Financial liberalization in South Africa was a process that took the form of various legal reforms very a long period of time. This study uses quarterly financial data from 1969 quarter one to 2009 quarter four to analyse this process. The data used was pertinent to the financial liberalization theorem by McKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973). The examination of the relationships between the various macro economic variables has important implications for effective policy formulation. The empirical analysis is carried out in four phases: the preliminary analysis, the principal component analysis (PCA), the cointegration analysis and pair wise Granger causality tests. The preliminary analysis examines trends over the sample period and reports the on the correlation between the selected variables. The PCA analysis was used to create indexes for financial liberalization, taking into account the phase wise nature of legal reforms. The generated index was representative of the process of financial liberalization from 1969 to 2009. A financial development index was also created using the various traditional measures of financial development and through PCA which investigated interrelationships among the variables according to their common sources of movement. Cointegration analysis is carried out using the Johansen cointegration procedure which investigates whether there is long-run comovement between South African economic growth and the selected macroeconomic variables. Where cointegration is found, Vector Error-Correction Models (VECMs) are estimated in order to examine the short-run adjustments. For robustness, many control variables were added into the model. The results showed that there are positive long run relationships between economic growth and financial liberalization, financial development and a negative relationship with interest rates. The Granger results suggested that the MS hypothesis does not manifest accurately in the South African data. The implications of the results were that financial liberalization has had positive effects on economic growth and thus any impediments to full financial liberalization must be removed albeit with considerations towards employment and local productivity. Financial development also possessed positive long run relationships with economic growth, although results differed based on the financial development proxy used. Thus, financial development must be improved primarily through liberalizing the banking sector and spurring savings.

The use of the Web to carry out business on the Internet has become a viable option in all business sectors, and Internet banking in South Africa is no exception. The nature of business on the Internet in South Africa and the World is investigated. The extent of Internet banking in South Africa is ascertained and the expectations and perceived problems of online bankers are discussed. The importance of Human Computer Interface and Web Interface Design for successful business is promoted with a discussion of their guidelines and principles. Web Evaluation techniques and Tools are assessed and The "Gartner" Web evaluation tool is selected to evaluate the three bank Web sites. The results of the evaluation indicate that there are several generally well implemented design criteria used by all of the banks while some criteria are not implemented at all. Each bank is discussed individually to identify strong and weak features of their Web site design. Essential aspects of Web design have been proposed for inclusion during the design of "online" Banking Web sites.

The purpose of this treatise is to ascertain the impact of economic downturn on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Banks. This has been sparked by the huge speculations in the market as to what will happen to BEE and how will the banks cope in general with the impact of this scourge. It is imperative to understand the influence of the 2008+ economic downturn on socio-economic reconstruction and development in South Africa and the black economic empowerment and its funding mechanisms. The treatise has two phases the, namely the theoretical phase and a bit of narrative phase. In the theoretical phase the research study interrogates what the literature review reveals about the economic downturn, BEE as well as performances of different banks across the world. This shows the economic impact that the banks have had to endure during the economic downturn. This resulted in stock markets losing their value. The dividend earners were significantly affected including a sizeable number of BEE companies. The BEE companies are perceived to be too reliant on debt on to finance their deals and this treatise will look at various options of financing a BEE deal and what is deem to the most suited financing structure. The narrative phase involves semi-structured interviews that were conducted in order to ascertain the real impact that South African were faced with and how they have managed to steer clear of the turbulent waters. This also looked at how the BEE consultant views the current occurrences in the market.

MSc (Statistics) / Department of Statistics / See the attached abstract below

The analysis of bank account statements to establish evidence of illicit financial activity is an established financial investigation methodology in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, but it is still in its infancy in South Africa. This is further highlighted by virtue of the fact that no uniform analysis methodology is used in South Africa for the analysis of bank account statements. The purpose of the research was to explore the role of such analysis, and the current practises in South Africa and New Jersey in the United States. This was to determine a practical model for the analysis of bank account statements in the South African context. Empirical research led to a proposed process model for such analysis, which was synthesised from current practises in South Africa and New Jersey in the United States. This model is proposed as the basis for the development of a uniform analysis methodology for the examination of bank account statements. / Die analise van bankrekeningstate om bewys van onwettige finasiële aktiwiteite te bepaal is 'n vasgestelde finansiële ondersoek metode in lande soos die Verenigde State en die Verenigde Koningkryk, maar in Suid-Afrika is dit steeds in die begin stadium. Dit is verder beklemtoon deur die feit dat daar geen eenvormige analise metode in Suid-Afrika in gebruik is vir die analise van bankrekeningstate. Die doel van die navorsing was om die rol van hierdie tipe analise, en die huidige praktyk in Suid-Afrika en New Jersey in die Verenigde State te bepaal. Dit was om 'n praktiese model vir die analise van bankrekeningstate in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Empiriese navorsing het gelui tot 'n voorgestelde proses model vir hierdie tipe analise, wat 'n samesmelting van die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse en New Jersey in die Verenigde State praktyk is. Hierdie model word voorgestel as die beginpunt vir die ontwikkeling van 'n eenvormige analise metode vir die ondersoek van bankrekening state. / Criminology / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Payment systems can be defined as a funds transfer system processing third party payments, supervised by a central bank or appropriate Regulatory Authority. (S.W.I.F.T., 1997). Therefore the importance of a well managed system, through regulatory methods, as well as self-regulation by the industry, cannot be over emphasized. According to Humphrey, (1996: 923), the composition of non-cash transactions consists of the following five payment instruments. The paper-based transactions are composed of cheques and paperbased giros payments. The electronic transactions consist of electronic giro, debit card (POS), and credit card payments. According to Vives, (1998: 168) there are normally two goals when a country wants to change its payment system, either it wants to increase efficiency, or it wants to reduce risk. If there is a conflict between risk and efficiency, the less risky solution must prevail. Credit risk and systemic risk poses the greatest challenges to payment systems. Credit risk exists when credit was granted to a participating member, which cannot fulfil its debt at the stage of payment need to be made. Systematic risks encompass situations in which the credit or liquidity problems for one or more market participants create substantial credit or liquidity problems for participants elsewhere in the financial system. (Emmons, 1997: 11). In order to create international standards in addressing the risk issues involved the Bank of International Settlements was established. The Bank's predominant tasks are to promote the co-operation of central banks and to provide additional facilities for international financial operations, and to create and maintain stability of international monetary and financial systems. The Bank of International Settlements published the Lamfallussy report. From the findings of this report a series of policy recommendations regarding netting schemes. The Basle Committee was established by the Central Bank Governors of the Group of Ten countries as a result of serious failures and disturbances in the international currency and banking markets, with the main objective to improve the collaboration between bank supervisors world wide. The objective is met by using three different methods, namely. Exchange information on national supervisory arrangements, improving the effectiveness of techniques for supervising, and the setting of minimum supervisory guidelines and recommendations and recommended statements of best practices, expecting authorities to take steps to implement in their respective countries. To enable secure international payments the Society for Worldwide Inter-bank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) was created, with the mission to provide technology-based communication services across all financial markets through member banks and their market infrastructures so that they can meet their own and their end-customers' needs. There is a growing awareness among central banks of the need to ensure the integrity, the security and the stability of their country's payment system. The central bank's main function was to regulate the country's currency circulation, to facilitate' payment