scholarly journals Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1717
Author(s):  
Jennah Green ◽  
Catherine Jakins ◽  
Louise de Waal ◽  
Neil D’Cruze
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Government ◽  
High Level ◽  
Farming Industry

African lions (Panthera leo) are commercially farmed across South Africa for sport hunting, tourism, and the international bone trade, primarily in Southeast Asia. Despite its legal status, South Africa’s growing lion farming industry is a contentious issue. In 2020 a high-level panel was initiated to review the policies, legislation, and management regarding the breeding, hunting, trade, and handling of four wildlife species, including lions. In May 2021, it was announced that the government intends to amend existing permit conditions to prohibit lion breeding and tourism interactions with captive lions, as well as to stop issuing permits to new entrants into the industry, effectively ending lion farming. In order to follow this line of action, a comprehensive, well-managed plan will be necessary to execute a responsible exit from the industry as it currently stands. Using a “gap analysis” management tool, we aim to: (1) outline some of the key considerations regarding the current state of the lion farming industry in South Africa; and (2) propose specific action steps that could be taken within five key areas (regulation, animal welfare, health and safety, equitability, and conservation) to help inform a responsible transition away from this type of wildlife farming in the biodiversity economy. For our gap analysis, we conducted a semi-systematic literature search to compile key background information about the current state of the industry. This information was then used to identify corresponding desired management states, and steps that could facilitate a successful phase out of lion farming in South Africa. We hope our approach helps identify key considerations for a responsible transition and can help aid decisions during the management of this process.

Criteria for the Evaluation of Social Policy Effectiveness of States

2014 ◽  
pp. 87-97
Author(s):  
V. Sautkina
Keyword(s):  
Developed Countries ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
State Control ◽  
National Education ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Government ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Cost

The following article is devoted to the study of current state of national education and healthcare systems. The cost of services in these areas constantly increases, there for even developed countries are forced to make significant efforts in order to maintain earlier achieved results. Due to this reason countries entered into the period of constant reforms with the purpose of maintaining that high level of health and educational services for all segments of population with a constant reduction of its volume of financing. The legal aspects of these changes are requiring manifestation of the will of politicians in order to overcome the opposition of parties which are defending their interests. As an example, the main opponents of the healthcare reforms proposed by Barak Obama in the USA are Republicans who are concerned about a significant increase of a state control over the entire national insurance system. The author comes to the conclusion that only joint actions of the government and every segment of population might actually improve the quality of medical and educational services.

scholarly journals Fostering public accountability in South Africa: A reflection on challenges and successes

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pandelani H. Munzhedzi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Public Accountability ◽  
The Public ◽  
Current State ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government

Accountability and oversight are constitutional requirements in all the spheres of government in the Republic of South Africa and their foundation is in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. All spheres of government are charged with the constitutional mandate of providing public services. The level of responsibility and public services provision also goes with the level of capacity of a particular sphere. However, most of the direct and visible services that the public receives are at the local sphere of government. As such, enormous resources are channelled towards this sphere of government so that the said public services could be provided. It is imperative that the three spheres of government account for the huge expenditures during the public service provision processes. The parliaments of national and provincial governments exercise oversight and accountability over their executives and administrations through the Public Accounts Committees, while the local sphere of government relies on the Municipal Public Accounts Committees. This article is theoretical in nature, and it seeks to explore the current state of public accountability in South Africa and to evaluate possible measures so as to enhance public accountability. The article argues that the current public accountability mechanisms are not efficient and effective. It is recommended that these mechanisms ought to be enhanced by inter alia capacitating the legislative bodies at national, provincial and local spheres of the government.

scholarly journals Measuring the illicit cigarette market in the absence of pack security features: a case study of South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056117
Author(s):  
Nicole Vellios ◽  
Corné van Walbeek ◽  
Hana Ross
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Threshold Method ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Cigarette Packs

There are several ways to measure the illicit cigarette market. In South Africa, different methods were used to triangulate results. The aim of this paper is to assist researchers to decide which method is most suitable to their context, especially for countries that do not have security features on cigarette packs (eg, tax stamps). We analysed the methods and results from three published articles that used various approaches to measure cigarette illicit trade in South Africa: (1) gap analysis, (2) price threshold method using secondary data from a national survey, and (3) price threshold method using primary data collected in low socioeconomic areas. We provide methodological insights and background information. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The method chosen by researchers will depend on data availability, the existence or absence of security features on cigarette packs and funding. Researchers investigating illicit trade should use more than one method to increase confidence in the obtained results.

