Litnet Akademies : 'n Joernaal vir die Geesteswetenskappe, Natuurwetenskappe, Regte en Godsdienswetenskappe - Volume 10, Issue 1, March 2013

Hierdie bydrae is 'n uitgebreide gevallestudie van hoe (en hoe doeltreffend) die konstitusionele hof in Suid-Afrika (hierna "die hof") toegang wat via die Grondwet tot 'n transnasionale konteks verleen word, in wets- en grondwetsvertolking benut. Transnasionaal omvat hier die gebruik van en steun op die volkereg asook grondwetlike vergelykingsarbeid. Hierdie twee dimensies moet nie saamgesmelt of vermeng word nie.

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In die eerste van drie hoofonderafdelings van die artikel bespreek ek die grondwetsbepalings wat uitdruklik toegang tot transnasionale bronne in wets- en grondwetsvertolking magtig en regspraak van die hof oor die toepassing en gebruik van sodanige bepalings.

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In die tweede hoofonderafdeling kyk ek na steun op die volkereg in wets- en grondwetsvertolking met besondere aandag aan, onder meer, die wel en wee van 'n diktum waarin die hof gesê het dat die volkereg help om 'n raamwerk daar te stel waarbinne alle ander reg vertolk moet word (die "raamwerk-diktum"). Ek kyk ook na die skromelike onderbenutting van artikel 233 van die Grondwet en sluit dan af met 'n bespreking en illustrasie van hoe steun op die volkereg in wets- en grondwetsvertolking tot die vorming van nuwe munisipale reg (kan) bydra.

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In die laaste onderafdeling word verskeie kwessies rakende grondwetlike vergelykingsarbeid aangesny en word gesigspunte van sowel ondersteuners van as skeptici oor hierdie vorm van vergelyking toegelig en beoordeel. Argumente oor die voor- en nadele van hierdie relatief nuwe dissipline word kortliks bekyk en uiteindelik word ook hier 'n voorbeeld gegee van hoe grondwetlike vergelykingsarbeid tot die vorming van nuwe reg kan bydra.

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Uiteindelik word met die artikel aangetoon dat die konstitusionele hof se baie positiewe houding oor die gebruik van transnasionale bronne in wets- en grondwetsvertolking saam met grondwetlike demokrasie gekom het om te bly ten spyte van enkele gevalle ('n volstrekte minderheid, weliswaar) waar die hof - byvoorbeeld as gevolg van politieke druk - nie met volle oorgawe aan "die transnasionale" gevolg kon gee nie.

"Transnational context" in the jurisprudence of the constitutional court of South Africa : a variation on the theme of constitutional interpretation

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This article is a case study of how (and how effectively) the constitutional court in South Africa has succeeded in accessing a transnational context to aid, and indeed inspire, the interpretation of the Constitution (and statutes), with accessing a transnational context here referring both to the use of and reliance on international law and to the practice of constitutional comparativism. These two dimensions can be looked at and reflected on simultaneously, but are not to be equated and eventually conflated. It will be shown that the court has indeed made this mistake, but fortunately with more positive than negative consequences, and this, paradoxically, has contributed to a better understanding of transnational access.

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The first main section of the article looks at constitutional provisions that authorise, in so many words, or at least recommend, access to transnational sources as well as the jurisprudence of the court on the use and application of such provisions. Particular attention is devoted to three sets of guidelines which the court developed, notably in the epoch-making case of S v Makwanyane (the "death penalty case").

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The second main part of the article discusses the use of and reliance on international law in statutory and constitutional interpretation. Special attention is devoted to, among others, the weal and woe of a significant dictum of the court in Makwanyane stating that international law helps provide a framework within which all other law must be construed (the so-called framework dictum). I also draw attention to the underuse of section 233 of the Constitution which enjoins any court construing the Constitution or legislation to prefer any reasonable interpretation in conformity with international law to any other interpretation(s) not thus in conformity. Section 233 is, for all practical purposes, not really invoked.

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The second main part of the article also devotes attention to the phenomenon that external and internal political pressures sometimes influence the way in which a court deals with disputes it is called upon to adjudicate. Some cases in which the court was under political pressure are identified and discussed and I conclude that the court has acted mostly appropriately in politically precarious situations. In AZAPO political controversy put the Makwanyane framework dictum under considerable strain and almost abrogated it by disuse! But a series of cases followed in which the Makwanyane framework dictum was carefully restored and observed, and more than just damage control was done in acknowledging the dictum's significance.

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International law plays a distinctly formative role in constitutional and statutory interpretation and enriches municipal law. This phenomenon is also considered in the second main part of the article and it is shown that the court's eagerness to rely on and/or apply international law has in some instances even resulted in the formation of new law per errorem!

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The third main part is about issues pertinent to the theory and practice of constitutional comparativism. Attention is devoted to a discussion of the debate between judges and academics who believe in, and add considerable value to, the endeavour of constitutional comparison (the protagonists) and those who do not share - and actually oppose - this belief (the antagonists). A very important point that the protagonists make is that comparative work helps judges to interrogate their own prejudices and question their assumptions. An example is provided of how foreign (case) law - through the exercise of comparison - could enrich South African law on the interpretation of enacted law texts.

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One of the challenges constitutional comparativists (especially in South Africa) face is that of coming to grips with what it means to be a comparative example of some significance among quite a number of (other) new constitutional democracies with their democratic constitutions in an era of ever increasing globalisation. The novelty tag here is often hung around the neck of jurisdictions with post-World War II constitutions riding the "third wave of democratisation".

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A second challenge for constitutional comparativists (and scholars in particular) is to reflect thoroughly on, to develop and to refine methods of constitutional comparativism. There is widespread agreement that theory is still one of the weaker points of constitutional comparativism as a developing discipline. Comparativism is also significant in the development of the law as such and I explain how, for instance, there is much to learn from European examples about the interpretation of enacted law and especially the use of the so-called Savigny Quartet.

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The challenges mentioned above do not undo positive milestones that have been achieved. What has been published on comparative constitutionalism in South Africa is not much, but is of a high quality, especially the work of scholars like Van der Walt, Botha and Venter.

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Botha's work is significant in that he meticulously identifies and describes inherently different versions of the relationship between "the newer comparativism" and the globalisation of constitutionalism. Van der Walt writes extensively and incisively about constitutional property and does so from a comparative perspective. The honour of drafting an agenda for the comparativist debate is probably Venter's - he has authored the only two books on constitutional comparativism in South Africa thus far.

Die navorsing handel in hoofsaak oor die bevoegdhede en aanspreeklikheid van die ondernemingsreddingspraktisyn, 'n sleutelfiguur in enige korporatiewe reddingspoging. Die doel van die navorsing is om vas te stel wat die nuwe 2008-Maatskappywet bepaal oor die werksaamhede van die ondernemingsreddingspraktisyn en hoe hierdie bevoegdhede en verpligtinge verskil van dié wat die geregtelike bestuurder ingevolge die 1973-wet gehad het. Die geregtelike bestuurder en ondernemingsreddingspraktisyn word met mekaar in hierdie opsig vergelyk.

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Dit blyk uit die navorsing dat die werksaamhede van die reddingspraktisyn nie 'n geweldige gedaanteverwisseling ondergaan het nie. Soos met die geregtelike bestuursmodel is die vernaamste verpligting van die reddingspraktisyn steeds om die beheer en bestuur van die maatskappy by die direksie oor te neem. Die reddingspraktisyn het egter een baie belangrike verpligting bygekry, naamlik die opstel en implementering van 'n ondernemingsreddingsplan. Daar word ook ondersoek ingestel na die persoonlike aanspreeklikheid wat deur die ondernemingsreddingspraktisyn opgedoen kan word.

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Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die uitbreiding van die bevoegdhede en pligte van die reddingspraktisyn 'n positiewe bydrae kan lewer tot suksesvolle reddingspogings en dat Suid-Afrika ondersoek behoort in te stel na die beter regulering van insolvensiepraktisyns.

