Page 48 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

stakeholders intended to grow and deepen violence
and injury prevention research and strengthen safety
and peace promotion interventions, policy, and
research capacities.
Science for creating a
healthier society

MaHRU places an emphasis on research that may
be mobilised by communities, social advocates and
policymakers to enhance community safety. For
the reporting year, MaHRU prioritised translation
especially of its burns and safe energy initiatives.
Launched in 2021, the No Paraffin! Campaign focuses
on the promotion of energy justice, especially
A violence prevention campaign held in for marginalised communities, recognising the
Strand community, Western Cape. The event challenges experienced with the domestic use of
was followed by a peace walk.
paraffin, especially in informal, minimally protected
settings and advocates for an expedited transition
to safe, affordable and modern energy technologies
Paraffin Stove Standards, and Professor Van Niekerk in impoverished settings, and encourages the
joined the Africa CDC Advisory Board: Technical gradual elimination of paraffin as a domestic fuel in
Project Team on the Development of the Africa CDC South African communities, and for the protection
Guidance Document on NCD, Injuries and Mental of users in the interim. During 2023, the Campaign
Health Surveillance System Strengthening. expedited its call to the South African government
to implement policy and regulatory measures to
Equitable capacity development protect the public while paraffin is still in use. MaHRU
for empowering communities submitted a proposal to the South African Bureau
of Standards (SABS) to review the current paraffin
During the reporting period, staff members stove standard (SANS1906) to improve appliance
were supported through direct supervision safety. A second proposal for the inclusion of a
and mentorship to obtain their postgraduate denaturant (bitterant) and a colourant to paraffin to
qualifications and as of March 2024, all of the reduce poisoning incidents was also submitted to
permanent MaHRU research staff had obtained another SABS committee on paraffin fuels (SABS/
their doctoral degrees. This represents a cohort of TC 0028/SC 03). With regards to the injury mortality
researchers who make substantial contributions surveillance system, Department of Health officials
towards niche research, postgraduate training, and data collectors received training on ethical data
and scientific and organisational leadership. In management practices and the capturing, collating
addition to the notable growth in staff postgraduate and generation of injury mortality reports to monitor
qualifications, 4 research masters' students were unique injury profile occurrences.
supervised to complete their internships. MaHRU's
postgraduate training and mentorship have also In celebration of 30 years of
grown substantially. Currently, the senior team is
supporting an internally located cohort of 8 doctoral democracy in South Africa
students, as well as an externally located cohort of We celebrate the social struggles and achievements
24 postgraduate students (9 masters; 15 doctoral). of South Africans over the last 30 years and look to
For 2023/2024, there are 4 psychology research the future with a strengthened commitment to the
masters interns working in MaHRU. Postgraduate generation of humanising and healing knowledges,
training includes the provision of dedicated support advancement of socially transformative practices,
for postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, nurturing of next-generation cohorts, and the
writing retreats, and conceptual and methodological cultivation of solidarities aimed at fostering societal
training. MaHRU has also been productive in impact and catalysing social transformation and
providing a range of training courses to diverse change in South Africa and further afield.

46 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24