Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Water is a critical resource in Southern Africa. The region thus needs to protect both the quality and the quantity of its water resources through robust water conservation and demand management (WC/DM) measures. Water demand management encompasses activities that aim to decrease water demand, improve the efficiency of water use and prevent the deterioration of water resources. Water conservation refers to policies, measures or consumer practices that promote the conservation of water resources. Water resources should be used wisely to secure a water supply that is of good quality and enough for South Africa’s people and its natural environment, which provides the ecosystem that supports all forms of life. When a water utility systems experience water losses, the amount of water available to consumers is reduced, making it difficult to satisfy demand. Water losses also occur as a result of inaccuracies in customer meters, data errors in the billing system and unauthorised consumption. Such losses result in non-revenue water (NRW), which is a serious threat to the water supply sector. NRW refers to the water that is produced and lost without generating revenue for the utility. This research study investigated strategies that could be used to address the challenge of water losses, by developing a more suitable business model that could be incorporated into Ugu District Municipality (DM)’s existing NRW reduction strategies. The study was carried out in Amandawe and Umzinto zones of the District Municipality and it covered the period 01 March 2014 to June 2015. The study objectives were made up of four components. The first was to identify and prioritise the implementation of NRW reduction strategies. This was achieved by identifying the pipes to be closed off, which were supplying a significant number of consumers. For those pipes that were not closed off, flow meters were installed to measure the flow into and out of a zone. The system was then tested for zero pressure by isolating all closed valves to ensure that there were no potential feed-backs into the zone. Pressure gauges were set up on standpipes for routine pressure monitoring. The test was run at night (between 01.00 and 05.00 hours) when the system was under pressure. When the pressure dropped consistently, this meant that there was no feedback into a zone. Leaks were detected by logging the system in order to obtain night flows, which were analysed to determine the system behaviour. The results for Amandawe Zone after implementation of the pressure management programme, indicated that the average zone’s night pressure (AZNP) decreased from 7.38 bars to 5.95 bars. For Umzinto Zone, the AZNP dropped from 5.5 bars to 3.3 bars. The minimum night flows (MNFs) dropped from 34.80 m3/hr to 15.20 m3/hr in Amandawe Zone and from 6.4 m3/hr to 1.70 m3/hr in Umzinto Zone. The daily cost of excess night flow due to bursts was reduced from R2276.17/day to R862.61/day in Amandawe Zone and from R361.24/day to R40.46/day in Umzinto Zone, which provided huge savings. The second objective was to identify the sources and causes of water losses in the study area by conducting field measurements and observations. This was achieved by physically inspecting the infrastructure using visual observation, mechanical listening sticks, correlators, ground microphones and system loggers. The following indicators were used to physically identify underground leaks: unusually wet surfaces in landscaped areas, pools of water on the ground surface, noticeably green, soft and mouldy areas surrounded by drier surfaces, a notable drop in water pressure or flow volume, unexplained sudden increase in water demand or water use at a fairly steady rate for several billing cycles, cracks in paved surfaces, potholes or sink holes and the sudden appearance of dirty water in the main distribution system. For this study, the water losses in the system were found to be as a result of various causes including leaks, aging infrastructure, high pressure in the system, damaged pipes and illegal connections, among others. The third objective was to construct a water balance in order to determine the key performance indicators for the NRW reduction strategies. This was achieved by determining the system input volume (SIV), billed authorized consumption (BAC), unbilled metered consumption (UMC), unbilled unmetered consumption (UUC), real losses (RL), apparent losses (AL) and IWA Key Performance Indicators. Bulk and domestic meter readings were used to calculate the components of the water balance. The results of the water balance indicated that there was a decrease in the SIV from 904 kL/day to 523 kL/day in Amandawe Zone and from 382 kL/day to 221 kL/day in Umzinto Zone. The physical water losses were reduced from 611 kL/day to 377 kL/day in Amandawe Zone and from 93.8 kL/day to 45.8 kL/day in Umzinto Zone. The NRW was reduced from 659 kL/day to 395 kL/day in Amandawe Zone and from 94.2 kL/day to 46.2 kL/day in Umzinto Zone. The fourth objective was to develop the most suitable business model for Ugu DM based on the results arising from the first three objectives. Ugu DM needs to ensure both operational and financial efficiency. Operational efficiency could be achieved by minimising real water losses through reviewing water services standards, developing district metering areas, pressure management, leak detection and repair, reservoir control to stop overflows and pipe replacement programs. Financial efficiency could be achieved by carrying out regular meter testing and calibration, securing database integrity, managing illegal connections, ensuring that all customer connections have meters and ensuring that the tariff structures were cost reflective in order for the municipality to cover costs and generate revenue. Findings of this study could assist other water utilities operating under similar conditions. The implementation of this study’s results could have positive economic, social and environmental effects on Ugu DM. It was concluded that rezoning, pressure management and leak detection were the most critical NRW reduction strategies as they had a positive impact on the system. The main causes of leaks in the system were identified as aging infrastructure, high pressures in the system, and illegal connections. All the critical KPIs of IWA water balance responded positively after the implementation of the strategies by reducing. The operational and financial efficiencies were identified as critical for a WSA to develop a business model that could sustain itself.

