Seksuele teistering in die werkplek: ’n Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a grave problem and it significantly impedes on a person’s entrance into many sectors of the wage labour market. The number of sexual harassment complaints increases dramatically every year, although researchers estimate that 80 to 90% of sexual harassment cases go unreported. Despite the high figures, few South African court cases and legal literature deal with sexual harassment. The reason for this is that few persons who are harassed report a case for fear that they will lose their jobs or that they will become sources of ridicule.Sexual harassment is an infringement upon a person’s personality and thus an iniurandi. The South African Constitution determines that there shall not be discriminated against any person and that includes a person’s right to work without harassment and discrimination. It is therefore necessary that all employers ensure a safe environment without discrimination for all employees. Employers must adopt a policy on sexual harassment, communicate it to all employees and ensure that the policy be adhered to. If harassment does take place, the procedure and disciplinary process prescribed in the policy must be enforced

Nutritional status of renal transplant patients

Objective. To assess the effect of renal transplantation on the nutritional status of patients.Design. Prospective descriptive study.Setting. Renal Transplant Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape.Subjects. Fifty-eight renal transplant patients from Tygerberg Hospital were enrolled in the study. The sample was divided into two groups of 29 patients each: group 1, less than 28 months post-transplant; and group 2, more than 28 months post-transplant.Outcome measures. Nutritional status assessment comprised biochemical evaluation, a dietary history, anthropometric measurements and a clinical examination.Results. Serum vitamin B6 levels were below normal in 56% of patients from group 1 and 59% from group 2. Vitamin B6 intake, however, was insufficient in only 14% of patients from group 1and10% from group 2. Serum vitamin C levels were below normal in 7% of patients from group 1 and 24% from group 2, while vitamin C intake was insufficient in 21%and14% of patients from groups 1 and 2 respectively. Serum magnesium levels were below normal in 55% of patients from group 1, and in 28% from group 2. Serum albumin and cholesterol levels increased significantly during the post-transplant period in the total sample (P = 0.0001). There was also a significant increase in body mass index (P = 0.0001) during the post-transplant period.Conclusions. Several nutritional abnormalities were observed, which primarily reflect the side-effects of immunosuppressive therapy. The causes, consequences and treatment of the vitamin B6 and vitamin C deficiencies in renal transplant recipients need further investigation

Genetic variability in a population of Letelle sheep in South Africa

The purpose of the study was to gain insight into the genetic variability of the Letelle sheep breed, a breed that has been managed as a closed population for 90 years, with no new genetic material being permitted into the breed. The Letelle is a South African developed dual-purpose sheep breed and is classified as a Merino type with a Spanish Merino origin. The breed exhibits good fine wool characteristics and yields high-quality mutton. Line-breeding, family-breeding, and inbreeding are applied, and multiple sire matings are practised to prevent a sire from having a large influence on the national flock. Ear samples were collected from 10 animals each from 10 commercial and 11 seed-stock flocks and genotyped using 17 microsatellite markers. Unbiased heterozygosity ranged from 0.58 to 0.68 and the observed heterozygosity from 0.52 to 0.65. The estimated effective population size (Ne) was 228.2 - 321.9. Results from analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), a Bayesian assignment test, and a neighbour-joining (NJ) tree suggested that no genetic sub-structure existed within this population and that the seed-stock and commercial flocks could be regarded as one genetic population. The average within flock (FIS) and within breed (FIT) inbreeding coefficients were 10.1% and 14.5%, respectively. Despite the level of inbreeding, levels of genetic diversity were moderate and potentially provide opportunities for future selection and adaptation. Further testing could identify flocks in which conservation management is required as well as those with high genetic variability, which would provide the best reservoir for selection to adapt to future climatic challenges.Keywords: genetic distance, inbreeding, microsatellite markers, population structur

Habitat use and group size of African wild ungulates in a Namibian game ranch

Aim of this research was to gather information on group size and habitat use by the different ungulate species and spatial overlap among species. Data were collected in the dry season in a fenced area (5021 hectares) during 44 game drives along five different routes; for each sighting, we recorded species, day, time, location (on a map divided into square grid units of 500 m sides), number of animals and habitat type. Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) was the more solitary species, followed by steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) and warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), while hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), eland (Taurotragus oryx) and mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) usually formed large groups. This is in agreement with the normal social behaviour of these species. Nevertheless, the high percentage of solitary oryx (Oryx gazella), greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) and impala (Aepyceros melampus) is unusual. The frequent presence of isolated individuals in gregarious species may indicate a dispersion of the animals in the territory due to reduced food availability. Some of the species showed their typical habitat use; however, some species also used less suitable habitats. A low degree of spatial overlap was observed between most of the species. In spite of this, in some cases a considerable overlap occurred. For example, kudu and springbok, which had a wide spatial distribution, showed a high degree of spatial overlap with other species (e.g., all of the grid units used by zebra were used in common with kudu, and 88% of the grid units used by blesbok was in common with springbok). Data indicate that animals are overabundant in this fenced area and they are suffering from the dry season

