Research Output Repository (HSRC)
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Optical and radar remote sensing for burn scar mapping in the grassland biome
No full textWildfires remain a major ongoing threat to the integrity of the environment and therefore emphasis is placed on employing efficient assessment techniques, such as remote sensing. Grassland fires received lesser attention compared to forest fires, despite their significant contribution to global wildfire occurrences. This study, conducted in South Africa, utilized Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 optical data to map burn scars in grasslands, in a biome representative of grasslands found elsewhere. Employing the Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to classify the data, the study achieved high producer’s and user’s accuracies in identifying burn scars using optical data (>90 %). Comparison of variable importance showed the infrared as well as vegetation and fuel moisture indices being the most influential variables to the classification. However, radar data produced lower accuracies (<50 %) owing to significant confusion in distinguishing grass, bare land and water bodies since these features have structural compositions similar to burnt areas. Nonetheless, radar data proved effective in differentiating burn scars from shadows. Combining optical and radar data yielded comparable accuracies to the optical-alone data but
improved the discrimination between burnt areas and shadows. This discrimination capability also agrees with the importance of radar data that ranked better than the visible bands of the optical data. The benefit of merging optical and radar data underscores the importance of radar data, which remains unaffected by atmospheric interference like smoke, haze and clouds, enabling continuous monitoring even during fire events.
Changes in tobacco use in rural South Africa during the 2020 tobacco sales ban: an analysis of current and previous behaviours using cross-sectional data
No full textAs part of its COVID-19 response, South Africa banned tobacco sales between March and August
2020. We examined self-reported tobacco use before, during and after the ban among a rural South African
population with high HIV prevalence. Between May 2021 and November 2022, we conducted a telephonic survey on tobacco use among a purposively selected subset of a population-based cohort in rural KwaZulu-Natal. We compared the prevalence and characteristics of people who retrospectively reported tobacco use (combustible, smokeless and/or electronic cigarettes) before, during and after the ban. Multiple logistic regression assessed predictors of tobacco use during and after the ban. South Africa’s 2020 tobacco sales ban, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, was associated with a 26% decrease in retrospectively reported tobacco use prevalence among a rural cohort. Tobacco use largely, but not completely, rebounded after the ban.
Artificial Intelligence: a new global system, a genocidal project or the revival of the tokoloshe culture&#63;
No full textIn the context of inclusive innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities to address inequality
and social exclusion by integrating fairness, inclusion, and representation. Despite AI’s benefits, its global transformative impact, disruption of traditional labour patterns, and integration into daily life, it remains essential to consider the potential downsides, including deepening inequalities and enhancing the digital divide. This article explores the multifaceted nature of AI, examining whether it implies developing a new global system, risks becoming a “genocidal project”, or challenging traditional African ways of being. We illustrate this by comparing AI usage and African Epistemologies to understand how both have a dual nature in their adaptability and versatility in shaping our everyday lives. Using the African Epistemological lenses of Ubuntu and African folklore of the tokoloshe, we incorporate evidence from academic sources and policy; we argue that AI’s replacement of human labour is a form of economic genocide, mainly impacting less advantaged people by intensifying inequalities and unemployment. This paper aims to contribute to the growing study of inclusive innovation by incorporating AI and African experiences, emphasizing the philosophy of Ubuntu and bringing to the fore humanness in the development for policy development that emphasize the challenges and influence of AI’s potential for inclusive innovation. These recommendations promote equitable access to technology and prioritize
ethical considerations to avoid harm and marginalization.N/
Youth and sociocultural change in the western Grassfields, Cameroon
No full textIn June 2022, a group of Bambui youth resident in Europe, North America and Cameroon presented a Toyota SUV car as a gift to the fon or king of the Bambui Kingdom on his 25th anniversary on the throne. This, however, was not the first time for Bambui people to present a gift to the fon, but it was the very first time for a group of young people to conceive, contribute, and buy such an expensive gift. While the decision to present a gift to the fon was negotiated privately by the concerned youth, the gift was presented in public, thereby prompting other Bambui youth to question the rationale behind the secret arrangement at the initial phase. However, whether, the decision to plan everything in secret before presenting in public was correct, is only one of our concerns in this chapter. The chapter is concerned about the whole concept of gift exchange in the Bambui Kingdom and Grassfields, and the direction it is taking in present day. While the practice used to be something reserved largely for traditional elites and elders, it is now increasingly led by young people, and there is competition among them to out-smart others. This chapter examines the concept of gift exchange as it applies to Bambui and young people to show how it has and continue to change as well as some of the motivations.
Social inequities in TB treatment uptake: results from a qualitative intersectional gender research study in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
No full textPaper presented at World Lung Health Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 18-21 Novembe
From paper to platform: ethics review in a digital age: a Kenyan case
No full textDigital platforms for ethics review (DPER) are transforming research ethics globally, yet their benefits, challenges, and readiness for digital autonomy still need to be explored. This study examined the perspectives of researchers, research ethics committee (REC) members, and secretariats in Kenya through six in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions (N =18). Thematic analysis revealed that DPER was considered to enhance efficiency, communication, and cost-effectiveness. However, concerns were raised about data security, platform rigidity, and limited training. Addressing these challenges and involving stakeholders in system design is essential for achieving digital autonomy. The findings emphasize the need for strategies to enhance DPER adoption and functionality, ensuring effective and secure research ethics oversight in the evolving digital landscape.
