A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG, IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY. / In its chronic form silicosis had always been been taken for granted as one of the occupational hazards of mining. But both during and shortly after the Anglo-Boer War it manifested itself in a new accelerated form amongst former Witwatersrand rock drillers. Despite the appointment in the Transvaal of a commission of enquiry in 1902 and the promulgation of dust precaution measures, by 1912 the prevalence of and mortality from the disease amongst the Witwatersrand miners had not diminished. This finding suggests two of the purposes of the study: first, the reasons for the continued prevalence of the disease; and second, the extent of the mortality from silicosis amongst the miners. Because of the apparently low prevalence of and mortality from the disease amongst African mineworkers, the disease was ironically nick-named the "white death". Therefore another aim of the study is to examine the validity of the medical claim that the short contracts of African migrant workers safeguarded them from contracting accelerated si licosis. As the subject is complex, the study uses a thematic approach. Chapters two to nine deal with significant themes: first, the growing medical knowledge concerning silicosis, the mining and medical precautions against the disease and the age-old disregard for the occupational illness in its chronic form; second, the industrialists* need to reduce working costs, the development of mass-production technologies and the resort by management to "speeding up"; and third, the miners' needs for job and wage security, the encroachment of African competitors in semi-skilled and skilled spheres of mining and the introduction and the extension of the colour bar. Chapter nine deals with underground health conditions. Chapter ten explores the awareness of the new form of the disease, accelerated silicosis, and the establishment in 1902 of the first Transvaal commission on silicosis. Chapter eleven discusses the failure to implement remedies. Finally, chapter twelve explores the prevalence of and mortality from silicosis and the impact of the disease on the workforce of the mines. In chapters ten, eleven and twelve a synthesis is offered of the themes and findings of the previous chapters. The project is based almost entirely on contemporary primary and published sources. Apart from silicosis, a unifying theme throughout the discrete sections is the perceptions of miners of their vocation in general, and of this occupational disease in particular. The study requires periodization. As silicosis is a slow-developing disease the starting point of the investigation is 1886, when gold was discovered on the Rand. The study ends in 1910 because the establishment of Union in 1910 and the legal award of compensation in 1911 heralded a new era in the history of silicosis on the South African gold mines. The following are the conclusions. First, almost an entire generation of overseas miners, most of whom remained migrants and whose skills pioneered the South African gold mining industry, died from silicosis. Second, for reasons of self-interest, some of which they shared with one another, both the Transvaal state and the Randlords did virtually nothing to remedy the occurrence of the disease. Both parties were culpable for the neglect of the health of the industry's workforce: using only perfunctory dust safeguards, management intensified production through the deployment of both modern technology and labour intensive practices, peculiar to the Witwatersrand; and most of the state's interventionist initiatives were the result of pressure from the British House of Commons. Third, the fear and anger of miners at being the victims of a preventable occupational disease, provided the catalyst for their militancy during the period. Fourth, the industry's power was partly responsible for causing both the press and medical profession to be silent about the problem until 1910. Finally, the mineowners both seized and promoted the unsubstantiated medical orthodoxy, namely that the short contracts of African mineworkers protected them from accelerated silicosis, as an important rationale for perpetuating the migrant labour system / Andrew Chakane 2018

Thesis (MA. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / The role of agricultural exports to agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South Africa is of extreme importance and exhibits strong interest from all parts of the economy. Many believe that agriculture can salvage the declining economic growth under such global economic conditions. The decision to diversify and expand exports of these avocados, apples, mangoes and oranges will improve the South African economy’s unstable conditions. This study accounts for all the factors that are truly unique to South African’s economy. Therefore, the study will help to shift the focus of avocado, apple, mango and orange growers to export more due to the international market demand for such produce. The aim of the study was to analyse the link between avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa. The specific objectives are to determine the correlation between avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and the agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa, investigate the contribution of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and the agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product in South Africa, determine the growth rate (trends) of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports and determine the volatility of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports. The study used secondary time series data that covered a sample size of 17 years (1994 - 2011) of avocado, apple, mango and orange exports in South Africa. Two Stages Least Square models and Growth rate and Volatility models were used for data analysis. i Empirical results for agricultural exports equation revealed that agricultural economic growth in South Africa was significant with a positive coefficient. While a negative relationship between the Net Factor Income (NFI) and the agricultural exports in South Africa was noticed. Real Capital Investments had a significant positive coefficient. Consequently, results from agricultural economic growth equation revealed that agricultural exports were significant with a positive correlation. A relationship between NFI and agricultural GDP was also witnessed. Like other variables, Real Capital Investment was significant but negatively correlated. The results of growth rate and volatility models showed positive trends. Furthermore, results showed that the quantity of agricultural exports was positively related to agricultural economic growth. Another point of interest was that while these exports were positive and significantly related, the magnitude of its coefficient is smaller than the coefficients of Real Capital Investments. It is in this framework that the positive correlation exists between agriculture economic growth and agricultural exports. It is recommended that investment opportunities in the agricultural sector need to be investigated further because there is limited knowledge of the subject. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery and the private sector need to join hands and build a mutual relationship to aid develop an agricultural economy which can be able to exports more than what it imports. This can also be done by subsidising farmers with capital to relieve them of other expenses.

