SOUTH AFRICA 2016 – A COMING OF AGE: THEOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA

This essay marks the maturing of South Africa\u27s democracy since it was established in 1994. It raises questions as to whether the democratic dispensation has fulfilled what it promised, and it examines the reasons thereof. In essence it reasons that democracy has failed the people of South Africa because it lacks democratic accountability, and a firm foundation on the expressed will of the people. The theological and ethical factors in addressing the failings of a democratic system come into view. The essay concludes with an affirmation of the essential character of the church in promoting and defending justice in the world. One-dimensional thought is systematically promoted by the makers of politics and the purveyors of mass information. Their universe of discourse is populated by self-validating hypotheses which necessarily and mono-politically repeated, become hypnotic definitions and dictations... The products indoctrinate and manipulat; they promote a false consciousness that is immune against falsehood… This emerges a pattern of one-dimensional thought and behavior… Herbert Marcuse: One-Dimensional Man (1964

On academic freedom

Traditionally, higher education has formed the vanguard of ideological persuasion and even indoctrination, in support of political and social change. We should not be surprised then, that the converse also applies. Where an existing order is threatened, those intellectuals who do not toe the line are often vilified, marginalised and even worse. Many of the great revolutions have commenced with a thorough purging of intellectuals. History will testify to that. Furthermore, where the State funds higher education institutions, then notions of academic freedom will always be tempered by the expectation of some sort of reciprocal loyalty

Official launch of the Unisa Regional Learning Centre, Akaki, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Centre will be engaged in the deliberate and mundane matters of academic management, administration and development. We shall be registering students for Unisa courses, there is a library and computer facilities, there will be a counselling and advisory service, a Writing Centre to assist students master academic language and writing, marketing and communications, study and lecture facilities and, one hopes, a vibrant student life. By all these means we trust that the Centre will add value to the efforts of the Ethiopian government to extend educational opportunities, as well as to provide the Pan African and international organisations based in Addis Ababa with high- level skills and academic development

Behaviour of laser metal deposited Ti6Al4V/Cu composites in hank’s solution for biocompatibility properties

Abstract: Ti6Al4V alloy is a well-known material for biomedical application due to the very excellent corrosion resistance it possessed. Copper is an excellent antimicrobial property and has been found to stabilize the immune system of the body activities. In this present study, laser metal deposition of Ti6Al4V/Cu composites have been conducted by varying the laser power between 600 W and 1800 W while the scanning speed of 0.005 m/s and other process parameters as depicted in the experimental matrix were kept constant. Widmanstettan structures were observed in all the samples at high magnification and lose their coarseness as the laser power increases. The microhardness values of the deposited composites were varied between HV335 ± 27 μm and HV490 ± 73 μm. The surface behaviour and the morphologies of the composites were evaluated under the SEM after soaking for 2 weeks. The simulated body fluid (hank’s solution) was maintained at normal body temperature of about 37±1oC. The surfaces showed fracture topography with porous bone-like and snowflake structures

Characterising the effect of laser metal deposited Ti6Al4V/Cu composites in simulated body fluid for biomedical application

Ti6Al4V alloy has been known to have very excellent corrosion resistance due to the oxide layer formed on its surface. Due to this property, the alloy is found applicable for biomedical implants. Copper shows an excellent antimicrobial property and has been found to stabilize the immune system. In this study, laser metal deposition of Ti6Al4V powder and Cu powder on Ti6Al4V substrates were conducted by varying the laser power between 600 W and 1800 W while the scanning speed, the powder flow rate and the gas flow rate were kept constant. The surface behaviour and the morphologies of the composites were evaluated under the microscope and the SEM after soaking for 4 hours, 5 days and 2 weeks respectively. The simulated body fluid (hank’s solution) was maintained at normal body temperature of about 37±1oC. The surfaces showed fracture topography with porous bone-like structures and some trivial pitting were observed

Laser metal deposition of Ti6Al4V/Cu composite : a study of the effect of laser power on the evolving properties

A study of the effect of laser power was investigated over the volume of deposited composite, microstructure and microhardness. The laser power was varied between 600 and 1800 W while keeping all other parameters constant. An indication shows that the area and the volume of the deposited composites are directly proportional to the laser power employed. The volume of the deposit obtained falls between 358.6 mm3 and 1009 mm3. The microstructures were analyzed and found that the formation of the Widmanstatten structures improved the hardness of Ti6Al4V/Cu composites. The hardness values of the deposits varied between HV335 and HV490. The percentages of porosities of the samples were also presented and found to have an inverse relationship with the laser power. The results are presented and discussed

Post conflict societies in Africa: the role of the African union

Desmond Tutu visiting professor in Post Conflict Societies, Kings College London, October 2006 - January 2007.It is customary in lectures like this one to begin by citing a catalogue of Africa’s failures, and, if one is well disposed to Africa, one is then put on the defensive, seeking to justify and explain the unique and exceptional nature of Africa and her ills. That is Afro-pessimism. My approach today is to acknowledge that war and conflict have been a feature of Africa’s development since independence. I have no desire to defend, justify or explain that away. What I shall do in this lecture, however, is to spend time analysing the variety of instruments available to advance peace and development in Africa. My approach in particular, will be to take some country case studies, and then focus on the African Union as an agency for reconstruction and development in Africa

Exploration of microstructure and wear behaviours of laser metal deposited Ti6Al4V/Cu composites

Abstract: This paper reports on the investigations conducted on the evolving microstructures and the dry sliding wear of the laser deposited Ti6Al4V/Cu composites. Some selected process parameters were used for the experiments. The laser powers were chosen between 1300 W and 1600 W; scanning speeds were selected between 0.30 m/min and 0.72 m/min while other parameters are as specified in the experimental matrix. It was found that all the composites produced showed good and high-quality microstructures and they exhibited very low or no fusion zones which were as a result of the selected process parameters used. The α-phase region of the composites was found to be harder than the β-phase region. During the composites cooling, the β-phase field transformed to the basal planes of the hexagonal α-phase thereby creating a lower diffusion coefficient of the α-phase as compared to the β-phase counterpart. The Ti6Al4V/Cu composite produced at a laser power of 1397 W and a scanning speed of 0.3 m/min was found to show the lowest percentage of wear volume and coefficient of friction; and happened due to the martensitic structure formed during cooling. Results obtained showed that the poor abrasive wear of titanium alloy has been improved with the addition of copper into their lattices