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An appraisal of the role of cash and in-kind transfers in addressing urban household food insecurity in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Ndlovu, Sibonokuhle
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Transfer payments--Zimbabwe Food supply--Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Social Science
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15155 , vital:40191
  • Description: This thesis examines the role of cash and in-kind transfers in alleviating urban household food insecurity in Makokoba and Njube townships in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. This assessment focuses on understanding the extent to which these transfers improve poor household access to food. The implications of cash and in-kind transfers on household dietary diversification are also examined. The thesis also scrutinises factors that deter the effectiveness of these transfers in addressing urban household food insecurity in the two townships. The study is guided by the Entitlement Approach (Sen, 1981) and Household Livelihood Security Framework (Frankenberger et al., 1995). The study combined qualitative and quantitative research methods in gathering and analysing data. Semi structured in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and key informant interviews were used to collect primary data. The thesis finds that cash and in-kind transfers have not significantly alleviated urban household food insecurity in Makokoba and Njube townships. As a result households receiving these transfers have not meaningfully improved their food consumption behaviours. Households continued to experience food insecurity characterised by skipping meals and eating small portions. Most households prioritised non-food expenditures and this has resulted in expending a small proportion of their cash transfers on purchasing inadequate food items. Both transfers have not meaningfully played a complementary role in enabling poor households to access a variety of food groups necessary for diversifying diets. The thesis also finds that a legion of factors deter the effectiveness of cash transfers in these townships. These include irregular distributions, low cash transfer value, incomplete food baskets, weak targeting mechanisms, less flexible implementation processes, automatic deletion of households from beneficiary database and duration of programmes. This thesis recommends redesigning of these cash and in-kind transfer programmes to effectively alleviate urban household food insecurity.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An appraisal of warm temperate mangrove estuaries as food patches using zooplankton and RNA: DNA ratios of Gilchristella aestuaria larvae as indicators

