“We charge genocide” and the case for grassroots organising

Shaka Lee is a black liberationist passionate about labour, the Midwest, co-ops and music. Shaka currently resides in Chicago, IL, and works as a researcher for a labour union that represents hospitality, airport and food service workers

The socio-economic impact of the Covid-19: a South African perspective on its impact on the socio-economic, inequality, security, and food systems

The objects of this research are: first, to highlight some of the socio-economic impact, arising out of the government's strict lockdown rules due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Second, to explore the psychological effects of the new normal on citizens, arising out of the lockdown. The author investigated the following problems: social problems, caused by restricted movements, increase interpersonal violence crimes, and economic problems due to job losses, emanating from several businesses closures. The main results of the research are: very high number of death rates with over (78 000), succumbing to coronavirus in South Africa, high unemployment, threats of food scarcity, educational setbacks due to schools closure, economic inequality gap, more widely pronounced, and hospitals, put under severe pressure due high patients needs. The area of practical use of the research is for all citizens, directly affected by the global pandemic. The research highlights the significance of the use of technology to inform and support lifelong learning using more e-learning platforms as an alternative for the old pedagogic delivery of lectures. The innovative technological products, arising out of the lockdown, were several e-learning softwares introduced. Apps like ‘uber eats; Vromo; Open Table; and ChatFood were all introduced and made delivery of fast food to our homes relatively easy. Several e-learning products were made popular: Microsoft teams; Zoom; Skype; Canvas; Ariculate 360; 7 taps; Spayee and teachable. The Scope of the innovative technology products were more pronounced in both the hospitality, catering industries, and educational institutions

Exploring the high murder rate in South Africa

The objects of this research are: first, to explain some of the causes of high murder rates in South Africa. Second, to refute the labelling of South Africa as the murder capital of the world. Third, exploring some alternative ways to violence resulting in deaths. The author investigated the following problems: murder done predominately by men, the inefficiency or shortcomings of the police to investigate murder successfully and lack of reports showing a drastic reduction of murders rates, possible due to lenient sanctions given by the courts. The main results of the research are: First, South Africa has been incorrectly referred to as the murder capital of the world. A label that scares would be visitors away from the country. This misleading labelling turned out to be factually incorrect according to several reports. Second, there are myriads of reasons why the death rates are very high in South Africa namely: varieties and normalization of violence; socio-economic inequalities; high youth unemployment rates; alcohol and drugs; culture of violence; easy access to firearms; lenient prison sentence; membership of gangsters; ineffective police investigation units; Mental illnesses or psychotic disorders and satanic beliefs. The area of practical use of the research: is for all citizens, directly or indirectly affected by police and safer communities. Criminal justice students in higher institutions and criminal justice practitioners, government officials, and policymakers

The continuity of police brutality in post-apartheid South Africa

The objects of this research are: First, to highlight that police brutality is still ongoing in South Africa despite the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa in 1994. Second, to explore the concept of police brutality and its definitional related concepts like excessive force, reasonable force, lethal force, and de-escalation. Third, to explore possible avenues of rebuilding citizens’ loss of trust and confidence in the police. The researcher investigated the following problems: Police excessive use of force on citizens resulting in injuries or loss of lives, understanding of reasonable force, when can police officers make use of force, a lack of proper police accountability, and citizens’ lack of trust and confidence of the police. The main results of the research are: first, police brutality is still ongoing in South Africa due to reported incidents of brutality in some instances resulting in loss of lives at the hands of the police. Second, a conceptualization of police/citizen partnership is needed in South Africa, benefits derived from community police need to be explored more for the understanding of all stakeholders. Third, the culture of promoting violence within and outside the police service needs to be addressed. Fourth, Police brutality is an abuse of power, it portrays police officers in a bad light seen by many as oppressive apparatus of the state designed to perpetuate immediate unlawful violence against citizens. The police service has a lot to do when it comes to winning the hearts and minds of citizens. Contemporary policing must respect the rights and dignity of citizens and enforce the law without fear or favour within the laid down the constitutional mandate. The area of practical use of the research are all citizens affected by crime, police and safer communities, human rights organisations, university students and staff members of the criminal justice departmen

Psychological Well-Being Across Age and Sex among HIV Patients

The HIV AIDS epidemic has fostered several responses in society which include prejudice fear and even in some occasions hysteria AIDS-related stigma poses threats to the psychological well- being of people living with it Therefore the current study sought to investigate the effects of age and gender on Psychological wellbeing among people living with HIV and AIDS PLHA at Fitche Tesfa Berhan Charity Association Cross-sectional research design with quantitative method was employed on 162 sample were selected based on stratified probability sampling technique The stratification was based on age Accordingly participants were stratified in to four age groups adolescent 12-20 young adults 21-39 middle adults 40-59 and old adults 60 and above Ryff s Psychological well Being Scale RPWB- 18items with demographic data questionnaire was used As a method of data analyses descriptive statistics such as frequency percentage mean and standard deviation and independent sample t-test of inferential statistics was used Hence the result of this study indicated that the mean score of overall psychological well-being of male respondents M 78 45 SD 12 110 was found to be higher than those of female respondents M 73 28 SD 12 505 Further independent sample t-test revealed the statistically significant difference on overall psychological well-being across gender t 160 2 569 P 011 Regarding age even though there was a mean difference across different age groups it is not statistically significant t 152 - 256 P 798 In conclusion health workers counselors and other professionals who work with PLWHA may consider further interventions to promote psychological wellbeing in HIV AIDS-positive individual

