UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Vocalisations and seasonal variation in singing and aerial displays of the Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda chuana
No full textThe southern African endemic Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda chuana is listed as 'Least Concern' globally. As a result of its highly localised distribution in South Africa, it is regarded as a species of conservation concern, and it is afforded legal protection in all three provinces in which it is found. Its calls are distinctive and a valuable aid to correctly identify the species for monitoring purposes. However, descriptions of the various calls are ambiguous in some publications, and the existence of local dialects further complicates the correct identification of the species. Here we report on the vocal repertoire and annual variation in vocalisations and displays of Short-clawed Larks from the species eastern population. Short-clawed Lark vocalisations can be divided into four categories: territorial calls (males only), contact calls (both sexes), song (mostly males only) and nestling distress calls. Each male has a limited territorial call repertoire of only 3–6 'signature' phrases. The limited number of phrases facilitates recognition of neighbours and strangers for a resident, territorial species such as Short-clawed Lark. Vocalizations and aerial display frequency peaked 1–3 hours after sunrise in the peak (December) and late (March) breeding seasons. Knowledge about the vocal repertoire and seasonal variation in the frequency of the different vocalisations and aerial display flights will be valuable from an atlasing point of view and for designing a monitoring protocol for the species
Approaching Day Zero: Effects of Water Scarcity in Construction Projects in South Africa
Get PDFWater is a precious resource that is essential for human life and useful for development. This paper explores the effects of water scarcity on the construction industry in the South African context. Primary data were collected using semi-structured interviews in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces. The study found that construction projects require much water, however, the volume of water usage varies depending on the type and magnitude of the construction project. A lack or scarcity of water can derail projects or bring them to a complete halt. Therefore, construction companies need to take measures to mitigate the effects of water scarcity during their construction projects by factoring water scarcity into their risk assessments. This requires construction companies and their clients to agree on the mitigating factors in case of water scarcity. Project pre-planning is vital to mitigate some of the challenges related to water scarcity. Construction projects requiring a high volume of water need not only rely on water that can be provided through government infrastructure, but should also source water through other means, such as drilling boreholes, recycling, and by applying water saving techniques
Exploring the effects of positive organizational behaviour (POB) models on occupational eustress amongst construction employees
Get PDFThe general perspective of organizational behaviour (OB) has been characterized more by negativity than positively. The introduction of a positive approach into OB is known as positive organizational behaviour (POB), which focuses on employees' positive emotions and strengths to enable them to thrive and reinforce the organization. The study assesses the effects of POB constructs on eustress amongst construction employees in Nigeria. Data were collected from 326 respondents practising in the construction firms using a quantitative survey and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential surveys, including structural equation modelling (SEM). The study identified five constructs of POB models and five parameters of eustress that have a significant influence on eustress. The study focuses on identifying the areas that can propel positive mental health among construction employees to improve their performances and increase work productivity. Therefore, it recommends that construction stakeholders should consider adopting company policies that can drive their implementations.
Keywords: Construction employees, distress, occupational eustress, positive organizational behaviour delivery
Urban Regeneration and the Perceptions of Commercial Real Estate Market Participants: The Case of the Johannesburg Inner City
Get PDFMany factors contribute to urban decay in inner city locations as real estate investments fall and industries disappear or move to more attractive locations. In South Africa, the attainment of democracy and the resultant ‘white flight’ in favour of decentralised locations precipitated urban decay. Commercial real estate has spill-over effects on foot-count and absorption rates on inner city real estate. It helps stimulate redevelopment of other property types such as apartments, which contribute to the overall economic revitalisation of the decayed inner city. This paper examines the challenges faced by real estate investors in regeneration projects in Johannesburg Inner City (JIC). The paper uses an exploratory qualitative research design, where interviews were conducted with commercial real estate participants in JIC. The paper identified five challenges faced by commercial real estate market participants regarding investments and operations: building acquisition, physical public infrastructure, homelessness, lack of financing, and crime. An understanding of these challenges faced by commercial real estate market participants is valuable for policy-makers trying to attract commercial real estate investments to the inner city. Successful regeneration projects will promote urban renewal and revitalise economic activities in the decaying regions. The identified challenges will illuminate municipal programs and policies needed for the development of inner cities
Assessing Co-Titling Desirability in Matrimonial Properties in Urban Land Ownership in Tanzania
Get PDFLaws in Tanzania allow married couples joint ownership of land but in practice single land titling in the husband’s name only is most common. The ability to co-title was expected to attract couples to own their matrimonial properties jointly; however, the rate at which spouses are adopting co-titling remains low. This paper assesses the desirability of co-titling in land ownership among spouses using key informant interviews and a survey of couples. It is based on a case study of Makongo Juu settlement in Dar es Salaam City where a regularisation programme was implemented. The paper reveals a number of benefits as well as constraints of co-titling for married couples. Findings show that a majority of female spouses had little awareness of the existence of co-titling arrangements. Whereas a majority of female spouses showed interest in co-titling of their matrimonial properties, male spouses were hesitant and, in some cases, they even denied their spouses rights to matrimonial land ownership. Traces of social norms, customs and traditions that generally do not favour co-ownership of matrimonial properties were noted to influence the couple’s decisions. By looking into co-titling as a dimension of enhancing women’s matrimonial property rights, this paper contributes to a wide discussion on women’s land rights in the course of economic empowerment. The findings can be used in the formulation of gender mainstreaming policies and programmes in developing countries
Birds and birding 2013-2020 at Macaneta, Southern Mozambique
Get PDFThe Macaneta area lies in the Incomati River estuary in northern Maputo Bay, Maputo Province, southern Mozambique. The 56 km2 area of study was selected based on access from tracks and follows no formal boundaries. The site comprises a 10 km stretch of ocean beach, coastal dunes with patchy thicket forest, and low lying wet grasslands inland to the Incomati River. The wetlands have complex hydrology offering diverse salinity and temporal conditions. The peninsula of Praia de Macaneta is also included in the study site but with few data. Improved access to the site in Oct 2016 enabled over 200 field ornithological visits Oct 2016-Oct 2020 and the sightings are analysed and reported herein. A total of 295 species was recorded including eight Globally Threatened birds (three Endangered, five Near-threatened) and Internationally Important numbers of White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybrida were found. Three new birds for Mozambique were discovered; Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata (first for Africa), White-rumped Sandpiper C. fuscicollis and Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiate. An annotated checklist of selected species is presented. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in particular drew much birder interest with 254 international visitor days over the 12 weeks of its first visit Feb-Apr 2018, contributing over US$12,000 into the local economy. The bird returned for two further seasons but it was not possible to gather further data.  
Barriers to Housing Development in Lagos Fringe Areas: A Developers’ Perspective
Get PDFThis study investigates developers’ land acquisition and housing developments to assess factors that influence utilisation of the acquired land for housing development and strategic approaches that could drive mass housing developments. A sample of 141 members of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and 31 heads of units in the Land Bureau were surveyed. Weighted mean score and factor analysis were used to identify the barriers limiting housing developments and strategies that could enhance developers' housing initiatives. Findings revealed that the total number of housing units developed is insignificant in the study location, and eight groups of barriers were identified by developers as limiting their housing initiatives. Weak land institutional frameworks and inconsistency in government regulations and policy were recurring themes. These barriers are germane to housing development in the urban fringe of a growing African mega-city that needs 500,000 new housing units annually for the next 10 years to bridge the housing gap. The study recommends an efficient land reform framework to remove policies and regulations that impede timely land documentation, administration and housing development and to include developers through cooperative ventures
Who stole my nest? : Weaver nests used as nest lining.
Get PDFBirds stealing nest material from a neighbour’s nest is well known, but stealing entire nests is less well known. This has been reported nine times for raptors and waterbirds taking the domed nests of weaverbirds. Three waterbird species and five raptor species are involved. Nests of four weaver species were identified. Three records were from Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa, and the rest from elsewhere in Africa. Weaver nests included green nests, but most were old nests, and at least one occupied nest (with eggs). Since green nests were not the norm, the weaver nests were probably taken as a source of plant material, rather than for any specific benefit relating to weaver nests
Breeding biology of two sympatric Nesospiza finches at Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha
Get PDFNesospiza finches are a classic example of a simple adaptive radiation, with two ecologically distinct forms confined to the Tristan daCunha Archipelago, South Atlantic Ocean: an abundant, small-billed dietary generalist, and a scarce, large-billed specialist. These havesegregated into two species at Nightingale Island, but there is still local introgression between the two forms at Inaccessible Island. Wedescribe the phenology and breeding behaviour of the two sympatric species at Nightingale Island (2.6 km2): Wilkins’s Finch Nesospizawilkinsi (Endangered) and Nightingale Island Finch N. questi (Vulnerable). The finch breeding season starts in late October-November butthe onset of breeding varies by 4–5 weeks among years. The small-billed Nightingale Island Finch typically (two of three study seasons)starts breeding 1–3 weeks earlier than the large-billed Wilkins’s Finch, unlike at Inaccessible Island where the Wilkins’s Finches startbreeding first. Laying of initial clutches was quite well synchronised, peaking 1–2 weeks after the first nests were found. Females constructedthe nests, which were mostly (>90%) in dense Spartina arundinacea tussock grass stands and occasionally in ferns or sedge grasses.Clutches comprised one or two eggs, with no difference between Wilkins’s (1.66 ± 0.48) or Nightingale Island finch clutches (1.71 ± 0.46).Incubation periods averaged longer for Wilkins’s Finch (18.3 ± 0.5 d) than Nightingale Island Finch (17.7 ± 0.5 d), but this difference wasnot statistically significant. Females incubated the eggs, and were fed by the males. The difference in egg volume within two-egg clutcheswas 2–13% for Wilkins’s Finches (mean 5.9 ± 3.3%) and 1–19% for Nightingale Island Finches (mean 8.4 ± 5.3%). At least 31% of pairs re-laid after their first breeding attempt failed but there was no evidence of double brooding. Repeat nests were 0–20 m (mean 5.6 ± 4.9 m)from the initial nest site and inter-seasonal nest sites for 38 known pairs were 0–33 m apart (mean 12 ± 9 m). No inter-species pairs orhybrid birds were seen, but two instances of inter-species fledgling provisioning were observed
Property Taxation Imperatives for Africa: A Study of Four Cities
Get PDFAfrican countries are currently pressured by high urbanisation rates that threaten their ability to address the basic infrastructure and social needs of citizens. Globally, property taxes are utilised as a tool to generate revenue that supports infrastructure provision, but its use has not been effective in Africa. This study examines the trends in property tax administration in cities of four different countries in Africa. It presents an analysis of the lessons that can be learnt and improvements to be made. Using Lagos, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam and Kigali as case studies, the study finds that although they have carried out recent property tax reforms which have led to remarkable outcomes in terms of coverage and revenues, opportunities to take advantage of the growing real estate development markets arising from rapid urbanisation have been missed. Lack of intra-governmental co-operation is also a threat to sustaining performance in some cases. The role of local governments has been very contentious with policy changes and controversies. The need for stakeholder involvement and redistributing revenues to local services remains unexplored in all four cases. However, the use of technology in identifying the tax base, updating cadastre, and collection, represents key opportunities to increase effectiveness. Recommendations include strengthening intra-governmental co-operation, using technology to capture new real estate development and supporting local government capacities as strategies to improve property tax policy and administration