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Papers by Thokozani Simelane
World cities have, over the past several decades, been experiencing wide-ranging and sustained ad... more World cities have, over the past several decades, been experiencing wide-ranging and sustained advances in production processes, as well as improvement in consumption and standards of living. Related to these developments has been the rise in population, giving rise in turn to new challenges. Among them is increased solid waste (SW) generation. The African continent, just like other developing continents, such as Latin America and Asia, has been greatly affected by rapid urban population growth, particularly during the nineteenth century, causing unprecedented demand on municipalities to provide services such as waste collection, transportation, treatment and disposal.1 These sentiments are echoed by various scholars, who posit that African cities have continued to experience rapid growth, both physical and demographic, which can be directly linked to modernisation and globalisation processes. This has placed many local authorities under immense pressure to provide an efficient and ...
The truth about the origins of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be evasive. Wh... more The truth about the origins of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be evasive. While hope is growing that the world might one day conquer this deadly virus, as evidence points to a declining trend in new infections, the question that still eludes researchers is where this virus originated, and how it was introduced to the human species. For Africa, which is very much affected by the virus and the associated acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), indications are that it initially occurred in Central Africa, with green monkeys being blamed as the source. While Africa can live with this claim, the second question which emerges is: if AIDS initially occurred in Central Africa, how did it subsequently spread to other parts of the continent and end up being so much embedded in Southern Africa? This brief attempts to provide some clues that call for another look at South Africa’s biological warfare as a potential mode through which HIV and Aids could have been distribu...
Africa’s continued dependency on foreign medicines and intellectual property (IP) is increasingly... more Africa’s continued dependency on foreign medicines and intellectual property (IP) is increasingly becoming a serious concern. This is compounded by an upsurge in drug resisting diseases like N1H1 and Tuberculosis that have been witnessed in the past years. A threat posed by the safety-concerned is that some of these diseases are potential agents of weapons of mass destruction. Of notable significance is that even though the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement has provided opportunities for African countries to review and adjust their intellectual property systems so as to migrate towards producing their own medicines. African countries have failed to capitalise on these opportunities. This is due to various reasons. First being a possibility that most African countries are still dependent on donor funds for their health systems, thus reviewing IP policies might upset funding arrangements. Second, being that some Af...
As the world is preparing for a post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era, reflecting on what ... more As the world is preparing for a post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era, reflecting on what has been achieved in the development discourse is critical. While the world has managed to change significantly since the MDGs were endorsed, there are a number of complexities that have also emerged. While these have been salient all the time, they have since become prominent, the most notable one being the different levels on which countries have managed to achieve the MDGs. Although Africa has been part of the MDGs agenda, the continent has not achieved most of the MDGs. It still lags behind in many areas. These include, among others, poverty reduction and hunger. One of the reasons for this situation has been Africa’s dependency on donor funding in implementing programmes that are linked to MDGs. After 2015, Africa expects a more inclusive framework that will emphasise economic, technological, social and environmental support in order to deal successfully with the complex realities o...
Future Directions of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Africa, 2015
The demand for vertebrates by traditional healers in South Africa suggests that the use of these ... more The demand for vertebrates by traditional healers in South Africa suggests that the use of these animals in traditional medicinal or cultural practices has major conservation implications. This is supported by the fact that 31% of vertebrates used in these practices are listed in South African Red Data Books, indicating that their conservation status is already a matter of concern. Of those vertebrates used, mammals (65%) constitute the largest proportion, followed by birds (22%), reptiles (11%) and amphibians (1.3%). Some of these vertebrates (more especially those with critical conservation status) are significantly less available in the market. We suggest that, whereas this form of resource use has been largely ignored in the past, it may represent a threat to the conservation of biodiversity if poorly managed. It may also provide an opportunity to aid the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous vertebrates if properly managed.
Africa Insight, 2011
ABSTRACT The need for quantitative interpretation of urban dynamics poses a challenge,given the i... more ABSTRACT The need for quantitative interpretation of urban dynamics poses a challenge,given the idiosyncratic complexities that distinguish various stages of citytransformation. In this study, statistical methods provide the standard paradigm for identifying general factors leading to urban transformation and the subsequent loss of attractiveness by a city, often by modelling dichotomous indicators of observed factors or characteristics as logistic response functions of measurable macrostructural variables. The hypothesisthat South Africa’s major cities are transforming and are thus on the verge oflosing their attractiveness is investigated.
Africa Insight, 2010
ABSTRACT There is a link between African Traditional Knowledge Systems and the management of Biod... more ABSTRACT There is a link between African Traditional Knowledge Systems and the management of Biodiversity. These have been passed over from one generation to the next through oral tradition. The lack of documentation of these systems of managing biodiversity has led to the existence of a gap between the scientifi cally based systems of managing biodiversity and the traditional methods that have been in existence for years. These are based on traditional ecological knowledge, which is largely based on traditional beliefs, cultures, superstition and social traditions. Notably, while African traditional methods of managing biodiversity have succeeded in promoting the conservation of certain elements of biodiversity, they have failed to develop conservation knowledge and awareness among societies, because people avoided harvesting resources from sacred areas out of fear rather than with a declared purpose and interest in conservation.
African Journal of Ecology, 2009
Grazing is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems and this can be provided by both in... more Grazing is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems and this can be provided by both indigenous and domestic ungulates. However, a question remains whether or not traditional forms of land use such as the grazing of domestic animals support the maintenance of biodiversity. If it does not, then the second question becomes to what extent does grazing of domestic animals alter the systems and processes that support biodiversity? This study demonstrates that in attempting to answer this question, small organisms like dung beetles are ideal indicators that can be used to express significant differences between conserved (indigenous) and non‐conserved (domestic) land. As a general trend, studies that investigated these differences displayed differences through analysis of the diversity indices. This method has in most cases demonstrated a lack of contrast between conserved and non‐conserved land. In the existence of such uncertainty this study has demonstrated that in such cases...
Research for development, 2023
Journal of Digital Food, Energy & Water Systems, 2020
Most cities in South Africa are in dire need of water security. Intervention measures to reduce t... more Most cities in South Africa are in dire need of water security. Intervention measures to reduce the risk of water shortages now and the near future are urgently needed. This can possibly be attained through the diversification of water sources and the application of smart or digital technologies to reduce water wastage. Meaning that, cities which are at risk of water scarcity may consider a variety of alternative means, which includes smart technologies and efficient use of recycled water to meet the ever-increasing demand. In this study the status of water security and sanitation in two inland cities (i.e. Mbombela (Nelspruit) and Polokwane (Pietersburg)) was investigated. A gap between supply and demand for water to households was found to be large. The primary demand for water derives from households that are connected to the municipal reticulation system and used for drinking and sanitation. Water security concerns were found to be from households in need of water supply and...
World cities have, over the past several decades, been experiencing wide-ranging and sustained ad... more World cities have, over the past several decades, been experiencing wide-ranging and sustained advances in production processes, as well as improvement in consumption and standards of living. Related to these developments has been the rise in population, giving rise in turn to new challenges. Among them is increased solid waste (SW) generation. The African continent, just like other developing continents, such as Latin America and Asia, has been greatly affected by rapid urban population growth, particularly during the nineteenth century, causing unprecedented demand on municipalities to provide services such as waste collection, transportation, treatment and disposal.1 These sentiments are echoed by various scholars, who posit that African cities have continued to experience rapid growth, both physical and demographic, which can be directly linked to modernisation and globalisation processes. This has placed many local authorities under immense pressure to provide an efficient and ...
The truth about the origins of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be evasive. Wh... more The truth about the origins of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be evasive. While hope is growing that the world might one day conquer this deadly virus, as evidence points to a declining trend in new infections, the question that still eludes researchers is where this virus originated, and how it was introduced to the human species. For Africa, which is very much affected by the virus and the associated acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), indications are that it initially occurred in Central Africa, with green monkeys being blamed as the source. While Africa can live with this claim, the second question which emerges is: if AIDS initially occurred in Central Africa, how did it subsequently spread to other parts of the continent and end up being so much embedded in Southern Africa? This brief attempts to provide some clues that call for another look at South Africa’s biological warfare as a potential mode through which HIV and Aids could have been distribu...
Africa’s continued dependency on foreign medicines and intellectual property (IP) is increasingly... more Africa’s continued dependency on foreign medicines and intellectual property (IP) is increasingly becoming a serious concern. This is compounded by an upsurge in drug resisting diseases like N1H1 and Tuberculosis that have been witnessed in the past years. A threat posed by the safety-concerned is that some of these diseases are potential agents of weapons of mass destruction. Of notable significance is that even though the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement has provided opportunities for African countries to review and adjust their intellectual property systems so as to migrate towards producing their own medicines. African countries have failed to capitalise on these opportunities. This is due to various reasons. First being a possibility that most African countries are still dependent on donor funds for their health systems, thus reviewing IP policies might upset funding arrangements. Second, being that some Af...
