Strominge in die vrouebew eging: 'n voorlopige raamwerk

The Biblical principle of reformation challenges the Christian to question the traditional position of women and if necessary to change it, as well as to critically evaluate the various trends within the women's movement. It is stated that the generalizing use of the term feminism has become outdated, and should be replaced by differentiated terminology. The latter should be based on critical nuancing, with due regard to the view of history, the approach to sexuality/sex and the religious directedness of each specific trend or school of thought. Against the background of the sexism and traditionalism of male chauvinism , this article offers a prelim inary framework from which a number of fem inist and moderate trends within the women's movement can be identified. Within feminism a distinction is drawn between egalitarian and gynaecentric (neo-sexist) trends. The moderate wing of the women's movement includes a humanist and a Christian approach, with androgynous and holistic views respectively as examples of these. Finally the author points out that the use of the Bible by feminist theologians and other representatives of the women's movement offers no guarantee for Scriptural viewpoints, and warns against generalizing judgments about proponents of women's rights

Literary genres as points of interest in print advertising

Published ArticleThe article focuses on the interplay between print advertisements and literary genres such as poetry, drama, folklore, etc. This interplay may be used to develop an advertisement's point of interest to attract attention from a specific target audience. Based on previous research we hypothesise that literary genres are exploited as a means to engage audiences. The study aims to give a description of the typical genre characteristics of modern literary genres in SA print advertising. It also endeavours to do a pragmatic analysis of these advertisements against the background of the specific literary genre category and the genre qualities of advertisements to identify the implied marketing message

Genetic parameters for growth traits in South African Limousin cattle

Accurate genetic parameters are vital for genetic prediction, selection on breeding values and creation of selection objectives. Consequently, records for birth weight (BW), 200 (WW), 400 (YW) and 600 (FW) day weight were analyzed to obtain heritability estimates. These records originated from Limousin herds with performance data on the South African Limousin Cattle Breeders' Society's database for the period 1980 to 2006. The dataset consisted of 26533 BW, 9756 WW, 6558 YW and 3329 FW records. Log likelihood ratio tests were used to indicate the most suitable model for each trait. Models tested included a herd-year-season by sire interaction (HYSxS) and permanent maternal environmental effect as additional random factors. Single trait analyses yielded direct heritability estimates of 0.09 and 0.19 for BW and WW, respectively while corresponding maternal heritability estimates were 0.05 and 0.12. A strong negative association was found between direct and maternal effects with a genetic correlation of –0.64 and –0.70 for BW and WW, respectively. Direct heritability estimates for YW and FW were 0.16 and 0.24, respectively. Direct genetic correlations of BW with YW and FW were 0.37 and 0.33, respectively. Direct genetic correlations of WW with YW and FW were 0.99 and 0.93, respectively while the correlation between YW and FW was 0.92. Heritability estimates indicate that genetic progress of the above traits will be slower than might be envisaged by some authors, due to lower direct estimates. The strong negative relationship between direct and maternal effects needs to be deliberated when defining selection objectives. Keywords: Limousin cattle; genetic parameters; growth traits South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 36 (5) 2006: pp.6-

PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEADERSHIP STYLES OF DEANS IN ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) COLLEGES

The Industrial Development Strategy of 2003 has shown that considerable human resource deficits in Ethiopia are the major reason for the low rate of industrial development. This strategy confirms in its statement: “...education and a training system that is capable of producing the manpower that is both professionally and ethically capable of carrying and sustaining the responsibility of seeing to it that our industrial development program will have achieved its goals” (MOFED, 2003). Therefore, it called for efforts towards quality improvement of the workforce, to reverse the marginalisation of the industrial professions in the TVET system, and to build a culture of entrepreneurship and self-employment (MOFED, 2010). In 2009, the Southern Nations, Nationalities People’s Region (SNNPR) Centre of Competence (COC) conducted standard exams for those who graduated from TVETs. The results were disappointing, as only 12.2% of the TVET graduates and 34.9% of the TVET instructors passed the examinations (SNNPR TVET, 2010). Hence, to solve this chronic problem, high calibre deans should be appointed. In line with this idea, in the year 2003, the World Bank designed a training project to produce and assign skilled leaders in higher education in Ethiopia (World Bank, 2003). Although it failed, it was also the plan of the Ethiopian government that the percentage of TVET leaders trained in leadership would reach 100% in the year 2014 (MOFED, 2010). The TVET sector has particular significance for the reduction of poverty and for the promotion of gender equity because it stresses certain dimensions such as opportunities, skills, human resources development and empowerment. However, in Ethiopia, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) has introduced an emphasis on developing TVET skills only since the turn of the 21st century. As a result, the MOE has required TVET practitioners not only to link up their knowledge and skills with the past in order to understand the present situation, but also to prompt them to look beyond the present to cope with this dynamic world (MOFED, 2006). The present study assumes importance in finding out perceived effectiveness of the leadership styles of deans in Ethiopian governmental technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.  Article visualizations

The transfer of intergenerational family knowledge for sustainable commercial farming in Mpumalanga province of South Africa: lessons for extension