Thesis in compliance with the requirements for the Doctor’s Degree in Technology: Language Practice, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / South Africa’s dynamic post-Apartheid education climate is beset by a plethora of new policies designed to transform education. Our county’s educators are expected to be the alchemists of change to create the new and transformed society envisaged in these policies, albeit with insufficient logistical planning and support. Moreover, so many of our schools are operationally dysfunctional, with literacy and numeracy levels at an all time low. Under these daunting circumstances our Provincial Education Department Teacher Development Institution, Ikhwezi In-Service Training Institute, develops training materials and delivers courses aimed at implementing policy while at the same time modelling progressive, internationally recognized and democratic adult-based methodology. In this self-study project of my departmental work with a group of trained educators, I use action research to trace the potential of integrated arts to transform teaching and learning in under-resourced rural and township classrooms. An aspect of this self-study looks at the therapeutic potential of the arts in my own life and career as an arts educator. When my Masters research revealed the dramatic effect a project-like arts approach to teaching could engender, I was motivated by compassion to develop the work further to reach a broader base of learners. I also wished to educate the authorities into mainstreaming the default marginalising of the arts in schools by developing photographic, written and video evidence promoting the arts in schools, mainly to emphasize their holistic educational role, but also as an essential healing, a potential remedy for the ills of the past that continue to impact on the present. / D

The state of the environment in South Africa is deteriorating and the province of KwaZulu-Natal is no exception to the situation. KwaZulu Natal is experiencing soil erosion, has inadequate policies for environmental protection, and current environmental measures lack mass support (Ndimande, 2001 :6). This is so because the beliefs of the past ascribed overpopulation as the main factor for the degradation of the environment and many conservation projects disregarded human needs, rights and dignity. For instance, the establishment of many game reserves meant forced removal and social dislocation of indigenous people (Ngobese and Cock, 1995:17-21). Forced removal and social dislocation in any situation can instigate conflict. Conservation agencies in South Africa, such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), can be very effective in their conservation efforts if they create a platform that allows indigenous knowledgeable communities to participate in the management of protected areas. This participation could be in the form of allowing and encouraging communities abutting protected areas to contribute relevant Indigenous Knowledge (lK) for use to authorities of EKZNW. This effectiveness could be enhanced if the result of community participation will be sustainability in the community. According to Shragge (1993), a community has a heart, and its lifeblood is its authentic culture, its shared experiences of the past and its local ways of doing things (1993:39). Utterances such as the one below by Masuku (1999) do not stand conservation agencies in good stead. ' ...the lack of good understanding of people's way of life by my organizations (EKZNW) in areas that are today recognized as protected areas is occasionally pointed as one of the sources of conflict around conservation issues... (1999: 1), The aim of this study was to explore ways in which EKZNW could position itself to be an integral part of saving the decline of indigenous knowledge, and to nurture and stimulates its production as a starting point towards improving the lives of rural poor communities adjacent to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, with specific reference to communities of Mpembeni and Mdletsheni Traditional Authorities. For the purpose of this research, communities' animal and plant indigenous knowledge was chosen as the yardstick for assessment of contribution that communities can make to biological diversity conservation and development. The choice was informed by an understanding that the diversity of plants and animals provide us with a resilient natural system, which in turn provides a crucial life support system such as purification of air and water. On the other hand, poverty drives the rural poor, who also benefit from this life support system, into poaching and unsustainable resource harvesting. These illegalities, although the only option, play a negative role in the viability and sustainability of biological diversity conservation. Research findings revealed that plant and animal indigenous knowledge is present in the communities, and they face a great challenge that there is no systematic documentation of this knowledge, and its oral transmission is inconsistent. It was through the urgent need dictated by the status quo that this research project was conceived. An attempt was made to tap into this knowledge by conducting a study in the two communities and bring it to the forefront of biological diversity conservation, and into development projects funded through community levy fund by EKZNW, in order to uplift the communities' standard of living. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

