Abstract Cronobacter spp. are opportunistic foodborne pathogens associated with infections in neonates and infants, particularly those that are premature or immunocompromised. Outbreaks of Cronobacter infections in infants have been epidemiologically linked to the consumption of contaminated powdered infant formulae. Since the designation of Enterobacter sakazakii (now Cronobacter spp.) as a unique species in 1980, a number of methods have been proposed for its detection and identification. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare different tools used for the identification of presumptive Cronobacter isolates. The bioMérieux API 20E biochemical bacterial identification kit (Omnimed (Pty), Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa) was shown not to be a reliable identification tool for the Cronobacter strains examined in the current study, since it gave false-positive results. The API 50CHE biochemical kit was shown to be more reliable giving similar results to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection and DNA sequence data. The primer pair Esakf/Esakr proved to be the most reliable PCR identification tool.Additional differentiating traits and antibiotic patterns were demonstrated for Cronobacter species in the current study.

Abstract Purpose – The article aims to report on an examination of South African Police Service (SAPS) recruits for indicators evincing the presence of the police culture theme of isolation. The research also seeks to determine if the presence of isolation as characteristic of SAPS recruits is gender neutral as well as whether indicators of social isolation change over the period of basic recruit training as well as during the first period of encounter, field training.

Abstract The study evaluated the effect of different cryoprotectants on post-thaw survival and motility of Kolbroek sperm. Semen from Kolbroek boars was collected with the gloved hand technique. Ejaculates were diluted with Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) at a ratio of 1 : 1 prior to freezing. Semen was diluted with egg yolk tris; thereafter, one of the three cryoprotectants (14% glycerol, 14% DMSO or 7% glycerol + 7% DMSO) were added. Diluted samples were then loaded into 0.5 mL straws and cooled with a programmable freezer. Thereafter the semen straws were plunged directly into liquid nitrogen (-196 °C) and stored for 48 h. Frozen straws were thawed at 39 °C for a minute and evaluated for sperm motility and survival at 0, 30, 60 and 90 min post-thaw. The post-thaw sperm survival frozen using glycerol as a cryoprotectant was significantly higher immediately after thawing, compared to DMSO, however, similar to the combination of glycerol and DMSO. There was no significant difference on motility rate immediately (0 min) post-thaw between the three cryoprotectants. Sperm cryopreserved with glycerol exhibited a significantly higher percentage motility at 30, 60 and 90 min post-thaw than in the other cryoprotectants. Based on sperm motility, glycerol was a better cryoprotectant for cryopreservation of Kolbroek boar sperm.

Abstract The creation of nine provincial governments in 1994 held great promise as a key reform towards meeting the ideals of democracy and inclusiveness, in addition to representing an attempt to make government more efficient and effective. Nine provinces superseded an apartheid-based system of governing that defined the Republic of South Africa as four provinces containing self-governing territories and independent homelands for Africans. In cognisance of emerging arguments that propose that the South African government would operate more efficiently and effectively in the absence of this middle sphere of government, this article seeks to challenge such claims. Undoubtedly, provinces are hampered by a number of challenges, not the least of which relates to their limited abilities to generate sufficient own revenue. At the same time much of the responsibility for the provision of public goods and services rests with the provinces in the manner specified in Schedules 4 and 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. The natural question arising from the latter situation is – if not for Provinces, would either local government or national government be able to fill the void that would be left behind by the exit (partial or otherwise) of provinces? In light of the above-noted arguments and counter-arguments, the right of existence of provincial government(s) is briefly explored.