An investigation into the powers and duties of the business rescue practitioner as company doctor

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Although the new Companies Act 71 of 2008 has not been in effect for a very long time, more companies are availing themselves of the business rescue provisions contained in chapter 6 of the act. Some of these companies have achieved success and some not. It is clear, however, that one of the most important role players in these proceedings is the business rescue practitioner, the person responsible for administering the rehabilitation process for the financially distressed company.

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The previous act, the Companies Act 61 of 1973, made use of the judicial management system. The judicial manager was also the key role player in these proceedings. Judicial management was not a very successful procedure and some of the problems regarding the procedure revolved around the judicial manager and his duties.

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This article sets out to evaluate the provisions pertaining to the powers and the duties of the rescue practitioner contained in the 2008 Companies Act in order to ascertain whether the new provisions constitute improvements or not. This is done by comparing the current provisions with the provisions contained in the previous act and the international guidelines provided for in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law's Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law.

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It is clear from the comparative study that there has not been a major transformation in the new act with regard to the duties of the practitioner. As with the judicial management system the main duty of the practitioner is to take over control of the company. The judicial manager divested the board of directors of all the control in the company. An important difference is that the new act provides for the management of the company to remain in place while being overseen by the practitioner. However, he practitioner has the power to delegate any power or function and even has the power to remove certain people from their office. This implies that he still has ultimate control over the management of the company, while there are some functions and duties that the directors must still comply with subject to his authority.

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Upon being appointed the practitioner also has the important duty to promptly investigate the affairs of the company, its business property and financial situation. Most of the responsibilities and duties of the practitioner are dependent on the outcome this investigation.

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The business rescue practitioner, like his predecessor under the old act, is regarded as an officer of the court and in addition to his normal duties has the responsibility to inform the court if at any time he concludes that: (i) there is no reasonable prospect for the company to be rescued; (ii) there are no longer reasonable grounds to believe the company is in distress; or (iii) there is evidence of reckless trading or fraud.

Die likwidasie/sekwestrasie van werkgewers, en die werksverlies wat daaruit spruit, het verreikende gevolge. Nie net ontneem dit werknemers en hul afhanklikes van hul bestaansmiddele nie, maar dit kring ook uit na 'n streek en land se produktiwiteit en dus ekonomiese welvaart. Indien daar 'n haalbare en wettige alternatief bestaan, sou dit derhalwe sinvol wees om te verken.

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Tot die laat 1990's het daar 'n likwidasiekultuur in Suid-Afrika geheers. Maatskappye in finansiële nood is óf aan oorname of skikking onderwerp óf kragtens die bepalings van die vorige Wet op Maatskappye 61 van 1973 gelikwideer. Sedertdien het die meeste nywerheidslande egter begin om mislukte maatskappye te probeer red eerder as te likwideer. Hierdie benadering, genaamd ondernemingsredding, is nou ook in die nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse Wet op Maatskappye 71 van 2008 ingesluit.

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Hierdie artikel stel eerstens ondersoek in na werknemers se regte met die likwidasie/sekwestrasie van hul werkgewer soos dit tans in die Wet op Arbeidsverhoudinge 66 van 1995 en die Wet op Insolvensie 24 van 1936 vervat is. Daarna val die soeklig op ondernemingsredding as alternatief vir likwidasie om werknemers teen werksverlies te beskerm en maatskappye uiteindelik vir die ekonomie te behou.

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Die navorsing vergelyk historiese ontwikkelinge in die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeids- en handelsreg met die huidige stand van sake om tot die gevolgtrekking te kom dat 'n insolvente onderneming nie meer, soos voorheen, as 'n ekonomiese uitgeworpene beskou word nie, maar eerder as 'n sake-eenheid wat met die nodige bystand weer sy plek in die mark sal kan inneem. 'n Ondernemingsreddingsplan bied 'n sukkelende maatskappy die geleentheid om as lewensvatbare entiteit te oorleef, tot voordeel van sy skuldeisers én werknemers, in plaas daarvan om aan 'n likwidasieproses onderwerp te word wat noodwendig tot werks- en ander finansiële verliese lei.

The impact of an employer's liquidation and/or estate sequestration on the employment relationship with the employee, with a view to business rescue as possible alternative

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The liquidation/sequestration of employers, along with the subsequent job losses, has far-reaching consequences. It not only deprives employees and their dependants of their means of support, but also affects the productivity and thus economic prosperity of the region and country. Should a viable and lawful alternative exist, it would therefore make sense to explore it.

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Up until the late 1990s, South Africa had been characterised by a liquidation culture. Companies in financial distress used to be either subjected to takeover or settlement, or liquidated in terms of the provisions of the previous Companies Act 61 of 1973. However, most industrialised countries have since started trying to save failing companies instead of liquidating them. This approach, known as business rescue, has now also been included in the new South African Companies Act 71 of 2008.

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This article first explores employees' rights upon the liquidation/sequestration of their employers, as currently contained in the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 and the Insolvency Act 24 of 1936. The former stipulates two options, namely either retrenchment in terms of section 189 and 189A, or transferring a business as a going concern in terms of section 197A. Retrenchment entails reducing the number of employees, either when the employer is no longer able to afford his entire staff establishment or when there is no longer enough work for all employees. Recent experience in South Africa has shown that companies seem to be willing to pay ever higher amounts in retrenchment packages, which eventually renders them vulnerable to increased financial pressures. The second option, the transfer of a business as a going concern, is aimed at protecting job opportunities. The new employer to whom the business is transferred is obligated to offer the employees essentially the same conditions of service as those that applied at the previous employer. Where employees' conditions of service are amended to such an extent that employees end up significantly worse off than before, employees may terminate the employment contract and seek relief on the grounds of constructive dismissal, which, if confirmed, will automatically constitute unfair dismissal. In turn, section 38 of the Insolvency Act currently also provides prescripts with regard to the termination of employment contracts based on the employer's operational requirements in solvent circumstances.

In hierdie artikel word die moontlikheid van die herklassifisering van die ekstrinsieke-getuienis-reël, of die moontlike ontwikkeling van die reël deur die Suid-Afrikaanse howe op een lyn met die ontwikkeling daarvan in die Engelse reg, ondersoek. In die eerste gedeelte van die artikel word daar derhalwe gefokus op die moontlikheid van die herklassifisering van die ekstrinsieke-getuienis-reël as synde deel van die materiële of substantiewe reg in teenstelling met die huidige, duidelik verkeerde klassifisering van die reël as deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse bewysreg. Daar word aangevoer dat die ekstrinsieke-getuienis-reël onbekend was aan die Romeins-Hollandse reg en dat die herklassifisering van die reël noodwendig sal meebring dat die Romeins-Hollandse reg, in teenstelling met die Engelse reg, gevolg sal word by die beoordeling van die aanbieding van ekstrinsieke getuienis buite om 'n skriftelike kontrak. In die tweede gedeelte van die artikel word daar op 'n tweede moontlikheid gefokus, naamlik die aanpassing van die integrasiereël op een lyn met die moderne toepassing van die reël in die Engelse reg. Daar word aangevoer dat die integrasiereël in die Engelse reg sodanig ontwikkel het sedert 30 Mei 1961 dat die essensie van die reël vir alle praktiese doeleindes in so 'n mate afgewater is dat dit tans slegs oor simboliese waarde beskik. Hierdie moderne benadering van die Engelse reg staan dan ook in skrille kontras met die huidige toepassing van die reël in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg. Die gevolgtrekking word egter gemaak dat die beginsels van regsekerheid en kontinuïteit, asook die gedagtegang dat, vir sover dit nie deur wetgewing gereël word nie, ons bewysreg "bevries" is in die gedaante wat die Engelse bewysreg op 30 Mei 1961 aangeneem het, in die pad sal staan van 'n herklassifisering van die reël of 'n soortgelyke ontwikkeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse reg aan dié wat plaasgevind het in die Engelse reg. Dit wil derhalwe lyk of wetgewing die enigste werkbare oplossing bied om die ekstrinsieke-getuienis-reël, en meer spesifiek die integrasiereël, af te skaf of te aan te pas in die Suid-Afrikaanse kontraktereg.

