The fluvio-lacustrine rocks of the Beaufort Group, South Africa have long been known for their tetrapod fossil record, which is the richest and most complete Middle Permian to Middle Triassic record for any terrestrial sequence in the world. The abundance of fossil material has enabled the Beaufort Group to be biostratigraphically subdivided into between 8 and 10 tetrapod assemblage zones, of which the lowest three (Eodicynodon, Tapinocephalus and Pristerognathus) are attributed to the Middle Permian. These lower assemblage zones record the earliest therapsiddominated faunas and, because they were recorded during a largely uninterrupted period of deposition, make the Beaufort Group the only place in the world where biodiversity change through the terrestrial Middle Permian can be effectively studied. In the last two decades, much interest has focused on an extinction of marine invertebrates at or close to the end of the Middle Permian (Guadalupian epoch), but the existence of a concurrent extinction in the terrestrial realm is contentious. The Beaufort Group is already well known to record the Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction but it also records an earlier extinction at the top of the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone (AZ). This extinction is very poorly understood but recent radiometric dates for many Permian assemblage zones of the Beaufort Group have confirmed a Middle Permian age for Eodicynodon, Tapinocephalus and Pristerognathus assemblage zones and suggest that the end-Tapinocephalus AZ extinction may coincide with the marine extinctions. A recently produced GIS database that accommodates all Beaufort Group fossil material curated in South Africa formed the basis on which the stratigraphic range of individual specimens was calculated. To put the fossil localities in a stratigraphic context, lithostratigraphic information was retrieved from the literature and extensive fieldwork was conducted, which measured stratigraphic sections in key areas and traced the surface outcrop of lithostratigraphic units. In order to compensate for lateral variations in lithostratigraphy, the basin was split into sectors, each represented by a stratigraphic section. The stratigraphic ranges of fossil specimens and, subsequently, of genera and families could then be calculated and a workable biostratigraphic subdivision of the Middle Permian Beaufort Group proposed. The Abrahamskraal Formation, which forms the majority of the Middle Permian Beaufort sequence, can be divided into six lithostratigraphic members based on the occurrence of sandstone ‘packages’. These members were traced laterally across the Basin and their correspondence with fining-upwards cycles was refined and correlated with the newly defined biostratigraphic units. This refined two-pronged stratigraphic subdivision allowed the recognition of a waning period of subsidence in the proximal sector of the Karoo Basin during the Middle Permian. Stratigraphic ranges of individual genera were found to be far more heterogeneous than previously recognised. Dicynodont genera are useful biostratigraphic indicators due to their relative abundance and well-defined stratigraphic ranges, while dinocephalians and pareiasaurs are clustered in the upper part of the Abrahamskraal Formation. The stratigraphic range of Eodicynodon extends further up in the Abrahamskraal Formation than was previously recognised. The Tapinocephalus AZ is restricted to approximately the upper fifth of the Abrahamskraal Formation and is characterised by advanced tapinocephalid dinocephalians and the pareiasaur Bradysaurus. Between these two biozones is a stratigraphic interval dubbed the mid- Abrahamskraal Formation Transition Zone, where both Eodicynodon and advanced tapinocephalids coexisted. A 75 % loss of generic diversity occurred between the upper Tapinocephalus AZ and the base of the Pristerognathus AZ, which corresponds to a stratigraphic interval between the mid-Karelskraal Member of the Abrahamskraal Formation and the mid- Poortjie Member of the Teekloof Formation. Several taxa that survive the end- Tapinocephalus AZ extinction, and are relatively common in the overlying Pristerognathus AZ (scylacosaurid therocephalians, the dicynodont genus Eosimops and the parareptile Eunotosaurus), all became extinct in the upper Poortjie Member at a time when generic originations are increasing. This suggests a second wave of extinctions in a similar fashion to that recorded at the Permo-Triassic boundary.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Community-based Counselling Psychology on 15 March 2016 / Despite the often publicised occurrence of residential robberies being accompanied with additional forms of violence there is a limited amount of research exploring these forms of intersecting violence, specifically within the South African context. The latest statistics released by the South African Police Service (2015) indicate that residential robberies are continuing to increase. The co-occurrence of rape in such residential robberies is under-studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore and describe a profile of residential robberies that are accompanied by rape in Gauteng, South Africa between 2002 and 2012. This was done by exploring the temporal, sociodemographic and situational factors related to reported instances of this crime. The study consisted of cases obtained by the Crime Administration System (CAS). The study focused specifically on instances of reported residential robbery, in Gauteng. Overall there were 68178 cases analysed, with 1104 cases containing instances of reported co-occurring rape. The initial descriptive results indicated that specific variables significantly influence the co-occurrence of rape during a residential robbery. Whereby, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of rapes co-occurring within the 2002 to 2012 period Additionally, binary logistic regression analysis showed that Black females between the ages of 12 and 17 years are the demographic group most at risk when other situational factor are additionally present. Other findings of the regression indicate that there is an increased risk of a rape co-occurring during the residential robbery; over the weekend, between the hours of 00:00 and 06:59 and when no firearm is used as the method of entry or during the residential robbery. Overall, the study present significant findings related to this specific co-occurring crime and a number of areas that can be further explored in relation to the co-occurrence of rape during residential robbery and other forms of co-occurring violence, specifically in the context of South Africa