Baseline adjustment methodology in a shared water savings contract under serious drought conditions

CITATION: Jacobs, H. E. et al. 2020. Baseline adjustment methodology in a shared water savings contract under serious drought conditions. Water SA, 46(1):22-29, doi:10.17159/wsa/2020.v46.i1.7874.The original publication is available at: http://www.scielo.org.zaENGLISH ABSTRACT: Baselines are often employed in shared water saving contracts for estimating water savings after some type of intervention by the water service company. An adjustment to the baseline may become necessary under certain conditions. Earlier work has described a number of relatively complex methods for baseline determination and adjustment, but application in regions faced with relatively limited data becomes problematic. If the adjustment were determined before finalising the contractual matters, it would be possible to gather the required data in order to determine the adjustment. However, in cases where no adjustment was fixed prior to the contract, a method is required to determine an adjustment mid-contract based on whatever data are available at the time. This paper presents a methodology for baseline adjustment in an existing shared water savings contract and explains how adjustment could be determined mid-contract, under conditions of limited data. The adjustment compensates for expected reduced water consumption due to external influences induced by serious water restrictions, typically introduced during periods of drought. The fundamental principle underpinning the baseline adjustment methodology presented in this paper involved segregating real water losses from the actual consumption of end-users, preferably by analysing the minimum night flow. In the absence of recorded night flows, an alternative procedure involving the minimum monthly consumption pre- and post-baseline was employed. The baseline adjustment method was subsequently applied in a South African case study, reported on separately. This technique is helpful because adjustments could be determined without adding unnecessary complexity or cost, and provides a means to resolve disputes in cases where unexpected savings occur mid-contract.Publisher's versio

Baseline adjustment methodology in a shared water savings contract under serious drought conditions

CITATION: Jacobs, H. E. et al. 2020. Baseline adjustment methodology in a shared water savings contract under serious drought conditions. Water SA, 46(1):22-29, doi:10.17159/wsa/2020.v46.i1.7874.The original publication is available at: http://www.scielo.org.zaENGLISH ABSTRACT: Baselines are often employed in shared water saving contracts for estimating water savings after some type of intervention by the water service company. An adjustment to the baseline may become necessary under certain conditions. Earlier work has described a number of relatively complex methods for baseline determination and adjustment, but application in regions faced with relatively limited data becomes problematic. If the adjustment were determined before finalising the contractual matters, it would be possible to gather the required data in order to determine the adjustment. However, in cases where no adjustment was fixed prior to the contract, a method is required to determine an adjustment mid-contract based on whatever data are available at the time. This paper presents a methodology for baseline adjustment in an existing shared water savings contract and explains how adjustment could be determined mid-contract, under conditions of limited data. The adjustment compensates for expected reduced water consumption due to external influences induced by serious water restrictions, typically introduced during periods of drought. The fundamental principle underpinning the baseline adjustment methodology presented in this paper involved segregating real water losses from the actual consumption of end-users, preferably by analysing the minimum night flow. In the absence of recorded night flows, an alternative procedure involving the minimum monthly consumption pre- and post-baseline was employed. The baseline adjustment method was subsequently applied in a South African case study, reported on separately. This technique is helpful because adjustments could be determined without adding unnecessary complexity or cost, and provides a means to resolve disputes in cases where unexpected savings occur mid-contract.Publisher's versio

Smoking and drinking habits of women in subsequent pregnancies after specific advice about the dangers of these exposures during pregnancy

