Fertilizer plays a major role in the profitability of the farmer’s business, his/her future success as well as the sustainability of his business. Fertilizer is also one of the most expensive farm inputs, and therefore, has the ability to make or break the farmer. The emerging farmer market segment is expanding and holds a great deal of potential for fertilizer companies to supply the growing need of fertilizer in this market. Almost all fertilizer marketing strategies of South African companies have been designed to cater for the commercial farming sector; however, if fertilizer suppliers want to focus on the emerging farmer market segment, they need to understand buying behaviour of emerging farmers as well as their needs when developing strategies to utilize opportunities in this developing market. This study aims to do just that by identifying factors playing an important role in the buying behaviour of emerging farmers in the Free State when purchasing fertilizer. This study was conducted in two phases. During phase one, a literature review was conducted; phase two consisted of an empirical study. Questionnaires were used as a measuring instrument and were filled out by 32 participants to determine emerging farmer buying behaviour. Data was analysed by means of descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. The Coefficient of Cronbach’s Alpha was employed to verify the validity of the data. The results show that four (4) factors; (i) Service, (ii). Brand, (iii) Product and (iv). Learning/Psychological factors highly influence emerging farmers’ fertilizer purchase decision. The study also finally draws recommendations and conclusions for managerial perusal. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

M.Sc. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

MPH, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Introduction: South African health system embraces the District Health System model. 1 District health system includes health stations or posts, other health care facilities such as private health practitioners, community based organisations. primary health care clinics and district hospitals. District hospitals provide first level of outpatient or inpatient care for patients who have been referred by their primary care providers. District hospitals usually provide 24 hour care and are integrated into district health system. The above set up is similar in Thaba Nchu Health sub district where Dr.J.S.Moroka Hospital (DJSMH) is a district hospital and therefore, a referral point for 11 clinics within Thaba Nchu sub district and 4 clinics from the neighbouring sub district. In addition, there are 5 general practitioners rooms within Thaba Nchu sub district. The DJSMH is overburdened with increasingly high caseload. Main Aim: To evaluate the referral system in the Thaba Nchu Health Sub-district, Free State Province in terms of the factors that influences its function. Methodology: This was a descriptive study undertaken at Dr.J.S.Moroka Hospital Outpatient and Casualty departments. The study included review of routinely collected hospital information on patients’ records and registers. No intervention was done for this study. Results : The referral system within the sub district is not fully functional. Most patients that are seen in the DJSMH are self referrals. The case load and work load of the two designated areas could be reduced if most of the patients could have started and be seen at the primary health care clinics. Although the registers were helpful in collecting information, the documentation on patients’ records by health workers is not consistent; it is poor and need to be improved. The records have shown that the personnel are doing little in strengthening the referral system within the district. Conclusion: This study was the first of its kind to be done in this DJSMH. Although there are good practices with regard to referral system within the Thaba Nchu subdistrict and Dr. J.S Moroka Hospital, much still has to be done to ensure that the primary health care clinics and hospitals are effectively functioning in rendering services relevant to each level of care. More patients seen in the DJSMH are self referrals that could be managed at the primary health care clinics. The interventions recommended in this study will assist in strengthening the delivery of district health care system and in particular improve the referral system within the sub district.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Science, 1991 / This study documents and interprets the stratigraphy and sedimentary environments of the upper Johannesburg and Turffontein Subgroups of the Witwatersrand Supergroup on St. Helena Gold Mine. These data are used to construct a tectono-stratigraphic framework and determine the general distribution of economic mineralization. [Abbreviated abstract. Open document to view full version]

Fertilizer plays a major role in the profitability of the farmer’s business, his/her future success as well as the sustainability of his business. Fertilizer is also one of the most expensive farm inputs, and therefore, has the ability to make or break the farmer. The emerging farmer market segment is expanding and holds a great deal of potential for fertilizer companies to supply the growing need of fertilizer in this market. Almost all fertilizer marketing strategies of South African companies have been designed to cater for the commercial farming sector; however, if fertilizer suppliers want to focus on the emerging farmer market segment, they need to understand buying behaviour of emerging farmers as well as their needs when developing strategies to utilize opportunities in this developing market. This study aims to do just that by identifying factors playing an important role in the buying behaviour of emerging farmers in the Free State when purchasing fertilizer. This study was conducted in two phases. During phase one, a literature review was conducted; phase two consisted of an empirical study. Questionnaires were used as a measuring instrument and were filled out by 32 participants to determine emerging farmer buying behaviour. Data was analysed by means of descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. The Coefficient of Cronbach’s Alpha was employed to verify the validity of the data. The results show that four (4) factors; (i) Service, (ii). Brand, (iii) Product and (iv). Learning/Psychological factors highly influence emerging farmers’ fertilizer purchase decision. The study also finally draws recommendations and conclusions for managerial perusal. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

No abstract available / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Didactics)

This study assesses the challenges confronted by rural women participating in small-scale commercial farming in Tweespruit, a rural town of the Free State Province. A qualitative, descriptive and explorative study was used for the study, and data was collected using focus group discussions during August 2015. The study found that rural women farmers are extremely challenged, as they are inadequately equipped as farmers, and they do not receive adequate aid from government or other entities, to enable them to turn their form of farming from subsistence farming to a more beneficial, commercialized form of farming. As a result, the study made the following recommendations. Firstly, the government should intensify programmes and strategies aimed at assisting rural women involved in farming activities. Secondly, it should also assist these farmers with training, especially in modern farming technologies, so as to grow their business into a commercialized form of farming. Finally, it was recommended that government facilitates these farmers to obtain funding from foreign donors to further grow their business.

M.Sc. (Aquatic Health) / Wetlands play an extremely important role in the hydrological cycle as well as biodiversity. Until recently, however, wetlands in South Africa have been neglected both in terms of research and monitoring. The lack of knowledge is even greater for the inward draining wetlands, which is better known as pans. Pans are isolated aquatic systems, which are quite shallow and do not have an outlet. Pans receive water from precipitation and surface runoff, and lose water mainly through evaporation. Some pans can be ephemeral (dry up often) and other perennial (dry up only during drought). The little ecological knowledge available is mainly focused on these ephemeral pans. In this present study conducted in the Western Free-State province, study was only focused on the perennial pans in this area. Due to the fact that this province are one of the biggest areas for gold mining in the country, the pans suffer under the impacts, and this results in the alteration of community structures in and around the pan, simplifying food chains which can lead to the collapse of an ecosystem. The aim of the study was to assess the water quality, bioaccumulation of toxicants (metals and pesticides) in sediment and aquatic invertebrate community of perennial pans in the Western Free State Province, mainly because of the lack of literature on pans in these areas. Seventeen pans were selected for the study of which eight were classified as saline eutrophic and nine as alkaline dystrophic. Various physico-chemical and sediment characteristics were assessed in addition to the characterization of the aquatic invertebrate communities. It became clear that there is great difference in the physical-chemical characteristics of the selected pans. The difference in the trophic state was the most clear, with differences in water colour, nutrient concentration and vegetation growth, classifying pans as either saline eutrophic or alkaline dystrophic. These trophic states influence the distribution and richness of aquatic invertebrates in certain pans. Mining activity, urbanization, agricultural activities and sewage runoff into the pan, all affects the pans negatively, there is sighs of water quality degradation as well as changes in the community structure of invertebrates when compared to the reference pans.

The changing structures of families and the increase in numbers of child-headed families are progressively becoming noticeable both nationally and internationally. Due to the number of families and parents being affected by HIV/Aids, a growing number of children in South Africa are left without parents who can provide them with basic needs and emotional care and support. As a result older siblings become caregivers to the younger siblings, as extended family are no longer, due to straining social-economic circumstances, able to take these orphans under their care. In order for the silent voices of adolescent learners from child-headed families in the Northern Free States to be heard, the inquiry aimed at determining what their lived experiences are. In doing so the information may enable educational psychologists to support Site Based Support Teams and schools to enhance their care and supportive strategies to the benefit of learners from child-headed families. By means of an interpretivist qualitative inquiry, descriptions of these adolescent learners intentions, beliefs and meaning making were obtained. The data collection methods included questionnaires completed by twenty-seven learners from child-headed families, focus group discussions with two groups of learners from different township schools, as well as an interview with one group of teachers. By making use of collages a group of six learners visually portrayed their lives after which descriptions were provided. The data was then worked by means of content analysis in order to determine the common themes and sub-themes describing the learners’ lived experiences. The findings suggested that these learners are governed by values and principles informing responsible and respectful ways of interacting with their environments. Although their physiological needs and physical surroundings are threatening to their well-being, their social support networks as well as personal attributes are protective structures, which strengthen their resilience and aspirations for the future. Some of the recommendations discussed included the development of community support centres in order to support learners from child-headed families with after-school care for their younger siblings, meals and recreational activities. Community forums would need to prioritise the safety of their neighbourhoods in order for all children to feel appreciated and safe in their environments. School Based Support Teams will need to be trained in counselling skills and especially in bereavement counselling. A well co-ordinated, multi-system support strategy will need to be developed and implemented by concerned Non-Governmental Organizations and relevant State Departments in order to enhance the care and support of learners form child-headed families within the South African context. / Prof. J. Pillay

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Technology: Hospitality and Tourism, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / In South Africa, the tourism industry has been identified as one of the key drivers for economic development and transformation of the country. Although South Africa joined the world tourism stage since democracy, the country still contends with issues linked to apartheid, such as poverty, inequality and transformation. More specific and related to this study is the transformation of the tourism industry. In this regard, an overwhelming majority of tourism enterprises are still under the ownership of the White minority. With the post-apartheid transition, the national government recognized that the unequal ownership structure within the tourism sector (as with most of the other economic sectors) needed to be addressed through a programme of transformation. Hence, the transformation programme introduced to counter the current dominance of the economic sector was called Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), followed by Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE); the programme aimed at redressing inequalities that were linked to the legacy of apartheid. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather in-depth information from respondents, based on their accommodation establishment. The data collected from the responses were analysed using Microsoft Excel. This study revealed that the accommodation sector is struggling to keep up with the 2014 transformation target of thirty percent. Incidentally, transformation as noted by the National Department of Tourism, within the industry currently stands at less than 3 percent and will struggle to meet the amended target of thirty percent in respect of the transformation targets set for 2017. Although the government has introduced many initiatives to promote Black participation within the accommodation sector, transformation has remained stagnant and Black ownership of accommodation establishments is almost non-existent. The study results have found that there are no Black business that operate within the CBD of Clarens and that businesses that operate in Clarens even though wholly White-owned, are indeed compliant with the Tourism BEE charter in spite of the results noting that no transformation has taken place. This is due to the issue of automatic compliance afforded to businesses based on their annual turnover. / M