Integrative taxonomic methods reveal an incorrect synonymisation of the South African Pseudonereis podocirra (Schmarda) as the widespread Pseudonereis variegata (Grube) from Chile

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyothi Kara ◽  
Angus H. H. Macdonald ◽  
Carol A. Simon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Haplotype Network ◽  
The Body ◽  
General Description ◽  
The South ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Genetic Structuring ◽  
The Status

The nereidid Pseudonereis variegata (Grube, 1866) described from Chile includes 14 synonymised species from 10 type localities with a discontinuous distribution, but no taxonomic or molecular studies have investigated the status of this species outside Chile. Two synonymised species, Mastigonereis podocirra Schmarda, 1861 and Nereis (Nereilepas) stimpsonis Grube, 1866, were described from South Africa and investigated here using morphological examination. MtCOI species delimitation analyses and morphology were used to determine the status of P. variegata in South Africa. Morphological examination revealed that museum and freshly collected specimens from South Africa that conform to the general description of P. variegata are similar to M. podocirra and N. stimpsonis with respect to the consistent absence of homogomph spinigers in the inferior neuropodial fascicle, expanded notopodial ligules and the subterminal attachment of dorsal cirri in posterior parapodia. The synonymy of M. podocirra and N. stimpsonis as P. variegata are rejected and P. podocirra, comb. nov. is reinstated. Morphologically, Pseudonereis podocirra differed from specimens from Chile with regard to the numbers of paragnaths, the absence of homogomph spinigers and changes in parapodial morphology along the body. Independence of these species was further supported by genetic distances, automatic barcode gap discovery and multi-rate Poisson tree process species delimitation analyses of 77 mtCOI sequences. Haplotype network revealed no genetic structuring within the South African populations. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F0B1A5AF-9CE9-4A43-ACCF-17117E1C2F21

scholarly journals The status of rhinoceroses in South African National Parks

Koedoe ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam M. Ferreira ◽  
Charlene Bissett ◽  
Carly R. Cowell ◽  
Angela Gaylard ◽  
Cathy Greaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
The South ◽  
South Central ◽  
The Status ◽  
Annual Population ◽  
Block Based

African rhinoceroses (rhinos) experienced a poaching onslaught since 2008 with the epicentre in South Africa where most of the world’s rhinos occur. South African national parks, under the management of South African National Parks (SANParks), are custodian to 49% of South Africa’s white and 31% of the country’s black rhinos. We collated information on rhino population sizes in seven national parks from 2011 to 2015. We include and report on rhino surveys in Kruger National Park during 2014 and 2015. Southwestern black rhinos increased over the study period, which allows SANParks to achieve its contribution to South Africa’s 2020 target of 260 individuals. South-central black rhinos declined over the study period because of poaching in the Kruger National Park, making it difficult for SANParks to realise a 9% increase per annum for its expected contribution to the South African target of 2800 individuals. For southern white rhinos, SANParks requires 5% annual growth for its contribution to the South African target of 20 400 individuals. To continue to evaluate the achievement of these targets, SANParks needs annual population estimates relying on total counts, mark-recapture techniques and block-based sample counts to track trends in rhino populations. SANParks’ primary challenge in achieving its contribution to South Africa’s rhino conservation targets is associated with curbing poaching in Kruger National Park.Conservation implications: The status and trends of rhino species in SANParks highlight key challenges associated with achieving the national targets of South Africa. Conservation managers will need to improve the protection of southern white rhino, while the Department of Environmental Affairs need to be made aware of the challenges specifically associated with not achieving targets for south-central black rhino. Outcomes for south-western black rhino have already realised and the good conservation efforts should continue.

scholarly journals Public Procurement in the South African Economy: Addressing the Systemic Issues

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8692
Author(s):  
David Fourie ◽  
Cornel Malan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
The South ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Official Policy ◽  
The Status ◽  
Procurement System

Public procurement fulfils an important role in the economy and public expenditure of a country and can be regarded as a critical indicator of the effectiveness of a government, because it is a central aspect of public service delivery. Notwithstanding various reforms made to date to public sector procurement in South Africa and the application of Supply Chain Management as a strategic policy strategic instrument, the South African public procurement system still faces several challenges and has been strongly criticised. This paper aims to understand the current public procurement environment in South Africa, its dilemmas and challenges, and to propose that public procurement be refocused towards a strategically placed business process, implemented by well-trained and competent procurement officials. The purpose is to provide a theoretical foundation as well as practical guidance regarding the role of public procurement in the South African public sector. The methodology involved an intensive literature study and document analysis to evaluate various official policy documents and official publications to determine the status of South African public procurement. The study found that the majority of challenges faced by public procurement in South Africa can probably be attributed to the implementation of the system, rather than to the system itself. In the shorter and longer term, the public procurement system in South Africa will have no choice but to emerge as a stronger, more resilient, streamlined and efficient provider of goods and services for the greater good of all.

scholarly journals The Assessment Of Intellectual Capital (Ic) In The South African Context – A Qualitative Approach

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius De Beer ◽  
Neil Barnes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
South African Context ◽  
Research Groups ◽  
The South ◽  
The Status ◽  
African Context

The aim of the article is to report on an investigation into IC as portrayed by thought leaders and research groups, against a South African background. An attempt was made to clarify relevant terminology, develop a model and methodology for South African application, and assess the status of IC within the South Africa context through a qualitative methodology using Focus Groups. Results indicated that IC in South Africa is still in the infancy stage. However, models and methodologies developed in other continents could with changes be applied in the South African context. OpsommingDie doel van hierdie artikel is om verslag te doen oor die ondersoek na Intellektuele Kapitaal (IK) soos voorgestel deur vakkundiges en navorsingsgroepe, teen die agtergrond van die Suid Afrikaanse situasie. ’n Poging is aangewend om tersaaklike terminologie te verklaar, ’n model en metodologie vir Suid Afrikaanse aanwending te ontwikkel, en dit sowel as die status van IK in die Suid Afrikaanse omgewing te ondersoek deur middel van ’n kwalitatiewe metodologie, naamlik fokusgroepe. IK in Suid Afrika is steeds in die kinderskoene. Modelle en metodologieë ontwikkel in ander lande kan egter met aanpassings aangewend word vir aanwending in die Suid Afrikaanse omgewing.

scholarly journals The influence of social media service quality on client loyalty in the South African banking industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bramwell K. Gavaza ◽  
Kim L. Viljoen ◽  
Liezel Cilliers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
South African ◽  
The Body ◽  
The South ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Service ◽  
The Impact

Orientation: The impact and growth rates of Facebook and other forms of social media have made it imperative for all businesses to ensure they have social media strategies in place.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the influence of social media service quality on client loyalty in the South African banking industry.Motivation for the study: There are limited studies conducted in developing countries such as South Africa that focused specifically on the social media service quality and client loyalty in the banking industry.Research design, approach and method: The study used a quantitative approach and a descriptive research design to test the proposed hypotheses. An online survey on Facebook was used to collect the data from a sample of 377 respondents who had interacted with the five major banks in South Africa on the said platform. A snowball sampling technique was used to identify the appropriate respondents. The data was analysed with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to assess the model fit.Main findings: Findings of the research study proved that the social media system’s availability, fulfilment and privacy have a significant influence on the overall service quality of social media, which leads to client loyalty in the South African banking industry.Practical/managerial implications: The study recommended that managers and marketers should constantly evaluate, monitor and improve the overall service quality of social media offered to their clients, as it leads to a corresponding increase in client loyalty in the South African banking industry.Contribution/value-add: The study provided empirical evidence, which contributed to the body of business and marketing knowledge in a South African banking context.

scholarly journals Individual Differences Versus Consumer Readiness Variables Predictive Power Over Internet Banking Adoption in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 26-38
Author(s):  
Aguidissou O. C. ◽  
Richard Shambare ◽  
Rugimbana R.
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
South African ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Internet Banking ◽  
The Body ◽  
Large Sample Size ◽  
The South ◽  
Self Service ◽  
Technology Anxiety

Self-service banking technology is gaining recognition globally in spite of its numerous challenges. Debit cards, ATMs and other Self Service Technologies (SSTs) are well received in South African market; however, customers seem cynical about Internet Banking (IB). IB consumer’s adoption patterns frameworks are tested within this paper based on a framework providing for the South African market with the best explanatory power. Thus, investigating consumer readiness (CR) and individual differences (IDs) variables as common groupings usually cited in the literature consumer variables predictive efficacy, provide better understanding of the consumers towards SSTs in South Africa.CR comprises role clarity, ability and motivation (extrinsic and intrinsic), while IDs includes inertia, technology anxiety, need of interaction, previous experience and demographics. This study purposes to identify among IDs and CR variables, which one with greater predictive power on IB adoption in South Africa.Considering this gap within the body of knowledge, in relation with IB adoption behaviour among the South African consumer is therefore the present article primary objective. Consumer’s individual differences (technology anxiety and education variables specifically) as exogenous variables, through a large sample size (n=1516), descriptive quantitative analysis, were found in context of South African market with greatest predictive power for IB adoption by comparison over consumer readiness. In South Africa particularly for marketers, these findings therefore are a set of relevant keys that can be useful in promoting IB adoption. 

scholarly journals Internet Banking Adoption in South Africa: The Mediating Role of Consumer Readiness

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5(J)) ◽  
pp. 6-17
Author(s):  
Aguidissou O C ◽  
Richard Shambare ◽  
Rugimbana R
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Internet Banking ◽  
Retail Banking ◽  
The Body ◽  
Large Sample Size ◽  
The South ◽  
Innovation Characteristics

The recent rapid development of Internet banking (IB) around the world is not without certain challenges. For instance while a majority of banking SSTs (Self Service Technologies, e.g. ATMs and debit cards) have been well received by the South African market, consumers seem sceptical towards Internet banking. This paper seeks to test various conceptual frameworks of consumer adoption patterns of IB with the view of a framework with the greatest explanatory power for the South African market. To achieve the stated objective of a framework for IB adoption in South Africa, this paper suggests an approach not yet undertaken, according to the literature review conducted, within the South African retail banking industry – investigating a comparison of the predictive efficacy of two common groupings of variables most cited in the consumer behaviour literature as important determinants of adoptive behaviour in SSTs. These are: perceptions of innovation characteristics and consumer readiness (CR) variables. Therefore, the primary objective of this article is the consideration of this gap within the body of knowledge around South African consumers’ IB adoption behaviour. Through a descriptive quantitative analysis of 1516 large sample size, innovation characteristics as consumer’s perceptions (complexity, perceived risk notably) or views (endogenous variables) were found with greatest predictive power over IB adoption, in the South African consumer market context. This finding is therefore for marketers (particularly in South Africa) a set of useful tools that can be relevant to promote the adoption of IB.

scholarly journals Integrating eHealth in HIV/AIDS intervention programmes in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Babasile D. Osunyomi ◽  
Sara S. Grobbelaar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
South African ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
The South ◽  
The Status ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Hiv Aids

Background:With an estimated 12.2% of its population infected in 2012, South Africa has the highest percentage of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the world. Although the mortality rate of the epidemic is decreasing, it has adverse impacts on the socio-economic development status and human capital of South Africa.Objective: The key aim of this article is to explore the status quo of the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in selected intervention programmes in the South African HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain. The contribution of this article is the mapping of key intervention activities along an HIV care value chain and to suggest a roadmap towards the integration of ICTs in service delivery programmes.Method: 20 managers of HIV/AIDS intervention programmes were surveyed, followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews with these respondents. A further five in-depth interviews were conducted with experts in the ICT area for exploring the uses of and barriers to integrating ICTs in the HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain.Results: The researchers mapped the barriers to implementation and ICT tools utilised within the HIV/AIDS care delivery value chain, which proves to be a useful tool to explore the status quo of technology in such service delivery programmes. The researchers then considered the wider policy environment and provided a roadmap based on the analysis and the South Africa eHealth strategy for driving development in this sector.Conclusion: The authors found that South Africa’s eHealth environment is still nascent and that the South African eHealth strategy does not place enough emphasis on systems integration and stakeholder engagement or the planning and process of uptake of ICTs by target audiences.

