Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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QUELLING THE RAGING FIRE: RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AS A RESPONSE TO VIGILANTISM IN SOUTH AFRICA
No full textVigilantism is a persistent problem in South Africa. The problem largely emanates from people’s dissatisfaction with how the police, or the criminal justice system, deals with crime. There are high levels of crime in communities and the general feeling is that little has been done to curb it. Thus, the acts of vigilantism fill the vacuum left by unsatisfactory law enforcement or the criminal justice system. Although vigilantism constitutes criminal behaviour that warrants punishment, vigilantes are often viewed as proactive citizens fighting crime. Put differently, vigilantism is seen as an attempt by community members to deal with crime. One crime-intervention strategy that involves the community legally in finding appropriate solutions is restorative justice. Accordingly, research indicates that restorative justice has the potential to reduce crime. Given that crime is what triggers vigilantism, there is a reason to believe that restorative justice might eliminate the chances of people resorting to vigilantism. The purpose of this article is to examine restorative justice as a method of dealing with vigilantism in South Africa
Ghana’s Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2019: Exploration of its implementation dynamics
No full textAfter extensive advocacy and lobbying by the media, human rights campaigners, and civil society organisations (CSOs), Ghana’s Right to Information (RTI) Act (Act 989) became law in 2019 and went into effect in January 2020. The Act sets out the procedures for access to information held by Ghanaian public institutions, with oversight by the Right to Information Commission (RTIC). The purpose of this study was to explore the dynamics of initial implementation of the law, in the years 2020-22, and to identify potential obstacles to optimal execution during that initial period. The core research data was collected via semi-structured interviews, between April and August 2022, with 10 individuals possessing deep knowledge of the Act and its implementation dynamics. This interview data was qualitatively analysed, through the lenses of the principal–agent conceptual model and the objectives of the Act, in order to determine the key themes emerging from the data. It was found that realisation of the Act’s objectives was being hampered to some extent by a lack of public awareness, and to a more substantial extent by bureaucratic blockages resulting from a mix of entrenched administrative culture and a lack of knowledge of the requirements of the Act. Based on these findings, the author recommends improved public education by the RTIC in cooperation with CSOs; strong RTIC engagement with public institutions to ensure a sufficient number of fully trained information officers (IOs); continued CSO cooperation with the Ministry of Information towards ensuring optimal implementation of the Act; CSO monitoring of the work of the RTIC; and CSO support for information access applications by journalists and other civil society actors
Pine Emperor moths from KwaZulu-Natal use the same pheromone component previously isolated from Nudaurelia cytherea (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from the Western Cape
No full textNudaurelia spp. (Saturniidae) are sporadic pests of pine plantations in South Africa. Taxonomic uncertainty exists in South Africa with this group and represents an impediment to the development and implementation of pheromone-based management tactics. Populations from the Western Cape have been described as Nudaurelia cytherea while those from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga have been described as Nudaurelia clarki. We compared Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences from moths from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga regions. We also analysed female pheromone gland extracts with gas-chromatography electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for moths from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. COI gene barcoding sequences were identical for moths from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga regions providing preliminary evidence to suggest that these populations may be the same species. Based on the available literature, the morphology and origin of our samples suggests that pheromone analyses in this study were done on N. clarki. Male N. clarki antennae respond to two compounds in female extracts. One of these compounds was confirmed with a synthetic standard to be (Z)-dec-5-en-1-yl-3-methylbutanoate, the sex pheromone previously identified from N. cytherea. The identity of the second compound could not be confirmed. Both male and female antennae responded to four structurally related compounds in the synthetic pheromone standard. Field trials with custom-made traps confirmed attraction of N. clarki males to polydimethylsiloxane and polyisoprene lures loaded with synthetic (Z)-dec-5-en-1-yl-3-methylbutanoate
Biology of the invasive shell lerp psyllid, Spondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Froggatt) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae)
No full textSpondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Froggatt) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is native to Australia but was first detected outside its native range in 2014, in South Africa. It feeds on eucalypt species and thus has the potential to become a pest in commercial Eucalyptus plantations. Information on the basic biology of this insect, which is important for the development of surveillance and management strategies, is lacking. To investigate the life cycle and general biology of S. plicatuloides, the psyllid was reared under controlled glasshouse conditions on potted red-flowering gum, Corymbia ficifolia. The egg incubation period, number of nymphal instars and their developmental time, adult fecundity, adult longevity and duration of the life cycle were determined. The major diagnostic features used to differentiate the five nymphal instars were the number of antennal segments, wing pad development and body length. Females reached reproductive maturity 2.3 ± 0.47 (mean ± SD) days after eclosion and laid 16.2 ± 3.9 (mean ± SD) eggs on average. Reproduction was sexual. The first nymphal instar took 10.7 ± 1.2 (mean ± SD) days to hatch from the egg. The nymphal instars completed their development in 22.6 ± 1.4 (mean ± SD) days under the brown scalloped shelters they secrete. The insect's total life cycle lasted 37.37 ± 1.17 (mean ± SD) days from egg to adult death. Males and females lifespan is also reported. The study provides the first information on the basic biology of S. cf. plicatuloides that will be useful for future studies on surveillance and management strategies
Institutional Arrangements and Support Systems for Independent Smallholder Irrigators in the Msinga Local Municipality, South Africa
