Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2016. / This study reports on water service delivery and it is a research that was undertaken in the Greater Giyani Municipality situated in Mopani District of Limpopo Province of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The main aim of the study is to present the community’s perception on water service delivery challenges facing municipalities in the RSA and to make recommendations towards the development of both the community and the municipality. The motivation for this research was an upsurge in water delivery protests throughout South Africa and some of these protests have resulted in an unfortunate killing of citizens in the country during 2012, 2013 and 2014. In order to accomplish the aim of the study, several objectives were addressed. In the first part of the study, a literature review and identification of the context within which water is rendered in Greater Giyani Municipality is explained. The thesis then presents findings from the survey and an evaluation of the community perceptions of the quality of water service delivery. Following the survey report are the findings from the interviews held with municipal managers. From these combined findings recommendations are made towards water service delivery improvement. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in the study. A questionnaire collected data from eighty five (85) participants (households) of Kremetart Township. Following the community survey, interviews were held with eight (8) municipal officials within the Greater Giyani Municipality. Respondents from the community (households) were randomly sampled, while municipal officials were purposefully sampled to represent those responsible for water service delivery. The questionnaire distributed to community members comprised of both closed and open ended questions with completion duration of 30 minutes. Semi-Structured interviews were used to derive an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon from the municipal officials. Major findings arising from the community survey are that clean water, sanitation, aging pipelines, lack of infrastructure and free basic services were the main service delivery challenges. However, from the municipal officials, issues of maladministration appeared more prevalent. The issue of maladministration emanates from the confusion of duties and functions between councillors and the council officials. Also of concern from the officials are issues of community engagement. The last area of concern raised by both the community and the municipal officials is payment for services. Whilst the municipal issues are centred on old infrastructure, the communities’ issues weigh more on payment of inadequate and unreliable services. The study makes several recommendations to the municipality, which if addressed, may improve service delivery and lead to positive perceptions by the community and towards significant development of the town. In order to overcome the challenge of service delivery, municipalities may consider prioritising capacity building, ensure that staff are recruited and employed on the basis of merit and also ensure that public participation is not hindered, especially functionality of ward committee structures.

Over the last twenty years or more, Uganda has benefitted from significant strides in water and sanitation initiated by the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. While the rapid progress towards development has been vastly beneficial, it is also important that it does not occur at the expense of the environment. The environmental impacts of these water sources must be evaluated and understood. However, to develop a robust understanding of the impact requires inclusion of the community members who use these sources and their perceptions of them. Consequently, the goal of this research is to investigate the interrelationships between socioeconomic factors, water source features, and household water source and treatment choices, along with the associated environmental impacts of those choices. This research focuses on two villages in Wakiso District, Uganda--Nalugala and Kitala and includes: (1) development and implementation of a country-specific survey of 200 households to gain qualitative and quantitative accounts of socioeconomic factors (e.g., education, gender of the head of household, number of household members), water source features (cost, convenience, quality, quantity of water) and community members' water supply choices; (2) statistical analysis to investigate any correlation between socioeconomic factors, water source features and household source choice; and (3) a life cycle assessment of each water source and treatment method used in the surveyed communities to highlight their associated environmental impacts. Based on statistical findings, the water source features which are considered most significant to impacting household choice are convenience, visual water quality (turbidity), and cost. When inspecting socioeconomic factors using the Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI), no significant correlation was determined between the PPI levels and source choice. Consequently, the PPI was disaggregated to further analyze any significant correlations between socioeconomic indicators in the survey (social, economic, and educational) and water source choice. Three factors (i.e. gender of head of household, number of household members, and construction material of the house's external walls) were significantly correlated with the household's choice for their water source. The combination of qualitative and quantitative survey data underscores the disconnection between community members' perceptions of water quality and the actual, laboratory-tested data. This notion (perception vs. reality) asserts itself because the treatment techniques that respondents use for local sources are based on their perceived ideas of water quality. The techniques sometimes contradict the theoretical treatment methods (based on water quality tests) needed to raise a source's water to potable standards. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted on each source and (1) the treatment methods community members most frequently used in comparison to (2) the theoretical treatment methods which would be necessary to raise each source to potable standards. Tap water was found to have the highest environmental impact based on actual community practices. Although it was tested to meet drinking water standards, community members boiled it, increasing its impacts in the categories of land use and global warming. On the other hand, rainwater and surface water had the highest impacts in the same categories (global warming and land use) based on the theoretical treatment which is required for the source water to be potable. The impact of the various fuel sources used to treat water by boiling was also evaluated. The greatest impact was for the use of propane gas followed by charcoal.