The reclassification of the parol evidence rule and further development of the integration rule in the South African law of contract

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The parol evidence rule represents one of the most problematic legal doctrines in the South African law of evidence. This rule consists of two different components. The first component is known as the integration rule and essentially entails that where an agreement has been reduced to writing, no extrinsic evidence of any prior or collateral agreement may be given to contradict, alter, add to or vary the written terms of the written contract. The second component is known as the interpretation rule, which entails that when the terms of a written contract are clear and unambiguous no evidence may be given to alter such plain meaning. Both rules originated in England and have been distributed from there to the different common law countries as well as South Africa.

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In the past there were several proponents that contended for the complete abolition of the parol evidence rule, or at least the component referred to in this article as the integration rule. In 1998 an extensive report was brought out by the South African law commission wherein certain recommendations were made to the minister of justice pertaining to, inter alia, the parol evidence rule, which essentially entailed that the rule should be abolished. But the recommendations by the law commission apparently died a slow death and there has been no attempt since to abolish or modify the rule in the South African legal system.

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If it is clear that the rule should be abolished or modified, the question, of course, arises in what way this should be done. Legislation seems to be the logical solution. Legislation is, however, a drastic step which should serve only as a last resort and other, less drastic methods should first be considered. This article therefore focuses on the possibility of the reclassification of the parol evidence rule or the possible development of the integration rule by the South African courts in accordance with the development thereof in the English law.

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The first part of the article focuses on the possibility of the reclassification of the parol evidence rule as part of material or substantive law, in contrast with the current, clearly incorrect classification of the rule as part of the South African law of evidence. The position had always been, and still is, that South African material or substantive law (in as far as it had not been amended by legislation), is based on Roman-Dutch law, but that South African formal or procedural law, including the law of evidence, is based on English law. The South African courts had, as far back as the early 20th century, already classified the parol evidence rule as part of formal or procedural law and therefore held that the application of the rule was governed by English law. There seems to be general consensus, however, between writers and courts alike that the parol evidence rule actually forms part of material or substantive law and not formal or procedural law. A reclassification by the South African courts of the parol evidence rule as part of material law would, therefore, automatically bring about the situation where Roman-Dutch law, as opposed to English law, would govern the presentation of extrinsic evidence apart from a written agreement. It is submitted that the parol evidence rule was unknown to Roman-Dutch law and that the reclassification of the rule would therefore result in the abolition of the rule and the situation where the presentation of any extrinsic evidence would be allowed in order to ascertain the true intention of the parties. The conclusion will, however, be made that the principles of legal certainty and continuity would in all probability prevent a reclassification of the parol evidence rule by the South African courts.

Suid-Afrikaanse slagoffers van gewelddadige misdade soos verkragting en moord kan tans verwag dat lewenslange gevangenisstraf as die swaarste moontlike vonnis aan hul oortreders opgelê word. Na vonnisoplegging is die werklike termyn van aanhouding wat uitgedien moet word, nie net vir die oortreder van belang nie, maar ook vir die slagoffer.

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Die Argentynse rolprent The secret in their eyes gee 'n treffende illustrasie van die verraad wat 'n agterblywende wewenaar ervaar wanneer die staat versuim om sy verpligting na te kom om sy vrou se moordenaar regmatig te straf. In sy strewe na geregtigheid word hy self 'n lewenslange slagoffer. Die rolprent bring die regte van slagoffers en oortreders tydens die postvonnis-fase op die voorgrond. Hierdie fase word ondersoek met spesifieke verwysing na slagoffers se redelike verwagtinge van die staat, bemagtiging deur middel van hul regte (byvoorbeeld die reg om inligting relevant tot paroolbesluite te verskaf), en die ondersteuningstrukture tot hul beskikking om die effek van geweldsmisdaad aan te spreek. Daarbenewens word die regte van oortreders wat lewenslange vonnisse uitdien, beoordeel, soos die reg op waardigheid en menslike interaksie, asook die reëls met betrekking tot die vonnistermyn en paroolvergunning. Die rolprent bekragtig die motivering onderliggend aan 'n kultuur van regte vir beide slagoffers en oortreders. Daarby word die wesenlike spanning tussen die regte van beide partye en die dwingende vereiste om 'n balans tussen die twee te vind, geïllustreer. Die artikel wys uit dat wanneer regsteks in formele onderrig deur die gebruik van rolprentmateriaal gekontekstualiseer word, die opleiding en begrip van regstudente aangevul en verskerp kan word.

Post-sentence rights and expectations of victims and offenders of violent crimes with reference to the film The secret in their eyes

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In this article the storyline and facts in the Argentinean film The secret in their eyes are used to highlight and evaluate certain aspects of the criminal justice system. The focus is on those aspects which are, after conviction of a violent crime, of import to both victim and offender, namely the sentence imposed and the actual term of incarceration to be served. The current position under South African law is investigated in the event where a murderer, unlike the one in the film, had been sentenced to life imprisonment under a democratic dispensation. The post-sentence phase is examined, with reference to victims' legitimate expectations from the state, their empowerment through rights (such as the rights to receive and provide information concerning parole proceedings), and available support structures to address the effects of violent crime. In addition, the rights of offenders serving life sentences, such as the right to dignity and human interaction, as well as the rules pertaining to sentence duration and parole, are evaluated. Lastly, it is highlighted how the use of film, such as The secret in their eyes, may enrich legal education by supplementing legal text with the fictionalised application of (or disregard for) laws and rules in humanised settings.

The word anthropocene describes a new geological epoch that follows the holocene epoch. It is the signifier of the period in which people have a devastating and overwhelming impact on the earth and its systems. The anthropocene also describes the new context in which we are going to have to consider how we should deal with the effects of global anthropogenic ecological change by means of, among others, global environmental law and governance. In the anthropocene we have to deal with a new situation and it calls for new perspectives and paradigms on development and progress. This will require new perspectives on and reimagining of orthodox social institutional constructs like global environmental law and governance and their ability to successfully mediate the human-environment interface. In this article I reflect on how we will have to rethink the composition, functions and objectives of global environmental law and governance in the anthropocene. I specifically attempt to identify a host of considerations that environmental lawyers will have to contemplate if global environmental law and governance were to respond better to the many challenges and complexities in the anthropocene epoch.

Ten spyte van 'n aansienlike aantal afdwingbare regsreëls wat staatsverkryging in Suid-Afrika reguleer, word hierdie aspek van staatsadministrasie gekenmerk deur hoë vlakke van ongerymdhede. Veral korrupsie blyk hoogty te vier as dit kom by staatskontrakte. Die vraag ontstaan dus hoekom die toepaslike reg oënskynlik nie daarin slaag om korrupsie in staatskontraktering effektief teen te werk nie. Die doel met hierdie artikel is om te fokus op die regsreëls wat spesifiek gemik is daarop om korrupsie in staatskontraktering te beveg en deur 'n ontleding van daardie reëls probleme te identifiseer wat sodanige oogmerk ondermyn. Vyf hoofprobleme in die regulering van staatsverkryging word geïdentifiseer wat bepaald die stryd teen korrupsie ondermyn, te wete die gefragmenteerde aard van die regulatoriese raamwerk, die steun op verkrygingsbeleid as die voertuig vir individuele verkrygingsreëls, die desentralisering van beide die verkrygingsfunksie en die skep van verkrygingsreëls, die inkonsekwente toepassing van gemeenregtelike reëls deur howe in verkrygingsdispute en die onsamehangende stelsel van remedies van toepassing op verkrygingstransaksies. Drie stappe word gevolglik voorgestel wat hierdie probleme kan help aanspreek. Dit is die sentralisering en konsolidering van die regulatoriese raamwerk, die skep van 'n sterk, sentrale oorsigstruktuur, en 'n herbesinning van die howe se rol in die regulering van staatsverkryging.