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Arts degree in the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. / This report is an exploratory discussion of the prospects for private sector investment in development initiatives. Based on a set of structured and unstructured interviews, a press review and a survey of the relevant literature, the report paints to a growth in the areas of commonality between the worlds of investment and development, in that there is increasing recogniticm of the need to direct resources to South Africa's poor at the same time as market forces are starting to play an enlarged role in development. The report argues however, that the social context in which investors are 'embedded' is very different from that of development practitioners, leading to a situation in which development projects are seen as risky investments. The difficulty experienced by private investors in understanding the world of development is identified by the report as the single largest obstacle to private sector investment in development. The report draws the conclusion that mediating institutions are required to structure relationships between development agents and investors. / Andrew Chakane 2018

<p>This research report examined the key policies of globalisation namely, privatisation and deregulation of services and also their implication on the Tri-partite alliance. Because they have impacted negatively on major economic sectors, particularly to those that help the needy. Therefore, the study explores these initiatives, which has been debatable in South Africa under the dominant understanding of &lsquo / progress&rsquo / or &lsquo / development&rsquo / .</p> <p><br /> The Objective of the study is to lay the basis for the examination and evaluation of policy option with regard to privatisation and deregulation of services in South Africa and to engage South Africa effectively in global policy debates and adjust in global trends and negotiations within the region (SADC) and other international countries. It examines global challenges and opportunities / threats for South Africa as a developing country in the emerging global order.</p> <p><br /> This study also attempts to provide answers to several questions concerning privatisation and deregulation of public services in South Africa. To the poor, is deregulation and privatisation of state assets threatening to become the new apartheid, which is an instrument of exclusion, not just from a better life but even from the very basic services? How are workers and including the poorest of the poor affected by the status of deregulation and privatisation? Do the timing and specifics of these processes matter? Who should attempt to regulate the auction, as some of government officials seems to be corrupt? And which prior restructuring policies are worth implementing?</p>

<p>The reservoir quality (RQ) of well E-BA1 was characterized using thin sections and core samples in a petrographic study. Well E-BA1 is situated in the Bredasdorp Basin, which forms part of the Outeniqua Basin situated in the Southern Afircan offshore region. Rifting as a result of the break up of Gondwanaland formed the Outeniqua Basin. The Bredasorp Basin is characterized by half-graben structures comprised of Upper Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous and Cenozoic rift to drift strata. The current research within the thesis has indicated that well E-BA1 is one of moderate to good quality having a gas-condensate component.</p>