  • Authors: Bornman, Eugin
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Mangrove swamps Fishes -- Larvae , Mangrove ecology , Zooplankton
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17908 , vital:28481
  • Description: Mangrove habitats are considered as the ideal fish nursery as they are known to increase the growth and survival of juvenile fishes by providing enhanced food availability and protection. However, most studies have focused on tropical mangroves with a few recent warm temperate studies finding conflicting results. Furthermore, the nursery value of South African mangroves to fishes remain understudied in subtropical areas, while warm temperate mangroves are yet to be evaluated. This study aimed to assess whether mangrove presence leads to any advantage to the larvae of an important estuarine resident fish species, Gilchristella aestuaria, by comparing the food patch quality of South African warm temperate mangrove and non-mangrove estuaries. Results indicate that larvae fed primarily on the dominant prey species, Pseudodiaptomus hessei, Paracrtia longipatella, and Acartiella natalensis. However, postflexion larvae consumed more of the larger species, P. hessei, within the two mangrove estuaries (16.09 %V in Nahoon and 13.79 %V in Xhora) than the two nonmangrove estuaries (12.20 %V in Gonubie and 7.05 %V in Qora), despite other prey species occurring at similar densities. Results indicate that mangrove habitats acted as sediment sinks, slightly reducing the turbidity of these estuaries which resulted in postflexion larvae actively selecting larger, more nutritious prey, which in turn, significantly increased their individual instantaneous growth rates (0.11 ± 0.21 Gi) when compared to postflexion larvae in non-mangrove estuaries (0.09 ± 0.12 Gi). This study found that mangrove presence was significantly related to postflexion larval densities when coupled with abiotic (such as temperature and turbidity) and biotic factors (such as predator-prey interactions). Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics, predator-prey interactions as well as the growth and survival of G. aestuaria is particularly important as they are key zooplanktivores that are prey to other species in estuarine food webs.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of challenges of reporting by TVET collages to the department of Higher Education and Training using a web-based monitoring and evaluation instrument : the case of two selected TVET colleges in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Siwa, Monwabisi
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Automatic control -- Data processing TVET Colleges
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17305 , vital:40936
  • Description: The effective and efficient functioning of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges is pertinent to the development of critical and scares skills for the South African labour market. In this research, I examined the challenges facing the reporting by TVET colleges to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) using a web-based M&E and reporting framework for TVET colleges. I presented what was the form of reporting by TVET colleges to DHET before the introduction of M&E and reporting framework for TVET colleges in 2015.To this end, M&E and reporting is pivotal in the effective and efficient running of these institutions. In this research, I presented the evolution of the TVET Sector and reviewed literature on monitoring and evaluation, challenges of reporting by TVET colleges to DHET and the role of professional support needed to be given to the sector on monitoring and evaluation. Qualitative method and a case study methodology was used to investigate the challenges of reporting to DHET by TVET colleges. I used semi-structured interview with 4 participants from two selected colleges in the Eastern Cape. I employed interpretive paradigm and content analysis in interpreting and analysing data collected. I presented summary, findings, recommendations and conclusion. The topics for further research were also sponsored in this study.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of civil society peace building efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Authors: Tunda, Kitenge
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Peace-building -- Democratic Republic of Congo , Peacekeeping forces -- Developing countries Conflict management -- Developing countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35852 , vital:33853
  • Description: During the Rwandan genocide, from April to July 1994, more than two million Rwandans, including Hutu extremists who feared retribution, fled to neighbouring countries. The majority of people who took refuge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, known until May 1997 as Zaire) were located in North and South Kivu provinces. Tensions grew between DRC and Rwanda governments due to the use of refugee camps in North Kivu as rear bases by Hutu extremists to attack, destabilise and regain control of power in Rwanda (Leeuwen, 2008: 400). In 1996, a group of four political parties [the Council of Resistance for Democracy, the Revolutionary Movement for the Liberation of Congo, the Democratic Alliance of the People and the Party of the Peoples' Revolution] founded the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) to pursue regime change in DRC [First Congo war]. Mobutu’s 32 years of bad governance had transformed DRC into one of the poorest countries in the world despite its abundant wealth in natural resources. A deadly conflict erupted in 1998 [Second Congo war], in which several armed rebel groups supported by neighbouring countries sought to overthrow the regime of President Kabila. In 1999, a cease-fire agreement was signed in Lusaka, Zambia which paved the way for the deployment of UN peacekeeping troops. An inter-Congolese dialogue was convened in 2002 in South Africa. As a result of the dialogue, the war ended [sporadic conflicts continued] and a new transitional government of national unity was formed in June 2003. President Joseph Kabila, who was declared winner of the 2006 presidential elections, promised to restore peace and security in the Kivu provinces. But, after more than 10 years, the root causes of the conflict have not been resolved in South Kivu. The province still faces violence perpetrated by armed rebel groups, human insecurity, human rights violations and economic decline; all these issues have compromised the relative peace that local people have had for a couple of years. The treatise identifies, through a literature and documentary analysis, some local and external Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which have been advocating, supporting and recommending post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) in South Kivu. The concept of Peacebuilding has been one of the core objectives of dozens of actors in South Kivu. The aim of this treatise is to assess local CSOs’ efforts in building peace in South Kivu. The author has evaluated their capacities in resolving the root causes of conflicts, building capacity of communities through training, delivering humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people, and working towards a sustainable and lasting stability in the province. This treatise’s objectives are aimed at assessing the works and challenges of local non-states actors and stakeholders in peace consolidation. The author has also outlined the programmes implemented by local actors to address the root causes of conflicts; has made recommendations to promote peace and has concluded that a durable stability can be achievable with the support of all peace stakeholders in Eastern DRC.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of female and management perceptions of factors moderating leadership mobility at Logistic (PTY) LTD

  • Authors: Rippon, Marion Magdelyn
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Transformational leadership Leadership in women
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17897 , vital:28480
  • Description: Senior management positions at a South African-based logistics company Logistic (Pty) Ltd (pseudonym) are predominantly occupied by males which led to the primary question: why are females not better represented at senior levels within the organisation and why do promotion into these senior managerial positions appears difficult? The objective of this study was to determine factors impacting female advancement and to develop strategies based on identified influencing factors. Based on an interpretivist paradigm, the study used a phenomenological approach which was based on an appreciative enquiry research to understand experiences perceived and interpreted by individuals within the organisation. Various findings emerged in terms of the research questions of how management perceive and support female advancement, the perception of barriers experienced by females and the perception of the potential of the organisation promoting females in terms of providing an enabling environment. Findings which were not conducive to female advancement were identified as non-supporting organisational culture due to the inherent history of the organisation, tokenism by trying to rectify the phenomenon, transparent barriers experienced by females trying to ascend the corporate ladder and the lack of a pool of suitable candidates in the junior levels of the organisation which could be caused by the industry in which the organisation does business. Conclusions surrounding organisational intentions and actions were reached, which included recommendations for progressing towards the goals as agreed by the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) and its strategic and sectoral stakeholders.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of IDP implementation and sustainable development : the case of the housing sector in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality

  • Authors: Mwatenga, John
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: City planning Sustainable development Housing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13447 , vital:39667
  • Description: This research study assessed the implementation of the Integrated Development Plan and sustainable development in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: i) to identify factors affecting the provision of dwelling units in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality and their effect on sustainable development in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality; to assess the perceptions of the municipality and the community on the role of the IDP as a tool for development; iii) to suggest strategies that can be adopted to improve IDP implementation for sustainable development in the area. The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from several researchers. The sustainable development theory, the incremental planning model and the rational planning model underpinned the study. Although three theories were used, the sustainable development theory was the major theory adopted in this study. The mixed research methods are used to collect the primary data for this study. The use of both quantitative and qualitative methods is deemed most appropriate for this research study, as most researchers regard them as best methods in answering the research questions. The use of mixed methods has the assumption that both approaches can complement each other and help in avoiding unnecessary shortcomings. Since the study collected both quantitative and qualitative data, an interview guide and questionnaires were used. Interviews were conducted with three (3) municipal officials as well as (2) councillors from Mangaung metropolitan municipality (MMM), whereas questionnaires were distributed to (90) community members. The analysis of the study made the following conclusions about the IDP implementation and sustainable development in Mangaung metropolitan municipality. Firstly, there is satisfactory majority understanding among the participants regarding Integrated Development Plan and its related processes. The respondents have a common view that the IDP is a key tool that buoys development and that continued implementation challenges halt every form of development within the municipal area. Secondly, there is implementation of the IDP in Mangaung metropolitan municipality (MMM); nevertheless, the extent of implementation has not had the anticipated effect on the general populace in communities, given the ineffectiveness and inefficiencies in resource utilisation. Thirdly, it was also discovered that the municipality currently has serious housing backlogs that have brought auxiliary challenges thus impeding developmental efforts of MMM. Fourthly, the study also concluded that the causes of housing backlogs are: apartheid legacy, influx of foreign nationals, lack of oversight monitoring, heightened poverty, corruption, poor governance, insufficient budget, ineffective IDP implementation, urbanisation, natural population; unemployment and lack of capacity and skills can be regarded as the major contributors to housing shortages currently plaguing MMM. Thus the study recommended that an oversight, monitoring and evaluation policy, good governance, public participation, utilisation of PPPs and implementation of environmental management policy will go a long way in enhancing IDP implementation towards attaining sustainable development in the Mangaung metropolitan municipality.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of Organisational Culture at an Information and Technology Company during a period of change

  • Authors: Nzimande, Prosper Thelumusa
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Organizational change , Corporate culture Organization -- Research Customer relations
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22935 , vital:30150
  • Description: Orientation: Change is inevitable, yet many organisational change efforts are not successful due to the culture of the organisation not supporting change. As a result,change objectives are not met and employees are left with a poor change experience. Research objective: The main objective of the study was therefore to determine the extent to which the organisational culture of a selected South African Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) organisation was ready for change, and supported goal alignment, team work, a customer focus and employee talent optimisation to attain desired Change Outcomes. Research design: The study adopted a quantitative method using a random sample method and survey as the data collecting instrument, which was administered to employees at a selected ICT organisation. Factor analysis resulted in a refinement of the initial cultural elements investigated. Main findings/results: The results revealed that the ICT organisation did reflect a customer orientation, change readiness, collaboration for continuous improvement and an environment that enabled performance, but that there was room for improvement. The results indicated that the respondents had doubts about whether the Change Outcomes were attained. All the cultural factors correlated positively with each other and positively correlated with Change Outcomes. A significant positive link was found between Collaboration for Continuous Innovation and Change Outcomes. Practical/managerial implications: Organisational change requires much effort from senior leaders, managers and employees and it is therefore more likely that, during change, attention will be focused on operational changes rather than on organisational culture. However, the study demonstrated that culture in general is very important, as it influences behaviour and provides identity to employees, and that culture is especially important during a period of change. During a period of change, culture can either enhance or hinder change. In addition, change often implies a change in culture. The study showed that during a period of change, team work is very important and that opportunities must be created for sharing ideas, collaboration and stretching goals, thus for innovation, and for finding better ways to serve customers.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of own revenue management for financial sustainability of the Eastern Cape municipalities

  • Authors: Majikijela, Vuyolwethu
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Revenue management , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Finance , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Cost effectiveness , Municipal services -- Finance
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61445 , vital:28027
  • Description: The purpose of the research is to assess the financial viability of municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Municipalities that are not financially viable and sustainable will always struggle to deliver basic services to communities. Without sound financial management systems, municipalities will be forced to discontinue their operations. Municipalities, particularly small and rural ones, are not self-sufficient thus cost benefit theory emphasises that municipality must adopt cost recovery revenue management. The application of cost recovery revenue management requires that municipalities take into account internal and external revenue management challenges that will be factored on user charges. Cost recovery also requires governance to lead the process through capacitation, transparency and communication with all stakeholders. This research highlights that municipalities in the province have not matured to a level wherein they are able to adopt cost recovery revenue management because of prevalent external revenue management challenges caused by high unemployment rate in the province and the slow economic growth. Municipalities in the province are thus financially unsustainable. This research therefore proposes that a phase in approach to cost recovery should be adopted in line with the changes in unemployment and economic growth. Increased transparency and consultation with intergovernmental relations should also be promoted to enable financial sustainability of municipalities in the province.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of quality health care in the operating theatres of Frere Hospital in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Bennett, Fabion Charton
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Medical care Surgical instruments and apparatus -- Safety measures
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPH
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13425 , vital:39660
  • Description: BACKGROUND: Operating theatres are one of most expensive resources in a hospital. The management of operating theatres is complex due to the conflicting priorities and preferences of all stakeholders. Operating theatres also pose one of the greatest medico legal risks to any hospital. This study was conducted at Frere Hospital in East London to assess the functioning of the operating theatre system. The focus of this study was on Pre-operative categorisation of emergency cases, the utilisation of the World Health Organisation Safety Checklist, compliance to the National Core Standards for Health, the effectiveness of governance and review processes, theatre staffing as well as theatre efficiency indicators (start time/tardiness, utilisation, turn-around time, re-admission to theatre rate, cancellation on day of procedure, slate under/over runs, Anaesthetic time as a percentage of theatre time). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to promote the adherence to the various operating theatre universal approaches by operating theatre staff with the goal of reducing costs and errors caused by poor quality in operating theatres and improving the overall health system. METHOD: In this research a convergent parallel mixed method research design was applied. The research was non-experimental and descriptive in approach, using a mixed method questionnaire, a structured open ended interview, a structured infrastructure assessment, a structured observation checklist and an audit of patient files for a review of emergency surgical cases. Data was collected during October 2016 and January 2017.The study population consisted of 13 operating rooms across 6 operating theatre suites, surgical management staff as well as clinical and nursing staff in the operating theatres at Frere Hospital in East London. RESULTS: The study showed opportunities for improvement in the overall management of the operating theatres to ensure efficient quality care; the data from the observations, questionnaires, interviews as well as the analysis of the efficiency indicators consistently showed that an effective process of operating theatre governance and performance is non-existent, the Pre- operative categorisation of emergency cases is inconsistently applied, the compliance to the principles of the World Health Organisation Safety Checklist Is very low, theatre nursing staff levels per case is low, staff are also demotivated and theatre efficiency indicators require improvement. During this study, the Paediatric theatre suite appeared to be well run and compliant with opportunity to increase theatre utilisation, the casualty theatre is underutilised and has potential to be utilised as an enabler to improve the efficiency of other theatres. The main theatre and endoscopy suites have opportunities to improve its compliance to universal operating theatre quality and efficiency standards, the Orthopaedics and Obstetrics theatre suites, however, require urgent improvement focus. DISCUSSION: According to the findings, a structured operating theatre governance and performance review processes should be implemented with the intention of ensuring consistency across the management of the 6 operating theatre suites in the hospital. A review of staffing allocation and relative task allocation should be conducted. Interventions should be implemented to increase utilisation rates, improve the pre-operative categorisation of emergency cases, improve the compliance to the principles of the World Health Organisation Safety Checklist, reduce case start time variance/tardiness, reduce cancellation on day of procedure, increase anaesthetic time as a percentage of theatre time by introducing pre- anaesthetic induction prior to the patient being wheeled into the operating room.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of the effect of implementation of performance management system on organizational performance : a case of selected public organizations in Tanzania

