Search

The canonical work of Sir Hilary Jenkinson, Manual of Archive Administration, published in 1922, provided the basis of archival theory and practice in many countries, especially British colonies. In his canon, Jenkinson requested the archivists to evaluate the manner in which they select records for permanent preservation. With examples from South Africa, this paper intends to confront the canon about the selection and destruction of modern archives. A complementary method of appraising records based on an 'audit or money trail,' as best illustrated through the Auditor-General of South Africa's audit reports of public entities such as the Armaments Corporation of South Africa, is proposed. This paper ruffles feathers and argues that contrary to established orthodoxies of records selection, financial audit trails provide the most reliable clues of which and what historical records ought to be set aside and preserved. The authors cite the limits of this 'follow the money' method and provide mitigation suggestions. The paper challenges existing appraisal paradigms and has a potential to influence policy, theory and practice of appraisal in developing and developed countries. It also offers a modern-day refurbished continuation and expansion of the ideas addressed by Sir Hilary Jenkinson in his seminal canon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public participation has been found, in prior related studies, as a way of demonstrating impartiality and ensuring inclusivity. In developed countries, governments ensure public participation using e-petitions. This study focused on determining municipal residents' perceptions of the electronic petition system ahead of its execution in City of Tshwane municipality. City of Tshwane is one of the largest municipalities in South Africa. The study relied on collecting quantitative data and thus it falls within the positivism paradigm. Quantitative data were collected via questionnaires involving n = 150 residents in City of Tshwane municipality. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the profiles of participants and then a factor analysis using varimax rotation was performed to identify the resultant factors. The results show that residents are ready for the e-petition system, optimistic about this contemporary initiative as a means of managing problems in their municipal area, and have confidence in the anticipated efficacy of e-petitions. It concludes that the e-petition system may be effective when used along with the traditional paper petition system. Moreover, it raises insights for policymakers, municipal management and government, and makes suggestions for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Innovative interventions are needed to address the growing burden of breast cancer globally, especially among vulnerable patient populations. Given the success of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in addressing communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases, this scoping review will investigate the roles and impacts of CHWs in breast cancer screening programs. This paper also seeks to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of these programs, with particular attention paid to differences between CHW-led interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs).Methods: A scoping review was performed using six databases with dates ranging from 1978 to 2019. Comprehensive definitions and search terms were established for 'Community Health Workers' and 'breast cancer screening', and studies were extracted using the World Bank definition of LMIC. Screening and data extraction were protocolized using multiple independent reviewers. Chi-square test of independence was used for statistical analysis of the incidence of themes in HICs and LMICs.Results: Of the 1,551 papers screened, 33 were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Study locations included the United States (n=27), Bangladesh (n=1), Peru (n=1), Malawi (n=2), Rwanda (n=1), and South Africa (n=1). Three primary roles for CHWs in breast cancer screening were identified: education (n=30), direct assistance or performance of breast cancer screening (n=7), and navigational services (n=6). In these roles, CHWs improved rates of breast cancer screening (n=23) and overall community member knowledge (n=21). Two studies performed cost-analyses of CHW-led interventions.Conclusion: This review extends our understanding of CHW effectiveness to breast cancer screening. It illustrates how CHW involvement in screening programs can have a significant impact in LMICs and HICs, and highlights the three CHW roles of education, direct performance of screening, and navigational services that emerge as useful pillars around which governments and NGOs can design effective programs in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare systems around the world are facing great challenges. This has included rising health care prices and its impact on healthcare expenditures and the concomitant effects on access to healthcare, particularly in emerging and developing countries. This study focuses on health care price developments and health expenditures in South Africa. The study identifies four major results. Firstly, South Africa's healthcare expenditures compare quite favourably with countries at similar levels of development. However, the efficiency of these expenditures lags those in comparable countries. Secondly, it was found that South Africa's healthcare price rises have exceeded those in advanced countries even though healthcare demand and expenditures in these countries are much higher than is the case in South Africa. Thirdly, healthcare rises exceeds those in other sectors of the South African economy. Finally, healthcare price changes adversely impact healthcare expenditures in South Africa. These results indicate that price considerations are critical to improving healthcare access in South Africa. The paper also highlights some non-price determinants of healthcare access that warrant attention by policymakers in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic has affected one and all in unison. Different sectors, including the educational sector, have been disproportionately affected in developing and the least developed nations. Against this backdrop, this paper, while considering the impact that the pandemic has had on the education sector in developing nations viz. – India, South Africa, and Bangladesh, aims to bring to light the importance of teaching global mindset as there are several unique implications, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for these nations. Using qualitative methodology, this research adopts an exploratory approach to understand how, among other things, the education sector can catalyze the development and teaching of a global mindset in the selected three countries and can be responsive even beyond. Ten semi-structured interviews have been conducted with "institutional heads/directors" across higher educational institutions in the nations under study to answer the research question that brings out three themes: global and local problem solving, resources, and international experiential learning and exposure toward developing a global mindset. Finally, while corroborating the findings of the research, the article also proposes a new definition of a "global mindset". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. Urban food security is a significant development challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the field is currently under -researched and under-theorized. Urban food insecurity, where it is considered, has been viewed through a development studies lens that views food insecurity as a household-scale problem. There has been significant focus on food deserts in developed countries as one way of engaging with such insecurity. The food deserts research views food insecurity through a social exclusion and food justice lens. This article introduces the food desert concept to provide a conceptual tool to begin to understand the spatial determinants of urban food insecurity, which are not well captured by the existing framings of food security in the region. Using data from a 2008 household food security survey conducted in Cape Town, the paper highlights gaps in the food deserts approach, most significantly its neglect of non-market sources of food and of household decision-making processes. The paper therefore concludes by suggesting a new approach which takes the household's assets, abilities and decision-making as the starting point and overlays this with the market and non-market foodscapes accessed by these households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formed in 2008, the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) is a One Health consortium of academic and research institutions involved with infectious diseases of humans and animals. Operating in partnership with world-renowned centres of research in industrialised countries, its mission is to harness innovations in science and technology for improving southern Africa's capacity to detect, identify, monitor (DIM) and manage the risk posed by infectious diseases of humans, animals, and ecosystems. The consortium's major capacity development activities include a series of One Health-based Master of Science (MSc) courses and a five-year DIM-driven research program. Additionally, SACIDS organized Africa's first One Health conference, in July 2011. This paper describes these and other major activities that SACIDS has undertaken to improve infectious disease surveillance across southern Africa. The paper also describes the role and collaboration of SACIDS with other national, regional and international consortia/networks that share a vision and interest in promoting novel approaches to infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration from developing to developed countries has been accompanied by growing resentment of immigrants and refugees. While xenophobic sentiment continues to be strongly entrenched in developed countries, it is increasingly prevalent in developing countries as well. This paper examines the rise of xenophobic sentiment and action in India and South Africa. The response of the state to xenophobic violence in each jurisdiction is considered. In each case, the ability of the state to formulate and implement remedial policies is compromised by its own complicity or denialism in regard to xenophobia. Without a coordinated international, regional and national recognition of the magnitude of the problem and the formulation of a coherent and coordinated response (including much more research on the actual rather than imagined impacts of migration), xenophobia will continue to undermine the rights of migrants and bedevil efforts to maximize the development potential of migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article looks at the influence of the socio-political conditions on the economic development program in the African Reserves of South Africa as of May 1966. Attention focused recently in journals and elsewhere on the Reserves has stressed political above economic factors. In particular, the granting of a small measure of autonomy to the Transkei (the largest Reserve) has been high-lighted. But even complete political autonomy (a very distant prospect) would be a fragile achievement unless fortified by the realization of economic potential. Economic development thus assumes an importance in the long run at least equal to political development. In this paper it is proposed, therefore (1) to describe the reasons for the relative economic backwardness of the Reserves; (2) to briefly mention some proposals for development and actual government policy in the Reserves in recent times; and (3) to suggest how this policy needs to be changed. The article presents a summary on the political background to the present economic development program being implemented in the nation. Just as the more advanced parts of the South African economy could be more fully employed in developing the less advanced, so could it contribute considerably to the development of the African continent at large--if only the political climate allowed.

