South Africa National Research Articles

Conference on ‘Land, Race and Nation in South Africa’, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 19–22 June 2013

Conference on ‘Land, Race and Nation in South Africa’, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 19–22 June 2013

Vicious Attacks on Foreign Nationals in South Africa: An Entrenched Culture of Impunity

The recent occurrence of violent attacks by the law enforcement agents and the South African citizens on foreign nationals living in South Africa has attracted international attention and projects the country as hostile to foreigners. Even though the Government has come out openly to condemn these dastardly acts, it is contended that the condemnation has not been backed up with any serious action to bring the culprits to book in order to serve as deterrent to would-be perpetrators. This article argues that the perpetrators continue to violently attack and murder foreign nationals in South Africa because in previous cases nothing was done to bring the culprits to book. The action of the Government, to say the least, is tantamount to promoting culture of impunity. While the article highlights various remedies available to the victims, the situation is that conviction in such cases are rare in view of the 2008 xenophobic attacks in South Africa which up till today, a single conviction is yet to be recorded thereby consolidating an entrenched culture of impunity. The article concludes that unless government talks are backed with action by ensuring that perpetrators are brought to book, there is every likelihood for reoccurrence. The article highlights remedies available to the victims and how to seek redress at the appropriate institutions. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n13p801

Royal Society of South Africa National School Science Essay Competition 2013

Royal Society of South Africa National School Science Essay Competition 2013

An Evaluation of the Determinants and Implications of Panel Attrition in the National Income Dynamics Survey (2008‐2010)

AbstractPanel surveys offer a valuable tool for researchers to explore the dynamics underlying individual and household behaviours. The Achilles heel of panel data is attrition. This paper examines the determinants and implications of attrition in the first two waves of South Africa's National Income Dynamics Survey. Multivariate tests in labour market and health specifications show that there is some moderate evidence of attrition bias in estimated coefficients based on the non‐attriting sample. This bias can be seen in labour market specifications, in particular for men, and for Africans, and to a much lesser degree in health specifications, in particular for small samples of Whites. Researchers should take care when using the panel data set to generalise to the overall population.

Extracting gravity wave parameters during the September 2002 Southern Hemisphere major sudden stratospheric warming using a SANAE imaging riometer

Abstract. Using absorption data measured by imaging riometer for ionospheric studies (IRIS) located at the South Africa National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE), Antarctica (72° S, 3° W), we extracted the parameters of gravity waves (GW) of periods between 40 and 50 min during late winter/spring of the year 2002, a period of the unprecedented major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) in the Southern Hemisphere middle atmosphere. During this period, an unprecedented substantial increase of temperature by about 25–30 K throughout the stratosphere was observed. During the period of the occurrence of the major stratospheric warming, there was a reduction of both the GW horizontal phase speeds and the horizontal wavelengths at 90 km. The GW phase speeds and horizontal wavelengths were observed to reach minimum values of about 7 m s−1 and 19 km, respectively, while during the quiet period the average value of the phase speed and horizontal wavelength was approximately 23 m s−1 and 62 km, respectively. The observed event is discussed in terms of momentum flux and also a potential interaction of gravity waves, planetary waves and mean circulation.

‘Cinematographic Calamity’ or ‘Soul-Stirring Appeal to Every Briton’: Birth of a Nation in England and South Africa, 1915–1931

D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation (1915) remains one of the most controversial films ever made, widely condemned for its offensive and racist representations of African Americans in its fictional recreation of the American Civil War and its aftermath. Whilst the reception of the film in the United States has been well documented, far less attention has been paid to the wider impact of the film outside the USA. I investigate the impact of the film in the UK and the issues this raised, shedding light on the protests that were made by the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines' Protection Society, by Sol T. Plaatje (the well-known black South African writer and political leader who was in London at the time), and by several other concerned individuals. These protests brought the film to the attention of the British Colonial Office and the South African High Commissioner in London, W.P. Schreiner. I explore the reaction of the Colonial Office to the film, and the reasons for its decision not to recommend a blanket ban on showing the film in the colonies. W.P. Schreiner, however, took a different view, and as a result of the steps he took the film was not shown in South Africa until 1931. I then consider the reception of the film when it was eventually shown in South Africa, paying attention to the views expressed by Sol Plaatje and in the press more generally. I conclude with an assessment of the impact the film may have had on Plaatje's engagement with the medium of film, evidenced particularly in his ‘travelling bioscope’ in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Association of Neighbourhood and Individual Social Capital, Neighbourhood Economic Deprivation and Self-Rated Health in South Africa – a Multi-Level Analysis

IntroductionSocial capital is said to influence health, mostly in research undertaken in high income countries' settings. Because social capital may differ from one setting to another, it is suggested that its measurement be context specific. We examine the association of individual and neighbourhood level social capital, and neighbourhood deprivation to self-rated health using a multi-level analysis.MethodsData are taken from the 2008 South Africa National Income Dynamic Survey. Health was self-reported on a scale from 1 (excellent) to 5 (poor). Two measures of social capital were used: individual, measured by two variables denoting trust and civic participation; and neighbourhood social capital, denoting support, association, behaviour and safety in a community.ResultsCompared to males, females were less likely to report good health (Odds Ratio 0.82: Confidence Interval 0.73, 0.91). There were variations in association of individual social capital and self-rated health among the provinces. In Western Cape (1.37: 0.98, 1.91) and North West (1.39: 1.13, 1.71), trust was positively associated with reporting good health, while the reverse was true in Limpopo (0.56: 0.38, 0.84) and Free State (0.70: 0.48, 1.02). In Western Cape (0.60: 0.44, 0.82) and Mpumalanga (0.72: 0.55, 0.94), neighbourhood social capital was negatively associated with reporting good health. In North West (1.59: 1.27, 1.99) and Gauteng (1.90: 1.21, 2.97), increased neighbourhood social capital was positively associated with reporting good health.ConclusionOur study demonstrated the importance of considering contextual factors when analysing the relationship between social capital and health. Analysis by province showed variations in the way in which social capital affected health in different contexts. Further studies should be undertaken to understand the mechanisms through which social capital impacts on health in South Africa.

Maternal health: There is cause for optimism

Maternal health is a major health priority for international agencies, the African Union, and the South African Government. In 2000, all United Nations (UN) member states agreed to substantial improvements in maternal health, defined by Millenium Development Goal 5 (MDG5), which includes the specific target of reducing maternal mortality by 75% between 1990 and 2015. While many countries are making progress, maternal mortality in South Africa (SA) has significantly increased during this time. Data from the 2007 Community Survey suggest that maternal mortality in SA, rather than showing evidence of reduction, may have quadrupled from 1998 to 2007. The SA National Committee for Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD) reports, which analyse institutional maternal mortality, have shown an increase in maternal deaths, from the first report in 1998 to the latest triennial report covering the years 2008-2010.

What is the status quo of South Africa's National Health Insurance pilot project?

This editorial was motivated by a colleague's recent criticism of the National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot project that was launched in April 2012. He claimed that patients have not experienced any tangible difference in health service delivery from the pilot NHI districts, compared to that from other non-NHI pilot districts. The selection of 13 pilot NHI districts was based on audit findings, which included the district's health profile, demographics, income levels and other social factors that impact on health, health delivery performance, management of health institutions and compliance with quality standards. I engaged my colleague by asking him if he knew the objectives of the NHI pilots, to which his response was: No. Obviously, from this short interaction I asked myself the question: How many other colleagues are ill- or uninformed about the objectives of the pilot sites and implementation plan of the NHI?

Prevalence of age-adjusted obesity in South Africa and the influence of social determinants: an ecological analysis

BackgroundObesity is a major risk factor for a number of non-communicable diseases that are rapidly becoming a public health and economic development concern in developed and developing countries. Assessing prevalence and understanding factors associated with obesity in context are crucial to controlling non-communicable diseases. This study aims to assess the prevalence of obesity in South Africa and investigate individual, household, and community contextual factors associated with obesity. MethodsThis study combined data from the South Africa National Income Dynamic Survey of 2008 and the South African Index of Multiple Deprivation (SAMID)-2007 using a conceptual hierarchical framework to examine individual economic, psychosocial, social capital, and household indicators as well as neighbourhood economic and environmental factors associated with obesity among South African adults. FindingsAge-adjusted obesity (body-mass index >30 kg/m2) prevalence was 21·15%. About 31% (95% CI 30–34) of adult females and 9% (7–11) of adult males were obese. Education, physical activity, and smoking were negatively associated with obesity. Living in less deprived neighbourhoods increased the likelihood of obesity. Increase in adequacy of perceived needs met, which was used as a psychosocial indicator, reduced the odds of obesity. InterpretationThe prevalence of obesity is high and should be considered as a serious public health challenge in South Africa. A better understanding of psychosocial influences and structural determinants relating to the environment may be essential in order to control obesity in South Africa. FundingNone.

