Exploring Challenges Experienced by Teachers in Implementing Inclusive Education in Classrooms: A South African Perspective

The implementation of inclusive education in schools in South Africa has not been fully achieved despite the existence of numerous policies on the same. However, there is very scanty information on current issues that are faced by teachers during the pandemic. Therefore, the present study sought to examine challenges experienced by teachers in implementing inclusive education in classrooms within a South African context. In this study, Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory was adopted. The phenomenological research design was adopted for this study. The selected sample size in this study was eight participants obtained using purposive sampling method. In this study, semi-structured interview was used as the data collection tool. Thematic framework was adopted to analyse data in this study. The study reported that there were four main themes on classroom challenges faced by teachers namely, limited instructional time, inadequate resources, inadequate support and lastly, impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The study recommends that teachers should adopt collaborative practices with school base support teams which had the capacity to mobilise several resources available on the local community to enhance implementation of inclusive education.

The birth of Boererate: women and healing during the South African war

This article reinterprets historical works on the history of medicine in South Africa and how present-day Afrikaner home-based healing therapies known as Boererate engage with this history. By reinterpreting historical sources, we illustrate how Boer women in concentration camps during the South African War were waging an ideological war. We argue that there is a distinction between the creolised medicines that Boer women took into the concentration camps and the body of knowledge — Boererate — that emerged from the camps after the women were released. The article brings archival research and interviews with interlocutors into conversation to show how a knowledge system like Boererate has persisted through time and become very popular in online forums and Facebook groups during the Covid-19 pandemic. The article is part of a wider project investigating Boererate in historical and diverse contemporary contexts. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] Este artigo reinterpreta estudos históricos sobre a história dos medicamentos na África do Sul e como as atuais terapias caseiras africâneres conhecidas como Boererate se relacionam com essa história. Ao reinterpretar as fontes históricas, ilustramos como as mulheres bôeres nos campos de concentração durante a Guerra Sul-Africana travavam uma guerra ideológica. Argumentamos que há uma distinção entre os medicamentos crioulizados que as mulheres bôeres levaram para os campos de concentração e o corpo de conhecimento – Boererate – que emergiu dos campos depois que as mulheres foram libertadas. O artigo coloca em diálogo pesquisas de arquivo e entrevistas com interlocutores para mostrar como um sistema de conhecimento como o Boererate persistiu ao longo do tempo e se tornou muito popular em fóruns online e grupos do Facebook durante a pandemia de Covid-19. O artigo faz parte de um projeto mais amplo que investiga o Boererate em contextos históricos e contemporâneos diversos. (Portuguese) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Anthropology Southern Africa (2332-3256) is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Effect of New Viral Variants on Neutralizing Antibody Potency and Breadth

South Africa has experienced several waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection following a slow vaccine roll-out. This resulted in extremely high population infection, with >98% of South Africans seropositive, and multiple cases of reinfection with diverse variants, which has shaped the quality and titers of antibody responses. South Africa also bears the brunt of the HIV pandemic, with 7.5 million PLWH. Of these, 2 million people do not access antiretroviral therapy, with implications for their ability to mount effective humoral responses, and to clear SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, Moore will describe population-level vaccine-induced and hybrid humoral immunity in PLWH and HIV-uninfected individuals.

Do South Africa's e-commerce VAT rules measure up to international trends and OECD guidelines?

Orientation: The taxability of e-commerce transactions have been the subject of many studies to protect governments from Value-Added Tax (VAT) erosion, illegal recovery and fraud. Research purpose: This study critically analyses the challenges posed by e-commerce transactions in South Africa's VAT Act . Recommendations are made for amendments to the VAT Act to improve rules to effectively tax e-commerce transactions occurring in South Africa. Motivation for the study: Globally, including in South Africa, enforcing relevant VAT legislation to target output tax collections and input tax credits from e-commerce transactions aptly remains a challenge. Research approach/design and method: By integrating qualitative literature reviews and comparative synthesis, this study employed a comparative legal methodology. VAT levied on e-commerce transactions in South Africa is compared to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's guidelines as well as New Zealand's and Australia's Goods and Services Tax legislations. Main Findings: While the South African VAT Act aligns with international best practices on the use of intermediaries, there are some differences as detailed in the study. Practical/managerial implications: To align with international trade counterparts, the South African VAT Act should differentiate between business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales. A provision concerning the place of consumption for bundled goods should be included in the VAT Act . The VAT Act should contain a provision that allows bad debts to be claimed on cash sales made instead of total sales made. Contribution/value-add: This study harmonises South African VAT legislation with international best practices within the context of continual advancement of e-commerce transactions.