Indiscriminate dumping of waste is a global problem. It affects diverse regions across both developing and developed countries. With a view to understanding indiscriminate dumping in the South African context, the authors decided to undertake a synthesis literature review, as they wanted to determine the global scope of the research conducted on the drivers of indiscriminate dumping. The review showed that the drivers of indiscriminate dumping fell into three major categories, which interact with one another and even overlap. These drivers were insufficient waste management services (which is most prevalent in developing countries); residents' knowledge and awareness of waste; and social dis/organisation in societies in both developed and developing countries. Two aspects are highlighted: The social dis/organstion aspect is under researched and it is clear that we need to understand each community's unique drivers before planning for interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the South African National Innovation Survey to analyse the firm and industry characteristics that determine R&D collaboration with knowledge institutions. Besides examining the complementarity among innovation activities, we particularly focus on the complementarity between R&D collaboration and the internationalization of production. Consistent with the asset exploiting motive for outward FDI, we find that firms that established a subsidiary abroad are more likely to engage in cooperative research agreements with universities or public research organizations. Hence, inducing domestic firms to enter into foreign markets will enhance R&D cooperation with knowledge institutions in the home country. Furthermore, R&D collaboration is a complementary innovation strategy to the use of publicly available information and to engaging in cooperative research agreements with suppliers or customers. We also find that firms providing knowledge-intensive services such as (medical) R&D, ICT, and engineering services and firms in the chemical industry are more likely to engage in cooperative research agreements with knowledge institutions. Finally, in contrast to findings from studies in more advanced countries, we find that appropriability concerns may form a barrier preventing R&D collaboration with scientific organizations. Hence, improvements in the protection of intellectual property rights may foster industry-science R&D partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present value model (PVM) is considered a cornerstone of financial theory and practice, yet the limited empirical tests thereof have produced varying results depending on the method used. In addition, these tests have focused principally on developed countries, with little knowledge of the validity of the PVM for developing markets. This study employs firm-level data and advanced panel unit root and cointegration tests to assess the PVM for South Africa using a sample of firms that have consistently paid dividends over the period 1999 to 2018. The results largely support the assertion of the model that the stock price is a function of future dividends but the relationship does not move in perfect harmony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although innovation policy mix as an analytical framework has been widely used and reported for developed countries, its application to developing countries has been minimal. In this study, an exploratory sequential approach has been followed in order to initially profile the policy mix in South Africa and then develop an understanding of how the policy mix could be rebalanced, and hence be more effective, in addressing the requirements within its manufacturing sector. The characterization followed the typology as used by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in order to allow a cross-case comparison with two other countries (India and Canada). This analysis has concluded that South Africa's policy mix is dominated by supply-side measures which support early stage research with more limited assistance for market development. Rebalancing the innovation policy mix towards the use of more demand-side instruments, combined with generic rather than population targeted policies, could address these deficiencies and improve the prospects for the sector. It is further proposed that the methodology be routinely applied in developing countries, particularly as a means of ensuring policy cohesion and synergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed qualitative secondary analysis of transcriptions of 16 group treatment sessions with 18 women (average age 30.5 years) who participated in the Survivor to Thriver (S2T) collaborative strengths-based group intervention program for women survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in South Africa. Applying an analytical framework, inductive thematic analysis was performed. One immediate loss, namely loss of childhood innocence, and two ongoing losses, the loss of how to interconnect and loss of living life to the fullest, were identified in the data. Findings correlate with studies in developed countries and may contribute to the global knowledge base on this topic and inform further treatment practice. Practice implications and limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased salt intake leads to an increase in blood pressure and decreased sodium intake relative to the usual or increased intake results in lowered blood pressure in adults, with or without hypertension. Blood pressure is a strong proxy indicator for the risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and strokes. Hypertension is estimated to have caused 9% of all deaths in South Africa in 2000. In 2008, 42% of men and 34% of women aged 35-44 years, and 60% of men and 50% of women aged 45-54 years, were hypertensive. More than 70% of both men and women older than 65 years of age were hypertensive in 2008. Multilevel and multisectorial strategies are required to lower salt intake at population level, including the legislation of food supply, clearer labelling and signposting of food packaging, and improved consumer education on behavioural change regarding salt usage practices. A comprehensive national strategy that focuses on salt reduction is needed to reduce national blood pressure levels in the future. Legislating the levels of salt in processed food is only one part of this national strategy. All health professionals and educators should also provide appropriate nutritional recommendations that will educate, motivate and enable consumers to change their nutritional behaviour to reduce salt intake to less than 5 g per day, as recommended. The aim of this review is to revise the current food-based dietary guideline for salt, the implementation of which would contribute to lowering population salt intake, and blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although formalised practices of technology transfer at research institutions are well established in many developed countries, these practices are still very much in their infancy in South Africa. The country is however currently focused on improving technology transfer activities and measuring the performance thereof, as exemplified by the recent implementation of a new intellectual property act. In support of the latter and in an effort to obtain an accurate overview of the status quo of technology transfer in South Africa, it was decided to evaluate organisational structures and key factors determining successful technology transfer at 13 publicly funded research institutions. It is recommended that technology transfer practices in South Africa be further strengthened through the expansion of dynamic collaborative networks and communities of practice. Crucial to these objectives is the development of appropriate metrics for measuring the successes and impact of technology transfer, taking into account the socio-economic and institutional specificities in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the Brazil-South Africa Journalism Research Initiative, the purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to some of the main themes and topics in South African (SA) journalism research, and to contribute to the further theoretical conceptualisation of the initiative against the background of the opinion raised in this article about the nature of SA journalism research. The article is structured around four arguments: how the legacy of apartheid has guided, if not dictated, SA journalism research and continues to do so; how the dichotomy of SA society, being both a Third and a First World, affects SA journalism research; how being primarily quantitative, empirical research has produced a mainly self-reflexive and self-indulgent body of journalism research and has obstructed the way for a more phenomenological approach to SA journalism, as being first and foremost a communication phenomenon and a part of cultural production and the production of the SA semiosphere of mediated meaning; and how representation could form a metatheory for future research and contribute to the ontological and epistemological points of departure of the comparative research between South Africa and Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a common B-cell childhood neoplasm and it has a higher incidence in the 0-14 year age group in developing countries compared to developed countries. Treatment achieves a cure rate of about 80%. In African countries with a small gross domestic product per capita the cost of treating HL in children may be prohibitive. To determine the direct costs of treatment of HL in South Africa and to propose a more cost-effective approach to investigation and treatment for children diagnosed with HL in Africa, tumor registry data for 138 children with HL from two South African hospitals were analysed retrospectively. The cost of treatment for stage 2 disease was calculated, including investigations and chemotherapy. The analysis included the cost of a follow-up period of 2 years. Stage 2 was the most common stage seen, and ABVD protocol was the most common protocol used. The total cost of diagnosing, staging, treating with chemotherapy and following up a child with stage 2 HL for 2 years post-therapy was ZAR 53178.20 = USD 6647.27 = EUR 4431.51. Follow-up expenditure was much higher than initial chemotherapy costs. The major factors driving the cost for the whole group of 138 patients were as follows: stage, radiologic imaging, radiotherapy, second-line chemotherapy, hospitalisation and febrile neutropenia. The total cost of treatment of HL is affordable for first world countries, but it remains expensive for developing countries, especially in Africa where the GDP is often under USD 2000 per head. Early diagnosis, use of less toxic protocols such as ABVD, close monitoring to prevent complications and elimination of unnecessary tests and investigations may reduce the overall cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]