Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Human Settlements in partnership with the National Department of Human Settlements has launched a new integrated system known as the Housing Needs Register (HNR) to manage potential housing beneficiaries. This study was aimed at refining the integrated system in terms of providing guidelines and processes in the allocation of affordable houses. A total of 88 878 records captured on the HNR were profiled, and the results show that in approximately 86% of the records, family factors and better economic circumstances were given as the main motivation towards a desire to own a house in a particular area of residence. These findings emphasized the importance of understanding beneficiaries’ needs with regard to housing. Providing guidelines in the application of this knowledge in a fair and consistent manner could assist in curtailing the spread of informal selling or demolishing of state subsidized houses and other forms of corruption. / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

Affirmative action represents a major goal for South African organisations since the process of democratisation in 1994. Evaluating the success of affirmative action programmes is therefore considered a priority. The research objective was to investigate the association between affirmative action effectiveness and the job satisfaction of affirmative action beneficiaries. A literature survey concerning affirmative action, affirmative action success, and job satisfaction was done. A structured interview, gauging the congruency of organisations' affirmative action efforts with affirmative action effectiveness theory, and a job satisfaction questionnaire, measuring the job satisfaction experienced by affirmative action beneficiaries, were utilised. The study was conducted among 121 affirmative action beneficiaries employed by five organisations. ')( The result of the empirical study proved that a significant direct relationship exists between the level of effectiveness of the target organisations' affirmative action endeavours and the level of job satisfaction experienced by their affirmative action beneficiaries. / Economics and Management Sciences / M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The present study is about community perception on child support grant (CSG) in Lepelle Nkumpi, in the Limpopo Province. The main aim of the study was to investigate the use of CSG by the beneficiaries and the community perceptions thereof on CSG abuse in South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). The objectives were to investigate the use of CSG by the beneficiaries, to identify the weakness in SASSA policy on the granting of CSG, to analyse the community perception about the abuse of CSG and to provide workable solutions to the existing problems of child grant. Structured interviews, questionnaires and literature were used to collect data. The study concluded that SASSA employees and community members believe that beneficiaries are abusing child support grant while beneficiaries believes that child support grant is used properly.

Thesis ( M. Sc.((Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / Wildlife farming has become an important land use alternative, especially in most developing countries where there is an abundance of wildlife resources. In South Africa, integrated wildlife/livestock was mostly practiced by commercial farmers on a privately owned land but in recent years, potential for income generation in the industry has grown. Smallholder farmers are increasingly being assisted to explore practicing integrated wildlife/livestock on communal land after receiving land through restitution programme. The aim of the study was to examine costs and benefits associated with integrating livestock with wildlife in a smallholder agricultural context. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 71 respondents situated in Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality selected using multistage random sampling technique. Cost-benefit approach and weighted decision matrix were used for economic analysis and also to identify potential trade-offs. Furthermore, the study used descriptive statistical analysis to identify opportunities and challenges faced by farmers. Some of the livestock costs identified include feeds, vaccines and labour costs. Benefits of wildlife include income from trophy hunting and selling meat from wild animals. Cost-Benefit Ratio (CBR) as a tool of cost benefit analysis techniques, was used in order get 0.67 in livestock farming, this shows that the project may not be sustainable whereas that of wildlife farming was 1.13 which indicate that the project will yield positive outcome for community involved. There are trade-offs that farmers will have to consider when shifting towards integrated wildlife/livestock such as reduced livestock benefits and increased wildlife benefits. Livestock diseases, stock theft and others are the identified challenges associated with integrated wildlife/livestock. Descriptive results indicated that 40% of livestock farmers mentioned that they are strongly affected by stock theft and disease transmission. The identified opportunities of integrated wildlife/livestock were business and job creation for rural households. Given the findings, the study therefore, recommends that government and private sector should assist farmers with training in wildlife farming so that they can be competitive in commercial wildlife farming. Funds should be made available for setting up infrastructure suited for wildlife land uses. / Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / The aim of the study was to investigate elements that compromise the success of Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) in Mopani District, Limpopo Province. There is a general view that PLAS intended to fast track the land reform process. The emerging farmers as soon as they get the land through PLAS are expected to use the land for production so as to improve their socio- economic status and contribute to the local economic growth. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform proactively acquires the land and redistributes it to the previously disadvantaged people in a lease contract. Emerging farmers do not need to own the land and have title deeds as the land belongs to the government. PLAS is state driven because only the government can proactively acquire the land and lease it out to prospective productive emerging farmers from previously disadvantaged groups. Qualitative research design was used to collect data. The target group in this study were direct beneficiaries of PLAS or emerging farmers. Data was collected using focus group discussions with emerging farmers and one-on-one interviews in all three local municipalities: Ba-Phalaborwa, Tzaneen and Maruleng. One- on- one interviews were conducted with the key participants from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the Limpopo Department of Agriculture. The results of the study show that the emerging farmers are not effectively using the land as expected. They do not have the necessary support from government or Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. It was also revealed in the study that the Limpopo Department of Agriculture is expected to support the emerging farmers with technical support. In practice there is no visible form of support from the provincial department and farmers are left to fend for themselves. Emerging farmers usually lack farming skills and need regular training and support to be able to continue with their farming and businesses. The findings further reveal that the emerging farmers face serious challenges such as a lack of funding, water shortage, and lack of access to markets and their recapitalisation is reduced. These findings show that the strategy is not responsive enough because of lack of resources from the government. While there are instances where the white farmers are willing to sell their land, the government do not always have resources to acquire such lands. Also most of these land prices are often inflated and it is where these sellers are taking advantage of the government. This study recommends that the government should support the emerging farmers by all means possible. That will lead to profitable farming and the lives of the people will change qualitatively, leading to social and economic development. It is recommended further that the emerging farmers be given appropriate training so that they can be equipped with skills and be able to run and manage their farms

