A research report submitted to the Faculty of Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment for the requirements for the Degree of Master of Management in the field of Public Development / The purpose of the study was aimed at understanding whether the economic hub of South Africa is able to create the jobs it wants to, specifically with reference to “Green” jobs. It will seek to understand if there are barriers to the realisation of this objective and if these barriers can be overcome. Explore whether the Metropolitan City Council of Johannesburg (CoJ or Johannesburg Municipality), which has embarked on a Green Economy trajectory, can create jobs though the Green Economy. The CoJ promised, through it long-term strategy, the Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) 2040, to play its part in reducing unemployment in the Country. The main finding is that the City is able to create jobs, both within and beyond its borders, but it cannot as yet quantify the number of jobs created or the potential number of jobs that can be created though the Green Economy. / GR2018

A research paper submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science November, 2016. / Informal solid waste recycling has increasingly become part of the urban landscape in many South African cities and towns. In the city of Johannesburg, for example, waste pickers are now playing an important role in waste management and recycling. There is evidence in the literature that suggests these activities have both economic and environmental benefits thereby contributing towards job creation and environmental sustainability. Despite the role that the informal sector contributes to waste management and socio-economic development, as well as environmental sustainability, the urban development and planning policy in South Africa has not embraced and integrated informal systems of municipal waste management in its policy framework. Drawing on field-based study conducted in selected parts of the City of Johannesburg, and using methods inspired by the traditional participatory research, this study explored the institutional framework within which informal solid waste management can be pursued. One solution to this problem could be the integration of the informal sector recycling into the formal waste management system. To achieve informal sector recycling integration, this study identifies barriers that hinder the integration of the informal sector into an inclusive waste management: repressive policy, lack of evidence to support activity, social acceptance, illegal migrants and lack of valid citizenship documents. It is essential to note that the integration of waste pickers should not be grounded on a ‘universal’ model but should instead take into account local context and conditions. / MT2017

This thesis investigates the role of national identity in economic development in the context of post-apartheid South Africa. It draws on research carried out during 1997-1998 on a supply-side project in the plastics industry - the Workplace Challenge. The key empirical sections of the thesis are formed by in-depth case-studies of two factories which implemented the Workplace Challenge. This is linked to industry-level pressures and analysis of national-level discourses to illustrate how macro-level processes are reflected in micro contexts. After an introductory chapter, the research question is framed, in Chapter Two, by means of an interdisciplinary review of theories of nationalism, identity (particularly social identity theory), and economic development. It is suggested that the existence of a superordinate-level identity - such as that held by citizens of a 'new' South Africa - provides a potential resource, in the form of unity and motivation, that can be brought to bear in the process of economic development. Chapter Three examines the methodology used to investigate this research question. Chapter Four considers the national context of post-apartheid South Africa. Particular attention is paid to the national-building project undertaken since the democratic elections of 1994, the government's economic development strategy, and the main institutions of labour and capital. The Workplace Challenge project, which aims to raise productivity by improving shopfloor relations, is introduced in Chapter Five along with a description of the plastics industry where the project was implemented. Chapters Six and Seven present detailed case studies on the progress of the Workplace Challenge in two East Rand plastics factories. Background on the factories, the initial views of management and workers, and key developments during the year of implementation are outlined. An analysis of these developments is then undertaken. Chapter Eight provides a conclusion. Drawing from the research undertaken, it is argued that the new national identity in South Africa has provided resources for processes of economic change in micro-level institutions. However, given the constructed nature of this new identity, this resource can only be mobilised on a sustainable basis if change is aligned with shared symbolic understandings and an acceptance that resources are equitably distributed by all those subscribing to the new identity.

No description available.

Thesis presented in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public Sector Monitoring and Evaluation) to the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, 2016 / 22 years into the democracy, South Africa is still struggling with unemployment. Issues such as poor education outcomes, high disease burden, uneven public service performance, corruption and others have been listed amongst issues the country is facing however; poverty and inequality have been identified as the two main challenges facing the country (The National planning commission, 2012). This research attempted to understand unemployment and how the EPWP addresses the unemployment issues at a local level. The EPWP intends to provide temporary employment and provide training to its beneficiaries through skills programmes, learnership and artisan development. The skills and training provided intend to enhance the beneficiaries’ chances of being employable on other projects after exiting the EPWP (EPWP, 2016) Between 1994 and 2014 white labour force has increased with 9 percent, Indian/Asian labour force increased with 45 percent, 5 percent increase of coloured work force and a 95 percent hike of black African labour force (Stats SA, 2014). According to the National planning commission (2012) South Africa has made a remarkable transition from apartheid into democracy. The high growth experienced by the black African ethnic group has been attributed to the number of interventions implemented by the government to eradicate inequality such as Affirmative Action Act (AA). From the stats provided, one is able to deduce that the government has been able to make progress in terms of decreasing inequality and therefore needs to develop employment creation strategies to address unemployment. The literature review conducted in this study indicates a link between unemployment, economic growth, apartheid and skills development. Apartheid has not been pursued as an attribute as strategies to overcome it have become pre-eminent. This research utilised the qualitative strategy and cross-sectional research design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with interview schedule as a guiding tool for basic questions, the researcher asked further questions when required to do so. / XL2018

The experience drawn from development programmes, has shown that the translation of policy and theory into workable action programmes, is an art form that is little understood and seldom practised successfully, Within the development context, Sbapiero (1984) argues that “no where is the gap between theory and useful action more apparent than in the fielu of economic development” (Shapiero,1984;14). Past top-down exogenous economic development strategies have failed to achieve their objectives, and communities have traditionally lacked the means by which to initiate development. Structural changes in the global arena have also made it difficult for governments to protect their local markets because of competition in the global arena. This means that economic growth in each local area can follow only from the development of a new capacity to respond to global economic changes. Recently, more bottom-up endogenous approaches, to economic development, have been formulated. LED is viewed as a mechanism which could help fill the void which exists, through the effective mobilisation o f community resources. LED could thus enable the poor and structurally unemployed to participate in the economy, by focusing on Human Resource Development, Entrepreneuralism which is geared towards Community Development. New legislation and policy changes have led to more pragmatic and supportive environments which foster LED, LED is in effect a local response which ideally relies on local initiatives, and the communities taking ownership of the development process. This dissertation cannot be comprehensive, Instead it suggests a general framework to problem solving in the field of LED. The Thusanang Training Centre is thus promoted as a synthetic instrument with which to provide a general economic development mechanism at the local level. Training Centres represent areas with interesting and innovative initiatives, that may serve as indicators of ‘good practice* for LED within communities. However when a commitment is made to engage h LED strategies, organisations need to consider the ramifications of their actions on the entire community.

Thesis ( M.Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2010 / Refer to document

Thesis (MBA.) --University of Limpopo, 2016 / The Co-operatives and Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) sector in general is known to be synonymous with job creation and economic growth. The cooperative movement is said to have a potential of aiding unemployment and poverty in South Africa. The present study aimed at identifying the role of primary-cooperatives in economic growth at Elim in Limpopo Province. The study sought to find out what were the potential growth factors and opportunities available for co-operatives. It is also to examine the effectiveness of primary cooperatives as drivers of economic growth. The study was carried out at Elim in Limpopo Province. The methods used were questionnaires and interviews with primary co-operative members. A purposive sampling method was used because the researcher intended to interview specific members of the cooperative. Data were collected using both self-administered questionnaire and interviews. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of these co-operatives are not growing, thus becoming unsustainable. They are also unable to drive the local economy and impact positively to such economies. Lack of access to markets and other resources has been identified in the study as a serious challenge opposed to the success to these enterprises. Subsequent to that are issues pertaining to shortage and lack of, in certain instances, business skills and education amongst members. Finally, the study provides recommendations on the impact of cooperatives on the growth of the economy and how these can be revitalized to benefit not only the local economy at the community level, but also the entire nation.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / Literature has shown that tourism provides benefits such as revenue generation, employment, regional development and economic prosperity to destination communities. The tourism industry is a highly labour intensive industry; hence it is a valuable source of employment. It employs a large number of people and provides a wide range of jobs, which extend from the unskilled to the highly specialised. Tourism industry plays an important role in the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipal economy and it has the potential to address the socio-economic challenges facing the Ba-Phalaborwa municipal area. The study recommends, based on its findings, the importance of tourism development in building the economy of Ba-Phalaborwa. Firstly, the municipality should consider establishing a municipal entity as per the provisions of the Municipal Finance Management Act, which will be responsible for tourism in the area. Secondly, a clear marketing strategy for all special events, including the marula festival, in the area should be developed in consultation with all the stakeholders. Thirdly, the infrastructure, such as streets, electricity and sanitation, in the area should be upgraded to meet the future demand and expansion of the tourism industry.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo / In this study the researcher wanted to disclose the problems undermining the role and effectiveness of IDP for service delivery in the Vhembe District Municipality. The study succeeded in investigating the role and effectiveness of IDP on service delivery in Vhembe District Municipality. The research questions: “is there a role and effectiveness of the Integrated Development Planning in Vhembe District Municipality on service delivery?” and “is there a significant improvement of municipal services since the introduction of the IDP process in the year 2000?” and finally, “Is the IDP of Vhembe District Municipality Linked to the Budget?” were interrogated. The specific objectives of the study which include “investigating how the IDP impacts on service delivery” were outlined. The study also endeavoured to satisfy the second objective by suggesting possible solutions as to how the IDPs could be strengthened to address service delivery constraints and challenges. The research also looked at the historical background of Integrated Development Planning. In doing so, the research looked at the development planning evolution in South Africa. Policy and Legislative Framework governing the formulation and implementation of the IDP in South Africa were also considered. The study strove to outline the problems and other dynamics associated with linkage of the IDP to the budgeting process. Public participation and the role of provincial and national government departments in the IDP were also looked into. Three methods of data collection were identified for use in this study, namely: unstructured interviews, participant observation and documentation. The population for the study comprised the stakeholders for IDP. This was divided into government officials and members of community. Purposive sampling was conducted to each group of the population. The researcher presented data in an explanatory way. The main problem identified on the role and effectiveness of the IDP is its lack of alignment with the budget of the municipality. Recommendations were made at the end of the study.