This dissertation is a study of agricultural failure. It follows the efforts of settlers, then scientists, to impose cotton as a commodity crop in the eastern region of South Africa, known today as KwaZulu-Natal. Touted as a commodity crop capable of remaking land and life in this region in the 1850s, the 1860s, at the turn of the century, and again in the 1930s, cotton never achieved more than marginal status in the agricultural economy. Its story is one of historical amnesia: although faith in the region’s cotton prospects dipped following each spectacular failure, it was routinely resurrected once previous failures had been accounted for, or memories of them had faded. Two crucial issues are at the centre of this episodic history. First, I explore the enthusiasms that underpinned successive efforts to introduce cotton, the logistics of planned expansion, and the reasons for the repeated collapse of cotton-growing schemes. My primary argument is that cotton failed because colonists lacked the technology to overcome natural constraints to production, in the form of temperature, rainfall, soils and insect pests. Settlers and scientists could not remake the land, the climate, or the cotton plant to meet their needs or realize their dreams. They attempted to overcome obstacles to production through settlement schemes, new agricultural inputs, and breeding technologies, but were unable to conquer the ecological incompatibilities between theoretical ambition and practical cultivation. This dissertation stresses the limits of colonial agriculture when confronted with unsuitable growing conditions. Second, I aim to unravel the side effects of the repeated failures of cotton production in Natal and Zululand. I turn the question of agricultural failure on its head to ask what was achieved through these repeated attempts to develop cotton as a commodity crop. I concentrate on the outcomes of these difficult and disappointing efforts at cotton cultivation – increased settler presence, stronger delineation between settler and African space, expanded state control into rural areas – and argue that, despite repeated failure, cotton facilitated important structural changes to the region’s agricultural, political and economic landscape.

<p>Under the United Nations Charter, the Security Council may decide what measures, not involving the use of armed force, are to be employed to give effect to its decisions and may call upon member States to apply such measures in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.2 One of the measures that can be decided on is sanctions. Sanctions have, to a large extent, been imposed to defend human rights. Economic sanctions were commonly believed to be a mechanism that was a humane alternative to war. During the last decade, the Security Council has applied economic sanctions in several cases that, in turn, have drawn the attention of different United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms to their possible impact on the enjoyment of human rights.3 Fundamentally, any economic sanctions programme&rsquo / s main objective is to induce dysfunction in the trade and financial systems of the target State.</p>

<p> For decades the occurrences of genocide, war, and conflict have been documented and data have been collected on the numbers of those displaced and/or lost their life. Historically, however, there has been a dearth of research pertaining to the psychological response of those who have survived exposure to these events. Emerging studies are investigating the symptomology and manifestations of the trauma induced by exposure to genocide, war, and conflict events. Nonetheless, there continues to be a lack of research regarding treatment. The present qualitative study, which utilized semistructured interviews as data collection methods, investigated the culturally based manifestations of PTSD and treatment modalities specific to survivors of genocide, war, and conflict currently residing in South Africa. Study participants included a variety of health care workers. Several exposure-specific and culturally relative themes emerged related to the trauma resulting from these events, such as survivors losing their sense of self-identity, having a distrust of others, and feeling as though there is a lack of justice in the world. These themes, along with other interventions and modalities of treatment for PTSD, were employed to create broad clinical recommendations for treatment. The recommendations centered on the health care worker having both a cultural and systemic understanding of clients and their presenting concerns. The results of this study provide valuable information regarding how individuals experience, perceive, and cope with trauma that can be applicable to a broad range of health care personnel. Additionally, these are data that can impact the design of future treatment modalities for PTSD.</p>

