M. Tech. (Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / This study noted the implications of the absence of a strategic framework to manage the career mobility of employees with disabilities in the Gauteng-based, state-owned enterprise (SOE). In response to the limited research on career mobility of employees with disabilities (EwDs), the study aimed to investigate EwDs understanding of the phenomenon, identify its enablers and inhibitors, as well as propose a strategic framework for managing it. The study is significant for the inclusion of EwDs and contributing to employers achieving employment equity targets, as required of them by the Employment Equity Act (55 of 1998). In order to achieve the study’s objectives, an exploratory design was employed by conducting individual interviews with five purposively selected participants on junior management levels. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed and piloted with two champions who represent the interests of EwDs in disability forums within the SOE. Given the prevailing circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the researcher collected the data online via Microsoft Teams (MS Teams). The data were analysed manually for emerging themes using Braun and Clarke’s six steps of data analysis. The study found that career mobility was understood by participants to include promotion (job change), succession planning and gainful employment supported by opportunities for skills transfer and reasonable accommodation. Factors identified as enablers of career mobility are training and career development, disability awareness and sensitisation, reasonable accommodation, social networks and benchmarking. Those factors perceived as inhibiting career mobility are mind-set, inaccessible training, lack of confidence and poor succession planning. Through conversations with the participants, the researcher identified critical components for the development of a strategic framework to enhance career mobility for EwDs as organisational diagnostics (input factor), enabling policies and support systems (process factors) and inclusion and career mobility evident in employment equity targets being met (outcomes) to manage career mobility of EwDs in the workplace. The main limitations of the study are that the results cannot be generalised to other settings without validation of the proposed strategic framework due to the sample size involved. It is recommended that future studies consider sensitivity regarding the prevailing circumstances around research during periods of pandemics and the use of language in the field of disability research. It is further recommended that employers consider implementing benchmarked disability awareness and sensitisation programmes to create a conducive environment for EwDs to achieve career mobility in the workplace. Lastly, employers should develop and implement programmes that will enhance mental health and well-being of EwDs and consider the establishment of empowered disability forums.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The relevance of employment equity has been widely debated. This study is of the view that affirmative action is the core factor in realising compliance to and implementation of employment equity. The study was aimed at investigating why Tygerberg Hospital has not complied with the implementation of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) No 55 of 1998 specifically with regards to the field of Dietetics. Research questions have been formulated, relying on literature which includes guiding legislation and policies. Recruitment and selection processes applicable to the dietetic department were analysed and linked with the consulted literature. Role of transformation in transforming the institution was part of the study to ascertain the scope of transformation in managing diversity within Tygerberg Hospital. A combination of data collection tools was used in the study, including interviews and questionnaires to better understand the underlying reasons of non-compliance. The fundamental findings of the study showed that even though policies and legislation had been formulated, there are underlying issues to be addressed by the institution, such as language barriers and personal perceptions of the institution which could subsequently be improved through effective diversity management strategies. It is recommended that the institution will have to come up with a short-term, measurable plan to ensure compliance such as an institutional employment equity plan, appointment of a transformational officer who will focus on managing the institutional diversity management, and an internal capacity building unit to carry out institutional training and development as opposed to the current system. To ensure monitoring and evaluation compliance on employment equity, it is recommended that the responsibility be linked to the performance plan of the senior managers as well as the line manager of the dietetic department. By so doing failure to comply will result in a poor performance assessment outcome of the delegated authority, compliance enforced through departmental disciplinary procedures. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toepaslikheid van billike indiensneming is al wyd gedebatteer. Hierdie studie is die mening toegedaan dat regstellende aksie die kern faktor is om nakoming van en die implementering van billike indiensneming te bereik. Die studie was daarop gemik om ondersoek in te stel waarom Tygerberg Hospitaal nie voldoen het aan die implementering van die Indiensneming Gelykheids Wet No 55 van 1998 nie, spesifiek met betrekking tot die veld van Dieetkunde. Vrae in die navorsing was geformuleer, gebasseer op literature wat rigtinggewende wetgewing en beleid insluit. Werwing en seleksie prosesse van toepassing in die Dieetkunde Departement was ontleed en gekoppel aan die toepaslike literatuur. Die rol van transformasie in die transformering van die inrigting het deel uitgemaak van die studie om die omvang van transformasie te bepaal, rakende die bestuur van diversiteit binne Tygerberg Hospitaal. ‘n Kombinasie van data versameling metodes was in die studie gebruik. Dit het onderhoude en vraelyste ingesluit om die onderliggende redes vir nie-nakoming te verstaan. Die fundamentele bevindinge van die studie het getoon dat ongeag die feit dat beleid en wetgewing geformuleer was, daar onderliggende aspekte was wat by die inrigting aangespreek moet word, soos taal-hindernisse en persoonlike persepsie oor die inrigting en wat gevolglik verbeter kan word by wyse van ‘n effektiewe uiteenlopende bestuursstrategie. Dit word aanbeveel dat die inrigting navore moet kom met ‘n kort-termyn en meetbare plan ter versekering van ‘n institusionele billikheidsindiensneming plan, die indiensneming van ‘n Transformasie Beampte wat sal fokus op bestuur van die inrigting se diversiteit en ‘n interne eenheid om die vermoë van die inrigting se opleiding en ontwikkeling uit te voer in teenstelling met die huidige sisteem. Om monitoring en evaluasie van billike indiensneming te verseker, word dit aanbeveel dat dié verantwoordelikheid gekoppel word aan die werkverrigtingsplan van Senior Bestuurders asook dié van Lynbestuurders van die Dieetkundige Departement. Mislukking om hieraan te voldoen sal lei tot ‘n swak werkverrigting evaluering resultaat van die aangewese outoriteit. Voldoening hieraan sal afgedwing moet word deur departementele dissiplinêre prosedures.

The study aim to investigate perceptions of military personnel with regard to HIV/AIDS in the SANDF in some military Units of Bloemfontein. The military personnel includes all males and females whose ages range between 19 - 47 years, were included in the sample. The approach utilised were both qualitative and quantitative. The data collection technique were: Closed and open-ended questionnaires were distributed to 548 respondents. ~ Participant observation. ~ Review of documents. • Unstructured observations. .. Unstructured interviews. This different data collection techniques to gather valid and reliable information with regard to HN/AJDS in the SANDF were triangulated. The findings revealed poor perception with regard to HIV/AIDS in the workplace, health education, lack of privacy, and discrimination on the benefit of HIV/AIDS. The recommendations of this project deals with aspects which include HIV/AIDS education, inclusion of HIV/AIDS in all military courses, distribution of policy on HIVIAIDS to all military personnel, and involvement in HIV/AIDS awareness. / Health Studies / M. Cur. (Health Studies)

The study aim to investigate perceptions of military personnel with regard to HIV/AIDS in the SANDF in some military Units of Bloemfontein. The military personnel includes all males and females whose ages range between 19 - 47 years, were included in the sample. The approach utilised were both qualitative and quantitative. The data collection technique were: Closed and open-ended questionnaires were distributed to 548 respondents. ~ Participant observation. ~ Review of documents. • Unstructured observations. .. Unstructured interviews. This different data collection techniques to gather valid and reliable information with regard to HN/AJDS in the SANDF were triangulated. The findings revealed poor perception with regard to HIV/AIDS in the workplace, health education, lack of privacy, and discrimination on the benefit of HIV/AIDS. The recommendations of this project deals with aspects which include HIV/AIDS education, inclusion of HIV/AIDS in all military courses, distribution of policy on HIVIAIDS to all military personnel, and involvement in HIV/AIDS awareness. / Health Studies / M. Cur. (Health Studies)

Purpose This research project was an attempt to determine situational aspects of HIV and AIDS among the designated farming communities in the Vhembe and Mopani districts of Limpopo Province. Questions arising from the pilot project were premised on the capacity of farmers in these areas to adequately address the daunting reality and prevalence of HIV and AIDS in their communities. Research Design and Methodology The research was designed to facilitate the integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample of 228 respondents was involved in a triangulated participatory action research method. To the extent that the data collection techniques were triangulated in both nature and focus, HIV/AIDS-related data and information within the designated farming communities was attained with a maximum degree of validity. The data collection techniques used in this regard were: questionnaires, which were distributed to 228 respondents; participant observation; exploratory investigation; unstructured interviews; naturalistic observation; focus group interviews and discussion; and review of documents. The reviewed documents include (primary) sources on HIV/AIDS by the Department of Health and (secondary) sources of literature by various authors presenting a range of perspectives on HIV/AIDS in farming areas. Findings The results of the study revealed the absence of a coordinated policy on HIV/AIDS in particular, and health in general; and a vacuous prevalence of basic HIV/AIDS-related information. For instance, knowledge on condom usage as a prevention strategy was ostensibly scant. Currently, primary healthcare services in the area are not available. The sampled farm workers themselves unanimously corroborated that there was no HIV/AIDS policy on the SAFM farms. Conclusion Based on the main findings established above, it has become indispensable that comprehensive and multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS policy interventions be initiated by all the relevant stakeholders. Local and provincial healthcare authorities need to provide policy guidelines for the development of such policy, taking the particular needs and circumstances of farm workers. The pervasive degree of insufficient HIV/AIDS knowledge among this group necessitates that such a policy should integrate both a labour perspective and healthcare orientation, rather than perpetuating a separation of the two paradigms. This form of integration ensures that the observance of a human rights dimension becomes a sacrosanct component of the prevention of HIV/AIDS among farm workers, as well as their education concerning their healthcare-related rights as farm employees. Furthermore, the prevalence of a national HIV and AIDS policy is mainly aimed at facilitating broad guidelines, not addressing the specific contexts of every public, corporate and rural employment sector (DoH, 2007: 11-12; Muhlemann, et al., 1992: 479). In order that the education, prevention and treatment initiatives in the Vhembe and Mopani farming communities are achieved, the most important parameters of the policy should indicate: ,,X The systematic institutionalisation of local, provincial, and national HIV and AIDS programmes, notwithstanding the provision of healthcare facilities such as clinics; ,,X The promotion of basic healthcare education in general, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among farm workers in particular; ,,X The development of HIV/AIDS work place policy by SAFM as employer; ,,X The systematic involvement and formation of partnerships between policy makers, local and international funders, HIV/AIDS healthcare workers and practitioners, NGOs and SAFM. As a critical factor and unit of analysis in the study, SAFM is expected to fulfil a developmental function among its employees, their families, and the local communities. This function could be enhanced further with the collaboration between SAFM and other farmers in the distribution of basic information regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases at the workplace, as well as extensive healthcare education and training for their farming personnel. Trained personnel, especially managers, are a salient factor in the implementation of organisational health and safety requirements (DoH, 2007: 6, 8; Muhlemann, et al., 1992: 478-479). / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Purpose This research project was an attempt to determine situational aspects of HIV and AIDS among the designated farming communities in the Vhembe and Mopani districts of Limpopo Province. Questions arising from the pilot project were premised on the capacity of farmers in these areas to adequately address the daunting reality and prevalence of HIV and AIDS in their communities. Research Design and Methodology The research was designed to facilitate the integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample of 228 respondents was involved in a triangulated participatory action research method. To the extent that the data collection techniques were triangulated in both nature and focus, HIV/AIDS-related data and information within the designated farming communities was attained with a maximum degree of validity. The data collection techniques used in this regard were: questionnaires, which were distributed to 228 respondents; participant observation; exploratory investigation; unstructured interviews; naturalistic observation; focus group interviews and discussion; and review of documents. The reviewed documents include (primary) sources on HIV/AIDS by the Department of Health and (secondary) sources of literature by various authors presenting a range of perspectives on HIV/AIDS in farming areas. Findings The results of the study revealed the absence of a coordinated policy on HIV/AIDS in particular, and health in general; and a vacuous prevalence of basic HIV/AIDS-related information. For instance, knowledge on condom usage as a prevention strategy was ostensibly scant. Currently, primary healthcare services in the area are not available. The sampled farm workers themselves unanimously corroborated that there was no HIV/AIDS policy on the SAFM farms. Conclusion Based on the main findings established above, it has become indispensable that comprehensive and multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS policy interventions be initiated by all the relevant stakeholders. Local and provincial healthcare authorities need to provide policy guidelines for the development of such policy, taking the particular needs and circumstances of farm workers. The pervasive degree of insufficient HIV/AIDS knowledge among this group necessitates that such a policy should integrate both a labour perspective and healthcare orientation, rather than perpetuating a separation of the two paradigms. This form of integration ensures that the observance of a human rights dimension becomes a sacrosanct component of the prevention of HIV/AIDS among farm workers, as well as their education concerning their healthcare-related rights as farm employees. Furthermore, the prevalence of a national HIV and AIDS policy is mainly aimed at facilitating broad guidelines, not addressing the specific contexts of every public, corporate and rural employment sector (DoH, 2007: 11-12; Muhlemann, et al., 1992: 479). In order that the education, prevention and treatment initiatives in the Vhembe and Mopani farming communities are achieved, the most important parameters of the policy should indicate: ,,X The systematic institutionalisation of local, provincial, and national HIV and AIDS programmes, notwithstanding the provision of healthcare facilities such as clinics; ,,X The promotion of basic healthcare education in general, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among farm workers in particular; ,,X The development of HIV/AIDS work place policy by SAFM as employer; ,,X The systematic involvement and formation of partnerships between policy makers, local and international funders, HIV/AIDS healthcare workers and practitioners, NGOs and SAFM. As a critical factor and unit of analysis in the study, SAFM is expected to fulfil a developmental function among its employees, their families, and the local communities. This function could be enhanced further with the collaboration between SAFM and other farmers in the distribution of basic information regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases at the workplace, as well as extensive healthcare education and training for their farming personnel. Trained personnel, especially managers, are a salient factor in the implementation of organisational health and safety requirements (DoH, 2007: 6, 8; Muhlemann, et al., 1992: 478-479). / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)