transactions and to pursue a credit and monetary policy serving the interest of the country as a whole. Because of their importance for the smooth operation of commerce of financial markets, central banks often own and/or operate large value payment networks themselves rather than leave this function solely to commercial banks. (Sato et a/., 1995: 37). Commercial banks, or their agents, perform the vast majority of the clearing and processing of payment in developed countries, as well as providing the payment facilities to clients. The United States central bank is the main exception to this division of responsibility as it provides settlement service as well as check processing and over one-half of all Automatic Clearing Houses and wire processing services. (Sato et a/., 1995: 32). The re-entry of South Africa in the global trade in the early 1990s created new opportunities and challenges for the country. With the existing established payment system, South Africa provides a gateway to the Southern African countries. There are a number of fundamental changes in the financial markets, which have an impact on payment and settlement systems. The first important factor is the high speed of technological progress. Secondly, the fundamental change in financial markets concerns the internationalisation of financial flows. From a central bank point of view, these developments, although in principle to be welcomed because of their contribution to the effect of allocation of financial resources, require close attention, as the interrelationships between worldwide financial markets could also give rise to a propagation of risks. (Koning, 1998: 19). South Africa's payments system, as a well-functioning system, compares favourably with the best in the world; this is an essential requirement for participation in the international finance and trading. The challenge the South African banks face is the social responsibility to uplift the community on the one side, and compliance with the international rules and legislation on the other. In accordance to the minimum requirements set by the Lamfallussy report. The Reserve Bank of South Africa enforced strong policies via the Banking Council of South Africa, as well as the different committees and associations dedicated to certain payment systems. The South African Reserve Bank intent to provide an Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill in order to promote and regulate electronic communication and transactions. The Banking Council set certain criteria that will be implemented from the first of January 2002 on the item limits applicable to the certain electronic methods of payment. Councils and associations in the banking sector are established, self-regulatory as well as government controlled, to enforce rules and regulations to reduce the risk involved in the industry and comply with international requirements. A strong legal framework and the enforcement of certain risk prevention methods, for instance the enforcement of item limits and the change in the law on the crossing of cheques prove the commitment to participate internationally. The strong movement to same day settlement, (especially in high value payments via the SAMOS system), show that the payment industry in South Africa is on an ongoing process of implementing new procedures to comply with the international standards. Electronic money can be defined as stored value or prepaid products in which a record of funds or value available to the consumer is stored on a device in the consumer's possession. (Bank of International Settlements, 2001: 1). Consumers benefit from the ability to use payment methods that are inexpensive, convenient, and accessible. (Bank of International Settlements, 1997: 6). The participation in the payment processes by non-financial entities, coupled with the design and widespread use of unknown digital form of monetary value poses serious threats to the central bank's ability to control monetary policy and safeguard financial stability. Card based e-money schemes have been combined with functionality's such as access control, holder identification or local transportation ticketing. Network-based e-money schemes are operational or under trail in a limited number of countries. The existing payment system legislation applies to networkbased schemes. The South African Reserve Bank needs to constantly monitor and analyse the existing and new different methods of payment systems in order to create a low risk, stable, safe and a trade supportive environment for the improvement of its own economy, as well as for the Southern African region. Specific attention needs to be given to the high-value payment systems in order to reduce systemic risk. The prevalent factor is the real time settlement of the SAM OS (South African Multi Option Settlement) system. Finally, regulators need to coordinate actions, through the international and local platforms provides, to implant financial discipline, manage risk and support cross-border and regional trade. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Betaalstelsels kan gedefinieer word as 'n opdragte- of fondsoorplasingstelsel vir die maak van betalings aan 'n derde party, wat gereguleer word deur 'n sentrale bank of regering. (SWIFT, 1997). Die belangrikheid van 'n goedgereguleerde stelsel, deur middel van wetgewing, sowel as selfregulering deur die industrie, kan nie oorbeklemtoon word nie. Humphry (1996: 923) beskryf die samestelling van nie-kontant betaalstelsels as die volgende vyf instrumente. Die papier gebaseerde transaksie wat uit tjeks, papier-gebaseerde "giro' bestaan. Elektroniese transaksies bestaan uit die elektroniese "giro", debiet- en kredietkaarte. Volgens Vives (1998: 168) is daar normaalweg twee doelwitte wanneer verandering aan 'n betaalstelsels aangebring word, naamlik die verbetering in doeltreffendheid, of die vermindering van risiko, waar die laer risiko gewoonlik die voorkeur sal kry. Kredietrisiko en sistemiese risiko hou die grootste uitdagings vir betaalstelsels in. Kredietrisiko ontstaan waar krediet aan 'n deelnemende lid van 'n stelsel verleen word en die ander party nie kan presteer op die tydstip van betaling nie. Sistemiese risko's sluit situasies in waar krediet of likiditeit probleme vir een of meerdere deelnemers vir ander deelnemers groot krediet of likiditeits probleme skep in die finansiële stelsel. (Emmons, 1997: 11). Om risiko's internasionaal aan te spreek is die Bank of International Settlements gestig. Die organisasie het ten doeI om koördinasie tussen die sentrale banke te bevorder en stabiliteit te skep in die internasionale monetêre en finansiële markte. Die Bank of International Settlements het die Lamfallussy verslag opgestel waarin verskeie beleid aanbevelings aangaande verrekeningstelsels gemaak word. Die Basle Committee is gestig deur die hoofde van die Groep van 10 lande se sentrale banke weens die mislukking en ontwrigting van geldeenhede en finansiële markte wêreldwyd, met die doelstelling om samewerking tussen banke wêreldwyd te bevorder. Dit word bereik deur drie metodes naamlik, uitruil van inligting wêreldwyd na adviseurs, verbetering in die verskaffing van advies en die daarstel van riglyne en aanbevelings aangaande die beste praktyke, wat regerings in hul eie lande kan aanwend. Vir die daarstelling van 'n gestandaardiseerde, veilige intenasionale opdragte en betalings stelsel is die Society for Worldwide Inter-bank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) gestig, met die missie om 'n tegnologie gebasseerde opdrag en kommunikasie stelsel daar te stel wat alle markte deur middel van lede lande en hul infrastrukture kliënte kan bedien. Daar is 'n toenemende bewuswording onder sentrale banke om die integriteit en die sekuriteit van hul eie betaalstelsel te verseker. Die hoof funksie van die sentrale bank is die regulering van die land se geldeenheid, om betalings moontlik te maak en die daarstel van krediet- en monetêre beleid vir die steun van die land se belange as geheel. Weens die belangrikheid in die suksesvolle werking van die kommersiële markte, besit sentrale banke groot gedeeltes van die verrekeningstelsels eerder om dit aan kommersiële banke oor te laat. (Sato et aI., 1995: 37). Elke sentrale bank verskaf verskillende verrekeningsdienste afhangende van faktore soos die verskillende regsfaktore, sosiale faktore, politieke faktore, internasionale- en mededingende faktore. Kommersiële banke, of hul agente, is verantwoordelik vir die oorgrootte van verwerkingsaksies in ontwikkelende lande, asook die verskaffing van die betalingsmiddele. Die Verenigde State se sentrale bank is die hoof uitsondering wat self die verrekeningsdienste lewer, die prosessering van tjeks doen, die verrekeningshuise besit en verwerking dienste lewer. (Sato et al., 1995: 32). Suid-Afrika se hertoetrede tot die internasionale finansiële wêreld in die vroeë jare negentig het geleenthede en uitdagings meegebring. Met 'n bestaande gevestigde betaalstelsel word Suid-Afrika beskou as die deur na die Suider- Afrikaanse lande. Verskeie fundamentele veranderinge in die finansiële markte het 'n impak op die betaal- en verrekeningstelsels. Eerstens die spoed van tegnologiese vooruitgang; tweedens die verandering van die finansiële markte in terme van kapitaalvloei. Uit die oogpunt van 'n sentrale bank, verg die toekenning van finansiële hulpbronne, intense aandag, omdat die interverwantskappe van finansiële markte wêreldwyd risiko's verhoog. (Koning, 1998: 19). Suid-Afrika beskik oor 'n goed funksionerende betaalstelsel wat vergelyk kan word met die bestes ter wêreld en is van uiterste belang vir die internasionale deelname in finansiering en handel. Suid-Afrikaanse banke staan voor die uitdaging om aan sy sosiale verantwoordelikhede te voldoen om die gemeeskap op te bou aan die een kant en die vereistes om aan internasionale standaarde te voldoen, soos deur die Lamfallussy veslag voorgeskryf, aan die ander kant. Die Reserwe bank van Suid-Afrika dwing beleid af via die Banking Council of South Africa, asook verskeie kommisies en verenigings wat fokus op die verskeie betaalstelsels. Die Reserwebank van Suid-Afrika beoog om 'n "Electronic Communications and Transaction Bill" teen die einde van 2001 te publiseer vir die regulering van elektroniese kommunikasie en traksaksies. In Wetlike raamwerk en die afdwing van sekere risiko verminderende metodes, byvoorbeeld item limiete, wat gedurende Januarie 2002 in werking gestel word en die wysiging in die kruising van tjeks dui op die drastiese stappe wat aangebring word om internasionaal mededingend te wees, asook by internasionale riglyne in te pas. Daadwerklike