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How do researchers and public officials co-navigate e-participation implementation?: an action-research experience with South African municipalities
Get PDFOur findings highlight the importance of building socio-technical agency of front-line public participation officials, exploring malleable technologies that are flexible to adaptation, facilitating peer-learning amongst officials on what works in similar contexts, and having a system view within and across pilots.
Initiation, cessation and relapse of tobacco smoking over a 3-year period among participants aged ≥15 years in a large longitudinal cohort in rural South Africa
Get PDFTobacco smoking is increasing in many low-and-middle-income countries, but data about initiation and cessation patterns are sparse, particularly in rural areas. We investigated changes in smoking status and their determinants in rural South Africa. Participants enrolled in the Vukuzazi population cohort in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa completed a baseline tobacco behavioural survey during 1 May 2018 to 31 March 2020. A follow-up survey was conducted during 4 May 2021 to 18 November 2022 among all participants aged ≥15 years who reported current and former smoking at baseline (to detect cessation and relapse) and in a random selection of participants aged 15-29 years who reported never smoking at baseline (to detect initiation). We fit regression models to estimate smoking initiation (from never to current or former smoking), cessation (from current to former smoking) and relapse (from former to current smoking) between baseline and follow-up, and to investigate the sociodemographic and behavioural variables associated with each outcome. Of those recruited, 52% (754/1448) participated in the follow-up survey, which occurred a median of 3.0 years (IQR: 2.6-3.2) from baseline. Initiation, cessation and relapse occurrence was 12.0% (95% CI: 8.4-16.8), 12.9% (95% CI: 10.0-16.5) and 10.9% (95% CI: 4.4-24.2), respectively. Males had significantly higher odds of initiation than females (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 12.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.54-46.36). Moderate/heavy smoking (≥10 products per day; AOR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.08-0.93 relative to light smoking <10 products per day) and middle socioeconomic status (AOR 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15-0.89 relative to low socioeconomic status) were associated with lower odds of cessation. No covariates were significantly associated with relapse. In conclusion, most people retained their smoking status over approximately three years in rural South Africa. Fewer than one in eight smokers quit. Prevention interventions are needed to address high initiation among young males. People who smoke moderately or heavily and people with middle socioeconomic status may benefit from targeted cessation interventions.
Design and implementation strategies for e-participation in South Africa
Get PDFHSRC Policy Brief, FebruaryThis policy brief is based on a review of design and implementation strategies adopted by the ePPMOSA team during action-research activities conducted as part of their collaboration with municipalities to pilot e-participation technologies. This follows an initial investigation of how municipalities use digital technology to enable citizen participation in planning and policy-making processes. The research team was cognisant of the varying social, technical, and economic factors influencing the implementation and use of e-participation tools in the participating municipalities, and this shaped the approach adopted for each of these municipalities.N/
South African national survey of research and experimental development: government at a glance, 2022/2023. Fact sheet 62
No full textIn South Africa, government is crucial to research and experimental development both as a performer and more significantly as a financer. This fact sheet shows the majority (50.2%) of government R&D expenditure in 2022/23 was directed toward economic development. Government provides the majority of financing for its own R&D activities in South Africa (just under 95% in 2022/23).N/
A comparative exploration of SHAP and LIME for enhancing the interpretability of machine learning models in obesity prediction
No full textIn the realm of health-related machine learning classifications, understanding the decisions made by models is of paramount importance. This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of two prominent model-agnostic interpretability tools, SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) and LIME (Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations), to illuminate the workings of machine learning models in obesity classification. While powerful machine learning models often operate as “black boxes”, leaving users and stakeholders in the dark about the rationale behind their decisions, SHAP and LIME offer pathways to shed light on the inner workings of these models by unveiling their feature importance and local model behaviour. This study aims to compare the different techniques used in obesity classification and identify their respective strengths and weaknesses. The study found that a family history of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are strong predictors of obesity across all classification techniques we considered thus emphasizing the robustness of these factors. Moreover, our analysis showcases the impact of lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits and physical activity, on obesity classification.
Coercive competition: geostrategic rivalry in Africa
No full textThe geostrategic rivalry between the West and the East is taking centre stage in global affairs, with Africa becoming an alluring battleground. Averting overt conflict, global powers are using economic, political and military statecraft to pursue strategic and security interests on the African continent. The strategic competition between global powers in Africa has significant diplomatic, military and ideological dimensions, with technological and economic dimensions dominating. Unless Africa intercedes to secure a détente among the global powers, the rivalry of these powers will be detrimental to the continent. This article examines how Africa can mitigate the negative effects of coercive competition on the continent, and how the continent may benefit from its increased allure to global powers. The central thesis is that African governments should develop a coherent strategy for dealing with global powers so as not to exacerbate their geostrategic rivalry. Instead, African governments should
launch calibrated cooperation on matters of mutual interest for the common good.
A scoping review of the integration of artificial intelligence in primary and secondary schools from 2020 to 2024: policy implications for South Africa
No full textSouth Africa’s education system struggles with challenges highlighted by low student performance in global
assessments. Based on Bloom’s (1984) personalized instruction model and the Arksey and O’Malley (2005)
methodology, this scoping review explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance educational outcomes in
South Africa. This analysis of international applications and their implications for South Africa involved a
scoping review of SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Mendeley, and Taylor & Francis databases to identify primary
studies on AI in education from 2020 to 2024. Data from 33 articles were charted and summarized according to
the research questions. Key findings highlight the potential of AI to provide personalized learning experiences,
enhance inclusivity, and support special needs education. However, infrastructure deficiencies pose significant
barriers. Effective AI deployment requires educators to develop technical skills and understand AI ethics to
address biases and privacy issues. Implications for policy are discussed.
Field operations
No full textThis chapter explains the principles of field activities. It also provides practical insights on survey activities in
the field, including planning, presurvey visits and field operations, and the importance of local government
and community involvement.