UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Editorial vol.8 issue 2 2023
No full textThe current issue (Vol 8, Issue 2, Dec. 2023) of the Journal of African Real Estate Research (JARER) contains stimulating and informative articles and, as usual, provides the opportunity for readers to have a deeper understanding of the different types of applied research being conducted in the real estate sector and the built environment in Africa
Biometric data for ten species from the families Malaconotidea, Platysteridae and Laniidae based on museum specimens and ringing data
No full textBiometric data is vital for species identification, recognition and classification. Museum collections and ringing data sets are important sources of biometric data for birds. We present biometric data for nine selected species from the families Malaconotidae, Platysteridae and Laniidae based on 271 museum specimens and 184 ringing records. The species reported on are Bokmakierie, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Brubru, Cape Batis, Chinspot Batis, Pririt Batis, Magpie Shrike, Southern Fiscal and Red-backed Shrike. The biometric data were compared between the sexes and to literature. The biometric data presented represents the first records for some of the subspecies included
Exploring how Ethiopian women students perceive a sense of belonging in engineering higher education
Full text linkIn this study, we explored four undergraduate engineering women students’ sense of belonging to their engineering major, engineering college, and university in Ethiopia. Specifically, we explored how engineering women students perceived their sense of belonging to the engineering program and how the perceived sense of belonging impacted their academic participation and experience. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study through narrative interviews, thematic analysis, and a ‘sense of belonging’ lens to guide the study. Findings indicated that two participants who chose the engineering major themselves felt a sense of belonging to engineering, one who was assigned to engineering by the government did not feel a sense of belonging to her major, and one had partial belonging. The students indicated that having the autonomy to choose a major of their interest affected them in many ways: their motivation, persistence, performance, experience, sense of belonging, and whether to stay in the profession post-graduation or not. The Ethiopian government may need to prioritize making engineering a safer and more inclusive space where students of all genders feel they belong before forcing more women into the major. Furthermore, findings suggest the Ethiopian Ministry of Education might consider allowing the autonomy and agency of women students in choosing their major and/or university as they can make pragmatic decisions of what to study, where, and for what purpose
Understanding Corruption in the South African Construction Industry
Full text linkCorruption persists in the construction industry, impeding service delivery. This study aimed to understand corruption among practitioners within the South African (SA) construction industry. The study included practitioners in the construction industry (private and public sector) operating across seven associations in Johannesburg, SA. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling method. Participants completed an open-ended, semi-structured interview (12 questions), conducted face-to-face and took 45 to 60 minutes. There were a total of 11 participants. Respondents felt collusion exists due to poor ethics and that poor ethics among built environment stakeholders result in unethical behaviour. There was consensus that corruption affects the economic growth of SA and that small, micro, and medium enterprises are vulnerable when the economy performs poorly. Participants agreed that corruption could result in delayed or no completion of projects, affect quality standards and that incompetent contractors result in poor performance. Participants felt that corrupt practices result in government departments paying contractors late.
On the other hand, whistleblowing rarely occurs due to its risky nature. There was agreement that unethical practices affect securing contracts during procurement and that the manipulation of procurement processes results from a lack of transparency. Corruption is a challenge in the SA construction industry and needs to be eliminated.
Key Words: construction research; corruption; South Africa; construction industr
Blood cultures in paediatrics: clinical indications to obtain a blood culture
Full text linkGlobally there is no consensus on the ideal set of indications for obtaining a blood culture in paediatric and neonatal practice. In sub-Saharan Africa, where paediatric sepsis is associated with worse outcomes than other regions, early and accurate detection of bacteraemia is particularly important. However, use of blood culture in sub-Saharan Africa is complicated by resource limitation, variable availability of microbiological laboratory services, and prevalence of coinfections such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. Additional factors, such as different vaccination profiles and disease severity at presentation, limit generalisability of approaches developed for use in high-income countries. We review the literature on clinical indications for blood cultures in paediatric and neonatal practice, including current practices from sub-Saharan Africa and low-middle income countries, and propose a simple, practical set of clinical indications for blood culture in paediatric and neonatal practice in this setting
The longest living gannet Morus spp. at Malgas Island, South Africa
Full text linkA ringed Cape Gannet Morus capensis was retrapped on Malgas Island on 28 October 2020, having been ringed on 23 February 1983. The elapsed time was 37 years, 8 months and 4 days. It is not only the largest longevity for a Cape Gannet, it is the longest for any of the three gannet species
Evidence for a possible range expansion of White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides into the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa
Full text linkMany bird species are undergoing rapid range shifts in response to habitat change, climate change, and anthropogenic factors. Although ranges shift, these shifts may not be accurately reflected in static range maps, particularly if range maps are not updated regularly. We observed a White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) while birding in the Western Cape province of South Africa, an area not currently covered by this species’ known range. However, after investigating some other recent reports on the popular citizen science platform eBird, and comparing to changes in occurrence of this species from the Southern Africa Bird Atlas Projects, we suspect that this species is undergoing a range shift into the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. We illustrate this potential range shift with evidence from these citizen science platforms as well as from the literature. We conclude with a recommendation for conservation managers to adapt dynamic range maps for use in conservation decisions
Second bibliography of biodiversity research on Robben Island
Full text linkThis bibliography of published output of research relating to Robben Island, Table Bay, South Africa, covers the period 2016–2024. The previous bibliography covered the period up to 2016. All authors are grateful to the Robben Island Museum for support for this research, which is a contribution to the knowledge record of this World Heritage Site
Bird species outside of their known distribution ranges in southern Namibia
Full text linkOut-of-range sightings of five bird species at the Alte Kalköfen Bird Observatory in southern Namibia are reported on here: Quail Finch Ortygospiza atricollis, Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus, Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos and African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis. These records emphasize the value of the Alte Kalköfen Bird Observatory and highlight the importance of systematic field work in southern Namibia
Unveiling Construction Excellence: Strategies, Challenges and Innovations: Editorial June 2024
Full text linkThe construction industry, as a cornerstone of economic development, plays a pivotal role in shaping infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life globally. This thirteenth issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management presents a collection of research articles by twelve authors from South Africa, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and Zambia. The articles examine the intricacies of procurement strategies, quality management, project management tools, corruption and innovative construction methods. These articles collectively highlight the pathway towards achieving excellence in the construction industry of developing countries, addressing both persistent challenges and emergent solutions