The challenge of the South African government and economic policy is to achieve sustainable growth. Sufficient jobs are not being created after the political change that occurred in 1994. To address these challenges economic policy of government are analysed relative to theory, to lessons learned from East Asia (international best practice) and to recommendations of international economic organizations. This study is divided into 8 chapters. Chapter 1 comprises a general introduction to economic policy which addresses a particular economic phenomenon and explains the nature of the relationships between different economic variables, the research problem and the objectives of the study. Chapter 2 an overview of the theories of growth is described. The theories of economic policy are also described as well as a chronological outlay of all economic policies that influenced growth since the new political dispensation in 1994. In chapter 3 the first article analyses all the macroeconomic policies and reasons are sought why sufficient jobs are not being created after the 1994 political change that occurred. In chapter 4 the second article focuses on monetary policy. Against price stability as the primary objective of inflation targeting, the role of COSATU is analysed regarding the relation between inflation and growth. In chapter 5 the third article analyses the reasons for volatility and the macro prudential measures available to monetary authorities. The consequence of the 2008 financial crisis was reduced growth in the world and currency volatility. In chapter 6 the fourth article analyses the limitations in applying existing instruments to achieve financial stability. A new perspective is debated to reduce inflation to counter the negative impact of a volatile exchange rate towards economic growth. In chapter 7 the fifth article analyses the causes and challenges of high government debt created by counter cyclical fiscal policy. This high government debt neutralizes the sustainability of a stimulatory stance of fiscal policy which is needed in South Africa. In chapter 8 the conclusions and recommendations are presented about important policy aspects to ensure financial stability and sustained growth. Unemployment has always been a concern in less developed countries and the concern increased after the USA financial crisis of 2008. Probable reasons for unemployment in less developed countries are a lack of resources, a lack of capital and a lack of skills. The peculiar economic scenario of South Africa is analysed. South Africa possesses very high unemployment rates according to international standards. The probable solution is high sustainable growth. Before 1994 South Africa could not attract foreign capital to finance growth because of the prevailing political dispensation. After 1994 South Africa attracted substantial foreign capital (however volatile in nature) which did not create sustainable growth. Regardless of this bigger volatile capital inflow, national saving as a percentage of GDP continued to deteriorate. There exist numerous structural problems in the South African economy. A new and fresh viewpoint regarding the application of policies is debated to address imbalances in the economy and to create sustainable growth. The unacceptable low levels of growth and low levels of employment have to be addressed in a new manner to create long term solutions. The answer to these problems cannot be found in short term economic- and short term political activities of the authorities. The cornerstones for development are anchored in the new strategic plan of the Department of Planning. Elements of various theories, for example the Neoclassical growth model and elements of policy theories are addressed. The developments in East Asia are addressed as well as recommendations of international economic organizations. Answers are sought to create sustainable growth in South Africa. / Thesis (PhD (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

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This dissertation is a study of agricultural failure. It follows the efforts of settlers, then scientists, to impose cotton as a commodity crop in the eastern region of South Africa, known today as KwaZulu-Natal. Touted as a commodity crop capable of remaking land and life in this region in the 1850s, the 1860s, at the turn of the century, and again in the 1930s, cotton never achieved more than marginal status in the agricultural economy. Its story is one of historical amnesia: although faith in the region’s cotton prospects dipped following each spectacular failure, it was routinely resurrected once previous failures had been accounted for, or memories of them had faded. Two crucial issues are at the centre of this episodic history. First, I explore the enthusiasms that underpinned successive efforts to introduce cotton, the logistics of planned expansion, and the reasons for the repeated collapse of cotton-growing schemes. My primary argument is that cotton failed because colonists lacked the technology to overcome natural constraints to production, in the form of temperature, rainfall, soils and insect pests. Settlers and scientists could not remake the land, the climate, or the cotton plant to meet their needs or realize their dreams. They attempted to overcome obstacles to production through settlement schemes, new agricultural inputs, and breeding technologies, but were unable to conquer the ecological incompatibilities between theoretical ambition and practical cultivation. This dissertation stresses the limits of colonial agriculture when confronted with unsuitable growing conditions. Second, I aim to unravel the side effects of the repeated failures of cotton production in Natal and Zululand. I turn the question of agricultural failure on its head to ask what was achieved through these repeated attempts to develop cotton as a commodity crop. I concentrate on the outcomes of these difficult and disappointing efforts at cotton cultivation – increased settler presence, stronger delineation between settler and African space, expanded state control into rural areas – and argue that, despite repeated failure, cotton facilitated important structural changes to the region’s agricultural, political and economic landscape.