Estuaries are unique coastal bodies of water where water derived from land meets the sea. In order to preserve estuaries and minimise the effects of human interference in these sensitive areas, an understanding of the hydrodynamics is essential. South Africa has 259 estuaries, of which approximately 70% are temporary open. The aim of the project was to provide data to analyse the effect of different flow scenarios on the frequency, timing and duration of mouth closure for temporary open estuaries. To achieve the project aim, two case studies were undertaken, namely Mhlanga and Mdloti Estuaries. Achieving the terms of reference required monitoring of the mouth state, water level, flow rates and developing an understanding of breaching mechanisms. Observations of the mouth were used to monitor its state and initially photographs were used to monitor the water level within each estuary. During 2003 a continuous water level monitor was developed and placed in each estuary. Velocity readings were taken upstream of the estuaries at discrete time intervals and converted to flow rates using the velocity area method. A photographic survey of the berm at Mhlanga Estuary was used to observe the effect of beach processes on the mouth area. The survey observed the estuary as it shifted from closed through to open, then partially open and finally closed again, providing information on mouth mechanisms. The continuous water level monitoring provides useful information for Mhlanga Estuary in terms of breaching patterns, tidal exchange when in the open state and an indication of the time scales involved in mechanisms which change the mouth state. Similar information for Mdloti Estuary was not available as the estuary did not breach since the installation of the water level monitors, however salinity profiles from 2002 provided qualitative information on the existence of a saline intrusion into the estuary. The relationship between flow and mouth state is complex and relies on other influences such as water level and systems losses. In general estuaries will breach under high flows and remain closed under low flows, however in between these two regimes the estuary mouth state is less predictable based on flow alone. Mhlanga Estuary repeatedly breached at low tide. During the open phase tidal influence was both observed and captured by water level monitors despite the perched nature of the estuary. Closure generally occurred at high tide trapping saline water within the estuary. The two case studies provided a good basis for exploring the affects of different flow conditions on estuaries, with Mdloti Estuary experiencing the effects of the Hazelmere Dam and abstractions, while Mhlanga Estuary has increased flow due to the discharge of treated effluent to the system. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2004.

The decline of employment globally with various countries and economies either in recession, post recession or on the brink of recession is a serious concern to governments, the private sector, civic organizations and the general population. Associated with this decline are dynamics of poverty, food insecurity, maladministration and corruption, civil war, and a new world order. Governments are now looking to implement and support successful solutions that have been tried and tested. It has been identified that franchising is successful solution that is on the increase globally. Franchising is a multibillion dollar revenue creator globally and accounts significantly for employment. The automotive sector is growing at an unprecedented rate with the greater number of motor cycles, cars, taxis, busses and trucks on the road. The Midas franchise is the second fastest growing franchise in South Africa. There are more than two hundred and twenty franchises in South Africa and surrounding countries. The aim of this research study is to investigate if franchising provides entrepreneurs, especially new business owners a more secure business start up, and to assess the success of the Midas franchise. The research methodology adopted in this study adopts a qualitative research method. The instruments used to obtain data are questionnaires, face to face interviews, observation and photography. The study area encompasses franchisees from the eThekwini Municipal area. Six Midas franchisees and the KZN regional Midas franchisor have been interviewed. The findings have proven to be remarkable, supporting the hypothesis which states that franchising is a successful tool to assist entrepreneurs. Most entrepreneurs have citied their contentment with being with a franchisee and their optimism to venture into more franchises. The franchisor boasted their rapid expansion in South Africa. There were also recommendations arising out of the study so as to enhance entrepreneurship and franchising in South Africa. / MBA University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2012.

