M.A.

M.Comm. / The Johannesburg Stock Exchange provides an opportunity for investors to realise huge returns. A variety of tools are used by these investors to invest capital in shares for growth in excess of the market movement. Technical analysis is one of the techniques claimed by some parties to be the key aspect in investment decision making. A trading system can be derived from technical indicators to provide the investor with buying and selling signals. It is the objective of this investigation to make a judgement on the effectiveness of a few technical trading systems based on performance relative to the normal market movement. The trading systems under investigation are the basic moving average system, multiple moving average crossing system, real strength indicator system, multiple moving average convergence-divergence trading system, moving average chord system and the market momentum system. The results show that these trading systems all performed worse than the normal market movement on the 95% statistical confidence interval. It is therefore concluded that the use of technical analysis in isolation will not insure a good investment decision on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Prof. F.J. Herbst

M.A.(Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Recent media reports surrounding the 2010 Soccer World Cup infrastructure, and the fines imposed by the Competition Commission drew the public’s attention to the impact that regulatory fines have on the returns earned by shareholders in these convicted companies. The purpose of the research was to establish if any significant impact on shareholder returns can be identified as a result of regulatory fines. By using event study methodology, the researcher aimed to establish if an impact can be identified at the various stages of the regulatory process. Statistical tests were conducted via the implementation of Monte Carlo Simulations at the various stages of the process, to ensure that the findings were significant. The studies revealed that shareholder returns were neutrally affected at the initiation and payment stages of the process, but that the returns were positively affected at the conviction stage. A style analysis (longitudinal study) was undertaken to determine if a portfolio consisting of stocks of convicted companies would out-perform the market over certain determined timeframes. As a baseline test, a portfolio was constructed of stocks of companies which have never been fined. The results revealed that both portfolios out-performed the market (ALL160) over a 24-year period, but that the portfolio consisting of convicted companies did not out-perform the portfolio of companies which have never been fined. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Tobin’s q ratio employs a fundamental principle that enterprise values cannot deviate excessively from, namely the replacement value of the assets required to generate the future cashflow of the business. This ratio formed the cornerstone of this research that investigated whether an index based on the ratio would indicate time periods of market missed valuations; determined whether the q effect exists and the probability of its persistence over a 24 year period across different ranked quintile portfolios. Finally the research examined a new supply approach valuation technique that altered the q ratio, and could improve the spread in the q effect to improve investment yields. The Tobin’s q index was compiled using the most recent estimate and the index included the top 160 shares by market capitalisation, excluding the resources and financial sector for firms listed from 1990, to create a representative index for the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Tobin’s q long term average was 1,83 at December 2013, indicating a consistent upward bias mainly due to share valuations. A time serious approach was followed to compare cumulative returns between different ranked quintile portfolios, ranked by Tobin’s q to analyse for style effects. Tobin’s q displayed style characteristics, although it was not as prominent as other value indicators. The adjustment from the supply approach could not improve investment yields. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / Unrestricted

Urban and peri-urban agriculture is a strategy that can be adapted by low income households in Orange Farm to meet their food and nutritional requirements. The practice is a basis upon which poor families can enhance their incomes by producing part of their food needs, hence saving money for use on other livelihood obligations. This dissertation discusses the importance of urban and peri-urban agriculture as a method easily available to low income families residing in informal settlements to access food and incomes. Urban agriculture is examined in the context of poverty alleviation. A descriptive and quantitative assessment of the salient variables of the practice in the area is attempted in order to give an insight of the potential role the sector can play in eliminating poverty, enhancing incomes and creating employment. The study shows that participation in urban farming can impact significantly on poverty conditions and improve livelihoods. / MA (Development Studies)

A qualitative research approach was utilised with the goal to explore the views and interpretation of community members concerning the participation in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the City of Johannesburg Municipality. The objectives were to conceptualise the legal and policy framework for the implementation of IDP's in South African municipalities (with reference to community/public participation); explore the nature and extent of community participation in the IDP processes (understanding of the IDP process and its meaning to the community); explore community participation in relation to decision-making in the process of IDP consultation, and make suggestions for advocacy on meaningful community participation to optimise the success of IDP in the City of Johannesburg Municipality. Using applied research made it possible for suggestions of meaningful community participation to optimise the success of IDP in the City of Johannesburg Municipality. A sample of 18 participants was drawn from Region E of which only 10 people participated, focusing on Alexandra as the population. The most suitable research design was a qualitative design with a collective case study. A focus group session was held with each of the two groups of participants. The focus group session with community representatives took place at the AlexSankopano multi-purpose main hall in Alexandra, whilst the session with the representatives of the City of Johannesburg municipality, took place at the boardroom of Region E offices in Sandton. Data collected were analysed using Creswell's data analysis spiral. The findings of the research showed that, although participation in the IDP of the Alexandra community which forms part of Region E of the City of Johannesburg Municipality was acknowledged, it was not meaningful and effective to the community and municipal officials. The above finding seems to suggest that the value of community participation for sustainable development in the community, as well as for nation building has not been realised. / Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MA / Unrestricted

Cultural tourism is considered to be one of the largest and fastest growing types of global tourism markets. Culture is increasingly being used to promote destinations and enhance their attractiveness and competitiveness. Many cities are now actively developing their cultural assets as a way of developing comparative advantages over others in the tourism marketplace. In the light of this, there is need to diversify the tourism economy of the City of Johannesburg by strengthening the Cultural tourism aspect. Despite the fact that Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area has a good cultural infrastructure which includes a number of theatres, museums and art galleries, cultural tourism is one of the underdeveloped aspects of the local tourism economy. The main focus of the research was to identify ways to diversify the tourism economy of the City of Johannesburg by anchoring it on cultural products and activities, thereby improving the cultural image and competitiveness of Johannesburg as an urban cultural city destination in Africa. / Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Historical and Heritage Studies / MHCS / Unrestricted

Finding spatial solutions to insularity, space shortage and loss of value in a rapidly changing urban cemetery and context by investigating new relationships between the sacred and profane / Mini Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted