The construction sector of the South African economy consists of a variety of types of enterprises. These enterprises engage in 'formal' and 'informal' construction and building activities. The distinction between these types of activities is that the latter are not recorded in official returns (Krafchik, 1990:5). Within both the formal and informal groups large-scale enterprises (LSEs), medium-scale enterprises (MSEs) and smallscale enterprises (SSEs) are found. These enterprises are owned by individuals from various race groups.

All around the world, many studies demonstrate the importance of Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in lifting-up the economy and creating employment. Many governments around the world have created institutions with the aim to enhance SMME survival and growth. This in turn contributes to social and political stability in a country. Despite the importance of SMMEs to the economy and employment creation, in South Africa studies (Hallberg, 2000; World Bank, 2000; World Bank, 2007; SBP, 2014; GEM, 2015, & Edinburg Group, 2015) show that government policy hinders the development and growth of SMMEs. One of the most cited government policies that hinder SMME development and growth is the institutional framework. Institutions are viewed as the platform that could be used to apply formal and/or informal “rules of the game” in society. These institutions play a critical role for the individuals and organisations (our emphasis) to manage unforeseen events, outcomes and high transaction costs. In order for the institutional platforms to remain relevant, it is critical that they are developed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and SMMEs, since in actual fact they are the ones, which need the institutional platforms for growth. The National Planning Commission through the National Development Plan (NDP, 2013) stresses the need for South Africa to create a conducive business environment. This means eliminating policy and regulatory constraints in order to accelerate development and growth of SMMEs. It is also stated that the institutional matrix plays a crucial role to ensuring that organisations remain viable, profitable and survive growth phases. To experience successful change process, organisations need to appreciate the constraints that hinder development. Hence it is important to ensure that governments create business environment that respond to the needs of the SMMEs. The aim of the study was to examine the current South Africa's institutional framework for SMMEs and find out if the designed and implemented programmes appropriately meet the demands of SMMEs in South Africa. The objectives of the study were to review various institutional frameworks for promoting and supporting SMMEs that are promoting and supporting SMMEs around the world and in South Africa; to assess the extent to which SMMEs support institutions were designing and implementing support services and strategies that responded to the short- and long-term needs of SMMEs. The research study found that the key institutional constraints perceived by public sector service providers as inhibiting the development of SMMEs in South Africa are the following: there is low coordination between organizations supporting SMMEs; inadequate management skills, in particular financial management; lack of domestic and global market access; high regulatory burden, to clear the red tape and lack of access to information and technology infrastructure. This research study advances that solid institutions can help to improve and enhance the role of SMMEs in meeting government's developmental objectives. This view was enabled by the research approach to gather primary information from public sector experts supporting SMMEs, but it also affirms that the views narrated would be subjective. The research study argues that South Africa has a relatively developed institutional framework that supports growth and development of SMMEs. However, the plethora of government programmes administered in various levels of government; different departments and agencies coupled with limited resources has caused fragmentation. The findings in this research study show that government agencies including their oversight holding departments have shown substantial overlap indications in terms of their programmes offering. Further, the findings indicate that there is inadequate interaction with the private sector, SMMEs associations, higher education institutions including civil societies in designing programmes, as result the needs of SMMEs are not properly considered. It essential to improve partnerships in programmes that support export promotion, innovation and training and development. The research study further proposes that South Africa, should adopt and adapt the institutional structures applied in Malaysia and the United States of America (USA). Their institutional structures support a high level body that includes both the political representation and private sector, SMMEs associations, higher education institutions including civil society representation in its composition. This way, social partners would be enabled to influence policy and programme development in relation to the SMME industry. The thesis emphasises the important role of a partnerships approach in implementing development programmes. Further, the thesis argues that what is vital is to listen and incorporate the needs of the business owners, and ensure that policies and programmes meet the expectations of the SMMEs.

