The aim of this African culturally based research is to establish whether a group of unmarried pregnant teenage girls experience rejection during their period of pregnancy as well as to determine whether they experienced rejection for whatever reason before falling pregnant. Seen in the context of the communal and person-centred life view as upheld by the African culture where respect for and well-being of the individual within the tribal and extended family structure is paramount, one would expect that unmarried girls finding themselves in a precarious situation such as premature pregnancy would experience understanding, acceptance and support. The research is quantitative as well as qualitative. The quantitative research focuses on 341 grade 11-leamers at seven secondary schools in the Free State Province of Education as well as in the Gauteng Department of Education. Questionnaires were presented with the aim of establishing the reason for teenage pregnancy; to research the thoughts, feelings and actions of the peer group toward pregnant teenage girls; to determine the presence of feelings of rejection of a group of pregnant teenage girls at the same schools; to determine the thoughts the girls have about themselves as well as about the future. On account of the fact that that the responses of the pregnant girls seemingly contradicted the responses given by the grade 11-peer group sample it was decided to supplement the quantitative research result with a qualitative research investigation by means of focus group interviews conducted with twelve willing to participate pregnant girls at two ofthe secondary schools who voluntarily agreed to participate. The research result indicates that although the pregnant girls did not experience rejection before falling pregnant they did however experience rejection after falling pregnant, especially from the peer group at school, educators, and certain sections of society. Although the parents of these girls were initially offended and reluctant, their attitude toward the pregnancy changed to include acceptance and even support. / M.A. Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

This study was undertaken to establish whether rights of personality are known in indigenous law. Since indigenous law differs not only between tribes but is also affected by the degree of exposure to Western values, a micro-study has been done in a semi-rural environment in the Kingdom of Swaziland to establish to what extent own value systems have been influenced or altered when Western legal concepts are utilised. The information, obtained by interviewing a panel of experts, was compared with the available literature. During the process of gathering information, the aims of the research were not only to describe how the legal principles function, but also to take note of those socio-cultural processes which function outside of the law. Rights of personality were studied against a background of the culture and way of life of the peoples concerned. The importance of culture has been acknowledged in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, wherein the recognition and application of indigenous law generally rests on a constitutionally protected right to culture. Whilst the identifiable rights of personality may generally be classified according to specialised legal systems, the separation of rights to good name and to dignity may be inappropriate in the indigenous sphere. Dignity in indigenous legal systems is to be viewed as a comprehensive right of personality, into which should be subsumed the right to good name and reputation in the community. It is such dignity, embracing the ubuntu quality of humanness that is protected as a comprehensive indigenous right of personality. Although the indigenous law of personality is showing some signs of adapting to new developments, there is also proof that the established legal principles and human values are being retained. However, these changes are unique and are neither typically traditional nor Western. The indigenous law of personality, operating in a changing social environment, has to retain its flexibility and adaptability in order to remain ”living” law for the peoples concerned. / Jurisprudence / LL.D.