The apparent failure of the law to curb corruption in public procurement in South Africa

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Corruption and public procurement have almost become synonymous in the public mind in South Africa. Almost every week brings new claims about some government contract that is clouded by questionable dealings, with words such as "tenderpreneurs" describing this scourge which has firmly taken root in popular discourse. The scope of alleged corruption in state contracting in South Africa is staggering, with the special investigating unit currently investigating tender irregularities amounting to billions of rand. It is no wonder that minister Trevor Manual recently identified public procurement as the Achilles heel of government.

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In South African law there is, however, no shortage of regulatory measures aimed at controlling public procurement. This aspect of government conduct is highly regulated in terms of binding legal rules with fairly detailed requirements that individual procurements must meet. The question is, therefore, why corruption seems so prevalent in this area. Put differently, the question is why the law is failing to keep corruption in public procurement in check.

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In considering this question, this article starts with a broad outline of the regulatory measures in place to deal with corruption in public procurement in South Africa. Against this legal backdrop the article investigates the problems in the public procurement regulatory regime that contribute to the unhealthy state in which this area finds itself, and concludes with some tentative thoughts on possible solutions.

In hierdie artikel speur ek die evolusie van die Suid-Afrikaanse motorfietsryer oor 'n tydperk van meer as drie dekades na deur te fokus op persoonlike ervaring asook bemarkingstrategieë en mediaverteenwoordiging. Hierdie evolusie toon 'n sterk ooreenkoms met 'n wêreldwye tendens en opvallende ooreenkomste met ontwikkelinge in Amerika, Kanada, Engeland en Australië. Die ontstaan van motorfietsry as 'n duidelik definieerbare subkultuur kan herlei word na die Amerikaanse skollieryers van die vroeë 1950's, en meer spesifiek na die historiese gebeure in die dorp Hollister in Kalifornië in 1947. Deur die aanwending van 'n eklektiese benadering gebaseer op 'n etnografiese navorsingsontwerp asook insigte vanuit literatuur- en bemarkingstudie, beredeneer hierdie artikel die evolusie van die motorfietsryer van sosiaal-wanaangepaste persoon van die vyftiger-, sestiger- en sewentigerjare van die vorige eeu na hoër-middelklas-ikoon van avontuur en vryheid aan die begin van die nuwe millennium. Hierdie verandering in die beeld van die tipiese motorfietsryer kan toegeskryf word aan 'n verskeidenheid politieke, ekonomiese en sosiale faktore. Die artikel sluit ook voorlopige opmerkings oor die verhouding tussen motorfietseienaar, motorfietsryer en identiteitskonstruksie binne 'n materialistiese paradigma in.

Motorbike culture in South Africa : bikers and motorbike riders

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In this article I trace the evolution of the South African motorcyclist over a period of more than three decades, drawing on personal experience as well as research on marketing and media representation. This evolution closely follows a global trend and striking similarities with phenomena in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are apparent. The origin of biking as a clearly definable subculture can be traced to that of the American "outlaw biker" of the early 1950s, and a specific historical event that occurred in the town of Hollister, California, in 1947. Using an eclectic approach that draws on ethnography as well as literary and marketing studies, this paper argues that the evolution of the biker from social misfit of the fifties, sixties and seventies of the previous century to upper-middle-class icon of adventure and freedom at the start of the new millennium can be attributed to a number of political, economic and social factors. It also provides some provisional remarks on the relationship between motorcycle ownership, motorcycling and identity construction within a material culture paradigm.

Die selfportret beleef tans 'n oplewing aanlyn en word deur sommiges selfs as die volkskuns van die digitale era bestempel. Boonop maak die algemene toegang tot web- en selfoonkameras dit moontlik vir iedereen om hulle eie selfportret (of dan profile pic) aanlyn te kan skep en in stand te kan hou. Hierdie tendens kan beskryf word as 'n demokratisering van selfportrette, 'n genre wat eens slegs vir die aristokrasie en kunstenaars beskore was. Indien die kontemporêre aanlyn selfuitbeeldings met die tradisionele selfportret-genre vergelyk word, kan daar aangedui word dat daar bepaalde verskille is. In hierdie ontleding sal die verskille tussen die tradisionele selfportret soos onder andere vergestalt in die Duitse Renaissance-kunstenaar Albrecht Dürer se werk, in gesprek gebring word met kontemporêre selfuitbeeldings aanlyn, maar in die besonder op sosialemedia-netwerke soos Facebook. In die vergelyking sal daar voorgestel word dat die vroeë manifestasies van die selfportretkuns sekere ooreenkomste toon met wat Paul Virilio identifiseer as 'n "estetika van verskyning" in kontras met die wyse waarop die self in sosiale media vergestalt in wat bestempel kan word as 'n "estetika van verdwyning". Kortweg verwys estetika van verdwyning na die wyse waarop beelde intyds op skerms afwisselend verskyn en verdwyn ten einde die self in 'n "alom-tele-teenwoordigheid", of dan alomteleteenwoordigheid, te situeer.

Self-representations and Facebook : an aesthetic of disappearance?

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The genre of the self-portrait is currently experiencing a revival online, and particularly on social media platforms such as Facebook. This growing popularity of the self-portrait online has caused some authors to refer to the online self-portrait as the folk art of the digital age. The popularity of self-portraiture is made possible in part through ubiquitous tools such as web and cell phone cameras. Through these handy tools everyone with access to the internet can create a self-portrait online and also manage and maintain their own presence effortlessly and constantly online. The fact that the creation of self-portraiture has become so readily accessible to many also indicates that the genre has been democratised. Whereas traditionally the genre of the self-portrait has been reserved mostly for aristocracy and artists, now everyone can take part in their own self-expression. The main question explored in this article is, what happens to the genre of the self-portrait in an era of social media networks and how does it compare with traditional self-portraiture?

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In order to explore this question the analysis turns to the so-called birth moment of the self-portrait in the Western tradition, namely to the time of German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) and particularly to his potent self-portrait of 1500. The reason for this selection is that this early manifestation of the self-portrait overlaps with what philosopher and urbanist Paul Virilio identifies as an "aesthetic of appearance" - in other words, a representation that endures in time and space. Virilio associates the aesthetic of appearance with representation, for it does not assume full presence of the artists, but rather a presence through absence, thus a re-presentation of the artist that endures over time and space. This differs considerably from the depiction of the self on social media networks and specifically Facebook. It is argued that the contemporary democratisation of the self-portrait can be meaningfully interpreted by making use of Virilio's idea of an "aesthetic of disappearance". In brief, aesthetic of disappearance refers to the ways in which contemporary images appear on screens in real time creating a tele-presence (a presence over physical and geographical distance) that can be updated continuously. According to Virilio the online identity created and updated in real time suggests an instantaneous presence that is available everywhere at all times. Consequently the aesthetic of disappearance is associated with immediate presence that tries to eliminate all forms of mediation or re-presentation.

In Wilma Stockenström se roman Die kremetartekspedisie (1981) - in sewe tale vertaal en in 2004 heruitgegee - is die verteller 'n 15de-eeuse slavin wat haar laaste lewensdae in 'n kremetartboom-holte êrens in Afrika deurbring. Hierdie artikel fokus op die uitbeelding van die rekonstruksie van die slavin se persoonlike identiteit in die laaste fase van haar lewe. Die ondersoek is gerig op die ontleding van die prosesse waardeur die Self, gekonstrueer binne sosiale en kulturele verband, herontdek en nuut gedefinieer word in verhouding tot en deur interaksie met die natuur as die Ander, as daardie entiteit waarmee interaksie plaasvind om die Self te voorskyn te roep. Die teoretiese uitgangspunt vir hierdie ondersoek is Stuart Hall en Homi Bhabha se beskouing van identiteit in terme van verskille (eerder as gedeelde eienskappe) en die interaktiewe verhouding met die Ander, wat die Self in groter besonderhede openbaar. Die doel is om vas te stel op watter wyse die natuur as die Ander figureer en om die rol van die natuur ten opsigte van die rekonstruksie van die slavin se identiteit te ondersoek. Eers word die fokus gerig op die verkenning van die sosiaal-gekonstrueerde identiteit van die slavin, dan op die representasie van die prosesse - afwisselende prosesse van differensiasie ten opsigte van en vereenselwiging met die omringende natuurwêreld - wat lei tot die opheffing en oorstyging van haar slawe-identiteit en 'n ruimer, nuutsoortige verwesenliking van die Self. Die kremetartekspedisie bied op unieke wyse literêre uitdaging aan die Westerse diensbaarheidsbeskouing van die natuur. In plaas van die siening dat die natuur die mens tot nut en voordeel is in 'n sin wat ondergeskiktheid en menslike uitbuiting impliseer, beeld hierdie roman die mens uit in eksistensiële afhanklikheid van die natuur as die wesentlike Ander in die prosesse met behulp waarvan die Self ge(re)konstrueer en volledig begryp word.

All that is left is the Self : sojourn in the hollow of a tree in Wilma Stockenström's The expedition to the baobab tree

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Wilma Stockenström's 1981 novel Die kremetartekspedisie was reissued by NB Publishers in 2004. In this novel the narrator is a nameless 15th-century slave woman who spends the last part of her life in the hollow of a baobab tree after an unsuccessful journey of discovery through Africa during which her owner died. My investigation is concerned with the way the reconstruction of personal identity by the slave woman is portrayed in this final phase of her life.

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While gender issues have been central in various critical discussions of Die kremetartekspedisie, this article intends to move beyond such interpretations to bring an even closer focus on the exceptionally rich content of the novel by approaching it from an ecocritical perspective for the first time. Following ecocriticism's procedure of "study(ing) literary texts with reference to the interaction between human activity and the vast range of 'natural' or non-human phenomena which bears upon human experience" (Childs and Fowler 2009:65), the focus will be on the influence of nature on identity in this novel. The slave woman's sojourn in the baobab tree brings an end to her spiritual and social enslavement and represents a return to the primeval roots of humanity while experiencing the dualistic relationship of dependency on, and tension with, nature. This investigation will analyse the processes through which the Self, initially constructed within social and cultural contexts, is rediscovered and newly defined in relation to, and by interaction with, nature as the Other in the process of identity (re)construction. The key aspect is the slave woman's arriving at self-knowledge through reaching the core of humanness, experienced in the most fundamental relationship humankind has known since the day of creation, namely the one with nature.

Navorsers en Jan Alleman het 'n intense belangstelling in skoolgeweld. Beide wend hulle tot die media om inligting oor hierdie aktuele sosiale probleem te vind. Die werklikheid (nuus) wat deur die media voorgehou word, is egter nie 'n objektiewe werklikheid nie, maar 'n geïnterpreteerde werklikheid. Indien die media se beriggewing van skoolgeweld bevooroordeeld is, sal mediagebruikers se siening ook bevooroordeeld of skeefgetrek wees. Om vas te stel watter sieninge die media bewustelik en/of onbewustelik oor skoolgeweld in Suid-Afrika kon vestig, is my navorsing deur die volgende probleemvraag gerig: Watter boodskap dra die Sondagkoerant Rapport aan sy leserspubliek oor rakende skoolgeweld? In 'n soeke na 'n antwoord op die vraag is die doel van hierdie artikel om verslag te doen van 'n media-ontleding van 43 nuusberigte en redaksionele kommentare wat oor 'n tydperk van 18 jaar in Rapport verskyn het. Die datastel is met behulp van SA Media se databasis geïdentifiseer. 'n Drievlak-ekosisteemmodel wat die kompleksiteit van skoolgeweld illustreer, het as teoretiese vertrekpunt vir hierdie studie gedien. Die volgende temas is met behulp van induktiewe kwalitatiewe inhoudontleding geïdentifiseer: (1) leerderslagoffers en -geweldplegers staan sentraal in skoolgeweld; (2) die rol van ouers in skoolgeweld; (3) besonder dapper, toegewyde opvoeders versus onbekwame opvoeders, wat direk en indirek vir skoolgeweld verantwoordelik gehou kan word; (4) die wisselwerking tussen gemeenskapsfaktore en skoolgeweld; (5) skoolgeweld as 'n vergestalting van rassegeweld; (6) die "ons is nie so nie"-diskoers; (7) skoolgeweld is gewelddadig; en (8) die vreesdiskoers. Berigte oor skoolgeweld wat in Rapport verskyn het, toon 'n redelik volledige beeld van skoolgeweld in Suid-Afrika. Gebrek aan kontekstualisering en die beklemtoning van die sensasionele kan egter tot 'n skeefgetrekte siening van skoolgeweld en paniek onder lesers lei. Lesers en navorsers moet dus 'n kritiese ingesteldheid teenoor die media as inligtingsbron toon.

Rapport's reporting on school violence, 1994-2011 : a multidimensional social problem

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Violence forms an inseparable part of the South African and international education landscape. Not only researchers, but also all members of the public are displaying an increasing interest in school violence in the South African context. They all turn to the media for information about this topical social problem. To boost circulation figures, as well as viewer and listener figures, the mass media are more than willing to comply with their readers', listeners' and viewers' demand for news on school violence. The media can determine, consciously as well as subconsciously, through selection and emphasis, which aspects of a specific news event are more important that another. The media can report on a single event in various ways. The reality (news) presented by the media is therefore not an objective, but an interpreted reality. If media reporting of school violence is biased, media users' views will also be biased or warped.

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From an investigation into some local and international media analyses about school violence the following deficiencies transpire in South African studies: up to now, no study has been undertaken about the electronic media or a single newspaper's portrayal of school violence. Against the background to these deficiencies, the objective of this study is to answer the following research question: What message does the Sunday newspaper Rapport convey to its readership public regarding school violence? In the quest for an answer to the question this article reports on a media analysis of 43 news reports and editorial comments that have appeared over a period of 18 years (1994-2011) in Rapport. The data system was identified with the help of SA Media's database.

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A three-level ecosystemic model, based on Bronfenbrenner's ecosystems theory, which illustrates the complexity of school violence, served as the theoretical point of departure for this study.

Talle naslaanwerke vir die literatuurwetenskap (o.a. Van Gorp 1991:180; Cloete 1992:129, 442; Cuddon 1998:383; Abrams 2005:201) omskryf historiese romans as narratiewe tekste wat kreatief omgaan met gebeurtenisse uit die geskiedenis, meestal met die bedoeling om 'n bepaalde tydperk uit die verlede voor die gees te roep, en sê ook dat hierdie tekste gewoonlik fiksionele en/of historiese karakters in verifieerbare historiese omstandighede plaas. Verder poog historiese romans, volgens hierdie naslaanbronne, om die Zeitgeist, politieke gebeure en sosiale omstandighede van 'n spesifieke tydperk, asook die impak daarvan op 'n individu of groep mense, in realistiese besonderhede uit te beeld. Alhoewel dié omskrywing juis is, gaan dit by die geskiedkundige roman oor veel meer as net die oproep van 'n vergange era en die uitbeelding van persone uit 'n spesifieke tydvak. Historiese romans is nie net die herwinning van die verlede nie, maar ook 'n medium waardeur 'n historiese bewussyn by die eietydse leser geskep word om sodoende sin te maak van die hede. Tweedens kan die skryf én lees van historiese romans 'n strategie wees om traumatiese geskiedenis te verwerk en om 'n mens se medepligtigheid in 'n sekere stuk geskiedenis te erken. Derdens is die oproep van die verlede 'n soeke en bevestiging van 'n persoon se identiteit omdat 'n mens met die lees van sulke tekste jou eie plek in die geskiedenis oorweeg en heroorweeg. Vierdens kan die kreatiewe historiografie dien as 'n middel om geskiedkundige feite wat in formele geskiedskrywings verdraai of verswyg is, reg te stel en openbaar te maak. In die vyfde plek kan geskiedkundige romans poog om aspekte (woordeskat, persone, gebeure, gewoontes, ens.) wat dreig om in die vergetelheid te verdwyn, te argiveer. Die vraag waarom eietydse lesers én skrywers hulle met die geskiedenis bemoei, word in hierdie artikel beantwoord deur die funksies van historiese romans aan die hand van drie geskiedkundige romans met die Anglo-Boereoorlog as tema te ondersoek, naamlik Ingrid Winterbach se Niggie (2002), P.G. du Plessis se Fees van die ongenooides (2008) en Sonja Loots se Sirkusboere (2011a).

