Die opleiding van stads- en streekbeplanners in Suid-Afrika

Agtergrond en die huidige posisie Die eerste kursus vir die opleiding van beplanners in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika is twintig jaar gelede aan die Universiteit van die W itwatersrand ingestel. Sowat agt jaar gelede het die Universiteit van Natal met ’n soortgelyke kursus begin en twee jaar daarna het die Universiteit van Pretoria hulle voorbeeld gevolg

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Loss functions for structural flood mitigation measures

The paper aims at discussing the methodology used to develop loss functions for flood mitigation measures, using historic data of flood damage to infrastructure. The main determinants of the extent of damage are the size of the flood and the length of the infrastructure within the boundaries of the flood-line. In regression analysis, flood peak was used as the independent variable in the Cobb-Douglas functions to depict the relationship between damage and flood peak. The Mfolozi flood-plain in Northern KwaZulu-Natal served as the study area. Loss functions for infrastructure, for ex ante estimation of damage to infrastructure, were developed for inclusion in a flood damage simulation model (FLODSIM) developed by the Department of Agricultural Economics of the University of the Orange Free State in collaboration with the Water Research Commission. Loss functions were determined for spillways, levees, tramlines, public roads, drains and bridges. WaterSA Vol.27(1) 2001: 35-3

Critical success factors for Six Sigma Design and deployment to compliment lean operational strategy towards Capability Maturity

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Revisiting Nitrogen Fertilisation Rates of Kikuyu and Kikuyu-Ryegrass Pastures

Irrigated pastures are used for dairy production in South Africa. Minimum-tillage and nitrogen (N) fertilisation are important management practices for kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) and ryegrass (Lolium spp.) pastures. Nitrogen fertiliser application rates as high as 500 kg N ha-1 year-1 have been reported. Conventional tillage as well as cutting and removal of herbage material (opposed to removal through grazing) are the basis on which these fertiliser guidelines were developed. The current management practices have substantially changed the soil organic carbon and N stoichiometry. The aim of this study was to determine an optimum rate of N application of kikuyu and kikuyu-ryegrass pastures. Five fixed N fertiliser rates (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg N ha-1 grazing cycle-1) were evaluated. Soil characteristics and pasture performance were monitored over a two year period. Nitrate concentrations and total mineral soil N were substantial, compared to the control, when more than 40 kg N ha-1 grazing cycle-1 were applied, leading to potential losses to the environment. Differences in biomass production were mostly due to seasonal variation, while N treatment effects within a season were generally small. As N treatments increased on both the study sites, the self-sown clover component decreased. Agronomic nitrogen use efficiency was similar across treatments and seasons on both sites, with the exception of winter in the first year on the kikuyu-ryegrass site. The results indicate that the soil could be saturated with N, at least to a point where herbage production response is minimal. A positive response in terms of crude protein was observed in some of the higher N treatments, but up to a point where it was no longer favourable for milk production. It is therefore concluded that the current N guidelines needs to be revisited as they pose a risk to the environment and farm economics

Concussion knowledge and attitudes among amateur South African rugby players

Background: The South African Rugby Union’s BokSmart programme currently educates coaches and referees on concussion. Rugby players are often more familiar with their teammates than the coach or referee. Therefore they are well-positioned to play a pivotal role in rugby safety if they have adequate knowledge to identify subtle signs and abnormal behaviour displayed by a concussed teammate. However, no programme focuses on concussion education among South African rugby players and there is a dearth of literature on concussion education programmes among rugby players which could lead to safer return to play (RTP) habits.Objectives: To evaluate South African rugby players’ concussion knowledge and attitudes/behaviours regarding RTP following a concussion.Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was used. Participants (n=294) were divided into junior amateur high school (JAHS) (n=216) and senior amateur club (SAC) (n=78) players. The modified RoCKAS-ST questionnaire was used to evaluate their concussion knowledge index (CKI) and concussion attitudes/behaviours index (CAI) regarding RTP.Results: On average, 62% (JAHS) and 60% (SAC) of the CKI questions were answered correctly. JAHS participants correctly identified 66% of concussion symptoms, similarly to the SAC participants (63%), rendering similar (p=0.37) overall CKI scores when comparing the two groups. The CAI questions yielded similar (p=0.98) results between the groups, reporting safe responses in 66% (JAHS) and 67% (SAC) of the items.Discussion and conclusion: Junior and senior South African amateur rugby players lacked approximately one-third of essential concussion knowledge, which may lead to a display of unsafe attitudes/behaviours to concussion and RTP. Further research is warranted to inform educational programmes on concussion among rugby players.Keywords: post-concussion syndrome, rugby union, return to play, safety, South Afric

Learn-teach-learn: evaluating a South African near-peer teaching programme

Background: Near-peer teaching (NPT) programmes may benefit both student learners (SLs) and near-peer tutors (NTs). However, data evaluating NPT programmes in developing countries such as South Africa are lacking.Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of an NPT programme in improving the knowledge and confidence of SLs and NTs, and to evaluate student perceptions of the NPT programme. Methods: An NPT programme in which clinical year students provided tutorials to pre-clinical year students was developed. Participants completed a knowledge-assessing multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) and a confidence-assessing questionnaire at commencement and conclusion of the programme. Participants also completed an evaluation at the end of the programme. Results: For 38 SLs, the median MCQ score improved from 58.9% at baseline to 78.6% at completion of the programme (p<0.001; d=1.3). The mean overall confidence score improved from 2.6/5 at baseline to 3.6/5 at completion (p<0.001; d=1.3). All SLs agreed that the NPT programme was a useful addition to the standard curriculum and that they would recommend the programme to other students at developmental level. The effect of the NPT programme was less pronounced for the 16 NTs, with median MCQ scores of 87.5% and 89.3% at baseline and completion of the programme, respectively (p=0.179; d=0.4). The mean overall confidence score improved from 3.8/5 at baseline to 4.2/5 at completion (p=0.004; d=1). Ninety-four percent of NTs agreed that their role as NTs reinforced their existing knowledge. Conclusion: NPT programmes may improve the knowledge and confidence of SLs, while consolidating the knowledge of NTs. The NTP programme was well received by medical students. In resource-limited settings, the effectiveness and acceptability of NPT make it an attractive adjunct to traditional teaching

Concussion return-to-play behaviour of South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) Youth Week players: a pilot study

Introduction: BokSmart has disseminated Graduated Return-to-Play (GRTP) guidelines for concussions management to all, but specifically coaches, in South Africa. Medical clearance before returning to play (RTP) is poorly adhered to in the GRTP steps. This study explored barriers to compliance with medical clearance prior to RTP.Methods: Players who suffered a concussion during the 2014/2015 South African Rugby Youth Week Tournaments were followed-up telephonically until RTP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore enablers/barriers to seeking/not seeking medical clearance before RTP.Results: Of those who did not seek medical clearance (47%), 80% indicated that the player/parent or coach felt this was unnecessary. Of those who did seek medical clearance, 65% reported they were instructed to do so either by the tournament doctor who diagnosed the injury or by the school coach.Conclusion: Besides coaches, parents and medical doctors have an important influence on players’ RTP behaviour. The findings of this pilot study need to be repeated in a larger cohort.Keywords: injury management, head injury, youth, football, South Afric