Thesis (MDF)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Treaty aims at achieving regional integration, poverty alleviation and economic growth. Water is a catalyst to these aims, thus making it key for the region to manage and develop water resources. Water in the SADC region is a shared resource among the countries, making joint development of the resource important for peace and prosperity. SADC has been promoting transboundary water resources management among its member states. The region has done a lot of work in establishing an enabling environment for the management of water resources. The SADC Protocol for Shared Watercourses (the “Watercourses Protocol”), the Regional Water Policy (the “Water Policy”) and the Regional Water Strategy (the “Water Strategy”) are all instruments that have been developed to support the management of water resources. However, the region remains heavily under-developed in terms of water infrastructure and in order for the region to develop its water resources, the SADC secretariat has developed a Regional Strategic Water Infrastructure Development Programme (referred to as the “SADC Programme for water infrastructure development” in this study). The Programme is aimed at responding to the lack of infrastructural development in the region and identifies regional water projects to be implemented. Water is a sector that struggles in attracting private sector funding and involvement. This study aims to look into ways that the private sector can been attracted to participate in the Programme for water infrastructure development and also proposes ways they can be engaged. Private-sector involvement varies from project identification to project implementation and funding. To attract the private sector to participate in the SADC Programme for water infrastructure development, SADC and the member states have to build on the enabling environment established in the region and also on relationships based on existing institutions. The private sector needs to be assured of good market potential and sound financial returns. This can be achieved if the region better co-ordinates the prioritization of regional projects through integrated planning. NEPAD and SADC working closely together, to issue that a consistent development agenda is communicated to potential investors, could add value and avoid duplication. It is also important to link to national development priorities in order to ensure that local issues are addressed. Capacity of the public sector to support regional projects is also important – capacity to develop bankable projects, develop financing mechanisms and to implement the projects is required at all levels. The SADC region lacks capacity to participate in complex infrastructure projects and this has to be addressed through establishing a Private Public Partnership Unit at the SADC Secretariat. Capacity to also manage and regulate water services is lacking in a number of countries in the region. These are important issues to ensure fair pricing and to give the private sector confidence on issues of tariff setting. To attract private funding into the water sector the region needs to develop innovative financing mechanisms in order to leverage market-based repayable finance. In the implementation of the SADC Programme for water infrastructure development there is a need to evaluate various types of innovative financial instruments and assess their potential use for regional water projects. Local capital markets in a number of the countries are weak, therefore the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Finance and Investment (the “Finance Protocol”) is important in strengthening these markets. Political will and good governance within member states are also important in attracting investors. SADC as the promoter of infrastructure policies in the region should play a proactive role in encouraging its member states to observe the rule of law and also to use existing treaties within SADC to ensure countries do so. Poor governance and unstable economies are a disincentive for private sector involvement.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Agricultural financing has a wide and deep history in Nigeria, owing to the fact that the Nigerian economy has huge potentials for growth especially from its agriculture sector which is the second largest contributor to GDP. Since the establishment of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme over 30 years ago, the total sum of 647,351 loans amounting to over N34 billion have been disbursed to farmers as at 2009. The result from this study shows that the guarantee scheme has been effective in providing agricultural financing as well as stimulating agricultural production in Nigeria. More specifically, the study found that, out of the five variables used in the models to determine agricultural performance, the credit finance provided under the ACGS and foreign exchange rates was found to be statistically significant to agricultural output. The credit provided under the ACGS has a significant effect on aggregate output; it was also found that the crop and the fishery subsectors are significantly affected by the credit finance provided under the ACGS, due to their short gestation period. However, the livestock and forestry subsectors do not have an immediate significant relationship with the credit finance due to their long gestation period; rather, they have a significant relationship with the depreciation of foreign exchange rates. A major policy implication from the study is that the government should continue to promote and support the operations of the ACGS to encourage farmers to invest their best efforts in agricultural production in Nigeria for food production and for enhanced agricultural export.

