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Climate change has brought several natural disasters to South Africa in the form of floods, heat waves, and droughts. Neighbouring countries are also experiencing tropical cyclones, almost on a yearly basis. The insurance sector is faced with an increased level of climate change risk with individuals, corporates, and even the government approaching it for financial cover. However, with an increased level of competition in the insurance sector, (re)insurers must engage in massive product research and development. Therefore, this paper looks at the possibility of the insurance industry developing new products in the form of catastrophe resilience bonds (CAT R Bonds). A qualitative approach is used following content analysis of (re)insurers' product development policies, marketing documents, company reports, and risk management reports as well as the Conference of Parties 27 and 28 resolution papers. The findings reveal that (re)insurers' underwriting capacity, reinsurance protection, and innovative and creative product development increase because of CAT R Bonds. CAT R Bonds enhance the interaction between the capital market and money market, thereby giving speculative investors another investment option. Increased investment into new product development such as CAT R Bonds must continue in South Africa in pursuit of climate change resilience goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of cyberfraud in the South African banks with the aim to provide recommendations to effectively mitigate it. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a qualitative approach involving the use of structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were made available to the staff of 17 licensed banks in South Africa who deal with management, operation, administration and banking services. Two hypotheses were formulated and non-parametric statistical analyses involving the use of Chi-square test, Fischer's Exact test and Spearman's correlation were carried out. The two hypotheses formulated were tested to draw a conclusion. Findings: The results obtained indicate that the impact of cyberfraud in the South African banking industry is highly significant and has affected the reputation of some of the banks. This calls for the need to review the diverse ways of curbing cyberfraud to lessen their impact and that of associated fraud risks on the banking operation. Practical implications: This study provides an analysis on the relationship cyberfraud occurrences and the reputation of South African banks. The implementation of the recommendations may reinforce the existing security measures in the fight against cyberfraud. Originality/value: The novelty of this study lies in the fact that the assessment of the impact of cyberfraud on the banking industry in South Africa has not been sufficiently highlighted by the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the level of effectiveness of the anti-fraud technologies employed by the South African banking industry for cyberfraud mitigation. Design/methodology/approach: This research employed a qualitative research design involving a purposive sampling method. Primary data was collected from the key organisational staff across the 17 licensed commercial banks in South Africa via the use of structured questionnaires. In particular, these were experts involved in combating fraud and taking managerial decisions regarding the use of anti-fraud technologies for cyberfraud mitigation. Non-parametric statistical analyses were carried out from the responses obtained. Findings: The results obtained indicated that the combination of internal and external anti-fraud technologies such as filtering software, firewalls, encryption, continuous auditing, discovery sampling, virus protection, financial ratios, digital analysis and data mining may have a positive effect on cyberfraud mitigation. These technologies are employed mostly to ensure effective internal control systems capable of minimising cyberfraud. In addition, the anti-fraud technologies employed in the South African banking industry may also be effective in the mitigation of cyberfraud, although significant cases of cyberattacks were reported by the respondents. Practical implications: The study recommends investment in more digital and emerging technologies and the development of human capacities to effectively deploy them in the combat against cybercrime. Originality/value: The novelty of this study lies in the identification of the type of anti-fraud technologies/software employed by the South African banking industry and their level of effectiveness or success rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the feasibility of employing a multi-objectives integer-programming model for effective allocation of resources for cyberfraud mitigation. The formulated objectives are the minimisation of the total allocation cost of the anti-fraud capacities and the maximisation of the forensic accounting capacities in all cyberfraud incident prone spots. Design/methodology/approach: From the literature survey conducted and primary qualitative data gathered from the 17 licenced banks in South Africa on fraud investigators, the suggested fraud investigators are the organisation's finance department, the internal audit committee, the external risk manager, accountants and forensic accountants. These five human resource capacities were considered for the formulation of the multi-objectives integer programming (MOIP) model. The MOIP model is employed for the optimisation of the employed capacities for cyberfraud mitigation to ensure the effective allocation and utilisation of human resources. Thus, the MOIP model is validated by a genetic algorithm (GA) solver to obtain the Pareto-optimum solution without the violation of the identified constraints. Findings: The formulated objective functions are optimised simultaneously. The Pareto front for the two objectives of the MOIP model comprises the set of optimal solutions, which are not dominated by any other feasible solution. These are the feasible choices, which indicate the suitability of the MOIP to achieve the set objectives. Practical implications: The results obtained indicate the feasibility of simultaneously achieving the minimisation of the total allocation cost of the anti-fraud capacities, or the maximisation of the forensic accounting capacities in all cyberfraud incident prone spots – or the trade-off between them, if they cannot be reached simultaneously. This study recommends the use of an iterative MOIP framework for decision-makers which may aid decision-making with respect to the allocation and utilisation of human resources. Originality/value: The originality of this work lies in the development of multi-objectives integer-programming model for effective allocation of resources for cyberfraud mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimates of hail risk to exposed assets, such as crops, infrastructure, and vehicles, are required for both insurance pricing and preventive measures. Here we present an event catalog to describe the hail hazard in South Africa guided by 14 years of geostationary satellite observations of convective storms. Overshooting cloud tops have been detected, grouped, and tracked to describe the spatiotemporal extent of potential hail events. It is found that hail events concentrate mainly in the southeast of the country, along the Highveld, and around the eastern slopes. Events are most frequent from mid-November through February and peak in the afternoon, between 13:00 and 17:00 UTC. Multivariate stochastic modeling of event properties yields an event catalog spanning 25 000 years, aiming to estimate, in combination with vulnerability and exposure data, hail risk for return periods of 200 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to develop a corporate risk management (CRM) model that could be used as a way of improving sustainability reporting (SR) and corporate governance (CG) in companies. The CRM model designed, needed to assist in communicating both financial and non-financial risks to companies, from a risk management perspective. By showing how CRM, SR, and CG relate in companies, the research assessed the function of CRM in SR and CG. Design/Methodology/Approach: Following a desktop study, using document analysis technique, an integrated CRM model was developed, that considers different forms of risk. Findings: The model demonstrated how CRM, SR, CG, and compliance committees can link up to promote CRM-based company reports in companies, through risk compliance and analytic metrics. CRM may enhance strategy formulation and implementation, company reputation, and value creation. Applying CRM in a company's sustainability- and financial reporting improves CG and understanding of the risk universe. Originality/Value: The model promotes compliance by fostering risk-informed decision-making, specific financial standards, and distinct operational- and strategic goals. It also assists in managing stakeholders' perceptions and participation, as well as the corporate image. It further demonstrates how CRM drives the decision-making process in SR and CG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the application of forensic accounting techniques in relation to fraud risk mitigation. This study employed an explanatory research design and a qualitative approach accompanied with a purposive sampling method. A primary data source was devised with a focus on the 17 licensed commercial banks registered in South Africa. By obtaining a true reflection of the situations in the banks, a conclusion was drawn following the outcome of the inferential statistical analysis. The research was conducted at the individual and organisational levels, with the bank consultants presenting their views. One hypothesis was formulated and non-parametric statistical analyses involving the use of Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test and Spearman's correlation were carried out. The results obtained substantiate that the loopholes created as a result of non-effective application of forensic techniques are partly responsible for some cyberfraud incidents in the banking industry. There is no sufficient evidence to ascertain whether the fraud risk assessment and management in the banking industry has a relationship with the effective application of forensic accounting techniques in terms of the identified causes of cyberfraud. However, the findings establish a positive correlation between fraud risk assessment and management as it relates to forensic accounting implementation. This study provides an insight into the significance of forensic accounting applications for fraud risk mitigation. There is still a death of information regarding the forensic accounting for fraud risk mitigation; hence, it is envisaged that this study will add to the existing literature in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper examines the possible existence of systematic performance differences between Broad based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) affiliated and non-B-BBEE affiliated mutual fund firms in South Africa and see whether the indigenisation laws affect firm performance directly through their effects on firm behaviour. Design/methodology/approach: The authors' baseline regression is a model features that varies between the observed groups in Fama-MacBeth regressions. To address the issue of how B-BBEE laws affect mutual funds' performance, the study follows Golec (1988, p. 77) in calculating mutual fund returns and follows Carhart's (1997) four-factor regression model. Findings: The paper's results also cannot confirm with statistical significance the expectation motivated by theory that B-BBEE laws influence firm performance negatively, thus, predicting a block for foreign investment. The authors' much longer sample period (from 2004 to 2016) does not lead to significant other results than a prior study published only shortly after the B-BBEE laws coming into force. However, this study's results could not confirm that these laws have effects on firm performance. Research limitations/implications: The authors chose all the 3,320 B-BBEE-affiliated mutual fund firms and 3,329 non-B-BBEE-affiliated ones in the Morningstar database that had complete data for the period 2004– 2016. Practical implications: The study's results cannot confirm with statistical significance the expectation motivated by theory that B-BBEE laws influence firm performance negatively, thus, predicting a block for foreign investment. Originality/value: B-BBEE laws have been topical in the South African mutual fund industry. The unit trust industry in South Africa started with the establishment of the Sage Fund in 1965 in order to cater for the normal investors' needs for an easy product that starts with low investment amounts, but offers professional assets management and wide risk diversification across an extensive shares portfolio, that can be liquidated at short notice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to use a decision support model based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Pareto analysis (PA) for ranking the impact of different kinds of cybercrime in organisations in the financial sector to support decisions on cybercrime mitigation. Design/methodology/approach: From a structured questionnaire to the staff of 17 licensed banks in South Africa in charge of management, administration and operations, the perceived effect of cybercrime on the organisation's goals, namely, organisation's profitability, goodwill, customers' satisfaction and risk management was derived. The pairwise comparison of the organisation's goals and identified forms of cybercrime was done using the AHP. Findings: The results obtained indicate that there was a consensus (100% of the answers) that the effect of cybercrime has negatively impacted the organisation's objectives profitability and goodwill. Also, still 95.23% of the respondents agreed that the effect of cybercrime has negatively impacted the level of customers' satisfaction, while only 7.15% saw an impact on the organisation's risk management processes. Using these results in the AHP, analysis delivers a hierarchical order about the relevance of prevalent forms of cybercrime for the organisation´s cybercrime mitigation. The PA further shows the magnitude of the forms of cybercrime relative to each other. Practical implications: Hence, this study provides a decision support framework for organisational management in the quest to explore the impact of cyber fraud. It can serve as a practical guided approach for the application of AHP analysis for the existing and emerging forms of cybercrime. Originality/value: The novelty of this study lies in the fact that the combination of the AHP and PA to support solving a multi-criteria decision problem relating to the prevalence of cybercrime has not been sufficiently highlighted by the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The former superstar of prospecting and exploration geology, Dr. Johannes (Hans) Merensky (1871–1952), born in South Africa as son of a German missionary, has been increasingly forgotten, even among geoscientists. Nevertheless, he was and is the most successful prospecting geologist of all times in finding significant mineral deposits – until today! Therefore, at this point, 151 years after his birth in South Africa and 70 years after his death, he should be remembered again. The history of the discoveries of some extremely important deposits is once again examined and appreciated. A look at the current situation – in relation to the raw materials described, namely diamonds, platinum, chromite and phosphorus – also seemed worth mentioning, because it shows how important Merensky’s discoveries still are for the world’s raw materials economy today. Hans Merensky was also a patron. The Hermann Credner Foundation, established in 1911 and today administered by the German Geological Society (DGGV), owes a lot to him. After there was hardly anything left of the Credner Foundation assets as a result of the global economic crisis in the 1930’s, a donation from Merensky ensured its survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated relationships between the most notable characteristics of end-use events, namely, event duration, volume, and intensity, in order to categorize water use as being indoor or outdoor. Three classification models were developed, calibrated, and compared using more than 200,000 household end-use events that were recorded independently in Australia and South Africa. The three methods were also compared to a practice-based limit classification scheme. The classification model presented in this paper correctly apportions ∼81% of the indoor end-use event volumes and ∼98% of the outdoor end-use event volumes, thus reinforcing the value of basic smart water meter data sets as a source of useful information for water demand management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimates of hail risk to fixed and mobile assets such as crops, infrastructure and vehicles are required for both insurance pricing and preventive measures. Here we present an event catalog to describe hail hazard in South Africa guided by 14 years of geostationary satellite observations of convective storms. Overshooting cloud tops have been detected, grouped and tracked to describe the spatio-temporal extent of potential hail events. It is found that hail events concentrate mainly in the southeast of the country, along the Highveld and the eastern slopes. Events are most frequent from mid-November through February and peak in the afternoon, between 13 and 17 UTC. Multivariate stochastic modeling of event properties yields an event catalog spanning 25 000 years, aiming to estimate, in combination with vulnerability and exposure data, hail damage for return periods of 200 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debates over the management and allocation of water in the postcolonial era, and in post-apartheid South Africa in particular, reveal that struggles over water resources in Southern Africa occur within three broad frames: the institutional, the hydrological, and the ideological. Each of these realms reflects tensions in the relationship between power and principle that continue to mark the governance of water. Each perspective offers a way to understand the use and the limits of law in the management of a country's water resources. The existence of explicit principles, whether as policy guidelines, constitutional rights, or in the language of regional and international agreements, provides two important resources for those who struggle for access to water. First, a vision of a more just allocation of this fundamental resource and, second, an articulation of common benchmarks to which states and governments might be held to account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridisation caused by anthropogenic movements of animals is a conservation concern. Black-faced impala (Aepyceros melampus petersi) are endemic to north-western Namibia and south-western Angola and are geographically isolated from common impala (A. m. melampus). Common impala have been translocated into the black-faced impala range creating a hybridisation risk. We validated 13 microsatellite markers for the detection of recent hybridisation events. We used these markers to assess the genetic variation and differentiation among impala within Etosha National Park (NP), Southern Cross Private Game Reserve (SCPGR), Namibia, and private game ranches across South Africa. We confirmed that "black-nosed" impala in South Africa were A. m. melampus, thus providing more evidence that the black blaze on the face cannot be used to distinguish between the two subspecies. We detected four hybrids and one common impala on SCPGR. These five individuals were removed from SCPGR at time of sampling. We found two potential hybrids in southern Etosha NP. Further sampling of animals within Etosha NP is recommended to determine the extent of hybridisation within the park. The Namibian Ministry of the Environment & Tourism is developing a management plan for black-faced impala across Namibia that includes genetic testing for hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While South Africa's post-apartheid constitution is often heralded as a model for other countries, particularly in Africa, the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa and the failure of South African foreign policy to support the progressive development of human rights raise questions about the external dimensions of the South African Constitution. This article explores these questions through an analysis of the jurisprudence of the South African Constitutional Court involving a range of cases in which the issues or consequences reach beyond the borders of South Africa. The external dimensions of the constitution may be seen, from this perspective not only in its influence as a post-conflict model but also more directly in the Court's jurisprudence dealing with the status of foreigners, refugees and deportees as well as cases arising from South Africa's regional engagements, whether in relation to Zimbabwe or in the demise of the Southern African Development Community Tribunal. In this sense this article adopts an inclusive approach to what might be considered the external dimensions of constitutions to explore the most productive lens through which to understand this specific dimension of constitutions and the South African Constitution in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses on-site supplementary household water sources with a focus on groundwater abstraction, rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse as available non-potable water sources to residential consumers. An end-use model is presented and used to assess the theoretical impact of household water sources on potable water demand in formal residential areas. Reliable potable municipal supply to urban consumers via the water distribution system is typically linked to relatively low uptake of household water sources. However, stringent water restrictions in some large South African cities that prohibit outdoor use and reports of intermittent water supply, have led to increased uptake of household sources in South Africa. This paper describes the legal position regarding such sources in South Africa, and describes an end-use model to assess the theoretical impact on water demand in formal residential areas. The model provides valuable strategic direction and indicates a significant theoretical reduction in potable municipal water demand of between 55% and 69% for relatively large properties when household sources are maximally utilised (when compared to exclusive unrestricted municipal use as a baseline). This load reduction on piped reticulation systems could be an advantage in order to augment municipal supply, but water service planning and demand management are complicated by the introduction and possible future decommissioning, of any household water source. The extent of both positive and negative impacts of household water sources requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: First-line ablation prior to antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy is an option for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF); however, the optimal ablation technique, radiofrequency (RF), or cryoballoon (CB) has to be determined.Methods and Results: The FREEZE Cohort Study compares RF and CB ablation. Treatment-naïve patients were documented in the FREEZEplus Registry. Periprocedural data and outcome were analysed. From 2011 to 2014, a total of 373/4184 (8.9%) patients with PAF naïve to AAD were identified. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed with RF (n = 180) or CB (n = 193). In the RF group, patients were older (65 vs. 61 years, P < 0.01) compared with the CB group. The procedure time was significantly shorter and radiation exposure higher in the CB group. Major adverse events occurred in 1.6% (CB) and 3.7% (RF) of patients (P = 0.22). AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) recurrence until discharge was 4.5% (RF) and 8.5% (CB, P = 0.2). Follow-up (FU) ≥12 months was available in 99 (RF) and 107 (CB) patients. After 1.4 years of FU, freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) was 61% (RF) and 71% (CB, P = 0.11). In the RF group, more patients underwent cardioversion, and a trend for more repeat ablations was observed. Persistent phrenic nerve palsy was observed in one patient treated by CB.Conclusion: First-line ablation for PAF is safe and effective with either RF or CB. The procedure was faster with the CB, but the radiation exposure was higher. Although there was a trend for more recurrences and complications in the RF group, a more favourable risk profile in patients undergoing CB ablation might have biased the results.Clinicaltrialsgov Identifier: NCT01360008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Africa, municipalities are central to government's service delivery efforts to its communities. Because of inadequate revenue collection processes or impoverished communities that are unable to supply necessary operational revenues, both national and provincial government need to transfer funds to the local government to achieve delivery of priority services and economic development infrastructure. This study investigates, through a desktop study, the best financial planning practices for municipalities to implement in order to be financially viable, by reviewing and comparing the legislative and legal frameworks relating to financial planning and the financial planning practices in Australia and New Zealand, whose legislation served as an example for the drafting of current South African legislation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the roles of constitutional institutions to address governmental accountability has direct implications for a conception of the separation of powers in South Africa. It mentions that the institution of the Public Protector within the broader constitutional and political struggles over accountability for democracy in South Africa. It also mentions that Chapter 9 institutions in South Africa's 1996 post-apartheid Constitution.

Constitutional amendment remains a source of ongoing academic and political contestation. Although in some cases the rigidity of formal amendment rules has produced debates over the impact of judicial interpretation as a substitute for amendment, in other cases amendments remain highly controversial or existing constitutional provisions remain unimplemented owing to continuing social, economic, or political pressures. This review both explores the continuing theoretical debates over the idea of constitutional amendment and uses the examples of historic land conflicts in South Africa and Zimbabwe to demonstrate the interaction between existing constitutional provisions, formal amendments, and ongoing demands over land and property rights. By providing both an overview of the theoretical debates as well as a contextual application, this review aims to demonstrate the importance of a contextually grounded, sociolegal understanding of the phenomena of constitutional amendment, stasis, and change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Resistance to synthetic pyrethroids (SP) in the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is widespread throughout its distribution area. Three single nucleotide substitutions identified in Domains II and III of the sodium channel gene of R. (B.) microplus are known to be associated with target site pyrethroid resistance. We developed a multiplex PCR using allele-specific primers to amplify wild type or mutated genotypes of the three mutations simultaneously. This assay was used to screen tick samples originating from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Australia whose phenotype to flumethrin and cypermethrin had been determined by the use of the Larval Tarsal test (LTT) or the Larval Packet Test (LPT). These mutations were found to have distinct geographical distributions and result in different resistance phenotypes. The L64I Domain II mutation conferring resistance to several SP compounds was found in all the Brazilian, Argentinean and Australian populations and in one South African population, with frequencies between 38% and 100% in flumethrin and cypermethrin resistant populations. In contrast, this mutation was not found in samples from Mexico, while the Domain III mutation was found exclusively in this country. The G72V Domain II flumethrin-specific mutation was found in a