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It is evident from movies and social media discussions that coping mechanisms are conceived as a common lifestyle. However, coping mechanism is much more than a lifestyle to migrants, given that they also see it as a survival mechanism. In spite of this, not much scholarly attention has been devoted to migrant’s use of coping mechanisms. Through the purposive sampling technique, this paper attempts to examine the theme of coping mechanisms of immigrants using Nigerian immigrant women in Durban as a case study vis-à-vis their relevance to adaptation in foreign land. The study employs the intersectionality theory to capture the experience of Nigerian women. The findings show that the Nigerian immigrant women in Durban have experimented with a number of coping techniques at the individual and group levels. These range from learning the indigenous language to acquiring new skills that will help them extend social networks through utilising social support schemes and any other identified virtue from immigrant home culture. The paper concludes that their challenges stem from navigating the complexities of two spatial worldviews (those of their host country and those of their homeland), which also impacts how they adapt to these complexities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid urbanization and migration to cities, particularly in developing nations, the focus and emphasis on city governance, politics, institutional capacity, and sustainability issues have become paramount in critical analyses and policy discussions. This paper examines the functional complexities of two large Municipalities in two port cities located in South Africa and India, specifically eThekwini (the city of Durban in the province of KwaZulu-Natal) and Cochin (in the state of Kerala). Following a brief overview of the characteristics of the two Municipalities, the paper delves into the system of governance, level of autonomy, participatory structures in place, the extent to which they can respond to the service delivery demands of the public in an inclusive manner, and approaches to addressing climate change concerns. The paper is contextualised with reference to the theoretical concept of the Right to the City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors presented a poster at the International Life Saving Foundation's World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2019 in Durban, South Africa titled, "Finding an Aquatic Voice," that was the basis for this article. The conference theme was "Growing Global Drowning Prevention Capacity," and the aim of our poster's contribution to the conference was to explore internal reasons for the variable capacity of water-wary persons to engage in water experiences which often manifest as a "water entry and exit conundrum." The paper provides critical decision points associated with these issues to encourage further reflective practice by aquatic professionals. The poster triggered interest from a wide range of aquatic professionals. The paper intends to generate support for vulnerable persons and their instructors as a silent manifesto on the pool deck. A need for tools to create support for autotelic approaches has not been explored before and this paper starts to lay out a scientific case for why it matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deprivation, poverty, inequality, forced displacement, psychological harm, lack of public participation in planning and benign neglect are examples of structural violence in cities. In the case of benign neglect, public facilities are deliberately neglected in terms of maintenance and provision of basic facilities—a form of 'slow violence'. Drawing from qualitative data sources that included participant observation, consultations with legal advisors and court hearings, this paper analyses the different forms of structural violence that were used in early 2009 in the city of Durban to try to replace the century old Early Morning Warwick Market which catered for the poor working class, with a mall. The Municipality's participatory and consultative approach to upgrade the Warwick Avenue Triangle in the first democratic decade (1994–2004) is contrasted with the subversion of participatory planning in the second democratic decade (2004–2014), as Durban prepared for FIFA 2010. The mall development would have resulted in the loss of an important part of Durban's history, heritage and culture. A key contention of this paper is that the fatally flawed neoliberal planning fiasco in Warwick Avenue was driven by a top-down process which favoured private corporate interests. The mall project was presented as a public–private partnership. However, in such partnerships local democracy is compromised as the fiscal prospects of local governments become dependent on the business decisions of the private sector. There were serious contradictions evident in the juxtaposition of large-scale public-private partnerships such as the mall, and the threats to displace low-income traders, a process which David Harvey called 'accumulation by dispossession'. The historical and political processes of accumulated and incremental neglect and stigma which encapsulate 'slow violence' contributed to the decay and decline of the Early Morning Market. Attempts to displace traders and replace the market with a mall was basically a political decision, aided and abetted by some senior members in the ruling ANC government hierarchy—a shameful period in Durban's democratic history. The threats to displace the traders in the Early Morning Market was a form of structural violence, which was reminiscent of the apartheid era. The structural violence of apartheid-capitalism continues at the level of outcomes (non-participation and displacement) even under a changed political structure (democracy), as the ANC government pursues a neoliberal agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite renewed interest in urban planning since the 1990s, the empirical focus has predominantly been on cities along the Atlantic Rim, with limited scholarly attention placed on African, Asian and Latin American cities. An examination of contemporary discourse and practices of urban placemaking reveals a worrying trend where concerns for, and interventions in, the interests of social equity are losing relevance, with almost no focus on placemaking efforts for the most vulnerable urban groups. While much has been written about urban placemaking and about responses to homelessness, not enough empirical attention has been focused on the intersection between the two. In attempting to fill this gap in the placemaking literature, the paper draws on the authors' experiences of spontaneous and frugal institutional placemaking at the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre, a space dedicated to providing opioid substitution therapy to Durban's drug using population since the COVID-19 lockdown. The paper suggests what placemaking for the marginalized could and should look like, emphasizing the importance of creating public spaces of dignity, while engaging meaningfully with a group of diverse stakeholders and neighbours. The importance of having a place that resembles "home" for homeless people with an opioid use disorder, and their re-humanization as a result, is core to the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre. Equally important is how this public space has transformed narratives within the broader urban community regarding homelessness and drug use, making it a potentially replicable model for critical placemaking globally. This is revealed through interviews with beneficiaries, and observational research that focuses on how the space is used. In telling the story of the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre, we invite a rethinking of traditional notions of placemaking, fostering a re-grounding of common understandings around what it means to make vibrant and truly accessible urban places. In so doing, we call for south–north learnings about using common space to enhance public safety and public health, concurrently demonstrating the interconnectivity of urban dwellers across social divides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the spatio-temporal patterns of household crimes in Durban, South Africa, using precinct-level population and decadal crime data for burglary and robbery at residential areas and Malicious Damage to Property (MDP) in the Municipality. Crime rates and Moran I statistic were computed for the precincts, while maps depicted spatio-temporal variations in the crimescape. While the rates of MDP (−7.5%) and robbery (−4.2%) reduced, burglary (5.0%) escalated across many neighbourhoods. Both robbery and MDP showed significant spatial dependence. The momentum for crime appears to have shifted to the sparsely populated suburbs, with implications for future policies and crime-fighting strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worker hostels and student residences are an important point of entry for many poor rural–urban migrants into the city of Durban. This paper brings together and reports on the findings of research conducted in two separate studies, one with hostels (KwaMashu and Thokoza) and the other at the student residences of Durban University of Technology. Hostels and institutions of higher education in KwaZulu-Natal are used as vantage points through which we understand some of the key connections, interconnections, disconnections and reconnections that are taking place in contemporary housing in South African cities. The concept of a bed-space is key for both migrants and students and informs the analysis undertaken in this paper. We also highlight the importance of the lived experiences of migrants (both students and workers) and all the connotations embedded therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unemployment remains a major development problem in many countries. In developing countries, such as South Africa, unemployment has increased alongside poverty and inequality levels. For governments and development stakeholders, unemployment remains a key policy concern. Evidently, youth is the main victim of unemployment, particularly in townships and rural areas. Drawing from the lenses of the classical and Keynesian perspectives, this paper critically analyses the nature of youth unemployment in Cato Manor Township, Durban, South Africa. A qualitative research approach was adopted to elicit data. Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observation were conducted among the youth aged 18 to 34 years. The results indicate that job scarcity in the labour market, lack of relevant skills and qualifications, lack of relevant previous work experience, corruption, and nepotism are among the key factors sustaining youth's vulnerability to unemployment in townships like Cato Manor. This paper concludes that youth unemployment in Cato Manor is "involuntary." These results call for cooperation between key stakeholders to address fundamental causes of youth unemployment, including the problem of skills shortages among the township youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In essence, globalisation has brought together the nation-states and societies with more interaction among the masses. In a way, there has to be economic egalitarianism, social freedom and coexistence besides political democracy without discrimination of religion, caste, creed and colour. This is the essence of the UN Charter and subsequent global covenants for securing and protecting human rights. Unlike their paper existence, the practical trends are different at the global level. In last few decades, millions of human beings have suffered crimes against humanity based on racial discrimination, gender inequality, caste system and above all discrimination on religious basis. Racism is the state of approval that features and capabilities can be ascribed to people simply based on their caste, creed and racial grouping. Besides, it is an acceptance that, some races are superior to other races and so on. This powerful tool has been used since centuries for instilling the element of fear and hate for others during peace and war. This research aims to analyse the worldwide trends of racial discrimination as a challenge to the global governance system while analysing the myopic response from the international community. These evidences are evaluated in the light of religious texts paving way for a dialogue-based approach recommended to confront the realities of racism in our society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One significant component of the South African citizenship narrative is centred around the right to basic services and corresponding elements, including dignity and a healthy living environment. This paper employs the concept of infrastructural citizenship, which draws on both infrastructure and citizenship discourses to explore how participants experience and challenge public infrastructure and as such engage with questions surrounding citizenship on an everyday basis (Lemanski, 2019a). Adopting a gendered approach, this paper draws on the empirical case of Quarry Road West, an informal settlement located in Durban, and uses a qualitative methodology. Residents have access to Community Ablution Blocks, free shared sanitation facilities provided by the eThekwini Municipality. This paper argues that restricted access to the facilities undermines perceptions of privacy and health and negatively impacts women individually and in the community. Furthermore, this paper evaluates civic responses to inadequate infrastructure in the form of participation, protest and state-directed actions. As such, it examines how women-state relationships are embedded in public infrastructure, and limitations in regards to infrastructure shape interactions and engagements with the state, their experiences of citizenship, actualisation of rights and identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization has accelerated competition and exposed regions, localities, and firms and forced them to adapt to changing economic circumstances and conditions. More recently, researchers have become more interested in food as an essential element of Local Economic Development (LED). Even though LED has previously been focused on increasing production in industries such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing, etc., food tourism has been identified as a niche economic driver. A sample of 149 respondents made up of 82 women and 67 men were randomly selected for the study. Frequency analyses were used to present the sample and dimensions in focus. Significant differences were tested using independent sample t-tests and ANOVA. The results show that eating food is not just what we enjoy but it is a medium of cultural exchange and experience. The use of food tourism LED is based on its role in driving the destinations' competitiveness. For domestic and international tourists, the presence and availability of food fulfill a cultural and emotional gap. Food builds stronger bonds between people and countries and offers an important setting to enhance investment and trade ties. Food has a multiplier effect, which adds value to the local economy by rejuvenating the economic fortunes of the local economy. Food as a tool for economic development presents a fascinating idea about identity, everyday life, and pleasure since it bears a symbolic meaning which determines the destination's attributes and the overall distinct attractiveness. Therefore, certain spaces and assets for tourism development are required as preconditions for successful tourism-LED development. The paper concludes that food tourism has accelerated the growth of investment in events, conferences, and meetings in Durban. However, more scholarly and rigorous research is needed to untangle questions about local economic development and the consumption of local food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monumentalization of public space has received significant scholarly attention both globally and locally. In the South African context, this interest has been further heightened by the #Rhodes Must Fall campaign in 2015, which raised questions about the relevance of colonial statues in the post-transformation era. This campaign sparked extensive debates regarding monumentalization within the country's cultural landscape. Against this backdrop, the present empirical study aims to contribute to these discussions by examining the role of monuments, particularly their spatial characteristics, in shaping processes of memory and identity reconstruction within urban public spaces. The study employed cultural mapping techniques, including participatory GIS (PGIS) and semi-structured interviews, to generate data in the areas of Chatsworth and Durban Central. Additionally, the study draws upon Henri Lefebvre's (1974) conceptualizations of monuments and Proshansky's (1983) place-identity theory to explore the constitutive relationship between the spatiality of monuments and embodied memories in the production of spatial identities. The empirical findings of the study affirm monuments as sites for negotiating spatial identities, acknowledging the diversity and multiplicity of memories and identities that emerged. Furthermore, the study highlights the significance of the spatial context of monuments, including dimensions such as aesthetic appeal, geographic prominence, positionality, and discernibility, in influencing the symbolic value of monuments in memory-making and identity formation processes. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the importance of reconfiguring the spatial context of monuments to ensure their efficacy in processes of memorialization and identity reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and reliable informal settlement maps are fundamental decision-making tools for planning, and for expediting informed management of cities. However, extraction of spatial information for informal settlements has remained a mammoth task due to the spatial heterogeneity of urban landscape components, requiring complex analytical processes. To date, the use of Google Earth Engine platform (GEE), with cloud computing prowess, provides unique opportunities to map informal settlements with precision and enhanced accuracy. This paper leverages cloud-based computing techniques within GEE to integrate spectral and textural features for accurate extraction of the location and spatial extent of informal settlements in Durban, South Africa. The paper aims to investigate the potential and advantages of GEE's innovative image processing techniques to precisely depict morphologically varied informal settlements. Seven data input models derived from Sentinel 2A bands, band-derived texture metrics, and spectral indices were investigated through a random forest supervised protocol. The main objective was to explore the value of different data input combinations in accurately mapping informal settlements. The results revealed that the classification based on spectral bands + textural information yielded the highest informal settlement identification accuracy (94% F-score). The addition of spectral indices decreased mapping accuracy. Our results confirm that the highest spatial accuracy is achieved with the 'textural features' model, which yielded the lowest root-mean-square log error (0.51) and mean absolute percent error (0.36). Our approach highlights the capability of GEE's complex integrative data processing capabilities in extracting morphological variations of informal settlements in rugged and heterogeneous urban landscapes, with reliable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megaprojects transform urban landscapes in many cities around the world and take the form of large development projects such as railways, bridges, ports, dams, shopping malls and iconic skyscrapers. For cities, megaprojects act as marketing and branding strategies, promoting a neoliberal quest to be internationally competitive as spaces of investment and consumption. Durban, like other cities, has also developed various megaprojects following the shift towards neoliberal urban development strategies. However, the benefits of megaprojects are increasingly being questioned; a large body of literature suggests that their benefits tend to be overestimated, while negative impacts and costs are underestimated. This paper contributes to this literature by examining the case of the proposed dig-out port in Durban. We argue that the planning process reveals that the project is likely to follow the "megaproject syndrome", resulting in negative socio-spatial impacts. We contend that the proposed dig-out port and other megaprojects in Durban reflect the neoliberal and entrepreneurial urban development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absence marginalisation and lack of recognition of the role of stokvels in the official economic plans and policies of the municipality was therefore the problem that this paper sought to explore. Simple random method was adopted on 395 stokvel group's members who were administered with a questionnaire and the purposive sampling method on 6 MC members of eThekwini Municipality that participated in the interviews. The qualitative data was analysed using N-VIVO (version 11.0). The quantitative data was analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Money saving & investment, job creation and promoting business opportunities are the most prevalent of the economic contribution factors of stokvels. EM needs to pioneer the amendment of the current policy inclusive of the informal economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the adequacy of a USEPA Method 1613 alternative analytical method for analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil from the immediate vicinity of industrialized areas in the eThekwini municipal area in South Africa. The objective of this study is in line with the Stockholm Convention Article 11 on research, development, and monitoring. Furthermore, it became imperative to find an alternative analytical procedure to USEPA Method 1613 that could cater to studies conducted in Africa where recent reviews have indicated that most African countries lack the technical and instrumental capacity for performing analysis of dioxin‐like compounds according to USEPA Method 1613, which entails the use of high‐resolution chromatography and high‐resolution mass spectrometry instrumentation. The study aimed to ascertain the utility of an alternative two‐dimensional gas chromatography‐time of flight mass spectrometry method for analysis of trace‐level priority POPs in soil, along with a fast single quadrupole gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry method. The analytical methods were applied to the analysis of POPs on soil samples from industrial areas with oil refineries and a pulp and paper manufacturing company, while other samples were collected near the electricity substations and a landfill site. Analytical results showed BDE 209 as the dominant contaminating polybrominated diphenyl ether (concentration ranges from 0.006 to 5.71 ng g−1). Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) 9, 10, and 49 were the dominant PBBs detected in 78% of the sites tested, although their concentrations were below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and furans and dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls detected could not be quantified above their respective LOQs, indicating that the Durban area has low priority pollutant contamination levels compared to other regions around the world. The methods developed are a starting point that will inform considerations for routine evaluation and management of soil contamination, which plays a vital role in environmental management. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:749–762. © 2022 SETAC Key Points: With limits of quantification of dioxin‐like PCBs ranging from 2.12 to 7.83 pg g−1 and non‐octa‐PCD/Fs ranging from 10 to 41.67 pg g−1, the alternative GC × GC‐TOF method can be used to quantify significantly high concentrations of priority pollutants from the environment and other sample matrices.The alternative GC × GC‐TOF method can enable developing countries to comply with the Stockholm Convention articles, develop sound local environmental management policies, and implement strong regulations of both local and international environmental laws.This study provides a framework for African countries to achieve and build local capacity and competence in dioxin‐like compound analysis, and shift from a reliance on developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graduate unemployment is one of the major socio-economic development problems in South Africa and many other developing countries. Previous research has described various factors causing graduate unemployment, one of which is a lack of relevant work experience. Internships are increasingly supported to address this problem. However, internships have been criticised for being exploitative, illegal, and unjust. This paper seeks to present a new perspective on internships. It seeks to examine the perspectives on the impact of stipend level on graduate intern work productivity. Thus, the objectives of this study are to: explore the impact of stipend level on the work productivity of graduate interns; explore the exploitative nature of internship as perceived by participants; and explore the concerns of graduate interns over compensation. This study is qualitative and exploratory in nature. Fifty semi-structured interviews were conducted with interns, mentors, and HR managers at eThekwini municipality, Durban, South Africa, to address these research objectives. Data from interviews was analysed through thematic analysis. The results indicate that there is a relationship between the level of stipend earned by interns and their work productivity. This study found that low pay is associated with low work productivity. Therefore, work compensation is the primary motivator of productivity, not only for full-time employees but also for graduate interns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the performance of three competing corridors serving landlocked SADC countries (Beira, Dar es Salaam, and Durban) based on total economic cost from the perspective of transporters, retailers, and manufacturers. The motivation for the research is the paradox that, while Beira is closest to the hinterland served by these corridors, it attracts the least cargo. Historical research compares corridors in terms of both direct costs and time delays, but without translating time delays and variability in time delays into the economic costs experienced by corridor users. Unpredictable time delays reduce the competitiveness of cargo owners forming part of global just-in-time value chains. Our novel TEC model includes direct costs and the cost impact of delays and variability in delays and quantifies the relative contributions of ports, border posts, and road travel. The Port's efficiency proved to be the biggest differentiator between these corridors, followed by border posts and road links. We found that while the Beira corridor has the lowest cost if only average travel time is considered, the Durban corridor proves to be the most