Thesis (MDF)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / Using a case study design, this study described the relationship between a government department and a commercial bank aimed at increasing access to finance by SMMEs and improve service delivery. The study examined whether SMME contractors are able to deliver on contracted products and services without access to bank funding to answer the question: “Is access to funding as a constraint to SMME Development over-emphasised?” Commercial Bank A and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development signed a partnership agreement which resulted in nine SMMEs that were awarded tenders by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development being referred to Commercial Bank A for loan funding application. All the nine SMMEs’ application for funding were unsuccessful due to various reasons including short term contracts, insufficient information, adverse listings in credit bureaux and improved cash flows of business after they received payment from GDARD. SMMEs delivered their goods and services as expected, but they experienced minor challenges which included delayed payments, officials not understanding specifications causing misunderstandings with the service provider, beneficiaries not understanding tender specifications, wrong beneficiaries who were not supposed to benefit from the service, and unavailability of stock of certain products from suppliers. From the mentioned challenges, it is clear that access to loan finance is not cited as a major challenge. SMMEs were able to deliver on goods and services despite their applications not being approved by Commercial Bank A. SMMEs used alternative sources of funding to deliver on the tenders awarded to them. The main source was credit from suppliers of goods and services. Own savings and borrowings from friends and families were also used. Once the first payment is received from GDARD, SMMEs are able to deliver on subsequent deliverables. This shows that payment on time is very crucial for the continued supply of goods and services by SMMEs. The partnership between Commercial Bank A and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development had good intentions even though none of the SMMEs referred got access to funds. There is a need for the improvement of the way the partnership operates to ensure a high success rate. Success in this case refers to the number of SMMEs whose funding applications are approved by Commercial Bank A. The areas that need improvement are communication among the department, the Bank and SMMEs, the lending criteria, duration of the tenders (contracts), and training of SMMEs.

Thesis (MDF)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / In 1997, SACTWU established the SACTWU Educational Trust, which includes the SACTWU bursary programme in aid of tertiary education. In honour of the launch of the trust, the union released a statement, which clarifies the intentions of the organisational decision to focus its resources on education. The General Secretary of SACTWU at the time, Jabo Ngcobo, emphasised the union’s acknowledgement of education as the only tool that can arm people with the required knowledge to make independent decisions. In so doing, education empowers ordinary citizens from the lowest economic ranks, to become confident citizens who are prepared to access the opportunities present in the democratic South Africa. SACTWU remains committed to the priority of the organisation, which is to uplift the working class members of the clothing and textile industry. Hence, in their pursuit of this goal, they decided to extend their network of support to the families of their members. An interview with the National Bursary Officer, Ms. Lizzy Chetty, reveals that the focus of the union is primarily on tertiary education as this is the logical route to ensure that the union makes a direct contribution to the national economy in the short term. This is achieved through empowering previously disadvantaged citizens to become active participants in the economy. In addition, individual members of the union can be acknowledged and supported directly in this viable and easy manner. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of the SACTWU bursary programme. The detailed analysis of the information outlined in Chapter 4 follows in Chapter 5 in order to reach a conclusion about the overall progress of the union’s programme (based on this study’s limited focus on the relevant years i.e. 2004, 2005 & 2006 and regions which include the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and Western Cape).

