Over the years, South Africa has embarked on significant strides towards trade liberalisation with a view to generate economic growth that enhances employment and reduces poverty. The purpose of this study is to determine whether trade liberalisation has enhanced economic growth in South Africa. The specific research objectives were to (i) provide an understanding of the country’s trade liberalisation policies (ii) empirically determine the short-run and long-run effects of trade liberalisation on economic growth between 1970 and 2017 and (iii) to provide policy recommendations based on the findings. To this end, utilising three different proxies of trade liberalisation, the study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model to determine the long-run and short-run impact of South Africa’s trade liberalisation on economic growth. The study found that trade liberalisation enhanced economic growth in South Africa and noted that the results hold only when using trade openness and real effective exchange rate as proxy for trade liberalisation. This suggest that trade liberalisation in South Africa has had a general positive effect on economic growth. Despite the positive effect on economic growth, there is still a need to ensure that within the trade policy, increased focus on sectors that have the potential for value added and job creation. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)

La presente investigación surgió en base a una serie de recuerdos provenientes de mi infancia. En las visitas que de pequeño hice al Museo de los Combatientes del Morro de Arica, llamaron mi atención, por encima de todo, unas enormes pinturas con escenas solemnes y de batalla. Si bien en esos lejanos años no llegué a conocer el nombre del artista, las visiones que plasmó sobre la Guerra del Pacífico (1879-1883) dejaron una profunda huella en mi interior, compuesta de una mezcla de conmoción, impresión y sentimiento patriótico. Las pinturas que Juan Lepiani hizo sobre la guerra y, especialmente, sobre la Batalla de Arica, generaron el mismo efecto en la sociedad peruana desde el momento en que se dieron a conocer en la última década del siglo XIX. En un proceso de retroalimentación constante, los recuerdos traumáticos de la entonces reciente guerra generaron en el espíritu nacional la sensación de abatimiento y, a la vez, la doble necesidad de buscar respuestas que expliquen la derrota y encontrar figuras que, con su comportamiento en el campo de batalla, eleven el ánimo y sostengan el honor de la nación. La creación de estas figuras, en el entorno literario primero y el artístico después, ayudaron a construir la memoria colectiva de la guerra, con la cual se estableció la manera en que debería ser recordada y quiénes fueron los héroes en ella. En ese sentido, la presente investigación reconstruye el proceso de creación de estas imágenes en base a las afecciones en el contexto de la posguerra partiendo del modo en el que estas encontraron en la literatura un primer vehículo para poder manifestarse y cómo, posteriormente, la memoria escrita fue convirtiéndose en una memoria visual, muy necesaria para ayudar a reconstruir el espíritu nacional. Como será demostrado, las pinturas de Juan Lepiani contribuyeron notablemente a la construcción de la memoria visual de la guerra, al crearse en base a los recuerdos y sentimientos de la guerra, y elaborar una propuesta pictórica efectiva para la recordación posterior.