Public health and democratic governance: COVID-19's impact on South Africa's democracy: ZfVP

The research is motivated by the need to determine the impact of South Africa's COVID-19 regulations on its quality of democracy. It takes into account the interests of individual (liberal) rights in competition with the state's interests of public security. Theoretical assumptions, based on classical democratic theories, which rely on the separation of powers and checks-and-balance principles, were used. The South African government architecture is assessed, especially in the context of accountability and oversight requirements. For this purpose, the relationship between the legislature and executive is most relevant. The South African government decided on a state of disaster to manage the pandemic, but it is contrasted with a state of emergency as the constitutional alternative. Its implementation, especially the institutional framework used for it, is analysed. The role of Parliament during the pandemic is used as an important test of the quality of democracy. The conclusions are that South Africa's democratic principles did not degenerate during the pandemic, as concluded by Freedom House, but the pandemic's major impact was on the quality of democracy. The state of disaster's institutions, for example, were not those prescribed by legislation. Moreover, Parliament's involvement in the state of disaster's decision-making was limited. The 2021 local government election, on the other hand, was judged free and fair and its outcomes have been implemented without any public challenges. The main negative outcome is the public's trust deficit in the ANC government's use and abuse of pandemic regulations.

Public health and democratic governance: COVID-19's impact on South Africa's democracy

The research is motivated by the need to determine the impact of South Africa's COVID-19 regulations on its quality of democracy. It takes into account the interests of individual (liberal) rights in competition with the state's interests of public security. Theoretical assumptions, based on classical democratic theories, which rely on the separation of powers and checks-and-balance principles, were used. The South African government architecture is assessed, especially in the context of accountability and oversight requirements. For this purpose, the relationship between the legislature and executive is most relevant. The South African government decided on a state of disaster to manage the pandemic, but it is contrasted with a state of emergency as the constitutional alternative. Its implementation, especially the institutional framework used for it, is analysed. The role of Parliament during the pandemic is used as an important test of the quality of democracy. The conclusions are that South Africa's democratic principles did not degenerate during the pandemic, as concluded by Freedom House, but the pandemic's major impact was on the quality of democracy. The state of disaster's institutions, for example, were not those prescribed by legislation. Moreover, Parliament's involvement in the state of disaster's decision-making was limited. The 2021 local government election, on the other hand, was judged free and fair and its outcomes have been implemented without any public challenges. The main negative outcome is the public's trust deficit in the ANC government's use and abuse of pandemic regulations. © 2023, The Author(s).

Predictors associated with critical care need and inhospital mortality among children with laboratoryconfirmed Covid-19 infection in a high HIV burden region

