The aim of this thesis is to investigate the role of the principal in a functional school situated in a dysfunctional environment in the Gauteng province of South Africa and to make recommendations to assist schools in dysfunctional or disadvantaged areas to achieve school functionality. Functional schools were classified as those obtaining pass rates of between 80 – 100% (coded 0) in the Senior Certificate Examination (SCE) whilst schools obtaining less than 40% were classified as dysfunctional (coded 1). The SCE is the final examination written by learners in South Africa after twelve years of schooling. The dependent variable was thus categorical and dichotomous. It was postulated that the functionality of a school would be related to facts involved with a school’s background, principal’s background, staffing issues, school facilities, school finance, school governance, school inspection and supervision, attendance rates and school management. The stepwise logistic regression models showed inter alia, that the younger a principal, the fewer the teacher posts funded by the School Governing Body, the more a school relies on Government grants: the larger is the probability of the school being dysfunctional. The major characteristic of dysfunctional schools was “low socio-economic background” or dysfunctional areas. Further research was carried out to investigate the emotional intelligence and culture creation in two schools, a dysfunctional and a functional school, in the same socio-economic area. Hence, socio-economic background was kept constant for both schools and as such was removed from the investigation. A literature study was undertaken to gather background and explore various aspects linked to what makes a school functional in a dysfunctional area. Schein’s (2004) qualitative contributions argue that leadership and culture are two sides of the same coin. However, Kets De Vries (1993) argued that leadership styles are largely inconclusive. Goleman (1996), on the other hand, argues that while style may be inconclusive, the leader’s emotional intelligence is common to all styles. Therefore, the researcher argues that emotional intelligence (rather than leadership) and culture are two sides of the same coin. Observations, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used to gauge the emotional competencies of the principals in the two schools. Furthermore, an Organisational Culture Profile (OCP), adapted by O’Reilly and Chapman (1996), was completed by the principal and educators in both the schools. The dimensions of the OCP were used to determine the difference in the strength of the school culture in the dysfunctional and functional schools. The findings of this thesis displayed that leaders must have most of the competencies in emotional intelligence in order to be able to embed a strong culture in his/her school. The role of the principal in creating a strong culture in his/her school is essential in achieving a functional school in a dysfunctional area. / Prof. B.R. Grobler

Educators are experiencing problems in effectively implementing RNCS in the public primary schools in the Ekurhuleni-West district. These problems, in both the Foundation and Intermediate Phases, include poor educator training and development, the scarcity of resources, the added educator workload in implementing the new curriculum and the poor leadership styles of the SMTs. The inability to effectively implement RNCS in the classroom is further exacerbated by minimal educator participation and consultation when the new curriculum was being drafted. Such problems could lead to educator frustration, low morale and demotivation that would negatively affect the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom. It is on this basis that a research study is justified. The research question is “How effective is the implementation of RNCS in the public primary schools in the Ekurhuleni-West district?” / Mr. T.S Hlongwane

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / Background: In South Africa, many students are not able to register at higher education institutions after receiving their high school diploma. The majority of those who do register do not even complete their tertiary studies. The purpose of this research project is to investigate and analyse higher education institutions’ enrolment and dropout within the Gauteng province, South Africa. Data and Methods: Large-scale secondary data from the General Household Survey (GHS, 2012), obtained from Statistics South Africa were used. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and the Statistical Analyst System (SAS) software package were utilised for quantitative analysis. The numerous local and international pedagogical studies synthesised in this research show that finance, unplanned pregnancies, orphanhood and transport to the higher education institutions are some of the main concerns that affect the enrolment rate of students. Further variables such as gender, race, ethnicities and the type of institution have also negatively affected the enrolment rate of students, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Results: According to the ICEF Monitor 2015, current higher education enrolment in Sub-Saharan Africa is 8%. The UIS Fact Sheet 2010 revealed that the enrolment ratio is 4.8% for women compared to 7.3% for men. The present study focuses on the Gauteng province's students who have completed their high school education, as well as those who are either registered or not registered within the province’s higher education institutions, and are between the ages of 17 and 35 years. Conclusion: This study hopes to be useful to policy-makers, research managers and other decision makers within education.