Background. Although women are informed about the dangers of drinking and smoking during pregnancy when they book for antenatal care, it is uncertain whether this advice is accepted, or whether attempts are made to apply it in subsequent pregnancies.Objectives. To assess how pregnant women respond to the advice to refrain from smoking and drinking during pregnancy in subsequent pregnancies.Methods. Research staff were trained to obtain accurate prospective information on smoking and drinking during pregnancy in a prospective study, using well-standardised methods. Care was taken to inform participants about the dangers of smoking and drinking during pregnancy. They were also given pamphlets on these dangers in their own language and a list of telephone numbers where they could find help to quit should they need it. This information was repeated at subsequent study visits (ranging from 1 to 3, depending on the gestational age at which they enrolled). Gestational age was determined by early ultrasound. Z-scores of birthweight for gestational age were determined according to the INTERGROWTH-21st study. Pregnancy outcomes of women who enrolled twice (n=888) or three times (n=77) in the Safe Passage Study were compared with those of women in the first enrolment (n=889).Results. The proportion of drinkers did not change significantly (p=0.058) from the first to the second and third enrolments (63.8%, 59.0% and 54.6%, respectively). A similar trend was found for smokers (73.3%, 72.2% and 68.4%, respectively). Cannabis use was reported by 15.1%, 9.7% and 12.0% (p<0.005) of women, respectively, and use of methamphetamine by 10.1%, 6.6% and 12.7% (p<0.005). There was an increase in the rate of preterm births from 15.5% to 17.5% and 24.7%, respectively, but the increase was not significant. Although mean birthweight was lower in the third enrolment compared with the second, the difference was not significant. The z-score of birthweight for gestational age was significantly lower in the second enrolment compared with the first.Conclusions. Detailed information on the adverse effects of smoking and drinking during pregnancy was not effective in the population studied. Other methods to reduce or stop these toxic exposures should therefore be investigated. A short inter-pregnancy interval, as demonstrated by three enrolments in 7.5 years, is associated with preterm labour and fetal growth restriction, and is probably indicative of the role played by confounders such as poor socioeconomic conditions and drug exposure during pregnancy

Nutritional status of renal transplant patients

CITATION: Du Plessis, A. S. et al. 2002. Nutritional status of renal transplant patients. South African Medical Journal, 92(1):68-74.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaObjective. To assess the effect of renal transplantation on the nutritional status of patients. Design. Prospective descriptive study. Setting. Renal Transplant Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape. Subjects. Fifty-eight renal transplant patients from Tygerberg Hospital were enrolled in the study. The sample was divided into two groups of 29 patients each: group 1, less than 28 months post-transplant; and group 2, more than 28 months post-transplant. Outcome measures. Nutritional status assessment comprised biochemical evaluation, a dietary history, anthropometric measurements and a clinical examination. Results. Serum vitamin B6 levels were below normal in 56% of patients from group 1 and 59% from group 2. Vitamin B6 intake, however, was insufficient in only 14% of patients from group 1 and 10% from group 2. Serum vitamin C levels were below normal in 7% of patients from group 1 and 24% from group 2, while vitamin C intake was insufficient in 21% and 14% of patients from groups 1 and 2 respectively. Serum magnesium levels were below normal in 55% of patients from group 1, and in 28% from group 2. Serum albumin and cholesterol levels increased significantly during the post-transplant period in the total sample (P = 0.0001). There was also a significant increase in body mass index (P = 0.0001) during the post-transplant period. Conclusions. Several nutritional abnormalities were observed, which primarily reflect the side-effects of immunosuppressive therapy. The causes, consequences and treatment of the vitamin B6 and vitamin C deficiencies in renal transplant recipients need further investigation.Publisher’s versio

Legal and regulatory responses

Covid-19 pandemic posed a unique challenge to legislatures and executives worldwide, necessitating the development of new regulations. This chapter evaluates South Africa’s legal and regulatory response to Covid-19 against the values enshrined in section 1 of the Constitution. It considers the options for managing the pandemic provided by the Constitution and ordinary legislation and evaluates the impact of the choice of the Disaster Management Act. Covid-19 has had a profound impact on and challenged the maintenance of human rights. The chapter reviews issues around human rights and governance within the legal framework, as well as the ethical guidelines that should frame responses to a pandemic. It examines how consideration of the country’s constitutional and democratic norms, values, and safeguards (e.g., the rule of law, freedom of expression, and human dignity) were affected with respect to the right to healthcare, education, a safe environment, and the like during the management of the pandemic. Rather than analysing specific regulations in detail, the chapter focuses on three macro issues: the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of expression. The aim is to provide a broad framework and set out principles with which the law must comply during emergency situations.This chapter 3.1 is published in the first edition of South Africa Covid-19 country report in June 2021.https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202206/sa-covid-19-reporta.pd