The concept of standing in public interest litigation has not received much attention and analysis post South Africa’s Constitutional era. This dissertation begins with a discussion of the jurisprudence of the South African courts in relation to locus standi since the early 1900s up until the year 1993. The purpose of the discussion is to illustrate the profound transformation the concept of standing in public interest litigation has undergone after the promulgation of the Constitution. A comparison is then made with the legal position on this question with the United States of America, a country that has been dubbed as the most democratic and liberal in the world which has a Bill of Rights dating back some 200 years. The case law of the US Supreme Court is dealt with, followed by the most important trends of academic criticism of this case law. This forms the basis of an informed comparison in relation to the question of locus standi between the two jurisdictions. It is argued towards the end that the locus standi dispensation in public interest litigation that has emerged in South Africa is the better of the two. Copyright / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Public Law / unrestricted

In the fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic, the South African government introduced different measures to address and manage the impact of HIV and AIDS. One of these strategies encompassed prevention and education programmes like the Peer Education Programme. Some factors were however identified, indicating that the Peer Education Programme might not be successful, which could be linked to the non-performance of HIV and AIDS Peer Educators. The goal of this study is to explore the reasons for non-performance of duties by HIV and AIDS Peer Educators within the Department of Agriculture, Eastern Cape Province. For data collection a randomised cross-sectional survey was utilised as the research design and a structured questionnaire used as a data collection tool. The questionnaire was administered with a group of HIV and AIDS Peer Educators, where each respondent completed his/her questionnaire independently of others. No sampling was done as the researcher considered the population to be manageable. From a population of 49, only 32 – 65% agreed to participate in the study. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

In South Africa, two biotypes of type species 1 of the Lyssavirus genus are maintained independently among the members of the Herpestidae and Canidae families, respectively. Canid rabies is a relatively new addition to the African subcontinent, having been introduced from infectious cycles, which had existed among dogs in Angola, in the early 1940s. Two epidemics, believed to have originated from dog endemic regions which had existed in the southern Maputo district of Mozambique since 1952, have occurred among domestic dogs in the KwaZulu Natal province in recent years. The first of these epidemics started in 1964, and ended by 1968, while the second epidemic which started in 1976, has proven to be intractable, despite the concerted efforts which have been implemented to bring it under control. In order to contribute to the understanding of the molecular epidemiology of rabies in the KwaZulu Natal province, and to thereby assist in future surveillance and control efforts, we conducted a molecular sequence analysis of representative panel of viral isolates which were obtained from the province during the year 2003. A 591 nt. sequence encompassing the G-L intergenic region and glycoprotein cytoplasmic domain was sequenced for 128 viral isolates, which were obtained from the different magisterial districts and affected host species of the province, and was subsequently used to characterize these viruses phylogenetically. Characterization of the KwaZulu Natal variants, and comparison of the obtained sequence data, to sequences data which was obtained from rabies endemic regions from elsewhere in South Africa and Zimbabwe, in general supported the pattern of spread which led to the introduction of rabies into the province, as was previously suggested from the literature. The phylogeny which was established from the analyses, indicated that the viral isolates from the province were highly related to each other, and could be divided into two groups, which although belonging to the canid biotype, were in general distinguishable from canid rabies virus isolates which were obtained from elsewhere in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The observation that these subfamilies showed a low genetic divergence, as well as that they shared a unique recent common ancestor, suggested that they were introduced recently into the northern reaches of the province, probably from the same geographical region (i.e. southern Mozambique). logenetic characterization of the KwaZulu Natal isolates further suggested that at least three enzootic fronts are currently responsible for the introduction of rabies into the northern and southern regions of the province. The first of these fronts was hypothesized to have spread directly across the southern Mozambique border (possibly via southeastern Swaziland), into the northeastern coastal regions of KwaZulu Natal, while the second front represented the south-eastwards spread of synergistic dog-jackal cycles from southeastern Mpumalanga, into the northern and northeastern regions of the province. The third front on the other hand, represented the possible spread of a remnant infectious cycle, left over from the 1964-1968 epidemic, from the northern region of the Eastern Cape, into southern KwaZulu Natal. logenetic characterization further proved useful for identifying the distribution of viral variants, and allowed us to propose a pathway by which the disease might have spread throughout the province. The proposed pathway of spread suggested that viral variants may have been translocated over long distances, and highlighted the role that major routes of human transportation may play in the dissemination of the disease. The regional characterization of viral variants from KwaZulu Natal, further demarked the location where the identified viral variants circulated in individual host populations, allowing us to place the current epidemic into an epidemiological framework which attempts to explain the long term persistence of the disease. This provided clues as to the intractability of the second epidemic, and allowed us to develop a proposal as to how current control strategies may be altered, in order to contain the current outbreak in the province. initial phylogeny which was established from the study provides an epidemiological framework, which will play an important role in determining the origin of future human spillover cases, and for tracking the spread of viral variants throughout the affected regions of the province. It is further envisaged that the data which was generated during the course of the project will be utilized in future surveillance efforts, targeted to the evaluation of the efficacy of potentially implemented control campaigns. / Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

