This dissertation is a narrative account of a self-study undertaken with the primary aim of positively influencing the morale of colleagues in my school department. It addresses an area of personal and professional concern where my values were being denied in my practice. As a Head of Department, I was worried that the low morale of my colleagues would negatively impact on the quality of teaching and learning at school, and on their own mental health. Situated within self-efficacy theory, my study reflects the values I attach to human dignity, respect, fairness, honesty perseverance and caring. These values were applied as the living standard by which I judged the quality of my leadership practice. I describe how I used an Action Research methodology as a living transformational process to reflect on my own leadership in terms of how I could influence the development of positive morale in the department. My findings offer new conceptualisations about how teachers can take action to improve the emotional climate of the school. I am claiming that the significance of my research is grounded in my ability to facilitate an improvement in the low morale of myself and my colleagues in order for us to ultimately contribute to self and school improvement.

South Africa is faced by a huge problem of inequality, twenty years after the dawn of independence. Such inequalities have been addressed by policy intervention such as the social security and assistance of citizens through various classes of grants. One of the grants targeting children under the age of 18 years is the child support grant. However there are deserving children who have been left-out of mainstream social security through social exclusion. The study sought to investigate the problem of the social exclusion of children from the child support grant in the Nkonkobe municipality. Through the use of the Basic Needs Approach (BNA) to understand the need for any state/government to promote the social welfare of its citizens, the study took a triangulated research paradigm which used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to collect data from forty respondents by way of a questionnaire survey. The study found out that, inter alia, poverty remains high in the Nkonkobe municipal area, there is rampant social exclusion in the area, the amount paid for the child support grant is little and that the effects of the withdrawal of the grant when the child reaches the age of 18 are unbearable to the child. Some of the recommendations which the study made in line with improved mainstream social security in relation to the child support grant are that, the government needs to improve information dissemination about grants to the populace, there should be mandatory policies to make sure all citizens have identification particulars, the government should be mobile and take services to the people and there should a consideration to review the amount paid for the child support grant upwards. The researcher is quite optimistic that the study will play a part in improving policy implementation.

The majority of the existing urban areas in South Africa began as colonial centres. This study seeks to evaluate the role the Royal Engineers played in the development of the Cape Colony from 1806 until the acceptance of responsible government by the Cape Colony in 1872. The Colonial State implemented a capital works programme of staggering breadth and scale. During this time South Africa was delineated, urbanised, developed and connected to the world markets. This was achieved via a highly trained and professional military establishment; the Royal Engineers. The role of the Royal Engineers and the legacy of towns, forts and infrastructure are studied in depth in this thesis. British imperial approach to colonial expansion and development in both a spatial and theoretical manner forms the basis of this thesis. The case study covers the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The physical and spatial development of this region are analysed in order to glean any lessons which could be learnt from the approach adopted to colonial settlement. This Study illustrates that a small highly trained group of military engineers had a significant impact on the establishment of early towns and infrastructure in South Africa. They have left a lasting footprint on South Africa’s spatial development and many of the towns and much of the infrastructure is still in use today (specifically the harbours, railways and mountain passes). The Royal Engineers’ approach to development and background training is studied and then reduced to its theoretical approach. This theoretical approach is then analysed in order to glean the lessons history can teach us about development, specifically development on ‘terra nova’. An attempt is made to extract planning theory from historical analysis of developmental elements which worked in the past. The study begins by analysing the background and training of the Royal Engineers and then moves on to assessing the spatial and physical impact their plans had on the development of South Africa. The discussion then moves beyond what the Royal Engineers did to understand how they made it happen; to arrive at a positive theory of planning or to ask when does planning work ? The Royal Engineers were schooled in the sciences and trained to be experts in almost all things; they were the master craftsmen and skilled problem solvers of the era. The training they received at Chatham, is a very early example of professional training; it was comprehensive, high quality and practical. Those who emerged from this training carried out vast public works around the British Empire; they produced very few theories of development but they did challenge ideas. The avant- garde designs of some colonial towns such as Queenstown, Khartoum, Adelaide and Savannah show a desire to improve on settlement forms and to provide design solutions to urban problems. The Royal Engineers adopted a pragmatic approach to development, they initially received a very good scientific academic training, they then learnt by example whilst serving under engineer commanders. As a unit they learnt by observation, experimentation and example. What is striking in their approach is that they saw a problem and simply went about solving it and their solutions were inevitably physical structures and infrastructure. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Town and Regional Planning / unrestricted

Thesis ( MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Background Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has recently resulted to be in an emergence state globally and this of constitute a big challenge for TB control and the goals of the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy. Aminoglycosides (AG) were often used as part of treatment of life-threatening illnesses such as MDR-TB for decades, however their adverse effects are widely described and hearing loss is one of the major side effects. The risk factors for hearing loss in patients treated with AG include the dose and duration of AG, infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), older age and persons exposed to a high level of noise while the damage can be total and permanent. Severe hearing impairment has been reported to occur among patients treated for MDR-TB with injectable drugs, especially among the elderly and patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus, however, Bedaquiline containing regimens have demonstrated improved outcomes over injectable containing regimens in the long-term treatment of MDR-TB. Methods The objective of the current study was to investigate the burden of hearing loss amongst MDR-TB patients on bedaquiline at Zithulele Hospital in Eastern Cape Province. Therefore, the current study followed a quantitative retrospective approach using simple random sampling to select MDR-TB patients treated with bedaquiline and having a baseline audiogram be the initiation of treatment. The data was captured in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and then transferred to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 for data analysis in which categorical variables were presented as percentages and frequencies, while continuous variables was presented as mean, median and standard deviation lastly, comparison of categorical variables was done using a Chi-Squared test, whereas continuous variables were compared using a t-test. P-value of <0.05 will be considered significant. Results The mean age for the participants was 39.2 years with standard deviation of 11.8 and there was no statistical significance difference between the age groups (p value = 0.178). There no was a statistical significance difference between the employment status (p value = 0.794), previous use of injectables (p value = 0.360) and type of hearing of loss (p value = 0.536). Majority of the MDR-TB patients on bedaquiline did not have hearing loss at 67% while those who had gradual hearing loss and sudden hearing loss were 26.8% and 6.2% respectively. There was no statistical significance difference between males and females in both the right and left ears, however, the right ear results appeared to be slightly worse than the left ear results. It was found that both males and females had a high frequency hearing loss in the left ears of 26.8% and 22.2% respectively as compared to the right ears with of 25.9% and 1.6% respectively. The was a statistical significance difference between the age groups in both ears for hearing loss at p-value <0.001. The overall prevalence of hearing loss was found to be 32.9% and hearing loss at 20dB or more loss at any frequency was low at 11.9% while hearing loss at 10B or more loss at any frequency was the highest at 32.9% followed by loss response at 3 consecutive frequencies at 26.2%. Hearing loss was increasing with increasing age from 8.3% in age group and age was significantly associated with hearing loss as older patients were 2.2 times more likely to have a hearing loss at a degree of 20dB and 4.4 times more likely to have a hearing loss at a degree of 10dB. Previous use of injectables was also significantly associated with hearing loss as patients who used injectables previously were 11.5 times more likely to have a hearing loss at degree of 10dB, 5.6 and 11.3 times more likely to have a hearing loss at loss response at 3 consecutive frequencies and overall hearing loss respectively. Conclusion South Africa has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) and until recently, ototoxic aminoglycosides were predominant in treatment regimens. Drug resistant TB treatment with bedaquilines caused clinically and statistically significant deterioration of hearing loss in patients, most prominently at high frequencies. Although public health interventions to prevent hearing loss have been deemed cost effective and have meaningful individual and economic implications, hearing loss and its prevention consistently receive inadequate attention as a global public health priority. Despite the serious impacts of hearing loss, little is known regarding prevalence of ototoxic hearing loss after treatment for DR-TB. Therefore, when the use of injectable ototoxic medications is unavoidable, audiological ototoxicity monitoring is essential to optimise hearing-related outcomes.

A descriptive survey to identify factors influencing relapse of psychiatric outpatients in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape was undertaken. A questionnaire was used to collect data from family caregivers who were relatives of psychiatric patients receiving their monthly medications from two rural clinics. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. A total number of 92 family caregivers participated. Respondents reported side effects of psychotropic drugs, poor family role, poor referral system, lack of home visits, non-compliance and stigmatization as major factors contributing to relapse of psychiatric outpatients. Active involvement of caregivers in follow up care of their relatives is effective in fostering collaboration between the psychiatric hospitals and patients with the common goal of relapse avoidance. It is recommended that adequate provision of resources in conjunction with health education is effective in enhancing collaboration towards prevention of relapse in psychiatric patients. This would promote team work among patients, caregivers and health care providers. / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

This study focused on the impact of climate change and adaptation on small-scale cattle and sheep farming in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Using information from 500 livestock farmers between 2005 and 2009 farming season, three methods of analysis were used to determine impacts of climate change and adaptation. They were Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Binary Logistic Regression Model (BLRM) and Heckman Probit Model (HPM). Findings revealed that cattle production decreased during the study period 2005 to 2009. Preliminary descriptive statistics results indicated that farmers had different perceptions on climate change and adaptation measures between the periods 2005 and 2009. Further analysis using PCA showed that the different perceptions could be grouped into: (i) drought and windy weather patterns; (ii) information and adaptation; (iii) climate change extension services; (iv) intensive cattle and sheep production; and (v) temperatures. The results of the BLRM indicated that the most significant factors that affected climate change and adaptation were: (i) non-farm income per annum; (ii) type of weather perceived from 2005 to 2009; (iii) livestock production and ownership; (iv) distance to weather stations; (v) distance to input markets; (vi) adaptation strategies and (vii) annual average temperature. From the HPM the results indicated that marital status, level of education, formal extension, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired, significantly affected awareness on climate change. Variables that significantly affected adaptation selections were gender, formal extension, information received on climate change, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired.It was concluded that in the area of study, change in climate was already perceived by small-scale cattle and sheep farmers. Households that perceived differences in seasonal temperatures during the survey period were less likely to adapt to climate change. Having access to extension services increased the likelihood of adaptation to climate change. Information on climate change to improve livestock production appeared to play a significant role in the selection of adaptation measures. The recommendation was that government should consider cattle and sheep farmers’ perceptions on climate change when deciding on programmes for cattle and sheep production. It further suggested that the most significant factors that affected climate change, adaptation, and awareness and adaptation selections be considered when adaptation programmes are planned. / Agriculture Animal Health and Human Ecology / D.Phil. (Environmental Management)

A descriptive survey to identify factors influencing relapse of psychiatric outpatients in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape was undertaken. A questionnaire was used to collect data from family caregivers who were relatives of psychiatric patients receiving their monthly medications from two rural clinics. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. A total number of 92 family caregivers participated. Respondents reported side effects of psychotropic drugs, poor family role, poor referral system, lack of home visits, non-compliance and stigmatization as major factors contributing to relapse of psychiatric outpatients. Active involvement of caregivers in follow up care of their relatives is effective in fostering collaboration between the psychiatric hospitals and patients with the common goal of relapse avoidance. It is recommended that adequate provision of resources in conjunction with health education is effective in enhancing collaboration towards prevention of relapse in psychiatric patients. This would promote team work among patients, caregivers and health care providers. / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

This study focused on the impact of climate change and adaptation on small-scale cattle and sheep farming in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Using information from 500 livestock farmers between 2005 and 2009 farming season, three methods of analysis were used to determine impacts of climate change and adaptation. They were Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Binary Logistic Regression Model (BLRM) and Heckman Probit Model (HPM). Findings revealed that cattle production decreased during the study period 2005 to 2009. Preliminary descriptive statistics results indicated that farmers had different perceptions on climate change and adaptation measures between the periods 2005 and 2009. Further analysis using PCA showed that the different perceptions could be grouped into: (i) drought and windy weather patterns; (ii) information and adaptation; (iii) climate change extension services; (iv) intensive cattle and sheep production; and (v) temperatures. The results of the BLRM indicated that the most significant factors that affected climate change and adaptation were: (i) non-farm income per annum; (ii) type of weather perceived from 2005 to 2009; (iii) livestock production and ownership; (iv) distance to weather stations; (v) distance to input markets; (vi) adaptation strategies and (vii) annual average temperature. From the HPM the results indicated that marital status, level of education, formal extension, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired, significantly affected awareness on climate change. Variables that significantly affected adaptation selections were gender, formal extension, information received on climate change, temperatures and the way in which land was acquired.It was concluded that in the area of study, change in climate was already perceived by small-scale cattle and sheep farmers. Households that perceived differences in seasonal temperatures during the survey period were less likely to adapt to climate change. Having access to extension services increased the likelihood of adaptation to climate change. Information on climate change to improve livestock production appeared to play a significant role in the selection of adaptation measures. The recommendation was that government should consider cattle and sheep farmers’ perceptions on climate change when deciding on programmes for cattle and sheep production. It further suggested that the most significant factors that affected climate change, adaptation, and awareness and adaptation selections be considered when adaptation programmes are planned. / Agriculture Animal Health and Human Ecology / D.Phil. (Environmental Management)

