

Dear Mr Sobukwe: examining Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe’s pan-African vision and how it has influenced youth movements in South Africa today

Pan-Africanism is experiencing a resurgence amongst young people in post-1994 South Africa. In this article, I explore how people across different generations interpret the legacy of a critical figure in South African history, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe. The participants in this research and I represent a sliver in the changing interpretations of Sobukwe’s legacy in South Africa after 1994. I have chosen an epistolary form as the key organising framework to share my ethnographic research, mirroring Sobukwe’s own prolific letter writing practice throughout his life. The article presents letters written by two participants in my research to Sobukwe, followed by a response letter from me. This forms a dialogical conversation between me, the researcher, the participants in my research and Robert Sobukwe. The research essay contains elements of auto-ethnography, allowing me to engage closely with how Sobukwe has impacted my own thinking about justice in South Africa. I focus on education, a key tenet in Sobukwe’s pan-Africanist vision. The article shows the ongoing erasure of Black liberation fighters from contemporary South Africa and the impact of coloniality in education.

E-learning Supporting Infrastructure Investment in South Africa: Perspective of a Developing Economy

South Africa is one of the developing economies. Most of its provinces are in rural areas and have poor or lack of reliable critical infrastructure to enable development as in the case of urban areas. Infrastructure refers to physical structures that serve as the underlying foundation for the functioning of an economy. It includes physical facilities such as communication systems (telephone lines, broadband), and power supply systems (electrical grids, dams, etc.). The focus of the study is on information communication technological infrastructure (ICT) such as telephone and broadband networks and electricity infrastructure that support the adoption of e-learning. Many schools in South Africa are in rural areas and are attended by the majority of learners. These learners should perform the same way as learners in urban schools. Urban schools have better access to ICT infrastructure. Due to a lack of equitable ICT infrastructure, many education institutions back-tracked from the hybrid teaching mode implemented during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown to the traditional class/lecture-room mode of teaching. It is revealed in the study that South Africa struggles in the area of infrastructure development. These affect the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) which are heavily dependent on infrastructure, including education. E-learning offers a better advantage compared to traditional class/lecture-room-based education. ICT infrastructure that supports the provision of e-learning is not equitably distributed, and those that are available are not enough and reliable. South Africa is reported to need R4.8 trillion to achieve its critical infrastructure goals, indicating a dire need for infrastructure investment. Under-investment in infrastructure affects all sectors of the economy, including the education sector.