Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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Strengthening the biokinetics workforce for improved services: A human resources for health review from 2000 to 2020
Get PDFBackground: Biokinetics is a South African (SA) health profession within the private health care sector. Biokineticists register with the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA).
Objectives: To describe the demographic trends of HPCSA registered biokineticists from 2000 to 2020 to understand the supply and status of human resources for health within the profession.
Methods: The following data were collected and analysed: i) health personnel category, ii) geographical location, iii) age, iv) sex, and v) population category.
Results: The number of HPCSA registered biokineticists grew from 136 in 2000, to 1831 in January 2020 (67.8% women, 32.2% men). There was a sharp decline in numbers after the age of 45 years. The Western Cape (5.8) and Gauteng (5.1) provinces had the most biokineticists per 100 000 of the population, whilst smaller provinces like Kwazulu-Natal (1.6), Mpumalanga (1.6), North-West (1.6) and Limpopo (0.9) lagged. The demographic profile of registered Biokineticists changed steadily from 2000 to 2020. Registered biokineticists classified as White decreased from 91.6% to 80.4%, whilst substantial increases were observed among Black (5.0% to 8.3%), Coloured (0.02% to 5.3%) and Indian/Asian (0.02% to 6.0%) biokineticists. Thirteen tertiary institutions offered Biokinetics programmes in 2022. Seven offered the 3+1-year (Honours) programme and six have migrated to a 4-year professional degree.
Conclusion: The profession is well established, growing, and dominated by women. The demographic profile has transformed steadily; however, the need to transform the profession remains strong. Strengthening investments aimed at the employment of biokineticists in the public health sector may serve as a key turning point for healthcare workforce planning.
Religious metaphors and the crisis of faith in Wole Soyinka’s poetry
No full textMost commentaries on Wole Soyinka’s works across genres engage with his constant invocation of cultural tropes, most of which revolve around Ogun, his self-proclaimed muse. In this article, I highlight the centrality of religious myths and metaphors in a selection of Soyinka’s poems, namely, “Idanre” in Idanre and Other Poems (1967), Ogun Abibman (1976), “Joseph”, one of the “Four Archetypes” poems in A Shuttle in the Crypt (1972), “Mandela’s Earth” in Mandela’s Earth and Other Poems (1989), and selected poems under the sections “The Sign of the Zealot” and “Elegies” in Samarkand and Other Markets I Have Known (2002). While identifying the limitations of the poet’s Ogun trope, I dissect the centrality of faith issues in Soyinka’s poetry into two slants. The first, which is seen as encompassing his widely explored Ogun trope, is his use of religious metaphors to intervene on the dystopias in his postcolonial space. The second is his concern with the crisis of faith, a menace that has continued to threaten global peace. After drawing copious examples of religious tropes from Soyinka’s selected poems, I focus on the attention given by the poet to crisis in faith relationships. The copious examples of Soyinka’s use of religious metaphors lead to the conclusion, at the end of the paper, that access to Soyinka’s poetry is best achieved by paying attention to his religious metaphors. I also identify Soyinka’s antidote for the crisis of faith which lies in his prescription of tolerance and respect for humanist ideals
Regulating scientific and technological uncertainty: The precautionary principle in the context of human genomics and AI
No full textConsidered in isolation, the ethical and societal challenges posed by genomics and artificial intelligence (AI) are profound and include issues relating to autonomy, privacy, equality, bias, discrimination, and the abuse of power, amongst others. When these two technologies are combined, the ethical, legal and societal issues increase substantially, become much more complex, and can be scaled enormously, which increases the impact. Adding to these complexities, both genomics and AI-enabled technologies are rife with scientific and technological uncertainties, which makes the regulation of these technologies not only challenging in itself, but also creates legal uncertainties. In science, the precautionary principle has been used globally to govern uncertainty, with the specific aim to prevent irreversible harm to human beings. The regulation of uncertainties in AI-enabled technologies is based on risk as set out in the AI Regulation that was recently proposed by the European Commission. However, when genomics and artificial intelligence are combined, not only do uncertainties double, but the current regulation of such uncertainties towards the safe use thereof for humans seems contradictory, considering the different approaches followed by science and technology in this regard. In this article, I explore the regulation of both scientific and technological uncertainties and argue that the application of the precautionary principle in the context of human genomics and AI seems to be the most effective way to regulate the uncertainties brought about by the combination of these two technologies.
Significance:
The significance of this article rests in the criteria framework proposed for the determination of the applicability of the precautionary principle and lessons learnt from the European Union’s attempt to regulate artificial intelligence
The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Conceptual paradox or catalyst for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals?
