A historical context of Lesotho's integration into the 1910 Customs Union Agreement, 1870s - 1910s

This paper chronicles the historical context of Lesotho’s (then Basutoland) integration into the 1910 Customs Union Agreement. The paper examines the period of colonisation, colonial state-making and integration of Lesotho into the regional market economy that emerged after the discovery of minerals in modern-day South Africa (1870s-1910s). Using historical sources, it explores changing regional politics, conditions, economic formations, and social order in the second half of the nineteenth century. The paper argues that the British’s integration of Lesotho into the customs union must be situated within shifting regional politics and power dynamics of this period. On the one hand, the British integrated the country into the customs union as part of its long-term plan to ultimately incorporate Lesotho into South Africa. Along with colonial tax, the inclusion of Lesotho into the customs union was, at the time, a temporary measure to solve the problems of lack of viable economic options towards financing the colonial administration before the country could finally be incorporated into South Africa. On the other hand, the paper advances that the sequence of events leading to the integration of Lesotho as well as the role that the Basotho played, and their resistance to British imperial policy, contributed significantly in shaping the nature of integration into the customs union in 1910. Due to the Basotho’s history of alliance formation and resistance, the British were forced to cautiously approach the subject of incorporation. As a corollary to this, they had to acknowledge Lesotho as a geopolitical entity while claiming suzerainty and economic control

The roots of xenophobia in 19th century imperialism

The contribution provides an explanation of inner-African xenophobia as being rooted in the countermovements to 19th century imperialism. Distinctive property rights constituted different modes of production and notions of a common society among Basotho and Tswana people on the one hand and Trekboers on the other, which made them resist the incorporation into an imperial world market by the British Empire. Although the moderate expansive mode of Basotho and Batswana seemed more compatible with the free market approach of the Britons than the exclusive property concept of the Trekboer, the political result was different. We argue that finally the British expansion without conquest could be allied with the Trekboer conquest without integration due to the invention of SACU as the first customs union of the world, which began as Customs Union Convention in 1889. It allowed for a continuation of a pre-Enlightenment exclusionary property right that fuels xenophobia until today

An obscured narrative in the political economy of colonial commerce in Lesotho, 1870–1966

This paper examines the political economy of colonial commerce in Lesotho – then Basutoland. It argues that although pivotal and appropriate, the political economy narrative alone is limited as an explanation for other dynamics which shaped Lesotho’s colonial commerce. It provides a radically simplified bi-polar picture in which European and Indian traders (the more powerful actors) on the one hand, and Basotho traders (the weaker actors) on the other, participated in antagonistic silos. Using historical records and the political economy of Lesotho as a context, this article identifies the existence of a dialectical and multifaceted relationship between these two categories. This was manifested in the interdependent and indispensable relationship between everyday economic pragmatism and collective political activism. This is an under-played catalyst that contributed to the shaping of the country’s business landscape in the colonial period.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_hist.htmltm201

Cybercrime Legislation in Lesotho

This paper advocates introducing cybercrime legislation in Lesotho. Cybercrime is the hottest issue today. Cybercriminals can commit various illegal activities in cyberspace that few people even know exist. A nightmare scenario would be a hacker breaking into the hospital's computer systems on a fine morning and before doctors can arrive to treat their patients, the malicious hacker modifies patients' files on the hospital's database systems: [S]urgeries slated to be performed on the right leg are now switched to the left leg; recorded blood types are altered from AB-negative to O-positive; warnings for known allergies to medicines such as penicillin are electronically erased from patients' charts; and laboratory records on HIV blood tests results are insidiously switched from negative to positive just before patients are to receive their results. (Marc D Goodman 'Why the police don't care about computer crime' (1997) 10 Harvard Journal of Law and Technology 465 at 466). Although this scenario is possible with current technology, unfortunately Lesotho would be powerless to act for lack of adequate laws to investigate and prosecute this conduct. Lesotho's current criminal laws can hardly be enforced against cybercrime, as they do not clearly prohibit the crime. Therefore, this paper argues that Lesotho must adopt a comprehensive legal structure to deter and prosecute cybercrime. It does this by examining international and national approaches to cybercrime, with a view to providing guidance for an effective framework capable of addressing this 'new' crime. Cybercrime is a major global challenge requiring coordinated international effort. In a networked world no island is an island; cybercrime penetrates all countries because of its ability to cross national boundaries. Further, this paper suggests a model law that is based on the first international treaty which plays a key role in combating cybercrime. Finally, it recognises that legislation alone cannot fight cybercrime; law enforcement must be equipped to implement the law, and private citizens must know about cybercrime and the need to protect themselves and their systems and networks

Pharmacodynamic and cytotoxicity effects of Syzygium cordatum {S Ncik, 48 (UZ)} fruit-pulp extract in gastrointestinal tract infections