  • Authors: Nduye, Jacob Gabriel
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Personnel management Organizational effectiveness
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10573 , vital:35609
  • Description: Tanzanians continue to demand improved performances and better-quality services from public organizations and the government at large. Since independence in 1961, the Tanzanian government continued to undertake a restructuring of different policies, laws and regulations in public services to improve performances and service delivery. Among the results of the restructuring was introduction of Performance Management System(PMS) across public organizations. The system meant to address and redress not only the concerns of the public on improved performances and better services, but also inculcate performance-oriented culture and accountability for results. Despite such efforts by the government, some of the problems existed before the introduction of PMS such as among others weak incentives and accountabilities, and management skills continue to impede issues of improved performance and service delivery in public organizations. It is from this context that the researcher was encouraged to research on issues of performance management system, highlighting specific areas of its effectiveness to improve performance, motivational factors, use of performance appraisal results on different decisions-making and factors for underperformances which affect organizational performances in public organizations. This study employed a mixed method research design involving both quantitative and qualitative strategies. For the qualitative strategy, data were gathered using in-depth interviews and document reviews; and for the quantitative strategy, questionnaires were used in which the relationship of different variables for the study were statistically analyzed using the SPSS Version 22. In the overall, the study evidences show a strong pressure of support at government level in terms of formulating policies, laws and regulations to back up performance management system to improve performance quality service delivery, but there is less support in public organizations levels. It became clear that many problems still make PMS effectiveness not pragmatic: Political interferences to management of public organizations, government bureaucratic procedures in amendments of outdated laws, inflexible scheme of services important for rewards and incentives and the use of manual voting system for good performances are among problems that the study identified. Furthermore, evidences have shown that a top-down management approach bottlenecks the overall implementation of performance enhancing tools for performance management system effectiveness. There is lack of workers’ participation and ownership of tools such as, strategic plans, client service charters and open performance reviews and appraisal system and the general system, and thus becoming hard to implement it in the public organizations. The study suggests practical initiatives by the government to establish highly strict quality service delivery satisfaction tracking system to allow both employees and citizens to evaluate internal and external performances of the public organizations. The findings upheld vulnerability of PMS to improve performance and service delivery, and therefore more attention and adherence to principles of performance management and laws that are biting to issues of underperformances are imperative.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of the effects of leadership on performance : the case of selected schools in Mthatha district in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Ngunge, Lindiwe Esther
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: School management and organization Educational leadership
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14082 , vital:39803
  • Description: The research investigated the impact of leadership on performance in the case of selected schools in Mthatha district in the Eastern Cape. The research used a mixed method methodology combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The sample size was N=60 using purposive sampling. The dependant variable in the research was the school performance and the independent variable is the good leadership. The questionnaire was analysed quantitatively from a total key respondent of 45 leaders in the different schools.15 school educational leaders were interviewed and analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Research findings indicated that there is still male domination in school leadership positions over females. The leadership composition is 53percent males and 47percent females in Eastern Cape. School leadership positions are, in general, held by long serving members who are former teachers with a higher degree of seniority than the young school leaders. This is typical of traditional Xhosa societies dominated by elders in decision making. 73percent of the responses show a democratic leadership style when investigating how school leaders manage schools. The second most common leadership style is situational at 66percent, and the least prevalent management style is autocratic, which includes less than 10percent of the respondents. 60percent of the schools are performing and 40percent are underperforming, but overall there is good leadership in schools despite very poor results evidenced in the past 5 years. The research shows a strong correlation between the schools that had good performance and those that had good leadership in which the dominant leadership style was 'bureaucratic' and 'situational'. The schools that had poor results that were underperforming also showed trends of poor leadership.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of the extent to which community based planning is effectively used to identify viable and sustainable local economic development projects as part of municipal integrated development planning in Buffalo City Municipality

