Proper records management plays a significant role in the auditing process, risk management and wider corporate governance. Despite this role, in South Africa, many governmental bodies are issued with disclaimer reports every year by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) due to a lack of supporting documentation. This problem is exacerbated by the exclusion of records management from the criteria for a sound financial management infrastructure in many governmental bodies. The other dilemma is that some records such as financial records, personnel records and electronic records usually fall outside the jurisdiction of the organisation’s records manager. Utilising the King Report III as a framework, this study sought to develop a framework to embed records management practices into the auditing process in the public sector of South Africa, with a view to entrench a culture of clean audits. The study relied on mixed methods research (MMR), with the quantitative study conducted first through informetrics analysis of audit reports, while the qualitative paradigm was used to substantiate numerical data. Data collection adopted a multi-approach with four key sources of data: a questionnaire, interviews, literature review and publicly available data from the consolidated general reports of AGSA. The study revealed that most governmental bodies have established internal audit units, audit committees and records management units, which did not work in unison. In most governmental bodies records management did not form part of the audit scope and records management professionals were not part of the audit committees. As a result, most governmental bodies continued to receive negative audit opinions from AGSA. The study recommends that records management community should utilise auditing and risk management as a springboard to propel records management to the new heights. A further empirical study on the role of auditing and risk management in records management that embraces both the private and public sectors is recommended. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

The chasm in the protection of classified information in South African government indicates that all the departments have at their disposal information that is to some extent sensitive in nature and obviously requires security measures. This study shows that government officials who in their official duties come to contact with classified information are either vulnerable or are implementing the security controls incorrectly. It is also clear that in the absence of a comprehensive statutory framework, the government departments’ classified information has resulted in an unstable and inconsistent classification and declassification environment. The statutory framework would, in addition to other things, address the rising threat of espionage and antagonistic activities, the selling of information and the protection of critical records in government, without hindering the constitutional rights of citizens to access information. This would create a system of valuable informantion and clarify which information requires security measures with respect to the protection of classified information. / Kgaohanao e tshireletsong ya tlhahisoleseding e sireleditsweng ke mmuso wa Afrika Borwa e supa hore mafapha ohle a ona a na le tlhahisoleseding eo, ka ho hong, e leng ya sephiri mme e hloka maemo a tshireletso. Boithuto bona bo bontsha hore bahlanka ba mmuso bao, tshebetsong ya bona ya semmuso, ba teanang le tlhahisoleseding ya sephiri, ba kotsing hobane ba sebedisa ditaelo tsa polokeho ka mokgwa o fosahetseng. Ho boetse ho hlakile hore, bosikong ba moralo o phethahetseng wa semolao, disistimi tse sa sebetseng hantle tsa mafapa a mmuso tsa tlhahisoleseding ya sephiri di bakile tikoloho e sa tsitsang hape e sa hlophiswang ya tlhophiso le tloso ya tlhophiso ya tlhahisoleseding. Moralo wa semolao, hara tse ding, o ka sebetsana le phephetso e eketsehang ya bohlwela le diketsahalo tse ding tse belaetsang tse jwalo ka thekiso ya tlhahisoleseding, mme o sireletse direkote tsa mmuso tsa bohlokwa ntle le ho hatakela tokelo ya Molaotheo ya baahi ya phihlello ho tlhahisoleseding. Hona ho ka theha sistimi ya tlhahisoleseding ya bohlokwa le ho hlakisa hore na ke tlhahisoleseding efe e hlokang maemo a tshireletso ha ho tluwa ntlheng polokeho ya tlhahisoleseding ya sephiri. / Umsantsa okhoyo ekukhuseleni ulwazi olukhethekileyo kurhulumente woMzantsi Afrika ubonisa ukuba onke amaSebe anolwazi analo olunokuba nkenenkene, kwaye oludinga ukhuseleko. Esi sifundo sibonisa ukuba asesichengeni amagosa karhulumente aye athi apha ekusebenzeni kwawo, adibane nolwazi olukhethekileyo, ngoba azisebenzisa gwenxa iindlela zokulawula ukhuseleko. Kukwacaca ukuba, ekubeni kungekho sikhokelo namigaqo isemthethweni, iinkqubo ezingasebenzi kakuhle zamaSebe karhulumente, ulwazi olukhethekileyo aluhlelwa ngendlela eyiyo kwaye lufumaneka kwiimeko ezingaluphathi ngokukhetheka. Ubukho besikhokelo nemigaqo yokhuseleko lolwazi inganceda ekunqandeni isoyikiso esikhulu sobhukuqo mbuso nezinye iziganeko ezikrokrisayo, ezifana nokuthengiswa kolwazi, Esi sikhokelo singanceda nasekukhuseleni iingxelo zikarhulumente ezinkenenkene ngaphandle kokucinezela amalungelo abemi okufumana ulwazi njengoko uvuma uMgaqo Siseko. Oku kuya kuvelisa inkqubo yolwazi olunexabiso kwaye kuya kucacisa ukuba loluphi ulwazi oludinga imimiselo yokhuseleko malunga nokukhuselwa kolwazi olukhethekileyo. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The protection of security information in government departments requires the active engagement of executive management to assess emerging threats and provide strong security risk control measures. For most government departments, establishing effective protection of security information is a major initiative, given the often continuous, strategic nature of typical security efforts. This requires commitments or support from senior management and adequate resources. It necessitates the elevation of information security management to positions of authority commensurate to the required responsibilities. This has been the trend in recent years as government departments are increasingly dependent on their information assets and resources, while threats and disruptions continue to escalate in frequency and cost. It is clear from numerous recent studies that organisations that have taken the steps described in this research document and have implemented effective information security risk control measures have achieved significant results in reduced losses and improved resource management. Given the demonstrable benefits, it is surprising that there have not been greater progress in effectively managing information assets. Although regulatory compliance has been a major driver in improving the protection of security information overall, this study has also shown that nearly half of all government departments are failing to initiate meaningful compliance efforts. Failure to address the identified vulnerabilities by government departments will result in espionage, covert influencing manipulation, fraud, sabotage and corruption. Information security risk control measures include the elements required to provide senior management assurance that its direction and intent are reflected in the security posture of the organisation by utilising a structured approach to implement an information security programme. Once those elements are in place, senior management can be confident that adequate and effective protection of security information will protect, as far as possible, the department’s vital information assets. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Security Management)