The value of historical fiction : three historical novels reviewed

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The question why contemporary writers of fiction concern themselves with history is answered in this article by investigating the importance of historical fiction by means of analysing three prominent Afrikaans historical novels about the Anglo-Boer War: Ingrid Winterbach's Niggie (To hell with Cronjé), P.G. du Plessis's Fees van die ongenooides (Feast of the uninvited) and Sonja Loots's Sirkusboere (Circus Boers).

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Literary critics distinguish between historical writing or historiography on the one hand and historical fiction on the other. Historiography is considered to be the scientific recording of history, while historical fiction is seen as the creative adaptation of historical material. It became evident from this study, however, that historical truth and literary truth need not be opposing entities, but could rather be seen as complementing each other. It is not only history-as-science which plays an important part in ensuring the future of our past, but also literature. The study of literary works can indeed be of great value in our understanding of history.

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Literary theorists (e.g. Van Gorp 1991:180; Cloete 1992:129, 442; Cuddon 1998:383; Abrams 2005:201) define the historical novel as a form of fictional narrative which reconstructs history and recreates it imaginatively by either portraying a single historical event or depicting a broader view of a past society in which great events are reflected by their impact on the lives of individuals. Although this definition is accurate, historical fiction has far greater significance than the mere evocation of a past age and its people. This genre is not a regurgitation of history, but a medium through which a historical consciousness is created in the contemporary reader to make sense of present circumstances. The writing and reading of historical narratives can also be a strategy to process traumatic history and to admit one's complicity in a certain part of (unfavourable) history. The fictional recapturing of history is, furthermore, a search for and confirmation of a person's identity because with the reading of these texts one tends to consider and reconsider one's own place in history. Creative historiography can also serve as a means to rectify distorted facts and reveal concealed history. In addition, historical novels attempt to archive disappearing (often archaic) expressions, vocabulary, folklore, traditions, folk songs, customs and even forgotten historical figures.

Uit die literatuur blyk dit duidelik dat daar uiteenlopende bevindings is rakende die gebruik van sosiale netwerke in onderrig. Sommige opvoedkundiges beskou die gebruik daarvan as 'n nuttelose vermorsing van tyd en 'n fokusverskuiwing weg van akademiese doelwitte. Daarteenoor bewys opvoedkundigenavorsingsresultate dat die gebruik daarvan bemagtigend en onvermydelik is. Hierdie uiteenlopende bevindings beklemtoon die feit dat sosialenetwerk-omgewings (SNO's) nuwe uitdagings in die leeromgewing teweeg bring. Hierdie artikel beskryf die proses, asook resultate, van 'n sosialemedia-ingryping wat ten doel gehad het om studente se betrokkenheid by leer te bevorder en, as uitvloeisel daarvan, kognitiewe leer in die vak stelselontleding en ontwerp (SOO) as deel van 'n inligtingstegnologie-kursus by 'n Suid-Afrikaanse universiteit te bevorder. Die vak behels sowel 'n teoretiese as 'n praktiese komponent, en in die verlede is die kognitiewe vlak en vaardighede wat geassesseer word, bevraagteken. Deur die implementering en gebruik van sosiale netwerke in die eerste semester van die vak is 'n weg gebaan vir die geïntegreerde aanwending van tegnologie in die tweede semester. Daar is op SNO besluit omdat dit bekostigbaar, beskikbaar en toeganklik vir die meeste studente is. Die ingryping sou onder meer poog om aanvanklike hindernisse uit die weg te ruim, aanvaarding deur studente te bewerkstellig en pedagogiese beginsels vir gebruik van SNO's vas te lê. Die oorhoofse doel van die studie was om die moontlikhede en studente se ervaring van leer in 'n leeromgewing wat deur SNO's ondersteun word, te ondersoek. Bevindings en aanbevelings vir die aanwending van SNO-toepassings om kognitiewe leer te bevorder word ook bespreek, en onderrigontwerp vir die aanwending van SNO's tydens onderrig word voorgestel.

Learning management systems versus social networking environments : the development of an integrated technological teaching and learning model

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The use of computer-mediated communication (CMC), e.g. e-mail and text-based conferencing, particularly in asynchronous mode, has rapidly increased within higher education. Findings from the educational research literature on the value of social networking in education range from its being a waste of time and a distraction from academic goals, to contrary views that it is empowering and inevitable. These diverging opinions make it clear that social networking sites (SNSs) are bringing about new challenges to the learning environment. Learning management systems (LMSs) and social networking sites (SNSs) are two important resources investigated in this study, and are defined below.

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SNSs are defined as web-based services that allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, specify a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and view their list of connections and the lists made by others within the system. This option of expanding networks is a distinguishing feature of SNSs. SNSs can be accessed via a variety of devices, one being mobile technology.

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An LMS is a software system that enables the management and delivery of courseware and other resources over the internet. Most LMSs are web-based, which allows access from any place at any time. Many LMS developers are attempting to include social media functions as part of LMS functionality, whereas others strongly feel that this is a step in the wrong direction. They argue that we cannot just take the newest, neatest, shiniest object and bolt it on to an LMS - each technology has its own niche and the incorporation of these different functionalities has more negative than positive implications for an LMS.

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This study is motivated by a scholarly approach to teaching and learning which involves the systematic study of teaching and learning and the public sharing and review of such work with a view to directly and indirectly affecting the success of student learning. This article reports on a social media intervention intended to increase student engagement and also enhance learning in the subject systems analysis and design (SAD) which is offered as part of an information technology course at a South African university.

Die doel van hierdie artikel is om die uitbeelding van gay manlikheid in die werk van drie debuutdigters, te wete Loftus Marais, Melt Myburgh en Fourie Botha, te ondersoek. Dié ondersoek dra by tot manlikheidstudies en toon aan hoe manlikheid 'n normatiewe konsep is wat geensins eenduidig is nie, maar oop is vir interpretasie. Aspekte soos die vader-seun-verhouding, die ervarings van die jong seun en gay seksualiteit word ondersoek aan die hand van verteenwoordigende gedigte uit die drie bundels. Wat die bestudering van manlikheid in hulle werk so fassinerend maak, is dat al drie vanuit 'n gay invalshoek fokus op manlikheid en die manlike liggaam. Ten slotte word aangedui dat elk van dié digters 'n eiesoortige perspektief op manlikheid in hul tekste uitbeeld en sodoende bydra om heteronormatiwiteit te bevraagteken.

The representation of gay masculinity in the debut anthologies of three Afrikaans poets

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The aim of this article is to focus on the representation of gay masculinity in the debut anthologies of three Afrikaans poets, namely Loftus Marais, Melt Myburgh and Fourie Botha. The article is a contribution to masculinity studies and is an attempt to show to what extent masculinity is merely a normative concept, open to interpretation. The three collections discussed in this article are Marais's Staan in die algemeen nader aan vensters ("In general, stand closer to windows"), Myburgh's Oewerbestaan ("Life on the (river bank / River bank existence") and Botha's Donkerkamer ("Dark room").

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In this investigation the work of the three poets is discussed under the following subheadings: the interaction between father and son, the experiences of the young boy who is trying to come to terms with his sexuality, gay sexuality, and homosocial bonding between adolescent boys (perhaps as a precursor to later homosexual experimentation?).

