A decision-making framework for restoring riparian zones degraded by invasive alien plants in South Africa

The original publication is available at http://www.sabinet.co.za/?page=open-access-journalsRiparian habitats in many parts of South Africa are severely degraded by invasive alien plants, especially trees. These invasions reduce water yields from catchments and affect riverine functioning and biodiversity. Initiatives are under way countrywide to clear alien plants from watercourses and surrounding catchments. Current understanding of key processes that regulate riparian functioning and define options for restoration is rudimentary. We review the impacts of riparian invasions and identify factors limiting the recovery of natural vegetation following alien clearance. We propose a framework of strategic interventions for optimizing restoration success. The framework identifies abiotic and biotic barriers to restoration at the scales of catchments and local reaches. In highly transformed catchments, interventions at the reach scale may fail if important barriers at the catchment scale are not addressed. The extent to which propagule supply and microsite conditions inhibit vegetation recovery is unknown. We also know little of the relative importance of dispersing vegetative propagules, dispersing seeds and soil-stored seed banks in vegetation dynamics, particularly after severe disturbances such as dense invasion by alien plants. The importance of geomorphological and hydrological factors in mediating recovery of riparian vegetation has not been adequately explored for all climatic areas in South Africa. More research is needed to determine the influence of different alien species and clearing treatments on the recovery of riparian vegetation. The literature strongly suggests that in highly alien-transformed catchments, the re-introduction of riparian species is required to promote recovery and suppress re-invasion. However, such interventions are unlikely to be widely implemented unless the cost:benefit ratios are favourable.Publishers' Versio

Toepassing van moraliteit in die Suid-Afrikaanse staatsdiens

The application of morality in the South African public serviceChange in the South African public service is unavoidable. The political environment dictates the change and the public servant of today faces a dynamic political environment in which political decisions should be executed. The conduct of the public servant is under constant scrutiny and therefore the morality of public servants should exist beyond time and should be supported by a system of values. Public servants are bound by the normative guidelines which restrain them from abusing the set rules and regulations. The contemporary South African public service is manned by officials who represent the whole spectrum of communities in South Africa - not only are they from different backgrounds, but the values of communities differ, reflecting on the morality within the public service. There should ideally be one system of values and norms for public servants, but the dilemma is that there are so many different communities. The question thus remains what or which values should be the guidelines for the public servant of today

The Development and Validation of a Mental Toughness Scale for Adolescents

The present study examined the validity of a newly developed instrument, the Mental Toughness Scale for Adolescents (MTS-A), which examines the attributes of challenge, commitment, confidence (abilities and interpersonal) and control (life and emotion). The six factor model was supporting using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA, n = 373) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA, n = 372). In addition, the mental toughness attributes correlated with adolescents’ academic motivation and engagement (n = 439), well-being (depression and anxiety) (n = 279) and test anxiety (n = 279), indicating relations with a number of affective, cognitive and behavioural dispositions, and demonstrating relevance in education and potentially mental health contexts

What do general adult psychiatry patients think we should call borderline personality disorder?:A cross-sectional study to find the most acceptable diagnostic term

Aims and Method. To determine the most acceptable term for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Cross sectional study of patients who know what it feels like to be diagnosed with a mental disorder. The main outcome measures were the proportion of participants offended by, and confused by, alternative terms for BPD. Results. N=72. Being diagnosed with a condition was more offensive than being diagnosed with a disorder (X2 = 41.18, df 1, p < 0.01). Fluxithymia offended the fewest participants (13%) but was the most confusing term (31%). Emotionally unstable personality disorder was the most offensive term (63%). After fluxithymia, emotional intensity disorder was the least offensive term, and not especially confusing (11%). Changing BPD to emotional intensity disorder would avoid an offensive event every 3.6 diagnostic announcements. Conclusion. The diagnostic term BPD should be replaced with emotional intensity disorder because this term provides a balance of clarity and inoffensiveness

Adjusting good governance architecture to achieve public service excellence

Public reform in developing countries shows characteristics of inefficiencies, lack of political will and public funds. Globalisation has shaped concepts of economic growth and determined perceptions of governance. Worldwide, governments have become preoccupied with “implementation”, performance and how to apply the principles of good governance. Good governance is defined as the betterment of the quality of life of each citizen. Decentralisation is regarded as an indispensable element of participative democracy, as it allows citizens to communicate their preferences to elected officials. Political decentralisation refers to shifting power by selecting political leadership and representatives, from central to local governments. This transfers the power and authority (vertical decentralisation) for socio-politico-economic divisions from central to local government and to communities (horizontal decentralisation). Economic decentralisation becomes the mechanism for financing government expenditure (tax structures) and supplying goods and services in a collective way within a decentralised system. Establishing an institutional framework that promotes decentralisation within a flexible, integrative, innovative and dynamic modern delivery model and that clusters services together in a seamless bureaucratic environment is therefore a key challenge. Ensuring “better government” by implementing a seamless approach implies a common vision and delivery strategy, organisational change, co-operation and collaboration between partners and interacting networks.http://www.assadpam.net/nf201

Procurement in the South African public service : a reflection of the ethical and legislative framework

This paper presents the issue of ethical conduct in the procuring of public goods and services. Procurement in the public sector operates as a business function of an economic activity within a political system. Procurement is also a management function carried out by the public official. Although there is legislation to guide the ethical conduct, with reference to the procuring of goods and services required by the public sector, there is still the increase in corruption. The question thus arises what could be done to prevent corrupt activities. Based on the research conducted, it may be reported that the function of procurement of public goods and services is susceptible to corruption due to large amounts of public funds that are involved. It is a complex environment where public procurement integrity, ethical standards, best value for money and the style of corruption jeopardize the ability of governments to achieve their developmental agendas. Ethics goes beyond the prevention of corruption, fraud and misconduct as modern societies expect public servants to serve the public interest and to serve in a rational and efficient manner.http://businessperspectives.org/component/option,com_journals/task,journal/id,14/Itemid,74am2017School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA

The use of performance management for effective governance in public administration

The objective of this article is to argue the importance of the use of performance management towards effective governance. Various authors have contextualised good governance and performance management and some of the views differ considerably. The intention of this article will not be to debate the differences but rather assess the applicability of performance management in public administration. As a point of departure globalisation and the business of government is briefly discussed together with the pressure on government to improve service delivery. Good governance will be assessed as a critical component and specific attention will be devoted to administrative governance as it relates to the implementation of public policy. Administrative governance forms the basis for performance management because it can be used as a tool to ensure effective governance. Performance management is normally based on the idea of improving external accountability within the context of governance. For the purpose of this article focus is placed on the modernisation of public sector budget, reporting, management of contracts, benchmarking and comparison, and finally the implementation of a strategy.http://www.assadpam.net/ff201