Introduction: Despite the extra mortality associated with Covid-19 death globally, little is known on COVID-19- related pediatric mortality in Africa. We assessed predictors of critical care needs and in-hospital mortality in South African children with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Method(s): A secondary analysis of AFREhealth cohort children (large cohort of paediatric Covid-19 clinical outcomes across six African countries) admitted to Inkosi-Albert-Luthuli hospital, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We used multivariable logistic regression and cox-proportional hazards models to explore predictors for intensive care and inhospital death. Result(s): Of the 82 children with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 35(42.7%) were younger than one year and 59(71%) had a comorbidity. 37(45.2%) children required critical care and 14(17%) died. Significant predictors of critical care need were age<=1year (vs.10-12years)(aOR:5.38,95%CI:1.28- 22.54,p=0.02), >=1comorbidity (aOR:6.62,95%CI:1.49-29.53,p=0.01) and increase in blood urea nitrogen/BUN (aOR:1.53,95%CI:1.13-2.07,p=0.001). HIV-infection (aHR:8.46,95%CI:1.45-49.26,p=0.02), invasive ventilation (aHR:3.59,95%CI:1.01-12.16,p=0.0.048), and BUN (aHR:1.06,95%CI:1.01-1.11,p=0.017) predicted death. Children admitted primarily (vs referred)to a quaternary hospital were less likely to die. Conclusion(s): Children with Covid-19 have a significant hospital death rate. A timely referral system and triage of children at risk for critical care and death, like those under 1 year and with comorbidities, should minimize excess mortality, especially in high HIV-infection burden regions.

Covid-19 customer experiences of self-service technology across pharmacies in South Africa

Using time-series data over a period of twelve months, Atlas.ti was employed to analyse the data extracted from Hello Peter, a South African online customer review and business platform, to assess Covid-19 customer reactions to e-services across South African pharmaceutical retailers. The focus was on the two largest retailers as they formed the bulk of the complaints. Multiple variables were grouped into relevant output variables. Content analysis was used as a guide in answering the research questions. Results showed that online pharmaceutical retailers had an attitude of no replies, equally ghosting customers. The study contribution is based on the understanding of customer reactions to the incidents of unacceptable online retailing services. The findings highlighted the profound implications on retailers to comprehend the importance of providing quality customer services to achieve customer satisfaction, leading to the establishment of profitable relationships, while also acknowledging that the implications were caused by the pandemic and could have been different. © 2023 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.

South African tabloid coverage of Covid19: The Daily Sun

Around the world, tabloid newspapers are routinely surrounded by a moral and cultural panic. They are criticised for lowering standards of journalism and privileging sensation above substance, diverting readers from serious news to entertainment, or foregoing ethical principles. However, scholarship about tabloids have also highlighted the ways in which these papers are frequently better attuned to their readers' everyday lived experience. In South Africa, tabloid newspapers have also received much criticism in the past for their perceived superficial treatment of important news. This article examines South African tabloid newspapers' coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic, focussing specifically on a case study of the national newspaper the Daily Sun. The national Daily Sun newspaper boasts the country's largest circulation figures. Through a quantitative content analysis of 1050 online news stories in the Daily Sun, we found that unlike mainstream front-page news reporting which was largely episodic, negative and alarmist, the majority of Daily Sun coverage was thematic and neutral. Daily Sun news coverage countered Covid-19 related misinformation and provided contextual coverage, with a large focus on the social impacts of Covid-19. The analysis concludes that despite the popular discourse of the reporting, Daily Sun reporting on Covid-19 provided readers with access to information and a focus on the micro aspects of the pandemic versus broader political issues and the views of political or scientific elites.

South African tabloid coverage of Covid19: The Daily Sun

Around the world, tabloid newspapers are routinely surrounded by a moral and cultural panic. They are criticised for lowering standards of journalism and privileging sensation above substance, diverting readers from serious news to entertainment, or foregoing ethical principles. However, scholarship about tabloids have also highlighted the ways in which these papers are frequently better attuned to their readers' everyday lived experience. In South Africa, tabloid newspapers have also received much criticism in the past for their perceived superficial treatment of important news. This article examines South African tabloid newspapers' coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic, focussing specifically on a case study of the national newspaper the Daily Sun. The national Daily Sun newspaper boasts the country's largest circulation figures. Through a quantitative content analysis of 1050 online news stories in the Daily Sun, we found that unlike mainstream front-page news reporting which was largely episodic, negative and alarmist, the majority of Daily Sun coverage was thematic and neutral. Daily Sun news coverage countered Covid-19 related misinformation and provided contextual coverage, with a large focus on the social impacts of Covid-19. The analysis concludes that despite the popular discourse of the reporting, Daily Sun reporting on Covid-19 provided readers with access to information and a focus on the micro aspects of the pandemic versus broader political issues and the views of political or scientific elites. © The Author(s) 2023.

