African Journals Online
Acta Academica

Volume 33, Issue 2, 2001
ABSTRACTS

Early modern conceptions of "natural law"

Venter, Ponti

Abstract: This article traces the shifts in meaning of the metaphor of "natural law" in modern thought from its pre-modern meaning as a divine standard for human behaviour accessible to reason. Descartes expanded this meaning to include the regularity of mechanical bodies by posing an absolute law system for all possible worlds as a priori, rational, and axiomatic. Newton relativised this from the perspective of the multi-facetted governance of God. The older conception of natural law sustained itself in economics and politicology, serving as a defence of individual freedom and non-intervention (Petty, Locke), but (dialectically) implying a determinism. It remained linked to Cartesian meaning via attempts by Petty, Hobbes and Locke to construct a natural science of social life.

Vroeë moderne opvattings van die "natuurwet"

Die artikel omlyn die verskuiwing in betekenis van die metafoor "natuurwet" in die moderne denke, van sy voormoderne betekenis as 'n goddelike maatstaf vir menslike gedrag toeganklik vir die rede. Descartes het hierdie betekenis uitgebrei om die reëlmaat van meganiese liggame in te sluit, deur 'n absolute wetsisteem vir alle moontlike wêrelde as a priori, rasioneel, aksiomaties te poneer. Newton het laasgenoemde gerelativeer uit 'n perspektief op die veelfasettige regering van God. Die ouer opvatting van "natuurwet" is gehandhaaf in die ekonomie en die politikologie, waar dit gedien het as verdediging van individuele vryheid en non-intervensie (Petty, Locke), maar ook (dialekties) 'n determinisme geïmpliseer het. Dit het egter verband bly hou met die Cartesiese betekenis deur pogings van Petty, Hobbes en Locke om 'n natuurwetenskap van die sosiale lewe te konstrueer.

The role of the Native Advisory Board and the succeeding Urban Bantu Council of Mangaung, Bloemfontein, 1945-1973

Le Roux, Charl

Abstract: In the absence of political and executive powers the Native Advisory Board and Urban Bantu Council of Mangaung could do very little to remedy their community's urgent socio-economic and political grievances. Any success depended on the arbitrary decision of the authorities, who responded to requests only when this was of benefit to themselves, and otherwise deferred decisions indefinitely. The two bodies consequently had no prospect of greater powers. Their most important role was as municipal sources of information on African socio-economic and political needs, thought and opinion, and they proved to be in the majority of cases responsible and persistent champions of their community's interests.

Die rol van die Naturelle-Adviesraad en die opvolgende Stedelike Bantoeraad van Mangaung / Bloemfontein, 1945-1973

Die Naturelle-Adviesraad en Stedelike Bantoeraad van Mangaung het, in die afwesigheid van politieke en uitvoerende bevoegdhede, weinig sukses met die dringende sosio-ekonomiese en politieke griewe van die swart gemeenskap behaal. Hulle sukses was afhanklik van die arbitrêre mag van die owerhede wat slegs aan versoeke voldoen het indien hierdie owerhede self bevoordeel is. Andersins is versoeke onbepaald uitgestel. Die twee liggame het gevolglik onveranderd sonder die vooruitsig op meer bevoegdhede voortbestaan. Hulle grootste prestasie was uiteindelik hulle rol as informante van hulle gemeenskap se sosio-ekonomiese en politieke behoeftes, gedagtes en sienswyses, en om hulself in die meeste gevalle as verantwoordelike en volhardende kampvegters van hulle gemeenskapsbelange te bewys.

A demographic profile of the Cape metropolitan area, 1996 and 2021

Haldenwang, Barbel

Abstract: With a total population of 2.56 million in 1996, the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA) is the third largest metropole in South Africa. It is the second largest contributor to the country's GDP, accounts for 8.0% of employment, and is a popular migration destination, especially from the Eastern Cape. The population of the CMA is demographically young, with more females than males, and it is dominated by the coloured population group. Each of the six local authority areas has its own unique demographic profile. By 2021, between 0.76 million and 1.56 million additional people could be residing in the CMA, with Tygerberg and Central Cape Town expected to experience the highest population growth rates.