competitive when variability in time delays is also considered, explaining why Durban enjoys the largest share of cargo transported to the landlocked hinterland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shark incidents are rare and graphic events, and their consequences can influence the behavior of beach users, including bathers, to a great extent. These incidents can be thought of as a fearsome risk that may lead decision makers to overreact or respond with inaction. This paper examines the reaction of recreational beach users, including bathers, to changes in the risk of shark incidents. In addition to valuing recreational visits to Durban Beach, South Africa, we study the reaction of beach visitors to a hypothetical scenario in which protective shark nets, deployed in coastal waters to protect bathers, are to be removed. To examine potential heterogeneity of the treatment effect in a travel cost‐contingent behavior model, we develop a semiparametric multivariate Poisson lognormal (MPLN) model to jointly analyze observed and stated visit counts. Results show that removing protective shark nets at Durban beach would decrease recreational visits by more than 20%. Applying the semiparametric MPLN model we further find that both the value of a recreational visit and the predicted change in visitation rates vary as a function of whether recreationists usually enter the water, whether they have heard of previous shark incidents, and their general risk attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic drug use is a growing problem in South African urban spaces. In Durban, as in other cities in the country, the dominant response of the capital-oriented Municipality has been to make drug use invisible through prohibition and a promotion of abstinence approaches. This governance mentality and technology has failed dismally, evidenced in the rise of street-level heroin use. During the COVID-19 hard lockdown, the municipality was forced to re-examine its governance approach to drug use, taking guidance from non-state actors in an attempt to more effectively reduce the harms associated with drug use. In tracing the historical contestations around street-level drug use in Durban, this paper shares the untold story of how, when prompted by an unforeseen crisis, a municipality was able to successfully shift its mentality and technology in governing street-level drug use. Drawing conceptually on nodal governance theory and the quadruple helix approach, it reveals the complexities of urban governance processes and demonstrates the power of political opportunities, the transformative role of unexpected consequences, and the importance of informed political leadership. It also shows how multi-stakeholder partnership projects can be a useful mechanism not only to implement innovative and creative policy goals, but also to build robust relationships to navigate the manifestation of informal urbanism. It also calls for governing through harm minimisation rather than through actuarial risk management approaches that are closely associated with a neoliberal agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the notion of the 'counter-city', which has emerged through processes of 'countering' within the framework of 'third space', in Durban, South Africa. Countering represents alternate conceptualizations and practices of urban processes to those of dominant northern discourse. Durban transitioned from a colonial and apartheid city, based on social separation, inequality, and differential service provision in the 20th century, to one that is now grappling with its apartheid legacy, informality and poverty, contested governance, environmental risk, and civil unrest, whilst simultaneously negotiating its way as an incipient global city. Durban's municipal, research, civic and NGO actions challenge urban scholars to rethink the notion of the post-metropolis and what the counter-city means in this context. This rethinking is reflected in counter moves, that not only resist hegemonic formations, but seek to blend policy and programme development to provide voice to the poor, address precarity, and ensure climate resilience and economic competitiveness. Drawing on the analysis of selected interventions, we argue that the experience of Durban provides insight into the complex nature of urban development. It outlines how a city is attempting to negotiate its future, through processes of countering, which sheds light on alternate conceptualisations of what 'urban' life, well-being, and governance mean in a 'counter-city'. • This paper seeks to advance the case to de-centre hegemonic urban theory arguments. • Durban, South Africa, through its hybridity, is presented as an evolving 'counter-city'. • Processes of 'countering' shape development engagement and outcomes to produce new conceptualisations of the urban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformative adaptation (TA) places emphasis on changing the underlying causes of climate risk. Little is known about how TA can be achieved in practice in southern African cities. This paper reports on a set of criteria, derived from the literature and transdisciplinary engagements, for taking TA from theory into practice. These are: fundamental/sustainable changes in thinking and doing; inclusivity; challenging power asymmetries; demonstrability; responsive and flexible; and holistic, complex systems thinking. These criteria were explored through five water-related projects in Durban (South Africa) and Harare (Zimbabwe), which were identified by actors as having transformative potential to reduce urban climate risks. The study suggests that trade-offs might need to be made between several of these criteria, with strong synergies between others. Challenging power asymmetries is important in southern African cities where adaptation should change the structures of society that give rise to highly differential climate vulnerabilities. Challenging power structures largely requires true inclusivity and an equal stake in shaping decisions as opposed to tokenistic participation. While TA is needed in southern African cities, the complexity of these contexts and the scale of TA ambition introduces practical challenges when compared with incremental adaptation, i.e. small changes to existing practices to reduce climate impacts within the current development paradigm. Given such practical limitations, the paper concludes that TA in southern African cities might pragmatically be attempted as part of a process of ongoing learning to identify opportunities for gradual restructuring and expanding, in scale and ambition towards transformation. • Incremental adaptation achieves demonstrable results quickly. • Transformative adaptation needs to expand activities gradually in scope and scale. • Trade-offs exist at points along the incremental-transformative continuum. • Greater inclusivity in transformative adaptation introduces governance challenges. • Going beyond incremental adaptation requires challenging power asymmetries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are limited data on the experiences of children being treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), and most work in the area has been done with older children and adolescents. Comprehensive explorations of the caregiver experiences in this area are also lacking. Objective: To describe the experiences of being treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis of children and their caregivers. Methods: This was a qualitative study done using focus group discussions (FGDs) among three different groups of participants: 1) health care providers involved in the care of children being treated for DR-TB (including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists)—herein referred to as providers; 2) household caregivers of children being treated for DR-TB—herein referred to as caregivers; and 3) children who were being treated for DR-TB—herein referred to as children. The population was a convenience sample and included children hospitalized between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2020, ages 0–14 years old, as well as their caregivers and providers. Focus group transcripts and notes were analysed using a thematic network analysis based in grounded theory The analysis was iterative and the coding system developed focused on "stressful experiences" as well as ways to address them along the diagnostic and treatment journey. This paper follows the COREQ guidelines. Results: 16 children between the ages 7 and 14 years participated in 5 FGDs, 30 caregivers participated in 7 FGDs, and 12 providers participated in 3 FDGs. Data from the children and the caregivers were the focus of this analysis, although some themes were informed by the discussions with the providers as well. In general, it was reported that for a child diagnosed with DR-TB, there is a lived experience of stress that impacts their physical, mental, and social well-being. These pediatric patients and their families therefore develop strategies for coping with these disruptions to their lives. In general, there were major disruptive experiences that resulted from the process around receiving a diagnosis of DR-TB and second distinct set of stressful experiences that occurred during the treatment of DR-TB once the diagnosis had been made. These stresses occur in the physical, mental, and social realms, and families develop multiple strategies to cope with them, demonstrating resilience in the face of this disease. Conclusion: Addressing the stresses experienced by children and their caregivers through child-friendly DR-TB testing, treatment, and counseling is not only essential for ending TB but also for enacting a human-rights based approach to child health in general. Children with DR-TB are a vulnerable population, and they have often been the last to benefit from advances in general pediatric care and in DR-TB care more specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sappi Saiccor mill in Umkomaas, KwaZulu Natal (KZN) Province, is a global pulp producer. It is also a major emitter of noxious substances in the heavily polluted and historically marginalised South Durban area. Taking a qualitative, narrative approach, this paper examines Saiccor's legacy of contamination, community opposition to the mill, and responses of state actors responsible for governing industrial risk. Through a conceptual framework combining theories around participatory environmental governance, legitimacy and state capture, the article explores the extent to which measures deployed by/on behalf of the Sappi Saiccor mill to engage with local residents and activists can be considered legitimate. The paper argues that prevalent corporate instrumentalism and a lack of political will continue to undermine the legitimacy of community engagement processes, which remain characterised by mistrust. It concludes the South African state cannot be relied upon to support genuinely inclusive, deliberative, empowering and reflexive governance practices. It is therefore left to organised civil society to force discourse beyond hegemonic, ecologically-modernised, technocentric ideals, and to bring issues of power, agency, and social justice to the fore of public and policy debate. The way might then be paved for strong political leadership committed to transparent, equitable environmental governance processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increasing scholarly focus on inter-city policy mobilities there has been insufficient emphasis on understanding the role of municipal institutional factors in enabling global policy translation. This paper argues that the value of knowledge management vehicles in city-to-city learning and 'knowledge-sharing enablers' deserves prominence. The author employs autoethnography as a method of qualitative inquiry, chronicling Durban's Municipal Institute of Learning's establishment, successes and challenges through changing institutional landscapes. In a context where rapid urbanisation has African planners looking to learn from other cities, the story offers both useful lessons in knowledge exchange practice and opportunities for critical scholarly reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the steady-state dynamic radial expansion of a pressurized circular cylindrical cavity in an infinite porous medium modeled with the constitutive framework developed by Monchiet et al. (Int J Plast 24:1158–1189, 2008), which considers the material to display a periodic porous microstructure with spheroidal voids and matrix described by the orthotropic yield criterion of Hill (Proc R Soc Lond Ser A Math Phys Sci 193:281–297, 1948). For that purpose, we have extended the formulation of dos Santos et al. (Int J Impact Eng 132:103325, 2019b) to consider oblate and prolate voids, which allows to assess the role of the initial voids shape on the elastoplastic–anisotropic fields that develop near the cavity. The theoretical development follows the cavity expansion formalism of Cohen and Durban (J Appl Mech 80:011017, 2013) and employs the artificial viscosity approach of Lew et al. (J Comput Aided Mater Des 8:213–231, 2001) to avoid singularities in the field variables due to the formation of plastic shock waves. The main outcome of this work is a relationship between the critical cavity expansion velocity for which plastic shocks emerge and the initial aspect ratio of the spheroidal voids. The results show that the formation of shocks is delayed for oblate voids, in comparison with spherical and prolate voids. These findings have been substantiated for different anisotropic behaviors and initial void volume fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of large and growing urban populations, there is a pressing need to understand how the urban environment can be sustainably planned, developed and maintained for greatest benefit to people and nature. The use of 'green infrastructure', as a framing approach for integrating urban green space into urban decision-making claims significant international impact. This paper describes key urban environmental policy narratives of five different urban areas (Cape Town, Durban (eThekwini) and Johannesburg in South Africa and Birmingham and London in the UK) reflecting on the way that they have brought green infrastructure concepts into their decision-making. This multi-method study includes analysis of academic papers, technical reports and policy documents and semi-structured interviews with academics, practitioners (planners, engineers, environmental consultants), policy-makers and local community actors. This work has highlighted significant differences in the explicit use of urban green infrastructure as a framing within environmental policy, shaped by the mix of biophysical, social and economic factors that dominate the policy priorities of each city. It adds to a growing evidence base from research and practice aimed at supporting effective urban environmental policymaking. • Exploring 'green infrastructure' as a framing in urban environmental policy. • Focussed case studies on Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Birmingham and London. • Cities adapt green infrastructure as a term and as an approach to fit their own needs. • Differences in interpretation are shaped by the wider policy priorities of each city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug overdoses occur when the amount of drug or combination of drugs consumed is toxic and negatively affects physiological functioning. Opioid overdoses are responsible for the majority of overdose deaths worldwide. Naloxone is a safe, fast-acting opioid antagonist that can reverse an opioid overdose, and as such, it should be a critical component of community-based responses to opioid overdose. However, the burden of drug overdose deaths remains unquantified in South Africa, and both knowledge about and access to naloxone is generally poor. The objective of this study was to describe the experiences of overdose, knowledge of responses to overdose events, and willingness to call emergency medical services in response to overdose among people who use drugs in Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria (South Africa). Methods: We used convenience sampling to select people who use drugs accessing harm reduction services for this cross-sectional survey from March to July 2019. Participants completed an interviewer-administered survey, assessing selected socio-demographic characteristics, experiences of overdose among respondents and their peers, knowledge about naloxone and comfort in different overdose responses. Data, collected on paper-based tools, were analysed using descriptive statistics and categorised by city. Results: Sixty-six participants participated in the study. The median age was 31, and most (77%) of the respondents were male. Forty-one per cent of the respondents were homeless. Heroin was the most commonly used drug (79%), and 82% of participants used drugs daily. Overall, 38% (25/66) reported overdosing in the past year. Most (76%, 50/66) knew at least one person who had ever experienced an overdose, and a total of 106 overdose events in peers were reported. Most participants (64%, 42/66) had not heard of naloxone, but once described to them, 73% (48/66) felt comfortable to carry it. More than two-thirds (68%, 45/66) felt they would phone for medical assistance if they witnessed an overdose. Conclusion: Drug overdose was common among participants in these cities. Without interventions, high overdose-related morbidity and mortality is likely to occur in these contexts. Increased awareness of actions to undertake in response to an overdose (calling for medical assistance, using naloxone) and access to naloxone are urgently required in these cities. Additional data are needed to better understand the nature of overdose in South Africa to inform policy and responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explored perceptions of the Durban community towards immigrants' contribution to the economy. Using purposive and snowball sampling, the study applied a cross-sectional research design in which it made use of the qualitative methodology. A sample of 20 South Africans who had been working with Zimbabweans in the Durban CBD for a minimum of five years, aged between 20-60 years, were considered for this study. The study made use of in-depth interviews as a research technique. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and form categories of responses. Mixed feelings were shown towards immigrants' contribution to the development of Durban, as all participants reported that immigrants in Durban are too many and there is no need for the government to allow more immigrants to come. Competition for jobs and service delivery are the main sources of conflict between immigrants and locals. The findings of this study show that immigrants are not the main contributors to crime in Durban, but they are involved in some criminal activities. As such, locals perceive the immigration laws of South Africa as not fully helping in controlling the influx of immigrants. This study recommends government, society leaders and politicians to value diversity, thus influencing community members to accept and work with immigrants peacefully. In addition, this study also recommends the need for the Department of Home Affairs to control the influx of undocumented immigrants, thereby reducing the number of immigrants on the streets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A high prevalence of disrespectful and abusive behaviour by health workers towards women during labour and delivery has been widely described in health facilities, particularly in Africa, and is a worldwide public health concern. Such behaviours are barriers to care-seeking, and are associated with adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns. This paper reports experiences of disrespectful care among informal working women in three public health facilities in Durban, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative longitudinal study was conducted among a cohort of informal working women recruited during pregnancy in two clinics in Durban. The study comprised a series of in-depth interviews conducted at different time points from pregnancy until mothers had returned to work, followed by focus group discussions (FGDs) with cohort participants. We present data from participatory FGDs, known as 'Journey with my Baby', conducted at the end of the study, during which women's experiences from pregnancy until returning to work were reviewed and explored. Thematic analysis was used with NVIVO v12.4. Results: Three 'Journey with my Baby' FGDs were conducted with a total of 15 participants between March and October 2019. Many participants narrated experiences of disrespectful behavior from nurses during labour and childbirth, with several women becoming very distressed as a result. Women described experiencing rudeness and verbal abuse from nurses, lack of privacy and confidentiality, nurses refusing to provide care, being denied companionship and being left unattended for long periods during labour. Women described feeling anxious and unsafe while in the labour ward because of the behaviour they experienced directly and observed other patients experiencing. Such experiences created bad reputations for health facilities, so that women in the local community were reluctant to attend some facilities. Conclusion: Disrespect and abuse continues to be a serious concern in public health facilities in South Africa. We challenge the health system to effectively address the underlying causes of disrespectful behavior among health workers, initiate robust monitoring to identify abusive behavior when it occurs, and take appropriate actions to ensure accountability so that women receive the high-quality maternity care they deserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the perceptions of Maskandi on violent crime in KwaMashu, a crime hotspot in Durban, South Africa. Music plays an essential role in critiquing social ills. A qualitative approach located within the constructivist paradigm was adopted. We selected four songs to explore the socio-economic and mental health implications of violent crime. These were analysed using Critical Discourse Analysis. Three artists; Malahle, Majotha and Mthandiwenyama were selected because of their songs' relevance to the topic. A proliferation of unlicensed firearms, high rate of sexual partner exchange and sheer criminality were the frontline causes of killings. Families of the victims of hostel killings were affected differently. Children bore the brunt of hostel killings. Victims required psychosocial support to cope with the stresses emanating from brutal killings. Interventions incorporating various stakeholders should be developed to curb criminality and mitigate the consequences of such crimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owning property is an aspiration for many people living in South Africa. The belief that private ownership is a stepping-stone towards material and financial wealth is dominant in South African housing policy. While property ownership may lead to better living conditions and the accrual of wealth, it can also lead to exclusion, dispossession, and displacement for many low-income families. This article analyses the socio-economic, and built environment consequences, of privatising a municipal social housing block, Flamingo Court, located in the city of Durban. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative studies in Flamingo Court, we show that the impact of private ownership for the residents has proved more of a curse than a blessing. There are also unexpected costs to the state in privatising social housing units. The paper argues that low-income beneficiaries of privatised former social housing cannot always afford the costs of maintaining communal spaces or the dwelling units that come with private ownership. This results in deterioration of the building infrastructure, communal finance and governance of the apartment block, and ultimately places residents' security of tenure at risk. Flamingo Court offers an important case study for thinking through some of the hidden costs of ownership for sectional title blocks in the urban core and how and why ownership does not always translate to improved economic or social benefits, countering the current South African policy objective of upliftment and empowerment through the provision of housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a paucity of scholarship examining the situated vulnerabilities of young women refugees who are either born in (second generation) or young children/adolescents on arrival in their host country ("1.5 generation") and how these may impact intergenerational vulnerability or resilience. Based on qualitative research carried out in eThekwini (formerly known as Durban), South Africa amongst young women refugees (18–24 years) we highlight the issue of "inherited vulnerability", examining how vulnerabilities can be transmitted across the refugee generations due to legal, economic and social structures which produce and maintain situations of inequality, rendering young women vulnerable to violence, exploitation and negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Ending the legal limbo in which they live and ensuring access to education and employment opportunities would help break the cycle of intergenerational precarity and support resilience of these young women as they transition to adulthood in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the findings of a qualitative study conducted in 2018 in five schools (three primary and two secondary schools) in a rural community in the south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (SA). It adopted a case study methodology and explored principals' understandings and practices of servant leadership (SL), which is assumed to be part of principals' leadership approaches. A review of literature suggested a dearth of empirical studies in this area in SA despite its importance. The findings indicate that close to three decades since SA became a democratic country, research suggests that the notion and values of putting people first has not taken root. The findings also suggest that principals have a limited understanding of the concept of accountability as an inextricable component of SL. Consequently, accountability to external bodies is prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment is a critical part of the climate change problem in cities, and urban buildings can act as a scaled response to mitigating anthropogenic climate change. Buildings last for well beyond a hundred years and thus have the potential to provide cities with a healthier and safer environment for urban dwellers well into the future. The role of the building sector toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is now better understood, and has resulted in various initiatives globally to move toward being a net-zero carbon sector. The objective of this study was to provide an assessment of the costs in achieving the emissions-reduction potential for each high-emitting sector in the eThekwini Municipality (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) through the determination of a marginal abatement cost curve (MACC). The MACC was developed for 2030, 2040, and 2050 across key sectors and aligned with the approach used by the eThekwini Municipality by employing the GHG Protocol's BASIC level of reporting that excludes the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land-use (AFLOU) and Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sectors. We found that the building sector offers the lowest cost to mitigate each tonne of GHGs when compared to other sectors in the eThekwini Municipality. Several interventions within the building sector further display positive payback periods throughout its life cycle. The MACC produced in this study is the first of its kind for any municipality in South Africa and will provide insights into the net cost of interventions that would mitigate a tonne of carbon emissions. Significance: • The MACC produced in this study is the first of its kind for any municipality in South Africa. Developing a MACC adds to an important basket of factors that need to be considered when planning for future climates in cities and is of benefit in prioritising actions in addressing climate change. The MACC in this study demonstrates that energy efficiency interventions in the building sector offer substantial mitigation potential within the most feasible payback periods when compared to other sectors. • The MACC may be replicated by other municipalities, to support the prioritisation of actions needed to address climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transdisciplinary Research (TDR) fosters collaboration amongst stakeholders from different academic disciplines and sectors of society, to jointly search for solutions to complex challenges including rapid urbanization. In order to enhance collaboration and ensure reciprocity of expertize amongst stakeholders, flattening the hierarchy of power is critical for working together to develop research agendas and experiment solutions. However, context dependent research on power dynamics in TDR is still limited and yet it is one of the conditions for understanding how to optimize the value and relevance of TDR in transitions to sustainable cities. This paper sheds light on power dynamics in TDR, using a qualitative analysis of case studies in the cities of Accra (Ghana), Durban (South Africa) and Nairobi (Kenya). Learnings from the case studies suggest that researchers should not overstate expert terminologies and illuminate the controversies that stem from stark differences in their methodological domains, during interfaces with stakeholders from policy and local communities, as this can dent the societal credibility and inclusiveness of the TDR process. Secondly, it is important to seize the potential of creating joint learning platforms using micro-level solutions in informal settlements, since it empowers local community representatives to assert themselves as co-researchers with legitimate perspectives on how the research agenda can be reshaped. Local-level solutions also provide scientific and policy windows for discerning expert biases in approaches used by academics and policy-makers to presuppose what can be done about the situation of under-privileged communities, which is key in building consensus when setting the research agenda. • TDR enables scientists collaborate with societal actors to find solutions to global urbanization. • Flatter power hierarchies amongst stakeholders is a condition for optimizing the value of TDR. • Overstating expert terms and converseness in research methods can dent inclusivity in TDR. • Solutions from informal settlements empower local actors to assert themselves as co-researchers. • Research agendas that fuse scientific with societal views demonstrate flatter power hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional boundaries are a set of guidelines, expectations and rules that set the ethical and technical standards between the child and youth care workers (CYCWs) and young people. Professional boundaries are important to establish and maintain, as they assist to build the therapeutic relationship between the professional worker and client. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perspectives of CYCWs in relation to professional boundaries in residential child and youth care centres (CYCCs) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. To achieve this aim, the study was guided by a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive design. A purposive sampling technique was employed, and semi structured interviews were used to collect data from 14 CYCWs. The analysis suggests that, while CYCCs have developed professional boundaries, there remains a great need for the provision of clear rules and regulations about professional boundaries, and life-long training (in-service professional development) focused on boundaries and support from management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the majority of South African schools, maintaining discipline remains a challenge -- a situation which commands the attention of departmental officials both locally and internationally. When negative disciplinary approaches were prohibited in schools in this country, positive disciplinary measures were recommended in the form of a code of conduct for learners. In the study reported on here we examined the challenges that teachers face in using a code of conduct to maintain positive discipline among the learner cohort. The study was guided by positive discipline and democratic theories. These theories imply that discipline must be taught to learners so that they are equipped to behave appropriately and obey the school/classroom rules. Data were gathered from a total of 16 educators in 2 sampled schools in Pinetown, Durban, through semi-structured interviews, observation and document review. The findings reveal that a variety of challenges impeded the use of a learners' code of conduct, including a failure to review the document on a regular basis. The content of those codes was not widely communicated either, which meant that they remained ineffective in addressing each school's specific needs with regard to correcting misbehaviour. Based on the findings, we recommend that the Department of Basic Education raise awareness around democratic governance in schools to enhance positive discipline by means of up-to-date, enforced codes of conduct. Schools also need to encourage parents to be actively involved in their children's schooling, as a means of supporting teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clay soils are rock‐decomposed materials comprised of both clay‐ and non‐clay‐like minerals. Clays' physiochemical and mineralogical composition determines their applicability use in cosmetics. Because of their high bioburden, they must be effectively characterized before being incorporated into cosmetics. The scope of the current study was to characterize two different samples of red and white clays for their physical, chemical and biological properties; mined from Durban, South Africa. Characterization was performed using techniques like X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, hydrogen potential, soil colour, oil absorption, swelling capacity, texture, bulk density, plastic and apparent viscosity, sun protection factor and microbiological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Engineering Field Testing Platform (EFTP) was designed to provide an opportunity for technology developers (TDs) to test non-sewered sanitation prototypes in the eThekwini Municipal Area (Durban), South Africa. Between 2017 and 2020, 15 sanitation systems were tested in informal settlements, peri-urban households, and other 'real world' settings. This paper illustrates the lessons learned from establishing and managing this testing platform. Costs and timelines for testing are dependent on several factors, including the aims of testing, the development stage of the prototype, whether testing takes place in a community or household setting and if a testing site is shared between prototypes. Timelines were routinely underestimated, particularly for community engagement and commissioning of prototypes to reach steady-state operation. Personnel accounted for more than half of the EFTP's costs. The presence of the municipality as a platform partner was vital to the success of testing, both for gaining political support and for enabling access to testing sites. It is noted that working in communities, with test sites in public spaces, requires technical and social sensitivity to context. It was important to ensure testing supported future municipal decision-making on service provision, as well as longer-term development within communities. The high number of stakeholders, locally and internationally, raised management challenges common to any large project. However, the EFTP added value to TDs, the eThekwini Municipality, and communities requiring improved sanitation services; this was amplified through the platform approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the circumstances of migrants from two West African countries, namely Ghana and Nigeria, who live in the city of Durban, South