Thesis (M. A. (Criminology and Criminal Justice)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Vigilantism is a contentious issue that will persist into the future for as long as crime exists. This research aimed at determining community’s perception on vigilantism. The Criminal Justice System has failed community of Matome Village, in the sense that they lost trust and lacked confidence in CJS. Actions involved in vigilantism are not only an expression of people’s anger or frustration but also of their fear. This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Probability sampling (Stratified sampling) was used to select participants. For qualitative approach an interview schedule with prearranged questions was conducted and used in both focus group1 and 2 interviews. Focus group 1 consisted of 10 participants, while focus group 2 consisted of 8 participants. For quantitative approach, 80 questionnaires with close-ended and open-ended questions were distributed among community members who took part in the study, and the aim was to get their opinions and experience of vigilantism. The data collected was analysed (thematic content analysis was used) and interpreted by copying exactly words that were said by the participants. The study documented the disadvantages and consequences of vigilantism to fill in the existing gaps of the dangers of vigilante incidents in the literature. Strain theory by Robert Agnew was applied as the suitable theory which best explains why people resort to partake in vigilantism. The research identified factors which contributed mostly to vigilantism, such as: a way of protection and desire for revenge (anger and frustration). KEY WORDS: Vigilantism, Crime, Culprit, Strain, Community participation, Matome Village, Criminal Justice System, Police Officers.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:09:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 13263427 bytes, checksum: 8d1a71bee5362f8ba47e4224e0c88b60 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Esta dissertação analisa a possibilidade de aplicação da técnica Traffic Calming nos dias atuais no bairro de Manaíra, na cidade de João Pessoa, com a intenção de mitigar as transformações ocorridas no mesmo, ocasionadas pelos impactos gerados pela circulação de veículos. O trabalho se desenvolveu a partir da pesquisa de campo que foi dividida em duas etapas, a primeira teve o intuito de obter a opinião da população do bairro sobre os problemas relacionados à circulação dos veículos e a segunda de investigar a receptividade da técnica Traffic Calming. Após a caracterização do bairro, a pesquisa baseou-se principalmente na opinião dos moradores através das entrevistas sobre a escolha dos modelos propostos de estudo de caso. Como resultado esta dissertação propõe-se a dar uma contribuição para uma futura aplicação da técnica de Traffic Calming em áreas residências na cidade, a partir da receptividade da população sobre as propostas apresentadas.

Thesis (MPA. and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Alcoholism among teenagers has become a major public health issue worldwide. South Africa is amongst the countries that are experiencing this problem. Abuse of alcohol has caused many social ills, namely road crashes, intentional and unintentional injuries, raping, and petty and high end crime in the community. Drinking amongst teenagers could be linked to personal and environmental factors including dysfunctional family structures and alcohol perception of elders in a particular community, which may view it as socially acceptable to drink, among other factors. The purpose of the study is to explore the perception of the community towards alcohol abuse among teenagers in Shayandima Township, Limpopo Province. The current study adopted a convergent mixed research design (both qualitative and quantitative) as well as a self administered questionnaire and semi-structured interview for data collection. A one-on-one interview was also conducted with 12 key informants in order to gather detailed qualitative data on the perception of the community regarding teenage alcohol abuse. In addition, a total of 50 respondents were involved in the quantitative study. They include social workers, ward councillors, members of Shayandima victim empowerment and community police forum members. The findings of this study revealed that there are policies put in place by government to address alcohol abuse by teenagers; however, the liquor sellers and the community members did not adhere to the rules and regulations. Liquor sellers violate the rules by selling liquor to teenagers, while the parents allow teenagers to go and buy liquor and enjoy the very same liquor with them. It was also found that that there was more violence in the community because of alcohol abuse. Parents tend to protect their children rather than supporting local authorities. Teenagers have access to alcohol at any time and any day because parents give them more money to spend, which makes it cheaper for them to buy alcohol. The findings further highlighted that the community was not well informed about the support rendered by those organizations that deal with teenage alcohol abuse. The study recommends that drastic measures should be taken against the liquor sellers who sell alcohol to teenagers. Their liquor licence should be revoked permanently. Government should strengthen their monitoring system regarding the liquor outlets. Only a business area must have liquor outlets, not the township residential areas and near public schools. Community-based organisations should be promoted to enhance community awareness and act against teenage alcohol abuse. Key words: Alcohol, Teenage, Alcohol Abuse, Community Perception, Shayandima Township

Stormwater nonpoint source pollution (NPSP) is a result of diffuse sources of pollutants transported by rainfall and surface runoff into stormwater ponds and drainage systems before percolating into the ground. In particular, the nutrients found in fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides applied in excess by homeowners and landscapers can cause a range of issues in stormwater ponds from fish kills to eutrophication. As a result, Manatee County, Florida has issued a fertilizer ordinance with best management practices (BMPs) and a fertilizer black out period to reduce NPSP. This study is aimed at capturing the perceptions of residents which affect stormwater NPSP through their behaviors, awareness, and knowledge. Interviews, surveys,and observational data were used to establish social indicator scores, gather qualitative data, and evaluate outreach efforts surrounding the Manatee County fertilizer ordinance and the function stormwater ponds in Lakewood Ranch. Results showed that residents substantially lacked awareness of the fertilizer ban, ordinance and grass clipping violation fine. Outreach questions revealed that 69% of residents had not seen any materials related to the ban. While residents' feelings generally ranged from neutral to positive with regard to shoreline and aquatic plants, they remained resistant to the actual installation of the plants. The results also indicated that residents were well aware of the purposes shoreline plants serving as barriers and nutrient filters. In addition, Key Informant interviews revealed that while residents understood the environmental consequences of their actions, they maintained their behavior to adhere to deeply rooted social norms.