South Africa's National Arts Festival (review)

South Africa's National Arts Festival (review)

Disrupting the South African parliament: performing opposition 1994–2010

The article focuses on the most common form of institutionally punished disruption seen in South Africa's National Assembly since 1994: orders for individual MPs to withdraw from the chamber. The shifting dynamics of such “set-piece” dramatizations of opposition and their relationship with the established analyses of political opposition in post-apartheid South Africa, especially “dominant party democracy” theory are explored. There have been two main styles of disruptive performance in the National Assembly since 1994. Firstly, performances of perceived political marginalization, and secondly, performances that paradoxically lay claim to uphold parliamentary democracy through rule-breaking, which are termed performances of procedure-as-democracy. The article examines how opposition politicians have justified disruption and unpicks the symbolism of prominent incidents. The focus is upon the performance of disruption and its performative aspects, particular the articulation of race and gender. It is argued that performances of procedure-as-democracy are actually one of the principal means by which opposition political parties perform narratives of ANC dominance and as such require much more attention and critical engagement from political scholars interested in dominant party democracy.

Residents’ Perception of Subsidised Low-income Housing in South Africa: A Case Study of Kliptown, Johannesburg

This paper presents findings on the perception of low-income housing occupants on the quality of hou ses that have been built throu gh the South Africa National Housing Subsidy Scheme Progra mme in Kliptown, Johannesburg, South Africa. The study also looks at the expectations of the occupants of t he RDP houses prior to when the houses were allocated to them; if they were met by the houses provided. A structured questionnaire survey wa s conducted in Kliptown, Soweto in Johannesburg to determine the objective of the study. The respondents involved in the data ga thering were only housing subsidy beneficia ries. The su rvey results revealed that the expectations of the occupants in terms of their housing needs were not met . Further findings also revealed that most of the houses had defects, the extents of which mere repairs by the occupants cannot ha ndle. Also, the occu pants indica ted tha t the hou ses were not of good qu a lity. Housing su bsi dy occupants' perception has not been widely explored even though it is generally a ccepted that the qua lity of the South Africa subsidised houses is of low quality. Post- occupancy evaluation and prior and post-consultation with the occupa nts is a s important a s the hou ses being delivered. T he pa per contribu tes to this body of knowledge.

Linking People, Crossing Borders: A Conversation with Mo Ibrahim

Born in northern Sudan at the end of World War II, educated in England with a Ph.D. in engineering and mobile communications, Mo Ibrahim returned to Africa in 1998, bringing cellular technology with him. At the time of his arrival, there were barely three million landline telephones on the entire continent—the bulk of them in North Africa and the nation of South Africa. Most of sub-Saharan Africa was all but inaccessible to terrestrial telephone lines. The Democratic Republic of Congo had only 3,000 phones to serve its population of about 55 million. Seeing demand for mobile phones and with little competition from landlines, Mo Ibrahim created Celtel, beginning in Kenya, branching quickly into Uganda and Tanzania. The company allowed millions of mobile subscribers to roam freely across borders, recharging with local cards as they went. Quickly, Celtel expanded across Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, and finally his native Sudan—a vast pan-African territory almost devoid of telecommunications boundaries. By the time he sold Celtel five years ago, he had linked 24 million people—a number that was growing exponentially.Today, Mo, as he insists on being called, encourages the spread of democracy and democratic leadership as chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The billionaire philanthropist believes his transborder communications system contributes to improved political transparency across Africa and helps the everyday lives of millions. To explain his vision, he talked from Paris with World Policy Journal editor David A. Andelman and managing editor Christopher Shay.

