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Exploring the role of township economy on youth empowerment, employment and entrepreneurship
Get PDFHigh youth unemployment, growing inequality and poverty are interrelated and have long been teething problems in South Africa. The youth who form the largest proportion of the population of South Africa are marginalized from participating in the economy in any significant way and this places them at the receiving end of these problems. For these youth, micro and small entrepreneurial ventures in the informal or township economy seem to be the only viable solution out of these problems. The objective of this study was to explore the extent to which the township economy fosters entrepreneurship among the youth. The study leverages on the case study of Galeshewe Township in the Northern Cape and undertook an in-depth face-to face interview with small business owners in the township. The study was a qualitative study that allowed the respondents to express and describe their perceptions of whether township economy contributed towards youth empowerment, employment, and entrepreneurship. From the data that was col
Defining the functional role of MAGE-C1 in Multiple Myeloma
Get PDFThe expression of Cancer/Testis antigens (CTAs) in various cancers, including multiple myeloma, makes them attractive targets for therapy and biomarker development. Despite intensive studies, their potential has not been fully realized due to lack of knowledge regarding their pathogenic role. To start elucidating the function of melanoma antigen (MAGE) protein-C1 (MAGE-C1) in multiple myeloma, this project aimed to firstly establish the suitability of culture cell line RPMI-8226 as an in vitro multiple myeloma model. Additionally, the project aimed to establish relevant reagents and techniques to study MAGE proteins by comparing MAGE-C1 to better described CTAs: MAGE-C2 and MAGE-A1. Firstly, the expression of MAGE-C1, MAGE-A1, MAGE-C2 and their respective binding partners, Ski interacting protein (SKIP) and Ring-box 1 (RBX1), was confirmed in RPMI-8662. Next, functional similarity was investigated through co-immunoprecipitation, to determine MAGE-C1 interaction with RBX1 or SKIP, and immunofluorescence microscopy, to assess co-localisation of these proteins. Lastly, cellular pathways influenced by MAGE-C2 were evaluated using heat shock to induce a stress response and activate the pathways of interest. The expression of MAGE-C1, MAGE-A1, MAGE-C2 and their binding partners were confirmed at the mRNA level. Unfortunately, interaction with their binding partners could not be demonstrated using co-immunoprecipitation, although immunofluorescence microscopy showed co-localisation of MAGE-C1 with both SKIP and RBX1. An abnormal stress response, via the E3 ligases known to interact with MAGE-C2 was observed in RPMI-8226. An array of reagents and techniques for future MAGE investigations were established during this study. However, the findings of this project indicated that RPMI-8226 may not be an ideal model for further MAGE investigations as initially hypothesize
Unbound: An Origin Story
Get PDFIn Unbound, I embark on a semi-autobiographical quest, through which I reflect on the subject of a ‘myth of origin'. I rely on the two foundational yet competing epistemes that have been shaping my understanding of the concept throughout my life: On one end, the dogmatic Abrahamic mythology with which I was raised as an Israeli Jew; On the opposing end, Darwin's theory of evolution, as laid out in On The Origin of Species, which gradually came to replace many of my childhood's traditional narratives. In a body of work comprising a graphic novel and a series of large-scale oil paintings, the Darwinian and Abrahamic stories clash, bend, and blend. Unbound is the practice of reflexive doubt. While this project exists in an academic sphere, I refrain from calling it ‘research' in the traditional sense of the word. Rather, I choose to frame my academic practice as ‘artistic inquiry', for it is aimed at asking critical questions, rather than providing definitive answers. For this end, I generate a lexicon of visual iconography, a strategy which, in the words of art scholar Daniel Morris, enables the work to live between ‘public history and private myth'. I draw from an array of influential Jewish artists who have utilized this strategy effectively, among which are Philip Guston, William Kentridge, Dana Schutz, Will Eisner, and Art Spiegelman. According to Morris, relating to public history through the use of a private lexicon provides the work a germinative property which enables it to outlive the time in which it was created. Unbound aims to obtain this very same effect
The association between ambient air pollution and cardiorespiratory health outcomes of adults residing in informal settlements of the Western Cape in a 12 month period