This thesis is about pastoral work with people who live with mobility impairment. The research address two main questions, namely "What are the implications of acquired mobility impairment for personal identity and collective identity?" and "How can we in Christian faith communities, through pastoral work, facilitate a sense of belonging and strengthen personal identity and collective identity for people who are mobility disadvantaged?" This thesis therefore addresses the problem of identity. Thus, a theoretical analysis from literature sources is undertaken to explore theories about narrative identity in relation to personal identity and the importance of the metaphor "belonging" to bridge the gap of personal identity to collective identity. Consequently, religious identity is discussed in relation to the notion of multiple identities and the importance of collective identity to shaping personal identity. The research questions are answered through a theoretical exploration of approaches to disability and qualitative, narrative empirical research is undertaken. A few people who are quadriplegic, a family member and an occupational therapist are interviewed and the recounting of their "stories" facilitated. The empirical research results in highlighting that the research participants' "stories" discloses a link between bodily restrictions and social restrictions to mobility. This combination works together to make social interaction very difficult and clearly influenced the transition from pre-quadriplegia to post-quadriplegia. Analysing the "stories" told by the research participants allows for critical reflection on a preferred pastoral work praxis to people living with mobility impairment. Narrative identity is linked with a theology of embrace and metaphors of "covenant" and "belonging" which expresses that faith communities should imitate the embracing love and compassion of the Triune God who through the act of suffering included all humankind. It provides the foundation for a preferred pastoral work praxis of "embrace" which can be practised holistically and actively through integration with the other practices of faith communities to facilitate a sense of belonging to a collective identity. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Life is the common denominator for all beings. Unless individuals are taught to be careful about how they deal with it, great harm could be caused to the whole ontological order. Life therefore is a public property for which precepts had to be established to guard against any misuse. This guarantees that life and its processes are used to everyone's advantage. The Community has put itself in position as the monitor of the processes of life. To it belongs the right to distribute, regulate and even withdraw life as different situations would warrant. The community is both the promulgator and the judge over vital matters. The individuals are taught to be conscientious in dealing with life. In making choices the individuals have to be conscious of the historical experiences of the community and be disposed to being influenced by it. Hence the Community becomes the Conscience and Guide. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.Th. (Religious Studies)

German text / Ausgehend von dem konkreten mehrdimensionalen missionalen Kirchenprojekt REFOmoabit ist es Ziel dieser Masterarbeit, eine Antwort auf die Frage zu geben, wie eine fruchtbare Integration von (1) gemeinschaftlichem Leben, (2) gesellschaftsrelevantem Gemeindebau und (3) Immobilienmanagement gelingen kann. Die aktuelle ekklesiologische Praxis und Erfahrung zeigt jedoch, dass es zu Spannungen zwischen dem Prinzip des gaben- und konsensbasierten Miteinanders, einerseits und der Entwicklung eines gesellschaftsrelevanten Gemeindebaus und einem die ersten beiden Bereiche unterstützenden Immobilienmanagements andererseits kommt. Infolgedessen soll im Rahmen dieser Arbeit die Frage nach der genauen Art und Ausprägung dieser Spannungen, ihren Ursachen und möglichen Lösungen, die eine wirklich fruchtbare Integration dieser drei Bereiche ermöglichen, untersucht und beantwortet werden. Dies erfolgt mit einem interdisziplinären Dreischritt, indem (a) soziologisch Art, Ausprägung und Ursache der vorfindlichen Spannungen analysiert werden, diese (b) theologisch reflektiert werden und abschließend (c) praktisch-theologische Handlungsmöglichkeiten als ekklesiologische Hilfestellungen für eine fruchtbare Integration entwickelt werden. / Based on the multidimensional church planting project REFOmoabit this dissertation aims to answer the question how a fruitful integration of (1) communal life, (2) societal relevant congregational development and (3) property estate management is possible. Current ecclesiological practice and experience has shown that tensions arise between the principle of gift- and consensus-based cooperation and transformative church planting as well as the real estate management that is supposed to support the other two areas. Therefore this dissertation aims to examine and answer questions about the exact nature and extent of these tensions, their causes and possible solutions that make a truly fruitful integration of these three areas possible. This takes place within an interdisciplinary approach by (a) analyzing the nature, extent and reason of the tensions sociologically, (b) examining them from a theological viewpoint and (c) offering practical theological courses of action as an ecclesiological aid for a fruitful integration. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Introduction: Du fait des faibles résultats enregistrés par différents systèmes de santé dans le monde, la conférence d'Alma Ata de 1978 avait préconisé l’approche des Soins de Santé Primaires. Pour renforcer cette approche et faciliter l’accessibilité universelle aux soins, l’Initiative de Bamako fut adoptée en 1987. Cette initiative se fonde sur la participation financière des patients aux soins. L'une des conséquences est le coût financier des soins pour les bénéficiaires avec un risque d'exclusion de certains patients. Mais l’Initiative de Bamako suggère les dispositions à prendre pour éviter l'exclusion des indigents. Au Bénin, les comités de gestion des centres de santé ont la responsabilité de veiller à l'accès aux soins des indigents. Mais malgré cela, la prise en charge des indigents n’est pas effective. Les professionnels de la santé se plaignent de ne pas disposer de critères d'identification des indigents. Sur cette base, l'identification des indigents constitue la pierre angulaire de leur prise en charge. En conséquence, la mise en place d'une stratégie opérationnelle fondée sur l'identification des indigents par les personnes ressources de la communauté et soutenue par un outil quantitatif d'identification, permet une identification fiable des indigents en vue de leur prise en charge sanitaire. Méthode: Après un état des lieux de la situation des indigents dans le système de santé au Bénin, trois études ont été réalisées pour approfondir la question des indigents; • une première étude épidémiologique et qualitative de type transversal a porté sur la mise au point d'un outil quantitatif d'identification des indigents et sur l'accès aux soins de santé et le rôle des réseaux d’aide communautaires dans la prise en charge des indigents. Seize sites d’étude ont été sélectionnés de manière aléatoire sur l'ensemble du territoire. Un entretien a été réalisé avec les 1312 chefs de ménages de notre échantillon (668 indigents et 664 non indigents). Par ailleurs, 30 entretiens et 48 focus groups ont été conduits avec des professionnels de la santé, des personnes ressources, des cadres et autres membres de la société. • une deuxième étude de type longitudinal a permis le "suivi" pendant 12 mois, des 9554 membres des 1312 ménages de la première étude. L'’étude visait à comparer les étapes de l'itinéraire thérapeutique des indigents et non indigents en cas de maladie. Des entretiens ont permis de recueillir les données sur l'itinéraire thérapeutique adopté. • La troisième étude, transversale, a consisté en la validation d'un outil quantitatif d'identification des indigents, proposé sur la base des données de la première étude et à permis d'évaluer si les fonds alloués par l'Etat pourraient couvrir les besoins de santé des indigents. Quatre sites d'étude ont été sélectionnés au hasard. L'étude a porté sur les 302 chefs de ménages vivants dans ces sites, qui ont fait l'objet d'une enquête par questionnaire (outil quantitatif) par deux équipes indépendantes. Des données sur les coûts des soins ont été aussi collectées. Résultats: • Dans la 1ère étude, les entretiens et focus group montrent que pour la communauté, la pauvreté se définit en termes de difficultés pour se nourrir, se vêtir et se loger. Quant à l’indigence, elle est l’expression prononcée et extrême de l’incapacité à satisfaire les besoins vitaux (l’alimentation, l’habillement, l’habitat) avec un besoin permanent d'aide et d'assistance. La collecte de données auprès des 1312 chefs de ménages a couvert 19 variables. De ces variables, huit ont été retenues par le modèle logistique comme des déterminants de l'indigence. Ce sont: le sexe, l'âge, la capacité d'instruire ses enfants, les ressources financières, la relation avec les autres, le besoin de secours, la nature des repas et l'accompagnement des repas. Ces variables étaient assorties d'un score (pondération). La surface sous la courbe ROC est de 0,941. Comme "test diagnostique", ses caractéristiques sont: sensibilité 0,89; spécificité 0,86; valeur prédictive positive 0,53; valeur prédictive négative 0,98. Afin d'utiliser les résultats du modèle logistique comme outil quantitatif d'identification, l'application de l'équation de la logistique (seuil de 0,6) avec sa constante de - 5,74, a permis de dériver le seuil de 615 pour la somme pondérée des variables pour les coefficients logistiques (multiplication par 100). Toute personne ayant un score total inférieur ou égal à 615 sera déclaré non indigent et toute personne ayant un score total supérieur à 615 sera déclaré indigent. Un autre volet quantitatif de l'étude, basé sur les déclarations des chefs de ménage, a montré que les indigents ont une faible accessibilité financière permanente aux soins et services de santé (seulement 9% chez les indigents contre 46% chez les non indigents). Cependant, la capacité à payer des chefs de ménages a atteint 87% pour les non indigents et 81% pour les indigents (P<0,01). Ce niveau de capacité à payer a été possible grâce à l'intervention des réseaux d'aide communautaires pour 25% des chefs de ménage, la préférence étant donnée aux indigents. De façon générale les aides ne couvrent qu'une faible proportion des indigents. • Les résultats de la 2ème étude indiquent que, pour les membres des ménages qui ont été malades et enregistrés par les équipes de suivi, au 1er recours les indigents utilisent moins les centres de santé que les non indigents (20 % versus 26,3 %; P<0,001). Mais l'automédication moderne et traditionnelle sont les recours les plus utilisés tant par la majorité des indigents (66,4 %) que la majorité des non indigents (63,9 %). Quel que soit le type de 1er recours utilisé, il n'existe pas de différence statistiquement significative entre