scholarly journals Promoting the Solar Industry in Ghana through Effective Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Some Lessons from South Africa and Morocco

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Samuel Amo Awuku ◽  
Amar Bennadji ◽  
Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki ◽  
Nazmi Sellami
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Pareto Optimality ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Principal Agent ◽  
The Past ◽  
Infrastructural Development ◽  
Current State ◽  
Private Sector Participation ◽  
The Government ◽  
Analytical Tools

Over the past decades, solar energy has gained much attention in Ghana, especially after the 2012–2016 power crisis. The government through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) has attempted to increase the shares of solar generation to augment its efforts in reducing the energy deficit of the country, especially in remote and off-grid communities. However, the extent to which PPP has been utilized as a viable tool for solar sector development in Ghana is questionable. This study discusses the current state of PPPs in Ghana’s solar industry and compares how it has been efficiently used as a tool to promote the solar industry in South Africa and Morocco. Fundamental theories such as Altruism, Game, Principal-agent, and Pareto Optimality (PO) were used as analytical tools to examine how PPPs are handled in the selected cases. The study ascertains that the Game and PO are applicable theories that have guided SA and Morocco’s solar infrastructural development. This study discovered that PPP has been efficiently used in SA and Morocco to push its solar industry to be among the best in the world and Ghana can perfectly emulate it. The study further reveals that the Principal-agent analogy and altruistic intent of the Ghanaian government tend to discourage Private sector participation in the solar industry. It further suggests the Pareto Optimality, Game approach, and a win-win transparent attitude towards PPPs. This study recommends a well-developed PPP structure and law for Ghana. It encourages transparency and discourages partisan preferentialism to increase PPPs in Ghana’s solar industry.

scholarly journals Current state of legal provision of notarial activity in Ukraine: theoretical and legal dimension

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 261-265
Author(s):  
А. А. Margina
Keyword(s):  
Legal System ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Turning Point ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Actual State ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Current State ◽  
High Level

The author analyzes the provisions of normative legal acts regulating notarial activity, on the basis of which the theoretical and legal regularities of the current state of legal support of notarial activity in Ukraine are established. It is noted that Ukraine's affiliation to the legal system of the Romano-Germanic type, and the system of notaries - to the notary of the Latin type testifies to the principle of its proper legal support, inadmissibility of gaps, conflicts in this area. Today, notarial activity is a legally regulated activity in Ukraine, which has developed evolutionarily, was formed under the influence of the above factors and is currently in a state of improvement and strengthening. However, constant changes in the legal support of notarial activities in Ukraine indicate the imperfection (or even lack) of clear scientifically sound conceptual approaches to the legal support of notarial activities. It is proved that the turning point in the formation of the legal support of notarial activity in Ukraine was the adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On Notaries" (1993), which laid the foundation for the development of the domestic system of notaries and notarial activities. This legislative act remains in force today, but its content has undergone significant changes, which is reflected in the legal support of notarial activities. Despite the lack of officially established conceptual documents that would relate to the development of legal support for notarial activities in Ukraine, the author tried to establish and summarize the actual state of such legal support on the basis of existing legal support, which is presented in the form of the following components: 1) objects of notarial activity; 2) legal consolidation of tasks assigned to the notary, which are defined as a range of responsibilities performed by the subjects of notarial activity; 3) consolidation of the legal status of the notary, within which the rights and obligations granted or assigned to the notary have been legally defined in order to ensure the performance of the tasks specified by law; 4) legal regulation of the procedural order of notarial activity, which is presented mainly at the secondary level; 5) legal consolidation of the organizational support of notarial activity concerning the rules of notarial record keeping, the activity of the High Qualification Commission of Notaries, the rules of ethical conduct of notaries, etc. It is concluded that the high level of variability of legal support of notarial activity in Ukraine is a consequence of the lack of a unified concept of development of legal support of the notary system and notarial activity in Ukraine.

scholarly journals COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY AS A RESPONSE TO CRISIS: THE ROLE OF THE JALI COMMISSION IN CREATING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CORRUPTION (PART 2)

Obiter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Allister Peté
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
The Face ◽  
Commissions Of Inquiry ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Many ◽  
High Level