The variations in the composition, specifically the Cr20 S content and the Cr:Fe ratio, and the morphology of the Lower Group (LG) and Middle Group (MG) chromitite seams of the Critical Zone (CZ) across the western Bushveld Complex, including the Ruighoek and Brits sections, is investigated by means of whole-rock chemical data, both major and trace elements analysis, XRD and electron microprobe data. As a result ofthe paucity of exposed or developed LG1 - LG5 chromitite seams in the western Bushveld Complex, this study is confined to the investigation of the compositional variations of the LG6 to MG4 chromitite seams. In only one section, the Ruighoek section, was the entire succession of chromitite seams, from the LG1 - MG4, exposed. The silicate host rocks from the LG6 pyroxenite footwall to the collar of the CC2 drillcore (lower uCZ) in the Rustenburg section were sampled. This study reviews the compositional trends of the silicate host rocks, as the compositional variations of the chromitite seams reflect the chemical evolution of the host cumulate environment and, to a lesser degree, the composition onhe interstitial mineral phases in the chromitite seams. The compositional variations of the LG and MG chromitite seams are attributed to the compositional contrast between the replenishing magma and the resident magma. The chemical trends of the LG and MG chromitite layers and the host cumUlate rOCKS do not support the existence of two compositionalfy dissimilar magmas in the CZ, rather the cyclic layering of the CZ and the chemical variations of the chromitite seams are attributed to the mixing of primitive magma with the resident magma, both of which have essentially similar compositions. The compositional variations of the LG and MG chromitite seams along strike away from the supposed feeder site (Union section) to the distal facies (Brits section) are attributed to the advanced compositional contrast between the resident magma and the replenishing primitive magma pulses. The CZ is characterized by reversals in fractionation trends and this is attributed to the compositional evolution of the parental magma and not to the replenishment of the resident magma by influxes of grossly dissimilar magma compositions. The Cr20 S content and the Cr:Fe ratio of the MG chromitite layers increase from the Ruighoek (near proximal) section to the Brits section (distal facies). This is attributed to the advanced compositional contrasts between the resident magma and the replenishing primitive magma. In contrast, the Cr20 3 content and Cr:Fe ratios ofthe LG6 and LG8a chromitite seams decreases eastwards from the Ruighoek section. The average Cr:Fe ratio for the western Bushveld Complex is between 1.5 and\2.0, nonetheless, a progressively lower Cr:Fe ratio is noted from the LG1 chromitite up through to the MG4 chromitite seam in the Ruighoek section. tn the LG2 - LG4 chromitite interval a deviation to higher.lratios is encountered. A progressive substitution of Cr by AT and Fe in the Cr-spinel crystal lattice characterizes the chromitite succession from the LG1 seam up through the chromitite succession to MG4. The petrogeneSiS of the chromitite seams of the CZ is attributed to magma mixing and fractional crystallization of a single magma type.

Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is a cosmopolitan species of fern which possesses extrafloral nectaries. A survey of the arthropod fauna associated with the plant throughout its range in South Africa identified the most widespread and damaging bracken herbivores and those species most likely to be influenced by ants visiting the extrafloral nectaries. Seventeen herbivorous arthropods were found to be definitely feeding on bracken and a further thirteen species with a less certain status were recorded. In addition, several species of ants were observed on the fronds and feeding at the extrafloral nectarie. On the basis of their widespread distribution and abundance, four bracken herbivores emerged as being particularly detrimental to the plant in South Africa. They were an eriophyid gall mite, a leafhopper and two moths. The biology of the two lepidopterans, Appana cinisigna and Panotima sp., suggested that they were potentially vulnerable to ants at various stages of their life histories. Laboratory experiments were undertaken to observe ant-lepidopteran interactions under controlled conditions. The ant Crematogaster peringueyi rapidly removed exposed A. cini igna eggs, but did not appear to regard Panotima eggs as food items. Small instar larvae of both species proved vulnerable, but the larger larvae appeared capable of escaping ant predation. Ant exclusion experiments in the field, using natural and artificially augmented ant densities, were carried out at two sites near Grahamstown. The dominant ant species was C. peringueyi. Neither the numbers of lepidopterans nor levels of herbivory were significantly reduced by the presence of ants . Despite the implications of the laboratory tests, the results of these field experiments did not support the hypothesis that ants which visit bracken extrafloral nectaries benefit the plant. Ant-bracken field studies on other continents also reported no significant ant-related effects, though marginal reductions in the abundance of certain herbivores have been noted at one site in the U.K. Since ant protection does not appear to be an inevitable consequence of having extrafloral nectaries, their value to bracken is in some doubt. The most likely situation where effective protection will occur is when high densities of vulnerable herbivores are preyed upon by large numbers of aggressive ants. However, even under these conditions, enhancement of plant fitness is not inevitable. This raises the question of why extrafloral nectaries have been retained in a plant that is as successful and widespread as bracken.