'n Demografiese profiel van die Kaapse metropolitaanse gebied, 1996 en 2021

Met 'n bevolking van 2.56 miljoen in 1996 is die Kaapse Metropolitaanse Gebied (KMG) die derde grootste metropool in Suid-Afrika. Die KMG is voorts die tweede grootste bydraer tot die land se BBP, is verantwoordelik vir 8% van werkverskaffing in Suid-Afrika en is 'n gewilde migrasiebestemming, veral vir migrante uit die Ooskaap. Die bevolking van die KMG is demografies jonk met meer vrouens as mans en gedomineer deur die Kleurlingbevolkingsgroep. Elk van die ses plaaslike owerheidsgebiede in die KMG het 'n unieke demografiese profiel. Teen 2021 sal die KMG na verwagting tussen 0.76 miljoen en 1.56 miljoen addisionele inwoners hê. Tygerberg en Sentraal-Kaapstad sal waarskynlik die vinnigste bevolkingsgroei ervaar.

Urbanisation, urban dilemmas and urban challenges in Lesotho

Marais, Lochner

Abstract: With a formal urbanisation rate of approximately 20%, Lesotho has an extremely low urbanisation level. This article attempts to analyse current urbanisation trends and to compare various sources of data in order to provide more insight into urbanisation trends and the urban hierarchy. This is followed by a discussion of the urban dilemmas and challenges which are bound to confront Lesotho in the decades to come. It is crucial that Lesotho develop solutions to the following: random settlement patterns which lead to occupation of arable land and ecological deterioration; the transitional nature of population and urbanisation trends; a lack of urban management and capacity; a lack of urban land tenure, and the lack of an economic income base for urban areas.

Verstedeliking, stedelike problematiek en stedelike uitdagings in Lesotho

Met 'n formele verstedelikingskoers van ongeveer 20% het Lesotho van die laagste vlakke van verstedeliking. Die artikel ontleed huidige verstedelikingstendense en vergelyk verskillende databasisse om sodoende meer insig ten opsigte van verstedelikingstendense en die stedelike rangorde te verkry. Hierdie bespreking word opgevolg deur 'n ontleding van 'n aantal stedelike dilemmas en uitdagings in Lesotho. Uitdagings waarvoor dringend oplossing gesoek moet word, is die onorderlike vestigingspatrone wat lei tot die besetting van vrugbare landbougrond en ekologiese agteruitgang; die oorgangsfase waarin die bevolking van Lesotho en verstedeliking in die land verkeer; die gebrek aan stedelike bestuurskapasiteit; asook die gebrek aan 'n inkomstebasis vir die meeste stedelike gebiede.

Encopresis: a holistic approach

Badenhorst, Stefanie; Pretorius, Gertie; Stuart, Anita

Abstract: Encopresis is an often under-reported and poorly researched complexity. Earlier treatment followed either a medical or a psychological approach, with little acknowledgement of the social factors involved. Only recently has the biopsychosocial model been recognised. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the holistic treatment model with regard to the prevalence of encopresis, depressive symptomatology, parental involvement and the self-image of the children. The experimental group received treatment during the study while the control group received treatment only after completion of the post-tests. The study demonstrated a relatively high success rate using the holistic treatment approach.

Enkoprese: 'n holistiese benadering

Enkoprese is 'n dikwels ongerapporteerde en min nagevorsde kompleksiteit. Vroeëre behandeling is oorsaaklik terugherlei na die mediese of die sielkundige verklaringsmodelle. Sosiale faktore is meestal misken totdat 'n klemverskuiwing na die biopsigososiale benadering plaasgevind het. Die navorsingsdoel was om die effektiwiteit van 'n holistiese benadering te evalueer ten opsigte van die voorkoms van enkoprese, depressie-simptome, ouerlike betrokkenheid en selfbeeld van die kind. Die eksperimentele groep het die terapeutiese intervensie ontvang terwyl die kontrolegroep slegs na voltooiing van natoetsing die terapie ontvang het. Die natoetsingresultate dui op 'n hoë suksessyfer met die holistiese terapeutiese benadering.

Balancing quality and access in online education

Wilkinson, Annette; Wilkinson, Liezel; Nel, Guillaume

Abstract: The new information communication technologies offer exciting new possibilities for online/Web-based education. Two factors have come to be viewed as central to assuring quality in this type of education, viz the availability of adequate infrastructure and the development of effective mechanisms for evaluating the quality of education. Clear standards can certainly provide a basis for quality practice. The critical issue, however, seems to be the inaccessibility of advanced communication technologies to many potential learners. In these circumstances it is of the utmost importance to achieve a balance between accessibility and quality.

Ewewig tussen gehalte en toeganklikheid in netwerkgerigte onderwys

Die nuwe inligtingskommunikasietegnologieë het opwindende nuwe geleenthede vir netwerkgerigte afstandsonderwys geskep. Twee uiters belangrike aspekte kom egter na vore wanneer gehalteversekering van hierdie tipe onderwys ter sprake kom, naamlik die toeganklikheid tot die nodige infrastruktuur sowel as die ontwikkeling van effektiewe meganismes waamee die onderrigkwaliteit geëvalueer kan word. Die formulering van duidelike standaarde kan sekerlik die basis van goeie onderrigpraktyk vorm. Die mees kritieke vraagstuk is egter die ontoeganklikheid tot gevorderde kommunikasietegnologieë van baie potensiële leerders. In hierdie omstandighede kan die verkryging van ewewig tussen toeganklikheid en gehalte as van die uiterste belang geag word.

Staff empowerment: creating an empowered work environment in schools

Steyn, Trudie

Abstract: Recent conceptions of leadership in the school context suggest a shift from authoritarian models of decision-making towards staff empowerment. Staff thus now have decision-making powers which they lacked in the past. Principals appear to be relinquishing overt control in the interests of staff empowerment. Yet, in practice, it is possible for principals to gain more control than they had before. This article examines some of the issues involved in successfully empowering staff in schools. Not all empowerment programmes are successful and therefore the possible pitfalls in and necessary preparation for effective staff empowerment are briefly outlined. The article concludes by suggesting ways of redesigning school management in order to create an empowered school environment.

Personeelbemagtiging: die skepping van 'n bemagtigde werksomgewing in skole

Onlangse beskouinge van leierskap in skole stel voor dat daar beweeg word van outoritêre besluitnemingsmodelle van leierskap na personeelbemagtiging. Personeelbemagtiging beteken dat besluitnemingsbevoegdhede aan personeel gegee word wat voorheen nie die gesag gehad het om besluite te neem nie. Dit mag voorkom of skoolhoofde beheer afstaan in die belang van bemagtiging. In die praktyk is dit egter moontlik dat skoolhoofde meer beheer oor funksies verkry as wat hulle voorheen gehad het. Hierdie artikel beskou 'n aantal kwessies wat betrekking het op suksesvolle bemagtiging van personeel in skole. Omdat nie alle bemagtiginsprogramme suksesvol is nie, word die slaggate van en voorbereiding vir bemagtiging kortliks bespreek. Die artikel sluit af met voorstelle van wyses waarop skole se bestuurstelsels herontwerp kan word om bemagtigde skoolomgewings te skep.

Die verband tussen trekangs, diensjare en posttraumatiese stresversteuring by polisiebeamptes

Knoetze, Johanna; De Bruin, Gideon

Abstract: Suid-Afrikaanse polisiebeamptes word in die uitvoering van hulle pligte aan lewensbedreigende en ander buitengewoon traumatiese situasies blootgestel. 'n Model waarin trekangs en aantal diensjare as voorspellers van simptome van posttraumatiese stresversteuring by polisiebeamptes gespesifiseer word, is aan die hand van strukturele vergelykingsmodellering getoets. Die model het 'n bevredigende passing met die waargenome data getoon. Trekangs en aantal diensjare het gesamentlik ongeveer 30% van die variansie in simptome van posttraumatiese stresversteuring verklaar. Enkele aanbevelings oor hoe die bevindings van die studie gebruik kan word om posttraumatiese stresversteuring by polisiebeamptes te voorkom, word gegee.

Trait anxiety and years of service as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder among police officers

In the course of duty, officers of the South African Police Services face highly stressful, life-threatening situations. This article discusses a model in which trait anxiety and years of service were specified as potential predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder. Structural equation modelling produced a satisfactory fit between the model and the observed data. In combination trait anxiety and years of service account for about 30% of the variance in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The article also makes recommendations as to how these results may usefully be applied in order to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder among police officers.