An insight into the socio-psycho contexts and modus operandi of South Africa’s worst serial killers over time

Over the years, several myths have been peddled within societies and academic circles in relation to exploring the mysterious lives of serial killers. Socio-psycho factors have been used to explain some of their criminal behaviour. Some mythologies about serial killers are that most of them are loners, abused children, and sexually motivated killers. Some researchers have also attributed mental challenges, drugs, and alcohol as possible motives for serial killers. In some instances, some serial killers have confessed to heard unknown controlling voices, urging them to kill their victims. We are not in a rational or neutral position to know whether voices, hearing by serial killers, are actually factual experiences or not. However, to enter a plea of insanity for murder is widely known with the criminal law field. This is the reason why in some cases, offenders are accessed to ascertain their fitness to stand trial. This article deals with a very serious challenging crime and highlights the safety of citizens. The article has three aims, first, to explore and debunk the secretive world of serial killers. Second, to explore the serial killer’s motives and modus operandi. Third, to highlight the dangers serial killers pose to society. Some of the findings are that serial killer does not always live a life of a loner, and some understudy of serial killers found out some of them live a family life. Several serial killers were abused as children and from dysfunctional families and social backgrounds. Most serial killers are men and there is a patriarchal domineering and controlling personality, ascribed to serial killer

The reconciliation of the development and implementation of police accountability in the United Kingdom

The objects of this research are: first, to explain some of the issues surrounding police accountability in the United Kingdom. Second, to make attempts in reconciling two opposing views as to whom police in the UK are accountable for? Third, to clarify the vagueness and ambiguous definitional concepts of the police constable, constabulary independence, and the use of police discretionary powers. The author investigated the following problems: lack of police proper accountability, vague and ambiguous meaning of constabulary independence constable oath of office, and the use of police discretionary powers. The main results of the research are: first, more clarity is needed as to whom is the British police accountable to? Second, a review of the current oath of office for police constable, the implementation of finding by previous committees set up by government: Lord Scarman, Rt Hon Christopher Patten, and Lord Nolan reports. Third, the monitoring of police officers' use of discretionary powers. The area of practical use of the research: is for all citizens, directly or indirectly affected by police and safer communities. Criminal justice students in higher institutions and criminal justice practitioners, government officials, and policymakers

The changing landscape of the spaza retail outlet amongst black South Africans

The Spaza retail outlet is predominately found in South Africa’s black populated areas or townships. It also has a historical significance to it because, during the apartheid years, black people were not allowed to move freely by the white minority rule. This study is qualitative research where the author carried out an extensive literature review to look first, at the background, characteristics, challenges, and future directions that affect the Spaza micro businesses in South Africa. The research aims to first highlight the importance of micro-businesses. Second, to highlight the need for South Africa’s government initiatives to support small businesses for sustainable growth of the economy and to explore whether this support is far-reaching enough to protect the Spaza retail shops. The authors rely on Karl Marx's theory of class struggle as the theory informing the study. Some of the findings are: Spaza owners need to be more trained in business management, entrepreneurial skills, advertisement, social networking and marketing research, accounting and bookkeeping, technology, and innovation concerning promoting their businesses. The Spaza's annual revenue stream for the South Africa government currently stands at 5.2 % of the GDP

Effects of Inter- and Intra-Row Spacing on Growth, Green Cob Number and Biomass Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties at Agarfa, Southeastern Ethiopia

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important grain crop of the world and it ranks second, after wheat in hectarage and first in total production and productivity. In Ethiopia, maize has increasingly become a popular crop with steady growth in production area and yield. However, green cob maize production packages, including its appropriate spacing, are not yet determined. Evidences on effects of inter and intra-row spacing on growth and green cob yield of maize are not well explored. Therefore, this study was conducted at Agarfa from March 2015 to July 2015 to determine the effects of inter-and intra-row spacing on growth, green cob number and biomass yield of maize (Zea mays L) varieties under supplemental irrigation. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial combination of four inter-row (55 cm, 65 cm, 75 cm, and 85 cm) spacing, two intra-row spacing (25 cm and 30 cm) and two maize varieties (Melkassa-II and BHQPY-545) with three replication. Data were collected on growth, green cob number and biomass yield and analyzed using GenStat, (2012) The experiment result revealed that leaf area and number of cobs per plant were highly significantly (P<0.01) affected by inter-row spacing x variety while cob length, number of cobs per hectare and above ground fresh biomass yield were significantly (P<0.05) affected by inter-row spacing x variety. The highest cob number (65232.32 ha-1) was recorded for variety BHQPY-545 and (61739.39 ha-1) for variety Melkassa-II at narrowest inter-row spacing of 55 cm (Table 5). Similarly, the highest fresh biomass yield of 51.3 and 48 ton ha-1 was obtained from variety BHQPY-545 and Melkassa-II respectively at 55 cm inter-row spacing. In general, significantly higher number of marketable green cobs and aboveground fresh biomass yield were obtained at closer inter-and intra-row spacing for maize varieties tested in the study area. Therefore, it can be concluded that spacing combination of 55 cm x 25 cm favored attaining of higher economic returns, green cob number and fresh biomass yield of maize in the area under supplemental irrigation. Keywords: Phenology, Plant Density, Population, Economic Benefit, Biomass DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-9-05 Publication date:May 31st 201