Thesis (M. Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2006 xiii, 153 leaves / Many people have used the term “charity shop” without having a clear understanding of it, even although there are numerous articles and a previous research survey about charity shops in the UK, Canada and Australia. It seems that no research has been done in South Africa on this particular topic. Also, the confusion that surrounds consumer perceptions of charity shops highlights the need for marketers to conduct more research on this particular area. The following study was conducted within the South African marketplace, specifically in four Durban areas, using quantitative research methods. The main objective of the research was to determine consumer perceptions of charity shops in the Durban area and the factors influencing these perceptions.

The sanitation crisis is a growing pandemic in most developing countries, globally, including in South Africa. It is exacerbated by increasing urbanization, poverty, lack of political will, poor institutional response and limited financial resources to address the increasing demands. The sanitation situation in Inanda in Durban is no different. This study examines a ‘trialogue’ of governance, sanitation and service delivery in Inanda. It investigates the approach to sanitation delivery, capturing the impact of policy implementation through the real experiences of communities in Inanda. The theorisation for this study is built on debates relating to governance as an analytical lens. It also draws on Foucault’s theory of governmentality to understand how government functions in an environment internal and external to itself to manage and distribute public resources as a service to the governed. Government employs the ‘art of governing’ through regulation and the rule of law to achieve its service delivery goals. In the delivery of sanitation in South Africa the government adopts a multi-stakeholder governance approach, requiring inter-spheral and inter-department synergy, together with cooperation from the local communities and other sectors. The predominant qualitative account of sanitation governance is achieved through utilising a case-study design as a methodological approach. The case-study design allowed the researcher to delve deeper into smaller cases employing multi-method data gathering techniques. Triangulation increased the reliability and credibility of the findings presented. The empirical investigation of this research concentrates on the experiences of local communities in Inanda, exploring the impact of policy choices for sanitation delivery. In addition, it captures the application of governance principles by practitioners to meet sanitation demands in the varying geo-spatial formations, different housing typologies and absence of bulk infrastructure in the peri-urban and rural settings in the study area. The study paid special attention to imperatives such as local governance and participation; access to basic services as a Constitutional right; access to sanitation to advance a better quality of life through adequate facilities, improved hygiene education and access to water to complement sanitation goals. The study revealed that sanitation delivery in Inanda was fraught with developmental challenges. The eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Unit, responsible for the provision of sanitation to the communities of Inanda is challenged with increasing populations, unplanned settlements, weak institutional response to operations and maintenance, limited financial resources, inadequate integrated and spatial planning, and moving targets due to increasing demands for sanitation services in Inanda. Poor sludge management threatens environmental integrity and community health. The Municipality’s interim response to the sanitation needs of informal/unplanned settlements had little impact on user satisfaction as the high cost of infrastructure limits the quantity and quality of facilities provided. Communities find it difficult to utilise governments’ choice of sanitation facilities provided to them due to poor quality infrastructure, inadequate of maintenance and care of facilities, lack of effective sludge evacuation strategies for ventilated improved pit toilets, and inability to use and maintain the eco-san innovations instituted by the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit. Inadequate sanitation facilities exposed communities to the hazards of crime, disease, indignity, perpetuation of poverty and discrimination as well as a perception that, approximately 18 years into the democratic era, government has failed the people, as majority of the households in Inanda still do not have their own toilet facility. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

In Durban as well as many other cities around the world one can find the phenomenon of street children. Studies have highlighted various factors such as historical, political, social and economic, which have contributed to the formation of this phenomenon. The aim of this project is to analyse these factors in an attempt to understand the underlying issues and circumstances that lead to the phenomenon of street children. In conjunction with this, one needs to study existing examples of architectural solutions both local and abroad in order to identify the fundamental requirements that a design of this nature would need to include. It is also important that one analyse the local context as it may hold region specific needs that may not be evident from studies of foreign examples. This project seeks to identify the specific methods of rehabilitation and development, in order to create a successful architectural solution. In order to achieve this, one needs to recognise the specific design needs of children in an attempt to create a more conducive environment for rehabilitation. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

This study set out to examine contextual level drivers of HIV among the South African Indian community of Chatsworth. Very little is currently known about HIV/AIDS among South African Indians. It was from this starting point that I set out to research this largely unexplored study topic, to gain insight into and understanding of the non-biological factors that underlie the spread of HIV/AIDS among people in Chatsworth. In-depth interviews, informal discussions and participant observation were carried out among community members, including members who were HIV positive. Findings revealed that poverty, gender power relations and stigma were major social factors contributing to the growth of HIV/AIDS within the South African Indian community of Chatsworth. Poverty places many in vulnerable positions, having to choose between treatment and disability grants to buy food for example, and gender inequalities make women more susceptible to contracting HIV than men. Culture plays a role in placing women in high risk situations. Furthermore stigma, denial and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS makes it very difficult for HIV positive people to disclose their status and to live their lives in the community. The importance of understanding the context in which the HIV/AIDS pandemic is occurring and the various cultural factors that play a role in the experience of HIV/AIDS in people?s lives, is argued to be vital to the development of successful strategies to prevent and manage the disease. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The need for social integration of South African residents has been and continues to be a topic that is at the forefront of social development in the country. Durban is one of South Africa’s most diverse urban centres due to its heritage and historical background. This dissertation aims to explore the notion of cross cultural integration through a common medium that all kinds of people engage with on a daily basis, fashion (or clothing). Thus, this dissertation deals with the integration of cultures, fashion and architecture towards the creation of a proposed multi-purpose fashion centre for Durban. People represent themselves, their heritage, religion and personal attributes through clothing. From a politician or business man to a musician or a priest; clothing is a means of identifying the type of person one is. Clothing is therefore a representation of cultures. Similarities can be drawn with architecture in the way that it represents the period of a buildings creation or the aesthetical values and technological advancement of culturally contemporary societies. The fashion industry is also one that carries a large commercial weight in all economical sectors making it a relevant and practically sound industry to support. From the design to the manufacturing and distribution of clothing, fashion is a powerful global entity that extends beyond countries and cultures. The research undertaken will comprise of primary and secondary data. Primary research will formulated through the analysis of precedent and case studies together with interviews conducted with relevant people. Secondary research will be expressed in the form of a literature review containing theoretically applicable data. The conclusions and careful combination of these research methods will result in the establishment of recommendations that will dictate a suitable and relevant architectural response to the creation of a fashion centre. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Having been founded on the basis of trade through its port, Durban has progressively evolved and grown. However, as a result of the dependence on the port, a physical and intangible disconnection has developed between the city fabric and *water’s edge. This has manifested itself in the road and rail connection along the Margaret Mncadi Avenue (formerly the Victoria Embankment) creating a barrier between the city and its edge. As a result of this lack of integration, another issue has arisen: ‘lost space’. This space is undesirable and not conducive to a good city image for the central business district. It becomes apparent that with these factors, there is due cause for an investigation for revitalisation and as Richard Marshall suggests in ‘Waterfronts in Post Industrial Cities’, that using the highly visible urban environment of the waterfront as a tool for revitalisation of the area (Waterfront’s in Post Industrial Cities: 2001, 2) and, in the long term - the revitalisation of the city. Studies of Sydney’s Darling Harbour, Baltimore’s Inner Harbour and Seattle’s waterfront provide insight as to how these interventions uplifted and revitalised these respective cities. Key outcomes of these precedent studies include the mixed-use nature at the waterfront, connections to the city fabric, promenade, open space and a pavilion-like architecture. Most integral to the findings are the inclusion of all dynamics of people who inhabit the surrounding areas utilising the waterfront, making it both an attractive urban locality and a safe urban environment. The inclusion of the cross-section of city dwellers amounts in the mixed-use nature of the waterfront. It is therefore apparent that on the micro scale, the urban intervention should be of a mixed-use nature, further to which, the dire need for hotels in the region of the waterfront, as well as Durban as a whole, point to an intervention by virtue of a mixed-use hotel. From the investigation into the case studies, the design parameters further outline where the intervention needs to address the street edge and public realm, creating a precedent for waterfront design with the intention of the urban design linking the city and water’s edge. The end consequence of such design parameters would be to make the waterfront physically accessible for the purposes of leisure, recreation and commerce for tourists and Durbanites alike. *water’s edge specifically refers to the edge along Margaret Mncadi avenue strecthing between Wilson’s Wharf and the Bat centre, including the Yacht Basin. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The choices that we make daily, whether consciously or subconsciously, fosters an impression of our personality, mood, and lifestyle but more importantly what we transcend. Similarly our choice of wardrobe, our place of work, play or livelihood, is all fragments of our personality or the image we reflect. The perceived image acts as a visual communicator or a reflection of an identity. This dissertation explored the bridge between fashion and architecture as a visual communicator with the intention of creating a place of identity and expression for the society while understanding its symbiotic relationship. The research set out a framework to establish a platform for South African fashion designers by looking at architecture and its influences on fashion trends and the profound affect vogue has in architecture. The specific reference to case and precedent studies, while gathering information from users in the building, aided in informing the research and its application to the Institute and drawing a cognisant conclusion. The analysis of the case studies and literature review supported the evaluation of the purpose and necessity of a fashion design institute and its place of belonging in society. The architecture in cohesion with the theoretical framework had set up relevant principles which informed an appropriate response to establishing the identity of the city of Durban. The document outlined the relationship between architecture and fashion, while the design proposal augmented the response to its specific requirements. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The purpose of this dissertation is twofold. Firstly, it investigated the issues inferred by the topic, as how spirituality influences architecture, and secondly, through a critical analysis of a literature review with suitable precedents and case studies, it has set guidelines for the design a meditation centre for spiritual practices in Durban. The importance of such a centre was established by analyzing the architectural qualities that contribute in making a spiritual environment as stated in the hypothesis. Problems regarding the topic were identified as being the lack of architectural character and identity of spirituality. A sense of segregation was felt at various levels in socio-cultural groups through religion and race. Architecture is seen to be a medium to establish a dialogue among these groups by adhering to the need of self-education in terms of spiritual knowledge and practice. The key questions posed were the key elements to the secondary research that included an in-depth literature review based on appropriate architectural theories and concepts leading to a list of architectural design considerations. The theory of phenomenology was addressed by concentrating on the qualities that would evoke and invoke the essence of spirituality in an environment. The study attempts to understand the functional, physical and experiential qualities that contribute in making the spirit of a place. The connection between social and cultural groups was analysed under the theory of critical regionalism that also discussed the presence of nature, apart from culture, in creating an identity. The holistic nature of place and sacred architecture has been an essential area of research in an aim to discovering the metaphysical, symbolic and tactile qualities that enforce the pragmatic functional requirements of the centre. The need for an understanding of the science of meditation and self-education was beneficial in identifying the spatial, functional and spiritual requirements of the place. Symbolism, geometry, form and order informed the desired qualities that are driven by the cosmological science of Vastu Shastra in fuelling the space with positive energy. The relationship between man and his environment was further studied in terms of natural and sensory experiential qualities that would form a serene atmosphere. Precedent studies were carried out in different continents to extract similar aspects among various spiritual institutions. Primary research consisted of case studies where buildings were analyzed on specific criteria. Interviews were carried out with experienced members of the institutions for a better understanding of the spiritual practices conducted and the environment. The outcomes of these interviews were critically and theoretically analyzed. The data collected through interviews and empirical studies revealed some pragmatic requirements of a spiritual environment. The study concludes that man cannot be separated from his environment - he is part and parcel of it. The study concluded that architecture is instrumental in binding man with nature whilst the understanding of the inner self and his senses enables him to become aware of his surroundings. The spirit within connects him with the spirit of the place established when suitable architectural design principles are applied. A holistic environment is then created and is suitable for spiritual practice. Such a place evokes a sense of spirituality. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.