A vegetation survey of natural woodland and grassland was undertaken in the urban areas of the Gauteng Province, where 7,3 million of the 38,5 million people of South Africa live. Relevés were compiled in 132 stratified random sample plots in selected open spaces in the study area. A TWINSPAN classification, refined by Braun-Blanquet procedures, indicated six woodland communities represented by 72 relevés, and eight grassland communities represented by 59 relevés. The identification, classification and description of these plant communities are important for the continued conservation of open spaces in the urban environment in order to integrate landscape ecological mapping and urban spatial planning processes. The study further recorded a high number of species. It indicated that the natural areas in the urban environment have a high conservation status and maintain a high species richness. This information could in future be used for further biodiversity studies in the Province. Species with low occurrence were specifically listed and can be used to inform "red data" status research initiatives. / Dissertation (MSc (Botany))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Plant Science / unrestricted

M.Sc. (Environmental Management) / Surface water quality in the Blesbokspruit Ramsar wetland has been an area of concern since the 1990s, especially following the authorised and subsidised pumping of underground waters—high in salts—from Grootvlei Mine Shaft No. 3. The pumping was necessary to maintain their underground mining operations and to avert flooding of low-lying areas from decantation of derelict gold mines in the Blesbokspruit catchment. High levels of salt, coupled with a change in the flow of the system, contributed to the loss in the ecological character of the Blesbokspruit wetland in 1996 and, its subsequent listing on the Montreux Record during the same year. In Ramsar terms, the Blesbokspruit was under threat and on the brink of losing its international Ramsar status if management action was not taken to improve the surface water quality of this wetland. The Blesbokspruit has become, since 1996, a wetland in need of restoration to optimum hydrological conditions, i.e. water quality and quantity. A return to desirable water conditions in the Blesbokspruit wetland would enhance aquatic species diversity and abundance—especially the important waterfowl species that gave the Blesbokspruit wetland its international reputation. With the shutting down of the mine and the cessation of pumping operations at Grootvlei (Aurora) Mine in December 2010, the surface water in the Blesbokspruit wetland should have improved and enhanced the agricultural activities (irrigation and livestock watering) adjacent to this wetland, as well as contributed to healthier aquatic conditions much needed by local and migratory birds. An investigation of the surface water quality in the Blesbokspruit wetland was performed on historical water quality data for the period 2000 - 2011, obtained from Rand Water. The study revealed that there was a distinct seasonal and spatial pattern in the salts (i.e. sulphate, chloride, sodium, and magnesium), and related electrical conductivity and pH values for sites downstream of the underground water pumping point at Grootvlei Mine Shaft No. 3. Such observable seasonal and spatial patterns in the sites downstream of the underground mine-water discharge point could validate previous findings that had associated saline pollution with the pumping operations of Grootvlei Mine. Inter-annual trends showed a progressive decline in the concentrations of the salts and associated electrical conductivity values, with pH readings between neutral and slightly alkaline. Improvements in the salinity and acidity levels in the Blesbokspruit wetland could then be associated with the number of water management interventions adopted, particularly by Grootvlei Mine, from the mid-1990s until December 2010 (the year when mining and pumping operations ceased at Grootvlei Mine). Nevertheless, during the year 2011, the chemical properties of the Blesbokspruit revealed a step alteration—a substantial drop in concentrations of sulphate and magnesium salts—following cessation of underground pumping the preceding year, also confirming previous investigations linking saline water contamination to underground mine-water pumping operations at Grootvlei Mine.