Births driven by statutory rape in South Africa: an analysis of birth records 2003–2023
No full textSouth Africa continues to grapple with high rates of adolescent pregnancies, many of which stem from exploitative sexual relationships where there are significant differences that relate to age, power, and socio-economic status. The study aims to estimate the distribution and prevalence of statutory rape and to examine the spatial clustering patterns at the district level of statutory rape in South Africa. The study uses descriptive statistics and the Pearson Chi-Square Test of Independence to assess differences in the prevalence of statutory rape. To explore spatial patterns, Global Moran’s I was applied to test for spatial autocorrelation, and Local Moran’s I was used to identify hotspots of statutory rape. Of 7,058,458 recorded births, 21,396 recorded births over the past two decades were identified as statutory rape driven births. Highest levels of statutory rape driven births were in Mpumalanga (0.6%, p < 0.001), KwaZulu-Natal (0.5%) and Limpopo (0.4%). Participants with births classified as statutory rape driven birth were significantly more likely to have delayed child’s birth registration (1.8%, p < 0.001). The global Moran’s I indicated a strong and statistically significant spatial clustering (p < 0.0001). A high-high cluster was observed in northern KwaZulu-Natal, while low-low clusters spanned across Gauteng and Limpopo. These findings highlight the urgent need for policies that strengthen enforcement of statutory rape laws and ensure clearer protocols for identifying and responding to such cases within health and civil registration systems. Thus, the study calls for integrated data systems across key departments, improved mandatory reporting, and encourages community programmes that respect local cultures.
Trapped by debt: an ethnographic study of medical indebtedness and hospital detention in the Fundong Health District, Cameroon
No full textBackground: This study investigates the structural and socio-cultural drivers of medical indebtedness and hospital detention due to unpaid healthcare bills in the Fundong Health District, Cameroon. It explores how poverty, institutional shortcomings, and cultural beliefs converge to exacerbate patients’ financial vulnerability and delay access to care. Methods: A qualitative anthropological approach was employed between February and November 2022, combining 34 in-depth interviews with extended ethnographic observation in hospital wards, billing offices, and family waiting areas. Data were analyzed using iterative grounded theory methods, including open, axial, and selective coding of interview transcripts, focus group discussions, and field
notes. This methodology allowed for a nuanced understanding of how debt and detention are experienced and perpetuated. All data were transcribed, manually coded, and analyzed using NVivo 14 software to identify recurring themes related to hospital detention. Results: The findings show that medical indebtedness is driven by poverty, lack of health insurance, and limited social support. Institutional factors—including underfunded healthcare infrastructure and high user fees—compound these vulnerabilities. Cultural norms, such as beliefs discouraging financial preparation for illness, further heighten exposure to risk. The practice of hospital detention, though largely undocumented, imposes severe physical, emotional, and financial burdens, prompting some to delay care or adopt harmful coping mechanisms. Conclusion/policy implications: Addressing medical debt and hospital detention requires a multifaceted policy response. Recommendations include eliminating maternal user fees, expanding health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations, protecting hospital-based social assistance, and replacing detention with legal safeguards and social mediation. Additionally, culturally sensitive financial literacy and mental health support programs are vital. Long-term investment in health infrastructure and governance is essential to reduce out-of-pocket spending and ensure equitable, rights-based healthcare access.
Africa Union and Agenda 2063: past, present and future
No full textIt is impossible to have a full appreciation of the AU without the OAU as part of its historical context. The genesis of the OAU stems from the collective yearning of continental Africans for unity, dignity, liberation, and self-determination amidst the trials and tribulations of colonial exploitation and postcolonial challenges. A confluence of historical imperatives, including the ravages of struggles against slavery, colonialism, imperialism, racism, apartheid, xenophobia or afro-phobia, the fervor of Pan-Africanism, and the imperative of decolonisation, propelled the birth of this strategic institution. Grounded in the ethos of solidarity and the recognition of shared destinies, African leaders embarked upon the noble endeavours of establishing the OAU. This historic breakthrough, catalyzed by the imperative of collective agency and the fostering of continental cohesion, stands as a testament to Africa’s resolve to chart its destiny and transcend the shackles of oppression, exploitation, and sociopolitical strangulation. Thus, the OAU emerged as a beacon of hope, heralding a new era of African agency, unity, and collective empowerment on the continent and on the global stage.
The hidden struggle: mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown had a profound impact on mental health in South Africa, particularly among marginalised groups. The University of Johannesburg / Human Sciences Research Council (UJ/HSRC) COVID-19 Democracy survey was a cross-sectional online survey conducted in five rounds covering a 20-month period from mid-April 2020 to November 2021 and involving nearly 45,000 participants. Our findings show that stress, depression, and loneliness were prevalent, especially during the strictest lockdown periods. Women, young adults, and poorer individuals were disproportionately affected, with hunger and unemployment emerging as significant drivers of distress. Psychological distress lessened as lockdown restrictions eased, but feelings of isolation persisted for many. Interestingly, COVID denialists reported lower levels of distress, while those more accepting of vaccines exhibited less psychological distress. The findings emphasise the importance of addressing both socio- economic and mental health vulnerabilities through social protection and targeted interventions during future crises. It further underlines the treatment gaps in South Africa’s mental health services, with system strengthening being vital to address present and future need.