UWCScholar

This repository serves as a digital archive for the preservation of research outputs from the University of the Western Cape

Communities in UWCScholar

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

Recent Submissions

A critical appraisal of the new provisions in the Child Justice Amendment Act 2019 relating to the criminal capacity in South Africa
(University of the Westerv Cape, 2026) Aurakeasamy, Carmine
When children contravene the law, especially very young children it is imperative that as a society we do not only view them as criminals in isolation, this unlawful conduct is often indicators of potential vulnerability they have been exposed to, which increased the likelihood of them engaging in criminal behaviour. By virtue of their inherent developmental immaturity, children often do not understand the far reaching consequences of their actions and it is imperative that when they contravene the law, they stand before a justice system that recognises their vulnerability, protects them from premature criminalisation, safeguards their rights as children first and holds them accountable for their unlawful conduct by means of proportional responses, instead of exploiting their vulnerability through means of unfair procedures and inconsistent application of the law. The minimum age of criminal capacity is considered the gateway mechanism through which children are either excluded from or subjected to the juvenile justice system. It determines how juvenile offenders are treated by the law and what the most appropriate responses are in light of their developmental capacity. International and regional children’s rights instruments established the foundational frameworks for the minimum age of criminal capacity and the principles that must be entrenched in juvenile justice systems, which have influenced the recognition of children’s rights within the juvenile justice system in South Africa. However, in light of subsequent recognition of children’s progressive development, international frameworks have since established more progressive standards in juvenile justice.
Phyto-mediated synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles from eucalyptus camaldulensis and their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiplasmodial activities
(Elsevier, 2026) Daniel, Augustine Innalegwu; Oselusi, Samson Olaitan; Ameh, Alechine Emmanuel
The rising incidence of drug-resistant bacteria infections and malaria due to climate change, global health policy and funding gap, among others, underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic alternatives. In this study, phyto-synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was carried out using aqueous leaf extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis . The synthesized NPs was characterized using various analytical tools. Antioxidant potential of the NPs was assayed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. Antibacterial assessment of the NPs against five clinical bacterial isolates; Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhi , Vibrio cholerae , and Klebsiella pneumoniae was carried out using the agar well diffusion method, while anti-plasmodial activity was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei -infected mice through oral administration of the NPs. The NPs has a hexagonal wurtzite structure, high purity, and an average particle size of 23.94 ± 5.14 nm. The NPs showed a dose-dependent radical scavenging and ferric reducing activities, albeit these were moderately lower than ascorbic acid. A broad-spectrum efficacy against the bacteria isolates was observed with S. aureus and V. cholerae being the most susceptible bacteria isolates. At 200 mg/kg bodyweight, ZnO NPs exhibited 51.9 ± 0.98% chemo-suppression and 70.69 ± 2.68% curative efficacy indicating a significant ( p < 0.05) anti-malarial potential when compared with 90.07 ± 0.34 and 100 ± 0.00% respectively by the positive control; artemether and lumefantrine. These results demonstrate that phyto-synthesized ZnO NPs from E. camaldulensis possess notable antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-plasmodial properties, supporting their potential as cost-effective, environmentally friendly candidates for managing infectious diseases and malaria.
Use of proton pump inhibitors in children in a tertiary hospital in Belgium
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026) Tommelein, Eline; Viljoen, Michelle; Keuler, Nicole
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently prescribed in paediatrics, yet increasing evidence suggests that their use is often inconsistent with clinical guidelines and may be associated with significant safety concerns. We conducted a retrospective study using the dispensing database of a tertiary care hospital in Brussels, Belgium. All PPI dispensed to children under 18 years of age between January 1, 2022 and January 31, 2024 were extracted. Subsequent administrations of the PPIs were linked with clinical data from electronic medical files. Appropriateness of use was assessed using regulatory labelling and the Dutch paediatric pharmacotherapy reference, Kinderformularium. Data were stratified by age category. The main outcomes included indication, dose appropriateness, treatment duration, and deprescribing practices. A total of 658 children received at least one PPI. PPIs were used across all paediatric age groups (0–18 years), most commonly prescribed by paediatricians (59.5%) and emergency physicians (12.9%). The median duration of treatment was 3 days (IQR: 2–7), being similar across age groups. Only 7.6% of children received PPIs for an officially approved indication. The majority (94.4%) of prescriptions were for off-label indications or lacked documentation of any indication. Dosing appropriateness varied by age and indication. Among children receiving PPIs for on-label indications (n = 50), less than half were prescribed a correct dose. In the off-label group (n = 608), dosing was frequently excessive, especially in younger age groups. As age increased, dose appropriateness improved. When PPIs were discontinued, either during hospitalization or at discharge, cessation was abrupt, with no evidence of tapering strategies. Three percent of children were prescribed a continuation of PPI treatment after discharge. Conclusion: These findings highlight significant gaps in guideline adherence and underscore the need for improved prescribing and deprescribing practices in paediatric care.
Uphengululo lobume besihobe ngokukhethekileyo: Inkalo yoqhagamishelwano kumaculo eeCawe zemveli nezo zizimeleyo zase-Afrika
(Taylor & Francis Online, 2026) Bonke Xakatha; Loyiso Mletshe
Eli phepha ligxile ekuqwalaseleni amaculo athi abonakalise iimpawu zemibongo kumaculo eecawe ezindala ezikhethekileyo ezinobu-Afrika obuqaphelekayo. Iicawe ekuqwalaselwe amaculo asetyenziswa kuzo zezi zilandelayo; yi-Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa (KwaTata), The Ethiopian Church of South Africa (iTopiya), Wesley Methodist Church (iWisile) kwakunye ne-Old Apostolic Church eyaziwa ngokuba yiPostile. Ezi cawe zinamaculo athile akhethekileyo ezaziwa ngawo nasetyenziswayo kuzo afana nala alandelayo; Siyakudumisa Thixo, Ndiyakholwa, Lizalis’idinga lakho, Yiza yiza Manyuweli njalonjalo. Kula maculo kuza kuthi kuqwalaselwe inkalo enqabileyo yobuhobe kuwo engafane ivelelwe kumaxesha amaninzi. Kweli phepha kuza kuthi kushukuxwe ngokukhethekileyo inkalo yoqhagamshelwano (linking) kwakunye nezinye iinkalo ezimayela nalo eziqaphelekayo kubuhobe, ekusenokubhekiswa kubo njengesihobe. Olu qhagamshelwano luza kuthi luvelelwe kwiinkalo ngeenkalo kula maculo akhethiweyo kuba luziintlobo ngeentlobo ezahlukeneyo. Kuza kusetyenziswa iingcingane zobugcisa okanye iingqiqo-bulumko ezintathu ukusekela koko kuza kushukuxwa kweli phepha. Eyokuqala iza kuba yi-Literary theory, ize eyesibini ibe yi-Oral-formulaic composition theory eyesithathu yi-Stylistics theory. Ezi ngcingane zisetyenziswa kuba ziveza kakuhle imibandela echaphazela isihobe ngokumayela nezakhiwo sazo. Zikwabonakalisa kananjalo ubume bangaphakathi nobangaphandle kumaculo akhethiweyo aza kuhlalutywa. La maculo aza kuhlalutywa kusetyenziswa izixhobo ezithile zokuhlalutya umsebenzi wolu ncwadi lulolu hlobo. Eyona njongo iphambili apha kukuvelisa ulwazi olutsha kuluncwadi, ukukhulisa nokuphuhlisa ulwimi lwesiXhosa, kwanokwakha iimbono ezintsha ezahlukileyo zokujonga amaculo aculwayo kwezi cawe sele zikhankanyiwe. Eli phepha likwazama ukubonakalisa ukuba mncinci umda okhoyo phakathi kwezibongo nala maculo afumaneka kwezi cawe zase-Afrika. Kungumnqweno weli phepha nokuveza indlela la maculo asondele ngayo kwizibongo ezinomyalezo wezenkolo, ezokuhlala, kwezopolitiko ofihlakeleyo kwaneminye imiyalezo evelayo xa sukuba eculwa ezicaweni.
Resignation and Section 186(1)(e) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995: are employees bound to notice periods?
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Hussain, Waseem Goolam
This thesis explores the intricacies of constructive dismissal in South African labour law and specific emphasis is placed on the position of the employee. Whilst exploring constructive dismissal generally, further emphasis is placed on the issue of whether employees are bound to notice periods when they resign without notice due to intolerable conduct of an employer. The significance of this study cannot be understated – the wording of section 186(1)(e) of the LRA provides that a dismissal occurs when an employee terminates the employment contract “with or without notice”, however, an agreed or ex lege notice period may be applicable which binds the employee to serving a notice period before the employment contract can be terminated by resignation. The wording of section 186(1)(e) of the LRA envisages an instance in which an employee terminates a contract of employment with or without notice (which is done by resignation on notice often in terms stipulated by a contract of employment or in terms of the BCEA). This results in a potential incongruity between the relevant provisions of the LRA and the contact of employment and/or the BCEA in that employees are almost certainly bound by a notice period. Does the wording of section 186(1)(e) of the LRA mean that employees are bound to notice periods and thus prevented from resigning “without notice” in terms of section 186(1)(e) of the LRA? The research contained in this thesis will show that employees must adhere to applicable notice periods as courts have not pronounced specifically on the issue of whether a contract of employment may be terminated without notice when an employee faces intolerability in the workplace. This study further considers the equivalent legal position of employees in Kenya and ultimately calls for legal development/reform which would afford employees proper protection when resigning in the face of intolerable conduct from an employer in South Africa.