General
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The psychological theory of behaviourism, which assumes that reinforcement and punishment can be used to change human (and animal) behaviour, has been proven many times over the past 50 years. While not the intention of a recent Stellenbosch University study, evidencing behaviourism was a by-product of the research, which focused on the speeding habits of minibus taxis in South Africa.
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There’s potentially good news for South Africa’s skills shortage: Hundreds of expats are seriously considering coming home.
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In 1915, when Einstein proposed his theory of relativity, he postulated gravitational waves, saying that all massive bodies distort space-time, like a heavy ball denting a rubber sheet, and that those distortions give rise to the phenomenon we experience as gravity.
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Last week’s State of the Nation Address was once again overshadowed by the same kind of heckling that South Africans saw last year. But while the Nkandla saga seems to finally be nearing a conclusion, the “Zupta” saga has just begun.
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A few months after South African archaeologists made international news – and history – with the announcement of the discovery of a “new” species of hominid, Homo Naledi, South African scientists have announced that they have successfully bred an animal that looks strikingly similar to the zebra-like horse known as a 'quagga'. The quagga was declared extinct in the 1880's as a result of over-hunting.
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South Africa is preparing itself for tougher economic times on the back of recent data indicating that the country’s growth is not meeting expectations. However, according to a recent column by Corporate Traveller, a company specialising in arranging business travel, not all industries are suffering equally, and spend on business travel indicates which sectors are bearing the brunt of a troubled economy, and which are growing in spite of it.
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A new report by the World Economic Forum, entitled The Future of Jobs, paints an interesting, bleak and futuristic picture of the world a mere four years from now. According to the report, approximately 7 million jobs will be lost by 2020 as a result of developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics and other technological change, with only 2 million gained.
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On the back of last year’s Matric pass rate showing a drop to 70% from 75% in 2014, City Press reports that the school system will be subjected to a major shake-up, dividing pupils into three streams: academic, technical occupational and technical vocational. Mathanzima Mweli, Director-General of the Department of Basic Education, told the newspaper that pupils would be channelled into one of the three streams based on their strengths and weaknesses.
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Last week seemed to be the week of leadership changes. In the same week that saw a cabinet reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma, Sasol has announced the appointment of two internal executives as joint CEOs of the company. Current CEO, David Constable, will become a consultant to Sasol from 2016.
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With the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) on climate change taking place in Paris this month, global warming is once again top of the agenda. While there are high hopes that the conference will see a final deal to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that have caused global warming by 2% compared to preindustrial levels, scientists have renewed their efforts to understand how to best limit the effects of climate change.
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Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel has announced that South Africa’s prevailing economic climate will see numerous interventions by government in the economy, mainly aimed at saving jobs. These would include antidumping tariffs and support to battered commodity-based sectors.
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Carlos Lopes, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, recently wrote an article entitled "The economic future is in Africa". In it, he details the strength of Africa's growth, recommending that "the levers of structural transformation" are to be found in Africa – rather than Europe, as many African countries remain dependent on European-focused trade.
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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly half of the world's population is at risk of malaria. This year has seen an estimated 214 million malaria cases and some 438 000 malaria deaths, with fifteen countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 80% of malaria cases and 78% of deaths.
Magazines
African Fusion
African Fusion, the official publication of the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW), aims to provide up-to-date insight into welding technology and the welding industry.Capital Equipment News
Construction World
Construction World was first published in 1982 and has grown to become a leader in its field, offering a unique mix of editorial coverage to satisfy the diverse needs of its readers.Electricity + Control
E + C publishes innovative, technical articles that provide solutions to engineering challenges in measurement, automation, control, and energy management.Lighting in Design
Lighting in Design is a glossy, upmarket publication aimed at lighting professionals. It is the only B2B magazine in SA that is dedicated solely to the subject of lighting.MechChem Africa
MechChem Africa supports African engineering and technical managers across the full spectrum of chemical and mechanical disciplines.Modern Mining
Established in 2005, Modern Mining is one of SA's leading monthly mining magazines, noted for the quality and accuracy of its writing and the breadth of its coverage.Modern Quarrying
Modern Quarrying is firmly entrenched as a leading industry-specific magazine. It focuses on promoting the science and practice of quarrying and processing in southern Africa.Sparks Electrical News
Readable and informative, Sparks Electrical News is the newspaper for those involved in installing and maintaining electrical supplies and equipment.