Get PDFBackground: There is limited data on the association between ambient air pollution cardiorespiratory outcomes among adults especially among populations with low socio-economic status in low- and middle income countries. Objectives: A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted in four informal settlements of the Western Cape to determine the association between annual NO2 and PM2.5 air pollution exposure and cardiorespiratory outcomes in adults. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 506 participants who were guardians of learners in a primary study, to collect information on cardio-respiratory symptoms and relevant covariates. Land use regression modelling in R was used to estimate the annual average PM2.5 and NO2 exposure at each household. Cardio-respiratory outcomes included wheezing in the last 12 months, doctor diagnosed asthma, asthma symptoms score (calculated as the sum of positive responses to 3 asthma questions), chest pain, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. The quantile g computation package in R was used to assess the joint-effect of PM2.5 and NO2 on the outcome of interest. A concentration curve was determined, while adjusting for confounders (paraffin exposure, mould exposure, smoke exposure, low education, unemployed, sex and age). Results: Most of the participants were female (89.9%), with a median age of 40 (IQR=12.8). The annual median concentration of PM2,5 9.8 μg/m3 and NO2 was 16.86 μg/m3 , below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) There was positive association between NO2 and shortness of breath on exertion (OR:4.02, 95% CI:2.21-7.65) adjusting for PM2,5 and other confounders. There were no other significant associations found between PM2.5 and NO2 levels and other cardiorespiratory outcomes including indoor air pollution. The concentration curve indicates an increased risk in self-reported shortness of breath on exertion with increasing NO2 concentrations above 10μg/m3 . Conclusion: The study found evidence of an association between annual NO2 and shortness of breath on exertion. The study also provides policy-relevant information from the concentration-response curve in demonstrating elevated risk at a level four-times lower than the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 40µg/m3 . This indicates that the NAAQS should be more in keeping with the WHO Ambient Air Quality guidelines for NO2 at 10 μg/m3 and lower in low- and middle-income countries where underlying susceptibility may increase the observed risk
Investigating the role of routine drug analyses in survivors of sexual offences admitted to the clinical forensic unit at Victoria Hospital
Get PDFIntroduction: Toxicological analysis is an important component of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) investigations, as it allows for identification and interpretation of substances involved. Currently, forensic toxicological analyses are not routinely provided to DFSA survivors in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the utilisation and applicability of a targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for common drugs of abuse in cases of suspected drug facilitated sexual offences. Methods: Blood and urine samples from 17 consenting adult survivors, who reported to the Clinical Forensic Unit at Victoria Hospital (August 2022 – December 2022) in Cape Town, South Africa, were analysed using a validated LC-MS/MS method targeting 31 common drugs of abuse. Samples were prepared for analysis using a Waters Ostro® pass-through plate extraction for blood and simple dilution extraction for urine. Case histories were obtained from participants by the attending medical practitioner using a standardised data collection sheet. Results: Majority of the participants reported to the clinic within 24 hours after the alleged offence (64.7%). Several participants reported consuming alcohol (64.7%), medicinal drugs (23.5%), or recreational drugs (35.3%) prior to, or at the time of the offence. A psychoactive drug was detected in 58.8% of cases. Methamphetamine (and its metabolite amphetamine) were the most frequently detected analytes (41.2% and 35.3% of cases, respectively). Conclusion: Accurate and reliable toxicological analysis is vital in processing DFSO cases. This study determined that the analytical method is useful in DFSO cases as over half of the participants tested positive for at least one drug, and most self-reported recreational drugs were included in the panel. Recommendations include expanding the panel to include additional pharmaceutical drugs and incorporating ethanol analysis into the routine workflow to provide comprehensive testing to survivors of DFSO and support the criminal justice system in South Africa
New frontiers for Labour Law: Collective Bargaining for Workers in Global Supply Chains and Informal Self-Employed Workers
Get PDFSince the 1990s, labour law scholarship has been shaped by, and has responded to, what has been called the ‘existential crisis' of labour law. Scholars have questioned labour law's ‘constituting narrative' as ‘the law of collective relations' and the relevance to most of the workforce of its two core institutions — the contract of employment and collective bargaining. Focusing on two categories of worker in the global South — garment workers in global supply chains and street vendors — the thesis explores the shifts required of the institution of collective bargaining to realise collective bargaining rights for these workers. These sectors constitute a significant percentage of the workforce in developing countries and challenge the discipline of labour law, which is shaped by the political economy and the labour-market structure of the global North. Through case studies, and against a political-economy background that reflects a global South perspective, the thesis discusses transnational supply-chain bargaining for garment workers, and collective bargaining between street vendors and the local governments that control vendors' workplace (public space). The thesis argues that the theory of labour law as ‘personal work relations' can incorporate informal self-employed workers into its scope despite the absence of a contractual relationship with the entity that controls their workplace. Realising street vendors' rights to collective bargaining as subjects of labour law (rather than of other law) matters for vendors, but also for labour law. Garment workers in global supply chains challenge the institution of collective bargaining in various ways. ‘Lead' firms (in the global North) structure the terms and conditions for workers (in the global South). In order to achieve positive distributive consequences for garment workers, collective agreements must regulate relations across the (transnational) supply chain, rather than only the employment relationship; but in the absence of a contractual nexus, it is difficult to bring lead firms to the bargaining table. By challenging labour law scholars to take seriously the theoretical implications of incorporating such categories of (global South) worker, the thesis contributes to re-asserting labour law as ‘the law of collective relations'
Herding behaviour in African stock markets: evidence from South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt & Kenya
Get PDFIn the presence of herding, collective investor behaviour tends to gravitate toward the same or similar investments. When herding behaviour becomes widespread, it can create asset bubbles or market crashes through panic-driven buying and selling. Consequently, comprehending how markets might react during periods of crisis becomes crucial for effectively hedging against artificially inflated asset prices. The objective of this paper is to examine the herding behaviour of investors in African markets – namely South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya – using weekly and monthly stock data from January 2000 to October 2023. The study applies the cross-sectional standard deviation of returns (CSSD) and the cross-sectional absolute deviation of returns (CSAD) to examine herding in both normal and turbulent times, particularly during periods of significant turbulence such as the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008/9 and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate the existence of herding behaviour in the four African stock markets across various periods, with herding being less prominent during highly turbulent phases like the GFC and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study reveals a significant spillover from the South African stock market to Nigeria and Kenya during the GFC and to Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, U.S. investor sentiment, represented by the VIX index, does not appear to influence herding behaviour in African stock markets. This would suggest that the African markets are correlated and that there are instances of high indications of herding behaviour
Generation Z employees' construal of workplace leadership: an application of the repertory grid technique
No full textThis study explores how South African Generation Z (Gen Z) employees construe organisational leadership. The Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) was used as a part of structured interviews with sixteen Gen Z employees (N = 16). In addition to thematic analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is utilised to explore nuanced patterns in the data, going beyond qualitative insights. The PCA results illuminate a compelling trend: participants not only align their perceptions of an ideal leader with their personal leadership aspirations but also exhibit unique construal patterns, emphasising the diverse array of leadership preferences within Gen Z employees. In conjunction with the thematic analysis, the PCA plots visually depict the intricate relationships between participants' ideal leader, their desired leadership style, and their current leader. This visual representation enhances our understanding of the complex interplay between aspirations and real-world experiences in the realm of organisational leadership among South African Gen Z employees. Furthermore, six distinct categories and themes emerge from the data: communication, people, work, leadership, personal, and task orientation. These categories provide a detailed map of the qualities, values, and behaviours considered crucial by Gen Z in a leader, offering deeper insights beyond the PCA findings. This study contributes to the field of organisational leadership by shedding light on Gen Z's workplace experiences and leadership perceptions and extends its impact by incorporating the use of RGT. The nuanced insights gained from the PCA analysis complement and enrich the qualitative findings, underscoring the importance of integrating both approaches. This dual-method approach not only advances our understanding of Gen Z but also enhances the applicability of RGT in the South African and broader organisational psychology research context. The comprehensive insights garnered from this study extend beyond academia, offering practical and nuanced guidance for organisational leaders and managers seeking to engage and collaborate with their Gen Z workforce authentically
Existing concepts in the law of the sea: possible bases for places of refuge?
