M.Sc. (Aquatic Health) / South Africa’s freshwater ecosystems are under threat due to anthropogenic activities. Recent reports have shown that the Hartbeespoort- (HBPD), Klipvoor- (KD) and Bospoort Dam (BD) impoundments situated in the North-West Province are polluted as a result of mining, industrial and agricultural activities. These impoundments are classified as being in a hypertrophic state. The health status of fish in these impoundments is of concern, and needs to be investigated. For this purpose, Clarias gariepinus and Cyprinus carpio were collected for a histology-based fish health assessment. These two species are present in the selected dams and are some of the preferred fish species for human consumption by the local people. The aim of the study was to determine the health status of these fish species in HPBD, KD and BD using a semi-quantitative histopathological assessment on selected target organs and compare the results to fish from a reference site, the Marico-Bosveld Dam (MBD). Gill nets were used for the collection of specimens. Fish were macroscopically examined, weighed and measured for the calculation of the condition factor. Blood samples were collected for haematocrit, leukocrit and total protein determination. Once sacrificed, a necropsy-based health assessment (HAI) was performed to determine any abnormalities within the visceral cavity. The selected target organs were excised and weighed for the calculation of selected biometric indices. Collected tissue samples were processed using standard histological techniques and the prepared slides were stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin. Macroscopically, a number of fish from polluted sites exhibited liver with fatty change and focal discoloration as well as severe parasites within the visceral cavity. As a result, higher HAI values were recorded in polluted sites compared to the reference site. The haematocrit values varied from normal to below and above the normal range. Leukocrit values were within the normal range except for C. gariepinus from HBPD, which was above the normal range. Total protein values were within the normal range for both species for all sites. The condition factor and hepatosomatic index (HSI) values were within the accepted range except for the HSI of C. gariepinus from MBD. The mean organ index for all study sites fell within class 1 with the exception of the liver index from HBPD, KD and BD which was in class 2. Class 1 (index value <10) is indicative of slight histological alterations while class 2 (index value 10-25) translates to moderate histological alterations. Overall, a higher prevalence of histopathological alterations was noted among fish from polluted sites compared to fish from the reference site. Hence, on the basis of the macroscopic and histopathological results, the fish from the polluted sites were more affected in terms of these parameters compared to fish from the reference site. The results therefore provide valuable information for future bio-monitoring studies in the HBPD, KD and BD impoundments.

M.Sc. (Aquatic Health) / This study took place in the Groot Marico River catchment situated in the North West Province of South Africa. The catchment holds many rivers and associated tributaries that are home to a variety fish species with some being endemic to the catchment. A small minnow species, the Marico barb Barbus motebensis was chosen as the study species due to it being endemic to the catchment with limited information available on them with regards to their reproductive status in terms of their reproductive timing and number of potential offspring. Two tributaries from the upper Groot Marico River were chosen as sampling sites for the collection of B. motebensis across the four seasons. These two tributaries presented two genetically different populations, which allowed for a comparison of the findings to ascertain whether any differences in reproductive aspects occurred between the two tributary populations during the different seasons. The Marico barb is under threat from predation pressure posed by the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides introduced into the system. Micropterus salmoides is a known alien invasive fish that eats any animal food item it encounters, especially fish. Due to B. motebensis and M. salmoides sharing the same habitat preferences, B. motebensis stands little chance of survival in the same water inhabited by the predatory M. salmoides. Many studies have shown bass to drive other fish species to the point of extirpation from a system through predation pressure. Currently B. motebensis is classified as vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species, although this status may be further compromised with the presence of M. salmoides...

