Including Women? (Dis)junctures Between Voice,

Abstract Integrated development plans (IDPs) are municipal strategic plans designed to bring about developmental local government. They have been criticised for providing insufficient space for democratic participation. This paper explores the extent to which a marginalised group—women—has been incorporated into the IDP process, in response to three questions. First, how have IDP participatory processes incorporated women’s voice, and are the new participatory spaces realising their transformative potential? Secondly, how have women’s interests and a gender perspective been mainstreamed in the IDP, and has it promoted transformation? And finally, at the interface between officials and women themselves, how are IDP projects implemented and does agency promote or impede the goals of gender equality? A study of three KwaZulu-Natal municipalities reveals some achievements, but unequal gender relations have not been transformed. These case studies demonstrate some of the complexities and difficulties in the practice of democratic governance

Parental perspectives on support for learners with physical disabilities at special schools

Background: Inclusive education for learners with special education needs is challenged with a rigid curricula and inadequate policy monitoring. Parental perspectives are crucial for shaping inclusive policies. However, these are insufficiently examined in the existing research and hinder improvements in special education practices. Objectives: This study explored parents’ perspectives on how special schools met the unique needs of learners living with physical disabilities. Method: A descriptive, qualitative exploratory design utilising semi-structured interviews with 11 parents from three selected special schools was adopted. Participants were recruited using a purposive non-random sampling method through telephone calls and face-to-face interviews. Transcripts were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed inductively using a six-step approach to thematic data analysis on ATLAS.ti version 9. Intercoder reliability was achieved with consensus agreement. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) A lack of curriculum differentiation and its effects on the learners’ academic performance. (2) A lack of empathy and support in addressing the learners’ challenges. (3) Poor management of assistive devices. Conclusion: Parents perceived that special schools inadequately addressed their children’s needs, particularly in curriculum delivery. Insufficient assessments resulted in learners remaining in unsuitable academic stream instead of transitioning to vocational pathways. Contribution: Parental insights highlight critical areas for improvement in informing policies to enhance support for learners with special education needs

‘We create our own small world’: daily realities of mothers of disabled children in a South African urban settlement

Parents of disabled children face many challenges. Understanding their experiences and acknowledging contextual influences is vital in developing intervention strategies that fit their daily realities. However, studies of parents from a resource-poor context are particularly scarce. This ethnographic study with 30 mothers from a South African township (15 semi-structured interviews and 24 participatory group sessions) unearths how mothers care on their own, in an isolated manner. The complexity of low living standards, being poorly supported by care structures and networks, believing in being the best carer, distrusting others due to a violent context, and resigning towards life shape and are shaped by this solitary care responsibility. For disability inclusive development to be successful, programmes should support mothers by sharing the care responsibility taking into account the isolated nature of mothers’ lives and the impact of poverty. This can provide room for these mothers to increase the well-being of themselves and their children

Sensitivity of the neutron multiplication factor to water ingress into a spent fuel cask

Abstract An essential component of safety analyses is the investigation of accident scenarios. In this paper water ingress scenarios of spent fuel containers, as they may occur during transport or storage, are examined. In the main body of this paper, a number of paths are studied through which water can gain access to the spent fuel cask and eventually reach the fuel pellet, potentially resulting in an increase in reactivity as a result of over-moderation. The primary objective of this project was to perform an assessment of what, in the unlikely event of a Fukushima- type accident, the impact would be on the reactivity of the cask by analyzing a gradual increase in water level in the spent fuel casks. In addition, the way the keff of the system responds to such an increase is discussed. The paper also provides the results of an assessment of the reactivity effect of water ingress via various pathways/channels.</jats:p

Determining Association Among Production Enhancing Factors: Case of Mankweng District in the Northern Province

Several models are selected using model selection loglinear analysis on data collected from farmers in the Mankweng District in Northern Province. The objective is to determine patterns of associations among production increasing factors, namely, use of recommended technologies, participation in a cooperative or project, accessibility of inputs in time, security of land ownership, as well as ability to run own finance. The results reveal that participation in a project and the use of technology are always associated. Only land tenure model resulted in a significant saturated model, where a three way association with both technology and project participation had significant effects. Access to input on time was only associated with technology use, but not with participation in a project. The ability to run own finances was associated with project participation, but not with technology use. The dynamic relationships among these factors are important when introducing technologies and support services for the future

Sensitivity of the neutron multiplication factor to water ingress into a spent fuel cask

Abstract An essential component of safety analyses is the investigation of accident scenarios. In this paper water ingress scenarios of spent fuel containers, as they may occur during transport or storage, are examined. In the main body of this paper, a number of paths are studied through which water can gain access to the spent fuel cask and eventually reach the fuel pellet, potentially resulting in an increase in reactivity as a result of over-moderation. The primary objective of this project was to perform an assessment of what, in the unlikely event of a Fukushima- type accident, the impact would be on the reactivity of the cask by analyzing a gradual increase in water level in the spent fuel casks. In addition, the way the keff of the system responds to such an increase is discussed. The paper also provides the results of an assessment of the reactivity effect of water ingress via various pathways/channels.</jats:p

An evaluation of waste gypsum-based precipitated calcium carbonate for acid mine drainage neutralization

Precipitated CaCO3 compounds recovered from pulped waste gypsum using some carbonate and hydroxide-based reagents were evaluated for their utilization in acid mine drainage (AMD) neutralization. The neutralization potentials, acid neutralization capacities and compositions of the CaCO3 compounds were determined and compared with some commercial CaCO3. It was observed that CaCO3 recovered from waste gypsum using Na2CO3 significantly neutralized AMD compared with commercial CaCO3 and that recovered using both (NH4)2CO3 or NH4OH-CO2 reagents. Moreover, a higher acid neutralization capacity of 1,370 kg H2SO4/t was determined for CaCO3 recovered from waste gypsum using Na2CO3 compared with an average of 721 and 1,081 kg H2SO4/t for ammonium-based CaCO3 and commercial CaCO3 respectively. The inorganic carbon content for the CaCO3 recovered using Na2CO3 and ammonium-based reagents of 49 and 34% respectively confirmed their observed neutralization potentials and acid neutralization capacities, while energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence suggested absence of major oxide impurities, with the exception of residual SO42− and Na2O which still requires further reduction in the respective compounds.</jats:p