Food insecurity and coping strategies and their association with anxiety and depression: a nationally representative South African survey.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate food insecurity and related coping strategies among South African households and their associations with anxiety and depression. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Food insecurity and coping strategies were assessed using a modified Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project and the Coping Strategies Index questionnaires. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were used to assess anxiety and depression risk. Ordered logistic regressions were used to test associations of food insecurity and related coping strategies with anxiety and depression. SETTING: South Africa during COVID-19, October 2021. PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative sample of 3402 adults, weighted to 39,640,674 South African households. RESULTS: About 20·4 % of South African households were food insecure, with the most affected being from the lowest socio-economic groups. Shifting from 'food secure' to 'at risk' or from 'at risk' to 'food insecure' group was associated with 1·7 times greater odds of being in a higher category of anxiety or depression (P < 0·001). All coping strategies were used to some extent in South African households, with 46·0 % relying on less preferred and less expensive foods and 20·9 % sending a household member to beg for food. These coping strategies were mostly used by food-insecure households. Although the odds of moving to a higher category of anxiety and depression were observed among all coping strategies (all P < 0·001), begging for food was associated with the highest odds (OR = 2·3). CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity remains a major health threat in South Africa. Public measures to address mental health should consider reductions in food insecurity as part of their strategy.

A Comparative Risk-adjusted Performance Evaluation of South African SRI Funds and the FTSE/JSE over the Covid-19 Period

Socially responsible investing is a growing investment philosophy that has gained profound interest in both the local and international context. Socially conscious investors are seeking alternative ways to make more responsible investment choices, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. Although financial markets experienced a significant decrease owing to the pandemic, a more positive outcome was eminent by an increased demand in SRI products during this period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of local SRI funds before, during and after the Covid-19 period. Comparatively evaluating the performance relative to the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index and All Share Index, will assist investors (those with a heightened desire to invest responsibly) to establish if SRI funds were able to provide higher risk-adjusted returns than the comparable SRI and general equity markets. The results indicated that although larger returns were produced by SRI funds during the Covid-19 period and that significant differences were found relative to the two indices, SRI funds were not able to consistently outperform either index. Thus, socially conscious investors are likely to achieve higher risk-adjusted returns from the SRI index, although not receiving diversification benefits from investing in funds.

Factors affecting consumer acceptance and use of mobile delivery applications in South Africa

Background: During the 2020 global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, mobile delivery applications flourished, facilitating consumer access to groceries. Research has shown, however, that usage remains low in developing countries such as South Africa. Objectives: This research identifies factors that affect the acceptance and use of a mobile delivery application. It provides recommendations for application designers to improve application functionality and usability and for retailers to better understand customer needs. Method: This research adopted an interpretivist stance, utilising the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use 2 (UTAUT2) as a theoretical framework. Data were collected and analysed from 4159 Google Play Store customer reviews using thematic content analysis. Reviews were anonymised, coded and categorised according to the UTAUT2 model constructs. Results: Performance expectancy and facilitating conditions were found to affect acceptance and use of the application. Effort expectancy, hedonic motivation and cost price had a moderate effect. Social influence, habit and price value did not impact the use of the mobile delivery application. Users will depend not only on recommendations from friends and family but also on service costs. Conclusion: This research revealed that users are more likely to accept and use a mobile delivery application if they find it helpful and receive quick assistance when facing technical challenges. Contribution: This research identifies factors that affect the acceptance and use of a mobile delivery application in a geographical area where usage remains low. Retailers may attract more customers and find more success in mobile delivery services by addressing customer concerns and challenges.

Shaping the landscape of early childhood education: An overview of two special issues

Without a doubt, South Africa will need to resolve problems such as load-shedding, cost of data, access to relevant devices and specific relevant training in technology before we will truly see the progress and benefits we would like in this regard. The use of the Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) as a tool to track the development of children in ECD was revisited to determine its efficacy. [...]the two special issues that SAJCE has compiled demonstrate the variety and diversity of the early childhood landscape.