Please read the abstract in the 00front part of this document / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

Academics have often been criticised for their preoccupation with theoretical abstraction and logical deduction and their concomitant failure to address issues of practical importance or exigency. It must therefore be stated at the outset that the recommendations contained in this paper are not confined to a theoretical analysis of the doctrine of mistake. Per contrast, they are motivated by a genuine concern on the part of the writer to alleviate the present discord between South African criminal legal theory and socio-cultural reality. These recommendations are premised upon the advantages of the reception of the normative approach to criminal liability in South Africa, and they have been iterated elsewhere l by the writer in the context of, inter alia, the defence of necessity. The submissions that constitute the core of this paper must, however, be regarded as subject to the following qualification. A successful reception of the normative approach necessitates a change in the existing power relations that are operative in South African courts. To leave its application to the presiding judge and assessors would be to give them the freedom to inflect their decisions with their personal values and prejudices. It has been argued elsewhere2 by the writer that this problem may possibly be solved by the reintroduction of the jury system, suitably loaded to cater for the interests operative in the case. Sustained reflection and exposure to the exigencies of practice has, however, yielded the conclusion that the difficulties that accompanied the jury system and the suspicion with which it was viewed, outweigh any advantages that its re-introduction may have. A possible alternative, and one which, it is submitted, would work well in practice, is the increased use of expert witnesses at the stage prior to conviction, provided that they are suitably qualified (either formally or informally) to adduce evidence on the socio-cultural matrix of relations in which the accused in question lives and moves. In the context of mistake of law, for example, evidence concerning, inter alia, the level of legal knowledge and general education in a particular community could be adduced by persons who are either long-standing members or active participants in the socio-cultural life. of such community. The theoretical views and preferences expressed in this paper should thus be read with the above-mentioned practico-social problems in mind.

The need often arises for a company to negotiate an agreement with its members and/or creditors, in order to modify an existing set of circumstances affecting the interests of the parties to the agreement (1). In certain circumstances the situation arises where due to large numbers involved, or unwillingness to participate in such an agreement difficulties are experienced to enter into and conclude negotiations with every single member or creditor. Accordingly, the legislature has laid down a statutory procedure in Section 311 of the Companies Act No 61 of 1973 in order to achieve the desired result. In terms of the section, a company can, subject to the supervision of the courts, bind its members and/or creditors to proposals agreed to by a majority of them. The terms of the section, such as "arrangement" and "compromise" have been the subject of several court decisions. Furthermore, in order to achieve a desired result, the terms of the section often have to be viewed in conjunction with provisions contained in the Companies Act itself, as well as other legislation. The compromises and arrangements referred to in the section have a wide application as expounded by court decisions (2) and commercial practice (3). The procedure to obtain the sanctioning thereof, is laid down in the Companies Act (4), and is to be seen in conjunction with the Rules concerning procedural conduct in the courts, as well as procedural precedent. -2 - A standard scheme was developed in our practice for the achievement of an arrangement or compromise in terms of Section 311, (5) and applications for the sanctioning of such schemes were granted for a number of years as a matter of routine. The practice and industry active in the field was thereafter thrown into some confusion especially in the Transvaal and the Cape Province, primarily in view of the fact that the courts could find no active involvement of the company in a standard scheme (6). As a result of this various alternative schemes were devised in an effort to obtain the sanction of the courts in terms of section 311. The Appellate Division has now in the matter of Namex (7) heralded a return to the standard scheme in our law. In reflecting upon the above issues this dissertation will refer to the historical background to the Namex case, in view of the existence of schemes persuant to the decisions in Robin and Multi-Bou. Furthermore, decisions involving the legislation ancillary to Section 311 will also be briefly dealt with.

This document has been prepared in two parts. The first part deals with some basic aspects of valuations and the major aspects of taxation which should be borne in mind by a valuer. The second part, which commences on page 102, is a compendium of brief comment on tax matters and tax cases which may be of interest to a valuer. The document is based on research carried out in relation to: The Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962, as amended, inclusive of the 1989 Amending Act; The Sales Tax Act No. 103 of 1978, as amended; and The Estate Duty Act No. 45 of 1955, as amended. Due to subsequent amendments to the legislation certain aspects of taxation dealt with in this document may no longer apply, but there has been comment and expectations in many instances that some of the changes are likely to be reintroduced. I have accordingly included my findings from the research carried out as this could be helpful in the event of a reintroduction of the affected legislation. Since preparing this document, The Sales Tax Act is no longer of force or effect and has been replaced with The Value Added Tax Act of 1991. There are many aspects of this new legislation which also require the consideration and attention of a valuer. I have not dealt with these aspects in detail in this document.

