At a glance, this study is a critique of local development policies with specific reference to the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The researcher enters the debate by posing a primary research question: Do the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) ventures that constitute anti-poverty strategies succeed in addressing the issues of poverty, and achieving more equitable development at the municipal level in the Eastern Cape? This research proposes a problem statement: The local development policies of PPP and BBBEE that are being applied through Local Economic Development strategies are not in the interests of the majority of people living in the Eastern Cape. At a methodological level this research employs both quantitative and qualitative approaches to answer the central question and to verify the problem statement of this study. This triangulation approach is employed to utilize the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods. More specifically, the researcher uses a number of different research instruments to collect the data including four hundred questionnaires, four focus groups and elite interviews in both municipalities. The findings of this study indicate that local development policies in both municipalities do not improve the lives of the people. This line of thinking is indicated by both the empirical study conducted by the researcher and is supported by a number of scholarly materials. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in Political Economy and Development Studies including other disciplines in Social and Economic Sciences. The central argument of this thesis is that both BBBEE and PPPs are inspired by neo-liberalism (BBBEE is not neo-liberal per se though it may be heavily influenced by it) and neo-liberalism in practice is contradictory in nature as it involves the allocation of state resources to politically influential individuals, rather than promoting economic development for the majority. The evidence of this research further shows that the local business and political elites through the BBBEE, PPPs and outsourcing of services are using their strong networks (associated political, social and capital resources) in their efforts for personal accumulation. The researcher in this study examines the local development policies from a particular standpoint which is a political economy approach. The business and political elites according to political economic perspective use state resources to enrich themselves.

Discourse for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Development Planning) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, / A definition of development includes improving living conditions and the quality of life. There is an interrelationship between health and social and economic development. "Health Leads to and at the same time is dependant on a progressive improvement in conditions and quality of life". (World Health Organisation). Therefore a dIscussion on health has to take into account the socio-economic and political context. In assessing the health profile of the homeland populations one finds them to be the least healthy. The problem is that the level of health of the rural population is low and the health care situation follows that of a developing society, where poverty-related diseases and infant mortality rates are high and life expectancies are unacceptably low. The rationale of this discourse is to express the need of action by governments, and health Bnd development workers, to protect and promote health. The aim is to examine the primary health care approach in Q sample area and see how it can be used to achieve an acceptable level of health. Background on the state of health will be addressed. The health services under apartheid is discussed in the first section, with attention given to statistical information and health indicators. / AC2017