Student resilience to COVID-19-related school disruptions: The value of historic school engagement

Does historic school engagement buffer the threats of disrupted schooling – such as those associated with the widespread COVID-19-related school closures – to school engagement equally for female and male high school students? This article responds to that pressing question. To do so, it reports a study that was conducted in 2018 and 2020 with the same sample of South African students (n = 172;66.30% female;average age in 2020: 18.13). A moderated moderation model of the 2018 and 2020 data showed that historic levels of school engagement buffered the negative effects of disrupted schooling on subsequent school engagement (R² = .43, β = −5.09, p < .05). This protective effect was significant for girl students at moderate and high levels of historic school engagement, but not at lower levels of historic school engagement. Disrupted schooling did not significantly affect school engagement for male students at any level of historic school engagement. In addition, student perceptions of teacher kindness were associated with higher school engagement and having experienced an adverse event at school with lower school engagement. The results point to the importance of facilitating school engagement and enabling school environments – also when schooling is disrupted. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Students' Perceptions Towards Instructor-Developed Screencasts as a Stand-Alone Method of Instruction on Whatsapp in an Introductory Statistics Course during Covid-19

E-learning and access to internet facilities remain a problem for many students in South Africa. The purpose of this article is to assess students' perceptions of the use of WhatsApp as an online learning technology together with instructor-developed screencasts as a stand-alone method instruction in an introductory statistics course during the COVID-19 pandemic at a South African university. The responses to an open-ended questionnaire showed that students preferred WhatsApp over the university's student learning platform. Although it is advocated to use screencasts to supplement traditional lectures, the findings of this research revealed that instructor-developed screencasts have the potential to be used as a stand-alone method instruction for the teaching and learning of introductory statistics. Participants' responses also revealed that, apart from the electronic connection they had on WhatsApp, they valued the emotional connection as well. The sharing, support, love, as well as cooperation among the lecturer and students emphasised the importance of ubuntu in educational settings. Furthermore, the results revealed that the attitude and support of a lecturer play a crucial role in providing an online atmosphere where students feel safe and comfortable, especially during the pandemic period.

The Pedagogic Domain and Epistemic Access in South African Higher Education: The Challenges for Students with Disabilities during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The unexpected emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on diverse students' epistemic access in the context of South African higher education. While this has seen an increasing urge for research to understand epistemic access and success of disadvantaged students, there has not been a specific focus on the issue as it specifically relates to students with disabilities, who are unique in their own way, thereby requiring an intervention that considers their differences. Using the decolonial analytical framework, the article explored the challenges in the pedagogic domain, and their implications for the epistemic access of students with disabilities during the pandemic. Data were collected through the synthesis of international and South African literature on the issue, as it specifically relates to students with disabilities during the pandemic. The key finding was that the pandemic exacerbated the pedagogic challenges already confronted by students with disabilities, thereby gravely affecting their access to learning. The objective of the article was to present the pedagogic challenges and how they have limited students with disabilities' epistemic access, as exacerbated by the pandemic. This was so that interventions that could assist their learning in the "new normal", could be thought about, in the South African context, in Africa and globally.

University students’ experiences of learning in an online environment in COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-methods research study of perceptions and attitudes of South African students

The purpose of this meta-methods study was to examine challenges experienced by students that hinder their ability successfully to learn online during the emergency remote teaching of a South African University that began in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, 4,419 students completed an online questionnaire. Analyses of the open-ended responses via WordStat 8.0.29 topic modeling and VOSviewer 1.6.14 text mining, independently led to the identification of five meta-themes, indicating triangulation of findings. Most notably, mental health issues emerged as an important meta-theme, with 10% of the participants reporting mental health challenges. Implications of these findings are discussed.

