University of the Witwatersrand

Narrative Re-Membering of Apartheid Lives: Race, Place, and Nostalgia

This article explored how older ‘coloured’ South Africans living in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town, narrated their memories of life under apartheid, which include forced removals from their childhood homes in Goodwood Akkers and Vasco, and life post-apartheid in Bishop Lavis. Ten indivi...

Neanderthal’s heel: How the Neanderthal’s external calcaneal shape uniquely differs from that of modern humans

Neanderthals exhibit unique morphological adaptations in their calcaneus compared to Homo sapiens , shedding light on distinct evolutionary pressures and functional requirements shaping their respective foot anatomy. This study assesses which calcaneal traits represent plesiomorp...

Regime Shifts and Transformations in Social-Ecological Systems: Advancing Critical Frontiers for Safe and Just Futures

Current research challenges in sustainability science require us to consider nonlinear changes—shifts that do not happen gradually but can be sudden and difficult to predict. Central questions are therefore how we can prevent harmful shifts, promote desirable ones, and better ant...

The Rate of Exploitation in the South African Economy, 2001–2022

We estimate the Marxian rate of exploitation for the South African economy over 2001–2022, for each racial group. African labor contributes 74 percent to the total value, Colored labor 18 percent, and Indian and White labor contribute 0.7 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively. Ba...

“I know how important it is”: A qualitative analysis of participants’ experiences in a vaccine safety study

Specialist immunization clinics can support vaccination counseling for individuals experiencing adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) and research into AEFIs. We sought to describe the experiences of participants from the Canadian Special Immunization Clinic Network COVID...

The Impact of Conflict on Maternal and Child Health Services: A Scoping Review

Abstract Conflicts are unavoidable aspect of human existence, causing disruptions in livelihoods, infrastructure, socioeconomic systems and healthcare access. Among the most severe effects of conflict are those on maternal and child health (MCH) services, on which there is a nota...

Prospecting MeerKAT Continuum Data for Enigmatic Radio Sources with Unsupervised Vector-Quantised Variational Autoencoders

Abstract We present a novel application of Vector quantised variational autoencoders (VQ-VAEs) as an unsupervised tool to probe deep 1.28 GHz radio continuum images taken from the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey (MGCLS) and compare their performance to other machine learning...

Co-designing community energy resilience: insights from a Bondo mini-grid in Southern Malawi

Abstract Background Rural communities in Malawi remain highly vulnerable to livelihood shocks due to limited access to reliable and affordable energy. Strengthening energy resilience requires participatory approaches that integrate technical, social, and economic dimensions. This...

Co-designing the ConnectUp online platform to facilitate social connection, physical health and mental wellbeing in people with disabilities and carers

Introduction A mobile application and online platform ConnectUp supports people with disabilities (PwD) and carers to socially connect for physical activity. The platform will be optimised, implemented and evaluated between 2025 and 2027 aiming to integrate social connection, phy...

Topological robustness of optical skyrmions through a real-world free-space link

Structured light offers a promising solution for the increasing data demands of modern optical networks, opening up degrees of freedom that can be leveraged for greater channel capacity and more bits per photon. However, its implementation is hindered by real-world distortions, f...

Does plastic waste present an infection hazard? Current evidence, surveillance challenges and research priorities

Abstract Unmanaged plastic waste is widespread in settings with limited waste collection, yet its contribution to infectious disease risk remains poorly understood. In this review, we synthesise current evidence on the human health implications of plastic waste, with a specific f...

Interrogating Learner Progression Policy in South African Schools Through Teachers’ Perspectives

Learner progression policy in South Africa is intended to promote inclusive education by reducing grade repetition and preventing learner dropout, yet its implementation remains contested, particularly in under-resourced schooling contexts. Drawing on teacher agency and socio-eco...

Impacts of land system change− driven urban heat islands on surface water dynamics and moisture conditions in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract Surface water is a scarce resource in Gauteng, South Africa. This study analysed the impacts of urban heat islands on surface water dynamics and moisture conditions from 1984 to 2024 using vegetation and water indices in the Google Earth Engine. The results indicate that...

One in seven has severe pain: a point-prevalence study of hospitalised patients across Africa

ABSTRACT: Acute pain in hospitalised patients is common, yet African data are scarce. We conducted a prospective point-prevalence study of hospitalised adult patients across Africa to determine acute pain prevalence and severity and investigate associations of pain with critical...

Temperature and relative humidity differentially affect deltamethrin and malathion toxicity in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus

Background Temperature and relative humidity are key drivers of ectotherm physiology, yet their combined effects on insecticide performance remain poorly understood. Here, we experimentally quantified how both temperature and relative humidity influence the toxicity of two widely...

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, calcium, phosphate, and magnesium levels in association with bone mineral density at the hip and lumbar spine in African breastfeeding women: a longitudinal evaluation

The relationship between vitamin D status and serum calcium, phosphate, and magnesium levels, as well as bone mineral density, in African breastfeeding women remains understudied. Bone resorption is essential for maintaining mineral balance when demand for calcium, phosphate, and...

Aquatic predators as complementary tools for mosquito vector control: current evidence, ecological considerations, and future directions

Insecticide-based strategies for mosquito control are increasingly constrained by insecticide resistance, sparking interest in eco-friendly alternatives, one of which is the use of aquatic predators to reduce mosquito densities. Evidence from laboratory, semi-field, and localized...

Multi-threshold segmentation of histopathological colorectal cancer images by an enhanced INFO algorithm

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent and life-threatening cancers worldwide, where early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Image segmentation plays a fundamental role in medical analysis by enabling precise polyp detection, yet traditional metho...

Spatial patterns and factors associated with vaccination uptake at follow-up among previously identified zero-dose children in Mchinji District, Malawi

Globally, more than 14 million infants remained zero-dose in 2024, having not received the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1). In Malawi, national immunisation estimates may mask sub-district inequities, limiting the ability to identify and reach...

Monitoring and Human Health Assessment of Trace Elements in Fresh and Dry Fish From Lake Kariba, Siavonga, Zambia

This study investigated the levels of trace elements in two fish species, Kariba bream (Oreochromis mortimeri) and Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon) from Lake Kariba in two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022. Both Kariba Bream fresh/sun-dried muscle and sun-dried Kapenta tissues were d...