Rapid economic growth has always been one of the goals of the South African government after 1994. Despite the contradicting views of the theorists, the country considered the global market as one of the gateways to accelerated economic growth. In the early 1990s South Africa opened up to foreign markets by removing trade barriers. However, the results of such actions were not entirely as expected. Different economists suggest other barriers that may be the reason behind lower levels of national output. This study examined the causal relationship between exports and economic growth in South Africa using annual data from 1970 to 2014. However, in order to achieve the main objective of this study, it was necessary to include other variables in the model as suggested by both theoretical and empirical literature. The choice of these variables was informed by an extensive review of literature on both exports and economic growth. The VECM and Granger Wild test has been utilised to capture the short run and long run dynamics of the model. The results from those tests do not approve of the Export-Led growth hypothesis and did not approve any sort relationship between exports and GDP in the short run. In the long run however, using the VECM, the study proved that exports have a positive impact on GDP. The results further suggested a negative long run relationship between consumption and economic growth. Furthermore; the results suggested that government expenditure can be detrimental to the economy in the long run. With regards to private investments, the results of this study suggest a positive relationship between investments and economic growth. Therefore, if South African government seeks to increase economic growth it needs to dedicate a considerable amount of resources in promoting local markets to expand South African exports, cut on government expenditure and attracting investment into the county.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the MAGISTER EDUCATIONIS in the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2007 / Gangsterism affecting schools on the Cape Flats, as well as concerns about this phenomenon as addressed by the Provincial Minister of Education, Cameron Dugmore, during his Education Budget Speech in 2006, has led to widespread media attention in South Africa. Despite the Western Cape Education Department’s implementation of the Safer Schools project in 2001 to assist educators working in gang-ridden communities, not enough is being done to eradicate the problems caused by gangsterism which educators face in their schools on a daily basis. This research embarks on enquiring how gangsterism influences the morale of educators, focusing specifically on the educators’ perception of their morale and their experiences while working in gang-ridden communities. The research acknowledges that the educators play a vital role in education and are therefore regarded as key stakeholders in a community. The research is located in a qualitative paradigm because it seeks to achieve a deeper understanding of the educators’ morale disposition in gang-ridden communities and investigates the constructs of how gangsterism influences the morale of educators. Data was collected from principals and educators working in the following gangridden communities: Bonteheuwel, Manenberg, Heideveld, Hanover Park and Valhalla Park. A total of 53 respondents, including both educators and principals, participated in this research. Methods of data collection included observations, seven unstructured interviews and six structured focus group interviews. The result revealed that gangsterism does influence the morale of educators working in gang-ridden communities. It was also found that gangsterism affects the whole school community - educators, learners and parents. It is a powerful yet destructive phenomenon and has a negative effect on educator morale.

D.Phil. (African Languages) / This study attempts to fill a gap in the available research on language use in Black urban speech communities. Previous studies conducted in these communities, concentrated on specific language varieties. However, no attempt at describing the entire language situation in such a community had hitherto been made. A macro-level sociolinguistic description which would serve as an orientation for various detailed studies on the language varieties occurring in these communities, was therefore needed. The aim of the present study was to provide such a description. In order to achieve this, a sound theoretical framework had to be established. Phenomena such as language 'Contact, language variation and language use had to be researched and defined in order to apply to the particular situation under investigation. In .this sense, this study has succeeded in making a contribution to the theoretical debate regarding various sociolinguistic concepts, in that it has shown how these concepts apply to the South African situation. The study also investigated qualitative research methodology. The background to and implications of this methodology were discussed and analysed. A particular type of qualitative research, namely, interactive qualitative research was explored. Within this framework, a unique approach to two basic data collection techniques, namely, individual and focus group interviewing, was proposed. These techniques were used to gather the primary data for this study, and were discussed in detail. The primary data was gathered from residents of the township known as Tembisa. The secondary data was taken from studies done on individual language varieties in other Black urban speech communities. The primary data was analysed and a comprehensive qualitative description of the entire language situation in the speech community of Tembisa was given. The findings of the Tembisa study were compared with the secondary data, resulting in the identification of a number of distinct language varieties which occur in the township situations that were studied. These are: a number of Standard languages, Fanakalo (although seldom used), a Black urban vernacular, Afrikaans-based Tsotsitaal, Zulu-based Tsotsitaal, Soweto Zulu Slang, Soweto Iscamtho, Tembisa Iscamtho, English and Afrikaans. Sociolinguistic profiles of each of these language varieties were drawn up. These profiles provided clarity on the linguistic diversity in the Black urban speech communities studied and enabled the rendering of a graphic representation of the language situation in Tembisa. The above-mentioned varieties were typologised. Based on language type and language function, the study proposed a model which may be used as a framework for describing the language situation in multilingual Black urban speech communities. The study concludes with recommendations with regard to the need for linguistic analyses of the language varieties used in Black urban speech communities. The implications of the widespread use of these varieties, particularly for education, also deserve further investigation as a matter of urgency...