In South Africa, the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) has shown the lowest matriculation pass rates for most of 1994 to 2002. This has led to great academic and media focus on the managerial and leadership role of school principals, which became the inspiration for this education management study. The researcher investigated a school principal's efficiency and effectiveness in a school system, and the detrimental impact on learner academic achievement should these vital skills be lacking. Thus, the role of the school principals at schools with low matriculation pass rates was probed to reveal shortcomings in the level of their commitment, and how these could be rectified. The researcher completed a qualitative research study at four schools with low matriculation pass rates in the Eastern Cape Province. The empirical study confirmed that learners at many schools with low matriculation pass rates are subjected to poor infrastructure and overcrowding. Furthermore, the school principals did not create school atmospheres conducive to teaching and learning, and neglected to foster open communication between the school stakeholders. The study found that the school principal's management and leadership role was not based on the belief that all learners are worthy of being taught under the best possible educational conditions. The teachers are required to promote learner academic interests, made possible through efficient classroom management, to sustain teacher quality, and to ensure learner academic achievement, yet they are subjected to poor working environments and ill-disciplined learners. This study nevertheless emphasises that all school stakeholders are accountable for low matriculation pass rates, but that it is the responsibility of the school principals to institute corrective measures. It highlights that parents can enhance learner academic progress through their active involvement in their children's learning process and the provision of home environments conducive to learning. There is a need to guide school principals and school stakeholders to make every educational effort to improve the current low matriculation pass rates in the ECP. Relevant recommendations and a suggested model to rectify the situation are proposed to ensure that all learners receive the quality of education they deserve. / Faculty of Education / D.Ed. (Teacher Education)

In South Africa, the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) has shown the lowest matriculation pass rates for most of 1994 to 2002. This has led to great academic and media focus on the managerial and leadership role of school principals, which became the inspiration for this education management study. The researcher investigated a school principal's efficiency and effectiveness in a school system, and the detrimental impact on learner academic achievement should these vital skills be lacking. Thus, the role of the school principals at schools with low matriculation pass rates was probed to reveal shortcomings in the level of their commitment, and how these could be rectified. The researcher completed a qualitative research study at four schools with low matriculation pass rates in the Eastern Cape Province. The empirical study confirmed that learners at many schools with low matriculation pass rates are subjected to poor infrastructure and overcrowding. Furthermore, the school principals did not create school atmospheres conducive to teaching and learning, and neglected to foster open communication between the school stakeholders. The study found that the school principal's management and leadership role was not based on the belief that all learners are worthy of being taught under the best possible educational conditions. The teachers are required to promote learner academic interests, made possible through efficient classroom management, to sustain teacher quality, and to ensure learner academic achievement, yet they are subjected to poor working environments and ill-disciplined learners. This study nevertheless emphasises that all school stakeholders are accountable for low matriculation pass rates, but that it is the responsibility of the school principals to institute corrective measures. It highlights that parents can enhance learner academic progress through their active involvement in their children's learning process and the provision of home environments conducive to learning. There is a need to guide school principals and school stakeholders to make every educational effort to improve the current low matriculation pass rates in the ECP. Relevant recommendations and a suggested model to rectify the situation are proposed to ensure that all learners receive the quality of education they deserve. / Faculty of Education / D.Ed. (Teacher Education)