Africa as a transit destination, before moving to other preferred international destinations. In an increasing global panorama of complex migration flows and routes, particularly towards Europe and more recently towards the United States of America and Canada, step-by-step migration1 has emerged as a migration strategy among African migrants as part of the transit migration process. The study explored how increasing border restrictions in Europe (a preferred destination) and the political turmoil in African countries, far from halting migratory flows, have reshaped migration routes among Nigerian and Ghanaian migrants in the period 2017 to 2018. In both their composition (students and skilled migrants) and their trajectories (including return migration to Nigeria and Ghana), preferred destinations have been reconfigured. The objective of the study was threefold and examined the following aspects: the migrants' previous destination(s); their motivations for being in South Africa and their awareness of being in =transit'; and the migrants' motivations and decision-making choices for remaining/moving to another destination(s) in the future. The study was based on a mixed methodology approach comprising indepth interviews, questionnaire and informal conversations. The triangulation of qualitative fieldwork data with quantitative survey-type questionnaire and other secondary sources enabled the verification of assertions made by the participants. The study brought to the fore that, in the process of multiple transits and/or destinations, what is considered the ultimate desired outcome for the migrants is variable and dependent on a range of external factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is faced with a high HIV and STI prevalence and incidence, respectively, with pockets of high burden areas driving these diseases. Localised monitoring of the HIV epidemic and STI endemic would enable more effective targeted prevention strategies. We assessed spatial variations in curable STI incidence among a cohort of women enrolled in HIV prevention clinical trials between 2002 and 2012. STI incidence rates from 7557 South African women enrolled in five HIV prevention trials were geo-mapped using participant household GPS coordinates. Age and period standardised incidence rates were calculated for 43 recruitment areas and Bayesian conditional autoregressive areal spatial regression (CAR) was used to identify significant patterns and spatial patterns of STI infections in recruitment communities. Overall age and period standardised STI incidence rate were estimated as 15 per 100 PY and ranged from 6 to 24 per 100 PY. We identified five significant STI high risk areas with higher-than-expected incidence of STIs located centrally (three-locations) and southern neighbouring areas of Durban (two-locations). Younger age (<25), not married/cohabitating, parity <3 and poor education were all significant correlates of high STI communities. Findings demonstrate sustained STI incidence rates across the greater Durban area. The role of STI incidence in HIV acquisition in high HIV endemic areas need to be revisited as current highly effective PrEP interventions do not protect from STI acquisition. In these settings there is an urgent need for integrative HIV and STI prevention and treatment services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After 1994, in South Africa many people saw the declaration of the previously side-lined indigenous languages as official languages as a move towards respecting and promoting indigenous languages. The main objective of this study is to assess the use of isiZulu in banking services in Durban, KwaZulu- Natal. The focus was on whether isiZulu is used as a language of communication in the banking service and to check whether consumers receive documents in the language they prefer, particularly in isiZulu. The qualitativeresearch approach was used, and the study followed a case study design. Semi- structured interviews were used to collect data, and a wealth of data was generated by thick descriptions of participant responses. The data from semi- structured interviews were recorded and decoded into categories, and the categories were reduced to thematic constructs. Twelve purposively selected participants were involved in the study. The findings revealed that even though isiZulu was incorporated into the banks’ policies as a language that which was supposed to be used, this was not practiced since English was predominantly used, at the expense of isiZulu. The findings further revealed that English was the only language used even in customer documents such as letters and pamphlets, and isiZulu was used mainly for oral communication. The findings also revealed that there was a lack of terminology in the isiZulu language for certain English words. It was recommended that translators be needed to assist with the communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the detection of an organic pollutant mostly found in local streams and wastewater treatment plants, specifically on triclosan detected in the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex (UIC), located on the south coast of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Triclosan was successfully extracted from effluent samples using molecularly imprinted membrane adsorbents (MIMs) before quantification and removal using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This was done through fabrication of a polyvinylidene fluoride polymer using selective microparticles and molecularly imprinted polymers by means of phase inversion and an immersion precipitation method which results in enhanced hydrophilicity and membrane performance. The optimisation of experimental parameters – i.e. contact time and sample size – was performed through different stages of analysis. The synthesised MIMs exhibited an outstanding adsorption efficiency of 97% for triclosan in relation to those of non-imprinted membranes (NIMs) and pristine membranes at 92% and 88%, respectively. The analytical method employed had limits of detection and quantification of 0.21 and 0.69 parts per billion (ppb or µg/L) in wastewater effluent, respectively. The obtained efficiency results show great potential for future use of membrane and molecular imprinting technology, and that MIMs can be adopted as adsorbents for water treatment. The fast and highly selective methodology presented in this work could also be employed for the examination of persistent organic pollutants in the future to combat water scarcity in South Africa. Significance: The key finding of this work is the incorporation of molecularly imprinted polymers with a membrane adsorbent to improve the performance of the membrane. An unexpected finding was the existence of pollutants like triclosan in water within the boundaries of the KwaMakhutha community, near the human settlement. Among the MIMs, NIMs and bare membranes, higher removal efficiencies were displayed by the synthesised MIMs against the discovered pollutants. This work could open doors for advanced research in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is a semi-arid, water-stressed country. Adequate measures should be put in place to prevent water wastage. This paper aims to assess domestic water wastage and determine the proper attitude towards household water management in rural and urban communities in South Africa. This study was conceptualised in two stages. Firstly, critical observations were used to examine the attitude of households towards water usage in both urban and rural communities (Durban and Thohoyandou, respectively). Secondly, structured questionnaires and interviews were used to identify the factors that influenced the participants' attitudes towards domestic water usage. This study concludes that, irrespective of the literacy level, accessibility to limited water supply, information available through advertisements about water scarcity, and better water management in an urban community, the rural community has a better attitude towards domestic water usage and water management. The result (83.3%) also indicated that the rural community strongly agreed to be water savers in their homes. However, in the urban community, the results from the participants were somewhat evenly distributed; the participants strongly agreed and disagreed at 36.2% and 32.2%, respectively. Other results of the study also showed that variables such as family upbringing, inaccessibility of domestic water, and advertisement play a major role in influencing the attitude of the rural community to water usage. These variables were statistically significant at p < 0.001. However, the immediate environment was shown to be not statistically significant at p < 0.911. Based on the study results, it is recommended that households should be encouraged to generate greywater collection systems to reduce water use and improve water reuse. The government could introduce a rationed allocation (shedding) of domestic water in urban communities to draw attention to the prevalence of water scarcity in the nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]