pogings om selfde dag verrekeninge in die hoë waardestelsel (SAMOS) te implementeer en te voldoen aan die neergelegde internasionale standaarde. Elektroniese geld word gedefinieer as 'n gememoriseerde waarde of voorafbetaalde produkte waarin rekord van fondse of beskikbare waardes van 'n kliënt gehou word. (Bank of International Settlements, 2001: 1). Verbruikers kry die voordeel van maklik toeganklike en goedkoop betalingsmetodes. (Bank of International Settlements, 1997: 6). Die deelname van nie-finansiële instansies in die betalingsprosesse, daarmee saam die ontwerp en algemene gebruik van onbekende digitale vorms van monetêre waardes hou 'n bedreiging in vir die beheer van die sentrale bank om monetêre beleid af te dwing en finansiële stabiliteit te verseker. Kaartgebaseerde elektroniese geldskema's word in sekere gevalle is die fasiliteit gekombineer met funksionaliteit in die vorm van toegangsbeheer, houer identifikasie, of plaaslike transport kaarte. Netwerk gebaseerde elektroniese geldskema's is slegs in beperkte aantal lande operasioneel of onder ontwikkeling en bestaande wetgewing aangaande betaalstelsels word hoofsaaklik toegepas op die skema's. Daar word voorgestel dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Reserwebank moet op 'n voortdurende basis bestaande en nuwe verskillende betaalstelsels moniteer vir die daarstelling van 'n verlaagde risiko, met 'n stabiele- en veilige omgewing wat steun verleen aan die land se ekonomie, sowel as die omliggende Suider- Afrikaanse lande. Verdere pogings moet aangewend word word om hoë-waarde betaalstelsels (SAMOS) se sistemiese risiko te verminder deur van dieselfde dag vereffening gebruik te maak. Ter afsluiting moet daar met gekoordineerde aksies, wat plaaslik en internasionaal bestaan, aangewend word om finansiële dissipline daar te stel, risko's te bestuur en internasionale handel te bevorder.

M.Comm. / Due to uncertainties experienced while working for the South African Revenue Services and the fact that there are no specific sections in the Income Tax Act no. 58 of 1962 dealing with interest, foreign exchange and bad and doubtful debts of commercial banks there were a need to undertake a study. The study therefore undertakes an examination to determine if the existing sections of the Income Tax Act dealing with interest, foreign exchange and bad and doubtful debts are enough legislation to deal with the interest, foreign exchange and bad and doubtful debts of commercial banks. The study also try to clear all existing uncertainties experienced and mentioned in this study. The study can be divided into the following four parts: A literature study of the definition of "bank" and "banking operations", in terms of history and current legislation. A study of the definition of "interest" and "finance charges", in terms of sections of the Income Tax Act, Act no. 58 of 1962 and applicable court cases. The chapter also concentrates on the application of section 24J of the Income Tax Act on the interest-transactions of commercial banks as well as the identification of any short falls of the section. Before interest can be treated in terms of section 24J of the Income Tax Act, the source of the interest will have to be in South Africa. General sourse principles applicable to commercial banks as well as the deductability of interest expenses when expenced to generate exempt income will therefore also be covered in this chapter. A study of the application of section 241 of the Income Tax Act dealing with the foreign exchange of commercial banks. An examination of the way commercial banks should treat their bad and doubtful debts and the factors taken into account in court decisions relating thereto. The most important activities of a bank are identified in this study as the acceptance of deposits, the provision of credit, rendering of financial services and the trade in exchange and the utilisation of money and interest received. In terms of section 24J of the Income Tax Act, interest include finance charges, premiums or disconto's, all interests and the difference between all amounts payable or receivable in terms of a sale and leaseback agreement. It was found that all the interest of a commercial bank are included in the definition of interest and all the transactions of a commercial bank are treated in terms of section 24J of the Income Tax Act for income tax purposes. Section 241 of the Income Tax Act focuses on foreign exchange transactions and are found to be enough legislation for the foreign exchange transactions of commercial banks. Although bad and doubtful debts are not part of the activities of a commercial bank they are part of the uncertainties experienced while working for the South African Revenue Services. During the study it was found that doubtful debts can not be deducted in terms of section 11(a) of the Income Tax Act but only in terms of section 11(j) of the Income Tax Act. It is practice for the South African Revenue Services to only allows 25% of the full amount of doubtful debts, but as this discretion is subject to objection and appeal, the bank is entitled to claim a higher percentage as a deduction if they can provide proveto justify a higher deduction. It was also found that commercial banks can claim their bad debts in term of section 11(a) of the Income Tax Act.

Affirmative Action has been around in South Africa for about two decades. Recently, the government decided to impose Affirmative Action through the Employment Equity Act. Organisations are anxious to transform their demographical composition across job categories, particularly into management. One of the problems organisations faced in the past and may continue to face in the future is the perceived short tenure ('Job hopping") of black employees. The impression has been created that black employees are taking advantage of the favourable employment market and constantly keep moving on to jobs that offer better packages. The aim of this study is to investigate how organisations are trying to manage this problem . Five Human Resources systems/criteria i.e. selection, training and development, career management, pay and socialisation were identified in the theory as instruments with which employees could be retained. in-depth case studies were conducted at two large banks (A and B) in Kwazulu Natal to establish and compare the relationships that these human resources criteria might have with the retention of black employees. To obtain this information, a structured interview schedule with open-ended as well as closed-ended questions was used. Face to face interviews with a senior Human Resources Practitioner from each bank as well as two current and two exemployees from each bank were conducted. The resulting data was captured onto a computer and analysed statistically. The results of the research showed that the bank that scored the best (bank A) on the implementation of these five retention-related criteria also had the highest turnover of black employees. This was contrary to what was anticipated. The research also found that there was little uniformity in practice between the two banks regarding which criteria they were emphasising within their respective organisations. Furthermore, current and ex-employees bad different perceptions to management regarding how well these criteria were being implemented. The findings suggest that when employees are developing they are content and tend to stay longer. They further indicate that in order to reduce black employee turnover, management should recruit individuals with potential and develop them, rather than purchasing skills from the outside. The findings also show that whilst management might have good Human Resources systems at it's disposal, the implementation thereof needs to be of a high standard and well-controlled in order to optimise retention. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

According to the Financial Sector (FS) Charter, in August 2002, at the NEDLAC Financial Sector Summit, "the financial sector committed itself to the development of a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) charter. It made this commitment, noting that: "Despite significant progress since the establishment of a democratic government in 1994, South African society remains characterised by racially based income and social services inequalities. This is not only unjust, but inhibits the country's ability to achieve its full economic potential. BEE is a mechanism aimed at addressing inequalities and mobilising the energies of all South Africans. It will contribute towards sustained economic growth, development and social transformation in South Africa. Inequalities also manifest themselves in the country's financial sector. A positive and proactive response from the sector through the implementation of BEE will further unlock the sector's potential, promote its global competitiveness, and enhance its world class status". Parties of the Financial Sector Charter agreed on the seven pillars below: 1) Human resource management - provide resources to develop skills of black people with the aim of increasing black participation in all levels of management in the sector. 2) Procurement policies - implement a targeted procurement strategy to enhance BEE. 3) Enterprise development - improve the level of support provided to BEE companies in all sectors of the economy. This would be achieved through skills transfer, administration and technical support. 4) Access to financial services - provide affordable financial services to the previously disadvantaged groups and making sure financial services are accessible to these groups. 5) Empowerment financing - work closely with government and government financial institutions to increase resources for empowerment financing. 6) Ownership in the financial sector - 25% of shares in each party of the FS Charter should be owned by black people by 2010. 7) Corporate social investrnent (CSI) - Each financial institution will have to spend 0.5% of their after-tax profit on corporate social investment projects. The projects should be targeted at black groups with a strong focus on transformation. The research evaluates the applicability of Lewin's Force Field Analysis (a change management model) in the implementation of the Financial Sector Charter at Standard Bank of South Africa. It attempts to achieve this by looking at how the Financial Sector Charter is being implemented at Standard Bank. The research looks at three main areas: 1) The "context" of the research problem, by seeking to understand Standard Bank's understanding of the FS Charter, the importance of implementing the FS Charter by the bank, the progress made thus far in the FS Charter implementation and comparison to the BEE scorecards of the other three main bank. 2) The "process", i.e. how the FS Charter is implemented in the bank, the driving and restraining forces of successful implementation of the FS Charter and the lessons learnt. 