When the government of a liberal constitutional democracy is confronted by some or other existential crisis that threatens a major institution of state or the very foundations of the democracy itself, it will often appoint a high-level judicial commission of inquiry as part of its response to the crisis. South Africa is no exception to this tendency, as is evidenced in recent years by the appointment of no fewer than four such commissions in response to a series of crises related to ongoing corruption within state institutions – commonly referred to by ordinary South Africans as “state capture”. This has raised questions as to the alleged benefits of such commissions when viewed in relation to their considerable costs. This article seeks to contribute to this general debate by focusing on one of the purported benefits of such commissions that may be somewhat under appreciated. This is the creation of public awareness, during the life of the commission itself, about the nature and extent of the particular grave threat that confronts the society in question. It is contended that, mediated by a free and vibrant press, the public narrative that emerges during the operation of a commission of inquiry may serve to make a liberal democratic society more resilient in the face of threats to that society’s continued existence. This article seeks to support this contention by focusing on an important precursor to the more recent commissions of inquiry on corruption in South Africa – that is, the Jali Commission of Inquiry into corruption within the South African penal system, which sat in the early years of the new millennium. By analysing the many articles and reports that appeared in a range of South African newspapers during the initial hearings of the Jali Commission, this article documents the emergence of an important public narrative on corruption within South Africa’s prisons, and reflects upon the ultimate significance. This article is divided into two parts: the first part deals with the initial hearings of the Jali Commission in KwaZulu-Natal, and the second part with subsequent hearings in the Free State.

scholarly journals Role of Credit in the Development of Ukraines Economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
Yuliia Zahynailo ◽  
◽  
Oleksandr Doroshenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Stability ◽  
Foreign Currency ◽  
Bank Lending ◽  
Local Currency ◽  
Current State ◽  
Government Lending ◽  
The Government ◽  
High Level ◽  
Key Indicators

Introduction. It is known that credit is a significant achievement of mankind. The emergence and development of credit took place on the basis of the money function as a means of circulation. The development of commodity production and the need for increased working capital are the economic reasons for the credit need. Purpose .The aim of the article is to determine the role of bank credit in the economy of Ukraine and analysis of key indicators of credit activity. Results. The dynamics of loans to residents by sectors of the economy and the types of currencies and maturities for loans were studied. Loans issued by types of economic activity were analyzed. The current enterprise lending programs in 2020, initiated by the Government of Ukraine was considered. The main directions for improving bank lending were identified. Conclusions. Following conclusions are based on the analysis of the current state of bank lending in Ukraine: – the maximum value of loans in 2018 amounting to 1,073,131 million, and the lowest in 2012 – 815,142 million; – according to the sectors of the economy, the largest share of lending is lending to non-financial corporations (70-80% depending on the year); – over the period of lending in local currency dominated loans in foreign exception is 2015; – the structure of loans according to maturity prevails in local currency short-term loans and foreign currency structure of loans according to maturity – homogeneous; – The Cabinet of the Ministry of Ukraine introduced two programs to support small and medium-sized businesses in the country: «Available loans 5-7-9%» and the program «New Money»; For the development of bank lending and the establishment of financial stability in Ukraine should: conduct active banks to attract customers to the government lending programs, in turn, a borrower for the loan according to the program, to properly open the financial statements and maintain business activity at a high level for real bank assessment of the borrower’s creditworthiness.

scholarly journals Commissions of Inquiry as a Response to Crisis: The Role of the Jali Commission in Creating Public Awareness of Corruption (Part 1)

Obiter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 903-925
Author(s):  
Stephen Allister Peté
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
The Face ◽  
Commissions Of Inquiry ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Many ◽  
High Level

When the government of a liberal constitutional democracy is confronted by some or other existential crisis that threatens a major institution of state or the very foundations of the democracy itself, it will often appoint a high-level judicial commission of inquiry as part of its response to the crisis. South Africa is no exception to this tendency, as is evidenced in recent years by the appointment of no fewer than four such commissions in response to a series of crises related to ongoing corruption within state institutions – commonly referred to by ordinary South Africans as “state capture”. This has raised questions as to the alleged benefits of such commissions when viewed in relation to their considerable costs. This article seeks to contribute to this general debate by focusing on one of the purported benefits of such commissions that may be somewhat under-appreciated. This is the creation of public awareness, during the life of the commission itself, about the nature and extent of the particular grave threat that confronts the society in question. It is contended that, mediated by a free and vibrant press, the public narrative that emerges during the operation of a commission of inquiry may serve to make a liberal democratic society more resilient in the face of threats to that society’s continued existence. This article seeks to support this contention by focusing on an important precursor to the more recent commissions of inquiry on corruption in South Africa – that is, the Jali Commission of Inquiry into corruption within the South African penal system, which sat in the early years of the new millennium. By analysing the many articles and reports that appeared in a range of South African newspapers during the initial hearings of the Jali Commission, this article documents the emergence of an important public narrative on corruption within South Africa’s prisons, and reflects upon the ultimate significance of this narrative. This article is divided into two parts: the first part deals with the initial hearings of the Jali Commission in KwaZulu-Natal, and the second part with subsequent hearings in the Free State.

scholarly journals CURRENT STATE AND PROBLEMS OF LEGAL STATUS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION IN UKRAINE

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
O.I. Zozulia
Keyword(s):  
Legal System ◽  
Political System ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Alternative Program ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Current State ◽  
Political Forces ◽  
Legislative Regulation ◽  
The Government

The analysis of the current state of the legal status of the parliamentary opposition in Ukraine has been performed; it also describes its features and problems related to non-recognition of the subjectivity of the parliamentary opposition, the lack of proper legal regulation of its rights, responsibilities, guarantees and limits of activity. It was stressed that the non-institutionalization of the parliamentary opposition causes the opposition political forces in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to have no corresponding responsibilities for forming a shadow government, preparing an alternative program of government activities, observing national interests, banning abuse of rights and guarantees, etc. At the same time, de facto opposition parliamentary factions and groups, individual MPs of Ukraine to control the activities of the coalition and the government can carry out some effective parliamentary means and procedures (inquiries, government hearings, initiating parliamentary inquiries, constitutional appeals, etc.), which lays the foundations of opposition activity in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. It is established that the peculiarities of the domestic legal system, insufficient development of parliamentarism and political system actualize the complex constitutional and legislative regulation of the bases of organization and activity of the parliamentary opposition in Ukraine, including the order of its formation, rights and responsibilities, guarantees and procedures, relations with the coalition and government. It is substantiated that the institutionalization of the parliamentary opposition in Ukraine should be aimed at real ensuring its constructive cooperation with the majority, as well as on observance of the rights of the opposition regarding representation in the leadership of the parliament and its bodies, control of the activities of the majority and the government, publication of its position in the parliament. The priority of improving the legal status of the parliamentary opposition in Ukraine should be not only the clarification and expansion of its rights, but also the formation of effective mechanisms for their implementation, ensuring accountability for violations of opposition`s rights.  

Africa’s LGBT Movement and Interest Groups

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwafemi Adeagbo ◽  
Kammila Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
African Culture ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Current State ◽  
Ideal Family ◽  
Heterosexual Relationship ◽  
Sodomy Laws ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
High Level

The dominant belief in Africa is that same-sex intimacy is a child of modern civilization and Western culture. Hence, we see a high level of homophobia and continuous policing of same-sex relationships in most African countries, including those that have decriminalized them. Over time, different scholarly discourses have emerged about homosexuality in Africa. Although some writers believe that same-sex intimacy is fundamentally un-African, others argue that same-sex intimacy is inherent in African culture. Arguably, the introduction of Western religion, such as Christianity, which forms part of the colonization agenda, favors the monogamous, heterosexual relationship (the basis of the “ideal family unit”) as the acceptable natural union while any relationship outside it is regarded as unnatural. Given deteriorating socioeconomic and political situations in Africa, political leaders often find it expedient to use religious-based homophobic narratives to distract their impoverished citizens and muster popular support. Put together, this has led to the criminalization of same-sex unions in most African countries. Modern discourses in Africa on gender equality and sexual freedoms reveal more liberal attitudes, but the same cannot be said about how same-sex desire is viewed. Toleration of same-sex intimacy is seen as a threat to the dominant African definition of marriage, family, and patriarchal gender and power relations. Despite the prevalence of homophobia, the establishment of gay networks and movements that championed the liberation struggles of sexual minorities in South Africa from the apartheid to postapartheid era have sharpened the sense of belonging of LGBTIA groups. While some countries (e.g., South Africa, Lesotho, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Mali, and Mozambique) have abandoned sodomy laws that criminalized same-sex relationships (often after much pressure was exerted), others (e.g., Chad, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Mauritania) have upheld the laws with stiff punishment—prison terms up to 14–30 years or death sentences for the crime of being homosexual. The first half of 2019 raised some hopes about LGBTIA rights in Africa when Angola (January 2019) and Botswana (June 2019) decriminalized homosexuality. However, Kenya, which had previously shown a “glimmer of hope” in decriminalizing same-sex relationships, upheld laws that criminalize homosexuality in May 2019. Currently, more than 30 of the 54 recognized African countries still have laws (with harsh punishments or death) that outlaw consensual same-sex relationships. Both theoretical and empirical insights into the current state of Africa’s LGBTIA rights and scholarship are discussed.

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