In recent years, it has become clear that a lot of corporate collapse can be traced down to poor leadership. As more and more black executives are climbing the corporate ladder, it is becoming all the more necessary to explore how their effective leadership development can occur with private organisations in South Africa. There are many challenges and constraints associated with the leadership development of these executives. This can be expected as they are entering an environment which has been largely white-dominated. As a result they find themselves facing the challenges of succeeding amidst negative perceptions they have experienced from their superiors and subtle pressures from subordinates. Therefore, it can only be expected that if organisations are to maintain a competitive advantage they need to understand how to effectively develop this new breed of leaders. Hence, the researcher has used a qualitative approach to investigate the complexities of the experiences of black executives in private organisations. In terms of the theoretical framework, the research focuses on some of the new approaches to leadership. It was discovered that leadership development is essentially a process that goes beyond mere training sessions, and largely involves the relationships one has within the organisation. This involves relationships with superiors, peers, and subordinates. The research indicates that if these relationships are managed effectively, leadership development is enhanced. Whilst the role of formal training programs appeared somewhat downplayed, it was clear that these programs had a strong role in terms of their psychological impact on participants. They certainly affected their perception of the organisation and their own self-efficacy. The research, therefore illustrates how there are a variety of individual and organisational attributes that form a basis for effective leadership development of blacks in private organisations. The researcher argues that if these are implemented, organisational well-being is enhanced.

As a result of apartheid’s history, the current South African government was initially faced with two major challenges in the development of sustainable human settlement in urban areas: delivering the quantity of houses needed to reduce the massive housing backlog (notably in black townships) and overcoming the problem of racially-based spatial separation inherited from the apartheid era. To rectify the legacies of apartheid, the state has sought to pursue a massive housing programme in urban areas for poor urban blacks. In doing so, though, it has worked within the confines of the racially-segregated South African city and has adopted a macro-economic policy with a pronounced neo-liberal thrust. This thesis examines the South African state’s housing programme with reference to questions about social sustainability and specifically sustainable human settlements. It does so by highlighting social capital and the different forms it takes, notably bonding, binding and linking capitals. This is pursued through a case study of a small area of a black township in Grahamstown called Hlalani. The case focuses on the lived experiences of Hlalani residents and their intra-household and inter-household relations as well as their linkages with local state structures. It is concluded that social capital is weak and incipient in Hlalani and that Hlalani could not, by any definition or measurement of the term, be labeled as a sustainable human settlement.

M.A. (Industrial Psychology) / South Africa is a country richly blessed with natural and human resources. Optimal utilization of human resources is of great importance for economic development, but a number 9f factors with specific reference to the South African situation restrain this development, i.e; A shortage-of skilled labour 2. A small white population that has to satisfy the demand for skilled labour, and 3. A shortage of supervisory and middle management. By means of training, the shortage of skilled labour can be reduced and by placing Blacks in supervisory positions the demand on the white population can be eased. One of the first levels of management is that of the first line supervisor. The position of the Black first line supervisor is receiving more and more attention from industrialists who realise the importance of these supervisors for the healthy functioning of an organisation. Black supervisors can be effective, but they have to be selected and trained correctly. The focus of this study is placed on the selection of Black first line supervisors. Two selection instruments, The Work Preference Questionnaire (WPQ) and the Picture Situation Test (PST) were specifically developed for this purpose, but the metric qualities of the tests were not known until now. The aim of this study is to determine the validity of these two selection instruments. The model for concurrent validity is used.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, November 2018 / South Africa gained strong recognition all over the world after the fall of apartheid. Alas their quest to depolarizing the economy of the country has not ended. Several transformational initiatives have been set up by the government to accomplish this feat, the latest and most successful, in terms of economic empowerment, is the Broad-Based Back Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act. This initiative has however, been criticized by academics and its direct beneficiaries as not fulfilling its underlying purpose which is to smooth the coexistence of its diversified society. The question has been “is this just another initiative that gives the picture-perfect demographic representation in the work environment or is it giving us much more?” A major discourse has been controversies about the Act’s operationality in achieving its aim and its possible contribution in reinforcing discrimination resulting from societal power shift; hence, the backlash effect on beneficiaries and reverse discrimination on the non-PDI’s (previously disadvantaged individuals). It is on the premise of these questions and criticisms that this research strives to evaluate the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment initiative as a diversity initiative that has gone beyond managing diversity to fostering diversity. It introduced a framework for fostering diversity which was used as a guideline in developing the Fostering Diversity Index questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used, focusing on nine top BEE companies as rated by EmpowerDex. A well-structured questionnaire was developed and distributed within the companies. These companies had their organisational culture assessed, psychological empowerment evaluated and social perceptions of diversity through the implementation of BBBEE evaluated. Findings from this research indicate that the BBBEE Act has a good potential for fostering diversity; however, fostering diversity requires an organisation to have a culture which embraces diversity as well as an adequate level of psychological empowerment. Without both, there will always be the disconnect between a government diversity initiative, such as the BBBEE and the internal state of affairs of the organisation. This study shows the dynamic relationships between organisational culture, social perception of diversity and psychological empowerment within these top-rated BEE companies. Gender was the only factor that predicts workplace diversity. Among the implication to policy, it is recommended that the implementation process of BBBEE be reviewed to attend to the salient issues of diversity. / XL2019