  • Authors: Ngamlana, Mncedi
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22857 , vital:30111
  • Description: The aim of this study is to investigate public participation mechanisms employed by Buffalo City Municipality and the extent to which these mechanisms influence municipal planning. The study highlights the extent to which the municipality’s development processes and programs are informed by the views of its citizens. This study also provides some useful insights into the extent to which the municipality is complying with legislative requirements for public participation in community-related projects. The approach was designed to respond to two major challenges that were identified at the time, namely: An analysis of the institutional challenges in attempts to promote sustainable livelihoods; and a realisation that decentralisation has concentrated on local government itself and has limited impact on citizens. The research methodology used is both qualitative and quantitative. Furthermore, face-to-face interviews were conducted in order to provide an accurate presentation of information (Leavitt and Bahrami, 1998),. The study revealed that a lack of an integrated approach to planning and program implementation between different departments within BCM even though these should essentially be planning and implementing in one accord. Community based planning (CBP) is one way in which municipalities encourage ward communities to participate in planning with an intended intention that the ward-based plans will feed into bigger strategies of the municipality. What had been uncovered through this study is that in BCM, CBP is not done, and therefore does not influence the development of the IDP and the LED strategy. This means that there is little meaningful community participation in BCM in the development of the IDP and the LED strategy, and therefore the municipality has no guarantee that its development initiatives are targeted towards the real needs of its citizens. Also, the study revealed that ward communities in BCM have no direct influence or control over their own development and over development priorities that are budgeted for by the municipality.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of the implementation of small, medium and micro enterprise strategy : a case of Amathole Municipality

  • Authors: Oyelana, Akeem Adewale
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Small business--South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Public Administration
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15171 , vital:40193
  • Description: The implementation of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) strategy are not well understood and have rarely been addressed all nationally. The objectives of this study are, therefore, to establish a base level of understanding in order to assess the implementation of SMME strategy used by the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) Local Economic Development (LED) managers in disseminating information; analyse the structure for implementing SMME strategy used by the ADM LED managers; examine the challenges confronting the ADM LED managers in implementing SMME strategy; examine the skills needed by the ADM LED managers to adequately formulate and implement SMME strategy; and make recommendations to the municipality on how best the implementation of SMME strategy can support growth and development in the ADM. The study used a qualitative research design that involves a systematic review of documents. Data was collected through the review and analysis of available existing documents. Data analysis included using the documentary analysis derived from the journals, and books as well as reviewing the various data analysis done in relation to an assessment of the implementation of SMME strategy: A Case of Amathole District Municipality. Findings from previous literature revealed that there are constraints faced by the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) Local Economic Development (LED) Managers in implementing SMME strategy. The study confirmed some of the operational challenges were due to incompetency among the municipal managers, and lack of clear understanding of the implementation of SMME strategy used to support grow and development of SMME in the Amathole District. This study provides effective solutions to the identified challenges and impact as well as strategies to be adopted in order to alleviate poverty and provide job opportunities to the local communities. The implications of the findings are that unless the barriers named above are resolved, poverty and unemployment will continues escalating, communities will continue receiving and experiencing poor service delivery in the ADM and thus, would undoubtedly lead to poor economic growth and development. Management of the municipality must ensure that qualified ADM Managers are permanently employed and allowed to partake in the implementation of SMME strategy and community participation should be well encouraged as well as embarking on effective implementation of SMME strategy that would create an enabling and conducive environment for the small firm enterprises.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of the service delivery challenges facing the Lukhanji local municipality, Queenstown

  • Authors: Masiso, Nomthandazo
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31830 , vital:31849
  • Description: This study is about investigating the service delivery challenges facing local government, with specific reference to the Lukhanji Local Municipality (LLM). The research study consists of five chapters. The research topic was carefully selected by the researcher as it appears that numerous municipalities in South Africa are facing challenges in terms of adequate basic service delivery (LGTAS: 2009; 17). Key components of the local government system in South Africa are still showing signs of distress. A local government system is in distress when it is seen that: It is failing the poor; it is not working properly; it is unaccountable to the citizens; it is marred by excessive levels of corruption, fraud and maladministration; and municipalities are centres of factional conflicts, political infighting and patronage (LGTAS: 2009; 18). Self-administered questionnaires were used as a method of collecting data from the respondents. Based on the information gathered from the respondents the researcher made findings and formulated certain recommendations.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of the system of billing for basic services in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

