New study shows signs of early creation of modern human identities
- Wits University
Early ancestors collected eye-catching shells that radically changed the way we looked at ourselves and others.
A new study confirms previous scant evidence and supports a multistep evolutionary scenario for the culturalization of the human body.
The new study, which was conducted by Francesco d'Errico, Karen Loise van Niekerk, Lila Geis and Christopher Stuart Henshilwood, from Bergen University in Norway and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, is newly published in the Journal of Human Evolution. Its significant findings provide vital information about how and when we may have started developing modern human identities.
“The discovery of eye-catching unmodified shells with natural holes from 100 000 to 73 000 years ago confirms previous scant evidence that marine shells were collected, taken to the site and, in some cases, perhaps worn as personal ornaments. This was before a stage in which shells belonging to selected species were systematically, and intentionally perforated with suitable techniques to create composite beadworks,” says van Niekerk.
The shells were all found in the Blombos Cave, on the southern Cape of South Africa’s coastline. Similar shells have been found in North Africa, other sites in South Africa and the Mediterranean Levant, which means that the argument is supported by evidence from other sites, not just Blombos Cave.
Confirms scant evidence of early beadwork
In other words, the unperforated and naturally perforated shells provide evidence that marine shells were collected and possibly used as personal ornaments before the development of more advanced techniques to modify the shells for use in beadworks at around 70 000 years ago.
Van Niekerk says that they know for sure that these shells are not the remains of edible shellfish species that could have been collected and brought to the site for food.
“We know this because they were already dead when collected, which we can see from the condition of most of the shells, as they are waterworn or have growths inside them, or have holes made by a natural predator or from abrasion from wave action.”
The researchers measured the size of the shells and the holes made in them, as well as the wear on the edges of the holes that developed while the shells were worn on strings by humans. They also looked at where the shells came from in the site to see whether they could be included in different groups of beads found close together that could have belonged to single items of beadwork. These techniques provide insights into the potential use of these shells for symbolic purposes.
Early signs of possibly creation of identity
Van Niekerk says that they identified 18 new marine snail shells from 100 000 to 70 000 years ago, that could have been used for symbolic purposes, and proposed a multistep progression for the culturalisation of the human body with roots in the deep past.
“With this study we specifically show that humans gradually complexified practices of modifying their appearance and transformed themselves into tools for communication and storage of information. We also think we can possibly see a creation of identity that gradually but radically changed the way we look at ourselves and others, and the nature of our societies,” says van Niekerk.
WMI summit explores the changing mining landscape
- Wits University
The Summit is another step forward in developing mining tech and skills to drive a low-carbon future and just energy transition.
Hosted by the Wits Mining Institute (WMI) on 28 and 29 September 2023, the 21st Century Mining Technology, Skills and Exhibition focussed on four key areas:
Integrated critical raw materials for the just energy transition
Circular mining and minerals
Digital technologies and cybersecurity
Waterless mining
According to WMI Director Professor Glen Nwaila the summit is a unique platform bringing together industry leaders, experienced academics, students and stakeholders from the mining sector – to exchange knowledge, share insights and explore the latest advancements in mining to envision future trajectories.
The first focus was to promote research and innovation in the exploration, extraction and processing of critical raw materials that are essential for a sustainable and just energy transition. “This has become imperative to achieve the global target of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Nwaila.
The next focus emphasised the importance of circular economy principles in the mining industry.
“We explored secondary sources of metals, such as stockpiles and metallurgical tailings, and discussed how the mining industry can transition to a service-oriented model,” he explained. “This contrasts with the traditional ownership model, and instead aims to achieve a metal for a subscription model that is relevant to modern investors, consumers and employees become more socially conscious.”
As advancements in digital technologies transform the mining landscape, the summit addressed the challenges and opportunities of implementing digital technologies such as material traceability or fingerprinting of commodities from mining operation to the market. The solutions will be applied while ensuring robust cybersecurity measures, responsible use of artificial intelligence and effective governance.
