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Background: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV- 2) variants with novel spike protein mutations has been shown to be influencing the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Due to studies showing various dietary benefits of zinc as a viral replication inhibitor as well as an immunity enhancer, organometallic complexes incorporating zinc ions can be ideal antiviral candidates due to their structural variation and diverse stereochemistry. Methods: In silico studies were conducted for the virtual screening of zinc complexes with SARSCoV- 2 and host proteins to explore their effect on viral entry and replication activity. Molegro Virtual Docker along with AutoDock was used for the identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor complexes from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Molecular dynamics (MD), density functional theory (DFT), chemical absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties (ADMET) were used to support the findings from virtual screening. Results: In correlation with SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and spike receptorbinding domain bound with ACE2 docking results, the compound (bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole)- bis(2-furoato)-zinc(ii)) (CSD code ECOZAA) occurs to be a potential metal complex SARS-CoV-2 receptor inhibitor. The compound ECOZAA was observed (in silico binding affinity = - 179.29kcal/mol) to behave better than the clinically approved drug Remdesivir (in silico binding affinity = -62.69kcal/mol) against SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The large HOMO- LUMO gap for the ECOZAA compound is an indication of the low chemical reactivity as well as the great kinetic stability of the compound. Conclusion: Thus, this study highlights the potential use of zinc metal complexes as SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and replication inhibitors.

Since the emergence of postcolonialism, there has been a call for epistemic decolonisation in the African scientific community. Paradigmatic backgrounds are key to defining belief systems that guide research investigations – not only in choice of approach, but also in the contextualisation and execution of research designs. Researchers’ limited understanding of these philosophical backgrounds and the way in which they can transcend towards decolonised research, inhibits researchers’ exploration of the deeper meaning of and commitment to research in the postcolonial context. This paper aims at contextualising the decolonisation of Eurocentric paradigms towards the transcendence of a new worldview that is relevant and unique to the African context. This is done through the analysis of two research methodology modules in Archival Science at an open distance e-learning institution. The genesis of postcolonial research, which lies in replacing dominant “truths” with marginalised “truths”, aims at rearticulating power, change and knowledge through a multiplicity of epistemologies, ontologies, and axiologies. By applying a postcolonial research paradigm, research can be used as a way of expanding knowledge and creating new knowledge as a starting point of epistemic decolonisation. This article contributes to the dismantling of the old order of research paradigms by exploring the transcendence of existing research paradigms and suggesting a research paradigm that provides a lens through which the postcolonial African scholar can conduct the search for truth in the field of Archival Science. However, it should be noted that, even in critical emancipation, there will still be elitism.

Oral testimony, oral tradition and documents, as represented by written accounts of the facts and the material instruments of the acts and the records, are all ways of indirectly accessing the past. In both cases of oral and written records, what is considered ‘true’ is entirely dependent on the trustworthiness of its source. African societies have been communicating and storing valuable information through memory, murals and rock art paintings since time immemorial. The dominant Western canons have previously classified this memory as prelegal and nonlegal. This study, using a literature review, mainly through previous work of this author, explores oral memory as a trusted record in troubled times. It is concluded that, like digital records, oral memory requires proactive efforts to be preserved, as in both instances the content migrates from one carrier to another. Therefore, oral memory is trustworthy when transmitted in its context. Oral memory, it is argued, perfectly fits the description of a record and thus cannot be classified as either prelegal or nonlegal. The transmitter of information through oral history is no different from other media of records.Contribution: The study contributes to the ongoing academic discourse of decolonising and Africanising archives. The study is linked to the scope of the journal for advocating the inclusion of silenced voices into the national archival system.

Sports in South Africa have evolved into an arena for self-discovery, a place of self-revelation. Through sports, particularly athletics, heroes emerged who not only achieved for themselves and their communities, but also served as golden bulbs, flickering lights of hope, inspiration, and motivation to the community. Despite the heroic roles played by athletes, sporting memories of unique and gallant characters remain self-stored, exposed to all natural disasters such as loss, rapid deterioration, inaccessibility, thus turning into golden bulbs covered in a black cloth. This qualitative study adopted oral testimony triangulated with content analysis to explore the memories of undocumented athletics heroes in South Africa. Snowball sampling was adopted to help locate historically excluded athletics heroes and sheroes. The study revealed that athletes' houses have been transformed into museums encompassing all of their running memories, displayed all over their living rooms, with only a few athletes overseeing forgotten historical memories of most legendary runners and, in some cases, without specialised handling, compounded by the fact that these archival memories are only accessible to those fortunate enough to be close to these legendary runners. The study recommends that these memories be included in the national archival system so that they can be accessed by the public, as a large portion of athletes' historical memories are unaccounted for and thus inaccessible.

South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa that has a running oral history association. In some countries, especially in southern Africa, these oral history associations have arisen and then died a natural death. For example, Oral Traditions Association of Zimbabwe (OTAZI) did not last long. Therefore, it is a positive development for South Africa to have a functioning oral history association. The Oral History Association of South Africa (OHASA) is the brainchild of the government and is mainly funded by the government. It is involved in the coordination and documentation of stories that were silent during the apartheid era. Therefore, with this highly perceived task it is necessary to critically evaluate its successes and failures in meeting the objectives of the National Oral History Programme (NOHP). This paper, through document analysis and purposively selected interviews, critically evaluates the achievements and shortcomings of the OHASA from its inception to present with the aim of proposing a ‘working’ model which involves the setting up of a monitoring and evaluating system. The paper concludes that although OHASA unveiled the muted marginalised voices, it soral history programme demonstrate elitism in critical emancipatory as mostly the stories of the elites are covered. Furthermore, such recorded stories are not accessible as the recordings are stashed in the boxes in archives repositories.

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has driven mobile applications development. As a result, in the consumer IoT (CIoT) space, any product usually comes with a smartphone application to either control, programme, or just view what is happening with the product. The IoT brings with it opportunities and challenges to consumers. For example, IoT technology makes it possible to connect all of a person’s devices to create a smart eco-system or assemblage. However, the biggest threat in CIoT is personal data security. This study utilized a qualitative narrative inquiry and Delphi technique to explore data security issues that come with CIoT assemblages and associated mobile applications in South Africa. The study established that consumers enjoy the convenience and benefits that IoT technology brings. It is concluded that for CIoT to thrive, safety is crucial, and all the stakeholders in the IoT assemblage need to ensure the protection of consumers.

Access is one of the fundamental purposes of archives as archives are preserved for use by the public. One can argue that archives that are not being consulted by the researchers may simply be referred to as “dead” or “irrelevant.” It is from this assumption that a comparative case study between National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ), National Archives and Record Services of South Africa (NARS), and provincial archives in South Africa’ oral history units was carried out. The major objectives being that of how accessible are the oral history holdings of NAZ and NARS to the public vis-à-vis the traditional archives such as manuscripts among others and the impact of coloniality to access. Data was collected through interviews and observations including also document analysis. The discussion on collected data revealed a massive underutilization of oral sources which is not in tandem with the spirited effort put by both NAZ and NARS in collecting the oral histories of the once marginalized groups of people. Some of the recommendations offered were the adoption of ICTs especially online archiving and social media in providing access to oral history holdings to the public including coming up with access policies which are in line with the International Council of Archives’ (ICA) (2012) Principles of Access.

This study focuses on how lack of digital access can impede progress in the lives of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) by investigating their concerns and issues...

PurposeThe objective of this study is to present evidence regarding how young people, who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) in South Africa, lack literacy skills and access to enabling resources to actively search and navigate information services systems that are primarily web-based. Information Poverty Theory is adopted to better understand the technological and social strata challenges experienced by young NEET people.Design/methodology/approachThe study used semi-structured interviews for collecting data over two months in 2018, employing snowball sampling with 24 key participants, representing a diversity of educational backgrounds and previous experience of economic participation.FindingsThe findings of this study suggest that most interviewed young people, who are NEET, lack advanced information literacy and digital skills to access information services. The results also indicate that access to information services that are primed for online information is a challenge for most of these NEET young people residing in underserviced communities. The high cost of an Internet connection means that the Internet is out of reach for most low-income households. In communities that are underserviced with no adequate information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, people residing in such areas are subjected to living in circumstances where there is poverty and thus a lack of access to online information.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper reports on data collected in 2018 using intense interviews, while acknowledging limitations in terms of the sample size. Hence, it is not fully representative of the whole population of young people, who are NEET, residing in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.Practical implicationsThe findings illustrate the need for further collaboration among relevant stakeholders to strengthen existing programmes and for stronger partnerships. The arguments presented herein enhance knowledge and understanding concerning the digital literacy skills divide that exists among young people who are NEET. It includes a discussion to contribute to policy development.Originality/valueThis study focuses on challenges young people who are NEET experience when looking for work and developmental opportunities. This qualitative study adopts Information Poverty Theory and uses prior studies to link the undertaken survey and research. It is expected that this study may serve as a pilot for future studies and may also contribute to the ongoing discussions around the use of ICTs on their use and access, especially the effect on young people when searching for information related to jobs and other developmental opportunities using online services.

PurposeIn recent years, South Africa has continued to experience a high rate of young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). The emergence of the concept ‘NEET’ affords researchers an opportunity to more closely examine the life situations and experiences of this population sub-group. The purpose of this paper is thus to further explore the life situations and lived experiences of people in South Africa who are NEET. Structuration theory is adopted to better understand how social structures play a role in the lives of people who are NEET.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were carried out with 24 NEET people over a period of two months in South Africa. This paper presents a section of the findings from a broader study that used self-administered interviews to collect data in three metropolitan municipalities of Gauteng Province, the economic heartland of South Africa.FindingsThe findings indicate that poverty remains an obstacle for many young people in furthering their studies or developing their ideas into businesses. Also evident is that there are NEETs who are taking action to disconnect from the NEET sub-group by means of seeking work, funding, or volunteering for initiatives, among other activities. Lack of financial support affects most NEETs perpetuating their vulnerability and their efforts to detach themselves from their NEET status. It is evident that most NEETs who took part in this study are still seeking opportunities to become economically active, regardless of their current financial situations.Originality/valueThere remains a lack of adequate exploration and understanding of the experiences and life situations of people who are NEET. The relevance of this study is in its contribution towards extending the applicability of structuration theory to understanding the life situations of people who are NEET in South Africa. This study contributes to the literature by providing the experiences and life situations of people who are NEET in a country with already high levels of inequalities. It is hoped that this study may provide the basis for developing more specific policy solutions able to address the NEET issues in South Africa and in society more generally.

Records management plays a significant role in ensuring accountability, transparency and good governance. Chapter nine institutions, on the other hand, are democratic institutions responsible for t...

Despite the availability of guidelines, standards, and software developed by national archives, professional associations, research groups and commercial organizations, digital records are still a ...

Purpose Audio-visual records produced by public broadcasters play a role in preserving the history, culture and language of a country. The records are used by broadcasters to repeat and support programmes on air. The formats that carry these records such as tapes and compact discs are fragile and have a short life span. This is compounded by evolving technologies and results in obsolete playback equipment, which can result in records not being accessible. This study aims to explore the preservation and access of audio-visual records at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) radio in Limpopo regional offices. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were collected through interviews from purposively selected participants in three radio stations of the SABC in the Limpopo province which are Munghana Lonene FM, Phalaphala FM and Thobela FM. The interview data were augmented through participant observation. Findings The findings revealed that the SABC radio archive was preserving audio-visual records in obsolete formats such as long plays and cassettes, which also lacked playback equipment. These formats were not properly arranged and were kept in a storage area that was not monitored for decaying and security. It was further established that the radio stations were using IONA technology for retrieval of and access to records while the news division within the radio stations were relying on Electronic News Production System. As audio-visual materials were not catalogued, it proved difficult for users to access these records. Practical implications This study adds value to the existing theoretical and conceptual issues that form the ongoing discourse on the preservation of and access to audio-visual records which are often neglected in the developing countries. The study also laid the groundwork for further investigation of the audio-visual records at broadcasting corporations. This is prompted by the findings which established that valuable information has been lost and continues to be lost due to poor management of audio-visual records. Therefore, a further study on migration of content from analogue to digital for the purpose of continuous preservation is recommended. Originality/value The study triangulated data collection tools including interviews and participant observation. The context was on the national broadcaster and the focus was on the preservation of and access to audio-visual records for the radio.

Purpose Many organisations, including professional councils, operate manually to ensure document flow to clients and stakeholders. This results in the loss of valuable documentation such as certificates and the incurring of costs due to the returning of post to the sender. The purpose of this study was to explore digital transformation of document flow at the South African Council for Social Science Professionals. Design/methodology/approach The methodological approach involved qualitative data collected through interviews, observation and document analysis in response to research questions. The study was a participatory action research project that involved collaboration between researchers and study participants in defining and solving the problem through needs assessment exercise. All three phases of participatory action research were followed, namely, the “look phase”: getting to know stakeholders so that the problem is defined on their terms and the problem definition is reflective of the community context; the “think phase”: interpretation and analysis of what was learned in the “look phase” and the “act phase”: planning, implementing, and evaluating, based on information collected and interpreted in the first two phases. Findings The study identified various issues relating to poor data quality, high rate of registered postal returns and non-delivery electronic messages that cannot reach all the intended recipients and accumulation of data for decades. In this regard, the study proposes a framework that can be used by SACSSP to update and verify their details on the portal, as well as digital certificates for membership. Research limitations/implications Although the proposed framework is tailor-made for the professional council, it is not depended on prescribed technologies due to usage of open standards that can be used by industry and researchers. Therefore, it can be applied in other context where institutions such as universities communicate with many clients via postal or courier services. Originality/value The study used participatory action research involving the researchers and the organisation to solve the problem. The study presented a workflow that the council can use to ensure that the documents reach intended recipients. Furthermore, digital transformation of the process will ensure that the registered professionals are able to access their certificates online and can print them when necessary.

Background: Pipemidic acid is a broad-spectrum quinolone antibacterial agent for the treatment of chronic urinary tract infections against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Both quinolone and fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been useful in combating bacterial infections. However, patients suffer severe side effects when they stop taking the medication. The piperazinyl region of pipemidic acid is highly responsible for the side effects. Objective: The objective of this study is to design new compounds in which the piperazinyl region is masked by way of conjugation to benzoic acid derivatives. Methods: In silico studies were conducted using AutoDockTools software for ligand-protein docking. The docking scores were compared to the parent pipemidic acid docked to Bacterial DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) gyrase and GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) receptor from the PDB (Protein Data Bank) database. Sites of metabolism, biological activity, quantum chemical descriptors, and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) property predictions for each designed ligand were also evaluated. Results: The docking studies and biological activity predictions showed good anti-infective properties (ligand PAR03) whilst also suggesting a reduction in GABA receptor agonist activity. The performance of PAR03 correlates with its electronic properties showing electrophilic character (can generate Reactive Electrophilic Species (RES)). Conclusion: The results from this study indicate that modification of the piperazinyl region of pipemidic acid can be an effective way to improve the drug potency whilst also ensuring reduction of the associated side effects.

Community archiving is initiated for varied reasons by different communities. Some of these archives can be centred on ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, religion, economic status and physical lo...

Counter-archives, including those aligned to universities, have grown and developed as alternatives to the conventional and traditional mainstream archives. The purpose of this paper is to look into how such counter-archives are building and using their holdings. The study is based on two purposively selected counter-archives, which are the Sinomlando Centre and Memory Work in Africa and South African History Archive. The data were collected through interviews and document analysis, especially of the respective websites. One of the conclusions drawn from the paper is that counter-archives are here to stay as the general public is losing confidence in established traditional institutions.

Educators and archivists in Africa have repeatedly raised the need for redeveloping university curricula to reflect local and global best practice. An African education curriculum case study by the InterPARES project (2013–2018) that covered 38 countries out of 54 revealed the existence of few available archival training programmes in the continent. Literature further reveals that where educational programmes are available, the curriculum is mostly Eurocentric and thereby addresses archival issues from a Western perspective. As a result, the infinite problems facing archivists on the continent such as resources, skills, technology, infrastructure, advocacy, holdings, collaboration, displaced archives and many more (the list is endless) are not fully engaged. The archival programmes at the institution of higher learning appear not to address grand societal challenges such as unaccountability, poor governance, service delivery, as well as the low usage of archives repositories in the continent. In South Africa, there has been a call to use African epistemologies such as Ubuntu, a philosophy that provides an African overview of societal relations or the Batho Pele, principles adopted by the post-apartheid South African government to guide and direct its public service and address imbalances of the apartheid regime. This study utilised the Africanisation pillar of Sibanda (2016)’s model to analyse the infusion of curriculum transformation into the ten modules for archives and records management in an open distance e-learning (ODeL) environment. In this regard, the content of ten archives and records management modules for a bachelor’s degree in an ODeL environment is analysed to explore the transformation of archival curriculum. Only one university in South Africa offers a fully-fledged bachelor’s degree with a major in archives and records management. The study established that an attempt was made to transform the archival curriculum at study material development and module delivery level. This resulted in a missed opportunity to transform archival curriculum in the development of the new bachelor’s degree being implemented in 2017. The study concludes by arguing that failure to decolonise the archival curriculum will result in archivists being highly unlikely to contribute to solutions to societal problems that are difficult to solve confronting South Africa using local solutions. It is recommended that transformation of the curriculum should start at a programme level rather than module level.

Digital health technologies have changed the healthcare sector landscape and thus generated new opportunities for collecting, storing and accessing electronic personal health information (ePHI). Ho...

Archives have become acceptable evidence in the context of land restitution to prove events that occurred in the past during land dispossessions. However, some researchers contend that archives are not always available and accessible when restitution claimants seek them due to loss, restrictions and lack of intellectual control. The purpose of this study was to explore archives as a tool to support or hinder land restitution in South Africa. This qualitative study used snowball sampling to select participants from restitution claimants, while purposive sampling was used to select project officers at the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights (CRLR) and archivists at the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA), respectively. Data were collected through interviews. The key finding indicates that there are a large number of unresolved land claims to redress land dispossession injustices caused by missing records, language barriers, unclassified information and access restrictions. The study concludes by arguing that archives can empower the claimants if available and accessible, while, on the other hand, they can disempower the claimants if unavailable and inaccessible.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how the trustworthiness of digital records generated in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system known as the government accounting and budgeting system (GABS) is maintained to support the audit process in the public sector of Botswana. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used modern archival diplomatics as a theoretical framework to examine the procedures for authenticating digital accounting records in GABS to support the audit process in Botswana. Data were collected through interviews and documentary reviews. Findings The study established that although GABS is not a record-keeping system, it generates digital records. In the absence of procedures, auditors rely on social and technical indicators (system application controls) to authenticate records. Research limitations/implications The findings of the study are limited to the case study and cannot be generalised to other organisations. Practical implications The findings of the study can inform the necessary measures that can be taken to ensure that digital records generated in ERPs are maintained authentic to support financial auditing processes. In addition, the paper also presents differing approaches by records managers, auditors and information technology specialists to evaluate the authenticity of records in digital systems, thus contributing to the literature about professional allies and competitors to archivists and records managers. Originality/value This paper provides empirical evidence from an original study.

Purpose Digital records are either stored in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) or an electronic content management (ECM) system or managed without the benefit of either. To achieve high productivity, integration of these systems is required. However, the utilisation of either an ERP or ECM system is absent in many organisations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of a framework that may support the integration of an ERP into an ECM system at Rand Water. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used a case design with 14 interviewees from different levels in the organisation and diverse business units using ERP and ECM to perform their operational deliverables. Purposive sampling was used to select the interviewees in line with their area of work, role and level of operation. Findings This study established that the water utility company has implemented an ERP system (SAP) since 2004 and ECM systems since 1991 (Papertrail and later IBM FileNet) with only the information flow module integrated. This study suggested that to integrate ERP into ECM, human and non-human actors need to collaborate to ensure large-scale integration. Originality/value This study presents a framework for integrating ERP into ECM. It is suggested that an integration module for ERPs called extended ECM, be considered. A further study of the transfer of digital records in ECM into archival custody is recommended.

Document delivery service in an open distance environment is one way of taking library services to remote students. However, this service is not without challenges. For example, problems related to...

This paper reports a series of nine hybrid compounds of 7-substituted 4-aminoquinoline and cinnamic acid as antiplasmodial agents.

Editorial

The purpose of this study was to assess the preservation of and access to archives at the eSwatini National Archives (ENA). The study was based on the interpretive research paradigm, which encompasses a systematic literature review. Data were collected through different documents, such as journal articles, web pages, monographs, strategic plans, annual reports and archival legislation, with the latter providing the ENA with a statutory role to manage and preserve public records in the country. The key findings suggest that the ENA is making a remarkable effort in preserving public records. However, there was also evidence of different records preservation challenges for the ENA, including the absence of legislation and policies relating to the management and preservation of records, an inadequate budgetary allocation to support the archival activities, as well as inadequate archives and records preservation training. The researchers recommend the updating of the legislative and policy framework; regular training for archives staff; and soliciting government support for the ENA.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine quality assurance for archives and records management (ARM) education in an open distance e-learning (ODeL) environment in Eswatini with a view to conceptualise a framework for quality assurance in the development and implementation of an ARM programme in the context of ODeL.Design/methodology/approachThe study is anchored on the interpretive research paradigm, which surrounds a systematic literature review. The researcher searched for literature online, using scientific databases such as Ebsco, Scopus and Google Scholar. The search applied the publications from 2005 to 2019. The main search keywords are “archives”, “records management”, “open distance e-learning” and “quality assurance”. A total of 15 articles, which included documents, journal articles, reports, web pages and monographs, were retrieved, reviewed and analysed in this study. This conceptual study was preliminary, and the researcher hopes that further empirical studies based on the findings of this study could be pursued in future.FindingsARM as a form of study and delivered on ODeL platforms have been proposed in Eswatini. The major concern among stakeholders is how to ensure the quality of such programmes.Research limitations/implicationsThis conceptual study was preliminary, and the researcher hopes that further empirical studies based on the findings of this study could be pursued in future.Practical implicationsThe findings and recommendations will help in the development of ARM programmes to be offered effectively by way of ODeL, there is a need to develop a transparent quality assurance framework for such an application and its implementation.Originality/valueThis is the first study on quality assurance for ARM education in an ODeL environment in Eswatini. As part of the study, a quality assurance framework was designed for the implementation of ARM education on an ODeL platform. This quality assurance framework is intended to help higher education institutions in Eswatini such as the University of Eswatini as well as stakeholders such as the Eswatini National Archives and others to design ARM education and deliver it on an ODeL platform in a manner that guarantees adequate quality.

In South Africa, public archives repositories are operating with limited resources and under strenuous circumstances due to low profiles in the public arena. Advocacy as a tool to raise the archiva...