Thesis (MDF (Development Finance))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The need for Small, Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMME) growth in South Africa is beyond question. Government sees SMMEs as an important vehicle to boost the economy of the country because of the contribution they make to job creation. According to recent estimates by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), small businesses represent 98% of the total number of registered firms, employ 55% of the country’s labour force and account for 35% of GDP. Unfortunately South Africa has a low survival rate among start-up businesses compared to other developing economies. Some believe that the reason for the failure of government programmes to support small businesses is due to poor delivery. This is one of the key issues to be addressed by all business support players. The key to success is to pursue a private sector led approach where experienced business advisors and mentors can add value to the businesses of customers. The research focuses solely on support organisations within the Siyanda region. The findings support the notion that Seda, as government’s small business support vehicle, will have to utilise support organisations more in order to make a success of its mandate. The investigation has identified some recommendations that may lead to an improvement in the current environment. The first approach is to ensure that people who render small business support have business experience and understand small enterprises. Secondly, to ensure that sector programmes are focused on a particular objective and that the overall strategy remains integrated and focused. In order to achieve this, the private sector should participate and share the costs. In recommending measures to improve the promotion of small business support at a local level, it is important to focus on what works best and that is ultimately privatesector organisations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die behoefte aan groei van Klein, Mikro en Medium Ondernemings (SMMEs) in Suid-Afrika word nie debateer nie. Die regering sien SMMEs as ‘n belangrike medium om die land se ekonomie ‘n hupstoot te gee vanweë die bydrae wat hulle tot werkskeppping maak. Volgens onlangse skattings van die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid, verteenwoordig kleinsake-ondernemings 98% van die totale aantal geregistreerde ondernemings en verskaf hulle werk aan 55% van die land se arbeidsmag, en dra hulle by tot 35% van die bruto binnelandse produk. Ongelukkig het Suid-Afrika ‘n lae oorlewingsyfer onder nuwe besighede in vergelyking met ander ontwikkelende ekonomieë. Sommige mense glo die rede vir die mislukkig van regeringsprogramme wat kleinsake-ondernemings ondersteun, is swak dienslewering. Hierdie is een van die sleutelkwessies wat aangespreek behoort te word deur alle sake-ondersteuningspartye. Die sleutel tot sukses is om ‘n privaatsektor-gedrewe aanslag te volg waar ervare sake-adviseurs en -mentors waarde kan toevoeg tot kliënte se besighede. Die ondersoek het sekere aanbevelings geidentifiseer wat mag lei tot ‘n verbetering van die huidige omstandighede. Die eerste stap is om te verseker dat mense wat kleinsake-ondersteuning bied wel sake-ondervinding het en die kleinsakebedryf verstaan. Tweedens, om te verseker dat die sektor se programme wel gefokus is op ‘n spesifieke doelwit en dat die oorkoepelende strategieë geïntegreerd en gefokus bly. Ten einde dit te bereik, moet die privaatsektor deelneem en die kostes deel. By die soeke na stappe om die bevordering van kleinsake op plaaslike vlak te verbeter, is dit belangrik om te kyk wat (elders) reeds geslaag het. Dit is alte dikwels stappe wat deur die privaatsektor onderneem word.

Thesis (MDF (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die langtermynversekeringsindustrie het voorheen slegs finansiële produkte en dienste ontwerp, wat gefokus was op die middel tot hoër inkomstegroepe. Die armes was dus uitgesluit, primêr as gevolg van die laer inkomstegroepe wat nie lewensversekeringsprodukte kon bekostig nie. Inteendeel, arm huishoudings is, en was, meer kwesbaar vanweë die feit dat hulle geredelik blootgestel word aan meer diverse risiko’s – mensgemaakte, sowel as natuurlike risiko’s - terwyl hulle juis diegene is wat minder middele het om dit bestuur. Hierdie toedrag van sake het egter drasties verander gedurende die afgelope paar jaar. Die onderskeie partye, insluitend verteenwoordigers van die langtermynversekeringsindustrie, het konsensus bereik ten opsigte van die ontwikkeling van die Finansiële Sektor Handves wat in ooreenstemming is met die nasionale swart ekonomiese bemagtigingstrategie. Die oogmerk van die Finansiële Sektor Handves was nie net om mense in die laer inkomstegroepe te bemagtig nie. Dit het ook ten doel om finansiële insluiting te verseker, en mettertyd, die aktiewe deelname van die armes in die hoofstroom van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. ’n Stel toegangstandaarde was gevolglik ontwikkel en geïmplementeer, wat die langtermynversekerings-produkaanbiedinge aan LSM 1-5 reguleer (met ander woorde vir die doeleindes van hierdie verslag, huishoudings wat minder as R3 000 per maand verdien). Die doel van die standaarde wat ontleed word in hierdie verslag, is om te verseker dat die langtermynversekeringsindustrie geskikte produkte ontwerp wat die minimum standaarde soos beskryf in die Finansiële Sektor Handves, nakom. In beginsel word die toepaslikheid en geskiktheid van die toegangstandaarde in hierdie verslag geëvalueer, met die oogmerk om te bepaal wat die standaarde inhou vir beide die verbruiker asook die lewensversekeraar van ’n verslaggewingsperspektief. Die eerste deel van die toegangstandaarde wat goedgekeur is deur die Finansiële Sektor Handves in 2007, het slegs begrafnisdekking ingesluit, terwyl die tweede deel gefokus het op nie-begafnisprodukte en sedert 2008 geïmplementeer is. Laasgenoemde het die volgende dekking ingesluit: lewensversekering, dekking vir fisiese ongeskiktheid, kredietlewensversekering en gewone lewensversekering. Die