single Australian population, with a very low resistant allele frequency (3%). The homozygous resistant RR genotype of the L64I Domain II mutation correlated significantly with the survival rates at the discriminating doses of flumethrin and cypermethrin. This survey shows the widespread distribution of the L64I Domain II mutation and provides evidence of its geographic separation from the Domain III mutation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The interrelation between land-use change and socioeconomic changes is complex and highly dynamic. We here present an assessment of the human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) in Republic of South Africa (RSA) between 1961 and 2006. HANPP is an integrated socio-ecological accounting framework that traces changes in ecosystems resulting from anthropogenic activities (harvest and land conversions) and allows to study ecological, social and economic driving forces and constraints of long-term land-use changes. We use South Africa, with its history of the rise and collapse of the Apartheid regime, as an example for an analysis of HANPP trajectories in the background of major governance shifts, and base our analysis on the best available statistical datasets, specific analyses and model results. Surprisingly, land cover as well as HANPP in the RSA remained relatively constant between 1961 and 2006, with HANPP values oscillating between 21 and 25% and of the potential NPP. However, through our analysis of the components of HANPP and their interrelations, striking turning points throughout the last five decades become evident. This allows us to discern three distinct periods, each of the phases characterized by distinct HANPP trajectories. Throughout the entire period, a trend of decoupling of HANPP from population growth could be achieved through considerable gains in land-use efficiency. The HANPP analysis reveals that this prevailing trend of increasing land-use efficiency, based on technological improvements and biomass trade, came to a halt in the 'crisis' phase and immediately recovered afterwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Water service providers invoice most South African urban consumers for the water they use every month. A secure treasury system generates water invoices at municipalities' financial departments. Information about the water usage of customers initially comes from reading the water meters, usually located in gardens near the front boundaries of properties. Until as recently as 1990, the main purpose of the water meter readings was to generate invoices for water usage. There are various treasury systems for this purpose. Objective: The objective of this research article was to describe the development of Swift, a locally developed software tool for analysing water meter data from an information management perspective, which engineers in the water field generally use, and to assess critically the influence of Swift on published research and industry. This article focuses on water usage and the challenge of data interchange and extraction as issues that various industries face. Method: This article presents the first detailed report on Swift. It uses a detailed knowledge review and presents and summarises the findings chronologically. Results: The water meter data flow path used to be quite simple. The risk of breaches in confidentiality was limited. Technological advances over the years have led to additional knowledge coming from the same water meter readings with subsequent research outputs. However, there are also complicated data flow paths and increased risks. Users have used Swift to analyse more than two million consumers' water meter readings to date. Studies have culminated in 10 peer-reviewed journal articles using the data. Seven of them were in the last five years. Conclusion: Swift-based data was the basis of various research studies in the past decade. Practical guidelines in the civil engineering fraternity for estimating water use in South Africa have incorporated knowledge from these studies. Developments after 1995 have increased the information processing capacity for water meter data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various articles within the issue on topics including the evolution of the customary law, legal culture and the legal system of South Africa.

Abstract: The ‘African Cultural Heritage and Landscape Database’ project, initiated and directed by the senior author and administered by Aluka (www.aluka.org), is aimed at the creation of a digital library of spatial and non-spatial materials relating to cultural heritage sites in Africa. The archaeological site of Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa) is one of the 19 sites documented to date using laser scanning, conventional survey, digital photogrammetry and 3D modelling. To date, it is one of the few archaeological caves worldwide to be fully scanned. This paper explores the different uses to which the spatial data derived from this cave have been, or will be, put – for historical and educational purposes, scientific research and site conservation and development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: Intraperitoneal bowel perforation may occur in utero as a result of a variety of abnormalities and typically results in sterile meconium ascites, pseudocysts, and/or calcification in the fetus. On the other hand, extraperitoneal bowel perforation in intrauterine life is extremely rare. The object of this report is to present our experience of prenatal extraperitoneal rectal perforation, defining the clinical presentation, management, and progress. Methods and Materials: Nine babies who were identified from 2 centers in the Republic of South Africa with fetal extraperitoneal rectal perforation are presented. The details of these babies were obtained retrospectively from the case notes. Results: All patients presented at or shortly after birth with air and meconium tracking below the pelvic floor manifesting as either an expanding, meconium-stained aerocele or with perirectal spreading sepsis. Where abdominal signs were present, laparotomy confirmed the extension of the meconium perforation into the peritoneal cavity. Management was by diverting colostomy, drainage of the perineal collection, and supportive therapy. A posterior approach to the rectum and excision of a fibrotic section of the lower rectal wall was performed in one case. One case developed rectal stenosis that was treated by dilatation before colostomy closure. In all the other cases, digital examination performed before colostomy closure ruled out significant narrowing. There was no mortality, and the site of the rectal perforation healed in all cases to leave good anorectal function after treatment. Conclusions: Fetal extraperitoneal perforation is extremely rare, but the clinical features are easily recognizable, and when appropriate therapy is instituted, the outcome is likely to be good with normal anorectal function to be expected in the long-term. The exact cause of the condition is unknown. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17) isoforms have been identified in the South African Angora goat (Capra hircus) and have been implicated as the primary cause of hypocortisolism in this subspecies. These goats are the most efficient fibre producing, but least hardy, small stock breed in Southern Africa. Their inability to cope with prolonged exposure to cold and the resulting stock loss which occurs during winter have been the subject of numerous studies. The two isoforms are encoded for by two separate genes, a novel finding for a mammalian species. The enzymes have unique catalytic properties and differ with respect to their 17,20-lyase activities towards 17-hydroxypregnenolone and subsequent androgen production. In vivo assays confirmed that the three resulting genotypes differed in their ability to produce cortisol in response to intravenous insulin injection implicating CYP17 as the primary cause of the observed hypocortisolism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Regenerating the planet through natural resource protection, restoration and prudent land management must currently be one of the most important policy and operational objectives at all scales from local to international level. The beef cattle production sector has both an important role and a responsibility to this end as well. We estimated the greenhouse gas emissions of a cow over her entire life inclusive of that of her offspring taking cognisance of her physiological stages under different scenarios relative to the meat produced (carcass weight) to determine the range of emissions and/or sinks that are possible from a grassland beef cattle farming operation in South Africa. We constructed a system dynamics model populated by the energy and carbon flows of a hypothetical cow and her 8 offspring over their entire life cycle of 154 months. The birth of the cow and her offspring represents a marginal addition to an otherwise stable global herd. The cow and her calves thus constitute an additional carbon pool birthed and nurtured by the mature cow. By making provision for the physiological stages of the cow and her calves and allowing for typical variations in the metabolisable energy during these stages, we estimated the cumulative net greenhouse gas emissions relative to the cumulative amount of meat (carcass weight) produced. Using a purpose-built system dynamics model, we modelled several scenarios providing a range of outcomes depending on the parameter values. On the one end of the spectrum, we applied a global warming potential (GWP 100) of methane of 28 and that 10% of the carbon contained in the manure is sequestered in the soil. Under this scenario the cumulative net emissions are estimated as 19.1 tCO 2 e per ton meat. Thus, the sources of emissions exceed the sinks. At the other end of the spectrum the figure turns into a net sink of approximately 12.6 tCO 2 e if a global warming potential (GWP*) of 8 is used and if 70% of the carbon in the manure is sequestered in the soil, a figure attainable in healthy soils with active microbial life and sufficient grass cover and good land management. Under these conditions the net addition of the cow and her calves to an otherwise stable global herd lead to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. All these figures exclude additional carbon sequestration through accelerated grass regrowth and increased litter deposits and could thus be deemed conservative. Discussions with respect to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock must consider the full life cycle of the female animal and her offspring, inclusive of the virtual (or embedded) carbon, the appropriate estimate of the global warming potential of methane acknowledging that it is a short-lived climate pollutant, as well as the condition of the rangelands. Much more effort should therefore be directed towards improving the soil and land use management, including incentive measures and knowledge sharing, as it has a mutually reinforcing impact on the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and the sequestration of carbon. • We estimate the carbon footprint of a cow over her entire life cycle inclusive of that of her 8 offspring over a 154-month period. • We developed a system dynamics model to model the carbon footprint over her life-cycle inclusive of her physiological stages. • We model six scenarios regarding the global warming potential of CH4 and the sequestration rates of the manure-based carbon. • The cumulative net emissions vary between 19tCO2e (a net source) and -12.6tCO2e (a net sink) per ton of meat produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  In August 2006, the blue tongue virus (BTV-type South Africa serotype 8) was detected for the first time in cattle blood probes in the Netherlands, immediately followed by cases in Belgium and in cattle on German farms, which were situated close to Aachen at the border to those countries. Within less than 2 months the disease spread eastwards crossing the Rhine, southwards to Luxemburg and to Northern France. At the end of the year 2006, nearly 1,000 farms were affected in Germany. Catches on two German cattle farms proved that the ceratopogonid species Culicoides obsoletus was obviously the vector, since many females—fed and unfed ones—were found to be infected with this virus. This sudden outbreak of bluetongue disease (BTD) is surely not a primary result of global warming, but rather an effect of globalization—i.e. the intensive worldwide import and export of animals; but a hot summer, as in 2006, and a warm winter like that of the years 2006/2007 supported the new spread starting again in masses in August 2007 leading to 596 PCR-confirmed cases until then with more than 200,000 animals infected. Thus, new agents coming from elsewhere have only a chance to spread if appropriate vectors are available and the conditions remain favourable during a reasonably long period. Effects of global warming—of course—will support persistence of such outbreaks of diseases due to offering of spreading of imported viruses, bacteria and/or parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammals, cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/17–20 lyase (CYP17), which is encoded by a single gene, plays a critical role in the production of mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and androgens by the adrenal cortex. Two CYP17 isoforms with unique catalytic properties have been identified in the South African Angora goat ( Capra hircus), a subspecies that is susceptible to cold stress because of the inability of the adrenal cortex to produce sufficient levels of cortisol. A real-time-based genotyping assay was used in this study to identify the distribution of the two CYP17 alleles in the South African Angora population. These data revealed that the two CYP17 isoforms were not the product of two alleles of the same gene, but two separate CYP17 genes encoding the two unique CYP17 isoforms. This novel finding was subsequently confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Goats were divided into three unique genotypes which differed not only in the genes encoding CYP17, but also in copy number. Furthermore, in vivo assays revealed that the identified genotypes differed in their ability to produce cortisol in response to intravenous insulin injection. This study clearly demonstrates the presence of two CYP17 genes in the South African Angora goat, and further implicates CYP17 as the primary cause of the observed hypocortisolism in this subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) has emerged as the first choice pediatric dialysis modality. A recent study visually identified the cause of malfunction of PD catheters at the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town. The reasons that could be found, lead to changed Tenckhoff insertion-techniques from open to laparoscopic. This included suturing of the tip, omentectomy and ovarian-pexy by laparoscopy. In the present paper we prospectively analyzed, if changed insertion technique lead to an improved outcome. Patients and Methods: 26 Patients required 36 laparoscopic Tenckhoff insertions during the period August of 2003 and July of 2006. Overall a total number of 222.5 catheter-months have been observed. Laparoscopic insertion technique required 3 port placements. The tip of the catheter was sutured to pelvic peritoneum, omentectomy performed through a port site and ovariopexy done when required. Results: The mean lifespan of all Tenckhoff's was 6.4 6.3 months. The tip of the catheter was sutured 20 times, omentectomy done in 9 cases and 6 patients underwent ovarian pexy. In the group where the tip was sutured to the pelvic peritoneum catheter life was 8.4 months compared to the non-sutured group which was only 4.1. Omentectomy lead to an overall catheter survival of 8.0 months compared to the no omentectomy group, which had a survival of 5.8 months. The complication-rate concerning early problems and malfunctions in the sutured and omentectomy groups was also lower. Patients who underwent both, suturing of the tip and omentectomy had no malfunctions at all. Conclusion: Omentectomy and suturing the tip can lower the complication-rate and prolong catheter survival. Using these procedures could decrease costs and morbidity and prevent patients from having further operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South African Angora goats (Capra hircus) are susceptible to cold stress, due to the inability of the adrenal cortex to produce sufficient levels of cortisol. Two CYP17 isoforms were identified, cloned and characterized in this study. Sequence analysis revealed three amino acid differences between the two CYP17 isoforms, which resulted in a significant difference in 17,20 lyase activity of the expressed enzymes in both the presence and absence of cytochrome b5. Furthermore, cotransfections with 3βHSD revealed that one CYP17 isoform strongly favours the Δ5 steroid pathway. Our data implicates CYP17 as the primary cause of the observed hypoadrenocorticoidism in the South African Angora goat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question: Is there a relationship between size and death in the long-lived, deep-rooted tree, Acacia erioloba, in a semi-arid savanna? What is the size-class distribution of A. erioloba mortality? Does the mortality distribution differ from total tree size distribution? Does A. erioloba mortality distribution match the mortality distributions recorded thus far in other environments? Location: Dronfield Ranch, near Kimberley, Kalahari, South Africa. Methods: A combination of aerial photographs and a satellite image covering 61 year was used to provide long-term spatial data on mortality. We used aerial photographs of the study area from 1940, 1964, 1984, 1993 and a satellite image from 2001 to follow three plots covering 510 ha. We were able to identify and individually follow ca. 3000 individual trees from 1940 till 2001. Results: The total number of trees increased over time. No relationship between total number of trees and mean tree size was detected. There were no trends over time in total number of deaths per plot or in size distributions of dead trees. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests showed no differences in size class distributions for living trees through time. The size distribution of dead trees was significantly different from the size distribution of all trees present on the plots. Overall, the number of dead trees was low in small size classes, reached a peak value when canopy area was 20 - 30 m², and declined in larger size-classes. Mortality as a ratio of dead vs. total trees peaked at intermediate canopy sizes too. Conclusion: A. erioloba mortality was size-dependent, peaking at intermediate sizes. The mortality distribution differs from all other tree mortality distributions recorded thus far. We suggest that a possible mechanism for this unusual mortality distribution is intraspecific competition for water in this semi-arid environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wave of post-Cold War state reconstruction was marked in its reliance on the adoption of new constitutions as the marker of a state's transition to a new order. Whether at the beginning or end of the process, or as the central theme, as was the case in South Africa, post-Cold War constitutions came to reflect a common core of principles and institutions, despite the often nationalist tone surrounding their creation. This article argues that these constitutions both reflect a dominant post-Cold War international political culture and yet rely on their own histories and reconstruction processes to create hybrid forms to address local conditions. This process involves a specific politics, in which models - such as the US Constitution - are either used as models or antimodels, and results in the creation of a postcolonial collage of constitutional mechanisms and institutions that might offer an opportunity to achieve the democratic outcomes which have so often eluded postcolonial countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a 500-kyr productivity reconstruction of the southwest Indian Ocean (MD96–2077; Natal Valley) and the eastern South Atlantic (Sites 1266; Walvis Ridge) from coccolithophore assemblages and coccolith geochemistry. The study sites are situated in two different hydrographic regimes: one located in the upper boundary of the Agulhas Current (AC) and the other in the open ocean branch of the Benguela Current (BC). We aim to decipher how marine phytoplankton communities responded to variations in water-column characteristics over multiple glacial/interglacial cycles. Gephyrocapsa species (G. caribbeanica, G. ericsonii) dominates the assemblage in the Walvis Ridge whereas Florisphaera profunda is more prominent and co-dominates with Gephyrocapsa species (G. oceanica , G. ericsonii) in the Natal Valley. Higher abundance of F. profunda in MD96–2077 than at Site 1266 suggests that Natal Valley has a deeper nutricline/thermocline and lower productivity than in the Walvis Ridge over the last ~500 kyrs. Asynchrony in the productivity changes is suggested to be related to different driving mechanisms between the eastern and the western sides off South Africa. The equatorward STF migration during glacial periods has potentially reduced the intensity of the AC and promoted surface water productivity in the Natal Valley. By contrast, productivity in