As the world is preparing for a post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era, reflecting on what ... more As the world is preparing for a post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era, reflecting on what has been achieved in the development discourse is critical. While the world has managed to change significantly since the MDGs were endorsed, there are a number of complexities that have also emerged. While these have been salient all the time, they have since become prominent, the most notable one being the different levels on which countries have managed to achieve the MDGs. Although Africa has been part of the MDGs agenda, the continent has not achieved most of the MDGs. It still lags behind in many areas. These include, among others, poverty reduction and hunger. One of the reasons for this situation has been Africa’s dependency on donor funding in implementing programmes that are linked to MDGs. After 2015, Africa expects a more inclusive framework that will emphasise economic, technological, social and environmental support in order to deal successfully with the complex realities o...
Future Directions of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Africa, 2015
The demand for vertebrates by traditional healers in South Africa suggests that the use of these ... more The demand for vertebrates by traditional healers in South Africa suggests that the use of these animals in traditional medicinal or cultural practices has major conservation implications. This is supported by the fact that 31% of vertebrates used in these practices are listed in South African Red Data Books, indicating that their conservation status is already a matter of concern. Of those vertebrates used, mammals (65%) constitute the largest proportion, followed by birds (22%), reptiles (11%) and amphibians (1.3%). Some of these vertebrates (more especially those with critical conservation status) are significantly less available in the market. We suggest that, whereas this form of resource use has been largely ignored in the past, it may represent a threat to the conservation of biodiversity if poorly managed. It may also provide an opportunity to aid the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous vertebrates if properly managed.
Africa Insight, 2011
ABSTRACT The need for quantitative interpretation of urban dynamics poses a challenge,given the i... more ABSTRACT The need for quantitative interpretation of urban dynamics poses a challenge,given the idiosyncratic complexities that distinguish various stages of citytransformation. In this study, statistical methods provide the standard paradigm for identifying general factors leading to urban transformation and the subsequent loss of attractiveness by a city, often by modelling dichotomous indicators of observed factors or characteristics as logistic response functions of measurable macrostructural variables. The hypothesisthat South Africa’s major cities are transforming and are thus on the verge oflosing their attractiveness is investigated.
Africa Insight, 2010
ABSTRACT There is a link between African Traditional Knowledge Systems and the management of Biod... more ABSTRACT There is a link between African Traditional Knowledge Systems and the management of Biodiversity. These have been passed over from one generation to the next through oral tradition. The lack of documentation of these systems of managing biodiversity has led to the existence of a gap between the scientifi cally based systems of managing biodiversity and the traditional methods that have been in existence for years. These are based on traditional ecological knowledge, which is largely based on traditional beliefs, cultures, superstition and social traditions. Notably, while African traditional methods of managing biodiversity have succeeded in promoting the conservation of certain elements of biodiversity, they have failed to develop conservation knowledge and awareness among societies, because people avoided harvesting resources from sacred areas out of fear rather than with a declared purpose and interest in conservation.
African Journal of Ecology, 2009
Grazing is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems and this can be provided by both in... more Grazing is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems and this can be provided by both indigenous and domestic ungulates. However, a question remains whether or not traditional forms of land use such as the grazing of domestic animals support the maintenance of biodiversity. If it does not, then the second question becomes to what extent does grazing of domestic animals alter the systems and processes that support biodiversity? This study demonstrates that in attempting to answer this question, small organisms like dung beetles are ideal indicators that can be used to express significant differences between conserved (indigenous) and non‐conserved (domestic) land. As a general trend, studies that investigated these differences displayed differences through analysis of the diversity indices. This method has in most cases demonstrated a lack of contrast between conserved and non‐conserved land. In the existence of such uncertainty this study has demonstrated that in such cases...
Research for development, 2023
Journal of Digital Food, Energy & Water Systems, 2020
Most cities in South Africa are in dire need of water security. Intervention measures to reduce t... more Most cities in South Africa are in dire need of water security. Intervention measures to reduce the risk of water shortages now and the near future are urgently needed. This can possibly be attained through the diversification of water sources and the application of smart or digital technologies to reduce water wastage. Meaning that, cities which are at risk of water scarcity may consider a variety of alternative means, which includes smart technologies and efficient use of recycled water to meet the ever-increasing demand. In this study the status of water security and sanitation in two inland cities (i.e. Mbombela (Nelspruit) and Polokwane (Pietersburg)) was investigated. A gap between supply and demand for water to households was found to be large. The primary demand for water derives from households that are connected to the municipal reticulation system and used for drinking and sanitation. Water security concerns were found to be from households in need of water supply and...