Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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NOTES ON THE LEGAL LIABILITY OF MINING COMPANIES FOR THE PUMPING OF EXTRANEOUS WATER FROM DEFUNCT UNDERGROUND WORKINGS: LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES ILLUSTRATED BY Ezulwini Mining Company Pty Ltd v Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy [2021] ZAGPPHC 4
No full textIn 2015, the 193 United Nations (UN) member states adopted the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be reached by 2030 (UNGA “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” Resolution adopted by the General Assembly (25 September 2015) A/Res/70/1). The SDGs represent a global call for action towards social inclusion, economic development and environmental sustainability. Meeting the SDGs by 2030, however, requires unprecedented cooperation and collaboration among various stakeholders on various levels, ranging from governments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector, including the mining sector. Although it is not the main aim of this contribution to unravel the linkages between the respective SDGs and mining, the country’s mining sector is expected to incorporate relevant SDGs into their operations, business practices and decisions.It is trite that the mining industry, through all its activities and stages, has contributed to many of the challenges that the SDGs set to address, including the displacement of communities, worsening economic and social inequality, and environmental degradation that impacts water security, for example. Nevertheless, in pursuance of the SDGs, South Africa’s mining sector is expected to prioritise the protection of the environment, over exploitation and pollution. In fact, successful advancement of the SDGs also requires substantial and ongoing partnership or collaboration between stakeholders. This is particularly true for interconnected or neighbouring mines, for example.To guide and ensure sustainable and responsible mining, the South African legislature promulgated a comprehensive environmental management and regulatory framework for the country, including the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (28 of 2002) (MPRDA), the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) (NEMA) and the National Water Act (36 of 1998) (NWA). However, as is discussed in more detail below, regulatory shortcomings, and therefore legal uncertainty, are apparent. This contribution presents the issue of environmental obligations and liabilities to pump extraneous water after mine closure. Naturally, legal uncertainties inherently inhibit the realisation of some of the SDGs, including, for example, SDG 6 (to ensure the sustainable management of water) and SDG 9 (to promote sustainable industrialisation)
Non-linear effects of stress on eyewitness memory
No full textThe effect of stress on face identification is not yet clear, with recent experiments finding positive, negative and null results. Here we report the results of two experiments examining the effect of stress on eyewitness performance in line-up face recognition tasks. Both experiments use a stress manipulation and live mock crime paradigm to examine the relationship between stress at encoding and subsequent line-up performance. Experiment 1 replicated an experiment by Sauerland et al. (Behav Sci Law. 2016;34(4):580–594) which induced stress using the Maastricht Acute Stress Test. The replication found the same null result as the original experiment. Experiment 2 aimed to address a limitation of many laboratory experiments which dichotomise stress into low and high groups for comparison. As the Yerkes-Dodson law (1908) suggests that a non-linear relationship exists between stress and performance, it was hypothesised that using a low, medium and high stress manipulation might show clearer results than a dichotomous paradigm. The results of Experiment 2 show a non-linear relationship, with no difference between the low and high stress groups but better performance by the middle stress group. The results suggest that a different approach is required in experiments on stress and face recognition, as the stress–performance relationship is likely non-linear.
Significance:
Non-linear models are better predictors of face recognition in line-up tasks than are linear models.
Two group designs provide insufficient resolution to capture the stress–performance relationship
Comments on Singh et al. (2022) ‘Marine seismic surveys for hydrocarbon exploration: What’s at stake?’