scholarly journals Internet Banking Adoption in South Africa: The Mediating Role of Consumer Readiness

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Aguidissou O C ◽  
Richard Shambare ◽  
Rugimbana R
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Internet Banking ◽  
Retail Banking ◽  
The Body ◽  
Large Sample Size ◽  
The South ◽  
Innovation Characteristics

The recent rapid development of Internet banking (IB) around the world is not without certain challenges. For instance while a majority of banking SSTs (Self Service Technologies, e.g. ATMs and debit cards) have been well received by the South African market, consumers seem sceptical towards Internet banking. This paper seeks to test various conceptual frameworks of consumer adoption patterns of IB with the view of a framework with the greatest explanatory power for the South African market. To achieve the stated objective of a framework for IB adoption in South Africa, this paper suggests an approach not yet undertaken, according to the literature review conducted, within the South African retail banking industry – investigating a comparison of the predictive efficacy of two common groupings of variables most cited in the consumer behaviour literature as important determinants of adoptive behaviour in SSTs. These are: perceptions of innovation characteristics and consumer readiness (CR) variables. Therefore, the primary objective of this article is the consideration of this gap within the body of knowledge around South African consumers’ IB adoption behaviour. Through a descriptive quantitative analysis of 1516 large sample size, innovation characteristics as consumer’s perceptions (complexity, perceived risk notably) or views (endogenous variables) were found with greatest predictive power over IB adoption, in the South African consumer market context. This finding is therefore for marketers (particularly in South Africa) a set of useful tools that can be relevant to promote the adoption of IB.

Foreigners' Rights to Work and Fair Labour Practices in South Africa: A Review of the South African Labour Legislation and Jurisprudence

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Mangu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
South African ◽  
Bill Of Rights ◽  
The South ◽  
Legislation And Jurisprudence ◽  
Foreign Nationals ◽  
Lay Persons ◽  
Democratic State ◽  
Labour Legislation

After several decades of apartheid rule, which denied human rights to the majority of the population on the ground of race and came to be regarded as a crime against humanity, South Africa adopted its first democratic Constitution in the early 1990s. The 1996 Constitution, which succeeded the 1993 interim Constitution, is considered one of the most progressive in the world. In its founding provisions, it states that South Africa is a democratic state founded on human dignity, the achievement of equality, the advancement of human rights and freedoms. The Constitution enshrines fundamental human rights in a justiciable Bill of Rights as a cornerstone of democracy. Unfortunately, in the eyes of a number of politicians, officials and lay-persons, the rights in the Bill of Rights accrue to South African citizens only. Xenophobia, which has been rampant since the end of apartheid, seems to support the idea that foreigners should not enjoy these rights. Foreign nationals have often been accused of posing a threat to South African citizens with regard to employment opportunities. In light of the South African legislation and jurisprudence, this article affirms the position of the South African labour law that foreign nationals are indeed protected by the Constitution and entitled to rights in the Bill of Rights, including the rights to work and fair labour practices.

The Engagement of Beneficiaries in Farm Governance of Restituted Land through the Communal Property Association Model: The Ideal Versus the Reality of Beneficiary Farms in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mokoko Piet Sebola ◽  
Malemela Angelinah Mamabolo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
The South ◽  
African Government ◽  
Communal Property ◽  
Farm Ownership ◽  
Land Restitution ◽  
Communal Property Associations

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the engagement of farm beneficiaries in South Africa in the governance of restituted farms through communal property associations. The South African government has already spent millions of rands on land restitution to correct the imbalance of the past with regard to farm ownership by the African communities. Various methods of farm management to benefit the African society have been proposed, however, with little recorded success. This article argues that the South African post-apartheid government was so overwhelmed by political victory in 1994 that they introduced ambitious land reform policies that were based on ideal thinking rather than on a pragmatic approach to the South African situation. We used qualitative research methods to argue that the engagement of farm beneficiaries in farm management and governance through communal property associations is failing dismally. We conclude that a revisit of the communal property associations model is required in order to strengthen the position of beneficiaries and promote access to land by African communities for future benefit.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document