In 1985 the South African Law Commission published a Report entitled Women and Sexual Offences in South Africa. 1 The Report is the result of almost 3 years' research initiated at the request of the Minister of Justice in 1982. During the period 1979-1981 public attention in South Africa was drawn dramatically to the crime of rape. Media reports focused on the high incidence and brutality of the crime and contributed towards a heightened sense of public anxiety and outrage. Slabbert has argued convincingly that during this period the South African public experienced a “moral panic” regarding rape. Public concern extended to concern for the fate of rape victims and their treatment by the criminal justice agencies. This concern was voiced in Parliament. Questions were put to the Minister regarding the procedures involved in the laying of a rape charge and the medico-forensic aspects of the crime. As a result the Minister requested the South African Law Commission to investigate these matters. The resultant Report was published in April 1985.

The General Laws of Agency do not supply a full answer in circumstances where the principal is a company. These laws have undergone certain changes and extentions to suit the company which, as principal, cannot perform any act, by reason of the fact that it is a fictious entity. These changes were brought about by the English Doctrine of Constructive Notice and the Turquand Rule, as well as Section 36 of the Companies Act (Changes); and the Doctrine of Estoppel (Extention). Abolition of the Doctrine of Constructive Notice and the Ultra Vires Doctrine is pleaded on the one hand and the retention of the Turquand Rule, which must be kept distinct from Estoppel, on the other. Contracting with companies will hereby be simplified and become more practical. This will bring our company law on par with modern company law developments, especially those of England.