This study focuses on Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the three basins of the Witwatersrand’s goldfields in the Vaal River System in South Africa. AMD has become a highly contested issue. A difference in its definition exists between two groups of role-players identified in the study: government and consultants/activists/NGOs. This study unpacks the differences in the way AMD is defined, the situation of AMD in each of the three basins and the socio-economic implications caused by AMD. A crucial finding was that these definitions determine how the issue is understood and what solutions these role-players propose. The main purpose of the study was to determine whether the South African government’s policy response was appropriate given the socio-economic impacts of AMD and imperatives of sustainable development. This study concluded that, in the policy, there was no clear indication as to what the socio-economic impacts are, and limited attention was therefore given to these impacts. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / This research report is an autoethnographic narrative that gives a first-hand account of life as experienced by a young Black South African woman living in post-apartheid South Africa. It is a story of her life as a young child who was adopted after the death of her mother and the subsequent abandonment by her biological father. It is also the story of a Black professional woman who struggles to negotiate her way through the corporate world after having had negative experiences in some of the organisations that she has worked for. It highlights the plight of Black professionals all over South Africa who resort to job hopping as a means with which to escape unfair treatment in the workplace. The narrative also deals with issues that are specific to women only. Her experiences of these issues include unfair treatment due to the fact that she was pregnant and later on unfair treatment due to the fact that she is a single mother. They also include the abuse that she has suffered at the hands of certain men in her life. All of these issues have gone a long way towards shaping her perceptions of the country in which she lives as well the role that she feels she is expected to fulfil in it. The narrative is an honest and authentic account of the events that have shaped her perception of corporate South Africa as it struggles to incorporate Employment Equity and Affirmative Action policy into their organisational culture. She highlights the fact that the organisational policies and systems in themselves may be perfect but due to the fact that they have to be implemented by people they often reflect some of the prejudice that exists in society. In sharing her story it is her hope that other Black people would make their stories known for she believes that it is only when these stories are let out in the open can we begin to have meaningful dialogue about them and in so doing come to a resolution that will benefit all of us as a nation. She believes that our failure to talk to one another can only serve to widen the gap that currently exists between Black and White South Africans.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the study, six irrigation schemes based in the Eastern Cape have been considered and evaluated, according to two levels of supply (LOS) of irrigation water. The two levels of supply are that of a commercial irrigator and that of a smallholder irrigator. The irrigation infrastructure for each of the six schemes was designed, and the associated costs determined, for each level of supply. The primary objective of the study is to determine the impact of infrastructure costs and irrigation areas on the target user, either the commercial or the smallholder irrigator. This is related directly to the assumption that lower water volumes are used by the smallholder irrigator. The study addresses the impact of different designs on the amount of water used, land utilised and resultant costs of the infrastructure. The initial capital costs and the on-going operational and maintenance costs (O&M) for each level of supply for each of the schemes have been calculated. The evaluation of the two LOS has shown that the capital cost for the commercial LOS is approximately 18 % higher than for the smallholder LOS and the O&M costs 6 % to 36 % higher. The schemes that were investigated can be grouped into five general scheme types. The first type is gravity schemes, which need rehabilitation, while the bulk supply is in place with no augmentation or rehabilitation required. The second is pumped scheme which is in need of rehabilitation, while the bulk supply is in place with no augmentation or rehabilitation required. The third type includes run-of-river schemes where water is abstracted and pumped directly to the lands. The fourth type includes run-of-river schemes where water is abstracted and pumped to storage. The fifth type is the gravity scheme where the bulk supply needs to be installed as part of the scheme. These types are then grouped and can be used to give guidance on the anticipated costs dependant on the scheme type and the required level of service. A further objective of the research is to determine the impact on the smallholder irrigators who find themselves on a commercial LOS system. This can be either on a scheme that has already been designed, or on a new system. The evaluation of the commercial under-utilised LOS and the smallholder LOS has shown that the commercial capital cost is 18 % higher and the O&M costs 5 % to 29 % higher. The study further aligns the estimated costs with the farmer typology providing a broader understanding of the design to be adopted for different levels of supply. This provides the linkage between farmer types, the design to be implemented and the anticipated costs thereof. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As deel van hierdie narvorsing word ses verskillende besproeiingsskemas in die Oos-Kaap ten opsigte van twee voorsieningsvlakke ondersoek. Die twee voorsieningsvlakke ter sprake is vir ‘n kommersiële en kleinboerdery opset. Die besproeiingsinfrastruktuur is vir elk van die ses besproeiingsskemas ontwerp en ‘n kosteberaming vir elk van voorsieningsvlakke gedoen. Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie verslag is om te bepaal wat die impak van kostes en besproeiingsareas op beide kommersiële- en kleinboerderye is. Dit is direk gebaseer op die aanname dat kleinboerderye minder water gebruik. Die verslag ondersoek die impak van verskillende ontwerpe op waterverbruik, besproeiingsoppervlak benodig en die gevolglike infrastruktuurkostes. Die aanvanklike kapitaalkostes asook bedryfs- en onderhoudsuitgawes (B&O) vir elk van die voorsieningsvlakke, is vir elk van die besproeiingskemas bereken. Die resultaat van die ondersoek van die twee voorsieningsvlakke het aangetoon dat die kapitaalkoste van kommersiële besproeiingskemas 18 % hoër as die van kleinboerderye is, en bedryfs- en onderhoudsuitgawes 6 tot 36 % hoër. Die skemas wat ondersoek is, kan in vyf algemene skema tipes verdeel word. Die eerste is die gravitasieskemas wat rehabilitasie benodig terwyl die hooftoevoer in plek is met geen uitbreidings- of rehabilitasiebehoeftes. Die tweede is pompskemas wat rehabilitasie benodig terwyl die hooftoevoer in plek is met geen uitbreidings- of rehabilitasiebehoeftes. Die derde is rivierskemas waar besproeiingswater direk uit die rivier na die landerye gepomp word. Die vierde is rivierskemas waar besproeiingswater direk uit die rivier na a reservoir gepomp word. Die vyfde skema tipe is die gravitasieskemas waar die hooftoevoer ook gebou moet word as deel van die skema. Die skema tipes kan gebruik word om leiding te verskaf ten opsigte van verwagte skema kostes afhangende van die skema tipe en vereiste voorsieningsvlak. ‘n Verdere doelwit van die studie is om die impak op kleinboere te bepaal wat op ‘n kommeriële voorsieningsvlak boer. So ‘n stelsel kan ‘n gevestigde of nuwe stelsel wees. Die resultaat van die ondersoek van die onderbenutte kommersiële voorsieningsvlak en die kleinboerdery voorsieningsvlak het gewys dat die kapitaalkoste van kommersiële besproeiingskemas 18 % hoër as die van kleinboerderye is, en bedryfs- en onderhoudsuitgawes 5 tot 29 % hoër. Die verslag vereenselwig die verwagte kostes met die tipe boerdery en verskaf ‘n beter begrip van die tipe ontwerp wat elk van die voorsieningsvlakke benodig. Dit verskaf dus die verband tussen die tipe boerdery, die ontwerp benodig en die verwagte projekkostes.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this research study was to look at the challenges which student peer educators face at Stellenbosch University. Semi-structured interviews were done with male and female peer educators who are involved at the Office for Institutional HIV Co-ordination (OIHC), where the peer educators have been recruited and trained. Interviews were done to determine what the peer educators’ experiences are when they work on campus, go out into the community and even when they socialise with their friends. From listening to the peer educators’ experiences it was found that with safe sex messaging there are mixed responses from males and females. According to the peer educators, students would rather purchase another brand of condoms than the Choice condoms distributed on campus. It was also found that males did not have a problem with condoms being placed in their residences, while females had a problem with that. Regarding HIV testing, females are much more open and enthusiastic to go for an HIV test than males. Challenging someone’s risky sexual behaviour is a huge challenge for all peer educators, since behaviour change does not happen easily. Many students also used withdrawal as a form of contraception. In the community peer educators were faced with language barriers and married people were not very enthusiastic to go for an HIV test. Behaviour change is possible, but difficult to bring about. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om te kyk na die uitdagings wat studente portuurgroep-opleiers ervaar by Stellenbosch Universiteit. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gedoen met manlike en vroulike portuurgroep-opleiers wie betrokke is by die Kantoor vir Institusionele MIV Ko-ordinering, waar die portuurgroep-opleiers opleiding ontvang het. Onderhoude is gedoen om te bepaal wat die portuurgroep-opleiers se ervarings was wanneer hulle gewerk het op kampus, in die gemeenskap, of met hulle vriende gekuier het. Deur na die portuurgroep-opleiers se ervarings te luister is daar gevind dat deur die oordra van veilige seks boodskappe daar gemengde reaksies was by mans en vroue. Volgens die portuurgroep-opleiers sal studente liewer ander kondome koop en gebruik as die Choice kondome wat op kampus versprei word. Daar is ook gevind dat mans in die koshuise nie ’n probleem gehad het as daar kondome in hulle koshuis geplaas word nie, terwyl vroue wel ’n probleem daarmee het. Wat MIV toetse betref was vroue meer entoesiasties om vir ‘n MIV toets te gaan as mans. Om iemand se seksuele gedrag uit te daag is baie moeilik aangesien gedragsverandering nie so maklik gebeur nie. Baie studente gebruik ook “withdrawal” as ‘n tipe voorbehoedmiddel. In die gemeenskap was daar taal probleme wat portuurgroep-opleiers ondervind het sowel as getroude mense wat nie optimisties was om vir ‘n MIV toets te gaan nie. Gedragsverandering is moontlik, maar baie moeilik.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to establish the factors that influence young men to attend and access HIV education programme in order to improve young men’s focus on HIV education programme and to increase young men’s involvement with HIV prevention initiatives. The researcher used the qualitative research method to establish factors why young men were not attending HIV education programmes in Mogale City, Gauteng. It was found that young men are willing to attend HIV education programme that are innovative, interesting and will meet their sexual and reproductive health needs. Although they are willing to attend HIV education programmes, young men are scared of the reality of visiting clinics for testing, because clinics perpetuate stigma by separating HIV counselling and testing rooms and healthcare provider attitudes towards young men. They would also like to be part of the planning process to ensure that HIV education programmes are tailored to their needs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oogmerk van die studie was om die faktore te bepaal wat jongmans beïnvloed om MIV-opvoedingsprogramme by te woon en toegang daartoe te verkry, ten einde jongmans se fokus op MIV-opvoedingsprogramme te verbeter en jongmans se betrokkenheid by MIV-voorkomingsinisiatiewe te verhoog. Die navorser het die kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode gebruik om die faktore te bepaal waarom jongmans nie MIV-opvoedingsprogramme in Mogale City, Gauteng, bywoon nie. Daar is gevind dat jongmans bereid was om MIV-opvoedingsprogramme by te woon wat innoverend en interessant is en aan hulle seksuele en reproduktiewe gesondheidsbehoeftes sal voldoen. Alhoewel hulle bereid was om MIVopvoedingsprogramme by te woon, is jongmans bang vir die werklikheid daarvan om klinieke vir toetsing te besoek, omdat klinieke stigma perpetueer deur MIVberadingskamers en toetskamers van mekaar te skei; en vanweë gesondheidsorgverskaffers se houding teenoor jongmans. Hulle wil ook graag deel wees van die beplanningsproses om te verseker dat MIV-opvoedingsprogramme volgens hulle behoeftes aangepas word.

The objective of this study was to assess the perceptions of individuals with disabilities regarding the career advancement challenges they face and to determine whether the perceptions of career advancement challenges disabled individuals from different races, ages, genders and occupational levels differ. This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the career advancement challenges and also to achieve the empirical objectives. The empirical study was conducted with 15 employees with declared disabilities employed by two group companies in different sectors in the Gauteng Province. Probability, purposeful and snowballing sampling techniques were applied. The findings indicated that most people with disabilities experienced career advancement challenges, especially promotion opportunities. Managers and colleagues’ lack of knowledge about disabilities have an adverse impact on the careers of individuals living with a disability. The findings of this study may help companies improve practices on the integration and inclusion of employees with disabilities and also on decision-making regarding their careers. / Human Resource Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

This study focuses on Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the three basins of the Witwatersrand’s goldfields in the Vaal River System in South Africa. AMD has become a highly contested issue. A difference in its definition exists between two groups of role-players identified in the study: government and consultants/activists/NGOs. This study unpacks the differences in the way AMD is defined, the situation of AMD in each of the three basins and the socio-economic implications caused by AMD. A crucial finding was that these definitions determine how the issue is understood and what solutions these role-players propose. The main purpose of the study was to determine whether the South African government’s policy response was appropriate given the socio-economic impacts of AMD and imperatives of sustainable development. This study concluded that, in the policy, there was no clear indication as to what the socio-economic impacts are, and limited attention was therefore given to these impacts. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

MEd