West Nile virus (WNV) belongs to the Flaviviridae family, a virus family of which many members are known as human pathogens. WNV has a worldwide distribution and strains that cluster in lineage II is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The complete nucleotide sequence of four lineage II West Nile virus strains, isolated in South Africa from patients with mild or severe WNV infections, were determined. Using a murine model, these strains had been shown to produce either highly or less neuroinvasive infections and induced similar genes to corresponding highly or less neuroinvasive lineage I strains. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparison between highly and less pathogenic lineage II strains demonstrated that the non-structural genes and in particular the gene coding for the NS5 proteins were the most variable. All the lineage II strains sequenced in this study were found to possess the E-protein glycosylation site previously postulated to be associated with virulence. Comparison of the signalase cleavage sites suggested that lineage II strains may be cleaved slightly more efficiently than lineage I strains in the C-prM junction, but less efficiently between prM and E genes. Relative to the highly neuroinvasive strains sequenced in this study major deletions were found in the 3’ noncoding region of 2 lineage II strains shown in previous studies to be either less- or not at all neuroinvasive. This is the first report of full genome sequences of highly neuroinvasive lineage II WNV strains. Currently available commercial WNV ELISA kits were developed with lineage I WNV strains and are expensive to use. For these reasons the development of a potential ELISA diagnostic assay based on the South African lineage II strain, H442, was envisaged. Such assay, if reliable and efficacious would be a useful tool towards WNV surveillance. The prM and E genes were selected to be expressed as recombinant antigens because of their co-expression nature and because the envelope protein is the principal target for neutralization. After cloning of the respective genes and verification of integrity, a mammalian expression system was utilized. Different mammalian cells and transfection media were tested and BHK 21 cells with SuperFect transfection medium were found to be best. Attempted expression of proteins was tested with immunofluorescent antibody testing as well as SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Expression of recombinant WNV antigens were also tested in indirect and sandwich ELISA’s systems. It was however not possible to perform these two ELISA systems at a satisfactory level or clearly indicated if expression of proteins was successful. / Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Parkinson’s disease (PD) impairs the quality of life of patients and causes substantial social and economic burden. However the currently available symptomatic treatments, although initially effective, do not satisfactorily control the progressive disability experienced by patients with PD in the long run. In order to develop effective treatments for patients that aim to attain the desired effect with as few adverse events as possible, it is crucial to be able to follow and understand the biological mechanisms underlying the continued neural degeneration and treatment failure. The efforts to understand the precise pathway by which neurodegenerative processes proceed and the development of approaches to modulate them offers the promise to eventually enable the prevention of these neurodegenerative diseases. This dissertation focused on two potential synthetic methods to produce pharmaceutical grade Fluorodopa, ultimately to be able to produce positron emitting 18Fluorodopa in South Africa with its potential for studying neuronal mechanisms in the brain. 18Fluorodopa allows a unique almost non-invasive in vivo approach to the evaluation of neurochemical function in the human brain and its local introduction will be a valuable addition to medical research within South Africa’s borders. The successful implementation of safe and efficient non-radioactive models for Fluorodopa synthesis was achieved. The successful demonstration of locally synthesised Fluorodopa safety, as well as a low toxicity profile, both in vitro using cell cultures and in vivo in mouse models was achieved. These were both positive outcomes of objectives set out for this study. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Pharmacology / unrestricted

