Thesis (MFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is aimed at testing the possibility of using woody biomass from three invasive woody vegetation types (Spider Gum, Myrtle and Acacia) for production of bioenergy in the Cape Agulhas Plain. Physical recoverability of the woody biomass was studied by means of a semi-mechanized harvesting system to evaluate potential productivity, operational costs and the estimated yield energy gain. The system consisted of five components: manual harvesting, motor-manual harvesting, extraction, chipping and road transport. Data on the system productivity was obtained using activity sampling and time study techniques. Activity sampling was applied on manual and motor-manual harvesting in order to record harvesting time and standard time study techniques were used to obtain time data for extraction, chipping and road transport operations. Findings revealed benefits associated with the utilisation of invasive woody vegetation as energy feedstock. Therefore, the problem of exotic tree species can be dealt with by transforming them into energy feedstock, thus minimising the effect of invasive plants. At the same time essential biomass energy can be produced, while some of the cost of production could be offset by the benefits accruing from the biomass energy. The Acacia site, characterized by larger mature dense trees, had the highest amount of harvested biomass compared to the rest of the vegetation types (i.e. Myrtle and Spider Gum). The overall system productivity was found to be significantly influenced by a low equipment utilisation rate, estimated at 50%. This resulted in low production rates in general. The low supply rate of material to the chipper by the three-wheeled loader (1.5 – 5.3 oven-dry tonne per production machine hour) was found to be a major constraint in the chipping process, especially when considering that the chipper is potentially capable of chipping 4 – 9.4 ODT PMH-1 at the harvesting sites. This resulted in a significant energy balance of 463 GJ between output and input energy of the system. The overall total supply chain system costs based various road transport distances of species ranged from R 322.77 ODT-1 to R 689.76 ODT-1 with an average of R 509 ODT-1. This was found to be costly compare to the case where high machine utilisation rate and optimal productivity are used (average of R 410 ODT-1), biomass recoverability in this field trial had a higher total system cost due to low productivity, resulting from the low equipment utilisation rate applied. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie was gemik daarop om die moontlikheid van die gebruik van houtagtige biomassa, afkomstig van uitheemse plantegroei (Bloekom, Mirte en Akasias) op die Agulhasvlakte vir bio-energie te ondersoek. Potensiële produktiwiteit, bedryfskostes en die geskatte energie opbrengs toename is gebruik, om die fisiese opbrengs van houtagtige biomassa van ʼn semi-gemeganiseerde ontginningstelsel te evalueer. Die stelsel het uit vyf komponente bestaan: Handontginning, motor-handontginning, uitsleep, verspandering en padvervoer. Data oor die stelselproduktiwiteit is uit tydstudie en aktiwiteit steekproewe verkry. Aktiwiteit steekproewe is toegepas op hand- en motorhandontgining om ontginingstyd te verkry, terwyl tydstudie standaardtegnieke gebruik is om tyd data vir uitsleep, verspandering en padvervoer werksaamhede te verkry. Bevindings het die voordele met bettrekking tot die gebruik van uitheemse plantegroei as energiebron bevestig. Die uitdaging rondom die verspreiding van uitheemse plantegroei kan dus aangespreek word deur dit as energiebron te benut. Die produksiekoste vir die toegang tot die bruikbare biomassa kan moontlik voorsien word uit die voordele van die gebruik van die energie wat uit die benutting van die biomassa verkry word. Die groter meer volwasse en digte Akasia opstand het die meeste ontginde biomassa gelewer vergeleke met die ander opstande in die studie (d.i. Mirte en Bloekom). Die stelselproduktiwiteit is beduidend beïnvloed deur die lae toerustinggebruik wat minder as 50% beloop het. Dit het ook laer produksievermoë in die algemeen tot gevolg gehad. In die verspandering werksaamheid blyk die lae invoer tempo (1.5 – 5.3 oonddroog ton per produktiewe masjienuur) van die driewiellaaier die beperking op die proses te wees, veral as in ag geneem word dat die verspandering teen 4-9.4 ODT PMH-1 kan geskied. Die resultaat was ʼn beduidende energie balans van 463 GJ tussen uitset- en invoerenergie van die stelsel. Die totale toevoerketting kostes gegrond op verskeie padvervoer afstande van die spesies was tussen R 322.77 ODT-1 tot R 689.76 ODT-1, met ʼn gemiddelde rondom R 509 ODT-1. Die resultaat is duur gevind in vergeleke met gevalle waar hoë masjiengebruik en optimale produktiwiteit (gemiddeld van R 410 ODT-1), moontlik was. Die biomassaherwinning in die studie het ʼn hoër totale stelselkoste gehad veroorsaak deur lae produktiwiteit, wat verwant is aan die laer toerusting gebruikstempo wat verkry is.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / The problems of the predispositions of municipal public officials and the professionalization of the public service have in the recent past come into the spotlight in service delivery protests involving poor people and unemployed youth. The criticism levelled at bureaucrats within the public service relates to administrative systems, bad policies as well as unresponsive attitudes among frontline staff. The existing perception is that South African street-level bureaucrats are lazy, uncaring, self-serving, unethical, and conceive of the poor in derogatory terms. They are generally only in public service because it is a means of employment or enrichment. Most recent literature on municipal water and free basic services focused on exposing the cost recovery drive of the state and its associated forms of oppressive neoliberal surveillance of the poor. The research sought to primarily understand the attitudes of street-level bureaucrats (SLB’s) within two B-category municipalities in the Western Cape, South Africa. This was done by identifying what motivates them to work in the public sector, how they see and interact with identified poor members of the public (usually defined as municipal indigents), what their value orientations are, and if and how principles of Batho Pele are understood by frontline workers. It explored how these principles are applied when interacting with indigent citizens in their everyday work environment. Additionally, the research explored how poor citizens view their experience of interacting with the state. A qualitative study, using semi-structured questionnaires, was conducted in the Cape Agulhas municipality which is the most southern municipality and the Matzikama municipality which is the most northern municipality of the WC on the west coast. Interviews with frontline municipal employees, senior bureaucrats and residents were conducted. The interviews were conducted, to obtain three different views on the problem, with a total of 71 participants. The participants comprised of 15 street-level bureaucrats, 8 senior staff, with a minimum of 5 years’ tenure, and a total of 43 indigent citizens. Given the sample size, composition and the demographics relating to these municipalities, the research is not generalizable. The public workers in the case studies, I found, cared deeply for the community and the community in turn are very appreciative of this. I also found that indigent citizens were not ashamed of their indigent status although there were those who outright denied being indigent and therefore were not interviewed.

<p>The principle aim of this study was to gain insights into the perceptions of the people living in the Cape Agulhas Area of South Africa on the issues of small-scale fishing and the historical claims to fishing rights of the communities living in the fishing villages of Struisbaai and Waenhuiskrans. A further aim was to identify the gap between knowledge and the implementation of fishing rights policies by analysing existing policies on small-scale fishing and thereby identifying possible lessons and guidelines for policy formulation. Key focus areas were the historical recollections of people, their knowledge of past, current and proposed fishing legislation and their opinions, recommendations and guidelines regarding new and proposed policies. A qualitative framework was used for this study, using key informants and the taking of life histories. The two fishing communities served as case studies and life histories were documented using semi-structured interviews. The study drew on previous research in historical practices and indigenous knowledge systems and special attention was given to scientific and archaeological research. The policy processes from 1994 to the present were described and themes were identified in the literature and the life histories. The study found that many of the methods used in earlier years is still used today, passed over from generation to generation.</p>

<p>The principle aim of this study was to gain insights into the perceptions of the people living in the Cape Agulhas Area of South Africa on the issues of small-scale fishing and the historical claims to fishing rights of the communities living in the fishing villages of Struisbaai and Waenhuiskrans. A further aim was to identify the gap between knowledge and the implementation of fishing rights policies by analysing existing policies on small-scale fishing and thereby identifying possible lessons and guidelines for policy formulation. Key focus areas were the historical recollections of people, their knowledge of past, current and proposed fishing legislation and their opinions, recommendations and guidelines regarding new and proposed policies. A qualitative framework was used for this study, using key informants and the taking of life histories. The two fishing communities served as case studies and life histories were documented using semi-structured interviews. The study drew on previous research in historical practices and indigenous knowledge systems and special attention was given to scientific and archaeological research. The policy processes from 1994 to the present were described and themes were identified in the literature and the life histories. The study found that many of the methods used in earlier years is still used today, passed over from generation to generation.</p>

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / The principle aim of this study was to gain insights into the perceptions of the people living in the Cape Agulhas Area of South Africa on the issues of small-scale fishing and the historical claims to fishing rights of the communities living in the fishing villages of Struisbaai and Waenhuiskrans. A further aim was to identify the gap between knowledge and the implementation of fishing rights policies by analysing existing policies on small-scale fishing and thereby identifying possible lessons and guidelines for policy formulation. Key focus areas were the historical recollections of people, their knowledge of past, current and proposed fishing legislation and their opinions, recommendations and guidelines regarding new and proposed policies. A qualitative framework was used for this study, using key informants and the taking of life histories. The two fishing communities served as case studies and life histories were documented using semi-structured interviews. The study drew on previous research in historical practices and indigenous knowledge systems and special attention was given to scientific and archaeological research. The policy processes from 1994 to the present were described and themes were identified in the literature and the life histories. The study found that many of the methods used in earlier years is still used today, passed over from generation to generation. / South Africa