No full textOn 11 November 2002 the Bahamian registered tanker, the Prestige, laden with 77,000 tons of heavy oil en-route from Latvia to Singapore developed a 10 meter crack in the hull in heavy weather off Cape Finisterre. On the 13 th it sent out a distress signal that the hull had ruptured and oil was leaking. It was then 35 nm offshore and drifting shorewards. On the 14 th it was taken in tow by a salvage team, which succeeded in stabilising it. It requested permission to be towed into the calmer waters of a sheltered harbour to transfer its cargo to another tanker. France, the UK and nearby Spain and Portugal refused permission, fearing pollution and explosion in a confined harbour area. Under Spanish orders and shadowed by a naval frigate the Prestige was towed out to sea and then south towards Portuguese waters. Rough seas damaged it further and on the 15 th the master abandoned ship. Meanwhile, about 6,000 tons of oil escaped and were polluting the Spanish coast, fouling beaches and seabirds and closing fisheries and shellfish beds. It caused a political storm onshore and within the European Union. Portugal then dispatched a frigate to push the tugs westwards, further out to sea. On the 19 th the Prestige, buffeted by huge waves for a week, split apart and sank 145 nm off the Spanish coast near the Portuguese EEZ, causing the worst oil spill since the grounding of the Exxon Valdez in 1989. The oil spread was driven onshore polluting 290 km of Spanish coastline. If the tanker had been given shelter in a small bay the pollution could easily have been contained. It also threatened to pollute the coasts of France and Portugal. In the wake of the Prestige disaster, Spain and Portugal were blamed for exacerbating what should have been a minor oil spill by refusing to give the tanker permission to dock in a sheltered area
How just is Just: financing transition towards SDG_7 in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Get PDFIt is widely confirmed that the average annual global greenhouse gas emissions are at their highest and there is an immediate need to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. South Africa is ranked among the biggest sources of greenhouse gases as its economy is dominated by the use of fossil fuel with 80% of its power being generated from coal. The government made commitments to reduce its domestic carbon emission by 2030 whilst ensuring just pathways of transitioning to cleaner sources of energy. The United Nations's 2030 SDG7 seeks to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern sources energy and which is closely linked to the foundations of the National Development Plan adopted as South Africa`s development roadmap. At the heart of the Just Energy Transition (JET) framework lies the principles of equity, fairness, and accessibility to clean energy resources and the finance needed to transition to renewable sources of energy to strategically reduce the negative effects of climate change. It is against this background that this research sought to understand the socio-culturally shaped community attitudes and perceptions towards the JET framework and its long-term sustainable benefits. This research also explored the challenges faced by municipalities in funding initiatives for renewable energy and universal energy access in the Eastern Cape. Data was collected using semi-structured, open- and closed-ended questions and face-to-face interviews using both isiXhosa and English with 10 village residents and five municipal representatives across various municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Using an interpretivism epistemology approach, the qualitative thematic analysis revealed that while climate change has negatively impacted livelihoods, communities did not know nor understand the JET framework principles or how to harness their indigenous knowledge as just pathways to strategically reduce the effects of climate change. There seemed to be a disconnect between community experiences and government initiatives, highlighting the need for enhanced community education and improved local government involvement in sustainable development dialogues, and clearer communication of government policies. Thematic analysis also revealed the financial challenges faced by the municipalities, varying from poor revenue collection, escalating debt, and high unemployment rates as well the lack of access to funding due to their poor financial performance and qualified audit reports. Lack of political will among local municipality representatives to embrace renewable energy initiatives was noted, and as a result municipalities failed to promote grassroots sustainable development, further exacerbating agency issues with electricity distribution and service delivery. The research recommends community-driven grants funding to facilitate dialogues and education on renewable energy benefits and legal frameworks that ensure communities have a meaningful voice in decision-making processes integrating indigenous knowledge with modern sustainable technologies. National government policies need to align with local realities and needs, funding models need to be reformed to support community-driven renewable energy projects even for non-bankable projects