No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

The aim of this study was to explore burial alternatives, cemeteries crisis and perceptions of African urban communities around the issue of cremation as an alternative to burial. The researcher felt that it is important to do this research since there have been so many debates about cremation. The sample used, comprised of males and females from different townships around eThekwini Municipality. The researcher used both qualitative (focus group) and quantitative (self-administered questionnaires) methods. The researcher manually analysed the data that was 0 btained during t he study. The results of the study are presented in the form of quotes together with the discussion of the result by the researcher. The findings show that culture and religion play a very important role in the lives of African people. Although there are other burial alternatives, many African people still see traditional burial as the best way of decomposing the body. At the end of the study the researcher presented the conclusions and recommendations. The findings and recommendations made in the present study are of great help not only to the Department of Cemeteries and Crematoria within the eThekwini Municipality but also to other municipalities in South Africa. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

This study explores the dynamics of employment and poverty in South Africa. Specifically, it is aimed at understanding, over time, the change in household well-being that occurs as a result of the employment types of household members. Secondly, the study explores the relationship between household worker combination and self employment activities, in other words, what are the odds of a household getting better as a result of income accrued from self-employment activities and how is this linked, if at all, to employment of other members of the household. This study will contribute to the debate on poverty and the labour market and that on the relationship between the formal and informal economies. The study relied on secondary data analysis from the KwaZulu-Natal Income Dynamics Survey. Instead of establishing a poverty line, the entire distribution was ranked on the basis of deciles. Decile transitions were then established with respect to household worker combinations and participation in self-employment activities. The analysis of the data revealed a range of worker types. The dominant household worker combinations have workers in regular employment, casual employment, selfemployment, and the unemployed. The number of people following the self-employment route is generally low despite the substantial number of people who remain unemployed. Seemingly, self-employment is not a desirable destination. The period 1993-1998 saw little variation with respect to household worker type. Though the number of regularly employed workers increased during the same period, there were an equally considerable number of unemployed people. The general trend shows few people assuming regular or formal work employment. This trend could not bring about a significant change in total income decile transition and hence a change in household wellbeing. With respect to self-employment, most activities are associated with households with at least a regularly employed member. In a majority of cases, there is a close association between self-employment and workers in the formal economy. The relationship suggests an intra-household transfer of resources to self-employment initiatives or the fact that households participate in self-employment activities in an effort to supplement income from regular employment that is inadequate to meet household needs. There was little variation in household rank order between the two years. It was therefore increasingly difficult for households to experience a change in income, at least, as expressed by their decile transitions. Households with regularly employed members had a greater chance of improving their decile transition. Income from labour earnings therefore played a substantial role in determining the change in household welfare. Though households engaged in a range of self-employment activities, income from these activities had little impact with respect to decile transitions. Income from selfemployment is therefore inadequate to bring about a meaningful change in total household income. In conclusion, the study notes that household welfare and its improvement is dependant upon the employment types of its members. It therefore calls into question the expectation that the unemployed and those in unstable employment should subsist on their own. Secondly, there is a close linkage between the informal economy (i.e. selfemployment) and the formal economy. In light of the links between the two economies, the analysis of the informal economy as a separate entity needs revision. / Thesis (M.Dev. Studies)-University of Natal, Durban, 2004.