“Water scarcity is another pressing concern for many mining regions, so the summit highlighted innovative technologies and collaborative strategies that enable waterless mining processes,” he said. “Progress on this front will reduce the industry's environmental impact and help ensure sustainable resource management for water security in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.”
As the host organisation, the WMI advances research, innovation and collaboration in the mining industry, with a strong focus on cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices.
PhD graduate leads efforts to create first quantum microscope
- Wits University
Chané Moodley will be heading a research team into finding the best ways of developing and commercialising a quantum microscope.
A graduate of the Wits Structured Light Laboratory in the School of Physics is leading the way into creating and commercialising South Africa’s first quantum microscope.
Chané Moodley, a former PhD student of Professor Andrew Forbes in the Structured Light Laboratory, will be heading the QLab research team at Raphta, into finding the best ways of developing and commercialising a quantum microscope.
Raphta is a Midrand-based firm that uses Artificial Intelligence applications to prevent theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure – such as water, solar, and telecoms infrastructure – in South Africa. It is also, through its subsidiary, QLab, the commercialisation partner of the Structured Light Laboratory’s quantum tech.
“Diagnostic tools using traditional microscopes fall short in that the material being examined are often sensitive to light, and can be damaged by the light emitted through traditional microscopes,” says Moodley. “The advantage of a quantum microscope is that it uses a fraction of the light compared to a traditional microscope, and can work in a very limited light environment.”
A quantum microscope will leverage the use of the entanglement of photons to be able to see images at very low light levels. Through entanglement, two particles, such as photons remain connected even when separated by vast distances. In other words, the characteristics of one of the entangled particles can be measured remotely, by measuring its entangled counterpart.
Raphta’s QLab was launched in September. “Raphta's QLab offering can be thought of as Google X, it is the research and innovation arm of Raphta focusing on quantum imaging, AI and next generation technologies,” says Moodley.
“Our focus is to be an African pioneer in the research and development of AI, quantum imaging and next generation technologies. Our own technology solution is called Shuri AI and it is an autonomous software platform leveraging AI, computer vision and sensor fusion to reduce and ultimately prevent incidents of theft and vandalism to critical infrastructure.”
Moodley, who recently graduated with her PhD in physics, is a physicist and physiologist with research experience in various fields at multiple international institutions. The focus of her PhD was on applying AI to quantum imaging for optimisation and enhancement purposes, which is leading to the research and development of the new quantum microscope.
“We are really in the foundational research stages of the quantum microscope project, with the Structured Light Lab and Professor Andrew Forbes as our long-time partner and collaborator in the fundamental research going into quantum imaging. We hope to demonstrate a viable product in approximately five years,” says Moodley.
Raptha CEO, Tshidiso Radinne says Raphta believes that AI has a major role to play in the country and wider continent.
“As part of a growing local AI community we want to ensure Africa does not miss this global race and contributes meaningfully to the advancement of the technology. Our applications of the technology in critical infrastructure, healthcare, smart cities and AI bias will have a net positive impact on South Africa and its citizens."
ICESCO Chair for Innovation and Futures in Africa launched at Wits
- Wits School of Governance
The Chair will be located within the Tayarisha Research Group that focuses on the effects and implications of digital transformation and governance in Africa.
Wits University, through the Tayarisha Research Group, based at the Wits School of Governance, signed an agreement with The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) to host the ICESCO Chair for the Study of Innovation and Futures in Africa.
This chair, led by Associate Professor Geci Karuri-Sebina, will result in collaborations between high-level researchers, as well as the development of educational programmes and policy dialogues with societal actors on issues of innovation, futures literacy and foresight.
“In this age of fast-changing technologies and digitalisation, it is crucial that we are ensuring that our governance and socio-economic systems are learning systems that can ensure that we are meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals and building positive futures for Africa, for humanity, and for our planet,” said Professor Jason Cohen, Dean of the Commerce, Law and Management (CLM) Faculty at Wits University.
The Chair will be located within the Tayarisha Research Group, a new, and fast-growing initiative at CLM/WSG which seeks to focus on the effects and implications of digital transformation on Africa’s future and its governance.