This study focuses on intergenerational knowledge transfer in commercial family farms as a tool for sustainable agriculture. The rationale is two pronged; the need for smallholder farmers to learn from the commercial enterprises; and extension professional to assess how these experiences can be integrated into practice. The key research questions addressed are; what key intergenerational knowledge sustains commercial farming? What are the modes of knowledge transfer? What are key learning points for smallholder farmer extension practice? A case study approach was applied and data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire and research on family histories. Key knowledge themes that were identified as critical for intergenerational transfer include; maintaining a business mindset; investment and diversification decisions; planning and implementing operational plans; valuing human resources; genetic preservation; adapting to changing climatic conditions and risk taking. The key modes of knowledge transfer were continuous engagement, discussions and networking. The study concludes that smallholder farmers need to incorporate these lessons in commercialising their enterprises.Keywords: Intergenerational knowledge, sustainable agriculture, family farms, Mpumalang

Geographical differences in the relationship between total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity in South African rivers

Electrical conductivity (EC) is a useful surrogate for total dissolved solids (TDS). EC is more rapidly and easily measurable with reasonably-priced equipment. However, as an indirect measure EC is subject to uncertainties that are not always apparent to the user. We set out to investigate the relationship between TDS and EC in 144 643 sample results availableon the Department of Water Affairs water quality database. TDS is   calculated as the sum of the major solutes determined by laboratory  analysis and EC is a measurement in a flow cell. The median TDS:EC ratio for 332 high priority sites was 7 mg/.: 1 mS/m. Regional differences  ranged from 4.8 to 8.6. Investigation of 38 of these sites using Maucha diagrams suggested that the differences are related to the dominant  major ions, with sodium chloride waters having a lower TDS:EC conversion factor than calcium bicarbonate waters. The practical application of these findings is that users of EC meters should not simply apply a blanket conversion factor, but need to select an applicable factor for the river  system in which they are measuring.Keywords: conversion factors, electrical conductivity, field instruments, rivers, total dissolved solids, water qualit

The Need for Active Debt Management in Financially Challenged Municipalities in the Free State Province

Published ArticleIn terms of section 155(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, all municipalities (metropolitan, district and local municipalities) are expected to raise their own revenues in addition to the transfers they receive from national government. This principle is an important feature of any democratic local government system, creating a revenue-service link between the municipality and its customers that empowers customers to hold the municipality directly accountable for the services it provides. However, municipalities’ own revenue collection has been significantly declining as a result of greater reliance placed on intergovernmental transfers as a revenue source. It is of concern that in many cases, the funds dedicated to service delivery, development and growth are being mismanaged by municipal officials, and in many instances due to political interference. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to identify debt management, its consequences, and the development of an integrated debt management model for municipalities in the Free State Province. This article provides a theoretical review of debt management, legislative frameworks for local government financial administration as well as the challenges facing municipalities in financial distress within the Free State Province regarding debt management. The article concludes by discussing the integrated debt management model as a result of conclusions drawn from the theoretical and the empirical study. The article argues that the integrated debt management model as an intervention can be operationalised to assist financially challenged municipalities in the Free State Province with current debt management challenges

LEADERSHIP STYLES OF THE DEANS IN ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) COLLEGES

Technological advancements have driven the development of dynamic work environments leading to a need for dynamic and visionary leaders who possess leadership skills and are capable of meeting the challenges and opportunities that exist in the modern workplace that is intent on promoting the change necessary for developing and maintaining the competitive edge (Burke, Stagl, Klein, Goodwin, Salas, Halpin & Winer, 2006). Again, it is even more critical that leaders of the highest calibre are identified, developed, and sharpened within educational institutions. Avolio and Bass (1991) who in their research identified three leadership styles, namely: transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire. They state that these three leadership styles can be used to identify the predictive roles of this range of leader attributes as well as the three outcomes of leadership, namely: extra effort, effectiveness and satisfaction. The FRL is regarded as a contemporary model that has the potential to explain leadership and its multidimensional nature and to measure behaviours empirically that can be used to predict leadership outcomes (Antonakis, Avolio & Sivasubramaniam, 2003; Avolio, 2010). According to Dew (1995) and Northouse (2012), leaders make an attempt to lift up motivation and morale when a transformational leadership style is put into effect. Similarly, Curtin (2004) and Conger and Kanungo (1990) propose that organisations require leadership that stimulates leaders and followers as a result of which observable change can come to the fore. For Avolio (2010), college deans should use the transformational leadership style to be the most successful. The findings of Morgenson, DeRue and Karam (2009), and Ross and Offerman (1991) have suggested that it is advantageous for organisations if they are led by lenient, more nurturing leaders. In his work, Nahavandi (2003) has tried to describe the characteristics of transformational leaders as follows: they work hard to promote self-reliance and optimism about goals and followers' ability, provide a vivid vision, initiate innovation through empowerment and rewards for followers, inspire high expectations by creating a conducive environment and, finally, form and strengthen personal relationships with followers. For Nahavandi (2003), these five characteristics of a transformational leader are of vital importance and the absence of one of these characteristics would make such a leader either ineffective or less effective in terms of his/her leadership. The present study assumes importance in finding out to what extent do the leadership styles adopted by deans have an effect on the government TVET Colleges’ perceived effectiveness as evaluated by deans, teachers, and students.  Article visualizations

The prevalence of the diagnosis of increased intra-ocular pressure in a general practice

Glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness.1 The disease occurs in 3% to 4% of all people over the age of 70 years.1 As many as 50% of patients suffering from this disease are unaware of their condition until a comparatively late stage, due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease.2 Of the objective signs of primary open angle glaucoma, the loss of visual field and pathological cupping would generally have reached an advanced stage before they could be recognised by a general practitioner, and aqueous flow can only be measured with the use of specialised equipment. However, increased intra-ocular pressure can easily be detected by tonometry performed by a general practitioner.3For full text, click here:SA Fam Pract 2006;48(3):16-1