Escherichia coli 0157:H7 is classified as a member of the enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) family. These organisms are responsible for a variety of clinical manifestations ranging from non-bloody diarrhoea to gross bloody diarrhoea with complications that include haemorrhagic colitis (HC), haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP). Infection occurs by the ingestion of faecally contaminated food products, water sources and through person-to-person contact. Outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported worldwide although most outbreaks seem to be from countries in the Northern hemisphere. Very little information is available on the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in South Africa. The only data available on E. coli O157:H7 were from a 1992 outbreak in Swaziland with some cases spreading to the adjacent provinces of South Africa. Selective methods were assessed and optimised to identify and isolate E. coli O157:H7 from food, water and faeces. These methods included culture techniques, immunomagnetic separation, immunoassays and molecular confirmation techniques. The methods optimised and assessed in this study proved to be suitable for the detection and isolation of E. coli O157:H7 from environmental water, food and faecal samples. In addition to the isolation of E. coli O157:H7 from these sources, methods were also optimised for the characterisation of E. coli O157:H7 using repetitive sequence analysis and induction of shiga toxin (Stx)¬converting phages which carry the genes coding for Stx from strains of E. coli O157:H7. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in human-, bovine- and porcine faeces, sewage and recreational waters was investigated in a selected region of South Africa. Data suggested a low prevalence in sewage (0.76%), recreational waters (0%) and human faecal (0%) samples with a higher prevalence among carriers such as cattle (12.5%) and pigs (14.29%). UV-induced Stx-converting phages were examined and found to have different phage morphologies to the previously described lambdoid structure. In order to establish the host range susceptibility of these phages, all induced phages were subjected to conditions favourable for infecting E. coli O157:H7, non-O157 E. coli and other members of the enterobacteriaceae family including Salmonella, Shigella, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Proteus. These results have shown that Stx-phages were able to infect Salmonella cholerasuis and produce infectious progeny from these strains. Stx-converting phages propagated in Salmonella cholerasuis were able to re-infect strains of E. coli O157:H7. This study has shown that IMS in combination with molecular techniques was a sensitive tool for the isolation, identification and characterisation of E. coli O157:H7 from different sources. Results indicated that Stx-phages induced from E. coli O157:H7 demonstrated lambdoid structure as well as phages with long hexagonal heads and long non-contractile tails. / Dissertation (MSc (Medical Virology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Medical Virology / unrestricted

In order to be able to determine the contribution of the tourism sector to the KwaZulu-Natal economy, the study starts by reviewing some economic indicators that show the contribution of different economic sectors to GDP and to the economy in general. Where possible a comparison was made with other provinces and the RSA. These comparisons showed that the KwaZulu-Natal economy still has many problems, such as a relatively low gross geographical product per capita and a high unemployment rate (32,2 per cent). However, it has the potential to be the largest contributor to the GDP of the country despite the political problems that are still prevalent in some areas of the province, and also the fact that it has the largest population compared to other provinces. The manufacturing sector is the highest contributor to GDP and during 1988 to 1994 its average contribution was 30,3 per cent, followed by trade and government sectors with 16 per cent and 13,4 per cent respectively. The study reviewed the economic principles underlying the tourism industry, and also attempted to put the tourism industry into perspective with other economic sectors. This revealed that the tourism industry by its nature falls into the category of service industries and that it is governed by the same economic principles that govern any market namely, demand and supply forces. Most importantly however, is the realisation that this industry has a significant macroeconomic impact, for example, on inflation, employment, balance of payments and economic growth. The study has attempted to elicit the views of those involved in tourism activities and through the use of secondary sources examined the position of the South African tourism industry to that in the world and more importantly the relative position of the KwaZulu-Natal tourism industry. This data showed that there is a steady increase in the tourists inflow from 1985 to 199 5 (from 728 000 to 4.5 million) and also revealed their spending patterns. Based on this data, projections were made for 1998 to 2006, and these projections are in line with most of the economic analysts' speculations that there will be a steady increase of foreign tourist arrivals for the next five to ten years. Thus, the study has taken both a qualitative and a quantitative approach. It was also found that in order for the tourism industry to contribute successfully to the economic growth of the province, it has to be properly developed and managed, which means that there has to be a policy that will guide the actions of all the interest groups, and all the appropriate structures has to be put in place following market development principles. The roles of different institutions, whether government, private sector or non-governmental organisations have to be defined and co-ordinated towards the same goals, that is, to have a tourism industry that is economically viable and that benefits all the communities. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Economics / unrestricted