In hierdie studie benut die navorser die 5D-siklus van Waarderende Ondersoek om 'n persoonlike waardering van die lewe en werk van Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Italiaanse meesterskilder, te doen. Die vyf teoretiese beginsels van Waarderende Ondersoek en Persoonlike Waardering word as grondslag vir die studie ondersoek en benut. Drie breë temas wat die positiewe kern van die omgang met Caravaggio verteenwoordig, is saamgestel en word bespreek aan die hand van die prominente gebruik van 'n biografie van Caravaggio deur Andrew Graham-Dixon, 'n bestudering van 17 van sy skilderye tydens 'n besoek aan Rome en die voer van 'n waarderende onderhoud met 'n museumgids voor die Galleria Borghese. 'n Gedig wat die temas op kreatiewe wyse uitbeeld, dien as kreatiewe stimulasie vir die ontleding van die temas.

A personal appreciation of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)

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After reading Andrew Graham-Dixon's biography of the Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and seeing his breathtaking paintings, I felt the need to know more about him. I wanted to learn from his work and life to bring about personal and professional growth.

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The method of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) provided the academic framework for this study.

Gesprekke oor die "toekoms van Afrikaans" in Afrikaanse publikasies is nie vreemd nie. So dikwels neem dit egter 'n wroegende, verbitterde en verwytende toon aan. In hierdie artikel kom die toekoms van Afrikaans ook ter sprake, maar wel vanuit 'n ander hoek, naamlik hoe die taal se toekoms verseker kan word deur die inklusiewe Afrikaanse gemeenskap hierby te betrek. In watter mate die Afrikaanse Taalraad (ATR) hierdie rol kan vervul, en die werk wat hierdie liggaam sedert 2003 gedoen het, word hier bespreek. Die belang van versoening in die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap word oorkoepelend bespreek en toegelig aan die hand van gebeure die afgelope nege jaar. Daar bestaan nog steeds groot afstande tussen sprekers van die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap wat deur versoening oorbrug sal moet word. Versoening gebeur nie net sommer so nie; dit is 'n proses wat bewustelik bestuur moet word. Dit verg ook toewyding van die betrokkenes om dit te laat slaag en seker te maak dat dit deurgevoer word. Dit is ook nie 'n gegewe nie, maar word bepaal deur die herstel van die verhoudinge tussen die sprekers (wit, bruin en swart) van Afrikaans. Apartheid het 'n groot seer gelaat, maar die gewilligheid van die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap om aktief by die proses van versoening en heelmaking betrokke te raak is die voorvereiste vir wat bereik moet word. Riglyne vir versoening word ook aangegee en dit blyk daaruit dat veral die menslike kant hier van belang is, omdat versoening tussen mense moet gebeur - tussen individue, maar ook in groepsverband. Die skrywer se gevolgtrekking is dat die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap in die belang van sy eie voortbestaan nie 'n ander keuse het as om onderling te versoen nie. Eers dan kan saam 'n toekoms gebou word.

En route from a divided to a shared future in the Afrikaans language community : the role of the Afrikaanse Taalraad (ATR) in the process of reconciliation

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This article deals mainly with the issue of reconciliation in Afrikaans. What does it entail and how should one go about it when approaching this complex process? The role of the Afrikaanse Taalraad (ATR) is described in the process currently developing in Afrikaans. The article approaches the "problem of Afrikaans" from an angle not yet developed in Afrikaans, namely from the perspective of Afrikaans as an inclusive language. The premise is that the future of Afrikaans as a language among languages in South Africa can be assured by "opening" the language "open" to all the speakers of the language and also by including the total Afrikaans community in the process of reconciliation.

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History teaches us that the politics around Afrikaans (especially with reference to Soweto 1976 and the issue of Afrikaner nationalism) lead to people seeing Afrikaans as the "language of the oppressor" and this in turn has caused huge divisions among the speakers of Afrikaans, quickly becoming an issue of white versus black. Only people can bridge this divide, as the language itself cannot do it. This entails that the speakers of Afrikaans as a community must be involved in making Afrikaans a language of reconciliation. We know that many speakers of Afrikaans have migrated to English due to the politics surrounding Afrikaans, and this can be rectified only by starting a process of reconciliation among the speakers of the language. This article therefore focuses on the role the ATR has played since 2003 in trying to make this possible.

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The ATR started with a process which had as its aim the long-term involvement of the inclusive Afrikaans community. The process since 2003 is described and the various phases in the course of the process outlined. It is clear that a process in a divided language community does not "just happen" - rather serious interventions must be undertaken by people speaking the language. There must be a driving force behind the process and the persons involved must be dedicated to making it work in the long run. There must also be an intention from all sides of the language spectrum to become involved and to reach out to one another as the process proceeds. A prerequisite is that relations between the various groups speaking the language must be mended.

Die verskynsel van Suid-Afrikaanse emigrasie geniet baie aandag in die media, met die fokus dikwels op sosiopolitieke faktore. Daar word egter min aandag aan die sielkundige ondervindings van diegene wat emigreer, geskenk. Dié artikel, wat deel vorm van 'n groter navorsingsprojek, fokus op sommige van die ondervindings eie aan Afrikaanssprekende emigrante. Die groter projek fokus op die impak wat emigrasie op die Suid-Afrikaanse gesinslewe het. Die resultate van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie dui daarop dat Afrikaanssprekende inwoners van die land dikwels 'n gevoel van vervreemding in die "nuwe" Suid-Afrika beleef. Emigrasie lei tot spesifieke interpersoonlike verliese en ook spesifieke verliese aan kultuur en taal. Laasgenoemde kan beskou word as 'n tipe kulturele rou, soos beskryf deur Ainslie (1998), wat eie is aan mense wat emigreer en hulle kulturele wortels agterlaat. Die moontlike verlies van die moedertaal, wat een van die mees tradisionele elemente van kultuur is, veral in toekomstige generasies, blyk 'n bron van kommer te wees. 'n Aantal aanbevelings vir toepaslike sielkundige voorbereiding word gemaak om die impak van hierdie verliese te verminder.

Afrikaans-speaking emigrants : losses and expectations

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In our globalised world an increase in migration can be widely observed. Historically South Africa has been characterised by both internal and external migrations. During the apartheid years a number of emigratory fluxes took place, often linked to specific political events. However, a definite trend can be observed in post-apartheid South Africa, where a new surge of the population has chosen to leave the country. The people who emigrate tend to be highly skilled, hence this kind of migration is often referred to as a "brain drain" depriving South Africa of much-needed professional and technical expertise.

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This emigration phenomenon has received a good deal of attention in the media, with the focus often on the socio-political factors behind the motivation to emigrate. The main reasons regularly identified are the high crime levels, affirmative action, corruption and uncertainty regarding the economic situation. The question, "Should I stay or should I go?" often highlights the dilemma at the heart of these debates and is explored at the beginning of this article.

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However, in comparison little attention has been given to the psychological motivations as well as the experiences of those South Africans who decide to emigrate. An overview of some relevant local and international literature related to the process of emigration is provided by the authors. This highlights the main losses linked to emigration, specifically with regard to language, culture and personal relationships. It also describes the processes that individuals and families go through when they emigrate from their country of origin.

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The focus of this article is on some of the psychological experiences unique to Afrikaans-speaking emigrants associated with their decision to leave South Africa. The data used for this article formed part of a larger research project on South African emigration. The main aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and motivations of those South Africans emigrating, as well as of those family members and friends left behind. Furthermore, the project wanted to shed light on the impact that emigration is having on South African family life and social structures.

Die openbare oproer en debat in Suid-Afrika oor Brett Murray se The Spear-kunswerk in 2012 het verskeie vraagstukke na vore gebring. Hiervan is een aspek, die verwikkelde rol van kuns en die media in die daarstelling van 'n openbare sfeer in 'n demokratiese samelewing, moontlik nog onderbeklemtoon. Eerstens bespreek en evalueer hierdie artikel teoretiese insigte van Levine (2007) en Bourdieu (1993) oor die verhouding tussen sogenaamde avant-garde kuns en die populêre media. Vervolgens kom die eietydse rol van die populêre media en avant-garde kuns in 'n postkoloniale konteks na aanleiding van die The Spear-geval aan bod. Die artikel werp lig op die belangrike plek en rol van gemedieerde kuns en kultuur in 'n ontwikkelende demokrasie - of soos uitgedruk deur die boektitel van Levine (2007), effe aangepas (my toevoeging is tussen hakies): Provoking democracy: Why we need the arts (and the media). Ten slotte word die argument gestel dat 'n inklusiewe en dinamiese openbare sfeer deur die vrye wisselwerking van avant-garde kuns en die populêre media versterk word. In teenstelling met die algemeen-aanvaarde openbare-sfeer-teorie, waarvolgens slegs rasionele debat wat tot konsensus lei die demokrasie versterk, volg die insig dus dat konflik en onvoorspelbare uitkomste net so belangrik is.