Although the mining industry contributed to the development of the country by providing infrastructure and employment, it left a negative impact on the environment. To this end, various pieces of law were promulgated to limit environmental damage and hold those who pollute (Mining Companies / licensees) accountable. This research focused on two study sites namely Blyvooruitzicht and Grootvlei gold mines. Both mines underwent forced mine closure and their environmental liabilities remained unresolved. This study focused on important laws governing the South African gold mining sector, to form an understanding of these laws and to establish if these laws protect the environment sufficiently or not. The study included an overview of the current relevant legislative framework regarding mines, with the aim of identifying if there were gaps between Mining law, Company law, B-BBEE law (Equity Law) and Environmental law. This included an exploration of the interrelationships between the various pieces of legislation and the challenges relating to compliance and enforcement of these mentioned laws. Further to this, the research study investigated the requirements and responsibilities of the South African State, and directors of mining companies. The finding was that South African law with respect to mining companies needs minor adjustments, but the crux of the problem is a lack of effective implementation and enforcement by the State. There is ineffective administration of environmental quality control by the various designated National Government Departments. Recommendations made include the need for clear monitoring of compliance and enforcement of the environmental regulatory framework if there is to be successful mine closure in South Africa. In addition, the South African State Government could consider incentivizing compliance, that is, reward mining companies who uphold environmental law. Further to this the thesis suggest the elimination of any contradictions between the various legislations within the mining industry and stipulates that legislation must be read in conjunction with one-another if a robust legislative framework is to exist. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Science)

An effective records management programme is a major element of the governance of any organisation. However, despite this crucial role played by records management, there is a consensus amongst researchers that many organisations, including government departments, pay little attention to the management of records. In South Africa, government departments are under legislative obligations to adopt a systematic and organised approach to the management of records. For example, the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act (Act No. 43 of 1996) requires government departments to develop, implement and maintain proper records management systems. The purpose of this study was to explore records management trends in the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) to establish if the Department was managing records according to legislative requirements. Data was collected through online questionnaires, physical observation and interviews with selected DPLG employees and analysed through an open source software. The key findings of the study revealed that an enormous benefit for the implementation of a records management programme is the commitment and support of top management. The study recommended that records management should be included in the performance contracts of all employees in the DPLG. The study concluded that a records management programme will only function effectively if it is developed as part of the strategic objective of the organisation. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Sxcience)

An effective records management programme is a major element of the governance of any organisation. However, despite this crucial role played by records management, there is a consensus amongst researchers that many organisations, including government departments, pay little attention to the management of records. In South Africa, government departments are under legislative obligations to adopt a systematic and organised approach to the management of records. For example, the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act (Act No. 43 of 1996) requires government departments to develop, implement and maintain proper records management systems. The purpose of this study was to explore records management trends in the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) to establish if the Department was managing records according to legislative requirements. Data was collected through online questionnaires, physical observation and interviews with selected DPLG employees and analysed through an open source software. The key findings of the study revealed that an enormous benefit for the implementation of a records management programme is the commitment and support of top management. The study recommended that records management should be included in the performance contracts of all employees in the DPLG. The study concluded that a records management programme will only function effectively if it is developed as part of the strategic objective of the organisation. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Sxcience)

Proper records management plays a significant role in the auditing process, risk management and wider corporate governance. Despite this role, in South Africa, many governmental bodies are issued with disclaimer reports every year by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) due to a lack of supporting documentation. This problem is exacerbated by the exclusion of records management from the criteria for a sound financial management infrastructure in many governmental bodies. The other dilemma is that some records such as financial records, personnel records and electronic records usually fall outside the jurisdiction of the organisation’s records manager. Utilising the King Report III as a framework, this study sought to develop a framework to embed records management practices into the auditing process in the public sector of South Africa, with a view to entrench a culture of clean audits. The study relied on mixed methods research (MMR), with the quantitative study conducted first through informetrics analysis of audit reports, while the qualitative paradigm was used to substantiate numerical data. Data collection adopted a multi-approach with four key sources of data: a questionnaire, interviews, literature review and publicly available data from the consolidated general reports of AGSA. The study revealed that most governmental bodies have established internal audit units, audit committees and records management units, which did not work in unison. In most governmental bodies records management did not form part of the audit scope and records management professionals were not part of the audit committees. As a result, most governmental bodies continued to receive negative audit opinions from AGSA. The study recommends that records management community should utilise auditing and risk management as a springboard to propel records management to the new heights. A further empirical study on the role of auditing and risk management in records management that embraces both the private and public sectors is recommended. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)