M.Comm. / The objective of this thesis is to examine the importance of external finance of economic development and growth in South Africa. The investigation takes cognisance of the unique characteristics of the South African economy, especially the years of isolation from the world economy, unequal distribution of income and the need for sustainable economic growth to create employment and thus a stable social and economic environment conducive to foreign investment. The inflow of foreign capital in the economic development process is an imperative for filling either the investment-savings gap or the import-export gap. In a closed economic system the demand for investment funds will be met by the supply of domestic savings. Economic growth will be limited to the availability of investment funds, or domestic savings. In an open economic system, the demand for investment funds can be supplemented by the inflow of foreign capital, and growth will thus not be impaired by a scarcity of investment resources. Foreign capital inflows formed an integral part of the economic development process in the South African economy since the discovery of gold and diamonds in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Until 1976, in 24 out of 31 years, the South African economy recorded a net inflow of foreign capital. South Africa could, until 1976, the year in which political and social unrest broke out, finance a shortfall on the current account of the balance of payments with the inflow of foreign capital. Since then South Africa became a net exporter of capital. The South African economy found itself isolated from the world economy since the middle eighties due to the Apartheid policy. The inflow of foreign capital was greatly inhibited by sanctions and disinvestment. The South African economy had to rely on domestic savings to finance investment needs. This shortage of investment funds was an inhibiting factor on economic growth and development. This dissertation distinguishes between the different developing funding sources and as such outlines the benefits of using both multilateral as well as bilateral developing funding institutions to enhance and foster economic growth and development, especially in developing countries. It also gives a historical overview of South Africa's relationships with and use of these institutions. The reintegration of Eastern Europe into the world economy meant even bigger pressure on existing development funds. Since the early nineties funds available to the Third World for economic development have been steadily declining. New sources of funds for economic development had to be found. The emphasis has been moving away from pure development assistance and grants to direct foreign investment as a means of financing development in the developing world.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning, 2016 / Over the last decade national, provincial and local governments within South Africa have paid considerable attention to the benefits and need for an effective and reliable public transport system to meet the social challenges facing South African cities. The development of public transport systems is viewed as a tool to alleviate poverty and unemployment, as they provide access to opportunities and services previously out of reach. In Johannesburg the Spatial disparities created during the apartheid era continue to divide the city along the lines of class and race, and serve to marginalise low income groups located on the periphery, far from economic centres. Over the last 10 years urban and economic growth in the west of Johannesburg has occurred at a rapid rate giving rise to numerous informal settlements and government subsidised homes. These developments occurred without the development of public transport systems isolating low income residents. This study seeks to examine the extent to which public transportation systems are responding to the growth of new urban and economic nodes in Johannesburg in a manner that supports the interests and needs of the city’s low income residents. The study investigates the cases of the Gautrain and Rea Vaya. The study evaluates the systems through an analysis of the state’s public transportation plans and policies and the challenges and successes of each system, taking into account what are the state’s current and future public transport plans and how are they responding to urban and economic growth in the west of Johannesburg. Through the use of spatial data, the study examines the spatial and economic trends in Johannesburg, the location of the urban poor and the effects of changes in commuter patterns. The study takes into account current and future urban and economic trends and examines the way in which public transport systems can make a positive impact upon the urban poor. This evaluation is done through an analysis of international literature and best practices that can be used in the development of public transport systems that are responsive, effective and reliable. Key respondents were interviewed to examine the impediments facing the development of responsive public transport systems and how this affects low income commuters in Johannesburg. Through the use of numerous forms of data including maps, policy documents and key respondent interviews, study reveals that future transport developments see the Gautrain and the Rea Vaya expanding to the west of Johannesburg. These developments will only occur in the late future, leaving low income residents without a formal means of public transport for many years to come. Low income residents within these regions lack the means to access opportunities and services. Research into the phenomenon reveals that in order to address the challenges faced by the urban poor in the west a more dynamic and integrated approach is required in the development of public transport systems in Johannesburg. These findings provide a critical understanding the development of public transport systems and the impediments that restrict the responsiveness of public transportation development in Johannesburg. / MT2017

A number of developing countries have been on a quest to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) with the intention of increasing capital inflow through technological spillovers and transfer of managerial skills. FDI can increase economic growth and development of a country by creating employment, and by doing so, increasing economic activity that will lead to economic growth. South Africa is one of the economies that strive to attract more FDI inflows into the country to be able to improve its economy, and the country has adopted policies that drive the motive to attract FDI inflows. This study investigated the effect of FDI on sectoral growth over the period 1970–2014. The purpose was to find out where in the three key sectors of South Africa FDI is more significant. The review of theoretical and empirical literature on FDI revealed that FDI has a diverse effect on economic growth, both in developed and developing countries. Theoretical literature analysed the behaviour of multinational firms and the motive behind multinationals investing in foreign countries. According to Dunning (1993), firms have four motives to decide to produce abroad, namely natural resource-seeking, market-seeking, efficiency-seeking and strategic asset-seeking. Empirical studies on sectors show that FDI inflows affect different sectors in different ways, and that the agricultural sector does not usually gain from FDI inflows, whereas subsectors in the industry and services sector grow from receiving FDI inflows. Sectoral analysis revealed that the services sector receives more FDI inflows, when compared to the agriculture and industry sector. The study followed an econometric analysis technique to test the effect of FDI inflows on the agriculture, industry and services sectors. The augmented Dickey–Fuller and Phillips–Perron tests were used to test for unit root. Both tests revealed that variables were not stationary at level, but that they become stationary at first difference. Vector autoregressive (VAR) models were estimated, and four types of diagnostic tests were performed on them to check the fitness of the models. The tests showed that residuals of the estimated VARs were robust and well behaved. The Johansen cointegration test suggested there is cointegration and that there is a long-run relationship between variables. Following the existence of cointegration, the estimated Vector error correction model (VECM) results showed that FDI has a significant effect on the services and industry sector, but has a negative effect on the agricultural sector. Impulse response analysis results revealed the correct signs, and confirmed the VECM results. FDI inflows explain a small percentage of growth in agriculture and industry, but a sizable and significant percentage in the services sector. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)