Thesis ((M.A. (Information Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This study investigated the users‟ perspective of the role played by public libraries in bridging the digital divide in the rural-urban communities with specific reference to Ngaka Modiri Molema District libraries, in the North-West Province, South Africa. The research methodology utilized in this study is a descriptive survey in design and quantitative in nature, through a questionnaire as a data collection tool, distributed to hundred (100) library users selected through quota, convenience and accidental sampling methods. Twenty (20) library users belonging to each of the five public libraries in the district participated in the study. It is revealed that public libraries in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District are playing a significant and crucial role in bridging the digital divide. This is due to the fact that the library users have indicated that they are able to conduct research, send and receive e-mails; they are able to type their personal and academic documents and even play computer games with the library computers and the internet. Based on these findings, this study recommends that district municipalities and the provincial government should continue to provide the public libraries with computers connected to the internet to all the libraries in Ngaka Modiri Molema District and to train the public librarians to be able to impart computer skills to the communities. Public librarians should also initiate computer orientation courses to provide basic skills to those who are computer illiterate in the communities.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges affecting teachers’ classroom assessment practices and to explore how these challenges influence effective teaching and learning. The study was qualitative in nature and employed an instrumental case study approach. Semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analyses were used in the investigation. The study utilized the conceptual framework based on the model suggested by Hargreaves, Earl and Schmidt (2002). The model comprised four perspectives – technological, cultural, political and postmodern, with the intention of accounting for teachers’ assessment practices. Teachers from four different schools in North West Province were interviewed and observed. The data collected through the observations and interviews allowed me to map out the different challenges encountered by teachers in their classroom assessment practices. I also analysed documents that teachers used in conducting assessment. Document analysis was used to triangulate the information collected through observations and interviews. Textual data was analysed using content analysis. The teachers’ narratives varied according to their teaching experience and background within the diverse contexts of their particular school environments. Major challenges that emanated from this study were policy interpretation, overcrowding, support, parental involvement, moderation mechanisms (internal and external), assessment planning, implementation and communication as well as lack of resources. In order to address these challenges, teachers relied on cluster meetings, their colleagues and mostly their personal experiences. The study also revealed that teachers’ understanding and practices of classroom assessment are influenced by their social and educational context. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Institute for Rural Development / MRDV

MRDV / Institute for Rural Development / Mining industry Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects are designed to improve the quality of life of neighbouring communities. However, it is increasingly argued that few of them actually result in tangible benefits for the communities where they are implemented. Moreover, few empirical studies have been undertaken on this subject. The dearth in research on this subject explains why there is inadequate evidence to draw informed conclusions and decisions. The current study sought to determine the nature of benefits accruing to rural communities from mining companies CSR projects in Moses Kotane Local Municipality of the North West Province. Specifically, the study sought to determine the characteristics of mining companies CSR activities, nature of community-perceived benefits derived from them and assess the perception of surrounding local communities on such initiatives. A case study design was used because of its power of providing detailed factual information on mining CSR activities. The study was carried out following a sequential mixed research method that integrated qualitative and quantitative techniques. Document review, questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to collect data. A total of 261 respondents randomly selected from households in five villages, 30 purposively sampled key informants who included 18 officials from various institutions and youth, were interviewed. Thematic content analysis was used to draw meaning from the qualitative data. Descriptive statistics and inferential tests were carried out using the Microsoft Excel software. It was revealed that CSR projects were improving water infrastructure, in addition to being used to construct and refurbish schools and clinics. Although the CSR projects were supporting the livelihoods of local households, there was still considerable room for improvement particularly in relation to creating sustainable employment opportunities. Only 8 % of the respondents believed that CSR projects were beneficial to them. Lack of consultation when developing the CSR projects and limited awareness campaigns led to inappropriate initiatives being implemented. This highlighted the need for adopting inclusive approaches in decision making processes starting from planning to implementation.