The portraits of Simon van der Stel, first governor of the Cape

In the identification of portraits, often the wish is father to the thought. This is a tendency that is strikingly illustrated by the identification of a pair of Dirck Craey portraits from 1650, one of which was held until recently to be the official likeness of the founder of the Cape Colony, Jan van Riebeeck, and the other that of his first wife, Maria Quevellerius (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The portrait expert Jonkheer F.G.L.O. van Kretschmar has denied the identity of the subjects on convincing grounds; indeed, he has demonstrated how this tendency played its part in the identification of these portraits in the past. 1 In the first place, it played its part in the minds of the 18th century owners of the portrait collection that included the two paintings. The owners wished to feel that they had in their possession an unbroken sequence of ancestral portraits, and so they furnished these two paintings with labels and coats of arms accordingly. Subsequently, the same tendency was shown by certain South African historians. Against a background of growing nationalism in South Africa, especially following the Peace of Vereeniging in 1902 and the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910, these historians began to take an interest in the long neglected founder of the South African nation. Gradually, their interest in Van Riebeeck turned into something very much like a cult, in which Maria Quevellerius was cast in the role of a mother of the fatherland, and along with which there went a deep-seated and justifiable wish for portraits of the founder and his wife. In such a euphoria of nationalist sentiment the identification of the Craey portraits was not conducted with too many scruples.

The making and prevention of rain amongst the Pedi tribe of South Africa: A pastoral response

This article attempted to respond pastorally to the rainmaking and rain prevention rituals which are practised among the Pedi tribes – also called the Northern-Sotho speaking nation of South Africa. The rituals of rainmaking and rain prevention have been practised among the Pedi for a long time – these rituals are in fact still being practised in some of the villages in and around the Limpopo Province. The rituals are practised in time of drought and also during activities such as weddings or traditional gatherings, this is normally called molato. When the village is experiencing drought, community members, upon instruction from the chief of the village, stage a rain ritual and the moroka [rain making traditional doctor] would take the lead in performing such rituals. Families would also perform rain prevention rituals when a gathering or a wedding is being organised to ensure that the rain does not disturb the gathering and everything goes as planned. Thus the purpose of rainfall rituals is to influence the weather conditions in order to cause rain or drought either for good or for destruction. The mentioned rituals and selected scriptural passages were discussed. This article presented the biblical view of rain and conclusion principles were formulated to understand the Bible’s perspective on the mentioned rituals. These conclusions were used for the formulation of practical guidelines.

South Africa's National Development Plan and New Growth Path: reflections on policy contradictions and implications for food security

ABSTRACT Almost two decades after South Africa's political transformation, the country's food security context demands serious attention amidst excessively high unemployment and depressed economic growth. Although food insecurity at household and individual levels is unacceptably high in South Africa, the nation has for decades reported its aggregate national position as “food secure”. This paper examines the purpose and proposals presented in the National Development Plan and New Growth Path Framework against the development requirements of sustainability, productivity and efficiency, reflects on the implications of the proposals on the right to food, and makes recommendations for the design of a comprehensive national food security policy.

Returns dynamics and global integration of BRICS stock markets

The Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) nations are currently among the fastest growing emerging markets. We empirically analyse the BRICS equity market returns’ interdependence on the leading global markets of USA, UK, France and Germany. Results from this study suggest that returns of all BRICS nations are interdependent with the returns of USA, UK, France, and Germany, with varying degree and magnitude. By means of GARCH, we also find evidence of volatility spillover from major global markets to BRICS markets. We explain the observed phenomenon of growing influence – albeit with varying effects – of mature global markets on BRICS equity markets due to the nature of growing trade linkages.

The social determinants of multimorbidity in South Africa

IntroductionMultimorbidity is a growing concern worldwide, with approximately 1 in 4 adults affected. Most of the evidence on multimorbidity, its prevalence and effects, comes from high income countries. Not much is known about multimorbidity in low income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of multimorbidity and examine its association with various social determinants of health in South Africa.MethodThe data used in this study are taken from the South Africa National Income Dynamic Survey (SA-NIDS) of 2008. Multimorbidity was defined as the coexistence of two or more chronic diseases in an individual. Multinomial logistic regression models were constructed to analyse the relationship between multimorbidity and several indicators including socioeconomic status, area of residence and obesity.ResultsThe prevalence of multimorbidity in South Africa was 4% in the adult population. Over 70% of adults with multimorbidity were females. Factors associated with multimorbidity were social assistance (Odds ratio (OR) 2.35; Confidence Interval (CI) 1.59-3.49), residence (0.65; 0.46-0.93), smoking (0.61; 0.38-0.96); obesity (2.33; 1.60-3.39), depression (1.07; 1.02-1.11) and health facility visits (5.14; 3.75-7.05). Additionally, income was strongly positively associated with multimorbidity. The findings are similar to observations made in studies conducted in developed countries.ConclusionThe findings point to a potential difference in the factors associated with single chronic disease and multimorbidity. Income was consistently significantly associated with multimorbidity, but not single chronic diseases. This should be investigated further in future research on the factors affecting multimorbidity.