No full textThis article describes the present institutional arrangements for irrigators’ resource access, agricultural support systems accessible to irrigators, and the various constraints irrigators experience. The survey acquired data from 101 snowballed respondents for the quantitative phase of the study. The qualitative phase gathered information from four purposively selected focus group discussions. According to the findings, irrigators commonly gained access to production land through traditional authority (81.2%). Gender was a barrier to land access, where male-headed families had larger land sizes than female-headed ones (t=4.993, p=0.028). Concerning irrigation water, irrigators abstract it wherever they find access, without any institutional arrangement or restriction. The main limitations to irrigators’ water availability were competition and the drying out of the water source, particularly spring water. Government assistance was rare among independent irrigators. Smallholder support services tend to be distributed unevenly among South African smallholders, usually leaving independent irrigators unsupported. Lastly, irrigators experience constraints in their farming that government existing services have the potential to address. Therefore, this study proposes that the government recognize independent irrigators as possible drivers of poverty and food insecurities. The study recommends institutional inclusion and the extension of support systems to independent irrigators
Current situation and future prognosis of health, safety and environment risk assessment of nanomaterials in South Africa
No full textThe commercialisation and everyday use of nanomaterials and nanomaterial-enabled products (NEPs) is rising year-on-year. Responsible development of nanotechnology includes understanding their potential implications on health, safety, and the environment (HSE). The health risk assessment of nanomaterials has therefore become one of the major activities of international agencies including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Environmental Protection Agency for protection of human health and the environment. Nationally, with the foresight and the leadership of the Department of Science and Innovation, a HSE programme was initiated to establish the necessary infrastructure to conduct the tests in the hazard identification and exposure assessment that are needed in the risk assessment of nanomaterials synthesised as well as NEPs available in South Africa. Here we present the advances that have been made in elucidating the different facets that are required when undertaking risk assessments of nanomaterials, i.e. physicochemical characterisation, hazard identification, exposure assessment and effects assessment. These facets are increasingly being considered throughout the nanomaterials present in the life cycles of NEPs. South Africa's research contribution to an international understanding of HSE risks of nanomaterials is highlighted and the future direction to generate the necessary information for effective risk communication and management is provided. This will assist in ensuring safer innovation of nanotechnology in South Africa and support the export of locally manufactured nanomaterials as per international requirements.Significance:
Significant contributions of South Africa to the nanomaterial HSE knowledge base are highlighted.
Development of standardised testing methodologies in nanomaterial HSE and protection of human and ecological health through risk assessment of nanomaterials are discussed.
This paper contributes to ensuring safer innovation of nanotechnology in South Africa
Defining the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Comments on Moll (S Afr J Sci. 2023;119(1/2), Art. #12916)
No full textMoll (S Afr J Sci. 2023;119(1/2), Art. #12916) argues that we are not currently living in the Fourth Industrial Age (4IR). In this response to Moll, I contest that Moll’s argument does not correctly reflect the understanding or definition of the 4IR as presented in the pivotal texts of the leading global and South African 4IR advocates. I believe that, had Moll focused on the definition of the 4IR presented initially by Schwab, that is, around the fusion of technologies across the digital, physical and biological worlds, he could have come to a different conclusion about the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Legislative Oversight and Executive Accountability in South Africa
No full textA glance at political theory reveals a preoccupation with the corrosive nature of power, in particular with how to ensure that the governors are sufficiently accountable to the governed. Legislative oversight is a constitutional requirement in the South African system of government. However, poor performance, maladministration and a lack of accountability in various government institutions have continued to be a major challenge. In recent years the implementation of legislative oversight has proven to be a challenge, with findings of abuse of state power revealed by reports from the Office of the Public Protector as well as corruption scandals in procurement processes. This study examines the role of parliament in holding the executive accountable in line with the constitutional values of transparency, accountability and responsiveness. Apart from delineating the reach of parliament's powers and functions, the main thrust of the study, given the existing vicissitudes in our constitutional edifice, including the failure of parliament to hold the executive accountable, is on how to strengthen the institution of parliament in its oversight role.
Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures, Biodiversity Stewardship and Statutory Intervention – A South African Perspective
No full textArea-based approaches are a central component of global efforts to conserve biodiversity. While the focus of many countries has been mainly on protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMS) have been accorded global recognition in the past decade as a vital complementary approach to protected areas. This recognition has been reemphasised in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, with its Target 3 ratchetting up area-based coverage targets to 30 per cent by 2030. A growing focus and reliance on OECMs to contribute towards achieving this target is anticipated. The international community has in the past few years introduced some guidance to identify, secure, manage, monitor and verify the anticipated long-term biodiversity conservation outcomes of OECMs. Some commentators have argued for domestic legal intervention to complement this general international guidance. The South African Government has recognised the potential contribution of OECMs towards the achievement of domestic and global area-based biodiversity targets in its National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy (2018) but has alluded to the need for legal intervention to ensure that they achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity. Some domestic commentators have highlighted the strong link between biodiversity stewardship (particularly conservation areas) and OECMs, advocating that these conservation areas should form the priority focus of domestic efforts to identify OECMs. This article scopes this potential link and specifically considers whether the current domestic legal and policy framework applicable to these conservation areas is sufficiently robust to ensure that only appropriate areas are identified as OECMs and that once recognised, they are governed and effectively managed in the long term. It highlights several frailties of the existing framework and drawing from anticipated legal reform in the Western Cape relating to biodiversity stewardship, it proposes a possible model for future national legislation regulating OECMs