“The concept of ‘anticipatory governance’ is at the core of this work as we explore possible African digital futures and how we can be both more innovative, but also better prepared to govern adequately as technologies emerge and co-evolve with societal changes, continuously shifting the very conditions of change,” said Karuri-Sebina.
This ICESCO Chair at Wits will be the key driver for research, training, programming and partnering in this field of Anticipatory Governance.
“Within Wits, this stream is consistent with the work of the Wits Innovation Centre and strategy, where there is a University-wide effort ‘to encourage, facilitate, and support the connection between research and innovation’, said Adjunct Professor Themba Maseko, Acting Head of the Wits School of Governance.
In addition to enhancing African innovation ecosystems and the commercialisation of research, WIC serves as a conduit between Wits and both the private and public sectors to help develop solutions to real-world industry and development problems.
WIC is working with the Tayarisha team to develop Africa’s first Gov-tech Incubator which is poised to become a flagship for impactful innovation in governance. The ICESCO Chair on Innovation and Futures in Africa will be integrally linked into this Wits-wide innovation agenda and its emerging offerings.
Karuri-Sebina said there are also important external platforms and opportunities already on the horizon, for example, the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretech) is an innovation platform that Wits is already involved in which ICESCO member states are already well represented. This network of technology-focused universities includes Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and the United States, and it seeks to “drive inclusive digital growth through higher education and the power of collaboration… working together to build engineering and technology capacity in education, knowledge creation, and entrepreneurship.”
Maseko said that South Africa, through Wits and its government partners, has been invited to host the 17th annual United Nations’ global ICEGOV conference which is the premier global convening of governments, scholars and digital governance stakeholders (More information to follow).
Professor Karuri-Sebina will hold the inaugural Chari that will share the many linkages and opportunities as this initiative progresses.
Future-proofing pandemic preparedness and response
- Wits University
Comparative analysis of the Pandemic accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations texts.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted major shortcomings in the ability of the world to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics. These shortcomings spanned multiple areas, including the surveillance of pathogens of pandemic potential, the effectiveness of International Health Regulations (IHR), and disparities in the supply of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. These issues have led to efforts to reform the governance, regulation and international financing regimes for public health emergencies and pandemics.
Negotiations relating to the CA+ and the IHR amendments are running concurrently and are due to be concluded by the World Health Assembly in May 2024. There are inevitably overlaps and inconsistencies in scope and content between the two instruments. Furthermore, there are questions relating to what subject matter belongs in each of the two instruments, and a lack of clarity among negotiators as negotiating positions in key contentious areas.
In early 2023, we commissioned a comparative analysis, consultation, and research exercise to clarify issues relating to the inclusion of specific points in one or other instrument, to identify areas of concern and opportunities for consensus. From 3 May 2023 to 5 October 2023, a range of experts and country negotiators were interviewed on their key priorities, concerns and what they believed should be in the IHR versus the Pandemic Accord. These inputs were contextualized with desk review, including scholarship on the character of different legal instruments.
This analysis highlighted that treaties and conventions are designed to be:
Political signals of priority.
Facilitators of multilateral cooperation where domestic law and other policy (including other international instruments) have failed.
Applicable to issues where universal adherence will take time to achieve.
Technical and regulatory matters, and matters related to implementation[2] on a particular issue.
Nomenclatures on technical terms.
Standards (for example on safety and purity of pharmaceuticals), or
In addition, the analysis dissects country positions on 9 key areas, including One Health, Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing, and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities.
Ancient diamonds shine light on the evolution of Earth
- Wits University
Superdeep diamonds formed between 650 and 450 million years ago show how continents developed and moved.
The analysis of ancient, superdeep diamonds dug up from mines in Brazil and Western Africa, has exposed new processes of how continents evolved and moved during the early evolution of complex life on Earth.
These diamonds that were formed between 650 and 450 million years ago on the base of the supercontinent Gondwana, were analysed by an international team of experts, and have shown how supercontinents such as Gondwana were formed, stabilised, and how they move around the planet.
