The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of nurses on the implementation of occupational specific dispensation (OSD). Qualitative research using hermeneutic phenomenology was conducted in the three selected public hospitals in the Umgungundlovu district in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with professional nurses, enrolled nurses and nursing assistants and focus group discussions with nurse managers purposively selected at the public hospitals in the Umgungundlovu district. Parse’s extraction synthesis analysis of data was done and seven (7) themes emerged from the participants’ dialogical conversation exploring the experiences of the implementation of OSD. The findings suggested that nurses viewed OSD as unfair labour practice because it divided nurses; there are those who grossly benefitted and those who benefitted less. The researcher concluded that the study will assist the authorities in the department of health both nationally and provincially to review OSD for nurses and close the gaps identified during the implementation as they were the pilot group. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

It has become obvious that a worldwide awareness of the quality of children’s behaviour and therefore also of learner-behaviour exist (Lewis, 2001:307). Moreover, according to Lee and Powell (2005:83), the whole of America has turned concerned interest towards the dilemmas that are associated with the troublesome behaviour of young people at schools. The purpose of this non-experimental, descriptive survey was to react to Gossen (in Lee & Powell, 2005:85) who advocates the restructuring of school discipline to create an atmosphere that would support learners in re-adjusting their behaviour. As a result, the main aim of this study is to examine how learner discipline can be managed in Thabo Mofutsanyana District as informed by the literature study and empirical survey. This aim is conceptualised into objectives and was achieved by investigating the nature of learner discipline, investigated how learner discipline in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District was managed. A quantitative method of gathering data was used in this study. According to Leedy and Omrod (2005:950, quantitative research methods are those that seek to objectively measure the variables of interest. To qualify and quantify the effects of learner’s perception on behavioural choices, this study offers a guide to the data collection and analysis, which provides useful information that is relevant to pre-service and practicing educators. For the purpose of this research, structured questionnaire was selected as a research tool. Tuckman (2008:230) explains the fact that questionnaires are used by researchers to convert information directly given by people into data. The findings suggest that classroom management has an impact on how learners learn and how educators manage learning in a classroom situation. Findings also suggested that by means of a classroom policy, an educator can use rules and procedures to regulate all aspects of the classroom environment and all the actions and behaviour within the classroom. Also, findings confirm that the following issues are pivotal to schools when developing classroom policy: a good classroom policy must clearly reflect the objectives (long-term) and aims (short-term) for which the class is striving, the policy should also be consistent, be acceptable to the majority, facilitate decision-making about certain matters and make provision for the class rules and procedure. In conclusion, an overview of the challenges identified by this research project, as well as the aspects in need of further research, is highlighted. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

This study aimed at exploring perceptions of young adults with regard to condom use in Vhembe district, Limpopo province. With the help of a quantitative, cross sectional descriptive design approach, data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 372 young adults who came for healthcare services at a selected clinic. The findings indicated that there is a relationship between positive perceptions toward condom use and actual condom use. It means that people who have positive attitudes toward condoms are also more likely to use them. In contrast, people with a negative attitude towards condoms are less likely to use them during sexual intercourse. Negative attitudes of health care providers were found to be the barrier that prevents sexually active individuals to access condoms in primary health care facilities. Re-training of health care providers to address negative attitude is a matter of priority. Mass media can also be used as an avenue to communicate consistent and correct condom use. / Health Studies / M. A. (Nursing Science)

This dissertation presents a study on the primary school learners, attitudes on Mathematics learning in the Groot Letaba Circuit of Mopani District in Limpopo Province. Performance in Mathematics by students has persistently been poor. This study sought to investigate the primary school learners’ attitudes on Mathematics learning. The poor performance of learners in many schools in the Groot Letaba Circuit motivated the researcher to conduct this study. The situation is worsened by the inability of the heads of department and principals to guide and support educators. An exploratory qualitative case study research design was adopted for the study. The target population was 33 respondents, which comprised of five teachers and 28 learners from grade one to seven selected schools in Groot Letaba Circuit. The data for the research was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The study revealed that many learners have negative attitudes towards learning Mathematics and that there are many factors which contribute to the negative attitude. Improving on these factors and sensitization of the local community to discard practices which prohibit student’s effective participation in learning Mathematics could improve performance in Mathematics. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will give curriculum developers new insights into emerging issues on performance and influence the Ministry of Education on policy formulation. Learners are also expected to benefit from the findings; because improved Mathematics performance will give them opportunities to pursue science related courses in higher institutions of learning and middle level colleges. The situation is worsened by the inability of the heads of department and principals to guide and support educators. Finally, the researcher gave general recommendations for improving the attitudes of learners towards learning Mathematics. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The aim of the study was to find out about the perception of grade four teachers with regard to reading competence of the learners. The ability to read is an important skill in today`s modern world where so much information is transmitted in written form. It is also important that people have reading skills whether they are in school or not. The choice of this research topic emanated from an observation from past research that, levels of reading difficulties among primary school pupils are very high and Hlanganani south circuit is not an exception. This research is relevant as most learners in grade four are not able to read especially in English. These are some of the main problem that makes high failure rate of grade four learners in ANA results, because most learners do not know how to read and it also affect all subjects that they learn in English. The problem of the study pivots around the experiences of grade four teachers with regard to reading competency skills of the learners. Results from most studies carried out on reading indicate that most pupils are not able to read according to what is expected of their grade level. It is against this background that this study sought to establish the factors that lead to reading difficulties. The research methods used are interviews and classroom observation with the focus on a sample of teachers from grade four in two schools at Hlanganani south circuit. The researcher selected these tools because they are directed by research questions. The researcher wanted to find out from the research participants how they taught, their beliefs and perceptions about teaching reading. Qualitative methods are used to generate data. Findings of the study indicate that grade four learners have reading difficulties. These include omitting, substituting and adding words as well as mispronouncing words. This is a big challenge for the teachers who teach these learners. This can be frustrating for both the learners and teachers especially where the teacher does not understand the causes of reading difficulties, how to assess those learners with reading without competence as well as how to help out. According to the findings of this study, teachers have their own perceptions about the causes of reading with competence and their own way of assessing learners with reading difficulties. Government as the state, and local levels should provide appropriate materials for teaching reading skills. Libraries should be provided for our primary schools, since the absence of libraries is a factor in the deficiency in reading skills. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Educational Management)

Background: Literature has shown that negative attitudes and unwillingness to care for HIV-infected patients are prevailing among healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess the attitudes and willingness of student nurses towards caring for HIV-infected patients in some public hospitals in Gert Sibande district, Mpumalanga. Method: A contextual exploratory quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among student nurses enrolled for a four-year nursing qualification in a nursing college at Mpumalanga province. Self-administered questionnaires were completed after obtaining an informed consent. Results: A total of 122 (70.9%) students participated in this survey. Findings showed that most participants had positive attitudes 66 (52.7%) and were willing 121 (99.1%) to care for HIV-infected patients. Significant associations were revealed between participants’ previous HIV testing (p=0.012), age group (p=0.009), and their willingness to provide care to HIV-infected patients. Conclusion: Results showed a generally positive attitude and willingness by participants to care for HIV-infected patients. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The aim of this study was to capture nurses’ experiences and reality of practice in order to understand their views on National Health Insurance (NHI) policy. A hermeneutic phenomenological research design was used to collect data from professional nurses working at Embuleni Hospital in the Gert Sibande District of Mpumalanga province. A sample of 10 professional nurses was included in the study and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data which was analysed following van Manen’s (1990) approach. The results revealed that professional nurses are of the view that the policy on management of hospitals is the source of health system problems which have caused inequalities and insufficient management of rural hospitals, thus affecting their efficiency in service delivery. However, the study revealed that professional nurses viewed the same policy in the light of national core-standards which they use as an objective tool for the purpose of monitoring their practice. The findings present an opportunity for policy makers to use evidence-based knowledge in realigning policy for relevance, bringing nurses on board in the policy process and understanding the key constituents of policy content. / Health Studies / M. A. (Public Health)

The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of nurses on the implementation of occupational specific dispensation (OSD). Qualitative research using hermeneutic phenomenology was conducted in the three selected public hospitals in the Umgungundlovu district in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with professional nurses, enrolled nurses and nursing assistants and focus group discussions with nurse managers purposively selected at the public hospitals in the Umgungundlovu district. Parse’s extraction synthesis analysis of data was done and seven (7) themes emerged from the participants’ dialogical conversation exploring the experiences of the implementation of OSD. The findings suggested that nurses viewed OSD as unfair labour practice because it divided nurses; there are those who grossly benefitted and those who benefitted less. The researcher concluded that the study will assist the authorities in the department of health both nationally and provincially to review OSD for nurses and close the gaps identified during the implementation as they were the pilot group. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

The absence or unavailability of solid waste disposal facilities and service in rural areas of the UThukela District Municipality (UTDM) compelled residents to adopt many disposal practices. This included open burning of waste, which leaves residues in the form of waste ashes. Some heavy metal and hazardous substances remain active in these waste ashes. In this study, the impact of Solid Waste Disposal Practices (SWDP) on the environment was investigated by evaluating the effect of waste ashes on plant growth. The research was directed towards the evaluation of the environmental impact of solid waste disposal practices by households in these rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), on the growth of Zea Mays (Maize) plants. Rural maize farmers dominate the district of UTDM because it is a good agricultural area with great potential for high rainfall in summer, moderate temperatures, good soil and moderate slopes. The method selected to achieve research objectives was the evaluation of the influence of waste ashes, as by-products of SWDP, on plant growth. This was achieved by, determining soil fertility; collecting household solid waste from different rural families to determine the composition (including already burnt ash, plastic ash and wood ash; analysing the chemical composition of traditional ashes collected from sites where it was burnt (waste ashes); applying the evaporation pan test; mixing waste ashes and other additives with soil in planting pots in equal parts; planting Zea Mays in winter and summer; and lastly, monitoring and measuring agronomic parameters of plant growth on a regular basis. The selected additives to the in situ soil were fertilizer, compost, waste ash, plastic ash and wood ash. Pots with soil only (no additive added) served as control. The findings revealed that plants exposed to wood, waste and plastic ash struggled to grow when compared to plants grown with fertilizer, compost and soil only. The impact of all waste ashes on plant growth was negative in both seasons and some of the agronomic parameters were unable to sprout during the course of plant growth. The chemicals found after analysing the waste ashes included some of the heavy metals that remained active after burning. These were left behind in the environment. Consequently, it was concluded that household solid waste disposal practices in rural areas should be reviewed urgently, as they affect plant growth negatively. Recommendations were provided. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Agriculture plays a major role in development, as it creates jobs, develops the economy and reduces poverty. An important drawback in agriculture in South Africa is access to agricultural land and other agricultural resources by African farmers. Many African farmers still own small units of land, which are still mostly used for subsistence farming. These racial inequalities in the agricultural sector date back to colonial and apartheid eras. During the apartheid era, government policies separated white farmers from black farmers resulting in an unequal spatial distribution of farming and development in the country. The post-apartheid government that came into power in 1994 was committed to the eradication of racial legislation and implemented new agricultural policies. Twenty years later many inequalities still exit within the agricultural sector. There is a need to investigate the social and spatial inequalities in the emerging farming section. Since the Limpopo province is one of the poorest provinces in South Africa, consisting of large areas of former homelands, the aim of this research is to investigate and describe the impact of the implementation of agricultural policies on the spatial distribution of the emerging farming sector in the Mopani District of the Limpopo province. This research was done within the framework of the post-modernism paradigm. The study used mostly qualitative data but some quantitative data and methods were also used. Primary data was collected from sampled emerging farmers in the Mopani district, some officials from the local municipality and one provincial official. Evidence from analysed data indicated that the uneven spatial distribution of farms still exists despite numerous policies and programmes implemented by government through its provinces, and local and district municipalities. Structurally there is a lack of proper coordination, inadequate provision of both human and material resources, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of policies and programmes are some contributory factors. It is recommended that policies be implemented that strategically target investment and infrastructural development to reduce poverty, unemployment and uneven spatial distribution of farms in the Mopani district municipalities in the Limpopo province. / Geography / 1 online resource (xvi, 128 leaves) : color maps / D. Phil. (Geography)