Developing retention and return strategies for South African advanced life support paramedics: A qualitative study

There is a growing and dire shortage of advanced life support (ALS) paramedics in South Africa (SA). To further understand this phenomenon, a novel and comprehensive mixed method study was conducted. The study was undertaken in two Phases. In Phase One, the aim was to identify factors that influenced the migration and intended migration of ALS paramedics from SA. The aim of Phase Two was to provide, through consensus agreement, an expanded description of those factors, within the context of organisational policies and profession-guided beliefs. The findings of Phase One, published already, and Phase Two, presented in this study, were integrated to obtain an in-depth understanding of SA ALS paramedic migration. This understanding resulted in the development of steering principles, for a framework of strategies on how to retain or encourage the return of SA ALS paramedics. This article presents these steering principles, as well as the findings from Phase Two of the study. ALS paramedics who qualified between 2001 and 2006 made up the study population. In Phase Two, purposive sampling was used to choose a subsample of the study population. In-depth interviews were conducted with this subsample; data were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using qualitative research techniques. Findings suggest that the success of retention and return strategies depends on the degree of collaborative stewardship that must exist between the SA National and Provincial Department of Health, the Emergency Medical Service/s (EMS) statutory governing body, training institutions, and private and public EMS providers. In addition, the constructs of return and retention strategies have to extend as far as revising both acceptance criteria and candidate recruitment policies. Furthermore, while particular attention must be placed on improving working conditions, security, and remuneration of ALS paramedics, return and retention strategies have to be continuously monitored, and updated. On observe une pénurie croissante et catastrophique de personnel paramédical spécialisé en soins avancés de réanimation en Afrique du Sud (AS). Pour mieux comprendre ce phénomène, une nouvelle étude approfondie faisant intervenir plusieurs méthodes a été conduite. Cette étude a été réalisée en deux phases. Au cours de la Phase un, l’objectif était d’identifier les facteurs influençant l’émigration et l’intention d’émigration du personnel paramédical spécialisé en soins avancés de réanimation en Afrique du Sud. L’objectif de la Phase deux était de proposer une description détaillée de ces facteurs, dans le contexte des politiques organisationnelles et des convictions propres à la profession. Les conclusions de la Phase un, déjà publiées, et de la Phase deux, présentées dans cette étude, ont été intégrées afin de mieux comprendre l’émigration du personnel paramédical sud-africain spécialisé en soins avancés de réanimation. Ceci a permis de développer des principes directeurs destinés à un cadre de stratégies de maintien en poste et de retour du personnel paramédical sud-africain spécialisé en soins avancés. Cet article présente ces principes directeurs, ainsi que les conclusions de la Phase deux de l’étude. Le personnel paramédical spécialisé en soins avancé de réanimation diplômé entre 2001 et 2006 constituait la population de l’étude. Des entretiens approfondis ont été menés auprès de ce sous-échantillon; les données ont été enregistrées, transcrites textuellement et analysées thématiquement à l’aide de techniques de recherche qualitatives. Selon les conclusions, la réussite des stratégies de maintien en poste et de retour dépend du degré de bonne gestion qui devrait exister entre le ministère de la Santé national et provincial en Afrique du Sud, l’organe directeur statutaire du ou des services de médecine d’urgence, les institutions de formation et les prestataires de services de médecine d’urgence privés et publics. En outre, les éléments des stratégies de maintien en poste et de retour doivent aller jusqu’à réviser les critères d’acceptation et les politiques de recrutement des candidats. De plus, s’il est nécessaire d’accorder une attention particulière à l’amélioration des conditions de travail, de la sécurité et de la rémunération du personnel paramédical spécialisé en soins avancé de réanimation, les stratégies de maintien en poste et de retour doivent être constamment contrôlées et mises à jour.