M.Tech. Business Administration. Business School. / The implementation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002, effective as from 1 April 2004, presented a huge challenge as its implementation gave rise to concerns expressed by various key stakeholders. It also fuelled perceptions that South Africa may have sacrificed its competitiveness. In an attempt to manage these challenges the Mining Industry Growth Development and Employment Task Team (MIGDETT) was instituted in December 2008 by the mining industry in South Africa. During the MIGDETT process stakeholders concluded unanimously that transformation and growth are mutually inclusive concepts. Against this background, the objective of this study was to assess the implementation of the MPRDA Act using well researched mineral investment and competitiveness guidelines including Michael Porter's framework.

Moll (1991) has criticised the proposal that demand restructuring should act as the impetus for economic growth in a post-apartheid South Africa on the grounds of, a lack of empirical support. The demand restructuring thesis is premised on two empirically testable assertions: firstly that realisable economies of scale are greater in labour-intensive wage goods sectors than in luxury goods and secondly that in manufacturing as a whole labour can easily substitute for capital. While a number of studies employing either the Cobb-Douglas (Cobb & Douglas, 1948) or Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) ( Arrow, Chenery, Minhas & Solow, 1961) functions have attempted to quantify these features of technology, their conclusions are potentially invalid. Both functions impose the maintained hypotheses of homotheticity, homogeneity and seperability a priori. As primary hypothesis tests regarding the magnitude of parameters depend on the validity of both the hypothesis being tested and the underlying maintained hypotheses, the plausibility of maintained hypotheses is an important consideration when choosing a functional form for econometric analysis. Homotheticity and homogeneity constrain the theoretical determinants of economies of scale and seperability. The theoretical determinants of substitution thus limit the contexts in which functions which embody these hypotheses are likely to be appropriate. The mathematical concept of duality has permitted the development of flexible, general functions, such as the Transcendental Logarithmic Cost Function (Christensen, Jorgensen and Lau, 1971, 1973), which rather than imposing, permits the testing of the most commonly imposed maintained hypotheses. By applying this function to three sub-sectors of South African manufacturing both the validity of the commonly imposed maintained hypotheses and the empirical premises of the demand restructuring position are assessed in this dissertation. This application indicates that not only are the hypotheses of homotheticity, homogeneity and seperability invalid but that the inappropriate imposition of homotheticity, homogeneity and seperability invalid but that the inappropriate imposition of homotheticity biases estimates of scale downwards. Evidence also emerges to challenge Moll's (1991) assertions regarding the empirical validity of demand restructuring. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1995.

This study explored the dynamics of local-level trade in plant-based mats and baskets in Khanyayo village, Eastern Cape. These dynamics include social aspects of harvesting, resource tenure and trade. It also includes institutional issues such as legislation that enhances or restricts the degree to which local people could benefit from the trade or direct use. The study also explored the contribution of the trading in mats and baskets to the livelihoods of the Khanyayo people.

Thesis (Mcomm)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A need was identified for a proactive strategy for reducing voluntary turnover levels within the mining industry. From the onset it was established that a multi-dimensional approach would be the most appropriate. Organisational commitment and organizational climate were identified as variables that were likely to influence intentions to stay. Moreover, it was hypothesised that organisational climate would directly influence organisational commitment levels. Both organisational climate and organisational commitment have been subjected to considerable controversy with respect to conceptual and methodological issues. This has resulted in the diverse array of approaches currently found in the literature and has threatened the usefulness of both constructs. An overview of existing literature indicated that little is known regarding the relationship between organisational climate, organisational commitment and intention to stay within the specific industry. The current study therefore investigated the existing relationship between collective climate, organisational climate and intent to stay within the mining industry. Research objectives were achieved by means of hierarchical cluster analysis, canonical correlational analysis and standard multiple regressions. All measures were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. The results indicated that multiple collective climates existed in the various departments. A positive relationship was found between collective climate and organisational commitment, as well as between collective climate and intent to stay. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Behoefte aan proaktiewe intervensies, gemik op die vermindering van vrywillige arbeidsomset, is in 'n organisasie in die mynindustrie geïdentifiseer. Dit was vanuit die staanspoor ooglopend dat 'n multidimensionele benadering toepaslik sou wees. Organisasieklimaat en organisasie-verbondenheid is as moontlike veranderlikes geïdentifiseer wat 'n invloed op omsetbedoelings mag uitoefen. 'n Verdere hipotese had betrekking op die verband tussen organisasieverbondenheid en omset-bedoelings. Beide konstrukte het reeds aansienlike kontroversie met betrekking tot konseptueIe en metodologiese aspekte ontlok. Laasgenoemde het onder meer gelei tot die opkoms van 'n aantal uiteenlopende konseptueIe benaderings tot hierdie konstrukte, met die gevolg dat die empiriese bydraes wat hul tot die veld van Organisasiesielkunde maak, toenemend bevraagteken is. 'n Literatuuroorsig het aangedui dat 'n leemte met betrekking tot die onderwerp binne die bepaalde industrie bestaan. Weinig empiriese steun is egter gevind ten opsigte van 'n verband tussen organisasieklimaat, organisasie-verbondenheid en omset-bedoelings. Die betrokke studie het dus ten doel gehad die ondersoek van 'n verband tussen groepklimaat, organisasieverbondenheid en omsetbedoelings. Ten einde bogenoemde verbande te ondersoek, is gebruik gemaak van hiërargiese tros-analise, kanoniese korrelasionele analise, asook standaardmeervoudige regressie-ontledings. Die navorsingsbevindinge het bevestig dat 'n beduidende en positiewe verband tussen groepklimaat en organisasieverbondenheid bestaan. Daar is verder aangetoon dat omset-bedoelinge beduidend met groepklimaat, sowel as organisasieverbondenheid korreleer. 'n Sterker verband is tussen organisasieverbondenheid en omset-bedoelinge gevind.