la satisfaction thérapeutique des indigents et des non indigents. Les malades non satisfaits au 1er recours sont surtout ceux qui ont utilisé l'automédication traditionnelle et moderne. Malgré cela, au 2ème recours l'automédication moderne et traditionnelle restent encore les recours privilégiés et ces choix sont semblables chez indigents et non indigents. • Les résultats de la troisième étude ont porté sur la validation externe de l'outil quantitatif d'identification des indigents résultant des données de la première étude. Du point de vue de la performance, l'outil quantitatif utilisé par la première équipe donnait des résultats très satisfaisants (surface sous la courbe ROC: 0,953; sensibilité 89,1%, spécificité 87,1%, valeur prédictive positive 55,4 %, valeur prédictive négative 97,8 %). Pour la deuxième équipe, les résultats étaient: surface sous la courbe ROC 0,952; sensibilité 87,0%; spécificité 87,9%, valeur prédictive positive 56,3 %, valeur prédictive négative 97,4 %. En termes de reproductibilité, le coefficient kappa de 0,73 indique une bonne concordance de classification entre les deux équipes. Ces résultats font conclure à une bonne stabilité et validité de l'outil d'identification des indigents. Mais son utilisation doit s'accompagner d'un contrôle administratif et social pour éviter les détournements et tendances au clientélisme. L'utilisation de l'outil quantitatif permet de constater qu'il existerait un gap de 674.954.526 FCFA par rapport aux fonds prévus par l'Etat béninois en 2004 pour prendre en charge les indigents. Un effort supplémentaire de l'Etat et la contribution des communes et centres de santé permettraient de combler ce gap. • La comparaison des aspects opérationnels de l'approche participative d'identification des indigents par les personnes ressources à ceux de l'approche basée sur l'outil quantitatif d'identification, permet de faire l'option de l'identification des indigents par les personnes ressources. L'outil quantitatif d'identification pourrait servir dans des conditions spécifiques entre deux sessions d'actualisation des listes d'indigents par les personnes ressources. Conclusion: Il ressort du présent travail que, le caractère multidimensionnel du concept de pauvreté est largement partagé dans la littérature internationale et on s'accorde sur les caractéristiques spécifiques de l'indigence, à savoir la dépendance et le besoin d'aide pour la survie quotidienne. Au sein de la communauté au Bénin, les concepts de pauvreté et d'indigence semblent aboutir à un consensus quant à leurs définitions et leurs différences. Notre travail a permis de constater que la plupart des chefs de ménages indigents, ont des difficultés financières pour accéder aux soins de santé. Les réseaux d'aide communautaires couvrent faiblement leurs besoins. Dans ce contexte, l'itinéraire thérapeutique n'est différent entre indigents et non indigents qu'au premier recours. Notre démarche a permis de dégager les déterminants de l'indigence et un outil quantitatif d'identification. Mais les aspects pratiques et consensuels découlant d'une procédure basée sur le vécu et l'expérience du terrain font du processus communautaire d'identification par les personnes ressources, la démarche la plus à même de produire les meilleurs résultats. L'outil quantitatif d'identification vient comme un soutien à ce processus/Introduction: The Ata Alma conference recommended in 1978 the Primary Health care approach as a response to the weak performances of different health systems in the world,. In 1987, the Bamako initiative was adopted to strengthen this approach and improve access to care. One of the consequences was the introduction of user fee, even arrangements were suggested to avoid the indigents’ exclusion . In Benin, the health centres management committees, who should normally ensure indigents’ access to care, have not been effective in doing that. . The analysis of this situation lead us, to the conclusion that the indigents identification process is central to ensure their access to care . As a consequence we make the hypothesis that the design of an operational strategy based on the identification of the indigents by community resource people and supported by a quantitative instrument for identification, allow for a reliable selection of the indigents. Method : After a description of the main features of the indigents situation in the health system of Benin, three studies have analysed more in depth indigent’s issues. . • The first is a transversal quantitative and qualitative survey. The objective was to design a quantitative instrument for the identification of the indigents. This study also assessed the access to health care and the supporting role of the community networks towards the indigents. Sixteen survey sites covering the whole Benin have been randomly selected. 