3) The "outcome" , i.e. benefits of implementing the FS Charter and what could be done to ensure that change management processes are successfully implemented. Personal interviews were used to discover other valuable information which was not available on the bank's published documents, and other related sources such as the Financial Sector Charter document. The sample size for the study was ten Standard Bank employees from different areas of the bank who are either senior managers or directors, in the bank. Internal publications available on the Standard Bank intranet such as the bank's employment equity plans, and the bank's sustainability reports from 2004 to 2011 (Standard Bank, 2004-2011) were analysed for the purpose of the study. The researcher also analysed public documents such as the bank's annual financial reports, bank's equity reports and internal publications on related topics of the research question. Lewin's Forces Field Analysis (FFA) points out that in any environment where change is required; there are both driving and restraining forces that influence the implementation of a change programme. The FFA is a valuable change management tool at trying to transform the behaviour of an individual, and this will lead to transformation of groups and, ultimately the organisation. It also helps to establish the balance between the driving and restraining forces of the change programme. Lewin's (1951) theory put forward the idea that change occurs in three stages: the first stage of change is unfreezing; the second stage is moving and lastly, the third stage is refreezing. In the unfreezing stage, the bank's change management initiatives would need to be directed at giving the individuals a desire and motivation to be ready and open about a planned change initiative. This could be achieved by clearly communicating why change is important, benefits of change and the compelling reasons for change. In moving, the bank would need to give support and confidence to the people affected by change in order to start accepting and buying-in to new perspectives, which enable them to realise that change will improve the current situation. In the refreezing stage, the bank would need to ensure that new patterns of behaviour are reinforced. This will ensure that the changes are applied in everyday business, and this helps create a sense of stability, where those affected by change feel comfortable and confident with the new approach of doing things. The research concludes that managers should recognise the sensitivity around transformation, and should always try to ensure that change management initiatives directed at transformation are unifying, fair and transparent. This should be done to avoid a situation where an employee (or prospective employees) and other stakeholders feel under-appreciated or overlooked because of their gender or race. This demands a carefully crafted and implemented change management programme, whose results will not only unify the bank's employees, but also create a competitive edge for the bank. Lewin's Force Field Analysis (FFA) model is a change management tool that could be used to produce such results.

Bank capital has a critical role in banking business the world over. Capital is a principal aspect of regulation and will determine how long a bank remains in business from a regulatory point of view. Its cost and the regulatory amount have an impact on the competitiveness of an institution and will influence the rate of expansion of a bank. The contribution of capital to the profitability and survival of a commercial bank remain an unresolved empirical issue. Prior research on the relationship between capital and profitability has largely focused on developed economies, especially the USA, and Europe. However, the results have been inconclusive. There is no evidence of such kind of a research done to date that focuses on an emerging economy such as South Africa. The seemingly conflicting finding coupled with regulations imposing equity capital adequacy from the Basel 11 Accord present an opportune platform for further research on the relationship between capital and profitability. Using South Africa as a unit of analysis and using the Generalised Methods of Moments (GMM), and Panel Two Stage Least Squares (2SLS) or Pooled IV method as the estimation techniques, this study tested the hypothesis that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between bank capital and profitability. The results from the study provide evidence of a positive relationship between capital ratio (CAR), return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA) and supported the generally held notion that there is a positive relationship between bank capital and profitability. This research output provided new insights into the long-run impact of bank capital on profitability and survival. From a bank specific strategic decision-making perspective, this would assist financial institutions and investors in tailoring investment decisions in response to policy decisions that relate to bank capital. From the public policy perspective, this would assist both governments and regulators in formulating better- informed policy decisions regarding the importance of bank capital. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)