The study examined the impact of earnings announcements on the share price of selected mining companies using the most recent data from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This study covered a period from 1 January 2011; to 31 December 2015. Using the classical event study methodology, the speed of reaction of the market to annual earnings information releases for a sample of 27 companies listed on the exchange is tested. Over the sample period, the Abnormal Returns (AR), Average Abnormal Returns (AAR) and Cumulative Average Abnormal Returns (CAAR) were calculated. The AR, AAR and CAAR show positive results obtained during the earnings announcement period. The returns yielded from these results are significantly different from zero. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

This qualitative study explored and described the role and contribution of training and skills development for sustainability in SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Durban and East London, South Africa. Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews took place with 15 SME owners. Five themes and 11 sub-themes emerged in a content thematic analysis. The findings indicate that SMEs acknowledge that training and skills development positively influences their financial performance and sustainability. Whilst SMEs implement learning and skills development interventions, they lack suitably structured human resource development (HRD) policies and strategies; do not properly document training and skills development activities; and experience difficulty in evaluating learning. This study recommends that SMEs formulate and implement well-structured learning and development plans and schedules. It is also advised that SMEs liaise with academics and form Communities of Practice (CoPs), among other initiatives, to implement and monitor training and skills development for their sustainability. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

The purpose of this study was to explore the strategising practices of chartered accountants (CAs) in the South African mining industry. Few studies have dealt with the practical skills CAs employ when they engage in strategising practices and, in particular, a gap could be identified on how CAs engage with strategy tools during strategising. Approximately two thirds of all directors in South Africa are CAs and only 11% of directors who are CAs also hold master‟s degrees in business administration. The question then arises of how do CAs engage with strategy tools during strategising? This study applied key concepts of social practice theory to explore the strategising practices of CAs from a strategy-as-practice perspective. The strategy-as-practice perspective entails studying strategy practitioners within their social constructs. The context of this study was the South African mining industry, a landscape seen as an essential part of the South African economy. An exploratory qualitative research design was applied whereby one-on-one interchanges during individual interviews provided rich, detailed descriptions of how CA strategists use strategy tools when they engage in strategising practices. The social nature of the practices and praxis of strategy practitioners from a strategy-as-practice perspective constantly changes. As such, the current study was conducted from a constructivist paradigm to describe the narrative reality of the strategy practitioners as they engage with strategy tools. The findings of the study portrayed participants as bricoleurs of strategy tools, i.e. craftspeople who adapted and interpreted strategy tools from an accounting perspective to serve the requirements of the situation they face. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

M.Ing. / In a country that ranks forty seventh on a list of fifty countries in a world competitive survey economic growth should be a high priority in South Africa. The main player in South Africa's energy industry took up the gauntlet and is moving to economic growth with the vision 'to provide the world's cheapest electricity for growth and prosperity." Competition was introduced among the electricity producers by a process called trading and brokering. Majuba power station, the most expensive electricity producer on the South African grid, was left out in the cold. Management of Majuba is challenged to derive resourceful strategies to ensure sustained profitability. These strategies will require a study into world trends to enable them to be more competitive. Crystal ball gazing is not needed to know that major restrictions on pollution of the atmosphere by industry will be curbed by stringent legislation. The current electrification programme in South Africa is bound to impact the shape of the daily load curve. Labour cost and the rate of inflation have been increasing and can be expected to keep on rising in the foreseeable future. It is important to know what macro effect these factors will have on the South African power industry. Majuba must be able to identify the changes lurking on the horizon and have contingency plans in place to meet these challenges. In this work different types of plant needed to meet the daily load demand are researched from literature. It is then compared to the types of plant installed in South Africa. This leads to the conclusion that the installed plant in South Africa is not sufficient to meet the daily demand effectively. A case study is done on Majuba Power Station that has been operating in a two shifting mode since December 1996. This means that the units is started every day to be on full load in time for morning peak and then shut down after evening peak. It is also shown that this mode of operation is proffitable for a relatively expensive power generator.