No full textThe topic of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) became significant in South Africa from 2017, through advocacy, amongst others, by the University of Johannesburg and subsequently through the appointment of the Presidential Commission on 4IR. Preceding industrial revolutions each focused on a single technology; 4IR, however, speaks to a confluence of technologies and a synergy of computing, data, and communications technology, with artificial intelligence rapidly redefining the world of work. Conceptual and geopolitical challenges and potential negative societal implications notwithstanding, we argue that the 4IR paradigm shift is critical to South Africa and to realising the Sustainable Development Goals
AquaSens: exploring the use of 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing to determine bacterial composition of various water matrices
No full textAccess to clean water, one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, is challenged by an increase in the presence of emerging microbial and other contaminants due to urbanization, among other factors. Traditionally, the presence of indicator microorganisms is determined using culturing methods. However, these classical methods cannot be used to determine the identities of ‘unknown’ bacteria and is limited to isolating the culturable state of microorganisms. Thus with culturing, the identities of many bacteria, particularly novel or non-culturable, may remain unknown. The use of a DNA-based method, 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing (NGS), can assist with determining the identities of bacterial populations in a water sample. The objective of this 16S rRNA NGS study was to investigate the bacterial community composition and diversity in a range of water sources. Water samples comprising of potable, surface, ground, marine, aquaculture, rain, wetland and swimming bath water matrices were subjected to 16S rRNA NGS using the Illumina 16S rRNA Metagenomics analysis pipeline. Operational taxonomic units were analysed and the identities of bacterial genera determined. In this study, genera of Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Legionella, Burkholderia, Yersinia, Staphylococcus and Vibrio were spread across the water matrices. Alpha (within sample) and beta (between samples) diversities for each bacterial community within the tested samples were also determined
Canola (Brassica napus L.) water use indicators as affected by sustained deficit irrigation and plant density in central Free State, South Africa
No full textIn South Africa canola (Brassica napus L.) is cultivated in rotation with wheat under winter rainfall in the Western Cape Province, primarily for seed to make oil. Expansion of the crop to the other 8 provinces is proposed to reduce shortages of locally produced plant oils. At the same time, canola can serve as a rotational crop for wheat in these summer rainfall provinces. In central Free State, information on evapotranspiration and various water use indicators for canola as influenced by sustained deficit irrigation and plant density is lacking. An experiment with a line source sprinkler irrigation system was therefore conducted, comprising of full irrigation as a control with 4 sustained deficit irrigation levels (mean reduction in irrigation depth per event of 67%, 52%, 34% and 19%) and 5 plant densities (25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 plants‧m−2). Mean seasonal maximum evapotranspiration amounted to 429 mm across plant densities. Plant density did not significantly influence seasonal evapotranspiration. Reducing the irrigation depth per event by more than 20% decreased seasonal evapotranspiration by a mean 3.5 mm per percentage increase in irrigation depth. A maximum biomass water productivity of 22 kg‧ha−1‧mm−1 was measured with full irrigation and a plant density of 75 plants‧m−2. Seed water productivity amounted to a high of 11 kg‧ha−1‧mm−1 with full irrigation and a plant density of 25 plants‧m−2. A percentage reduction in irrigation depth and increase in plant density above 25 plants‧m−2 will reduce seed water productivity by 0.071 and 0.033 kg‧ha−1‧mm−1, respectively. Sustained deficit irrigation increased water use efficiency by a mean 0.5% per percentage reduction in irrigation depth per event
Supernumerary teeth in a sample of South African dental patients
Get PDFSupernumerary teeth (SNT) are often associated with malocclusions. Data on SNT in the South African population are not well documented. To determine the prevalence, distribution of characteristics and any associated complications of SNT in a South African sample of dental patients. The study was retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive. Method: Orthopantomographs of 12,005 dental patients were reviewed for the presence of SNT. The number, morphology, location, eruption status and orientation of SNT were assessed. Associated orthodontic problems were noted. The prevalence rate was 2.48%. No sexual dimorphism in the distribution of SNT was noted. Types of SNT tabulated were: supplementary, conical, tuberculate and odontoma. Maxilla demonstrated a higher predilection for SNT. Variation in the distribution of SNT in the anterior, premolar and molar regions in each jaw and across jaws was statistically significant. Relationship of eruption status to the morphology and orientation of SNT was of significance. Malocclusions noted were displacement and impaction of adjacent teeth. From an orthodontic perspective, presence of SNT may compromise tooth movement and space closure in patients. Additionally, as majority of SNT in this population were in the maxillary molar and mandibular premolar regions, caution is advised when planning the placement of orthodontic implants in these regions
INTERPRETING THE PROVISIONS OF THE CYBERCRIMES ACT 19 OF 2020 IN THE CONTEXT OF CIVIL PROCEDURE: A FUTURE JOURNEY
No full textIt is accepted nowadays that cyberspace is used extensively to commit cybercrimes and cybersecurity offences. Victims of cybercrime can use civil procedure to institute claims for damages. Civil procedure is a branch of law that allows victims of cyberspace crimes to institute claims for damages. This article examines the impact of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 (Cybercrimes Act) on South African civil procedure. It appears that a contravention of the Cybercrimes Act may result in financial problems for the plaintiff, which then enables the latter to institute a civil claim against the defendants. The authors determine whether contravening the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act gives rise to a cause of action that permits the plaintiff to institute civil proceedings for damages suffered. While the Cybercrimes Act is lauded for its provisions addressing cybercrime, room for improvement is identified. Lastly, the authors conduct a comparative analysis between the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and the Budapest Convention
EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF CRIMINALISING MATERNAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN SOUTH AFRICA
No full textWith alcohol abuse by pregnant women being a significant problem in South Africa, particularly in the rural areas of the Western Cape province, the country carries one of the world’s heaviest burdens of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is regarded as the most severe of the foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. A child affected by FAS may suffer various developmental delays, including behavioural problems, poor language and fine motor skills, overall poor academic performance, mental retardation, and an increased tendency towards aggression and violence. Despite the alarming extent of the problem, maternal substance abuse is not currently a criminal offence in South Africa. This article explores the feasibility of criminalising maternal substance abuse, either by way of an amendment to the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 or by introducing a new statutory offence. As South African children are already afforded protection against abuse and neglect in terms of the Children’s Act, the prosecution of mothers who abuse substances while pregnant and then give birth to children suffering FAS-related harm could potentially also occur within this ambit. This would require an extension to the definitions of abuse and neglect in the Children’s Act and would have no effect on the legal status of a foetus in South Africa. Yet one would face certain challenges associated with the principle of legality: in terms of the ius strictum requirement, for instance, courts are expected to apply a strict rather than a broad interpretation to the definition of a crime. Therefore, if it is not provided for clearly enough in the definition of abuse and neglect, courts may be hesitant to include maternal substance abuse in their understanding of these crimes. Moreover, a strict interpretation of the meaning of “child” in the Children’s Act would exclude a foetus. In addition, a foetus does not possess legal subjectivity under South African law, which means that it generally does not have any legal rights, nor can it be the victim of any crime. Alternatively, the legislature could opt for introducing a new statutory offence to address maternal substance abuse separately. In this regard, criminalising maternal substance abuse as a materially-defined crime would be the best route to follow. This would restrict prosecution to instances where maternal substance abuse does in fact result in FAS-like effects in the child upon birth. In determining the feasibility of criminalising maternal substance abuse in South Africa, the article also takes a comparative look at United States law in this regard, particularly the position in Alabama and South Carolina. Developments in these states do seem to bode well for a decision to criminalise maternal substance abuse in South Africa as well. As shown in Hicks v State of Alabama 2014 153 So.3d 53 and Whitner v State 328 S.C. 1, 492 S.E.2d 777 (1997), maternal substance abusers in the United States may be prosecuted for either a specific statutory offence or general child neglect. However, while the courts in those cases imposed imprisonment, South Africa’s already overcrowded prisons coupled with the predominantly socio-economic causes of maternal substance abuse in the local context would warrant alternative sentencing options. These include referral to a rehabilitation centre or diversion. In addition, the United States courts seem to have accepted the view that foetuses should be afforded the same protection as children. As this would stir up a hornet’s nest in terms of the abortion debate and the legal status of a foetus in South Africa, following the American example in this respect is not recommended. However, this challenge can be overcome by criminalising maternal substance abuse as suggested above, by providing for prosecution only where the affected child is born alive and presents with FAS-like symptoms
Quality of Climate Change Extension Services Provided to Smallholder Farmers in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
No full textThe study ascertained the quality of climate change extension service and its determinants for smallholder farmers in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality. The study utilised a cross-sectional survey of 100 households obtained through random sampling. Ordered logistic regression was used to analyse the data. Half of the respondents were female, mainly from Dyamala Village. Most respondents were between 50 and 59 years, married with a primary education level, with household sizes of between five and eight. Most of the respondents were unemployed, with the primary source of income being social grants and a monthly income of R2100-R3000. Most of the respondents knew about climate change, especially from other farmers. Respondents had access to extension advisory services, and 80% of them indicated that the extension services were helpful. However, most respondents indicated that the quality of climate change-related extension services was poor. Age, marital status, employment status, knowledge about climate change, and access to the extension were significant factors in the perceived quality of extension services provided. The study concludes that socioeconomic factors affected the perceived quality of extension service. The study recommends improving the accessibility and spread of extension services. There's also a need to enhance extension training to improve the quality of service delivery