Citizens' E-Participation at Local Municipal Government in South Africa

The emergence of the digital revolution has obligated governments all over the world to be more accessible, effective and accountable in the provision of public services. The South Africa government has implemented various Information and Communications Technology (ICT) enabled platforms in engaging citizens in decision-making, a resultant effect of high world E-government Development Index (EGDI) rating for the country. Irrespective of the rating, the citizens have resorted to public violence as a means of communicating about unsatisfactory service delivery issues. The South African government has continued to witness numerous service delivery protests, resulting in destruction of public property, injury and death of innocent citizens. This article therefore evaluates the application of e-participation in government decision-making, using a three-dimensional framework of e-enabling, e-engaging and e-empowering. The findings show that structural challenges exist that limit the achievement of the good intentions of e-participation. The article relies heavily on existing data and focuses at local municipal level, which is considered the closest point of contact between government and citizens

Malaria control – two years' use of insecticide treated bednets compared with insecticide house spraying in Kwazulu-Natal

Objectives_ The objective of this study was to produce data indicating whether insecticide-treated bednets should replac insecticide house spraying as a malaria control method in South Africa_ We report 2 years of preliminary data on malaria incidence comparing areas receiving insecticidetreated bednets and those subjected to house spraying in northern KwaZulu-Natal.Design, setting and subjects. In order to measure significant reductions in malaria incidence between the two interventions, a geographical information system (GIS) was used to identify and create seven pairs of geographical blood ; (areas) in the malaria high-risk areas of Ndumu and Makani in Ingwavuma magisterial district, KwaZulu-Natal, Individual blocks were then randomly allocated to either insecticide-treated bednets or house spraying with deltamethrin. Malaria cases were either routinely recorded by surveillance agents at home or were reported to the nearest health facility_Results and conclusions. The results show that 2 years' use of insecticide-treated bednets by communities in Ndumu and Makanis, KwaZulu-Natal, significantly reduced the malaria incidence both in 1997 (rate ratio (RR) =0_879, 95% confidence interval (Cn 0.80 - 0.95, P =0.04) and in 1998 (RR = 0.667, Cl 0_61 - 0.72, P = 0.0001). Using a t-test, these significant reductions were further confirmed by an assessment of the rate of change between 1996 and 1998, showing a 16% reduction in malaria incidence in blocks using bednets and an increase of 45% in sprayed areas (t = 2.534, P = 0.026 (12 df». In order to decide whether bednets : should replace house spraying in South Africa, we need more : data on the efficacy of treated bednets, their long-term acceptability and the cost of the two interventions

GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FORAGE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF MORINGA (MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM) PROVENANCES UNDER LUYENGO CONDITIONS, SWAZILAND CONDITIONS

The incorporation of tree and shrub species in animal production systems is a viable alternative to improve the utilisation of land and at the same time improve the diet of livestock. Scarcity of animal feed resources, particularly during the dry season, is a major constraint to livestock production in Swaziland. Therefore, alternative feed resources need to be investigated. Moringa oleifera (Lam) leaves can be used as animal feed. Its growth performance and nutritive value has not been documented in the country. The objective of the study was to determine the growth performance and chemical composition of three provenances of Moringa. The three provenances evaluated were Mayiwane, Malawi and Binga in a completely randomised design with three replications. The Moringa was measured for growth performance for 12 weeks and harvested after 16 weeks for chemical analysis. The plant height for Mayiwane provenance ranged from 8.86 cm to 51.25 cm, Malawi provenance ranged from 6.61cm to 40.79 cm and Binga provenance ranged from 2.71cm to 40.79 cm. Root collar diameter for Mayiwane provenance ranged from 0.196 cm to 0.625 cm, Malawi provenance ranged from 0.144 cm to 0.526 cm and Binga provenance ranged from 0.065 cm to 0.531. The three provenances had significant (P0.05) differences in CP, CF, OM and ash content among the provenances. Mayiwane provenance had the highest DM value of 21.22% and was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from Binga provenance which was 20.72%. It is concluded that Mayiwane provenance can be utilised for its fast growth rate and its adaptability to Luyengo for large scale forage production

Soil N2O and CH4 emissions from fodder maize production with and without riparian bufer strips of difering vegetation

Purpose Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) are some of the most important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of the 21st century. Vegetated riparian bufers are primarily implemented for their water quality functions in agroecosystems. Their location in agricultural landscapes allows them to intercept and process pollutants from adjacent agricultural land. They recycle organic matter, which increases soil carbon (C), intercept nitrogen (N)-rich runof from adjacent croplands, and are seasonally anoxic. Thus processes producing environmentally harmful gases including N2O and CH4 are promoted. Against this context, the study quantifed atmospheric losses between a cropland and vegetated riparian bufers that serve it.Methods Environmental variables and simultaneous N2O and CH4 emissions were measured for a 6-month period in a replicated plot-scale facility comprising maize (Zea mays L.). A static chamber was used to measure gas emissions. The cropping was served by three vegetated riparian bufers, namely: (i) grass riparian bufer; (ii) willow riparian bufer and; (iii) woodland riparian bufer, which were compared with a no-bufer control. Results The no-bufer control generated the largestcumulative N2O emissions of 18.9 kg ha−1(95% confdence interval: 0.5–63.6) whilst the maize crop upslope generated the largest cumulative CH4 emissions (5.1±0.88 kg ha−1). Soil N2O and CH4-based global warming potential (GWP) were lower in the willow (1223.5±362.0 and 134.7±74.0 kg CO2-eq. ha−1 year−1, respectively) and woodland (1771.3±800.5 and 3.4±35.9 kg CO2-eq. ha−1 year−1, respectively) riparian bufers. Conclusions Our results suggest that in maize production and where no riparian bufer vegetation is introduced for water quality purposes (no bufer control), atmospheric CH4 and N2O concerns may resul

Soil methane (CH4) fluxes in cropland with permanent pasture and riparian buffer strips with different vegetation

Background Methane (CH4) has a global warming potential (GWP) 28 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year horizon. Riparian buffers strips are widely implemented for their water quality protection functions along agricultural land, but conditions prevailing within them may increase the production of radiative greenhouse gases (GHGs), including CH4. However, a few information is available regarding the dynamics of unintended emissions of soil CH4 in these commonplace features of agroecosystems and how the dynamics compare with those for agricultural land. Aims To understand the dynamics of soil CH4 fluxes from a permanent upslope pasture and contiguous riparian buffer strips with different (grass, willow, and woodland) vegetation as well controls with no buffer vegetation, an experiment was carried out using the static chamber technique on a replicated plot-scale facility. Methods Gas fluxes were measured periodically with soil and environmental variables between June 2018 and February 2019 at North Wyke, UK. Results Soils under all treatments were sinks of soil CH4 with the willow riparian buffer (–2555 ± 318.7 g CH4 ha–1) having the lowest soil CH4 flux followed by the grass riparian buffer (–2532 ± 318.7 g CH4 ha–1), woodland riparian buffer (–2318.0 ± 246.4 g CH4 ha–1), no-buffer control (–1938.0 ± 374.4 g CH4 ha–1), and last, the upslope pasture (–1328.0 ± 89.0 g CH4 ha–1), which had a higher flux. Conclusions The three vegetated riparian buffers were more substantial soil CH4 sinks, suggesting that they may help reduce soil CH4 fluxes into the atmosphere in similar agroecosystems

Soil CO2 emissions in cropland with fodder maize (Zea mays L.) with and without riparian buffer strips of differing vegetation

Vegetated land areas play a significant role in determining the fate of carbon (C) in the global C cycle. Riparian buffer vegetation is primarily implemented for water quality purposes as they attenuate pollutants from immediately adjacent croplands before reaching freshwater systems. However, their prevailing conditions may sometimes promote the production and subsequent emissions of soil carbon dioxide (CO2). Despite this, the understanding of soil CO2 emissions from riparian buffer vegetation and a direct comparison with adjacent croplands they serve remain elusive. In order to quantify the extent of CO2 emissions in such an agro system, we measured CO2 emissions simultaneously with soil and environmental variables for six months in a replicated plot-scale facility comprising of maize cropping served by three vegetated riparian buffers, namely: (i) a novel grass riparian buffer; (ii) a willow riparian buffer, and; (iii) a woodland riparian buffer. These buffered treatments were compared with a no-buffer control. The woodland (322.9 ± 3.1 kg ha− 1) and grass (285 ± 2.7 kg ha− 1) riparian buffer treatments (not significant to each other) generated significantly (p = < 0.0001) the largest CO2 compared to the remainder of the treatments. Our results suggest that during maize production in general, the woodland and grass riparian buffers serving a maize crop pose a CO2 threat. The results of the current study point to the need to consider the benefits for gaseous emissions of mitigation measures conventionally implemented for improving the sustainability of water resources