AFRIKAANS: Die studie ondersoek die verband tussen huishoudingskuld in Suid-Afrika en finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings en daar is bevind dit is 'n wedersydse, moeilik voorspelbare en nie 'n eenvoudige proses nie, omdat verskeie faktore in die ekonomie dit beïnvloed. Die stand van die ekonomie en veral die persepsie van die verbruiker is belangrike faktore. Geld het 'n evolusie ondergaan en minder tasbaar geword as gevolg van krediet. Dit het beheer daarvan moeilik gemaak. Die koste van krediet is 'n geleentheid vir die Sentrale Bank om beheer oor geldskepping uit te oefen. Monetêre beleid skep 'n effektiewe omgewing vir die ekonomie om te funksioneer. Beleid beheer die vraag en aanbod van geld direk (deur rentekoerse) of indirek ( deur vraag- en aanbodfaktore te manipuleer). Geld in die moderne ekonomie verwys na krediet en veral na krediet van huishoudings. Totale uitstaande krediet van huishoudings, en die samestelling daarvan het oor die afgelope 25 jaar aansienlik verander. Dit toon op 'n verandering in die mag van die Sentrale Bank oor die geldskeppingsproses. Bevolkingswelvaart word gemeet aan die vermoë van huishoudings om inkome te bestee. Finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings is die belangrikste deel van totale besteding in die ekonomie. Suid-Afrika klassifiseer finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings volgens die 1993 Stelsel van Nasionale Rekeninge. Verskille tussen die 1993 en 1968 weergawes sluit verskille in ten opsigte van tipe klassifikasie ( doelwit versus duursaamheid) en tussen werklike finale verbruiksbesteding (finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings plus individuele verbruik deur die owerheid) en finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings. Verskillende teorieë bestaan met betrekking tot die effek van rentekoerse, inflasie en finansiële liberalisering op besteding, verbruik oor die lewensiklus, die verbruiksbestedingsfunksie, die verwantskap tussen inkome en besteding en marginale verbruiksbesteding. Die verloop van finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings in Suid¬Afrika oor die afgelope 25 jaar toon dat die samestelling heelwat verander het soos die ekonomie deur verskillende fases gegaan het. Besteding aan duursame en semi-duursame goedere het toenemend gedaal, terwyl besteding aan veral dienste, skerp gestyg het. Die algemene beskikbaarheid van krediet het veroorsaak dat huishoudings al meer op skuld begin leef het gedurende die negentigs. Die gevolgtrekking is dat, in teenstelling met vroeë bevindings, huishoudings nie noodwendig slegs duursame goedere finansier met krediet nie, maar ook nie-duursame goedere en dienste. Die hoë vlakke van krediet en die koste van krediet, het oor die lang termyn 'n negatiewe effek op besteding. Die verband tussen huishoudingskuld in Suid-Afrika en finale verbruiksbesteding deur huishoudings hang af van die faktore wat bestedingsbesluite deur huishoudings beïnvloed, wat monetêre en fiskale beleid insluit. Die toepassing van monetêre beleid werk deur die transmissiemeganisme, wat deur verskeie kanale werk. Die kredietkanaal bestaan uit die balansstaatkanaal en die bankleningskanaal. Die balansstaatkanaal verduidelik die werking van 'n verandering in monetêre beleid op die welvaart van die bevolking. Die bankleningskanaal werk direk deur rentekoerse en banklenings. Verskillende denkskole ondersteun verskillende kanale. Die endogene/eksogene geld vraagstuk lei tot die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak is, dat die voorraad van kredietgeld altyd vraag-bepaald is en dat die aanbod daarvan slegs indirek deur die Sentrale Bank beheer kan word deur die omstandighede in die geldmark (wat rentekoerse affekteer) te verander. ENGLISH: The study investigates the relationship between household debt in South Africa and final consumption expenditure by households and it was found to be an interrelated, difficult process that is not easy to predict, because various factors in the economy influence both. The most important ones are the state of the economy and the perception of the consumer. Money has evolved into something less tangible as a result of credit. That increased the difficulty of control over it. The cost of credit provided an opportunity to the Central Bank to control the creation of money. Monetary policy creates an efficient environment in which the economy can function. Policy control the supply and demand of money directly (through interest rates) or indirectly (through manipulation of the supply and demand factors). Money in the modem economy means credit and specifically credit of households. Total outstanding credit of households and the composition of credit changed dramatically over the last 25 years. This is an indication of a change in the control of the Central Bank over the money creation process. The wealth of the nation is measured by the ability of households to spend income. Final consumption expenditure by households is the most important part of total consumption in the economy. South Africa classifies final consumption expenditure by households according to the 1993 System of National Accounts. Differences between the 1993 and 1968 versions are with respect to type of classification (purpose versus durability) and between actual final consumption and final consumption expenditure by households. There are different theories regarding the effect of interest rates, inflation, financial liberalisation on consumption, consumption over the life-cycle, the consumption function, the relationship between income and consumption and marginal consumption expenditure. The trend in final consumption expenditure by households in South Africa over the last 25 years shows the changes as a result of the different phases of the economy. Consumption of durable and semi-durable goods have decreased continually, while demand for services increased sharply. Households increasingly financed expenditure with credit during the nineties, being the result of the availability of credit. The conclusion is that households not only finance durable goods with credit but also non-durable goods and services, which is contradictory to previous conclusions. The high levels of credit and the cost of credit have a negative effect on consumption over the long term. The relationship between household debt in South Africa and final consumption expenditure is determined by factors that influence decisions about spending, which include monetary and fiscal policy. The influence of monetary policy can be described through the transmission mechanism, that work through different channels. The credit channel consists of the balance sheet channel and the bank lending channel. The balance sheet channel explains the effect of changes in monetary policy on the wealth of the nation. The bank lending channel work through interest rates and bank loans. Different schools of thought support different channels. The exogenous/endogenous money supply debate lead to the conclusion that the supply of credit money is always demand determined and that control by the Central Bank is indirect through the influence of supply and demand conditions in the money market. / Dissertation (MCom (Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Economics / unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Engineering Geology))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Geology / unrestricted