A research report submitted by in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce, University of the Witwatersrand, 2019 / Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation was introduced in South Africa to combat the significant modern-day racial inequality caused by Apartheid. While social returns are the primary objective of BEE, one must assess whether compliance with this legislation has also yielded financial returns. Prior studies have mainly focused on the effect of the composite BEE Scorecard on performance, and have produced inconclusive and conflicting results. This study therefore aims to gain further insight into the impact of the BEE scorecard by isolating the influence of each element of the BEE scorecard on performance. A quantitative study was undertaken using Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed firms as the population. A multivariate panel regression analysis was performed using return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and share returns (SHR) as proxies for performance over the period 2011 to 2017. The final sample translated into 346 company-year observations for the ROA and ROE models, and 381 for the SHR model. Initial analyses evidenced a strong positive correlation between ROA/ROE and Employment Equity. The regression analyses, which controlled for profitability, growth, asset utilisation, debt, size, industry and macro-economic factors, returned two significant findings. The Ownership element of the scorecard was positively associated with both ROA and ROE, while Socio-Economic Development was negatively associated with ROA. The findings from this study add to the body of BEE research that shareholders, managers and policy-makers can consider when making decisions about BEE policies. Ongoing research to further develop these findings will assist companies in supporting the movement for economic unity while maximising their own value creation. / PH2020

No description available.

Educational Studies / D.Ed. (History of Education)

Research has been conducted in the genesis and development of formal education in the Eastern Moutse area within the context of formal education in South African schools. Various methods such as historical method, phenomenological method, metabletic method, comparative method, exemplaristic method, descriptive method and evaluation method have been followed whereby the development, over the years, of education in the area under review, was revealed. The authenticity of formal education as it evolved was evaluated by the use of Essence Structure Model (ESM). An attempt has been made to describe the education-essence-structure in its multifaceted complexity. These education-aim-essences have been used since time immemorial. It appeared that of all the essences, religiousness has the highest value. Other essences which are of equal status are: the ethical, the aesthetic, the economic, language and other essences of the ESM. In order for authentic education to take place, all the education aim structure essences must be accorded a rightful place in the education of a child towards adulthood. Throughout history, cultural groups have over and under-emphasised different essences in their efforts to educate the child towards adulthood. This effort was informed by a particular life-view or a philosophy oflife which was upheld by people of different cultural backgrounds. The need to restructure the curriculum in the Eastern Moutse area in such a way that it caters for a balanced recognition of all essences of the ESM has been discussed. Overemphasis of some essences at the expense of the others leads to an inauthentic way of existence. The aim of this research has been to conduct a historical survey and evaluation of formal education in the Eastern Moutse area as it evolved over the years from the missionary era until in the 1990s. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (History of Education)

<p>This study focused on Black Economic Empowerment and gender in the liquid fuels industry. It explored the possible means of empowerment and questions the seriousness of organizations to institute programmes that are gender sensitive. The liquid fuels industry in South Africa served as the pinnacle of the apartheid state. It possessed the strength to survive the onslaught of the economic sanctions imposed as a result of apartheid. It was because of these stringent economic sanctions that it was forced to survive on its own with limited assistance. The advent of democracy in 1994 gave this industry the impetus to grow in terms of Gender and Black Economic Empowerment.</p>

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract