Small town revitalisation in Intsika Yethu Municipality: Cofimvaba and Tsomo
- Authors: Koyo, Siyabulela
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Urbanization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cities and towns -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31005 , vital:31271
- Description: Bernstein (2000) defines small towns in South Africa as settlements in commercial farming areas as well as former or dense homeland towns. These settlements are usually said to lack higher-level services and facilities, which usually leads to their decline (Donaldson & Marais, 2012). The above is likely due to the experiences of rapid urbanisation, which facilitated the decline of the agricultural sector and rural jobs. The research examined the challenges facing small towns in South Africa and sought possible solutions to address issues relating particularly to infrastructure, public and social amenities as well as institutional arrangements and socio-economic growth through small towns revitalisation. The case study for the purposes of the research focuses on two major towns in the Intsika Yethu Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, namely Cofimvaba and Tsomo. Research questions relate to the policy frameworks, institutional arrangements and funding that are able to guide revitalization efforts in rural municipalities to enhance an environment that fosters socio-economic development. Ultimately the research attempted to establish whether the revitalisation efforts have resulted in discernible improvements across the challenges that have been identified in Cofimvaba and Tsomo, the two principle towns in the Intsika Yethu Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. The overall aim of the research is to assess the impacts of efforts by the various spheres of government to revitalize Cofimvaba and Tsomo. Several specific objectives were identified. These include a literature review on challenges facing small towns, particularly in developing countries such as South Africa, and strategies to address their revitalization; an assessment of the socio-economic status of a sample of residents in the two towns; to conduct research in Cofimvaba and Tsomo to review government strategies and interventions to revitalize these towns; an opinion survey among formal businesses and business structures to assess the impacts of the revitalization efforts on the business sector; and, finally, to use the findings of the research to make recommendations to the various stakeholder iv groups in Cofimvaba and Tsomo in order to support the efforts of government to revitalize the towns. The methodology adopted for the purposes of the research, is a mixed approach making use of qualitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data was gathered from the municipal Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the government departments’ implementation plans. Qualitative data was gathered by focussing on interviews with people living within the towns of Cofimvaba and Tsomo, the business community and municipal officials. Findings related to improved livelihoods show that most interviewed individuals are middle to lower income earners, meaning that there is a high proportion of people who are likely to be dependent on the state for assistance. Challenges that have been noted by municipal officials, range from issues relating to illegal building constructions to invasion of land earmarked for development and funding for development initiatives. It became apparent that there is limited knowledge of small town revitalisation from both the municipal officials and the citizens that were interviewed. In light of the above findings there are a number of recommendations which range from firstly a better application of the Back-to-basics approach, to the idea of better service delivery that has been introduced in all local municipalities. This calls for local government to serve their communities better by being responsive and accountable during the delivery of any service. Secondly, improved institutional collaborations are the key to small town revitalisation, through knowledge sharing and funding provision. Thirdly, by-laws and developmental plans are to be formulated in collaboration with the key role players, as they are paramount in attracting prospective inward investments to the towns. Lastly any revitalisation efforts are to incorporate the town’s culture and diversity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Koyo, Siyabulela
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Urbanization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cities and towns -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31005 , vital:31271
- Description: Bernstein (2000) defines small towns in South Africa as settlements in commercial farming areas as well as former or dense homeland towns. These settlements are usually said to lack higher-level services and facilities, which usually leads to their decline (Donaldson & Marais, 2012). The above is likely due to the experiences of rapid urbanisation, which facilitated the decline of the agricultural sector and rural jobs. The research examined the challenges facing small towns in South Africa and sought possible solutions to address issues relating particularly to infrastructure, public and social amenities as well as institutional arrangements and socio-economic growth through small towns revitalisation. The case study for the purposes of the research focuses on two major towns in the Intsika Yethu Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, namely Cofimvaba and Tsomo. Research questions relate to the policy frameworks, institutional arrangements and funding that are able to guide revitalization efforts in rural municipalities to enhance an environment that fosters socio-economic development. Ultimately the research attempted to establish whether the revitalisation efforts have resulted in discernible improvements across the challenges that have been identified in Cofimvaba and Tsomo, the two principle towns in the Intsika Yethu Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. The overall aim of the research is to assess the impacts of efforts by the various spheres of government to revitalize Cofimvaba and Tsomo. Several specific objectives were identified. These include a literature review on challenges facing small towns, particularly in developing countries such as South Africa, and strategies to address their revitalization; an assessment of the socio-economic status of a sample of residents in the two towns; to conduct research in Cofimvaba and Tsomo to review government strategies and interventions to revitalize these towns; an opinion survey among formal businesses and business structures to assess the impacts of the revitalization efforts on the business sector; and, finally, to use the findings of the research to make recommendations to the various stakeholder iv groups in Cofimvaba and Tsomo in order to support the efforts of government to revitalize the towns. The methodology adopted for the purposes of the research, is a mixed approach making use of qualitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data was gathered from the municipal Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the government departments’ implementation plans. Qualitative data was gathered by focussing on interviews with people living within the towns of Cofimvaba and Tsomo, the business community and municipal officials. Findings related to improved livelihoods show that most interviewed individuals are middle to lower income earners, meaning that there is a high proportion of people who are likely to be dependent on the state for assistance. Challenges that have been noted by municipal officials, range from issues relating to illegal building constructions to invasion of land earmarked for development and funding for development initiatives. It became apparent that there is limited knowledge of small town revitalisation from both the municipal officials and the citizens that were interviewed. In light of the above findings there are a number of recommendations which range from firstly a better application of the Back-to-basics approach, to the idea of better service delivery that has been introduced in all local municipalities. This calls for local government to serve their communities better by being responsive and accountable during the delivery of any service. Secondly, improved institutional collaborations are the key to small town revitalisation, through knowledge sharing and funding provision. Thirdly, by-laws and developmental plans are to be formulated in collaboration with the key role players, as they are paramount in attracting prospective inward investments to the towns. Lastly any revitalisation efforts are to incorporate the town’s culture and diversity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A real estate management framework for the public sector in South Africa
- Moleko, Thabang Vuyani Qaqambile
- Authors: Moleko, Thabang Vuyani Qaqambile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Real estate management -- South Africa , Real property -- South Africa Real estate development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19135 , vital:28776
- Description: Organisations have realised that fixed asset portfolio or real estate portfolio can be the second or third largest operating cost of an organisation. Management has not placed sufficient attention to how to treat real estate as a strategic asset that is part of corporate strategy. This is now called Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) which is now embraced as a way of incorporating the strategy and management of real estate into the corporate strategy imperatives in the management of all successful organisations with a property portfolio. Property and land are part of the narrative of the painful legacy of apartheid and dispossession in South Africa. The South African government has a sizable property portfolio that should be supporting its strategic and necessary service delivery needs. The state property portfolio has an urgent maintenance backlog and concedes it has performed poor overall management of the portfolio. The rectification of the backlog and the new buildings are required at a significant cost to the taxpayer. The state has to start using CREM in the management of their public sector real estate assets(PSRE). The study seeks to see if public sector organisations have adopted the principles of CREM into their management of PSRE. The study has reviewed the variables of planning, processes, competencies, information, operations and structure around PSRE. These majority of these variables have been shown an influence on the wellbeing of the public-sector property portfolio and the functioning of public sector as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Moleko, Thabang Vuyani Qaqambile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Real estate management -- South Africa , Real property -- South Africa Real estate development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19135 , vital:28776
- Description: Organisations have realised that fixed asset portfolio or real estate portfolio can be the second or third largest operating cost of an organisation. Management has not placed sufficient attention to how to treat real estate as a strategic asset that is part of corporate strategy. This is now called Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) which is now embraced as a way of incorporating the strategy and management of real estate into the corporate strategy imperatives in the management of all successful organisations with a property portfolio. Property and land are part of the narrative of the painful legacy of apartheid and dispossession in South Africa. The South African government has a sizable property portfolio that should be supporting its strategic and necessary service delivery needs. The state property portfolio has an urgent maintenance backlog and concedes it has performed poor overall management of the portfolio. The rectification of the backlog and the new buildings are required at a significant cost to the taxpayer. The state has to start using CREM in the management of their public sector real estate assets(PSRE). The study seeks to see if public sector organisations have adopted the principles of CREM into their management of PSRE. The study has reviewed the variables of planning, processes, competencies, information, operations and structure around PSRE. These majority of these variables have been shown an influence on the wellbeing of the public-sector property portfolio and the functioning of public sector as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between survivor traumatic stress, coping self-efficacy and secondary traumatic stress in informal supporters of rape survivors
- Authors: Theunissen, Shanae
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Psychic trauma -- South Africa Self-help groups -- South Africa , Victims of violent crimes -- Counseling of -- South Africa Rape victims -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20801 , vital:29396
- Description: The prevalence of rape in South Africa is widespread and survivors often experience severe posttraumatic stress and shame. Although secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a risk for everyone who works with primary survivors of trauma it has only been examined in a variety of professionals that provide supportive and clinical services to traumatised populations. Little is known about the impact that this experience has on the friends and family members that support these survivors. In some cases, supporters have to find a way to cope with significant distress associated with witnessing posttraumatic stress in a loved one. This begs the question of how their perceived ability to cope would influence their experience of STS. However, no studies exist that explore the dynamics between severity of posttraumatic stress in rape survivors and secondary traumatic stress and coping self-efficacy in their supporters. For this quantitative study, 23 rape survivors from a local non-governmental organisation completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Revised (HTQ-R). The 28 informal supporters that were identified, completed the Traumatic Attachment Belief Scale (TABS) and the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE). Cross-group equivalence, the presence of the outlined factors in the sample, as well as the interaction between factors, are explored and described. Findings indicate that although the survivors endorsed some symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, their scores were not elevated enough to meet the cut-off point for this diagnosis. Findings related to the supporters indicate that the sample experienced average to high average levels of secondary traumatisation. Despite this, the subjects experienced adequate levels of coping self-efficacy. These findings indicate a need to provide more counselling resources to informal supporters in order to alleviate their secondary traumatisation and in turn increase their ability to assist primary rape survivors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Theunissen, Shanae