Purpose: To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effect and cytotoxicity of S. cordatum pulp extract in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract infections.Methods: The air-dried fruit pulps were ground, extracted with 100 % methanol and screened for phytochemicals. Serial microdilution method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of the extract against Bacillus cereus (ATCC 10102), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25925), Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 8043), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 700030), Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 4352), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 7700), Vibrio fluvialis (AL 019) and Vibrio vulnificus (AL 042). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of the extract. Antidiarrheal and antimotility activities were evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhoea model in rats.Results: The extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins and terpenoids. Total phenolic content was 16.4 ± 1.8 μg/mg. The extract exhibited antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of as low as 3.13 mg/ml against B. cereus (ATCC 10102), S. aureus (ATCC 25925), E. hirae (ATCC 8043), P. aeruginosa (ATCC 7700) and K. pneumonia (ATCC 4352). Median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 92 μg/ml and therapeutic index of 0.1 - 0.3 were exerted by the extract. In vivo antidiarrheal activity was 49 % at extract dose of 400 mg/kg, which was much higher than that of the control (0 %).Conclusion: The fruit-pulp extract of Syzyhium cordatum has both antibacterial, antimotility and antidiarrheal activities, and may therefore be clinically safe for use at low concentrations as an antidiarrheal agent.Keywords: Syzyhium cordatum, Antibacterial, Antidiarrheal, Antimotility, Cytotoxicit

Interactive efficacies of Elephantorrhiza elephantina and Pentanisia prunelloides extracts and isolated compounds against gastrointestinal bacteria

Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels (Fabaceae) and Pentanisia prunelloides (Klotzsch ex Eckl. & Zeyh.) Walp. (Rubiaceae) are two medicinal plants used extensively in southern Africa to treat various ailments. Often, decoctions and infusions from these two plants are used in combination specifically for stomach ailments. The antimicrobial activities of the methanol and aqueous extracts of the rhizomes of the two plants, as well as the two active ingredients from the plants [(−)-epicatechin and palmitic acid] have been determined apart and in combination against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the aqueous (0.50–16.00 mg/mL) and methanol (0.20–16.00 mg/mL) extracts independently demonstrated varied efficacies depending on the pathogen of study. When the two plants were combined in 1:1 ratios, synergistic to additive interactions (ΣFIC values 0.19–1.00) were noted. Efficacy for the two major compounds ranged between 0.13–0.63 mg/mL and mainly synergistic interactions were noted against E. faecalis and E. coli. The predominantly synergistic interactions noted between E. elephantina and P. prunelloides and major compounds, when tested in various ratios against these pathogens, provide some validation as to the traditional use of these two plants to treat bacterial gastrointestinal infections

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of Syzygium cordatum fruit-pulp and seed extracts against bacterial strains implicated in gastrointestinal tract infections

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) infections are the major cause of high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in the developing countries. Fruit and seed extracts possess phytochemicals that are active against bacterial strains implicated in GIT infections. Different parts of Syzygium cordatum trees have been investigated pharmacologically against GIT infections previously with the exception of the fruits and seeds. This study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial activity of S. cordatum fruits and seeds against bacteria causing GIT infections. The harvested fruits were separated into fruit-pulp and seeds, dried and extracted with methanol using Soxhlet extraction. The extracts were phytochemically screened and micro dilution assay was used to evaluate antibacterial activity of the fruit-pulp and seed extracts against the selected GIT infecting bacteria. The crude extracts of fruit-pulp and seed exhibited the percentage yield of 10 and 6, respectively. The extracts showed the presence of phytochemicals with the total phenolic content of 21.4±1.4 µg/ml for seed extract and 16.4±1.8 µg/ml for fruit-pulp extract. Antimicrobial activity of the pulp extract exhibited the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.13 mg/ml against Bacillus cereus (ATCC 10102), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25925), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 4352), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 7700), Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 8043) while the seed extract had an equal MIC value against Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 4352). The antimicrobial activity was due to the detected phytochemicals and thus promoting S. cordatum fruits and seeds as potential new and cost effective sources for prevention and treatment of GIT infections.Keywords: Gastrointestinal, fruits, seeds, phytochemicals.Abbreviation: GIT, Gastrointestinal tract; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration; MBC, minimum bactericidal concentration.

Density of states in finite normal-superconducting structures

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN029473 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

A spatiotemporal analysis of methane emissions in South Africa using observations of Sentinel-5P’s TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere by anthropogenic (60%) and biological (40%) sources. Its growth is attributed to the industrial revolution, with sectors such as energy production, agriculture, and waste treatment taking the lead as emitters. South Africa is committed to monitoring its growth to lessen the effects of climate change on the globe. The study identified methane (CH4) emission hotspots over South Africa from space-based solar backscatter measurements using observations of TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and compared observed concentrations to surface in-situ data and to an Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) database. Even though no statistical correlation was found between the space-based observations and bottom-up inventory, correlations could be identified visually. Weak positive correlation exists between the space-based observations and surface observations. Monthly CH4 total-averaged dry air mole fraction (XCH4) were predicted for the year 2022 using seven statistical models based on a time series of three and half years. The predictions were compared to actual monthly XCH4 for 2022 and evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) performance metrics. The Holt-Winters’s additive (HWA) model performed best with a RMSE of 4.95 and MAPE of 25% due to its capability to capture both the trend and seasonality components of the data well. The study demonstrated the capability of TROPOMI for the estimation of CH4 concentrations in the atmosphere and the identification of trend patterns along both spatial and temporal profiles