No full textThe prevalence and associations of radiographic diagnostic signs indicating possible pre-eruptive canine ectopia: The results of a mixed dentition radiographic survey
Get PDFMaxillary canine ectopia is an anomaly of the mixed dentition which can and should be diagnosed early and treated interceptively wherever possible. Various radiographic markers have been associated with canine ectopia, and these are significant aids to a thorough clinical examination, in order to diagnose ectopia. A cross sectional study was carried out on a sample of 465 mixed dentition panoramic radiographs in order to establish the prevalence of maxillary canine ectopia according to a set of radiographic markers. The sample of radiographs included patients with dental ages between 10 and 12 years of age. 404 radiographs displayed signs of canine ectopia according to the markers studied. Non- resorption of the root of the primary canine was the most common marker (63%) found. This was followed by overlap in 25.2% of cases, whilst increased angulation of the developing canine was the least prevalent (4.7%). Non-resorption showed a statistically significant association with distal overlap and overlap over the pulp chamber. Increased angulation was significantly associated with non-resorption in all degrees of overlap. Unilateral increased size of the mandibular canine showed a significant association with cases displaying a mesial overlap (p= 0.027). Dental age is an important aspect of predicting canine ectopia. Non-resorption of the roots of the primary canine must be viewed with caution at the dental age of 10 years. Enlargement of the mandibular canine maybe viewed as a potential early warning sign for maxillary canine ectopia
Using Logistic Regression to Characterise Communal Cattle Farmers in Botswana
No full textThis paper aims to characterise and profile subsistence cattle farmers according to selected attributes to establish their influence on the type of cattle breed kept by farmers in Botswana. The development of communal cattle production can be a sustainable way to improve the livelihoods of the rural population in Botswana. However, there needs to be more information or research conducted to characterise and profile communal cattle farmers with a precondition that the farmers can keep any of the three breeds (Tswana, Cross, or Exotic). A logistic regression model was fitted to determine the influence of 11 predictor variables on the type of cattle breed kept by the farmers. Results revealed that female-headed households were 50% more likely to have the Tswana breed of cattle than male-headed households. In contrast, female-headed households were 30% less likely to have cross-breed or exotic-breed cattle than male-headed households. Results further show that resource-poor farmers tend to keep Tswana breed cattle. These are holdings with no farm labour, no other economic activities, female-headed households, and their primary source of income specified as “other”
Why there is no technological revolution, let alone a ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’
No full textWe are told by the powerful that we live in, or are about to live in, a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Seemingly, this revolution is about deep-seated, rapid, digitally powered techno-scientific change. It is the age of smart machines; it is a new information technology (IT) revolution. However, in this article I suggest that examination of the history of technologies that are often held up to be proof of the 4IR, in fact shows that there is no contemporary technological revolution. The research methodology that I employ here is conceptual analysis and a focused review of literature on the history of particular technologies. An industrial revolution, as its three historical instances have demonstrated, is the fundamental transformation of every aspect of industrial society, including its geopolitical, cultural, macro-social, micro-social, economic and technological strata. It certainly entails a technological revolution, but it is more than just that. In this article, I am not concerned with the broader ensemble of socio-economic changes – it seems increasingly clear that the ‘brave new world’ of the 4IR is not really happening – but simply ask the question: is there currently a technological revolution? The answer seems to be that there is not.
Significance:
The significance of this study is that it challenges the mainstream notion of technological innovation and change, associated with the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’. It has implications for the way we think about technological and scientific revolutions
Adsorptive removal of BTEX compounds from wastewater using activated carbon derived from macadamia nut shells
No full textIn this study, adsorptive removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) from synthetic water using activated carbon adsorbent derived from macadamia nut shells was investigated. The surface functional groups of the synthesized adsorbents were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectra. The specific surface area, pore size and pore volume at 77 K nitrogen adsorption, surface morphology, and the crystalline structure of the adsorbents were determined using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction, respectively. Batch adsorption mode was used to evaluate the performance of the activated carbon. The stock solutions of synthetic wastewater were prepared by dissolving 100 mg/L of each of the BTEX compound into distilled water in a 250 mL volumetric flask. Effect of initial concentration of BTEX compounds, contact time, and mass of adsorbent on the removal of BTEX compounds from the synthetic wastewater was investigated. The macadamia nut shell–derived activated carbon (MAC) proved to be an effective adsorbent for BTEX compounds, with a large surface area of 405.56 m2/g. The exposure time to reach equilibrium for maximum removal of BTEX was observed to be 20 min. The adsorption capacity of the BTEX compounds by MAC followed the following adsorption order: benzene > toluene > ethylbenzene ˃ xylene
Resilience is not enough: The mental health impact of the ongoing energy crisis in South Africa
No full textDriving oral-health transformation in South Africa: The need for a roadmap to implementing the WHO Resolution
Get PDFThe World Health Assembly’s adoption of the Resolution on oral health in 2021 was a turning point in the worldwide effort to advance oral health outcomes. The resolution underlines the significance of promoting oral health, integrating oral health care within the primary health-care system, and ensuring universal coverage, shifting the paradigm from a curative to a preventive approach. In this editorial, a prospective action plan is explored that would include a national oral health survey, short-, medium-, and long-term goals, as well as appropriate regulations and procedures to fulfill the WHO’s 2030 target. With the roll-out of the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill, complying with these resolutions are becoming more important and urgent