Guidelines for improved coordination of public works projects in Buffalo City Metro
- Authors: Puta, Mabhelonke
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Public works -- South Africa , Infrastructure (Economics) -- South Africa , Economic development projects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/64775 , vital:73890
- Description: This aim of this study was to determine how improved coordination of public works projects in Buffalo City Metro (BCM) can be promoted. The aim was predicated on the notion that coordination failure adversely affects scope, time, budget, and quality. A pragmatic worldview related to problem- solving informed the collection of both textual and statistical data for the study through surveys and interviews. In BCM public works projects failures in coordination have resulted in negative outcomes of project implementation. The study shows a correlation between coordination and project success, whilst failure in coordination will negatively impact project cost and project scope, resulting in project failure. The study was able to determine prioritised coordination activities. The study further developed coordination guidelines that mitigate coordination failure by outlining mechanisms, which are as follows: appointment of a coordination leader, scheduling coordination activities, participate plan and quality assurance plan. The outputs of these are the coordination of meetings, the online coordination of software, a schedule of lessons learnt, the drawing up of an execution plan and establishing performance incentives. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04
Enhancing the optimal use of the properties for revenue generation at the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
- Authors: Twala, Zolile Donald Linda
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Buildings -- Maintenance and repair , Buildings -- Maintenance , Public works -- South Africa , Infrastructure (Economics) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/66068 , vital:74329
- Description: Literature on property management revealed that it became a challenge in many countries to manage and maintain properties, especially in the public sector. Concerning public infrastructure, research has confirmed that even in the most developed states, such as Canada and the United States of America (USA), the maintenance of public properties and related services was in danger due to fewer funds being budgeted for maintenance during their life cycle (Kaganova & Telgarsky, 2018). It was noted that there needed to be more studies conducted in South Africa under public infrastructure. This study aimed to explore how the NDPWI could improve the optimal use of properties under its custodianship to maximise revenue generation by carrying out the identified critical success factors from the property managers (internal) and client departments (external). Trying to find a well-maintained property creates more chances for the client departments or tenants to occupy the property for a more extended period while delivering their service to its clients and the NDPWI maximising the revenue generation. “The research applied a literature review and other sources, such as internal or media reports, as a background to discover meaning-making of insights from the property manager’s experiences, which were associated with their perceptions of property management challenges”. This research applied a qualitative research approach. Qualitative content was analysed, utilising a mixture of a deductive and inductive approach. The main reason for utilising both deductive and inductive approaches is that the researcher tried to understand and develop the theory around the NDPWI low-income generation utilising state properties to their optimal use and find out if all properties were well maintained and could, which allowed the NDPWI to maximise income generation. Five conclusions emerged from the findings of this study on insight from twenty-five (25) property managers who have been in their role for a minimum of five (5) years. The proof to substantiate these conclusions came directly from insights shared by the twenty-five (25) participants from their experience in property management. Conclusions were linked to the theories and reports that informed this study. Firstly, this study revealed that the majority of the participants agreed that the role of leadership in property management was critical for giving strategic direction within the organisation, ensuring that there were clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and ensuring there were no contradictions and confusion among the staff while executing their functions. Adequate talent was recruited, but skills were required to be strengthened. Secondly, the study revealed that the non-maintenance of state buildings contributed negatively to the client departments when executing their constitutional mandate efficiently and effectively in a safe environment. Poor building conditions were revealed as among the issues that the client departments needed to be occupying and optimally utilising; instead, they relied on leased inn properties from the private sector. Thirdly, the study revealed that the client relationship and quality of service they received from the NDPWI needed to be improved to ensure that clients were prioritised on their needs and expectations. NDPWI was taking too long to respond to the instruction of the client departments, and it was frustrating the client departments leading to some client departments proposing to devolve the power of the NDPWI to assist them. Fourthly, accessibility of the state properties was not as good as it was supposed to be, as the client departments would need the properties in specific areas, they needed to offer their services, and they could not get such properties under the NDPWI. They ended up looking for leased properties that meet their specification in the procurement instruction in good condition and safety. Fifthly, innovative technology could improve communication between the clients and help save time on conducting meetings in one common place. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