Background: Statins have questionable benefits among older adults with life-limiting illness. Statin use is widespread among U.S. older adults, but little is known about use in nursing homes. This dissertation was designed to identify the prevalence and predictors of statin pharmacotherapy use and discontinuation in U.S. nursing homes. Methods: Data sources (2011-2016) included: Minimum Data Set 3.0, Medicare administrative claims data, Provider of Service files, and Dartmouth Atlas files. Analyses included: descriptive statistics, multilevel modeling, and proportional change in cluster variations with adjustments to reduce confounding and model misspecification. Results: Approximately 36% of older adults admitted to U.S. nursing homes between 2015 – 2016 were actively using statins at the time of admission. Among long-stay residents with life-limiting illness, 34% were on statins at one time (2016; aged 65-75 years: 44%, >75 years: 31%). Statin use varied significantly by hospital referral regions, with most variation in the >75 age group. Limiting the sample to statin users, 20% discontinued statins within 30 days of nursing home admission. While discontinuation was positively associated with severity of life-limiting condition, the majority of residents remained on statins 30 days post-admission, including those with a < 6-month prognosis. Conclusion: Statin use is pervasive across US nursing homes and persists with life-limiting illness. Geographic variation appeared to coincide with clinical uncertainty, especially among adults >75 with few national guidelines. More needs to be done to prioritize statin deprescribing in nursing homes with research that identifies ways to facilitate improved patient-provider awareness and engagement in the discontinuation process.

The objectives for this study were to develop a continuity of care scale, to assess the mean level of continuity of care, to assess association between demographic variables and clinical variables with continuity of care, and to assess association between continuity of care and medication adherence among Medicare beneficiaries. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to achieve the objectives using data from the 2015 to 2017 Medicare Current Beneficiaries Survey (MCBS). To be included in the sample, beneficiaries had to have a hyperlipidemia diagnosis, be continuously enrolled in Medicare Part D for six months from start of medication adherence, be continuously enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B in the preceding year, and had to have at least two prescription claims for hyperlipidemia medications. Beneficiaries were excluded if they had a proxy responder, had an Alzheimer’s disease or dementia diagnosis, were enrolled in Medicare due to end-stage renal disease or disability, or were residing in a long-term care facility. Among 2,120 beneficiaries that met sample selection criteria, 57 percent were aged 75 years or older, 57 percent were female, and 87 percent were White. An overall continuity of care scale was developed using MCBS items that asked respondents about their care experience. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine subscales of continuity of care using a randomly selected 60 percent of the sample, which yielded three subscales of continuity of care: relational continuity (Factor 1), informational continuity (Factor 2), and management continuity (Factor 3). Confirmatory factor analysis conducted using the remaining 40 percent of the sample validated factor structure of the continuity of care scale. The mean level of overall continuity of care among Medicare beneficiaries was 3.26 out of 4. Medication adherence was assessed using proportion of days (PDC) covered for anti-hyperlipidemia medications. Beneficiaries with a PDC of 80 percent or more were considered medication adherent. Approximately, 81 percent of beneficiaries were adherent to prescribed hyperlipidemia medications. Association between demographic variables and clinical variables with overall continuity of care was assessed using multivariable logistic regression based on purposeful selection of variables method. Older age, low perceived health status, and lower number of prescribed medications were associated with low overall continuity of care. Race and marital status were found to have interaction effect on overall continuity of care. Among non-white beneficiaries, married beneficiaries reported higher overall continuity of care than not-married beneficiaries. Among married beneficiaries, whites reported lower overall 12 continuity of care than non-whites. Association between overall continuity of care and medication adherence was assessed using multivariable logistic regression with purposeful selection of variables method. There was no association found between overall continuity of care and medication adherence.

The purpose of this project was to design a chronic care plan using the chronic care management (CCM) framework to improve health services at lower healthcare costs. The practice-focused question explored whether the operationalization of the CCM model would impact progress toward the management of chronic illness for the target population of Medicare beneficiaries with 2 or more chronic illnesses in an urban acute care agency located in the western United States. The middle-range theory, logic rational plan model, Lewin’s change theory, and the CCM’s coordination care and collaborative care concepts were used to guide the project. Data were collected from nursing databases and government agencies. Nurses were significant to the CCM reform by supporting the elements for proactive care. Nurse practitioners can bill using the CCM codes, and clinical nurses can performed patient sensitive care. The social changes were patients with chronic illnesses realized a better quality of life at lower health costs.

OPSOMMING Alhoewel die trustfiguur reeds sedert die 19e Eeu in Suid-Afrika erken word, en as `n suiwer trustfiguur tipeer kan word, is die hantering van die regte van sekere trustbegunstigdes steeds in onsekerheid gehul. Die hoofrede hiervoor is die oorbeklemtoning van die wyse waarop trusts tot stand kom en die onderbeklemtoning van die unieke fidusiêre aard van die trust na oprigting daarvan. In Engeland, Skotland, Sri Lanka, Louisiana en Quebec, waar die suiwer trustfiguur ook aanwending vind, bestaan, in teenstelling met die oënskynlike regsposisie in Suid-Afrika, die moontlikheid van trustbegunstigdes sonder regte glad nie. In hierdie jurisdiksies speel die oprigtingsinstrument `n ondergeskikte rol en ontstaan die regte van trustbegunstigdes ex lege uit hoofde van die trustfiguur as `n vertrouensverhouding sui generis. Alhoewel die Suid-Afrikaanse trustreg die fidusiêre aard van die verhouding tussen trustee en trustbegunstigde erken, word die aard en omvang van die regte wat hieruit voort behoort te vloei nog nie voldoende deur die howe erken nie. Vertrouensverhoudinge waaruit regte en verpligtinge ex lege voortspruit, is bekend aan die gemenereg en word steeds hedendaags aangetref in verskeie ander vakdissiplines binne die Suid-Afrikaanse reg, waaronder die maatskappyereg. Die suiwer trustfiguur stel verder noodwendig `n vertrouensverhouding daar wat juis daarop gemik is om die regte van trustbegunstigdes te beskerm. Die standpunt word dus ingeneem dat alle trustbegunstigdes in Suid-Afrika derhalwe oor ex lege regte beskik. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat trustbegunstigdes se regte nie uitsluitlik voortvloei uit hoofde van die tersaaklike oprigtingshandeling nie, maar dat unieke regte ontstaan as gevolg van die onderliggende fidusiêre verhouding wat tot stand kom wanneer, maar ongeag hoe, die trust opgerig word. Kortom: Die fidusiêre verhouding behoort erken te word as eie, onafhanklike bron van trustbegunstigdes se moontlike regte teen die trustee in die geval van trustbreuk. Nie net is dit `n logiese stap in die ontwikkeling van die gemenereg nie, maar sal dit ook die beskerming van trustbegunstigdes in die Suid-Afrikaanse trustreg op dieselfde voet plaas as trustbegunstigdes in die ander jurisdiksies wat nagevors is. So 'n stap sal bydra tot regsekerheid en nie tot `n wesentlike omwenteling in die Suid-Afrikaanse trustreg en -administrasie lei nie. SYNOPSIS Although the trust figure has been recognised in South Africa since the 19th century and can be characterised as a proper trust, uncertainty still prevails regarding the scope and acknowledgement of the rights of some trust beneficiaries. The main reason for this is the over-emphasis of the manner in which trusts are created, and the under-emphasis of the unique fiduciary nature of the trust once it has been established. In England, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Louisiana and Quebec where the proper trust figure is also applied, there is no possibility, contrary to the apparent legal position in South Africa, of trust beneficiaries without rights. In these jurisdictions the instrument used to create a trust plays a subordinate role and the rights of trust beneficiaries originate ex lege by virtue of the trust itself as a relationship of trust sui generis. Although South African trust law acknowledges the fiduciary nature of the relationship between trustee and trust beneficiary, the nature and extent of the rights that should emanate from this relationship are not adequately acknowledged by the courts. / Jurisprudence / L.L.D.

OPSOMMING Alhoewel die trustfiguur reeds sedert die 19e Eeu in Suid-Afrika erken word, en as `n suiwer trustfiguur tipeer kan word, is die hantering van die regte van sekere trustbegunstigdes steeds in onsekerheid gehul. Die hoofrede hiervoor is die oorbeklemtoning van die wyse waarop trusts tot stand kom en die onderbeklemtoning van die unieke fidusiêre aard van die trust na oprigting daarvan. In Engeland, Skotland, Sri Lanka, Louisiana en Quebec, waar die suiwer trustfiguur ook aanwending vind, bestaan, in teenstelling met die oënskynlike regsposisie in Suid-Afrika, die moontlikheid van trustbegunstigdes sonder regte glad nie. In hierdie jurisdiksies speel die oprigtingsinstrument `n ondergeskikte rol en ontstaan die regte van trustbegunstigdes ex lege uit hoofde van die trustfiguur as `n vertrouensverhouding sui generis. Alhoewel die Suid-Afrikaanse trustreg die fidusiêre aard van die verhouding tussen trustee en trustbegunstigde erken, word die aard en omvang van die regte wat hieruit voort behoort te vloei nog nie voldoende deur die howe erken nie. Vertrouensverhoudinge waaruit regte en verpligtinge ex lege voortspruit, is bekend aan die gemenereg en word steeds hedendaags aangetref in verskeie ander vakdissiplines binne die Suid-Afrikaanse reg, waaronder die maatskappyereg. Die suiwer trustfiguur stel verder noodwendig `n vertrouensverhouding daar wat juis daarop gemik is om die regte van trustbegunstigdes te beskerm. Die standpunt word dus ingeneem dat alle trustbegunstigdes in Suid-Afrika derhalwe oor ex lege regte beskik. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat trustbegunstigdes se regte nie uitsluitlik voortvloei uit hoofde van die tersaaklike oprigtingshandeling nie, maar dat unieke regte ontstaan as gevolg van die onderliggende fidusiêre verhouding wat tot stand kom wanneer, maar ongeag hoe, die trust opgerig word. Kortom: Die fidusiêre verhouding behoort erken te word as eie, onafhanklike bron van trustbegunstigdes se moontlike regte teen die trustee in die geval van trustbreuk. Nie net is dit `n logiese stap in die ontwikkeling van die gemenereg nie, maar sal dit ook die beskerming van trustbegunstigdes in die Suid-Afrikaanse trustreg op dieselfde voet plaas as trustbegunstigdes in die ander jurisdiksies wat nagevors is. So 'n stap sal bydra tot regsekerheid en nie tot `n wesentlike omwenteling in die Suid-Afrikaanse trustreg en -administrasie lei nie. SYNOPSIS Although the trust figure has been recognised in South Africa since the 19th century and can be characterised as a proper trust, uncertainty still prevails regarding the scope and acknowledgement of the rights of some trust beneficiaries. The main reason for this is the over-emphasis of the manner in which trusts are created, and the under-emphasis of the unique fiduciary nature of the trust once it has been established. In England, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Louisiana and Quebec where the proper trust figure is also applied, there is no possibility, contrary to the apparent legal position in South Africa, of trust beneficiaries without rights. In these jurisdictions the instrument used to create a trust plays a subordinate role and the rights of trust beneficiaries originate ex lege by virtue of the trust itself as a relationship of trust sui generis. Although South African trust law acknowledges the fiduciary nature of the relationship between trustee and trust beneficiary, the nature and extent of the rights that should emanate from this relationship are not adequately acknowledged by the courts. / Jurisprudence / L.L.D.