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Psychic trauma -- South Africa Self-help groups -- South Africa , Victims of violent crimes -- Counseling of -- South Africa Rape victims -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20801 , vital:29396
- Description: The prevalence of rape in South Africa is widespread and survivors often experience severe posttraumatic stress and shame. Although secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a risk for everyone who works with primary survivors of trauma it has only been examined in a variety of professionals that provide supportive and clinical services to traumatised populations. Little is known about the impact that this experience has on the friends and family members that support these survivors. In some cases, supporters have to find a way to cope with significant distress associated with witnessing posttraumatic stress in a loved one. This begs the question of how their perceived ability to cope would influence their experience of STS. However, no studies exist that explore the dynamics between severity of posttraumatic stress in rape survivors and secondary traumatic stress and coping self-efficacy in their supporters. For this quantitative study, 23 rape survivors from a local non-governmental organisation completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Revised (HTQ-R). The 28 informal supporters that were identified, completed the Traumatic Attachment Belief Scale (TABS) and the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE). Cross-group equivalence, the presence of the outlined factors in the sample, as well as the interaction between factors, are explored and described. Findings indicate that although the survivors endorsed some symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, their scores were not elevated enough to meet the cut-off point for this diagnosis. Findings related to the supporters indicate that the sample experienced average to high average levels of secondary traumatisation. Despite this, the subjects experienced adequate levels of coping self-efficacy. These findings indicate a need to provide more counselling resources to informal supporters in order to alleviate their secondary traumatisation and in turn increase their ability to assist primary rape survivors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Private sector participation in renewable energy: a survey of listed companies in South Africa
- Authors: Eno, Venessa Asik Awo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- South Africa , Energy policy -- South Africa , Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9114 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015636
- Description: Although renewable energy technology has received much attention over recent years the depletion of known fossil fuel reserves and the volatility of international fuel prices require that society looks beyond the current coal-dominated electricity generation methods. Investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency is important to reduce the negative economic, social and environmental impacts of energy production and consumption in South Africa. Currently, renewable energy contributes relatively little to primary energy and even less to the consumption of commercial energy. The challenge of transforming entire economies is enormous, especially if a country is as fossil-fuel-based and emission-intensive as South Africa. However, as it is already facing climate change impacts in an increasingly carbon constrained world; South Africa must drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emission intensity soon. The South African electricity sector is a vital part of the economy and at the same time contributes most to the emission problem. Transforming this sector is therefore urgently needed. First steps have been taken to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy, but they have failed to have any large-scale effects. The two major barriers to investments in renewable energy technologies are based in the South African energy innovation system and its inherent power structures and in the economics of renewable energy technologies. Subsequently the private sector will have to play a significant role in closing the human resources gap by providing funds and expertise. Furthermore, the creation of employment opportunities and actively promoting structural change in the economy are seen, especially in industrialized countries, as goals that support the promotion of renewable energy. Moreover, with more support and assistance from the government and partnership with the private sector will be of immense help to achieve renewable energy goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Eno, Venessa Asik Awo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- South Africa , Energy policy -- South Africa , Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9114 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015636
- Description: Although renewable energy technology has received much attention over recent years the depletion of known fossil fuel reserves and the volatility of international fuel prices require that society looks beyond the current coal-dominated electricity generation methods. Investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency is important to reduce the negative economic, social and environmental impacts of energy production and consumption in South Africa. Currently, renewable energy contributes relatively little to primary energy and even less to the consumption of commercial energy. The challenge of transforming entire economies is enormous, especially if a country is as fossil-fuel-based and emission-intensive as South Africa. However, as it is already facing climate change impacts in an increasingly carbon constrained world; South Africa must drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emission intensity soon. The South African electricity sector is a vital part of the economy and at the same time contributes most to the emission problem. Transforming this sector is therefore urgently needed. First steps have been taken to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy, but they have failed to have any large-scale effects. The two major barriers to investments in renewable energy technologies are based in the South African energy innovation system and its inherent power structures and in the economics of renewable energy technologies. Subsequently the private sector will have to play a significant role in closing the human resources gap by providing funds and expertise. Furthermore, the creation of employment opportunities and actively promoting structural change in the economy are seen, especially in industrialized countries, as goals that support the promotion of renewable energy. Moreover, with more support and assistance from the government and partnership with the private sector will be of immense help to achieve renewable energy goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
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