COVID-19 Vaccination intentions and related factors in South Africa: results from a large-scale public survey

Introduction/ Background: Despite COVID-19 vaccines being ubiquitous in South Africa, 30% of the population are vaccinated. Understanding socio-behavioural determinants of vaccination intention can inform interventions to improve vaccination uptake. We assessed the intentions and attitudes regarding the COVID-19 vaccinations and the socio-behavioural factors associated with intention to vaccinate among South African adults. Methods: Data was analysed from a large-scale public survey conducted in South Africa from 25 June-15 September 2021. The survey was administered online using a data-free platform and telephonically. Invitations to participate were widely distributed on social media platforms. Vaccination intention was based on the question “When available, would you take the COVID 19 vaccine?” Data were benchmarked using the general population demographics. Bivariate analyses examined the association between vaccination intentions and explanatory variables that included attitudinal, behavioural, and sociodemographic variables. Results: 73.8% reported they would definitely/probably take the vaccine, 16.4% were uncertain and 9.9% reported they probably or definitely would not (N=14,419). 63.4% thought vaccines are useful to protect communities from disease;over 60% were concerned about vaccination-related side-effects;72.9% heard conflicting information about COVID-19 vaccinations and 18.7% felt their religion/culture would discourage them or their families from being vaccinated. Vaccination intentions were significantly lower for 18-29-year-olds, women;those concerned about side-effects;who felt their religion/culture discouraged them, who thought there was inadequate safety information about the vaccines, and who questioned their effectiveness due to fast development. Impact: The study identifies subgroups of individuals for whom targeted public health interventions and health communication should be prioritised and tailored in order to improve intentions to vaccinate. Behavioural interventions can be tailored to address the identified determinants of vaccination intentions. Conclusion: Young age, gender;concerns about side-effects, safety information and effectiveness due to the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccines, and cultural or religious concerns were determinants of the intentions to receive a vaccine among South African adults.

Covid-19 vaccination uptake in uMkhanyakude district South Africa, April-November 2021

Introduction/ Background: Vaccination is fundamental to COVID-19 epidemic control, however, hesitancy and other barriers may undermine high vaccine uptake in Africa as elsewhere. We measured vaccine hesitancy and its correlates over a six-month period as national rollout took place, in a continuous surveillance programme in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: From April-September 2021 we conducted rolling COVID-19 surveys (telephonic and in-person) with adult members (age 18+) of households in the SAPRIN network demographic & health node in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Proxy respondents were asked to report vaccine uptake by household members every four months (n=26,934), and their own vaccine willingness (n=8,359) and reasons to accept/decline a vaccine (n=10,936). We measured how vaccine uptake and willingness differed by age, sex and time. We conducted adjusted multivariable regressions to see how vaccine hesitancy was associated with COVID-related: knowledge;past experience;perceived risk;and government trust. Results: By September, vaccine update was 52.4% among over-60s (eligible 17 May), 35.6% in 50-59 year-olds (1 July), 16.8% in 35-59 year-olds (1 August) and 3.3% in 18-34 year-olds (1 September). Only 52.1% of unvaccinated individuals said they definitely would get a free vaccine today. Vaccine hesitancy was associated with less trust in government (aOR:0.79;95%CI:0.74-0.84), lower perceived risk of getting COVID-19 (aOR:1.58;95%CI:1.32-1.88) and not knowing someone who has had COVID-19 (aOR:0.70;95%CI:0.55-0.90), but not concern about COVID-19 outcomes or COVID-19 knowledge. Common hesitancy reasons included were generic concerns (fear of needles) and COVID-19-specific ones (vaccine does not work;side-effects). Impact: Published evidence on COVID-19 vaccine willingness in Africa is mostly limited to knowledge and intentions, often from convenience samples. We have presented this work, linking intentions, vaccine uptake and hesitancy reasons, to national government to help guide their COVID-19 policymaking and intervention to maximize vaccine coverage, thus protecting against COVID-19. Conclusion: Despite cost-free availability and high self-reported willingness, many rural South Africans remain unvaccinated. Reported barriers to uptake most often relate to concerns about vaccines, rather than practical issues, e.g., cost or transport. Addressing perceived negative aspects of vaccines may be central in maximizing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Africa as elsewhere.