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In order to enhance human resource development in the public service, the South African Government launched its first human resource development strategy in 2002. This strategy was implemented over a period of four years. It was subsequently followed by another strategy, called the Human Resources Development (HRD) Strategic Framework Vision 2015, which was published by the Department of Public Service and Administration (the DPSA) in 2008. One of the pillars of the latter strategy, which is also the focus of this study, is organizational support systems. The aim of this study was to determine whether the Chief Directorate: Strategic Health Programmes (CD:SHP) successfully implements, as designed in the departmental HRD plan, the three strategic interventions related to organizational support systems. The objectives were to – assess the alignment of the organizational support systems in the Chief Directorate with the overall departmental organizational support systems (as stated in the HRD plan); - identify factors that hamper proper implementation of the departmental organizational support systems in the Chief Directorate; and - propose key strategic interventions to ensure successful implementation of the departmental organizational support systems. The organizational support system pillar has eleven strategic interventions, but, due to resources constraints, only three were investigated. These are: - to promote effective human resource planning in terms of demand for skills and training in public sector organizations; - to strengthen structures, systems and processes for the performance management and development in the public service; and - to groom and foster in-house capacity through effective career planning and talent management in departments of government. The process/implementation evaluation approach, with semi-structured interviews and questionnaire, was employed for this study. A mixed methodology, which covered the breadth of the quantitative method and the depth of the qualitative method, was used in this study. The findings indicated that the CD: SHP is not successfully implementing the pillar as designed by the departmental HRD plan. Among others, the following were identified as responsible for poor implementation: - lack of policy, strategy or guideline on HRD; - understaffed HRD units; - lack of coordination and cooperation between and among the stakeholders responsible for HRD (e.g. Human Resource Management( HRM), Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) and line managers); and - abdication of the performance management responsibility vested in managers. Key strategic interventions proposed to remedy the situation, among others, include: - reviewing the structure of the HRD directorate and filling, as a matter of urgency, all vacant posts; - reviving the committee responsible for coordinating HRD activities; - implementing and coordinating all HRD activities, from the HRD directorate, aimed at developing workplace skills plans and the effective utilization of personal development plans; - developing the blueprint for succession-planning and staff-retention strategies; and - assuring that PMDS becomes one of the key performance areas of all supervisors and managers in the Chief Directorate and that, regarding non-compliance, consistent sanctions be applied across all levels. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het in 2002 sy eerste menshulpbronontwikkeling (MHO)-strategie vir die staatsdiens in werking gestel om die uitbouing van dié hulpbron te bevorder. Hierdie strategie is oor ‟n vier jaar periode geïmplementeer en in 2008 opgevolg deur nog een, naamlik die Visie 2015 Strategiese Raamwerk vir Mensehulpbronontwikkeling (SRM), soos gepubliseer deur die Departement Staatsdiens en Administrasie (DPSA). Een van laasgenoemde strategie se steunpilare, wat ook die hooffokus is van hierdie studie, is organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsels. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of die Hoofdirektoraat: Strategiese Gesondheidsprogramme (H:SG) sukses behaal met die implementering van programme, soos uiteengesit in die departementele MHO-plan se drie strategiese intervensies, veral met betrekking tot die organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsels. Die doel was om – te bepaal hoedanig die gerigdheid is tussen die organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsels in die Hoofdirektoraat en die algemene departementele ondersteuningstelsels (soos uiteengesit in die MHO-plan); - te identifiseer watter faktore behoorlike implementering van die departementele organisatoriese hulpsisteme in die Hoofdirektoraat belemmer; en - strategiese sleutelintervensies voor te stel wat suksesvolle implementering van die departementele organisatoriese hulpstelsels sal verseker. Die organisatoriese ondersteuningstelsel-pilaar het elf strategiese intervensies, maar, as gevolg van beperkings op beskikbare bronne, is net drie ondersoek. Hierdie intervensies is nodig om: - die beplanning van effektiewe mensehulpbronontwikkeling, in terme van die bestaande behoefte na vaardighede en opleiding in openbaresektor organisasies, te bevorder; - strukture, sisteme en prosesse vir prestasiebestuur en ontwikkeling in die staatsdiens te versterk; en - bestaande kapasiteit ten opsigte van mensekapitaal voor te berei, touwys te maak en te koester, deur effektiewe loopbaanbeplanning en talentbestuur binne regeringsdepartemente. Die proses/implementering evaluasie-benadering, met gedeeltelik gestruktureerde onderhoude en vraelyste, is vir hierdie ondersoek gebruik. ‟n Gemengde metodiek, wat die wydte van die kwantitatiewe metode en die diepte van die kwalitatiewe metode inspan, is vir hierdie studie aangewend. Die bevindings het aangedui dat die H:SG nie daarin slaag om die betrokke pilaar, soos deur die departementele MHO-plan ontwerp, te implementeer nie. Die volgende redes is, onder andere, geïdentifiseer as verantwoordelik vir die swak implementering: - gebrek aan beleid, strategie en leiding ten opsigte van MHO; - onderbemande MHO-eenhede; - gebrek aan koördinasie en samewerking tussen belanghebbendes (asook onderling) wat verantwoordelik is vir MHO (byv. Mensehulpbronbestuur (MHB), Prestasiebestuur en Ontwikkelingsisteem (PBOS) en lynbedtuurders); en - afstandoening van hulle prestasiebestuursverpligtinge wat aan bestuurders opgedra is. Strategiese sleutelintervensies wat voorgestel word om die situasie te herstel, sluit o.a. in: - die hersiening van die struktuur van die MHB-direktoraat en, as ‟n saak van dringendheid, die vul van alle vakante poste; - die herinstelling van die komitee verantwoordelik vir die koördinering van MHO-aktiwiteite; - die implementering en koördinering van alle MHO-aktiwiteite van die MHO-direktoraat, sodat vaardighede by die werkplek ontwikkel word en die effektiewe aanwending van persoonlike ontwikkelingsplanne plaasvind; - die ontwikkeling van ‟n bloudruk vir personeel opvolgbeplanning en strategieë om personeel te behou; en - die versekering dat PBOS een van die sleutel prestasie-areas sal wees wat alle supervisors en bestuurders in die Hoofdirektoraat sal toepas en, in geval van nalatigheid in hierdie verband, strafmaatreëls op alle bestuursvlakke toegepas sal word.

No description available.

(MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: The study investigated the development of a simple, cost effective method to monitor food and nutritional intake of mineworkers residing in a Single Accommodation Village (SAV) by using food inventory data. Objectives: The aim of the study was to calculate average food and nutrient intake per mineworker using household data, assess actual food intake (individual data), determine food wastage and to compare food and nutritional intake between group and individual data. Methodology: The study design was a cross-sectional, observational study with an analytical component. The study population consisted of male mineworkers residing in a SAV on a platinum mine in the North West Province and included mineworkers performing mainly underground tasks. A census sampling method was used to select mineworkers participating in the study, and a pilot study was done to test the proposed study process. The study was conducted over five days, which included one weekend day. Food inventory data was recorded by capturing all food quantities (weight measured in kilogram) used for food preparation on the study days. The yield of the prepared food and expected meal participation was used to calculate an average intake per mineworker according to the household record method. An observational study was done to establish the food record data. Meal as well as food item participation was recorded. Food wastage was determined by weighing the production as well as the plate wastage and this data was used to ascertain average food intake per mineworker. Results: Approximately 700 mineworkers participated in the study. The study recorded a 96% meal participation measured against the planned participation figures during the main meal with 74% participating in all menu items. The values for breakfast and dinner were 95% meal participation for both meals with 87% menu item participation during breakfast and 82% during dinner. By using the t-distribution test it was recorded that limited values measured between the food inventory data and the food record data fell within the 95% confidence intervals even after correction for food wastage. However, when the planned participation used to calculate the household data was incorporated into an equation using actual participation data, the values fell within the 95% confidence interval demonstrating that with 95% certainty the planned values (when calculated according to the suggested equation) were within those values observed during the study. Conclusion: Household data can be used as a tool to monitor average individual food and nutritional intake of mineworkers; however both planned and actual menu item participation figures should be considered, together with the total wastage per food item. This tool can be adapted to be used in industrial catering units to monitor food and nutritional intake, which will enable identification of food or nutrient deficiencies and timeous implementation of intervention strategies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Die studie het ondersoek ingestel na die ontwikkeling van ‘n koste-effektiewe metode om die inname van voedsel en voedingstowwe van mynwerkers wat in enkel-akkommodasiebehuising (EAB) woon met behulp van voedselinventaris data te moniteer. Doelwitte: Die doel van die studie was om die gemiddelde voedsel en voedingstofinname per mynwerker met behulp van huishoudelike data te bereken, die werklike voedselinname (individuele data) te evalueer, voedselkwisting vas te stel en om voedsel- en voedingstofinname tussen groep en individuele data te vergelyk. Metode: Die studie-ontwerp was ‘n dwarssnitwaarnemingstudie met ‘n analitiese komponent. Die populasie van die studie het bestaan uit manlike mynwerkers woonagtig in ‘n EAB van ‘n platinum myn in die Noordwes Provinsie en het mynwerkers wat hoofsaaklik ondergronds werksaam is ingesluit. ‘n Sensussteekproefmetode is gebruik om deelnemende mynwerkers te selekteer en ‘n loods studie is gedoen om die voorgestelde studie model te toets. Die studie is oor vyf dae gedoen, wat een naweekdag ingesluit het. Voedselinventarisdata is versamel deur alle voedselhoeveelhede (in kilogram gemeet) wat gebruik was vir die voedsel voorbereiding op die studiedae in ag te neem. Die opbrengs van die voorbereide voedsel is gebruik om die gemiddelde inname per mynwerker volgens die huishoudelike rekord metode te bereken. ‘n Waarnemingstudie is gedoen om die voedselrekorddata vas te stel. Die voedselkwisting is bereken deur die produksie- asook bordkwisting te weeg en dan hierdie data te gebruik om die gemiddelde voedselinname per mynwerker te bereken. Resulate: Ongeveer 700 mynwerkers het aan die studie deelgeneem. Die studie het ‘n 96% maaltyddeelname opgeteken, gemeet teen die beplande deelnamesyfers tydens die hoofmaaltyd, met 74% deelname aan alle spyskaartitems. Die waardes vir ontbyt en aandete was 95% maaltyd bywoning vir beide etes, met 87% spyskaartitemdeelname tydens ontbyt en 82% tydens aandete. Die studie het beperkte waardes binne die 95% vertrouensinval tussen die voedselinventarisdata en voedselrekorddata opgeteken, selfs nadat die voedselkwistingsyfers in ag geneem is. Wanneer die beplande deelname wat gebruik is om die huishoudelike data te bereken egter in ‘n vergelyking wat werklike deelnamedata gebruik, inkorporeer word, het die waardes binne die 95% vertrouensinval geval. Dit is ‘n aanduiding dat daar met 95% sekerheid aangeneem kan word dat die beplande waardes (bereken volgens die voorgestelde vergelyking) vergelyk kan word met die waardes waargeneem tydens die studie. Gevolgtrekking: Huishoudelike data kan as ‘n meetinstrument dien om die gemiddelde individuele voedsel- en voedingstofinname van mynwerkers te moniteer. Beide beplande en werklike spyskaartitemdeelnamesyfers moet egter in ag geneem word, tesame met totale voedselkwisting per voedselitem. Hierdie instrument kan aangepas word vir gebruik in industriële voedseldienseenhede om voedsel- en voedingstofinname te moniteer, wat die identifisering van voedingstoftekorte en vroegtydige implementering van intervensie strategieë moontlik sal maak.