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The influence of public perception on acceptance of portable water reclamation schemes: the case of Diepsloot township Johannesburg
No full textWhile a considerable amount of research in several parts of the world has already demonstrated reclaimed water safety and reliability for various uses, its acceptance and use by communities and households in South Africa remains very low. In this article, we use quantitative and qualitative data from a community-level cross-sectional perception survey that was carried out from 2018 to 2019 to assess water users' willingness to accept reclaimed water as an alternative source of water for domestic purposes in Diepsloot township as well as the main factors influencing respondents' perceptions. Results of this study show that there is high acceptance of reclaimed water for domestic uses. Respondents with higher levels of education were more likely to accept reclaimed water than those with lower levels of education. The assumption that the water they were using was already mixed with wastewater also increased water user's acceptance levels. The results of the study suggest that governments, municipalities, and other key actors in the water and sanitation sector should first work towards building community trust and confidence when establishing water reclamation projects for domestic use, particularly through strategic communication and awareness-raising initiatives before they can expect widespread community acceptance.
An assessment of South Africa's social protection system's response to COVID-19 using the Core Diagnostic (CODI) framework
No full textThe study's theoretical framework is grounded in prevailing concepts and theories, with a focus on systems thinking in policy and programme evaluation, formulation, and public administration management science. This theoretical foundation provides a holistic and systematic approach to evaluating the performance of South Africa's social protection system, particularly in response to unexpected crises. This chapter highlights the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to assessing the effectiveness of social protection systems in times of crisis.
Characteristics of HIV positive recently pregnant women aged 15-49 years South Africa 2017: fact sheet
No full textThe dominant themes emerging from our analyses of recently pregnant women are social and structural issues; sexual risk behaviours pertaining to condom use; engaging in early sexual debut; having multiple partners; and having age disparate sexual relationships' particularly for recently pregnant AGYW aged 15-24 years. The lack of or inconsistent use of condoms, engaging in early sexual debut, and having multiple sexual partners are well-documented risk behaviours associated with HIV acquisition. In addition, STIs among recently pregnant HIV-positive older women warrant attention. The high proportion of recently pregnant women who had also recently tested for HIV suggests that the HIV testing strategies within the PMTCT programmes have been successful, but some gaps still exist.N/
Developing a green paper on homelessness in South Africa: inception report
No full textCommissioned by the National Department of Social Development, NovemberThis report has been produced in response to the National Department of Social Development's (DSD) commitment to develop a national homelessness policy in South Africa. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, DSD was mandated to coordinate a policy on Homelessness and produced a Diagnostic Report in this regard (see Sonko-Najjemba et al., 2022). Informed by the policy development processes outlined in the National Policy Development Framework (2020), this report outlines the approaches that will be used to develop the Green Paper on Homelessness in South Africa. The report commences with a brief literature review on homelessness in contemporary South Africa, followed by a statement on the working definition on homelessness
we will apply in this project. We then outline the rationale for a homelessness policy in South Africa, after which the project aims and objectives will be presented. The methodology to be employed in the Green Paper development process will be described, and the report will conclude with an outline of the proposed project timelines and the project team.N/
COVID-19 triggers growing support for a basic income grant in South Africa
No full textSince 1994, the South African Government has been hesitant to roll out a universal or basic income grant
(BIG), even for the chronically poor and unemployed. Nevertheless, a temporary monthly R350 Social Relief of
Distress (SRD) grant was introduced in April 2020 to help vulnerable South Africans during the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter focuses on whether the South African public will support a higher and lasting BIG for the chronically poor in the future. The chapter reflects on how the SRD grant lessened the economic impact of COVID-19 on the general conditions of millions of unemployed and chronically poor and whether such a grant is a feasible post-pandemic policy option. Data from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the Human Sciences Research Council���s (HSRC) COVID-19 Democracy Survey are used to demonstrate that many South Africans support a regular SRD grant and for making it permanent. Such a grant could be incrementally implemented as a regularly assessed pilot intervention that is progressively expanded to those most in need.
STI prevalence, partner notification and HIV risk perception in a cohort of women completing STI screening as part of a safer conception study
No full textBackground: Integrating STI and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care may optimize sexual and reproductive health. Methods: We nested an STI-sub-study within an HIV prevention cohort (Parent study) of 18- 35-year-old women from South Africa, planning pregnancy with a partner with HIV or of unknown-serostatus. Parent-study women completed annual surveys regarding HIV-risk perceptions and were offered oral PrEP. PrEP initiators completed quarterly plasma tenofovir testing. Sub-study women completed STI screening at enrollment, 6 months, onset of pregnancy, and in the third trimester via examination, vaginal swabs tested via PCR for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and blood tested for Treponema pallidum. Follow-up was six months. Women with STIs were treated, offered partner notification (PN) cards, and surveyed regarding PN practices. We describe STI prevalence and incidence, and model factors associated with prevalent infection. STI sub-study and Parent-study-only participants were matched on age and number of days on study to assess HIV-risk perception scores between the two groups and the proportion with detectable tenofovir. Among 50 sub-study participants, 15 (30%) had prevalent STI. All 13 completing follow-up reported PN. Most did not prefer assisted PN. Mean HIV risk perception scores and proportion with detected plasma TFV were similar across groups.
Conclusions: High STI prevalence supports the importance of laboratory screening to optimize sexual health for women planning pregnancy. Rates of self-reported PN are reassuring; low interest in assisted PN suggests the need for alternative approaches. Enhanced STI care did not affect HIV-risk perception or PrEP adherence, however both were relatively high in this cohort.
Inclusive MOOCs: contribution to South African teacher's establishment of communities of practice in online spaces
Get PDFPaper presented at the Education Association of South Africa (EASA) Annual Conference, Gauteng, 14-17 JanuaryN/
Urban open space utilization for subsistence agriculture: a study of Esikhaleni township
No full textThis research investigates the motivations driving the utilization of urban open spaces for subsistence
agriculture and assesses its impact on the livelihoods of residents in Esikhaleni Township. Employing a mixed methods approach, the study conducts structured interviews with local farmers and in-depth interviews with
municipal officials from the uMhlathuze Municipality. The findings highlight food insecurity, the necessity for
accessible fresh produce, agricultural passion, and rising food costs as primary drivers compelling Esikhaleni
residents towards open space farming. Moreover, the research underscores the significant contribution of open space agriculture to the livelihoods of Esikhaleni residents, including improved access to fresh food, reduced food expenditures, and supplementary income generation through produce sales. The study concludes by recommending the integration of urban agriculture into urban planning efforts to safeguard land for agricultural purposes, thereby enabling residents of Esikhaleni Township to engage in sustainable agricultural practices.
Monitoring and evaluation of the 2023 National Science Week
Get PDFCommissioned by the Department of Sciences and Innovation, JulySouth Africa is emerging as one of the most technologically advanced countries within the African continent. The country is actively engaged in profiling its scientific achievements and striving to solidify its standing among the world?s leading nations in science and technology. There is a firm belief that South Africa has the potential to be one of the top 20 scientifically and technologically advanced countries. Realising this ambitious vision requires a concerted effort to foster a scientifically literate society (Department of Science and Innovation [DSI], 2015).N/