The management of South African landfills and waste pickers on them : impacting lives and livelihoods

Abstract: Effective management of waste and the promotion and management of recycling activities are necessary for sustainable and liveable cities. A key but unrecognised element in promoting recycling is the efforts of waste pickers who make a living from recycling mainline recyclables. This article aims to describe the approaches used on ten landfills in South Africa to manage waste pickers’ access to recyclables and their daily activities on the landfills. A multiple case study design and cross-case analysis were used in this study. The sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) was used to analyse and explain the data. The results showed that waste management policies and practices directly influence the waste pickers’ access to recyclable waste and their livelihoods. Finally, some inclusionary and exclusionary practices are highlighted that could guide inclusive, participatory and co-productive practices for waste pickers in South Africa towards increased recognition, access, dignity and income

Prioritizing Health-Sector Interventions for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries in Low- and Lower-Middle Income Countries: National NCDI Poverty Commissions

Health sector priorities and interventions to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) have primarily adopted elements of the World Health Organization Global Action Plan for NCDs 2013–2020. However, there have been limited efforts in LLMICs to prioritize among conditions and health-sector interventions for NCDIs based on local epidemiology and contextually relevant risk factors or that incorporate the equitable distribution of health outcomes. The Lancet Commission on Reframing Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries for the Poorest Billion supported national NCDI Poverty Commissions to define local NCDI epidemiology, determine an expanded set of priority NCDI conditions, and recommend cost-effective, equitable health-sector interventions. Fifteen national commissions and 1 state-level commission were established from 2016–2019. Six commissions completed the prioritization exercise and selected an average of 25 NCDI conditions; 15 conditions were selected by all commissions, including asthma, breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, epilepsy, hypertensive heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, major depressive disorder, motor vehicle road injuries, rheumatic heart disease, sickle cell disorders, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The commissions prioritized an average of 35 health-sector interventions based on cost-effectiveness, financial risk protection, and equity-enhancing rankings. The prioritized interventions were estimated to cost an additional US$4.70–US$13.70 per capita or approximately 9.7%–35.6% of current total health expenditure (0.6%–4.0% of current gross domestic product). Semistructured surveys and qualitative interviews of commission representatives demonstrated positive outcomes in several thematic areas, including understanding NCDIs of poverty, informing national planning and implementation of NCDI health-sector interventions, and improving governance and coordination for NCDIs. Overall, national NCDI Poverty Commissions provided a platform for evidence-based, locally driven determination of priorities within NCDIs.publishedVersio

Different views of distance education and how these views affect distance teaching and open learning within the Zimbabwe Open University

The study investigated stakeholders' views of distance education and their implications on distance teaching and open learning at Zimbabwe Open University. The study used a descriptive survey design and questionnaire instrument. The population of the study was 14700 students, 200 administrative staff and 850 lecturers. A sample of 258 students, 13 administrative staff and 41 lecturers was selected using convinient sampling technique. These were stakeholders who visited ZOU centres and volunteered to complete the questionnaire between May and June 2001. The study used Statistical Package for Social Sciences to produce frequency distribution tables and Chi-square statistical tool to test whether there were significant differences among stakeholders' views of distance education. The study found out that stakeholders had different views of distance education, and that these views negatively impacted on distance teaching and open learning. Zimbabwe Open University should induct all stakeholders on distance education, its operations, and their roles.Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research Vol. 16(3) November 2004: pp. 241-26

Exposing the barcoding void : an integrative approach to study snail-borne parasites in a one health context

Trematodes are snail-borne parasites of major zoonotic importance that infect millions of people and animals worldwide and frequently hybridize with closely related species. Therefore, it is desirable to study trematodiases in a One Health framework, where human and animal trematodes are considered equally important. It is within this framework that we set out to study the snail and trematode communities in four artificial lakes and an abattoir in Zimbabwe. Trematode infections in snails were detected through multiplex PCR protocols. Subsequently, we identified snails by sequencing a partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) fragment, and trematodes (adults from the abattoir and larval stages detected in snails) using COI and nuclear rDNA markers. Of the 1,674 collected snails, 699 were molecularly analyzed, in which we identified 12 snail and 19 trematode species. Additionally, three parasite species were sampled from the abattoir. Merely four trematode species were identified to species level through COI-based barcoding. Moreover, identification of members of the superfamilies Opisthorchioidea and Plagiorchioidea required a phylogenetic inference using the highly conserved 18S rDNA marker, as no related COI reference sequences were present in public databases. These barcoding challenges demonstrate a severe barcoding void in the available databases, which can be attributed to the neglected status of trematodiases. Adding to this, many available sequences cannot be used as different studies use different markers. To fill this gap, more studies on African trematodes, using a standardized COI barcoding region, are desperately needed

La metamorfosis del lenguaje doméstico: La casa Tugendhat 1928-30 = Metamorphosis of the domestic spatial language: The Tugendhat house 1928-30

Este trabajo investiga sobre el lenguaje espacial doméstico que Mies van der Rohe elabora a través del proyecto y las publicaciones de la casa Tugendhat (1928-1930). Él superpone dos lenguajes espaciales en la casa, la planta libre y la articulación de volúmenes. Es en el uso de la planta libre donde su lenguaje sufre un cambio radical. Comienza a elaborar una serie de espacios a través de los objetos que no tienen asociados una función determinada. Estos lugares se componen con el mobiliario, los muros y el cerramiento, y representan los escenarios para la “vida de la casa”. Usa la geometría de una malla virtual de pilares de acero en forma de cruz para fijar estos lugares y establecer relaciones que ordenan la planta. Los recorridos que se forman se asocian a los vacíos que dejan los escenarios y relacionan los lugares y los objetos. Estos elementos toman valor a través de la calidad de su construcción y de su material. Mies propone una nueva visión a través de la unión entre tecnología y artesanía que implica no sólo al material sino, a las técnicas de su transformación y afectan al valor de la experiencia de los escenarios domésticos. La percepción de estos lugares publicita lo doméstico y es a través de la transparencia del vidrio, de la luz y del reflejo que los objetos cobran “vida”, se desmaterializan y extienden sus límites hasta expulsarlos del orden impuesto. Se convierten en “objetos extraordinarios”. ----------ABSTRACT---------- This work investigates on the domestic space language that Mies van der Rohe elaborates through the project and the publications of the house Tugendhat (1928-1930). It superimposes two spatial languages in the house, the free plan and the articulation of volumes. It is in the use of the free plan where his language undergoes a radical change. It begins to elaborate a series of spaces through objects that do not have associated a certain function. These places are made up of the furniture, walls and the enclosure and represent the stages for the "the house´s life ". He uses the geometry of a virtual grid of cross-shaped steel pillars to fix these places and establish relationships that order the plan. The itineraries that are formed are associated with gaps left by the scenarios and relate places and objects. These elements take value through the quality of its construction and its material. Mies proposes a new vision through the union between technology and crafts that involves not only material but techniques of its transformation and affect the value of the experience of the domestic scenarios. The perception of these places advertises the domestic and it is through the transparency of glass, light and reflection that objects take "life", dematerialize and extend their limits to expel them from the imposed order. They become "extraordinary objects"

The extent and effectiveness of alien plant control projects in South Africa

CITATION: van Wilgen, B.W. et al. 2020. The extent and effectiveness of alien plant control projects in South Africa. In: Biological Invasions in South Africa. van Wilgen, B.W., Measey, J., Richardson, D.M., Wilson, J.R. and Zengeya, T.A. (eds.). Springer, Cham:597-628. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3_21The original publication is available at https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3Studies of the impact of alien species on the environment are increasingly being carried out, and there has been ongoing debate about how to standardise the description of these impacts. This chapter evaluates the state of knowledge on the impacts of alien species on biodiversity in South Africa based on different assessment methods. Despite South Africa being one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, there have been very few studies that formally document the impacts of alien species on biodiversity. Most of what is known is based on expert opinion, and consequently the level of confidence in the estimates of the magnitude of these impacts is low. However, it is clear that a significant number of alien species cause major negative impacts, and that there is cause for serious concern. There is a growing global effort to assess all alien species with standardised protocols to alleviate the problem of comparing impacts measured using different approaches. Formal assessments have been done for a few alien species in South Africa, but most naturalised and invasive species have not been evaluated, and, we suspect, for most alien species there has been no attempt, as yet, to document their impacts. However, red-listing processes found that alien species were frequently included as a significant extinction risk for several native species of fish, amphibians, and plants. There are very few studies that cover the combined impacts of co-occurring alien species in particular areas, and these studies could provide the rationale for regulation and management, which is often absent. While reductions due to alien species in the value of ecosystem services, the productivity of rangelands, and biodiversity intactness are relatively low at present these impacts are expected to grow rapidly as more invasive species enter a stage of exponential growth.https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-030-32394-3_21Publisher’s versio

Chinese engagement of Zimbabwe and the limits of elite agency:

This article contends that Zimbabwe’s agency in its engagement with China has been limited and at best circumscribed. This owes to factors such as indifference by state authorities to cooperation with civil society actors in negotiating with Chinese actors, the desperation of the The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front regime in the face of isolation by erstwhile partners as well as the opacity and secrecy that characterizes significant areas of the Zimbabwe–China relationship. The pressing need for critical institutions such as parliament to play independent oversight roles as well as the creation of space for civil society watchdog functions are highlighted as key enablers if Zimbabwean agency is to generate positive gains from the country’s engagement with China

South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development: stastistical report 2011/12

Commisioned by the Department of Science and Technology, MarchThis report presents selected data tables of the 2011/12 South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D survey). The tables in this report cover the main dimensions of R&D statistics in terms of expenditure and human resources

Valuing the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit Clause with Partial Withdrawals

In this paper, we give a method for computing the fair insurance fee associated with the guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB) clause included in many variable annuity contracts. We allow for partial withdrawals, a common feature in most GMDB contracts, and determine how this affects the GMDB fair insurance charge. Our method models the GMDB pricing problem as an impulse control problem. The resulting quasi-variational inequality is solved numerically using a fully implicit penalty method. The numerical results are obtained under both constant volatility and regime-switching models. A complete analysis of the numerical procedure is included. We show that the discrete equations are stable, monotone and consistent and hence obtain convergence to the unique, continuous viscosity solution, assuming this exists. Our results show that the addition of the partial withdrawal feature significantly increases the fair insurance charge for GMDB contracts.Variable annuities, guaranteed minimum death benefit (GMDB), viscosity solution, impulse control, fully implicit penalty method,