The spear of the nation : the democratic role of the popular media and the avant-garde arts in South Africa

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This article chronicles and critically analyses a controversial public incident involving the interplay between members of the so-called elitist arts fraternity, the popular media, and the political establishment and grassroots supporters in South Africa. A public debate and political furore was sparked in 2012 when a Johannesburg exhibition by prominent (white) artist Brett Murray caught the attention of members of the ruling ANC party. A popular (black) Sunday newspaper, City Press, first reported that one of Murray's paintings, The Spear, depicted President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed. Zuma is a controversial Zulu traditionalist and polygamist who was acquitted of raping a family friend in 2009. The painting represented the exposed Zuma in the pose of Soviet dictator Lenin, and seemingly expressed satirical comment on the state of the South African nation and the ANC under his leadership.

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A reproduction of The Spear was displayed on the website of the City Press, and the ANC threatened the newspaper and the Goodman art gallery with legal action if calls for the removal of the original work of art and all its reproductions in the media were ignored. The ANC stated that it viewed The Spear as an example of persistent white racists' attitudes to the culture and values of the black majority.

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This turn of events made news headlines and reached social media platforms all around the globe and catapulted a relatively unknown artist and relatively obscure gallery to international fame and notoriety. After a tense stand-off between different parties and interest groups, during which the painting was vandalised and a crowd of Zuma supporters staged a protest march, the gallery owners removed The Spear from public display and the editor of City Press apologised for publishing its image. To free speech advocates this represented a clear loss, and fears were expressed that the threats during Zuma's rule to media and artistic freedom in South African's hard-won constitutional democracy were gaining momentum. However, counter-arguments pointed to the fact that the Spear incident led to a serious and necessary national debate about racial and cultural views and sensitivities in a postcolonial and post-apartheid society. For days on end a public debate raged on various traditional and new media platforms as all and sundry voiced an opinion.

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This article steps back from the intricacies of particular viewpoints to provide an overarching perspective. This arguably helps to take the debate past arguments over the merits and morality of the art work on the one hand and the rights and values of those involved on the other. It argues that one aspect, the complicated role of avant-garde art and artists and the popular media in the establishment of a dynamic and inclusive public sphere in a democratic society, still remains underdeveloped even after extensive discussions. Therefore, the article deals firstly with theoretical insights of Levine (2007) and Bourdieu (1993) about the relationship between avant-garde art and the popular media.

Hierdie artikel beskryf 'n verkennende ondersoek na die belewenis van 'n groep teologiese studente van die Universiteit van KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) by die lees van Rut 2 aan die hand van Ignatius van Lojola se meditatiewe tegnieke. Dit ontleed die genderverwante aspekte van hulle ervaring met die doel om kernaspekte daarvan te bepaal. Dit tref ook 'n vergelyking tussen die belewenis van die manlike en die vroulike deelnemers aan die studie, en evalueer die uitwerking van die verskillende aspekte van die oefening op mans en vroue.

The subjective experience of using Ignation meditation by male and female South African university students : an exploratory study

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This study set out to explore the subjective experience of using the Ignatian method of meditation to reflect on and pray through Ruth 2. A group of male and female theology students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) were invited to reflect upon / pray through Ruth 2 using this method. Following this exercise, participants were invited to participate in a focus group in which they shared their experience of this exercise, focusing particularly on some of the gendered aspects of the experience. The transcribed focus group material was subjected to a critical thematic analysis in order to identify the reported subjective experiences and which aspects of the experience of using this method of meditation were responsible for these experiences. The analysis also included a comparison of the experience for men and women, and the differential effect of various aspects of the exercise on men and women.

In die sogenaamde Radikale Nuwe Perspektief op Paulus (RNPP), wat verby die Nuwe Perspektief op Paulus (NPP) beweeg het, word Paulus se siening van identiteit beskou as deel van 'n "inter-Joodse" eerder as "inter-Christelike" polemiek. Binne die RNPP is daar 'n sterk beweging om Christus-gelowiges te sien as "Noagiete" wat op grond van die onderhouding van die sewe Noagitiese wette tot die "Joodse" gemeenskap toegelaat word. Die probleem is egter dat hierdie wette eers in latere rabbynse Judaïsme ontstaan het en dus wesenlik 'n anachronistiese model is wat op Paulus toegepas word. Dit is te betwyfel of die Noagitiese wette voor of tydens Paulus se leeftyd geplaas kan word, en so ook om spore daarvan in die Nuwe Testament of ander antieke geskrifte te probeer terugvind. Om beginsels vanuit latere rabbynse Judaïsme (soos die Noagitiese wette) te gebruik om die gapings by Paulus te probeer vul, is metodologies problematies.

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Die eintlike probleem is egter dat die Noagitiese wette deel vorm van 'n denkwyse van meerderwaardigheid - iets wat deurgaans in die geskiedenis van sekere vorme van Judaïsme uitgewys kan word. Die gedagte dat een etniese groep meerderwaardig is bo 'n ander, staan immers in skerp teenstelling met die manier waarop Paulus sodanige onderskeid laat verdwyn het vir almal wat "in Christus" is. Vir Paulus was die merktekens van kindskap van God in die nuwe eskatologiese tydvak in Christus, slegs geloof en die inwoning van die Heilige Gees, en nié etniese status, die besit van die Tora of eksterne kentekens van identiteit nie. Enige aanspraak op die onderhouding van Noagitiese wette as voorwaarde om as "God se mense" gekenmerk te word, skep juis probleme in die Joods-Christelike dialoog in dié opsig dat dit Joodse meerderwaardigheid laat voortduur.

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Hoewel die wedersydse bekragtiging van mekaar se status as God se mense in die Joods-Christelike dialoog dus steeds 'n probleem bly, moet nogtans daarna gestreef word om mekaar te respekteer, te verdra en in vrede saam te leef.

Perspectives on the Noahide Laws in Paul, and its significance for Jewish-Christian dialogue

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Pauline study has moved on considerably since James Dunn and others popularised the so-called New Perspective on Paul (NPP). In the so-called Radical New Perspective on Paul (RNPP) the focus is not only on Paul's "Jewishness" or a better understanding of the "Jewish" identity that Paul responded to, but on discontinuity in Paul's relationship to the Christian faith as it is known today. The approach of the RNPP is to understand Paul as completely Jewish and to understand Paul's gospel as part of intra-Jewish rather than inter-Christian polemic.

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One of the approaches that has come to the fore within the RNPP is to see Christ-believers as "righteous gentiles" or "God-fearers" who adhere to the seven Noahide laws, a minimum set of laws (excluding, e.g., circumcision) or requirements (halakhot) expected of Gentiles. These Christ-believers would not be required to adhere to all 613 Jewish laws, but only to the Noahide laws. In this way they would be considered as guests within Judaism and earn a place in the world to come. This approach to Paul creates more room for Jewish-Christian dialogue and helps to create a basis for Jews and Christians to trace part of their tradition back to Paul. The ultimate aim of this view is to find a common platform for mutual validation of identity.

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The aim of this article is to determine whether traces of the Noahide laws can be identified in Paul's thought. Although this issue touches on a larger understanding of law and identity in Paul, this article focuses on (a) the date of origin of the Noahide laws, (b) whether these laws or the principles behind them were present in Paul's thought, (c) whether the principle(s) behind the Noahide laws can be harmonised with Paul's understanding of identity, and (d) how the presence or absence of the Noahide laws in Paul's thought would affect Jewish-Christian dialogue.