Thesis (M.Dev) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / This study focuses on the impact of management on the sustainability of the community development projects in Mutale Local Municipality. Mutale Local Municipality (MLM) is in the Limpopo Province and is about 262km north of Polokwane. MLM is predominately rural and it has two towns, which are: Mutale and Masisi. Fighting poverty is a serious challenge facing the people from this area today. It is interesting to note that poor people in the rural area are mobilizing themselves and start community development projects in cooperation with the government. The Department of Health and Social Development is providing government officers who visit these community development projects with the aim of helping the communities to ensure that these projects are sustainable. The labourers who are attached to the community development projects are then able to look after their families with the money they get from the projects. The communities of Mutale decided to tackle poverty through the establishment of the following community development projects: Tshandama Community Bakery, Thengwe Egg- laying, Mveledziso Catering and Decoration, Matomboni Crusher Stone and Bale Vegetable Garden. The final results from the study show that most of the rural community development projects lack proper management. The main reasons leading to poor performance of community development projects, among others are lack of financial plan, improper management style and lack of active participation of key stakeholders. The study highlighted significant information about the impact of management on the sustainability of the community development projects in Mutale Local Municipality. It was hoped that the recommendation made in this study would assist the community development projects in our country South Africa. Youth should be involved in community development projects. Community projects should be monitored regularly in order to improve the productivity. All the people who are attached to the community development projects should be trained and capacitated toward financial planning, marketing and security management.

Thesis (MBA) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Socio-economic development of the communities around the mines is enhanced through effective mining beneficiation. The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of the perceptions of the Amandelbult mine and the community of Schilpadnest informal settlement, in relation to the mining beneficiation provided to this community by the mine. The study analysed the perceptions related to employment creation, corporate social investment, as well as the communication and collaboration of the mine with the local community and other sectors. This study used the census as a sampling method. A questionnaire, with a combination of closed and open ended questions, was used to collect data. The members of community structures within the Schilpadnest as well as the mine management were the target population for the study. The results indicated that the beneficiation role of the mine in terms of the socio-economic development of the community is perceived to be inadequate in terms of employing local people and supporting the local SMMEs. Lack of required skills and communication are perceived to be the possible hindrances to beneficiation opportunities. The study recommends that: · The mine should consider setting a particular target for employing people. · A communication strategy for interacting with the local community be developed by the mine. · A comprehensive needs analysis for the local community be developed by the mine. · The mine should consider developing a database for the local SMMEs for the purposes of procurement and skills development.

Thesis (M. Com. (Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / Investment as one of the important macroeconomic variables can ensure infrastructure development and growth in the economy by raising the productive capacity. The study seeks to examine the determinants of investment activity in South Africa by means of the Cointegrated Vector Autoregression approach. The results of this study could assist policy makers to come up with policies that could encourage investment. The findings will add to the existing theory and knowledge as there is limited research on investment, more especially in South Africa. The empirical results revealed that the long and short run relationship exists amongst the variables under investigation. Furthermore, it was found that there is positive relationship between economic growth, interest rate, inflation and investment. Taxation and investment are negatively related in South Africa both in the long and short run. This indicates that investment activity can be explained by tax, economic growth, interest rates and inflation. The study recommend that the government should also find methods of increasing its revenue base. This could be done by creating a tax policy and system that is able to capture the informal sector because various un-registered businesses go unrecorded when estimating the tax to be collected in a fiscal year. This may be another way of increasing the level economic growth (GDP) since it will generate more fund for government to spend. KEY CONCEPTS: Gross fixed capital formation, Economic growth, taxation, interest rates, inflation.