“Superdeep diamonds are extremely rare and we now know that they can tell us a lot about the whole process of continent formation,” says Dr Karen Smit of the Wits School of Geosciences, who was part of the study. “We wanted to date these diamonds to try and understand how the earliest continents formed.”
Formed millions to billions of years ago, diamonds can shine light into the darkest and oldest parts of the Earth’s mantle. Continents drift across Earth’s surface creating “supercontinents” and destroying them. Collectively, these migrations are known as the “supercontinent cycle” and diamonds are one of the few minerals strong enough to survive and record these ancient cycles of creation and destruction.
Supercontinents can focus deep oceanic plate subduction – the driver of plate tectonics – in very specific regions. Such deep geologic processes, especially in the past, have been very difficult to study directly because the oceanic crust is young, and the continental crust only provides a limited view of Earth’s deep workings. Old diamonds offer a direct window into the deep plate tectonic engine and how it might relate to the supercontinent cycle.
By dating the tiny silicate and sulphide inclusions inside the diamonds, the team led by Dr Suzette Timmerman of the University of Bern, Switzerland, dated the diamonds that formed 300 to 700km deep under the base of Gondwana. The goal was to trace how material was added to the keel of the supercontinent. While doing this, the team recognised a previously unknown geologic process. The research was published in Nature on Wednesday, October 18.
“The geochemical analyses and dating of inclusions in the diamonds, combined with existing plate tectonic models of continent migration, showed that diamonds formed at great depths beneath Gondwana when the supercontinent covered the South Pole, between 650–450 million years ago,” says Smit.
The host rocks to the diamonds became buoyant during diamond formation, transporting subducted mantle material plus the diamonds. This material was added to the base of the root of Gondwana, in essence ‘growing’ the supercontinent from below.
“Around 120 million years ago, Gondwana started to break apart to form the present oceans such as the Atlantic. At 90 million years ago, the diamonds, carrying trapped tiny inclusions of the host rock, were brought to Earth’s surface in violent volcanic eruptions.”
The current locations for these volcanic eruptions are on the continental fragments of Brazil and Western Africa, two of the key components of Gondwana. Thus, the diamonds must have migrated together with different parts of the former supercontinent as it dispersed, “glued” to their base.
“This complex history of the diamonds shows that they are remarkably well-travelled, both vertically, and horizontally, within the Earth – tracing both the formation of the supercontinent and the latter stages of its evolution. The accretion of relatively young material to the roots of the continents thickens and welds together these ancient continental fragments indicating a potential new mode of continent growth.”
Smit conducted the isotope analyses of sulphide inclusions at Carnegie Institution for Science. Smit is now based at the University of the Witwatersrand where she is part of a team developing a new isotope lab and methodologies so that diamond inclusion analyses can ultimately be conducted at Wits.
“We have installed the necessary equipment in 2022 and are working towards getting the highly specialised skills and equipment together so we can do this type of diamond work in South Africa, where previously it could only be done overseas,” says Smit.
“We need this type of research to understand how continents evolve and move. Without continents there wouldn’t be life. This research gives us insight into how continents form, and it links to how life evolved and what makes our planet, Earth, different from other planets.”
Ancient sea level and climate changes led to major extinctions around South Africa
- Wits University
Sea level and climate changes altered the marine ecosystems at the South Pole 390-385 million years ago.
New research by Dr Cameron Penn-Clarke from the University of the Witwatersrand and Professor David Harper from Durham University reveals a chain of environmental disasters. These took place in what is today's South Africa, during an ancient time period called the Early-Middle Devonian. The crises led to the extinction of a unique group of marine animals called the Malvinoxhosan biota. This groundbreaking study published in Earth-Science Reviews is the first to document such large-scale extinction event of this nature and magnitude in South Africa, adding to growing evidence that changes in climate and sea levels can have global consequences—even in areas near the South Pole.
During the Early-Middle Devonian period, a large landmass called Gondwana—which included parts of today's Africa, South America, and Antarctica—was located near the South Pole. Unlike today's icy conditions, the climate was warmer, and the sea levels were higher, flooding most of the land.
The Malvinoxhosan biota were a group of marine animals that thrived in cooler waters. They included various types of shellfish, many of which are now extinct. "The origin and disappearance of these animals have remained an enigma for nearly two centuries until now," says Dr. Penn-Clarke.
The researchers collected and analysed a vast amount of fossil data. They used advanced data analysis techniques to sort through layers of ancient rock based on the types of fossils found in them. Imagine it like sorting through layers of a cake, each with different ingredients. They then identified at least 7 to 8 distinct layers, each showing fewer and fewer types of marine animals over time. These findings were then compared with how the environment and sea levels have changed, as well as with global temperature records from that ancient period. They found that these marine animals went through several phases of declining numbers of different species, which correlated with changes in sea levels and climate. It was a difficult process."This research is around 12-15 years in the making, and it wasn’t an easy journey," shares Dr. Penn-Clarke. "I was only able to overcome all the different challenges through dogged persistence and perseverance."
Their research suggests that the Malvinoxhosan biota survived during a long period of global cooling. Dr Penn-Clarke elaborates, "We think that cooler conditions allowed for the creation of circumpolar thermal barriers—essentially, ocean currents near the poles—that isolated these animals and led to their specialisation."As the climate warmed up again, these animals disappeared. They were replaced by more generalist marine species that are well-adapted to warmer waters. Shifts in sea levels during the Early-Middle Devonian period probably disrupted natural ocean barriers that had kept waters cooler at the South Pole. This allowed warmer waters from regions closer to the equator to flow in, setting the stage for marine animals that thrive in warmer conditions to move into these areas. As a result, these warm-water species gradually took over, leading to the decline and eventual disappearance of the specialized, cool-water Malvinoxhosan marine animals.
The extinction of the Malvinoxhosan biota led to a complete collapse in polar ecosystems, as biodiversity in these regions never recovered. "This suggests a complete collapse in the functioning of polar environments and ecosystems to the point that they could never recover," Dr. Penn-Clarke adds. He likens this research to playing a game of Cluedo. “It's a 390-million-year-old murder mystery. We now know that the combined effects of changes in sea-level and temperature were the most likely 'smoking gun' behind this extinction event", he notes. It is still unknown if this extinction event can be correlated with known extinction events at the same time elsewhere during the Early-Middle Devonian as researchers simply do not have any real good age inferences.The mystery deepens further, and it is far from over.
Interestingly, similar declines in biodiversity controlled by sea-level changes have been observed in South America. This points to a broader pattern of environmental change affecting the South Polar region during this period and underscores the vulnerability of polar ecosystems, even in the past. "This research is important when we consider the biodiversity crisis we are facing in the present day," says Dr. Penn-Clarke. "It demonstrates the sensitivity of polar environments and ecosystems to changes in sea level and temperature. Any changes that occur are, unfortunately, permanent."
Snake researcher features in ‘Women in Herpetology’
- Wits University
50 stories from around the world celebrate the grit and passion of women in amphibian and reptile science.
The Global Women in Herpetology project recently unveiled book titled Women in Herpetology: 50 Stories from Around the World. This collection showcases the inspiring journeys of 50 women from various countries and regions who have dedicated their lives to studying amphibians and reptiles, with a special focus on one of its featured scientists, Hiral Naik, a PhD candidate in the School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences at Wits University.
In reflecting on her path to inclusion in the book, Naik shares her journey, highlighting the significant role that connections and mentorship play.
"Having attended the World Congress of Herpetology in 2016, my first international conference, and I was a MSc student at the time in the Alexander Herpetology Lab at Wits University, I met some incredible herpetologists, including one of the three ladies that started the Global Women in Herpetology project. We stayed connected over the years, and they invited me to write my story for the book," she says.
This encounter marked the beginning of her story's contribution to this collection.
Naik emphasises the importance of inspiring future generations of women in herpetology, particularly in the realm of snake research.
"I feel excited to be a part of such an incredible network of women, and being featured in the book allows us to inspire many generations of girls and women to pursue careers in herpetology, especially snakes. I also feel inspired to be featured among women herpetologists that are changing the world in their own capacity and positively influencing the world."
Women in Herpetology is a compilation of captivating stories from herpetologists working in diverse fields such as conservation, biodiversity, ecotoxicology, and education. These stories shed light on the unique challenges women in this field face, including limited resources and mentorship opportunities. The book also highlights the joys and rewards they have found through their work, and it features stunning illustrations by 17 talented artists from around the world.
The book is a product of The Global Women in Herpetology project, founded by Dr Sinlan Poo from Taiwan, Dr Itzue Caviedes-Solis from Mexico, and Dr Umilaela Arifin from Indonesia. Their vision is to empower students from underrepresented regions to attend international herpetological conferences and present their research. "We aim to give our first scholarships to students to attend the World Congress of Herpetology in 2024," says Arifin, highlighting the project's mission to support budding scientists and promote diversity in the field.
Caviedes-Solis emphasises the importance of sharing these stories. "We strongly believe that every voice counts and every story matters. The road has been bumpy, and our careers and lives have moments of pain and challenges. But in the midst of it all, we have also found joy."
Poo adds: "We came together thanks to our love for amphibians and reptiles. We hope that people can flip through the pages and immerse themselves in the rich and diverse landscapes the authors are describing and the remarkable illustrations these artists have created."
The humble “plakkie” made its debut up to 150 000 years ago.
In a twist in the ancient human story, emerging evidence suggests that we may have worn shoes as early as the Middle Stone Age (75 000 – 150 000 years ago). This could mean that our species had complex cognitive and practical abilities much earlier than was previously thought.
Europe’s oldest known shoes are 6 000 years old. In South Africa, it was believed that before 2 000 years ago, people weren’t wearing shoes. But trace fossils from three paleosurfaces (surfaces of considerable antiquity) found on South Africa's Cape Coast change that narrative. According to one of the researchers, Dr Bernhard Zipfel, of Wits' Evolutionary Studies Institute, the new evidence reveals that humans of the time wore some form of footwear to walk across the beach.
"We all assumed that people were habitually barefoot. However, the Southern Cape Coast had very sharp rocks at the time. It makes sense that people would use footwear to protect themselves. One hundred thousand years ago, an injury to the foot could have been fatal," said Zipfel.
Ichnology – the study of fossil tracks and traces – answers unresolved questions
There is no hard evidence of what shoes ancient hominins wore. Leather and plant materials would have been biodegraded. Zipfel and his fellow researchers thus considered "shod" tracks. The global record of sites attributed to shod trackmakers is sparse, however. Only four sites older than 30,000 years have been postulated, all from Western Europe. This included a Neanderthal site. Therefore, ichnology research can unlock new insights into the history of civilisation. Ichnology helps search for evidence of footprints made by people wearing some foot covering. By analysing these footprints, ichnologists can learn more about ancient human populations' behaviour, movement, and interactions.
Zipfel, who is also a podiatrist, believes that the type of shoes worn were plakkies, or what we know as flip flops. This is backed up by recent archaeological evidence of sandals worn by San people. "It was important for these shoes to withstand environmental concerns," he explains.
The researchers cobbled together primitive footwear. Wearing these, they walked up and down the very same beaches these hominins trod. They walked in various conditions and could study their shod tracks in both wet and dry sand. The team could compare the actual tracksites (between 70,000 and 150,000 years in age) to their work through computerised images. "There were amazing correlations," said Zipfel.
Their theory reveals at least three tracksites on the Cape South Coast that shod humans may have made.
"While our evidence is inconclusive, we are pleased with our discoveries nonetheless. We also contribute to the research about when humans wore shoes. This research has been few and far between. It is worth noting that the research findings strongly suggest that the region of southern Africa has been a hub for developing cognitive and practical abilities for an extended period," said Zipfel.
2023 Afretec Conference celebrates collaboration
- Wits University
Higher education leaders from across the continent recently convened for the second Pan-African network's annual conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
At the 2023 Conference, the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec) underscored the importance of harnessing cross-country and cross-institution collaboration to cultivate a diverse partnership to drive teaching and learning, knowledge creation, and entrepreneurship on the Continent.