In this study an analysis of the long-term equilibrium relationship between economic growth measured as real GDP growth and private capital inflows is explored. The link between private capital inflows and economic growth is well-documented in the literature. However, a void in the literature relates to examining the cointegrating relationship between private capital inflows and economic growth particularly for South Africa. It is widely claimed that private capital inflows foster economic growth by closing the savings/investment gap. However, clarity on this point is necessary because of the seemingly unclear nature of the relationship in the literature. The exact form of this relationship as well as the nature of capital flows that could impact on real growth requires further investigation. Moreover, what exactly happens to this relationship in an economic crisis such as recently recorded in the global financial crisis is not clear. The analysis is undertaken by employing cointegration and vector error correction modeling approach using quarterly data for the period 1989q4-2009q4. This study employs the Johansen (1998) cointegration test. This technique distinguishes itself since it establishes the long run relationship between variables. Thereafter, residual diagnostic checks are performed on the variables. Our results show among others, that private capital inflows have impacted positively on the growth of the South African economy. The areas for further research that emerge from this study include the effect of some government policies on economic growth that should also receive more attention in the future since political instability slows down investment.

South African households are concerned with their financial wellness. This is evident through the recent social unrest, violent labour strikes and protest against government policies such as the demand for free higher education. The South African government’s redistributive policy to transfer funds from the financially well to the increasing number of financially unwell households are narrowing as the financially well households are declining in proportion to the total households. It is palpable that the situation is critical and decisive intervention is needed from the South African government, the private sector and labour unions. The main objective of this study was to investigate the main differences between households on the bottom end of the wealth spectrum compared to those on the top end in order to identify differentiating characteristics of the various groups in order to suggest targeted policy recommendations for the South African government to improve stability and increase the number of financially well households. In order to achieve this objective, the study was done in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of a traditional literature review where the balance sheet composition and characteristics across disaggregated households on a local and international level was examined. The purpose of phase 1 was to gain insight into the trends and characteristics of different categories of households internationally and in South Africa. Phase 2 consisted of secondary data analysis which was performed in three sub-phases. In sub-phase 2.1 the household balance sheet was used to determine the per asset and liability class contribution to total assets and liabilities for each of the disaggregated financial wellness categories. Each asset and liability class component was ranked according to its contribution percentage within each of the financial wellness categories. The outcome of the ranking highlighted differences in the asset and liability classes’ contribution to total assets within each financial wellness grouping. Sub-phase 2.2 evaluated the optimality of the household balance sheet composition of a financial wellness category in relation to the next financial wellness category by making use of game theory. The last sub-phase (2.3) iv examined possible reasons, through correlation, for the sub-optimality found in phase 2.2. The results of the study indicated differences in each financial wellness category asset and liability compositions in the household balance sheet. Age, gender and number of household members did not affect household wealth in this study. In contrast, income level, employment status, home ownership, education and marital status affected household wealth. Game theory indicated that the highest financial wellness category (Anchored Well) did not have the strongest balance sheet. Possible reasons were identified as the composition of financial assets. / Accounting Sciences / M.Phil. (Accounting Science)