1312 head of household (668 indigents and 664 non indigents) were interviewed. Finally 30 in-depth interviews and 48 focus groups were conducted targeting resource peoples, the managerial staff and other members of the society. • The second survey was longitudinal and permitted a 12 months «follow-up" through interviews of the 9554 members of the 1312 households of the first survey. The survey aimed to compare the stages of the indigents and non indigents care pathway in case of illness. • The third survey was transversal and consisted in the validation of the quantitative tool for the indigents’ identification designed through the first survey. It evaluated if state funds could cover the indigents’ health needs. Four sites were selected at random. The survey targeted all 302 head of household living in these sites. It was done through the application of a closed questionnaire applied by two independent teams. Data on the costs of care was also collected. Results: In the 1st survey, the interviews and focus group show that, the community defines poverty in term of difficulties to eat, to get appropriated clothes and accommodation. They defined indigence as the pronounced expression and the extreme inability to satisfy the vital needs (the food, the clothing, the habitat) without help. The data gathered from the 1312 head of households covered 19 variables. Of these variables, eight have been kept by the logistical model as determinants of the indigence. These are: the sex, age, the capacity to instruct his children, the financial resources, the relation with the other, the emergency need, the nature and the accompaniment of the meals . These variables were accompanied with a score (level-headedness). The surface under the curve ROC is 0,941. As" diagnostic test", his characteristics are: sensitivity 0,89; specificity 0,86; positive predictive value 0,53; negative predictive value 0,98. In order to use the logistical model results as quantitative tool for identification, the application of the logistics equation (cut-of-point of 0,6) with constant value of - 5,74, permitted to define the cut-of-point of 615 for the weighted sum of the variables for the logistic coefficients (multiplication by 100). All people having a total score lower or equal to 615 would be declared non indigent and all person having a total score superior to 615 would be declared indigent. Another quantitative aspect of the survey showed that the indigents permanently have a weak financial accessibility to care and health services (only 9% at the indigents against 46% at the non indigents). However, the capacity to pay of the head of household reached 87% for the non indigents and 81% for the indigents (P < 0,01). This level of capacity to pay was possible because of the intervention of the social networks for 25% of the head of household, the preference being given to the indigents. In a general way helps cover a weak proportion of those who need it. • The results of the 2nd survey indicate that the indigents use less the centres of health than the non indigents (20% versus 26,3%; P < 0,001)as a first health care unit ,. The modern and traditional self-medication is the recourses that is used by the majority of the indigents (66,4%) and the majority of the non indigents (63,9%). Whatever is the type of 1st recourse used, statistically meaningful difference doesn't exist between the therapeutic satisfaction of the indigents and non indigents. The non satisfied patients to the 1st recourse are especially those that used the traditional and modern self-medication. In spite of it, to the 2nd recourse the modern and traditional self-medication remains again the privileged recourses and these choices are similar at indigents and non indigents. • The third survey was about the external validation of the quantitative tool of identification of the indigents resulting from data of the first survey. The quantitative tool used by the first team gave very satisfactory results (surface under the curve ROC: 0,953; sensitivity 89,1%, specificity 87,1%, positive predictive value 55,4%, negative predictive value 97,8%). For the second team, the results were: surface under the curve ROC 0,952; sensitivity 87,0%; specificity 87,9%, positive predictive value 56,3%, negative predictive value 97,4%. In term of reproducibility, the kappa coefficient of 0,73 indicates a good concordance of classification between the two teams. These results enable to conclude a good stability and validity of the tool of identification of the indigents. But its use must come with an administrative and social audit to avoid corruption and clientelism. The use of the quantitative tool permits to note that a gap of 674.954.526 FCFA would exist in relation to funds planned by the Beninese state in 2004 to take in charge the indigents. A supplementary effort of the state and the contribution of the communes and centres of health would permit to fill this gap. • The comparison of the operational aspects of the participatory approach of identification of the indigents by resource people to those of the approach based on the quantitative identification tool, permits to make the option of identification of the indigents by resource people. The quantitative identification tool could serve in specific conditions between two sessions of actualization of the lists of indigents by resource people. Conclusion: It is evident from the present work that, the multi-dimensional character of the poverty concept is shared extensively in the international literature and one agrees on the specific features of the indigence, namely the dependence and the need of help for the daily survival. Within the community in Benin, the concepts of poverty and indigence seem to reach a consensus as for their definitions and their differences. Our work permitted to notice that most indigent head of household have some financial difficulties to reach the health care. The communal networks of help weakly cover their needs. In this context, the care pathway is different between indigents and non indigents only to the first recourse. It also permitted take out the determinants of the indigence and design a quantitative tool for indigent’s identification. However, the convenient and consensual process based on day-to-day experience for resource people to live with indigent, allows the best identification. The quantitative tool of identification comes as a support to this process.

