Inaug.-diss.--Wilhelms-universität zu Münster. / Lebenslauf. At head of title: Geschichte. "Literaturverzeichnis": p. iv-vii.

Proefschrift--Amsterdam. / Cover dated 1936. "Stellingen" ([3] p.) laid in. "Bibliografie": 6th prelim leaf.

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

The existence of a field of tension between the Department of Education and school governing bodies of public schools in South-Africa is of great concern to all partners in the education system, especially taking into consideration that these parents’ bodies were established by the government of the day as equal partners in the management of their children’s schools. Although there will always be differences amongst role-players regarding the running of schools, it can be harmful and to the disadvantage of the learners if these differences are not handled in a professional and transparent way. Against this background, the aim of this research was to investigate the existence of a possible field of tension between the Department of Education and school governing bodies of public schools in the Free State where Afrikaans is being offered as medium of instruction. The purpose of the study was to identify the origin of the field of tension in an effort to describe and analyze different aspects thereof. Special emphasis was also placed on the revised policy on religion in education as an example of possible tension. The introductory chapters explain the background of the empirical investigation. In these chapters attention was given to: • The Department of Education as instrument of the state and its responsibilities towards governing bodies. • The role of the school governing body as partner of the Department of Education in a democratic educational dispensation. Special reference was made to the duties and responsibilities of school governing bodies according to the South-African Schools’ Act. • The manifestation of the field of tension between the Department of Education and school governing bodies in real life situations. A variety of recently documented examples were looked at. • The application of the revised policy regarding religion in education on school level was evaluated. An empirical investigation was undertaken on the basis of the theoretical framework mentioned. The views of respondents from school governing bodies and the Department of Education were tested by making use of a structured empirical-quantitative questionnaire. The aim with the questionnaire was to determine whether there is indeed a field of tension, and if so, what the nature and scope of such a field of tension entails. A further aim with the questionnaire was to identify additional fields of tension which were not necessarily found in the literature previously studied. The respondents eventually confirmed the existence of a field of tension between school governing bodies and the Department of Education in an overwhelming way, which only emphasized to the researcher the necessity to intervene in an effort to defuse this dangerous situation. The validity and reliability of the empirical component of the research was ensured by making use of the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Test, the Bartlet Test as well as the Cronbach ∞ - coeffisient. A factor analysis was also done on the data to ensure that the findings were as reliable as possible. An evaluation of the findings, reveals the following core problems between school governing bodies and the Department of Education in the Free Sate that have to be dealt with before a sound mutual relationship between these two partners can again be developed: • Mutual mistrust in one another’s motives, • A lack of knowledge regarding the content and regulations of SASA, • A lack of communication and misinterpretation of education policy, • A lack of transparency and irresponsible action taken by the Department of Education, • A lack of support to school governing bodies, • Applications of educational policy in practice that do not comply with the regulations of SASA, • School governing bodies fearing the department’s infringement in their powers; • Refusal by school governing bodies to adapt to changes in the educational system. Recommendations for defusing the unhealthy field of tension between two of the most important partners in the education system includes the organizing of a provincial indaba on the initiative of the education department as soon as possible. It was found that the single most important factor that leads to a field of tension between school governing bodies and the Department of Education is a mutual feeling of mistrust between the two partners. On such an indaba the partners will have to assure one another of their support, good faith and willingness to work together towards a common goal. It will also be necessary to agree on the application of the regulations of SASA in practice. It is important that the Free State Department of Education would consider the establishment of a functional Directorate: School governance and –management or a PCF (Provincial Consultative Forum) on provincial level to ensure a body that is visible on school level and which can communicate with school governing bodies to advise them on matters of mutual interest. It is of the utmost importance that all members of school governing bodies as well as School Management Developers should undergo compulsory training by professional facilitators about the content and regulations of SASA and the application thereof in practice. Such training should be of a very high standard and should allow for the differentiation between groups of parents on the grounds of differences in language, skills, knowledge, experience, etc. It is also advised that departmental officials should be trained together with the school governing bodies under their control. It is also of critical importance to emphasize to school governing bodies the necessity to review the different ways of communication between themselves and the parent communities they represent. They owe it to them as their representatives and it will assist them in defusing potential fields of tension that might occur. If both partners are willing to take ownership of these recommendations in good faith and put in an honest effort to make them work, it will lead to the defusion of potential unhealthy problem areas. Only in this way will these role-players be able to create a mutual understanding and respect for one another’s point of view in the interest of the most important partner in the education process - the learner. / Prof. J.C. Kok

Thesis (M.A.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Arts, 2000.

No description available.

Introduction It is well established that gold mine dust is a major cause of pneumoconiosis and other lung diseases. The main sources of dust in gold mines are well documented. Rock drill operators using pneumatic percussion rock drills are at the sharp end of exposure due to the very nature of the drilling process in that rock is pulverized and liberate large amounts of dust even with the addition of copious amounts of water. Historically it has been found that the gold bearing rock formations in South Africa typically contain about 30% quartz. (1) Keeping this in mind, the potential for overexposure is obvious. The actual exposure of rock drill operators to dust and quartz is not well documented and for this reason this research focuses on this particular occupation. Objectives To measure the respirable dust and quartz exposure of Rock Drill Operators in two typical gold mines in the Free State province of South Africa in 2007. Methods This study is a descriptive, cross sectional, rapid assessment based on the findings of gravimetric sampling results taken at Rock Drill Operators working underground on two different gold mines. The actual gravimetric sampling was done in accordance with NIOSH methodology. The study population consisted of 30 Rock Drillers on one mine and another 30 on a second mine. The Rock Drill Operators was randomly selected using their company numbers and selected by the “Excel” program random number selection function. Ordinary gravimetric sampling, using Gillair pumps, was used and weighing done on the mine by a qualified and well experienced Air Quality Analyst using an appropriate methodology compatible with international best practices. Quartz analysis was done at the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) in Johannesburg using a Phillips X-Ray diffraction. (Photo 2). The methodology used by the laboratory technician is conducted strictly according to the manufacturer’s specifications and in line with international best 5 practices. This laboratory participates in quality assurances programmes and is highly regarded internationally. Results The initial hypothesis that exposure underestimation in the past in terms of this particular occupation is confirmed and could be contributable to the difficulties typically experienced when using the traditional gravimetric sampling method. The average quartz percentage was determined to be 25.45% for mine 1 and 38.49% for mine 2 giving an average of 30.67% for both mines. The Total Mass means was 0.73 and 0.23 mg for mine 1 and 2 respectively with an average for the two mines being 0.49 mg. Results for Time Weighted Averages revealed values of 0.69 and 0.22 mg/m3 for mine 1 and 2 respectively with an average of 0.46 mg/m3 for both. In terms of Air Quality Index (AQI) the values were 1.4 and 0.6 for mine 1 and 2 respectively with an average for both mines therefore being 1.1. A comparison with the South African OEL for quartz showed overexposure on 32% of all rock drill operators sampled. When using the NIOSH OEL that figure is even worse at 72%. Based on these results it would thus be fair to conclude that Rock drill operators working without appropriate respiratory equipment will be overexposed and therefore potentially suffer ill health as a result. Discussion and conclusion Rock drill operators are potentially exposed to high levels of harmful dust and quartz in their normal daily work if not adequately protected using good, effective appropriate and comfortable respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and additionally having proper ventilating velocity. At an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 1.1, it would require the mine Occupational Hygienist to immediately institute remedial action in conjunction with an investigation to determine the reasons for such overexposure. The AQI of 1.46 and 0.6 for Mine 1 and 2 respectively curiously beg the question as to why there is a difference. The answer unfortunately is not clear at first glance as both mines wetted the stope working faces equally well, ventilates the faces with similar velocities which in turn alludes to similar dilution factors but the only reasonable deduction that could be made is that high TWA respirable quartz pollutant concentrations (mg/m3) values in lots of cases corresponded with low actual quartz values. This could be co-incidental but in fact caused the TWA graph to be inversely proportional to the AQI graph. Couple this to the fact that the actual dust burden is lower in Mine 2 compared to Mine 1 as confirmed by the TWA values obtained, then the results becomes easier to interpret. However, the assumption is made that the TWA values should enjoy more preference in the analytical sense as it could be compared directly to OEL’s which serves to highlight the hypothesis very clear in that rock drill operators are over exposed to a high degree of certainty which in turn concurs with other research done in the past. The fact that the methods used to drill holes in order to be charged up with explosives has largely remained unchanged for more decades in the mining industry with no viable alternative on the horizon, emphasizes the fact that focused attention and proper risk assessment is called for to protect rock drill operator from harmful exposure. That said the normal paper dust mask cannot in all good conscience be regarded as appropriate RPE for this occupation. The aforementioned risk assessment must determine and ultimately classify which occupations would benefit from “upgrading” to better quality dust masks. To accept only one type of dust mask on a mine would be considered a travesty and contrary to the application of all good occupational hygiene principles. Failing to expedite the aforementioned risk assessment on RPE per occupation will result in failure to place effective safeguard measures in place to protect rock drill operators from harmful dust and will mean that their health will be compromised in time. The development of air line fed type hard hats incorporating a face shield, harness fitted with moisture trap, filter and a snap fit attachment to a compressed air line is likely to be the ultimate solution provided that it is light, comfortable and the introduction is done in a manner that will ensure the understanding in the benefits to be derived from using such a device in the place of ordinary dust masks by Rock 7 Drill Operators. Ultimately, using the Occupational Hygiene hierarchy of control that dictates the first consideration of such control being elimination, coupled with the horrendous ergonomic problems faced by rock drill operators, the solution seems to point inevitably towards meganisation. Using a person in the same homogeneous exposure group (HEG) as that of the rock drill operator as a forced alternative is not advisable as the exposure of a rock drill operator is very unique and certainly not comparable to that of a winch driver for example. The wet environment certainly warrants the investigation into alternative methods for sampling as normal, traditional methods proved to be inconsistent, unreliable and often unusable.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet

During the period 1864 to 1888, President J .H. Brand of the Orange Free State Republic had to deal with two Rolong chiefs at Thaba 'Nchu. The first, Chief Moroka II, ruled the Seleka tribe from 1829 to 1880, while his successor Tsipinare, a Tshidi-Rolong, ruled from 1880 to 1884. The majority of the Rolong at Thaba 'Nchu were of the Seleka division, but the minority groups, the Tshidi and Rapulana, also played an important role in the tribe's relations with the Free State.

M.A. (Clinical Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract