Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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APPLYING PROVISIONS ON FORFEITURE OF PATRIMONIAL BENEFITS TO POLYGYNOUS CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES
No full textThe purpose of forfeiture-of-patrimonial provisions (forfeiture) is to ensure that a person does not benefit from the dissolution of a marriage that he or she has wrecked. Forfeiture provisions appear in section 9 of the Divorce Act 70 of 1979 (DA). They were initially designed only for civil marriages in a monogamous setting, and they were designed to apply to the three matrimonial property systems. Strictly speaking, customary marriages were neither in community of property nor out of community of property. Be that as it may, by reason of section 7 of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 (RCMA), the three matrimonial property regimes apply to monogamous customary marriages. In addition, section 8 of the RCMA introduces section 9 of the DA to the dissolution of customary marriages. Monogamous customary marriages do not present a challenge to the application of section 9. It is polygynous customary marriages that present a complex situation. This article considers the application of forfeiture in polygynous customary marriages. It is concerned with a situation where a court orders forfeiture in divorce proceedings between a husband and one of his wives
Ontology-Driven Computer Systems: Elementary Senses in Domain Knowledge Processing
No full textThis article delves into the evolving frontier of ontology-driven natural language information processing. Through an in-depth examination, we put forth a novel linguistic processor architecture, uniquely integrating linguistic and ontological paradigms during semantic analysis. Distancing from conventional methodologies, our approach showcases a profound merger of knowledge extraction and representation techniques. A central highlight of our research is the development of an ontology-driven information system, architected with an innate emphasis on self-enhancement and adaptability. The system’s salient capability lies in its adept handling of elementary knowledge, combined with its dynamic aptitude to foster innovative concepts and relationships. A particular focus is accorded to the system’s application in scientific information processing, signifying its potential in revolutionising knowledge-based applications within scientific domains. Through our endeavours, we aim to pave theway for more intuitive, precise, and expansive ontology-driven tools in the realm of knowledge extraction and representation
Online pedagogy: a changing higher education pedagogy and an emerging lecturer habitus
Full text linkThis study explored how the shift to online pedagogy has shaped lecturer dispositions and practices for a post-COVID-19 era, including whether their practices during the national lockdowns could be conceptualised as temporary coping mechanisms or as an adoption of new practices related to effective modes of online teaching. Bourdieu’s theory of human practices was employed to facilitate the exploration. The theory privileges the weight of past practices on agents while permitting incremental changes in such practices, depending on the flexibility and/or rigidity of a human habitus. Six lecturers were interviewed using semi-structured interviews to collect data. It was found that despite showing flexible and reflective dispositions regarding post-COVID-19 online teaching, participants were still in their exploratory phase in respect of teaching practices with online technology tools. An explicit institutional, reflective training process is suggested to help evolve in lecturers the habitus and cultural capital necessary to facilitate teaching with technology
Paediatric hand function assessment practices of occupational therapists in South Africa
Full text linkIntroduction: South African occupational therapists' assessment practices of children's hand function are unknown, although the treatment thereof is an integral part of the paediatric scope of practice and clientele. Hand function assessment frameworks and instruments are available, but a lack of contextually relevant, comprehensive standardised instruments was identified. The study aimed to investigate occupational therapists' current paediatric hand function assessment practices and their preferences towards future practice. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study design using convenient and snowball sampling was employed. An EvaSysco survey system, custom-developed online questionnaire, was used to collect information. Results: In total, 194 HPCSA-registered occupational therapists participated. All the participants currently rely on informal observations. Although not exclusively designed for hand function, standardised developmental tests were often used. Limited familiarity with and use of t he available published hand function assessment instrument was reported. Future assessment preferences supported a standardised, comprehensive hand function assessment instrument for different age groups and paedi atric conditions. Conclusion: This study provides baseline evidence of current and preferred paediatric hand fu net ion assessment practices used by occupational therapists. The need for training to use the available published instruments was highlighted. Recommendations towards the refinement of existing or the development of a standardised, contextually relevant instrument for paediatric practice in South Africa are offered. Implications for practice This article offers a deeper understanding of available paediatric hand function assessment frameworks, assessment instruments, and practices of occupational therapists. It provides an outline of existing methods therapist use and offersclear directives for how the South African OT would prefer to assess hand function in eh ildren. Emphasis is placed on the need for a contextually relevant instrument and future research in refining existing instruments or developing a new instrument is proposed. Additionally, practitioners provided practical suggestions to guide the development of a contextually relevant instrument for potential use in future instrument development research
Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Administration Instructions of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception 3rd Edition for isiZulu-Speaking Children
Full text linkIntroduction: Visual perceptual skills are vital for developing academic skills and contribute to language development and socio-cultural participation. The Developmental Test of Visual Perception 3rd Edition evaluates visual perceptual skills but is only available in English. lsiZulu is the most spoken language in South Africa (24,4%), with English being the fourth. Therefore, the English version of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception 3rd Edition cannot be described as a universally authentic assessment instrument in this context. Methodology: This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Developmental Test of Visual Perception 3rd Edition administration instructions into isiZulu using a five-stage qualitatively driven multimethod sequen tial design. Qualitative feedback on the functional, cultural and conceptual equivalence was obtained at various intervals. Results: This study demonstrated a methodology for translating and cross-culturally adapting the administration instructions of the Developmental Test of Visual Perception 3rd Edition into isiZulu to advance the authenticity of the assessment within the South African context. The isiZulu version was found to be functionally, culturally and conceptually equivalent. Conclusion: This research has demonstrated a framework upon which the cross-cultural adaptations of other assessment instruments and other languages in South Africa can be based. Implications for practice • The rigorous methodology demonstrated in this research can be used as a framework to guide other studies in the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of other assessment instruments and into other languages. • This study demonstrated that multiple contributors from various backgrounds are necessary to ensure equivalence during the process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation. However, an emphasis is placed on the value of including occupational therapists with clinical experience when translating and cross-culturally adapting assessment instruments intended to be used within the field of occupational therapy. • Through the rigorous method used to translate and cross-cultural adapt the DTVP-3, this study enhanced its authenticity as an assessment instrument within the South African context. Having isiZulu administration instructions available could provide equal opportunity to children who may not be as proficient in English as in isiZulu. • Once a distribution agreement has been reached with ProEd Inc., the original publisher and licence holder, the isiZulu administration instructions of the DTVP-3 will be made available for use in South Africa with isiZulu-speaking children
An Eocene fossil scarab beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from Tanzania
No full textA fossil scarabaeoid (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) Mahengea mckayi new genus, new species – the only well-preserved insect fossil and one of only a few insects found at the site – is described from an otherwise rich Eocene (~ 45.6 mya) maar Lagerstätte at Mahenge in central northern Tanzania. Numerous fossil fishes and plants have been recovered from this site and described. The dearth of insect fossils is surprising considering their richness in other deposits of similar origin and age. We suggest that the rich fish fauna present in the oxygen-rich parts of the water in the former volcanic crater lake may have scavenged most of the terrestrial insects that fell into the water. Although the fossil described here is undoubtedly that of a member of the Scarabaeoidea, the family placement remains unsure.
Significance:
We describe the first Eocene fossil scarab from Africa. It is one of only a few scarab fossils from the continent and one of the best-preserved insect (invertebrate) fossils from the deposit
Palm wine as a food-based bait for monitoring adult Ceratitis ditissima (Munro) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in citrus orchards
No full textTephritid fruit flies, including Ceratitis ditissima, often invade citrus orchards. These flies cause economic losses to farmers and can prevent farmers from exporting their fruits to foreign markets. To detect the presence of fruit flies in citrus orchards, traps are baited with synthetic lures, which are often expensive for smallholder farmers. Farmers in developing or financially less-endowed countries have to import such synthetic baits, raising the cost of pest monitoring and control. Therefore, we evaluated the potential of palm wine and three other food-based mixtures for trapping C. ditissima and the proportion of non-target flies they trap. Transparent deli cup traps were baited with four different food-based baits, namely palm wine, sugarcane spirit-wine mixture, apple cider vinegar and yeast-sugar mixture. The traps were placed within a citrus orchard on fruit-bearing trees. The content of each trap was collected after one week and evaluated. This was repeated for eight consecutive weeks. Traps baited with palm wine captured more C. ditissima than those with the other baits. Furthermore, the proportion of non-target insects, Bactrocera dorsalis and Drosophila spp., in palm wine-baited traps was less than the other baited traps. This study indicates that palm wine, a cheap beverage across Africa, Asia and South America, could be used to monitor the presence of C. ditissima in citrus orchards. Smallholder farmers who cannot afford expensive synthetic baits could make use of palm wine to monitor fruit flies in their farms
Livelihood Analysis of Gasela Community in Amahlathi Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province
No full textThe study was conducted to distinguish the livelihood activities that need sustainable development intervention in the Gasela rural community. A sample survey procedure was done on a population of 77 community household heads. A sample size of 65 was randomly selected. It was found that cabbage, spinach, and potatoes were the most crops produced by the community. Wattle forest was used for cooking, housing, and kraal fencing. The households were affected mostly by pests, diseases, environmental stresses, and weather-related shocks. These sources of vulnerability are cited to limit sustainable crop production. Therefore, the recommendations were interventions for the sustainable production of cabbage, spinach, and potatoes. A further suggestion was to investigate the alternative resource for wattle that will provide the same livelihood outcomes for the Gasela rural households when biological control of this invader species is implemented
