Die sorgsaamheidsplig van trustees in die uitvoer van hulle beleggingsbevoegdhede: Kan ons by die Engelse trustreg leer?

It is settled law in South Africa that the trustee of a trust is unequivocally charged with the duty to invest the assets of the trust. However, in South Africa in the past, this duty has been qualified, with avoidance of risk seen as the trustee’s number one priority when investing. The legislature and the judiciary mainly focused on providing safeguards for beneficiaries, therefore trustees were to avoid all risk to the capital of the trust. Despite economic realities, such as the devaluation of currencies and progressive inflation, the courts have continued to favour investment in interest-bearing securities. Most of the time trustees erred on the side of caution, following the judiciary’s lead. Unfortunately, as it will be pointed out, this means that trustees are blind to their primary task, which is and always has been, to do the best for the beneficiaries.Trustees will have to expose the assets to at least some risk in order to outperform inflation, as the traditional investments are no longer sufficient. Change occured in English trust law with the introduction of the Trustee Act 2000. This Act removes the constraints that previous legislation imposed on trustees and imposes positive obligations on trustees which reflect the reality of modern investment practices. In this article, attention will be given to the legal position in South Africa regarding a trustee’s duty of care pertaining to trust investments. Subsequently, the legal position of a trustee in terms of English law will be discussed in order to advance recommendations for future developement in South Africa

Reading habits and attitudes of grades 8-10 English second language learners in Eersterust, South Africa

The reading habits and attitudes of learners are continuously discussed by academics and reading enthusiasts on an international platform. The purpose of these dialogues is to search for methods that could cultivate a love for reading and improve reading skills among learners. Subsequently, this paper reports the results of a study conducted on the reading habits and attitudes of Grades 8-10 English Second Language (ESL) learners in Eersterust, South Africa. The study was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. A questionnaire was administered to 73 Grades 8-10 learners, who were purposefully selected from two schools. In addition, individual interviews were conducted with five ESL teachers and two learner focus groups, in which the grades 8-10 learners from both schools were represented. The findings showed that the learners read English material, however, the majority of learners only read ESL materials in school, with the purpose of doing well academically. The results further showed that the learners were not reading for pleasure and had a negative attitude towards ESL printed material and preferred to spend their time on the Internet. Strategies to cultivate a culture of reading, in order improve the reading habits and attitudes of the ESL learners were suggested in the study.Keywords: Reading, reading habit, attitude, reading skills, academic performance, reading preference

Upper domination and upper irredundance perfect graphs

Let β(G), Γ(G) and IR(G) be the independence number, the upper domination number and the upper irredundance number, respectively. A graph G is called Γ-perfect if β(H) = Γ(H), for every induced subgraph H of G. A graph G is called IR-perfect if Γ(H) = IR(H), for every induced subgraph H of G. In this paper, we present a characterization of Γ-perfect graphs in terms of a family of forbidden induced subgraphs, and show that the class of Γ-perfect graphs is a subclass of IR-perfect graphs and that the class of absorbantly perfect graphs is a subclass of Γ-perfect graphs. These results imply a number of known theorems on Γ-perfect graphs and IR-perfect graphs. Moreover, we prove a sufficient condition for a graph to be Γ-perfect and IR-perfect which improves a known analogous result. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Developing curricula for english for Occupational Purposes: A case study at a South African University of Technology

The demand for English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) is growing proportionally to the universal demand for employees, who can function in the lingua franca, English, in their fields of specialisation. Therefore, the training of students at universities of technology, which aim to produce graduates who can perform successfully upon entry into the occupational world, should include the teaching and learning of EOP.  This study set out to determine how best to develop EOP curricula, using wants and needs analyses, including all stakeholders at a university of technology, and adopting a case study approach. There was particular focus on: the students, since EOP is learner-centred; the authenticity of learning materials per field of specialisation; and, collaboration between language services-rendering and language services-requesting departments. The main conclusions drawn were that English proficiency plays a central role in the success of learning EOP, and direct feedback from industry on student wants and needs emerged as essential in curriculum planning. 