“Faced with a myriad of challenges, Africa needs to seize its abundance of skills and expertise to create tangible, transformative impact. The strength of African-led research and innovation lies in the power of collaboration, and the Afretec network unites the continent’s brilliant minds and talents to effect real-world change,” says Professor Ruksana Osman, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at Wits University, an Afretec member university.
Over the past year, Afretec members have joined together and led a number of activities including student bridge programs and faculty enrichment programs. Afretec also recently awarded $3.3M to fund 11 grants, each led by a multi-university research team, to build research capacity and work toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.
The rapid growth of Africa presents unique opportunities, and it is paramount that member universities work together to retain talent on the continent and to develop the next generation of skilled educators, researchers, engineers and technologists,” says Osman
More about Afretec
Afretec’s pillar of knowledge creation recently announced three research clusters of health, energy and sustainability, and environment. The network’s teaching and learning pillar launched a series of studies on teaching resources and best practices in Africa. Under the entrepreneurship pillar, programs were initiated to build the pipeline of entrepreneurship at partner universities.
Terminally ill patients need more than prayers from spiritual leaders
- Wits University
Cancer patients in Soweto give more clues on how spiritual leaders can assist them to find peace amidst a difficult journey.
A study conducted among advanced cancer patients in Soweto has found that most patients who received palliative care and are at the end of life, have spiritual needs beyond regular prayers from spiritual leaders. Furthermore, patients who received religious or spiritual care had less physical pain, used less morphine and had higher odds of dying where they wish than those who did not.
The study involving 233 participants was conducted by a team of local and international experts led by Wits researchers.
Lead researcher Dr Mpho Ratshikana from the Centre for Palliative Care in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University says that previous research has shown that religion and spirituality are important to most patients facing life-threatening illnesses. However, this study probed further.
Using the African Palliative Care Association Palliative Outcome Scale and other tools, the research confirmed previous international findings that nearly 98% of the participants had a religious or spiritual need.
The most common spiritual need expressed by patients in Soweto was “seeking a closer connection with their God” and “forgiveness for sins”, says Ratshikana. This finding is of significance because it calls on faith leaders to provide relevant support that responds to the needs of patients. This research-led intervention empowers leaders to move beyond prayer, explains Ratshikana.
“This is the first study to assess the spiritual and religious needs, and religious and spirituality care provided to advanced cancer patients who received palliative care in Soweto,” says Ratshikana.
Since the study was concluded in 2018, Wits University has developed a short course in Introduction to Spirituality and Chaplaincy in Palliative Care. The first cohort of faith leaders from all religious backgrounds completed in September 2023.
Palliative Care to increase
Palliative care is one of the key pillars in illness management among terminally ill patients who are judged by a specialist physician as unlikely to benefit from curative-intent therapy. Often, patients are unlikely to survive beyond six months.
The South African National Policy Framework and Strategy for Palliative Care (2017–2022) incorporates spirituality into health care. However, palliative care services in South and Southern Africa and elsewhere, rarely address these needs, despite available policies, guidelines, and evidence.
“We have to implement what we know. The integration of spiritual care within the clinical care setting is recommended,” Ratshikana.
South Africa faces a heavy burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. One in six deaths globally is due to cancer, and cancer diagnoses are expected to increase by 70% in the next two decades, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
“Failure to identify and address the religious and spiritual needs of terminally-ill patients may increase distress and suffering,” Ratshikana.
Supercontinents can focus deep oceanic plate subduction – the driver of plate tectonics – in very specific regions. Such deep geologic processes, especially in the past, have been very difficult to study directly because the oceanic crust is young, and the continental crust only provides a limited view of Earth’s deep workings. Old diamonds offer a direct window into the deep plate tectonic engine and how it might relate to the supercontinent cycle. 
In reflecting on her path to inclusion in the book, Naik shares her journey, highlighting the significant role that connections and mentorship play.