This dissertation examines issues related to KwaZulu-Natal's "unbanked" and poor populations and details efforts by Ithala Limited, a government-backed development finance institution (DFI) acting as a subsidiary of the more broad-based Ithala Development Finance Corporation, to make financial products and services available to these constituencies. Specifically, it is suggested that while Ithala Limited has been largely successful in providing savings accounts, home loans and business support finance to many of KwaZulu-Natal's "unbanked" and poor citizens, the organization is now facing political and commercial pressures which call into question its future as a "pro-poor" "banking" institution. In particular, this study identifies Ithala Limited as being unable to gain formal licensing as a banking agency as the result of anxieties felt by state institutions like the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) over the potential impact that Ithala Limited's sub-prime lending activities may have on macroeconomic stability. As a result of these worries, the SARB (along with the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government) is pressuring Ithala Limited to scale-back the extent of its "banking" mandate. A second pressure is identified by this study as emanating from South Africa's commercial banks, whose initial reluctance to serve impoverished populations appears to be fading as more cost-effective ways are found to extend banking products and services to the poor. For Ithala Limited, an advent of commercial sector interest in serving the "unbanked" and the poor raises key pressures revolving around the extent to which the firm, as a parastatal body, should seek to compete with the private sector when it comes to assisting these populations. This study poses two central questions: 1) how should Ithala Limited respond to these pressures? and 2) regardless of how it responds, how should the organization shape its corporate priorities to ensure that it remains an effective "development tool" in the future? This dissertation then argues that while the pressures facing Ithala Limited from both political and commercial forces are not without justification, the organization continues to possess a number of unique qualities that rationalize its continued presence in serving the low-income and "unbanked" markets in KwaZulu-Natal. As such, it is the position of this dissertation that Ithala Limited should try to resist these pressures as much as possible. At the same time, it will be demonstrated that for Ithala Limited to continue achieving success in assisting these aforementioned constituencies, it must pursue a three-pronged approach to organizational reform that prioritizes some degree of privatization to attract new sources of capital and to ease government fears about the existence of a "state-owned" bank for the poor. Further reforms, this study reveals, are needed in the areas of technological utilization and "homegrown" research capacity, both of which must be expanded and improved upon in order to allow Ithala Limited to reduce its operating costs, introduce a more varied range of products and keep up-to-date with changes in South African banking trends. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

Abortion remains one of the most controversial sexual health topics and yet is a common experience for women around the world. Making sure that women are practicing safe abortions is integral to women’s sexual and reproductive health as well as their sexual rights. South Africa has one of the most progressive and liberal abortion laws in the world, yet women still face major barriers in accessing these services. Introducing medical abortion as another termination of pregnancy option could potentially save women’s lives, while reducing the number of unsafe abortions in South Africa. Medical abortion also contributes to fulfilling women’s sexual and reproductive rights, providing more choices to best suit their needs. In 2001, the South African Medicines Control Council (MCC) approved the use of mifepristone in conjunction with misoprostol for termination of pregnancy. Currently there is no formal national policy that allows for the provision of medical abortion in public health facilities, and the Department of Health is considering introducing it into the public sector. In order for any public health intervention to be successful it must be acceptable to potential clients and the context in which it is being implemented must be assessed. This study first looks at women’s attitudes toward abortion; following Eaton’s model of sexual behavior it examines the personal, proximal, and distal environments that influence reproductive decision-making, specifically regarding abortion. With this background information, the study then aims to assess women’s knowledge of medical abortion and whether or not they find it to be an acceptable method for the South African public health system and South African women. The findings suggest that there is a demand for medical abortion among this sample of women. The majority of women find medical abortion to be an acceptable method, and would choose it if they were ever faced with having to terminate a pregnancy. The overwhelming majority of women felt that medical abortion should be introduced into the public sector and efforts should be made to ensure that this method is affordable, accessible, and available for women in South Africa in order to expand their sexual and reproductive health rights. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The South African Labour Market still lacks significant numbers of workers in spheres of decision-making. As a result the employers have been severely criticised by the trade union movement for not adopting worker participation strategies. This study was initiated in response to the recognition of the importance of worker participation as a dynamic and complex concept that allows both employers and employees to effectively participation in decision-making. The argument raised in this study is that worker participation promotes the spirit of solidarity, co-operation, satisfaction, tolerance, and discipline. It is argued in this study that the involvement of workers in decision-making creates a platform for dialogue. When both workers and employers start to dialogue a proper platform for worker participation is created. The objective of this study was to evaluate perceptions of whether worker participation can indeed lead to an increase in productivity and economic growth in the broader context. The study was also aimed at unpacking the argument raised by scholars that where there is worker participation, workers will feel the sense of owning the company and as a result they will be more satisfied with their jobs. After interrogating these issues a conclusion is reached that worker participation is essential if the company is to facilitate job satisfaction. This is supported by the findings of the literature review and the fieldwork conducted. As per responses given by the workers and managers, the findings of the study reveal that when employers do not introduce worker participation, it leads to the feelings of disempowerment and marginalisation of the workers. Both employees and employers are of an ideal that for the company to be run effectively and efficiently, the employees need to be given a proper platform to express their views. This then supports the arguments raised in the literature review that workers participation creates a situation whereby the workers voice is heard in the workplace. Furthermore, the results of this study conducted among workers and managers in Dunlop also reveal that in a work environment where there is no worker participation the production process is adversely affected. However, an important point to note is that both parties must be willing to accept each other as partners in decision-making. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2002.

This study investigates DRC refugees' economic activities in the Durban area in order to understand why some DRC refugees adapt and integrate in the local economy whereas others fail and migrate to refugee camps outside South Africa. We use various migration theories, and the concept of social exclusion to understand refugee action, and highlight the importance of social networks as a form social capital among refugees. Social networks form the cornerstone of DRC refugees' source of income through vital information sharing, financial, material and psychological support. These networks constitute a social net for newcomers and provide important support during random events such as unemployment, illness and death. However, access to the benefit of these networks is often subject to class, gender and age differentials which can have negative effects on both members and non-members. DRC refugees are subject to diverse forms of exploitative practices both from locals and from economically stable refugees including those from the Congo. Key officials and the voluntary sector play different roles at different times. These are mainly negative but are occasionally positive. These negative effects limit Congolese refugees' ability to successfully voice their concerns. Social exclusion and xenophobic attitudes from some key officials and ordinary people worsen the already precarious situation of the refugee communities. Yet, the research findings indicate that xenophobia is not something fundamental. It is fuelled by political manipulation and competition over scarce resources. Further research over time is necessary to confirm or reject this hypothesis. DRC refugees take whatever opportunities they can to establish their livelihoods and increase their resilience to shocks and uncertainty in Durban. Thus their incomes originate from different economic activities. Incomes also come from social support including remittance from other countries and provinces of South Africa, ethnic-based NGOs, political parties and churches, and manipulation from South African NGOs for individual's benefit. Yet, mistrust and social exclusion both within the DRC refugees and between this community and South Africans negatively affect their livelihoods. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

A literature review has carried out in this thesis in order to find arguments in support of the notion that the public sector cannot effectively act alone in the execution of public policy. This is essentially a reaction to the idea expressed by Pressman and Wildavsky (1973) that implementation of policy can only be managed effectively and efficiently when carried out by a central organization. They claim that decentralisation to non-governmental actors could increase the number and diversity of actors and thus delay processes by complicating them. The thesis proposed in this project is that policy implementation as well as its management involves a wide array of interdependent actors who come to join policy networks to promote their interests. The literature reviewed shows that implementation can only be effectively carried out through the management of processes based on network approaches. Public-civic social capital is seen in the project to carry the potential for increasing the sustainability of policy management forms. This can be achieved it is argued by deliberately creating environments that will seek to enable the formation and use of social capital. It is argued further that the creation of public-civic social capital for purposes of development can serve to combine both formal and informal means of accountability and thereby produce systems that are flexible enough to deal with complex issues, numerous and diverse actors and to deal with the ever changing needs of society. Public-civic cooperation is seen as promising to circumvent the problems of collective action by building an environment of trust, reciprocity, mutual respect and an adherence to democratic principles in the management of public policy. / Thesis (M.Soc.Stud.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

This research was undertaken to outline the problems that are encountered by teachers in predominantly historically disadvantaged schools in South Africa, with regards to implementing the Outcomes Based Education (OBE) policy. The study found that in attempting to cope with these problems, teachers exercise their discretion in trying to make the policy relevant to their environment in that they try to get relevant material from other advantaged schools. The study found that at the moment it is difficult to implement this new policy because teachers themselves are not clear about what Outcomes Based Education policy entails. Teachers are also not confident in implementing OBE because they feel they do not have adequate facilities or resources for students, nor is there sufficient information and training about OBE and the syllabuses available. To understand what actually happens in some historically disadvantaged schools with regard to policy implementation, I conducted research at four high schools in Pietermaritzburg. Information was elicited from teachers of grades 8 and 9 pupils. It became evident from my study that although Outcomes Based Education policy is In essence a good policy decision, the problem is that the time of implementation is not right. Historically disadvantaged schools will continue to battle with teaching OBE, even more so as it is planned to be extended to higher grades in the future. This study recommends that the government should improve training and education for teachers and provide relevant resources for implementing OBE. This would minimize the problems that lead to partial or non-implementation of the policy itself. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.