Monetêre beheer oor die probleem van inflasie*

Gedurende 1965 is ons ekonomie gekenmerk deur: a) ’n Skerp styging in invoere, soos weerspieël in die feit dat gedurende die eerste sewe maande van 1965 invoere Rl,055 miljoen bedra het vergeleke met R856.8 miljoen die ooreenstemmende tydperk verlede jaar — ’n styging van byna R200 miljoen. In die afwesigheid van beperkende invoerbe- heermaatreëls sou invoere gedurende 1965 in totaal waarskyn- lik die ontsettende syfer van byna R2.000 miljoen bereik het. b) Ten tweede is ons ekonomie gekenmerk deur ’n da­ ting in uitvoere. Die uitvoer van goedere (goud en her-uitvoere uitgesluit) het in die eerste sewe maande van 1965 slegs R537.5 miljoen bedra vergeleke met R559.2 miljoen in die ooreen­ stemmende tydperk verlede jaar — ’n daling van ongeveer R22 miljoen. Dié daling kan hoofsaaklik toegeskryf word aan die volgende faktore: (i) Die droogte-toestande oor wye dele van ons land. (ii) Dalende pryse vir grondstowwe op wêreldmarkte; en (iii) Maklike en winsgewende afset vir plaaslike nywerheids- produkte op die tuismark wat veroorsaak het dat daar by te veel nyweraars ’n mate van traagheid ontstaan het om die moeiliker en meer mededingende buite- landse markte te betree of uit te bou

A constitutional perspective on the Sparrow judgements

The cases of ANC v Penny Sparrow and State v Penny Sparrow, respectively in the Equality Court and the magistrate’s court, concerned a Facebook entry posted by Penny Sparrow, a whiteestate agent. The Equality Court found that Sparrow’s words constituted hate speech in terms of sec. 10 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000(“the Equality Act”); in the magistrate’s court, she was found guilty of crimen iniuria. This contribution considers whether the judgements in these matters comply with the constitutionalapproach in dealing with hurtful or harmful expression related to group characteristics, in particular race, broadly referred to as hate speech, which approach is crucial for the protection as well asthe transformation of South African society. Both these aims are put at risk by an indiscriminate comprehension and application of the wide-ranging phrase “hate speech”. This observation iscorroborated by the fact that international agreements concluded in the aftermath of the atrocities of World War II set out on the quest for the narrowest restriction of free speech, reservingcriminalisation for extreme forms of expression only. In line with this approach, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, clearly distinguishes between expression under its sec.16(2), in particular sec. 16(2)(c), which warrants no protection, and expression that falls outside this ambit, which does enjoy constitutional protection, although subject to limitation. Thisdistinction is particularly relevant in the application of sec. 10 of the Equality Act, which is primarily aimed at transformation instead of punishment. The article first argues that the Equality Court in the matter of ANC v Penny Sparrow disregarded the distinction above, and consequently failed to further the transformative aims of the Equality Act. It also failed to consider the cyber context within which the Sparrow comments were made. It is contended, in this regard, that the characteristics of internet communication increase the risks of extreme hate speech, on the one hand, and have the potential to generate sincere transformation through social pressure when it comes to expression that falls outside the ambit of sec. 16(2), on the other. In the same vein, the article argues that the common law offence of crimen iniuria, construed as to extend to a verbal attack, not against an individual, but against a group of which he/she is a member, is not in keeping with international law or the Constitution, and negates the purposively drafted provisions of the Equality Act

Two new species of Trichodorus from South Africa, with a note on T. petrusalberti (Nemata : Trichodoridae)

Two new species of the genus Trichodorus are described from South Africa. Trichodorus magnus n. sp. is characterized in males, by the presence of one medioventral cervical papilla, shape of spicules (stout with indentation) and non-thickened terminal cuticle; in females, by the shape of the vaginal sclerotizations, the pore-like vulva in ventral view and a pair of postadvulvar sublateral body pores and in both sexes by the long body and long onchiostyle (62.5-71 mum). Trichodorus kilianae n. sp. is characterized in males by presence of a single cervical medioventral papilla, a non-thickened terminal tail cuticle and shape of spicules (slender, with septum in front of a clear but irregular indentation); in females by small vaginal sclerotizations and pore-like vulva in ventral view and in both sexes by a slender and long body, onchiostyle length of 45-49 mum and anterior position of the excretory pore. For the first time an inner stylet was observed in adults of a Trichodorus species : T. petrusalberti De Waele, 1988. Additional details are given for T petrusalberti

An experimental investigation into the efficacy of multicomponent treatment programmes for test-anxious student nurses

Bibliography: pages 169-183.The present investigation was initiated with the aim of assessing the efficacy of multicomponent treatment programmes for test-anxiety in student nurses, in order to develop a programme that could be included in the nursing curricula. The subjects were 103 student nurses currently in their first year of the four-year Diploma in Nursing (General, Community and Psychiatry) and Midwifery at Carinus Nursing College CCNC). They had been randomly allocated to four classes at the College. The study compared high-test-anxious, low-test-anxious and mid-test-anxious subjects within these four groups, three of which received multicomponent treatment programmes, while the fourth was the control· group. Programmes comprised Systematic Desensitisation (SD), Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training and Guided Imagery (PMRT & Gl) and Study Skills Training (SST), each of which included a core component of cognitive restructuring. Treatment spanned six weeks. The following self-report questionnaires were used at pre- and post-intervention: The Anxiety Achievement Test <AATl, the Anticipated Anxiety Rating Scale (AARS) and the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD). Academic achievement was also measured at both pre- and post-intervention by means of examination scores. Differences between pre and post scores were analysed by means of One- and Two-Way Multivariate Analysis of Variance. The only group to differ significantly from the Control group at post-test was the SD group, showing reductions on the Debilitative scale of the AAT (p < 0.01), the SUD (p < 0.01) and the AARS (p < 0.05). However, this group expressed less satisfaction with the programme than the PMRT & GI group on the Treatment Evaluation Questionnaire. A subsidiary study compared the CNC student nurses (n = 103) with first-year paramedical students from the following disciplines: logopaedics (n = 12); physiotherapy (n = 24); occupational therapy (n = 18); BSc nursing (n = 12); radiography (n = 27), on the Profile of Mood States (POMS), Health Behaviour Assessment Scale (HBAS) and Matric scores. CNC nurses obtained significantly lower Matric scores than the other .students (p < 0.0001), and showed significant differences on other variables, indicating higher negative mood states and less healthy lifestyles. At one-year follow-up; 33 of the original 103 subjects had failed or resigned: sixteen of whom were high-test-anxious, nine low-test-anxious, eight mid-test-anxious. The drop-out rate was consistent across groups, i.e. treatment had had no long-term effect. Reasons for this are discussed, and the conclusion reached that high levels of test anxiety were realistically felt by student nurses with comparatively low Matric scores when faced with the demands of the four-~ear Diploma course. Such anxiety which at present tends to be dealt with by somewhat self-destructive behaviours could not be easily alleviated by short-term anxiety management programmes. Recommendations are made regarding possible alternative nurse training programmes. There would appear to be good reason to offer a programme with emphasis on clinical skills in addition to the heavily academic four-year Diploma course. A prophylactic stress management programme emphasising healthy lifestyles, and commencing at the start of training, was recommended

A Comment on Tectonics and the Future of Life on Terrestrial Planets

It is argued that the tight interconnection between biological, climatological, and geophysical factors in the history of the terrestrial biosphere can teach us something of wider importance regarding the general astrobiological evolution of planets in the Galactic habitable zone of the Milky Way. Motivated by a recent debate on the future of Earth's biosphere, we suggest an additional reason why the impact of plate tectonics on the biological evolution is significant on the global Galactic level.Comment: 5 pages, no figures; Precambrian Research, submitte

Die effek van die regulering van maksimum werkure op werknemers se grondwetlike reg op gelykheid

The paper examines the effect of the provisons regulating maximum working hours, with reference to the principle of equality entrenched in section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Section 9(1) read with section 10(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75/1997 has the effect that, subject to certain exceptions, employees are not allowed to work for the same employer for more than 55 hours per week. This does not prevent employees from working longer hours in total for different employers, an option that entails clear disadvantages. As a result of the adverse effect of past discrimination, black people, women and people on low socio-economic levels are disproportionately more unfavourably positioned in respect of levels of income, occupational status, financial ability and, consequentially, opportunities for promotion and improvement. This disadvantage often creates a need to work longer hours, specifically for the same employer. An application of the test developed in Harksen v Lane NO leads to a conclusion that the provisions referred to constitute unfair discrimination in terms of section 9 of the Constitution. The provisions also fail the proportionality test of section 36 of the Constitution

Susceptibility to Phytophthora Cinnamomi of two Grapevine Rootstock Clones after Thermotherapy

The grapevine rootstocks 99 Richter clone I/30/1H74 infected with grapevine fleck and leafroll and 99 Richter Prosperi Super subclone 5 infected with stem pitting and leafroll were more susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi without treatment than after heat treatment to eliminate viruses. Recent field observations by various local workers (unpublished) and claims by local growers suggested that 99 Richer (Vitis berlandieri P. x V rupestris S.) grapevine rootstock material previously subjected to thermotherapy is more susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands than untreated material. This contribution provides data on the effect of thermotherapy on the susceptibility of two 99 Richter rootstock clones to P. cinnamomi

Small and micro enterprises – aspects of knowledge, attitudes and practices of managers\' and food handlers\' knowledge of food safety in the proximity of Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Western Cape

Objective. This study determined hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) awareness among managers of food-producing small and micro enterprises (SMEs) as well as selected aspects of the knowledge, attitude and practices of respective food handlers regarding food safety. Setting. SMEs within a 30 km range of Tygerberg Academic Hospital. Methods. SMEs were divided into two categories: those providing food to clients at risk of illness (N = 64) and to clients free of illness (N = 81). SMEs were randomly selected and managers/employees completed validated questionnaires regarding HACCP (145 managers) and food safety (159 food handlers). Results. Only 6% of managers reported awareness of HACCP being mandatory in South Africa. More than 70% of managers and food handlers had received no formal training regarding food safety. The perception that food safety control should focus on general cleanliness still prevailed among 57.2% of managers. Food handlers achieved an unsatisfactory score (46.0%) on the basic principles of food safety. Ignorance among food handlers regarding important risk factors was as follows: ways of identifying contaminated food likely to cause food poisoning (77.5%), period of keeping prepared food safe (50.9%), correct way of cooling food (63.1%) or reheating food (84.9%), reason for checking date codes (68.1%) and use of a thermometer (90.6%). There was no significant difference in the results obtained between food handlers in SMEs providing food to healthy clients or clients at risk of illness. Conclusion. Creating awareness and understanding of HACCP among managers of SMEs and education regarding the control of risk factors remain crucial.South African Journal Clinical Nutrition Vol. 20 (2) 2007: pp. 50-6