M.Ed. / The educational system in South Africa has undergone several changes in the last few years, with an emphasis on providing quality education for all. These changes are in line with international trends towards an inclusive approach to education and learners. Within this framework, a long-term goal of the education system is to investigate and address barriers to learning, while recognising and accommodating the diverse range of learning needs in this country. The new Education Support Services will be the cocoordinating structure which facilitates this process. At school level, school-based support teams are being created in order to provide the link between schools and these support services. Although all these changes have been documented, it has become necessary to investigate whether the new support services are indeed achieving their goals. In light of this, a qualitative study was conducted in four Gauteng primary schools, to assess the utilisation of psychological support services. The methods used were individual interviews and focus group interviews. The individual interviews were conducted with principals or life orientation coordinators. The focus group interviews included life skills educators, life orientation coordinators, members of the school-based support teams, and school management teams. There appeared to be minimal utilisation of Psychological Support Services in this study, and this was attributed to lack of staff within the support services, an abundance of paperwork, staff turnover and unavailability, and inefficient response time to requests. Difficulties identified within the schools were academic and social issues, as well as parental and staff challenges. Trauma was also a significant problem encountered by schools. The schools in the study highlighted their needs in terms of support. These were related to intervention, including prevention and consistent ongoing support, and staff professional development. From this study it is evident that primary schools in Gauteng are not utilising the Psychological Support Services, and that the new support structures are not reaching the learners. Recommendations for improving this are made.

Please read the abstract in the front section of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Medical Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Medical Microbiology / unrestricted

This study sought to examine the value of modus operandi (MO) information in the investigation of short-term insurance fraud. A comprehensive literature study was conducted concerning the dynamics of MO information in forensic investigation and short-term insurance fraud in South Africa and internationally, and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with forensic investigators at Santam and MiWay to promote knowledge and understanding of the importance of MO information in short-term insurance fraud investigations. Results of this research indicate that participants did grasp the significance of MO information in the investigation of short-term insurance fraud. It is, however, apparent that they did not optimally exploit MO information regarding insurance fraud as a result of limited experience, ineffective databases and the inaccessibility of available data – all of which prevent the improvement of utilising MO data pertaining to short-term insurance fraud. Forensic investigators in the short-term insurance industry isolate themselves from each other and fail to share the available MO information amongst each other, resulting in a non-systematic fragmented approach to short-term insurance fraud investigation. The study identifies the challenges and shortcomings experienced by forensic investigators at Santam and MiWay that prevent the optimal utilisation of MO information in the investigation of short-term insurance fraud. The study then suggests a set of recommendations that could assist forensic investigators and other role-players in enhancing the utilisation of such information. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The research is a quantitative descriptive survey. The sample is a stratified random sampling of the workforce (n=4,010) of the four hospitals in Gauteng that fall under the jurisdiction of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg Metropolitan Councils. The research examines the extent of the impact of age, gender, occupation, salary level, tenure and race on workplace absenteeism. The data were collected in three phases involving auditing of hard copy files, structured interviews and information technology system. The findings of the research reflect high workplace absenteeism in females by 83.2%, age group between 45 to 49 years by 22.35%, salary range of 2 to 3 by 35.3%, African race group by 96.3%, tenure of 11 to 20 years by 44.3%, nurses by 20.8% and administration support by 35.4%. The research found that the mature employee in age and of higher year of tenure presented comparatively with lower rate of absenteeism. / Public Administration / M.A. (Public Administration)

M.Cur. / Violence and aggression in psychiatric hospitals are a worldwide known phenomenon. South Africa is no exception to the rule. Previous researches conducted in psychiatric institutions have mainly focused on the patients, leaving everyone to guess how this violence affects nurses who are in contact with the patients on a daily basis and who are key role-players in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of the patients under their responsibility. The research aimed to explore and describe the lived experience of aggression and violence by the registered nurses in a Gauteng psychiatric institution, the essence of this violence, and how nurses cope with this violence, in order to formulate guidelines and recommendations that could assist them to manage violence. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual study design was utilised. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews, and naïve sketches. Tesch’s method was used for data analysis, here and an independent coder was utilised. The uniqueness of this study was to bring to the surface the other side of violence as it is perceived and lived by the nurses. The findings show that the nurses face violence on a daily basis. Among the contributing factors there are: the type of patients admitted in the hospital; the staff shortage; the lack of support among the members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT); and the lack of structured and comprehensive orientation. The consequences of this violence to the nurses are emotional, psychological, and physical and take the form of: fear, anger, frustration, despair, hopelessness and helplessness, substance abuses, absenteeism, retaliation, a development of an “I don’t care attitude”, injuries, and damage to personal properties such as clothes, and spectacles.