  • Authors: Ntenge, Nolukhanyo Dorothea
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Municipal finance -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Accounting -- Data processing , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Local government -- Finance
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22890 , vital:30122
  • Description: The study focussed on the system of billing for basic services in the Nelson Mandela bay Municipality. The role of the municipality in the provision of basic services to the community and how communities are supposed to be billed for the basic services is explained. The research problem has also been identified and explained. The study reviewed the literature on the system of billing for basic services. In that processes, municipal by-laws, relevant books and internet sources were consulted. The researcher used qualitative research methodology: face to face and telephonic interviews were used during the research. 4 meter readers from the NMBM as well as 3 meter readers from each of the 3 contractors were interviewed. The researcher also interviewed 15 consumers whose accounts have been billed on estimations, 2 pre-billing and 2 post billing clerks as well as one administration worker from each of the three contractors. The Assistant Director of Meter Services and the Director of Revenue Management and Customer Care were also interviewed. Research findings revealed that meter readers were trained and only a few felt that they needed more training in meter reading. Various challenges were revealed by meter readers as the causes of the incorrect billing of consumers’ accounts. Incorrect meter linkage and inaccessibility of water and electricity meters to meter readers were also reasons for the unending queues on the enquiry counters in the Nelson Mandela Bay Customer Care Centres. It has been highly recommended that the NMBM review the meter reading function and ensure that every meter reader is highly trained and equipped with the equipment needed to perform the function. It has also been recommended that those electricity meters that are inside houses, be placed outside or in an accessible place. The keys can be given to meter readers with a spare key to be kept by the owner of the property. All water meters should be placed outside the yard so that they are easily accessible to the meter readers at any given time.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment of the system of billing for basic services in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

  • Authors: Ntenge, Nolukhanyo Dorothea
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Municipal finance -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Accounting -- Data processing Municipal services -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Local government -- Finance
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22881 , vital:30120
  • Description: The study focussed on the system of billing for basic services in the Nelson Mandela bay Municipality. The role of the municipality in the provision of basic services to the community and how communities are supposed to be billed for the basic services is explained. The research problem has also been identified and explained. The study reviewed the literature on the system of billing for basic services. In that processes, municipal by-laws, relevant books and internet sources were consulted. The researcher used qualitative research methodology: face to face and telephonic interviews were used during the research. 4 meter readers from the NMBM as well as 3 meter readers from each of the 3 contractors were interviewed. The researcher also interviewed 15 consumers whose accounts have been billed on estimations, 2 prebilling and 2 post billing clerks as well as one administration worker from each of the three contractors. The Assistant Director of Meter Services and the Director of Revenue Management and Customer Care were also interviewed. Research findings revealed that meter readers were trained and only a few felt that they needed more training in meter reading. Various challenges were revealed by meter readers as the causes of the incorrect billing of consumers’ accounts. Incorrect meter linkage and inaccessibility of water and electricity meters to meter readers were also reasons for the unending queues on the enquiry counters in the Nelson Mandela Bay Customer Care Centres. It has been highly recommended that the NMBM review the meter reading function and ensure that every meter reader is highly trained and equipped with the equipment needed to perform the function. It has also been recommended that those electricity meters that are inside houses, be placed outside or in an accessible place. The keys can be given to meter readers with a spare key to be kept by the owner of the property. All water meters should be placed outside the yard so that they are easily accessible to the meter readers at any given time.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An assessment study of the role of life orientation teachers in promoting career guidance and counselling of secondary school learners in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa

  • Authors: Dama, Nkhangweleni Gloria
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Counseling in secondary education -- South Africa -- Limpopo Life skills -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Limpopo
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9577 , vital:34794
  • Description: The study sought to assess the role of Life Orientation teachers in promoting Career Guidance and Counselling for learners in secondary schools, and to establish strategies that can be implemented to improve their practice. The study followed a qualitative approach with case-study research design. The population consisted of Life Orientation teachers and learners from secondary schools. Purposive sampling was used to select 18 Life Orientation teachers who are teaching the subject in six secondary schools. A total number of 12 learners from Grade 10- 12 were selected to participate in the study. The study employed three data collection instruments; namely, one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions and questaviews. Data were categorised into themes, analysed and discussed accordingly. A number of findings emanated from the study. Life Orientation teachers understand their role but despite their understanding of such roles, they lack the necessary skills to fully equip learners with relevant knowledge so that they are able to choose careers that match with their subjects of specialization. The study revealed that Life Orientation teachers experience challenges, lack of training, lack of support by different stakeholders, the negative attitude towards the subject by both learners and Life Orientation teachers, the shortage of Life Orientation teachers, the subject is not valued like other subjects, poor parental involvement by parents and constant rotation of Life Orientation teachers. As a result, learners were not fully equipped in terms of knowledge and skills to choose the right subjects for specific careers and instead, some relied on their intuition while others relied on their peers. The study recommended that the Department of the Basic Education should appoint competent staff to address the unique academic/educational, psycho-social and career/vocational problems faced by learners in school, and for them to train the Life Orientation teachers as well. The subject should be taught by permanently by qualified teachers without being shifted to other subjects and to ensure that such teachers gain experience in the subject. This would add status and value to the subject.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An ecosystem service value chain analysis framework: a conceptual paper