The thesis Urban green spaces and its institutional framework attempts to analyze different cases of urban green spaces foundation and administration in which various public and private entities act. Based on these foundations it tries to come with an overview of the most important forms of provision of greenery in cities. Through research of available literature we came to the understanding that greenery in urban environments is not just a result of municipal service provided by a public authority but to its foundation, administration, financing and maintenance contribute also other entities. The overview created in the thesis is not exhaustive but can serve as an inspiration for various subjects at a time when local public authorities do not have sufficient resources to ensure satisfactory range and quality of public green.

Since 1998, the communities of Combomune in Southern Mozambique have participated in a project intended to improve the quality of their lives, while ensuring the natural resources they depend on are well managed and sustainably used. The approach employed is Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). CBNRM is the resource conservation and management approach which has emerged as one of the models to involve local communities, previously excluded from conservation and management of natural resources and rural development programs. This model promotes community participation, responsibilities and benefit sharing among stakeholders involved in natural resource management programs. A case study was conducted to assess the impacts of the Combomune CBNRM project on household livelihoods and on the environment. The Combomune CBNRM project is meant to improve the household livelihoods of the Madliwa, Hochane and Chaves communities involved in the management of indigenous forest resources. The involved communities derive direct and indirect benefits from the CBNRM project. These benefits have impacts on household livelihoods and on the environment. The most noted benefits are social and economic changes. These changes have positively affected the living conditions of the involved communities. Further, the study revealed the Combomune CBNRM project charcoal production was the only activity generating monetary income to individual and to community development funds. Monetary income was invested in the improvement of homesteads, the purchase of domestic animals and the development of infrastructure with a high social impact. Water supply, education, health care and household homestead improvements were the major project achievements. The project encouraged environmental friendly practices such as sustainably agricultural activities and a fire management program. Local residents were also encouraged to plant trees on bare soil to protect it from being eroded. The study has not deeply explored the CBNRM project impacts, therefore more case studies are recommended to further explain effective CBNRM project contributions to household livelihoods, so it may be reasonably promulgated as a strategy not only devoted to involve local communities or merely for resource conservation, but as the approach which improves livelihoods of the rural poor. / Thesis (M.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

This paper presents a case study from Ngamiland, northern Botswana where community~ based natural resource management (CBNRM), through a joint venture agreement (NA) between a Community~based Organisation (CBO) and the private sector for nonconsumptive tourism has been implemented with the objective of contributing to localised poverty alleviation and livelihood diversification through employment and CBO fee revenue. The economic contribution of these benefits is considered with respect to commonly accepted norms and standards within the development ideology of sustainable development and its global measurements; therefore, a brief background of the concepts of poverty, livelihood and ecotourism is presented to provide context for the evaluation of CBNRM as a preferred land~use in Botswana. An evaluation of the significance of wage employment revenue and consequent remittances in the specific case study is intended to contribute to existing studies which have primarily emphasised the contribution of CBO fee revenue only to households. It is concluded that wage employment revenue makes a significant contribution at a household level to localised poverty alleviation and livelihood diversification compared to the insignificant contribution ofCBO fee revenue. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

The grazing management project in the Okhombe ward of the Amazizi Tribal Authority formed part of the National Department of Agriculture's LandCare program to address communal natural resource management issues. Okhombe land is communal whereby every member of the community is the legal owner of the rangeland with individual ownership of stock with the chieftaincy playing a major role in land allocation. In order to avoid critics of the past and address the top-down approach of the past interventions, a participatory approach was conducted in the planning and implementation of the grazing system. The service providers held a series of visioning workshops with the community in an effort to better understand community resource use patterns, needs, constraints and opportunities as part of the participatory approach. Issues identified by the community were the need for fencing grazing camps, animal health improvement, subdivision of rangeland and crop fields and the development of a rotational grazing system. The main aims of this study were to develop a participatory grazing plan with the community, develop and support institutional structures governing range management, and build capacity of the community in range management. The effect of the current grazing system on species composition was determined. In addition to these, the project investigated the potential different fodder trees has on alleviating feed and nutritional deficit, particularly during the dry winter months of the Upper Thukela. Among the main achievements of this study was the development and strengthening of local institutional structures and effective liaison by all structures with the Inkosi and the tribal council. The community developed a rotational grazing plan, marked the camp boundaries, produced digital maps and successfully built fence boundaries (approximately 20 kms of fencing) to divide their land. The fence boundaries separated the crop fields and rangeland, closed ward boundaries in the upland to prevent access by cattle from neighbouring wards, and divided the land into three camps. Six crush pens were constructed in each subward of the Okhombe ward. A communal herders fund opened and fence construction improved crop yields due to a decrease in crop damage by cattle. Okhombe ward, located in the Highland Sourveld region of KwaZulu-Natal, experiences feed and nutrition deficits to ruminants during winter. The prevailing species composition in Okhombe was investigated as part of the grazing plan. The veld condition of the sites ranged from poor (40.7%) in the bottomland to an averaged of 47.0% in upland sites. The most distinctive feature of the rangeland in this area was the loss of highly palatable Decreaser grass species (P <0.05), such as Themeda triandra in the bottom slopes « 1300 m) when compared to the upland (> 1800 m). The proportional abundance of Decreaser species accounted for an averaged of 1.02% of the bottomland and an averaged of 11.5% of the upland compared to the values of 49% in the benchmark (grassland in optimal condition). The composition of the less palatable Increaser Il species was very high at all elevations (1200 m -80.7%, 1400 m - 75.8% and 1700 m - 55.7%) when compared to the low benchmark composition of 19%. The dominant grasses of the bottom slopes were Increaser Il species, such as Eragrostis curvula, Eragrostis plana and Sporobolus africanus and unpalatable Increaser III species such as Aristida junciformis. A significant difference (P < 0.05) in the composition of Decreaser, Increaser I and Increaser Il species was found between the bottom and slopes compared to the upland region. However, the grass cover formed by these tufted species was generally high, making it more resistant to physical degradation. The bottom slope ranged from reasonable to excellent cover (16.9%), the middle slope ranged from reasonable (15.9%) to a good cover of 18.1%, averaging 16.7% and a range of 16.1% to 17.9% for the upland plateau. In the agroforestry trial the potential of different fodder species for supplementing fodder was examined. Leucaena leucocephala had the potential of being a suitable fodder tree species for use in alley cropping (P < 0.05) compared to Morus alba and Acacia karroo. Results from the partially intercropped treatments showed that L. leucocephala yield (665 kg ha-I) varied significantly (P < 0.05) from the A. karroo (378 kg ha-I) and M alba yield (345 kg ha-I). Treatments that were fully intercropped varied, but no significant difference (P > 0.05) were recorded. Morus alba produced the least yield of 345 kg ha-I, A. karroo yielded 378 kg ha-1 and 1. leucocephala recorded the high of 664 kg ha-I. Results from the second season showed similar trend in that 1. leucocephala yielded a significant (P < 0.05) fodder production of 1715 kg ha-I in comparison to M. alba (1101 kg ha-I) and A karroo (1140 kg ha-I). M alba yielded the least dry matter production (P < 0.05) but had high potential (P < 0.05) for addressing lack of firewood in rural areas. Morus alba yielded high fuel wood production from both two seasons. There were no significant differences in fuel wood yield (P > 0.05) from the partially intercropped M alba (507.9 kg ha-I) and 1. leucocephala (455.0 kg ha-I) but the yield from both species varied significantly from the A. karroo yield (103.kg ha-I). With regard to fully intercropped plots, fuel wood yield from all tree species varied significantly, A karroo resulting in low yield (63 kg ha-I), 1. leucocephala recorded 243 kg ha-l and M alba the highest yield of 444 kg ha-I. In the second season, M. alba yielded an averaged fuel wood production of 728 kg ha-l and a low of 439 kg ha-I from 1. leucocephala. Acacia karroo, a slow growing indigenous tree, might be preferred by farmers due to its less branches resulting in minimal light competition with crops. Leucaena leucocephala tend to grow slowly in its initial establishment stage, but once roots become well established, it grows fast and produces high quantity of fodder. The effect all fodder trees had on crop yield was not negative during the trial period and further research on long term effects of alley cropping is recommended. The conclusions drawn here were based on tree growth and their likely impact in alley cropping. Leucaena leucocephala was also recommended as a preferred species for rural ruminants based on the forage quality study. The results showed high content of crude protein (19.27%), low NDF content (50.38%) and very low tannin content (1.19%) from 1. leucocephala compared to A. karroo with a high tannin content of 5.69%. Acacia karroo had a crude protein content of 13.60%, NDF percentages of 44.16 and 34.64% of ADF content. Morus alba also had a recommended chemical composition of 11.71% of CP, 42.86% of NDF, 36.96% of ADF and a low tannin content of 0.65%. L. leucocephala foliage proven is readily degradable under different diet ranging within 24 hrs of intake (P < 0.001) compared to other feeds. L. leucocephala had high dry matter loss degraded from the rumen under Eragrostis hay diet with poor nutrients to high protein concentrates diet. Under the Eragrostis hay diet for instance, L. leucocephala tend to degrade rapidly with values of dry matter loss ranging from 32.2% to 39% at 4 hrs to 16 hrs, when compared to low dry mater loss of 26% at 4 hrs to 31.33% at 16 hrs. Feeds such as M alba tend to degrade slowly within 24 hrs of intake and rapidly degrades after the stated period. The ep content of maize stover was very low ranging from 1.60% in maize stalks to 2.63% in maize leaves. The fibre content in maize stover was very high when compared to lower values in fodder samples. The NDF content ranged from 77.92% in maize leaves to 81.60% in maize stalks. Maize leaves when compared to a combination of maize leaves and maize stalks sole tend to degrade better within 24 hrs of intake. This was due to low (P < 0.05) degradability rate of maize stalks compared to a combination of maize stalks and leave and leaves sole and least NDF content in maize leaves might have attributed to these results. Due to poor chemical compositions of these roughage samples, the study recommended the establishment of fodder banks and agroforestry systems to curb the nutrients deficit during winter. In conclusion therefore, this study highlight that the sustainability of rural systems to manage communal grazing land should be further explored. Most of the challenging issues in communal range management are social in nature rather than technical concepts. These include ways of improving social contributions from cattle to the community while maintaining cultural values of the use of cattle. The interventions in communal range management by service providers should understand the institutional arrangements within a community and an attempt to strengthen such existing structures is recommended. Further interventions by service providers in Okhombe ward should bring in the planning discussions, experts from social sciences, to deal with understanding of community dynamics. Complexities in communal range management involve dealing with non-stock owners within project boundaries. Communities from neighbouring wards should not be ignored and ways of improving communications and updating project details to them should be formulated. Shortage of land and closing of ward boundaries to prevent access to land by neighbouring wards is among community complexities to be explored. Communities in rural lands do share land and in most cases boundaries are known but invisible by an outsider to identify. It is important to strengthen and maintain every success in communal lands as that may form core of the project. Successes on grazing management by locals is far from being the improvement in veld but there are rather various factors to the successes of grazing projects in rural areas. Examples of successes based on Okhombe project are reduction in stock theft, improved in relationship between community and locals institutions, a reduction in stock mortalities during winter and improved animal health. Veld improvement is among successes but there are accomplishments phases to fulfil before focusing on improvement of species composition. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.