toegangstandaarde wat van toepassing is op verbandlenings is egter nog nie gefinaliseer nie en is gevolglik nie ingesluit in hierdie verslag nie. ’n Fundamentele vraag ten opsigte van die daarstelling van toegangsprodukte vir die laer inkomstegroepe, is wat die rol is van die publiek vergeleke met die privaatsektor en dié van die regering. Terwyl die regering optree as die wetgewer, moet dit ook daarteen waak om nie te veel van ’n rigiede proses vir die privaatsektor daar te stel nie. Die wetgewer moet die relevante reëls en regulasies stipuleer en sekerheid verskaf ten opsigte van die inhoud daarvan. Terselfdetyd moet die wetgewer ook die privaatsektor asook `n klimaat van innovasie ondersteun, sowel as die daarstelling van ’n stabiele regulerende atmosfeer. Behalwe die ontwikkeling van geskikte, bekostigbare en minder komplekse produkte, berus die verantwoordelikheid op die privaatsektor om vertroue te skep in die langtermynversekerings-industrie asook om die noodsaaklikheid van risiko-dekking te propageer. Versekeraars het verder nodig om die laer inkomstegroepe as ’n winsgewende segment te beskou, terwyl die armes versekering as ’n noodsaaklike vereiste moet beskou. Hoe meer vertroue geskep word deur die versekeringsindustrie, hoe minder sal mense in die laer inkomstegroepe hul geld belê in die informele sektor wat gekenmerk word deur die afwesigheid van regulering, minder sekuriteit en hoër risikos. Dit is verder noodsaaklik vir die sukses van die verskaffing van toegang tot finansiële produkte, om in gedagte te hou watter impak dit op die verbuiker sal hê. Met betrekking tot die produkte wat ontwikkel en bemark word deur die lewensversekeringsindustrie: spreek dit werklik die behoeftes van die laer inkomstegroepe aan en dra dit positief by tot transformasie? Die privaatsektor is as gevolg daarvan grotendeels afhanklik van marknavorsing en analises oor verbuikerstendense gemeet oor tyd. Die impak wat finansiële produkaanbiedinge het op die laer inkomstegroepe, kan gevolglik nie onafhanklik beskou word nie want die behoeftes, verwagtinge en profiel van die onderste deel van die piramide sal met verloop van tyd verander. Mededinging dra as sulks ook positief by tot die daarstelling van toegang tot finansiële produkte en dienste. Dit dwing die privaatsektor (die lewensversekeringsmaatskappye) om vorendag te kom met innoverende wyses om effektiewe toegangsprodukte en dienste te kan lewer aan die armes. Die bring mee dat die verbruiker waarde vir geld kry wanneer finansiële produkte en dienste aangekoop word van lewensversekeraars. Met verwysing na die toepaslikheid van die langtermynversekeringsindustrie se toegangstandaarde en of dit die behoeftes van die armes bevredig: die lewensversekeringsindustrie het inderdaad baie bereik gedurende die afgelope paar jaar, deurdat konstruktiewe geleenthede geskep is vir die laer inkomstemark. Gegewe die minimum-vereistes soos uiteengesit in die Finansiële Sektor Handves, kan die armes nou ook langtermynversekeringsprodukte bekom wat uitdagings soos fisiese beskikbaarheid, toegang tot transaksies, bekostigbaarheid, diskriminasie en kompleksitiet aanspreek. Dit is daarom noodsaaklik vir die doeleindes van effektiewe finansiële insluiting, om vir verbruikersopleiding ook voorsiening te kan maak. Finansiële geletterdheid sal in beginsel die laer inkomstegroepe in staat stel om hulself te kan bemagtig en terselfdertyd die teikengroep in staat stel om meer ingeligte besluite te kan neem ten opsigte van hul finansies. Laasgenoemde kan egter nie in isolasie geskied nie. Finansiële geletterheid en dus verbruikersopleiding, is minstens net so belangrik. Dit is juis daarom dat, bo en behalwe die regering wat die rol as wetgewer vertolk deur die toepassing van die reg, al die betrokke partye veronderstel is om ’n gemeenskaplike oogmerk te hê. Met ander woorde, dit verwys direk na transformasie en die doelwit om mense in die laer inkomstegroepe te bemagtig – nie net om finansiële insluiting te bewerkstelling nie, maar van meer belang, om te verseker dat die armes oor die vermoë beskik om meer ingeligte besluite te kan neem oor hul finansies. Hierdie aspek sal veral bydra tot effektiewe toegang tot finansële dienste in die ware sin van die woord - as die armes ’toegelaat’ word om meer aktief deel te kan vorm van die hoofstroom van die land se ekonomie. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Previously, the long-term insurance industry only developed financial products and services that were mainly targeted at the middle to high income groups. The poor have thus been excluded, primarily due to them not being able to afford financial products and services offered by life insurers. However, poor households are, and have been, more vulnerable because they are often exposed to more diverse risks, both ‘man- made’ and natural, whilst having fewer instruments to manage them. This state of affairs has drastically changed during the past couple of years. The respective stakeholders, including representatives from the long-term insurance industry, reached consensus with regards to the development of the Financial Sector Charter which is aligned to the national black economic empowerment strategy. The objective of the Financial Sector Charter is not only to empower people in the lower income groups. It also aims to ensure financial inclusion and, eventually, the active participation of the poor in the mainstream of the South African economy. A set of access standards that governs life insurance products and services offered to LSM 1-5 (i.e. for the purposes of this report, households earning less than R3 000 per month), were developed and implemented accordingly. The objective of the access standards, analysed in this report, is to ensure that the long term insurance industry develops appropriate products that meet the minimum standards defined in the Charter. In principle, this report evaluates the feasibility of the access standards with the aim of ascertaining what the standards imply for both the consumer as well as the life insurer from a reporting perspective. The first set of access standards, approved by the Financial Sector Charter in 2007, included funeral products only, whereas the second phase, which focused on nonfuneral products, came into effect in 2008. The latter is applicable to the following financial products: life cover, physical impairment cover and credit life cover. The access products standards relevant to mortgage protection are not yet finalised and have therefore been excluded from this report. A fundamental question in terms of providing access to the low income groups is the role of the public versus private sector delivery as well as that of government. Whilst government acts as the lawmaker, it also needs to be sensitive towards not creating too much ‘red tape’ for the private sector to comply with. The regulator should therefore stipulate and clarify the relevant rules and regulations, but at the same time support the private sector and encourage a climate of innovation as well as creating a stable regulatory environment. Apart from developing appropriate, affordable and less complex insurance products, the private sector’s responsibility is to create trust in the insurance industry as well as to promote the need for risk insurance. Insurers thus need to see low income earners as a profitable segment, whereas poor people need to see insurance as a necessity. The more trust is created by the insurance sector, fewer people in the low income groups will invest their money in the informal sector which entails no regulation, less security and higher risks. It is furthermore pivotal for the success of access to financial services to take into account how this will impact on the consumer. With respect to the products developed and marketed by the life insurance industry: does it really meet the needs of the poor and does it contribute positively to transformation? The private sector is therefore heavily dependent on research and analyses of consumer trends measured over time. As a result, the impact that financial product offerings have on the low income earners cannot be dealt with on its own, because as time passes so will the needs, expectations and profile of the bottom of the pyramid change. On its own, competition tends to also contribute positively towards access to financial services. It forces the private sector (i.e. life insurance companies) to come up with innovative ways of providing effective access, products and services to the poor. This ensures that the end user gets value for money, when procuring financial products and /or services from life insurers. In respect of the viability of the long-term insurance industry’s access standards and whether or not it speaks to the needs of the poor: the life industry has indeed achieved a lot over the past couple of years, by creating constructive opportunities for the lower end of the market. Given the minimum requirements as per the Financial Sector Charter, poor people can now also obtain long-term insurance products that address challenges with regards to physical accessibility, transactional access, affordability, non-discrimination and the level of complexity. However, more important for the low income group to participate effectively in the mainstream of the South African economy, is the fact that the need for financial literacy is even bigger. It is one thing to have the right of entry (i.e. access) to the financial services sector in terms of life insurance product offerings, but it is different if that same target audience does not have the ‘know-how’ to use and implement the products developed. It is hence an imperative for the purposes of effective financial inclusion to also make provision for consumer education. In principle, financial literacy will enable the lower income groups to become more empowered and at the same time, ensure that the target audience is equipped to make more informed decisions about the finances. Given the latter, it can however not happen in isolation. Financial literacy and thus consumer education, is equally important - if not more. It is therefore critical that, apart from government fulfilling its role as regulator by upholding the rule of law, all the stakeholders should have a universal goal. In other words, this directly addresses transformation and the objective of empowering people in the lower income groups – i.e. not only to ensure financial inclusion, but more importantly to enable poor people to make more informed decisions about their finances. And only this will contribute to effective transformation in the true sense of the word - if poor people are ‘allowed’ to become more actively involved in the mainstream of the South African economy.

Thesis (MDF (Development Finance))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research is influenced by and starts from the work carried out by the IMF in Swaziland, wherein they comment about the significant growth in the use of savings and credit co-operatives compared with that of commercial banks. They also report the lack of growth of the financial sector resulting in sluggish economic growth. This report sets out to establish through a survey, the attitude of the Swazi public towards commercial banks, and to establish if indeed there is a deliberate move away from commercial banks to non-bank financial institutions in general. In the process the reasons for migrating from commercial banks are established. In addition, the ultimate use of funds borrowed in general, is also investigated. Specifically for those people who use non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), the research further probes the uses of such funds, and whether or not such funds are likely to affect economic growth. The survey is augmented by results from questionnaires responded to by selected microfinance institutions (MFIs) as a means of cross-checking and validating results obtained from the public survey. Findings are that in Swaziland, while the growth of savings and credit co-operatives (SACCOs) is acknowledged, there does appear to be a tendency to still use commercial banks by the economically active population. Borrowing tends to be for school fees, followed by the purchase of building materials for constructing rural homes on ancestral land, as well as for personal use and business activities. It also appears that the majority of users of financial intermediaries are civil servants, which comes as no surprise as government is the largest employer. The conclusion is that Swaziland’s problems with sluggish economic growth appear to be from more than a shallow financial sector, but a myriad of other reasons that have not been explored in this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is gebaseer op die uitkoms van die werk uitgevoer deur die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds (IMF) as vertrekpunt, waarin hulle meer beduidende groei in die gebruik van spaar en krediet-kooperatiewe gevind het in vergelyking met die trae groei in die gebruik van kommersiële banke. In dieselfde verslag haal hulle ook aan dat die gebrek aan voldoende groei in die finansiële sektor onderliggend is aan die stadige ekonomiese groei. Hierdie verslag bepaal deur middel van ‘n opname, die gesindheid van die Swazi-publiek teenoor kommersiële banke om vas te stel of daar ‘n opsetlike voorkeur vir nie-finansiële instellings is, bo kommersiële banke. Die studie ondersoek ook die spesifieke gebruik en toepassing van fondse verkry vanaf nie-finansiële kooperatiewe en of die gebruik daarvan ‘n negatiewe impak op ekonomiese groei het. Die uitkoms van hierdie ondersoek word bevestig deur die bevindinge van vraelyste wat deur geselekteerde mikro-finansiële instellings voltooi is, te vergelyk met die bevindinge van publieke opnames. Die bevindinge vir Swaziland is dat alhoewel daar groei is in die spaar-en krediet-kooperatiewe, daar steeds ‘n tendens onder die ekonomies aktiewe populasie is om gebruik te maak van kommersiële banke. Lenings word hoofsaaklik gebruik vir die befondsing van skoolgelde, daarnaas vir die aankoop van boumateriaal vir die konstruksie van landelike huise in voorvaderlike gebiede wat deur stamleiers toegeken word, sowel as vir persoonlike gebruik en besigheidsfinansiering. Dit wil ook voorkom asof die meerderheid van die leners staatsamptenare is. Dit is te verwagte, aangesien die regering die grootste werkgewer is. Die gevolgtrekking van die ondersoek is dat Swaziland se trae ekonomiese groei meer onderliggende beperkende oorsake het as bloot net die oppervlakkige uitwerking van die (kommersiële) finansiële sektor. Hierdie onderliggende redes word nie verder ondersoek as deel van hierdie studie nie.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / The proper management of protected areas is important for biodiversity conservation and continued flow of ecosystem services such as the building up of soil resources and the provision of clean water. Protected areas provide a means of livelihood for communities on the peripheries of these protected areas through conservation based development projects and create an opportunity for people to learn about the environment and wildlife. Protected areas are areas of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and natural and associated cultural resources, and management through legal or other means (International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 1994). These are special places around the world that are managed for conservation purposes. Darey, (1998), recommends that protected areas should be planned and managed as a system, a shift from the previous mindset in which they were considered as separate entities. The role played by protected areas is vital and is recognized in most countries including 177 countries who are signatories to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD caters for cooperation amongst its members by providing support for the financing of protected area systems. There exists, therefore a global mandate for and a specific responsibility to ensure that protected areas are adequately financed. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is a statutory nature conservation body mandated with the protection of natural resources and management of biodiversity in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Biodiversity conservation needs to happen both inside and outside of state-controlled protected areas to create conservation corridors and buffer zones and also to prevent the environmental degradation taking place as a result of human population growth, habitat destruction, and unsustainable development. (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2005). The challenge facing Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in carrying out this mandate is the lack of adequate financial resources. The subsidy received is not sufficient to cover all the conservation initiatives that the entity would like to undertake and so the exploration of alternative financing initiatives is required. The aim of this paper is to explore and discuss alternative funding strategies that can be used by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to supplement the subsidy received from government. These strategies will form a blueprint that protected area managers can use to source sustainable alternative funding that is reliable and environmentally friendly. This study was conducted at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s head office, based at Queen Elizabeth Park in Pietermaritzburg. The research included input from the organization’s Hospitality Managers and Conservation Managers spread throughout the Province. A questionnaire was designed and circulated to draw responses from Executives and relevant Managers. Interviews to ascertain the organizations sources of funding and future sources were carried out. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife official documents such as annual reports, strategic documents and project plans were reviewed and interpreted. The report showed that 90percent of the organizations funding comes from government or state affiliated organizations. These sources are neither sufficient nor reliable. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife cannot plan adequately before establishing the annual subsidy it will receive from government – its primary funder (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, 2008). The research also showed that there are numerous strategies that the organization can implement to supplement its subsidy. These include the widespread implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) strategies and revenue maximization through improved customer service. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has a great potential to generate sufficient funds through its commercial services such as camping, accommodation, gates and boating services to name but a few. The challenge however is to develop an operational strategy that will be devoid of bureaucracy and promote business best practices and the formation of partnerships with the private sector and the communities in the form of Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) and co-management agreements respectively.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / Co-operative financial institutions (CFIs) as a concept has been in existence in South Africa for a number of years either as credit unions, “stokvels”, savings and credit co-operatives and/or FSC‟s. As a result, regulators have long realized the need and potential of the CFI concept, with an exemption notice promulgated in 1994 and the Co-operative Bank specific legislation in 2007, allowing institutions modeled around a common bond to take deposits within certain conditions, to ensure the safety and soundness of such institutions and to facilitate financial inclusion. The study provides an overview of the regulatory and supervisory frameworks for CFIs in South Africa, noting the roles of various regulatory stakeholders as well as the perceptions of the regulated institutions. The study finds that despite the small size relative to the overall economy, and the low penetration rates, the CFI sector in South Africa is providing financial services to marginalized communities. However, capacity is a major constraint in the development and growth of the sector. As a result, any supervisory interventions will be pointless in the absence of appropriate capacity interventions. Despite the existence of various regulators, regulatory and supervisory oversight is considered weak. There is lack of clarity on the various roles of the different regulators within the sector, raising scope for regulatory arbitrage. In addition, the role of the representative body has been called into question, with some CFIs querying its relevance. Regulations have been put in place to address some of these anomalies, and these were evaluated in the context of recommending appropriate supervisory frameworks to enhance the safety and soundness of the sector and minimize regulatory arbitrage. The recommendations are also aligned to the nature and size of such institutions within the broader national strategy of promoting access to financial services in a safe and sound manner.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / The purpose of the research report is to propose a model for an integrated rural entrepreneurial development agency in the Western Cape. In September 2010, it was reported that the economic development landscape in the Western Cape could expect significant changes in the coming months. Urban economic development has received a lot of attention in the past and probably will in the future as urban areas are densely populated with high incidences of poverty and unemployment. Rural areas on the other hand has not received the deserved attention and the work that are done somehow seem not to have the desired impact. The proposed model was developed from models available in literature and practical experience gained at Casidra (Pty) Ltd. Casidra is currently the implementing agent for the Western Cape Provincial Government with a focus on rural development. From the literature study, it is clear that entrepreneurial development in rural areas have some basic requirements such as community buy in into the process, a catalyst to start the process, skills and entrepreneurial training, access to markets and the establishment of a network of role players to drive the process of development. The proposed model explores possible opportunities and relationship that could assist in the process of rural entrepreneurial development. The proposed model could be standalone agency and function as such or it could be part of the proposed Economic Development Agency in the Western Cape driving rural development in the Province.