Do NO, N2O, N2 and N2 fluxes differ in soils sourced from cropland and varying riparian buffer vegetation? An incubation study

Riparian buffers are expedient interventions for water quality functions in agricultural landscapes. However, the choice of vegetation and management affects soil microbial communities, which in turn affect nutrient cycling and the production and emission of gases such as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrogen gas (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). To investigate the potential fluxes of the above-mentioned gases, soil samples were collected from a cropland and downslope grass, willow and woodland riparian buffers from a replicated plot scale experimental facility. The soils were re-packed into cores and to investigate their potential to produce the aforementioned gases via potential denitrification, a potassium nitrate (KNO3−) and glucose (labile carbon)-containing amendment, was added prior to incubation in a specialized laboratory DENItrification System (DENIS). The resulting NO, N2O, N2 and CO2 emissions were measured simultaneously, with the most NO (2.9 ± 0.31 mg NO m−2) and N2O (1413.4 ± 448.3 mg N2O m−2) generated by the grass riparian buffer and the most N2 (698.1 ± 270.3 mg N2 m−2) and CO2 (27,558.3 ± 128.9 mg CO2 m−2) produced by the willow riparian buffer. Thus, the results show that grass riparian buffer soils have a greater NO3− removal capacity, evidenced by their large potential denitrification rates, while the willow riparian buffers may be an effective riparian buffer as its soils potentially promote complete denitrification to N2, especially in areas with similar conditions to the current study

The mechanics of setting up a COVID-19 response: Experiences of the COVID-19 epidemic from Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has challenged the provision of healthcare in ways that are unprecedented in our lifetime. Planning for the sheer numbers expected during the surge has required public hospitals to de-escalate all non-essential clinical services to focus on COVID-19. Western Cape Province was the initial epicentre of the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa (SA), and the Cape Town metro was its hardest-hit geographical region. We describe how we constructed our COVID-19 hospital-wide clinical service at Groote Schuur Hospital, the University of Cape Town’s tertiary-level teaching hospital. By describing the barriers and enablers, we hope to provide guidance rather than a blueprint for hospitals elsewhere in SA and in low-resource countries that face similar challenges now or during subsequent waves

Impact of crop cycle on movement patterns of pest rodent species between fields and houses in Africa

Abstract Context. Rodent pests can have severe impacts on crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis severely damages agricultural crops in southern and eastern Africa, leading to significant losses. Both its population ecology and breeding biology have been studied in agricultural and natural habitats. Population numbers erupt depending on the timing and amount of rainfall and may reach plague proportions, especially in agricultural settings, where it may become a serious pest. However, the ecology of this species, in particular its interactions with other species within the context of human settlement, is poorly understood. It may occasionally enter houses, but the degree to which it does so and the factors influencing this movement are not known. Aims. We investigated the relationship between Rattus spp. and M. natalensis entering buildings in an agro-ecological setting. We predicted that M. natalensis would enter houses more readily when food availability was lowest in the surrounding fields, and when the larger Rattus spp. were absent. Methods. We followed 40 individuals of M. natalensis in Swaziland and Namibia by radio-telemetry. Mice were captured in maize fields within 50 m of a homestead and fitted with radio-transmitters at three different times corresponding to different stages of crop development: pre-harvest, post-harvest and pre-planting. To corroborate the findings of the telemetry study, a non-toxic marker, rhodamine B, was mixed with standard bait and left at bait stations inside houses in 10 homesteads in Swaziland and Tanzania. Key results. Mice remained in the fields during the entire period of study in Swaziland, but entered buildings in Namibia during the post-harvest stage, which may represent a period of food shortage for these mice in the field. Rodents captured after baiting with rhodamine B demonstrated that Rattus spp. predominated within the houses. A small number of rhodamine B-marked M. natalensis were captured outside the houses, the proportion declining with distance away from the houses. Conclusions. These results suggest that in a typical rural African setting dominated by subsistence agriculture, Rattus spp. (when present) competitively exclude the smaller M. natalensis from entering houses. Implications. Interactions between rodent pest species may be important in determining which rodent species enter houses in rural African landscapes. Consideration of such interactions may play an important role when developing pest management strategies