Cryptic speciation and chromosomal repatterning in the South African climbing mice Dendromus (Rodentia, Nesomyidae)

We evaluate the intra- and interspecific diversity in the four South African rodent species of the genus Dendromus. The molecular phylogenetic analysis on twenty-three individuals have been conducted on a combined dataset of nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Moreover, the extent and processes underlying chromosomal variation, have been investigated on three species by mean of G-, C-bands, NORs and Zoo-FISH analysis. The molecular analysis shows the presence of six monophyletic lineages corresponding to D. mesomelas, D. mystacalis and four lineages within D. cfr. melanotis with high divergence values (ranges: 10.6% – 18.3%) that raises the question of the possible presence of cryptic species. The first description of the karyotype for D. mesomelas and D. mystacalis and C- and G- banding for one lineage of D. cfr. melanotis are reported highlighting an extended karyotype reorganization in the genus. Furthermore, the G-banding and Zoo-FISH evidenced an autosome-sex chromosome translocation characterizing all the species and our timing estimates this mutation date back 7.4 mya (Late Miocene). Finally, the molecular clock suggests that cladogenesis took place since the end of Miocene to Plio-Pleistocene, probably due to ecological factors, isolation in refugia followed by differential adaptation to the mesic or dry habitat

A generalised upper bound for the k-tuple domination number

In this paper, we provide an upper bound for the k-tuple domination number that generalises known upper bounds for the double and triple domination numbers. We prove that for any graph G,γ× k (G) ≤ frac(ln (δ - k + 2) + ln (∑m = 1k - 1 (k - m) over(d, ^)m + ε{lunate}) + 1, δ - k + 2) n,where γ× k (G) is the k-tuple domination number; δ is the minimal degree; over(d, ^)m is the m-degree of G; ε{lunate} = 1 if k = 1 or 2 and ε{lunate} = - d if k ≥ 3; d is the average degree. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Reducing the electricity cost of a Three-Pipe Water Pumping System – a case study using software

Efficient control is often the most cost-effective option to improve on the running cost of a ThreePipe Water Pumping System. However, the effect of changing the control strategy (i.e. on energy consumption) is usually difficult to predict. A new simulation tool, QUICKcontrol, was used to investigate the energy cost savings potential in a Three-Pipe Water Pumping System. The influence of pump scheduling, dam level set points, control parameters and different combinations thereof were investigated. The simulation models were firstly verified with measurements obtained from the existing system to confirm their accuracy for realistic control retrofit simulations. With the aid of the integrated simulation tool, it was possible to predict savings of R195 000 per year with an average 3.8 MW of load shifted out of peak times. These control strategies can be implemented in the pumping system with a direct payback period of less than 6 months

Reducing the electricity cost of a Three-Pipe Water Pumping System – a case study using software

Efficient control is often the most cost-effective option to improve on the running cost of a ThreePipe Water Pumping System. However, the effect of changing the control strategy (i.e. on energy consumption) is usually difficult to predict. A new simulation tool, QUICKcontrol, was used to investigate the energy cost savings potential in a Three-Pipe Water Pumping System. The influence of pump scheduling, dam level set points, control parameters and different combinations thereof were investigated. The simulation models were firstly verified with measurements obtained from the existing system to confirm their accuracy for realistic control retrofit simulations. With the aid of the integrated simulation tool, it was possible to predict savings of R195 000 per year with an average 3.8 MW of load shifted out of peak times. These control strategies can be implemented in the pumping system with a direct payback period of less than 6 months

A review of South African research in atmospheric science and physical oceanography during 2000-2005

The purpose of this article is to review progress in the fields of atmospheric science and physical oceanography made by workers based at South African institutions over approximately the last 5 years. Research published by South African scientists working abroad is not included. Most published research in these fields falls within the broad areas of climate variability, climate change, aerosols and atmospheric pollution, seasonal forecasting, numerical modelling (both atmospheric and oceanic), and the physical oceanography of the Agulhas and Benguela current systems. Most but not all of the atmospheric science papers relate to South Africa or southern Africa; however, some work pertaining to the southern hemisphere as a whole or to other regions has been done. We note that funding and institutional support for atmospheric science and physical oceanography research in South Africa remains poor and this situation significantly hampers local efforts