South Africa (2009) - Salient Contemporary Features in Facts and Figures

South Africa is a demographically diverse country where many divisions (still) tend to coincide with racial boundaries, beset by a wide range of socio-economic problems typical of developing countries and otherwise stemming from its colonial past and a discriminatory past policy of apartheid. The paper describes the country's salient features in facts and figures in order to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of society in terms of demography, education, employment, public health care, poverty, housing, crime and the economy. The picture presented tends to be on the dark side, but also hopeful for the future thanks to inter alia a strong globalised economy

Water Development in South Africa

A report on South African water development: South Africa's water resources are, in global terms, scarce and extremely limited: average rainfall (450 mm per year) is well below the world average (of about 860 mm), evaporation is comparatively high, no truly large or navigable rivers exist, the combined runoff (of 49 billion cubic metres per year) is less than half of that of the Zambezi River, the closest large river to South Africa. In addition South Africa is also poorly endowed with groundwater and the natural availability of water across the country is highly uneven with more than 60% of the river flow arising from only 20% of the land. Four of South Africa's main rivers are shared with other countries, which together drain about 60% of the country's land area and contribute about 40% of its total surface runoff (river flow). Most urban and industrial development took place in locations remote from large watercourses, dictated either by the occurrence of mineral riches or influenced by the political dispensation of the past. Some irrigation were also established during times that water was still relatively abundant and little incentive existed for seeking the most beneficial application thereof. As a result, in several river basins the requirements for water already far exceeds its natural availability, and widely-spread and often large-scale transfers of water across catchments have therefore, been implemented

Modelling fertiliser use in the grain crop and oilseed sectors of South Africa

A Partial Equilibrium (PE) model is developed to model fertiliser use in the grain crop and oilseed sectors to assess the impact of changes in the physical and economic environment on production and fertiliser use. Since the adoption of a policy of trade liberalisation and the shift towards a free market for agricultural products, the actual cropping patterns of grain crops have moved closer to the expected optimum production pattern. It is shown that the total area cultivated will decrease by 2,4 percent. Results show that except for the area under sunflower (that remains unchanged) and yellow maize that increases, the area utilised by other crops will decrease. Fertiliser use is directly correlated with production patterns in the provinces. A comparison of the base-case scenario and optimum solution revealed that the movement from a base to an optimum solution results in a drop in total area cultivated, production and exports. Fertiliser use correspondingly decreases.Crop Production/Industries,

The Law Enforcement Reform Based on Pancasila Values: A Critical Review

The influence of colonial law is individual-liberal tempered as well as the globalization is capitalist-liberal tempered became a serious threat to the development of Indonesian law, because it raises the alienation syndrome of State laws from the values of life and upheld in a society that is Pancasila values, therefore the law reform of Indonesia became a necessity to do. This paper focuses on the reform in the field of typical law enforcement in Indonesia, where Pancasila as the ideological basis, in the logic of Stufenbau be the main touchstone which provides ontological, normative and operational frameworks for structuring better law enforcement and typical Indonesian. The principle of Almighty God becomes ontological framework for Indonesian people. Therefore, its existence is inter-related to the Almighty God as the source of value, truth and meaning. Just and civilized humanity is recognized as a ontological base and became the normative framework in order to enforce the law in a fair, civilized and humane, not oppressive character. It is operationalized within the framework of unity, not cause divisions, because all equal in the law as realized by acting wisdom and culminating in social justice for all citizens, social justice in favor of the weak

The market potential of the South African apple industry: Strategies and options

This paper uses one of four possible areas of strategic market research, namely Trademaps , to analyse the South African market potential for deciduous fruit. It isolates the apple industry to illustrate the application of Trademaps. An overview of the export performance within the apple industry is given. Export Trademaps are then utilised to analyse the trade flows and the market potential of South African apples on the world market. The Trademaps generated are based on trade data for the years 1995 to 1999 as reported by nearly 100 trading nations in the COMTRADE database of the United Nations Statistical Division. Possible strategies and options are suggested, given the results of the Trademap analysis. It is concluded that this analysis demonstrates the usefulness of Trademaps as a research tool to provide market information on new and existing markets.Crop Production/Industries,

Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 3, no. 2

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: 1. Samuel Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church: Interpretations of a Prophet by Dana L. Robert Biographies by M. L. Daneel and Vengesai Chimininge. 2. African Retrospect and Prospect: A Christian view from Cameroon - Interview with Paul Nchoji Nkwi, with Jonathan Bonk, interviewer. 3. Recent Print and Digital Resources Related to Christianity in Africa

Neurovascular complications in displaced extension-type supracondylar fractures in children : outcome of conservative management

Includes bibliographical referencesThe aim of our study was to review our conservative management of neurovascular complications in displaced extension-type supracond ylar fractures of the humerus in children. We critically analysed the outcomes. Our results shall aim to clarify the management of this contentious issue

Establishing associations for the evaluation of mobility screen (EMS) in an adult South African population

Background: Muscle, joint and bone injuries affect mobility and stability, which in turn limits physical activity. Screening tests such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) are used to assess an individual’s mobility and stability to determine whether any movement dysfunctions exist. Screening tests aim to establish an individual’s injury risk with the goal of guiding an intervention program. The Evaluation of Mobility Screen (EMS) is a screening test that has been developed at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. The EMS has been adapted from the FMS by exchanging the Rotatory Stability test for the Seated Rotation test. The current use of screening tools is limited because of the lack of normative data sets that represent the diversity of age, gender and physical activity levels in the general population. Most current published data represent athletes or younger populations. By establishing the relationship between screening outcomes and variables such as age, gender and physical activity level, the effectiveness of screening tests may be improved. Aim: To describe associations between EMS scores for males and females across different age groups and levels of physical activity. Objective: To evaluate and compare differences in EMS scores relating to age, gender and physical activity levels. Methods: This was a quantitative study, with a descriptive, correlational design. The sample consisted of 135 males and 127 females between the ages of 18 and 60. The EMS data were collected at the HighPerformance Centre, in the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Cape Town. Results: There was no difference between the total scores of males and females (median = 17). The two youngest groups (20-30 and 31-40 years) scored the highest (median = 17), while the oldest group (51-60 years) scored the lowest (median = 15). Gender had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on five subtests (Single Leg Hurdle, Shoulder Mobility, Asymmetric Leg Raise, Stability Push Up and Seated Rotation). Age had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on three subtests (Overhead Squat, Single Leg, Hurdle Split Squat). Physical activity level had a significant effect (p < 0.05) with two subtests (Single leg Hurdle and Stability Push Up). Conclusion: Gender, Age and Physical Activity are associated with changes in EMS scores. EMS total scores declined as age increased. While the total scores remain similar between genders, there were clear variations within the different subtests. The oldest participants (51-60 year) scored the lowest throughout all subtests. Males scored higher in the strength components, while females scored higher in the flexibility components. Physical activity levels did not have a clear pattern as expected but still demonstrated association with two subtests. The results add to the sentiment that the focus should move away from the composite scoring system, and towards analyzing individual subtest scores. Future studies should also investigate if subtest scores can be improved by targeted intervention programs

The Law Enforcement Reform Based on Pancasila Values: a Critical Review

The influence of colonial law is individual-liberal tempered as well as the globalization is capitalist-liberal tempered became a serious threat to the development of Indonesian law, because it raises the alienation syndrome of State laws from the values of life and upheld in a society that is Pancasila values, therefore the law reform of Indonesia became a necessity to do. This paper focuses on the reform in the field of typical law enforcement in Indonesia, where Pancasila as the ideological basis, in the logic of Stufenbau be the main touchstone which provides ontological, normative and operational frameworks for structuring better law enforcement and typical Indonesian. The principle of Almighty God becomes ontological framework for Indonesian people. Therefore, its existence is inter-related to the Almighty God as the source of value, truth and meaning. Just and civilized humanity is recognized as a ontological base and became the normative framework in order to enforce the law in a fair, civilized and humane, not oppressive character. It is operationalized within the framework of unity, not cause divisions, because all equal in the law as realized by acting wisdom and culminating in social justice for all citizens, social justice in favor of the weak