the Walvis Ridge shows opposite patterns, showing enhanced productivity during interglacial periods, which we attribute to a localized mixing at the confluence zone between the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current and the Benguela Oceanic Current and/or an increased Agulhas leakage in combination with stronger westerlies, thereby promoting upwelling of nutrients to the surface. • Latitudinal shifts in the STF drive variations in coccolithophore productivity in the investigated regions. • Asynchronous productivity changes, thus different driving mechanisms between the eastern and western sides off South Africa. • The northward STF migration during the glacial periods resulted in enhanced surface water productivity in the Natal Valley. • A stronger Agulhas leakage during the interglacial periods promoted surface water productivity in the Walvis Ridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of intermittent water supply in South Africa was investigated in this research study. Data on intermittent water supply in South Africa was collated by considering the following four sources: a targeted water services provider survey; published databases and related reports; open-access publications, such as online media articles; and field visits by the project team to selected areas. The data were spatially and temporally analysed to determine the prevalence of intermittent water supply. The population affected by intermittent water supply increased by ~26% between 2008 and 2017, which exceeds the population increase of ~12% over the same period. Moreover, 22 million people in South Africa were affected by intermittent water supply in 2017. Results from this study confirm an increased prevalence of intermittent water supply over time and show that 65 of the 231 municipalities in South Africa supplied water intermittently, 32 had continuous water supply and 134 had no data. Fundamentally, the outcomes highlight the widespread occurrence of intermittent water supply in South Africa, which is in line with the poor state of water services delivery in South Africa, as portrayed in the 2018 National Water and Sanitation Master Plan by the national Department of Water and Sanitatio [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: South African Angora goats are susceptible to cold stress, due to their inability to produce sufficient levels of cortisol. During adrenal steroidogenesis the production of cortisol relies on the activity of two key enzymes, namely cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase has previously been identified as a factor contributing to hypocortisolism in the South African Angora goat. In this comparative study, the catalytic activity of Angora and ovine 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which differ by five amino acid residues, was characterized. The conversion of 17-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandosterone to their corresponding products, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione, by the two enzymes differed significantly. The enzymes were subsequently co-expressed with Angora P450 17α-hydroxylase. Major differences were observed in pregnenolone metabolism with a significant reduction in the formation of the cortisol precursor, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, by cells expressing Angora 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, implicating 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as an additional factor contributing to hypocortisolism in the South African Angora goat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sex steroids are pervasive in mammals and evolutionarily conserved, but differences in the nuances of endocrine profiles characterize distinct species. Two sex steroids, testosterone and progesterone, feature prominently in the life history of mammalian taxa, but neither one has been analyzed from wild giraffes. Our study was designed to address this gap in knowledge by examining how these sex steroids are related to biological features and giraffe life history. We conducted the research at Rooipoort Nature Reserve a 44,000 ha private nature reserve in South Africa on a population of South African giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa). Eleven adult giraffe cows and seven adult bulls were immobilized and various biological samples and morphological measurements were obtained. We analyzed both testosterone and progesterone using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromotography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). We found that non-pregnant females had lower progesterone concentrations than pregnant females and that those in the last trimester of pregnancy showed a slight drop in progesterone, as well as an increase in testosterone. Among males, chronological age was correlated with testicle size, testosterone concentrations, and ossicone volume. We propose that the progesterone decline functions partly to accelerate resumption of ovulation because giraffes become pregnant while lactating, and that the testosterone elevation provides an endocrine mileu for female defense of neonatal calves, given that lion predation is a major threat to calf survival. We suggest that male reproductive strategies are mediated by the age-related impacts of testosterone on growth in both body mass and ossicone volume as a consequence of sexual selection. We conclude by noting that the robust and solid ossicones of male giraffes function in mate competition as wedges that are used to topple opponents by raising their legs and placing them in an off-balanced position that can seriously injure them when falling to the ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pruritus or itch is a common symptom after burn injuries. The Itch Man Scale has been recommended to assess itch severity in children. The aim of this prospective observational study was to perform a cross-cultural validation of the Itch Man Scale by comparing it with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Toronto Pediatric Itch Scale.Method: At Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, parents of pediatric burn patients assessed their child's itch with the Itch Man Scale, NRS and Toronto Pediatric Itch Scale. Children from the age of 6years also rated the Itch Man Scale and NRS themselves. The Spearman rank order correlation between the different scales was calculated to determine construct validity.Results: Over a two-month period, 255 pediatric burn survivors with a median age of 2.3years (IQR 1.4-4.0) were included; 35 of them were aged 6-13years. Parents' Itch Man Scale ratings correlated significantly with parents' NRS ratings (0.82, 95% CI 0.78-0.86) and with the Toronto Pediatric Itch Scale of the parent (0.80, 95% CI 0.75-0.84). The correlation between the older children's Itch Man Scale rating and those of their parents was 0.66 (95% CI 0.37-0.83).Conclusion: We concluded that the Itch Man Scale has promising validity and is a user-friendly tool to use in clinical practice to determine the itch intensity in children younger than 13years in a South African setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]