  • Authors: Rawlins, Jonathan M , De Lange, Willem J , Fraser, Gavin C G
  • Date: 2018
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69321 , vital:29499 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.12.023
  • Description: Modern day societies and economies are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the continued erosion of the stocks and flows of essential ecosystem services. Thus, the management of complex socio-economic systems to effectively provide these essential services has become a global priority policy and academic research area. Understanding how underlying processes and functions contribute towards the provision of final ecosystem services can facilitate improved dissemination of credible, legitimate and salient information to decision-makers. This paper presents an ecosystem service value chain analysis framework that applies basic system dynamics modelling in the form of causal loop diagrams to facilitate an alternative analysis of ecosystem service value chains. A scoping application of the framework is applied to a case study for flood attenuation services in the Baviaanskloof catchment in South Africa. The framework enables the identification of forward linkages and ripple effects in individual value chains of final ecosystem services as well as the identification and assessment of challenges and opportunities within individual causal pathways. Ultimately, providing the potential to advance strategies for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of final ecosystem service provision.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An endangered seahorse selectively chooses an artificial structure

  • Authors: Claassens, Louw , Booth, Anthony J , Hodgson, Alan N
  • Date: 2018
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123718 , vital:35486 , https://doi.10.1007/s10641-018-0732-4
  • Description: The development of a residential marina estate within the Knysna estuary, South Africa, introduced Reno mattresses (horizontal wire cages filled with rocks) as a novel habitat for the endangered Knysna seahorse Hippocampus capensis. Consistently high seahorse densities on these artificial structures, despite the availability of seagrass habitat, begged the question of whether this habitat was chosen by the seahorse in preference to natural vegetation. An in situ habitat choice experiment was conducted which focused on the choice made by adult H. capensis between natural vegetation (Zostera capensis) and artificial (Reno mattress) habitat within a choice chamber. Seahorses were significantly more likely to move away from Z. capensis onto a Reno mattress structure or remain on this structure. This study concludes that higher H. capensis densities on Reno mattresses within Thesen Islands Marina are owing to some positive feature of this habitat and the underlying processes responsible for the choice made by this species (additional food, holdfasts, protection) can now be investigated.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

An evaluation of industrial action in selected agro-based infant industries in the Msasa Industrial Area of Harare (Zimbabwe)

  • Authors: Kapunura, Gift
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Strikes and lockouts--Zimbabwe Zimbabwe--Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Sociology
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15452 , vital:40409
  • Description: Agro based-infant industries played a greater role in the development of Zimbabwe since 1980 when the country gained its independence. However, its success has been hindered by industrial action in the country. The continuous increase in the number of industrial action is the major motives of this study. Conversely, with the increasing levels of industrial action in the country, it was noted that the main causes of industrial action were low wages, poor communication between employers and employees, disparities in pay structures, lack of consultation in the process of decision-making and poor working conditions. The study adopted a qualitative approach in data collection and analysis. Thirty in-depth interviews were undertaken with selected participants who are the workers and managers of agro-based infant industries using purposive sampling technique in Msasa industrial area. Findings of the study show that main forms of industrial action were industrial strike, sit in, absenteeism, go slow, work to rule and overtime ban. Major findings of the study point to the fact that industrial action affects the solidarity of workers negatively since some of the workers will not stand for others when they are dismissed after industrial action. In general, industrial action therefore weakens worker solidarity. Secondly, industrial action affects the economic welfare of workers and their families negatively. This is because during the period of industrial action there could be pay cut and the families will not be able to afford basic commodities, thereby affecting their general welfare as well as bringing tension and conflicts within the families. Thirdly, it is also acknowledged in the study that industrial action affects employer-employee relations.
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  • Date Issued: 2018
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