No abstract available. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

Since 2002, the South African poultry industry has experienced outbreaks of Newcastle disease (ND) caused by a newly introduced virus (NDV) strain belonging to lineage 5d/VIId (“goose paramyxovirus” - GPMV). Control of the disease has proved difficult with commercially available vaccines appearing ineffective. In the first of two studies, broilers chicks were vaccinated with VG-GA vaccine (lineage II), then challenged with both GPMV and a “classic” challenge virus (RCV) of lineage 3d/VIII to compare the efficacy of the vaccine against both strains. In the second study, commercial and SPF hens in lay were vaccinated with La Sota vaccine and challenged with GPMV isolate, and immunohistochemistry staining used to determine the distribution pattern of viral antigen in the oviduct of the hens. The second study also compared the efficacy of cloacal and ocular routes of vaccination. The first study did not detect any statistically significant difference in protection offered by the vaccine against the GPMV strain in comparison to the RCV strain. The protection offered by the vaccine against challenge with both viruses was found to be dosedependant with 106.0 EID50 producing a 100% protection and 94.44% and 13.89% for 104.5 EID50 and 103.0 EID50 vaccination doses respectively. Protected birds did not manifest clinical signs, but still had macropathological lesions in some organs at necropsy. The computed protective doses (PD50 and PD90) for the VG-GA vaccine were 103.51 and 104.38 for GPMV and 103.79 and 104.43 for RCV. Results from the second study showed no clear difference in the protection of the oviduct from challenge with GPMV by either the cloacal and ocular routes of vaccination. Vaccinated birds were fully protected (100%) against challenge by La Sota vaccine, but not against infection and replication of the virus, as birds showed varying degrees of macropathology with numerous stained viral antigens in the oviducts demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. The susceptibility and colonisation of the oviduct of laying hens by both the lentogenic La Sota and the virulent NDV isolates was confirmed, with the uterus being more susceptible than magnum and isthmus. Necrosis and apoptosis of cells of the oviduct were not detected but cellular infiltration, gland dilatation and interstitial oedema were observed. / Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Science))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Production Animal Studies / unrestricted

Cut-Off Lows (COLs) are certainly amongst the most important synoptic-scale rain producing weather systems in South Africa. Rainfall associated with COLs is usually widespread, while about 20% of COLs are associated with heavy rainfall. Both these attributes of rainfall associated with COLs are important to agriculture. Widespread rainfall secures good grazing potential, while heavy rainfall not only contributes largely to maintaining dam levels that are needed for irrigation, but also to flooding and erosion. Agriculture in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is predominantly rain-fed, while agricultural activities that depend on irrigation are mostly located along the western coastal belt of the province. Despite of the fact that all COLs do not pass directly over the Eastern Cape Province, most of them appear to have a direct or indirect influence on the rainfall of the province, and in turn, impact on agricultural production and even the economy. In this study, the contribution of COLs to rainfall over the Eastern Cape Province is investigated. In order to achieve this, a climatology of COLs for the period 1979 to 2009 (31 years) was constructed by utilizing the National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) reanalysis data to create 6-hourly contour images of geopotential heights and air-temperatures at the 500 hPa pressure level. All COLs that occurred over South Africa bounded by 200S to 400S and 00E to 500E from the day they started (at the formation of a closed low pressure system) until the day they ended (at the disappearance of the closed low pressure system), and that were cold cored, were considered as potential COLs in this study. In addition, low level circulation maps obtained from the South African Weather Service’s (SAWS’s) daily weather bulletins were used to ensure that the defined COLs were indeed extending from the 500 hPa pressure level to the land surface. Daily rainfall totals from 22 well-distributed weather stations over the Eastern Cape Province were used to determine the contribution of COLs to the rainfall over the province. It was found that 64% of COLs that lasted for more than 24-hours over the study domain had an influence on the total rainfall over the Eastern Cape Province. Monthly frequency distribution of COLs reveal that April and May had the highest occurrences, while December and January have the least occurrence. Long-term seasonal frequencies distributions of COLs show the highest occurrence during March-April-May (MAM) with the least occurrences during December-January-February (DJF). Most COLs lasted for 2-4 days over South Africa and the Eastern Cape Province for the study period of 31-years. The contribution of rainfall associated with the occurrence of COLs is found to be approximate 37-38% annually along the coastal areas, while it is less than 10% annually over the interior of the Eastern Cape Province. / MSc / gm2014 / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / unrestricted