An investigation of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to enhance community development in Mount Ayliff village
- Authors: Pindo, Abongile
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Expanded Public Works Programme , Public works -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58146 , vital:58613
- Description: Lack of community development which includes poverty, unemployment and inequality is still prevalent in South Africa, even after the country has gained its independency in April 1994. South Africa has the highest unemployment and poverty rate, especially in rural areas like Mount Ayliff. This high unemployment, inequality and poverty within the country is an indication that the government is not doing enough in terms of dealing with these triple challenges. The South African government has introduced numerous development and economic policies, programmes and strategies to address unemployment, poverty and enhance community development. These initiatives include Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR), National Growth Plan (NGP), National Development Plan (NDP) and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The EPWP’s vision is to enhance community development in South African communities through temporary employment and skills development for unemployed youth. EPWP has been unemployment relief in many communities and has employed over five million people since its introduction. This study aims to investigate the role played by the EPWP to enhance community development and employment creation in Mount Ayliff Village. The study followed a qualitative descriptive approach, where secondary sources of data were reviewed to address the research objectives and questions. The main research findings are that the EPWP has played a significant role in enhancing community development in Mount Ayliff Village through provision of employment opportunities, development projects, introducing and empowering youth with skills and training for future permanent employment. Based on the findings, the study recommends that there must be frequent monitoring and evaluation of the EPWP projects to ensure that its goal is achieved and guidelines for recruitment of participants are followed. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04
Evaluation of the expanded public works programme as poverty reduction strategy in Buffalo City Municipality
- Authors: Ngumbela, Xolisile Gideon
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Public works -- South Africa , Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54242 , vital:46379
- Description: One socio-economic problem that South Africa is currently facing is the youth and women unemployment rate, which is among the highest in the world. The Government of South Africa has been involved in a number of initiatives, along with the advancement of a labour-intensive Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP) to reduce unemployment and poverty. The EPWP was initiated in 2004 with the aim of putting the unemployed into productive work in the social services of the public sector where relevant training and transfer of appropriate skills are provided to EPWP beneficiaries. However, the EPWP provides only temporary job opportunities that have little impact on the beneficiaries' lives. The main objective of the study was to analyse the Expanded Public Works Programme as a strategy for poverty reduction in order to assess its effectiveness on poverty reduction in Buffalo City Municipality, and to learn best practices that can be emulated by other municipalities or other programmes of Buffalo City Municipality. The secondary aim of the study was to suggest possible solutions and ways to overcome the problems and challenges faced by the metropolitan municipality of Buffalo City in tackling poverty reduction. Another goal was to explore whether the job prospects in Public Works would improve participants' future employability after they leave EPWP. Lastly, the study forwards suggestions on how best to use the EPWP as a tool to provide disadvantaged youth and women with sustainable job opportunities. The sample comprised of ten (10) individuals, and it was arrived at using purposive sampling. The self-administered questionnaire was sent to two (2) councilors and eight (8) EPWP managers involved in the EPWP management in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The data was collected through the self-administered questionnaire, followed by telephone follow-ups for points of clarity, because the study took place at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which took everyone by surprise and left the whole world astonished as it seemed no one was fully prepared for the disaster. The study found that, overall, the design elements and implementation aspects of EPWP are not ideal for helping the unemployed to become more employable on a large scale. Other issues include the absence of advanced skills training for EPWP participants; the unsustainable essence of the administration of the EPWP, and the non-approval of the draft EPWP policy. This study suggests measures with regard to EPWP coordination, enhanced project monitoring, preparation, indigent requirements and acceptance of the EPWP regulation under the BCMM. The study also recommends, in addition to the above, properly consulted management framework according to international best practices of programme management and evaluation to allow the EPWP to achieve its goals more effectively. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12