Thesis submitted in compliance with the requirements fo the Doctoral Degree in Technology: Education (Management), Durban Institute of Technology, 2004. / This study focused on women in Technikons who hold status positions as Dean or higher in the academic management hierarchy and aimed at uncovering those attributes which contributed to their success in breaking the 'glass ceiling'. The gender imbalance in their career paths highlighted the need to identify those attributes so that ways could be found to increase the representation of professional women in leadership and management position. The experiences and struggles of women in Third World Countries, such as South Africa, unfold in a very different context from those of women in First World Countries. As this research is about women for women and gives 'voice' to those women who participated in this project, attention must be paid to the knowledge and theory that incorporates women's experience and perspectives. It is therefore appropriate to view the marginalisation of women and hence their struggle for equality of opportunity in Technikon management from a feminist viewpoint. Narrative enquiry using primarily semi-structured in-depth interviews provided the data which was processed in terms of a categorical-content perspective. The relevant themes identified were interpreted by the researcher and used to formulate grounded theory. The results of this research study drew attention to the importance of the possession of emotional competencies and attributes, that is, the importance of emotional intelligence as an empowering attribute for women managers in academe. This is of special significance in that these attributes can be learned. It is imperative that women in management be provided with opportunities to develop these qualities and / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Education, Technikon Natal, Durban, 2001. / This study filled a void in the existing educational management literature and highlighted the communication problems that exist between the educators, learners, and parents in multicultural secondary schools, especially when the educator, learner and the parent belong to different cultural groups. The communication problems between educators, learners and parents pose a serious challenge to management as they impede the progress of teaching and learning in the classrooms. The thorny issue of language in education in South African schools has not been given much emphasis. Neither have educationists and policy makers given much attention to the problem of communication in multicultural schools. Opening schools to all cultures did not solve the communication problems, but created new ones. The main method used in this investigation was the literature study. Using the investigative methods associated with qualitative studies, the researcher attempted to investigate data collected from a number of sources. Research on co-operation in the multi-ethnic classroom revealed that pupils of different ethnic groups preferred to socialize in their own language groups. This study confirmed that culture and language influenced not only which peers pupils choose to play with, but also who they deliberately excluded from their games. In many schools, there are few systematic attempts to enhance pupils' cross-ethnic friendships and this may work to consolidate the evident 'own race and language preference' of a large portion of pupils. Thus there is a need for communication to enhance cross-cultural friendships. There is an increasing need for educators to encourage intercultural communication. Educators should use the language of instruction to learn about each others' culture and language so that there are mutual respect and tolerance. Teaching in multicultural classrooms demands a high level of expertise among educators. Culturally diverse learners may have prior learning experiences that predispose them to learn in ways that may not be compatible with some methods of instruction in common use in many classrooms. Therefore, educators need to adopt an inclusive and flexible approach to instruction, observing their pupil's responses and adjusting instructions to meet the needs of individuals and groups in the classroom. It is now becoming clear that even educators and school managers need guidance and assistance in coping with communication in the multicultural school. The more people of different cultures communicate with each other, the more they discover how similar they are. This study examined some of the communication problems present in multicultural schools, the possible causes of the problems and management solutions to some of the problems. / M

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Oceanography in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / In order to validate remote sensing products and to provide data for model assimilation, a real-time monitoring line consisting of three moorings was deployed across the Agulhas Current off Port Edward, South Africa. This deployment formed part of a Technology and Human Resource for Industry Programme (THRIP) funded initiative to develop a real-time mooring system capable of measuring ocean parameters in the Agulhas Current during 2011. The slope and offshore moorings displayed a distinct stratified regime within the Agulhas Current, a northeastward flowing Agulhas Undercurrent and the southwestward flowing Agulhas Current. Three major reversal events, with northeastward currents occurred on 23 July, 02 September and on 11 October 2011. All current reversals caused a decrease in current velocity. The Agulhas Undercurrent was a persistent feature and average velocities between the line of moorings ranged between 13.38 cm/s and 15.52 cm/s. The results obtained from the mooring systems were consistent in terms of velocity, direction and hydrographic properties of the Agulhas Current as described in previous literature. The low directional variability in the surface layers at the offshore mooring and dominant southwestward flow, except during reversal events indicate the strong influence of the Agulhas Current in this region. The inshore mooring showed less occurrences of the Agulhas Undercurrent if northward flow in the bottom layers was to be considered as signs of the Agulhas Undercurrent. General current characteristics as well as the characterisation of the mesoscale features affecting the coast off Port Edward was accomplished through the use of the in situ moorings. All current reversals encountered were associated with the process of vortex shedding from the Natal Bight. These events may be related to the shedding of the Durban Cyclonic Eddy from its origin in the Natal Bight. Data from the offshore mooring suggested that for monitoring Agulhas Current core dynamics, it was ideally placed as highest surface velocities were measured by this mooring system. The slope mooring recorded highest velocities within the Agulhas Undercurrent and was thus ideally placed to measure the Agulhas Undercurrent’s core. Shelf dynamics were under the influence of the Agulhas Current and northerly current reversals and were aptly recorded by the inshore mooring which was placed on the continental shelf, close to the shelf break.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Building (Construction Project Management) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / Access to housing and safe accommodation is an essential part of the South African government’s commitment to poverty relief and the improvement of the wellbeing of its people. Despite the substantial commitment and progress by the South African government towards ensuring adequate housing, much still needs to be done to combat the existing challenges facing the low-cost housing industry. Amongst various challenges, the low-cost housing sector faces challenges of poor quality houses. The level of dissatisfaction due to poor quality appears to be dominant in the low-cost housing sector. These challenges are crucial as the impact is severely noticeable, both socially and economically. The literature reviewed and the data collected is indicative that the use of emerging contractors who are likely inexperienced in the construction of low-cost houses is one of the major contributing factors to the poor quality of the end product. Emerging contractors form a majority of the construction contractors in the country and have been identified to play a vital role in the construction of low-cost houses. Constraints experienced by emerging contractors are posing risk to the projects and pose a challenge to the successful completion of these projects. The under-development of emerging contractors has resulted in poor workmanship and poor quality low-cost houses. Subsequent to the identified problem areas, this study on investigation of the factors required to improve the quality of low-cost houses in eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu Natal was initiated. The research objectives pursued by this study aimed to compare the contributing factors to the poor quality of low-cost houses as perceived by housing project managers and emerging contractors; to compare key factors that can be improved to enhance the quality of low-cost houses as perceived by project managers and emerging contractors; and to identify quality management mechanisms currently available in the construction of low-cost houses and determine their influence level. A mixed research methodology was employed, using the survey method as the research design and data collection, through semi-structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were hand delivered to forty (40) participants and twenty seven (27) 2 2 responses were received and analysed, which comprised ten (10) project managers and seventeen (17) emerging contractors. Results from the study showed that there are undeniably issues of poor quality that include foundation failures, structural cracks and leaking roofs in the low-cost housing sector in eThekwini, KwaZulu Natal. It is evident from the analysis that there are many probable underlying causes to the poor quality of low-cost houses, which include: lack of continuous development for emerging contractors; insufficient subsidy amounts; the use of inferior materials; and the use of unskilled labourers on site. The results of the study indicated that shortcomings exist in terms of the necessary skills among emerging contractors, which means there is a huge need for continuous training on different important skills. The need for training of emerging contractors is enormous and that all aspects in terms of training should be considered to be of equal importance. It can also be determined that there is a lack quality management framework within the department and the municipality. These quality management frameworks need to be developed to ensure improvement in quality of the low-cost houses. / XL2018

This research report is submitted to the School of Social Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the field of Demography and Population Studies for the year 2016, September 2017 / Background: South Africa has some of the most progressive legislation when it comes to sexual and reproductive health rights. However, contraceptive use amongst this segment of the population group remains distorted. From a public health perspective, investing in the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people translates into an improvement in the sexual health status of the population at large. As such this paper makes use of the Health Belief Model to investigate the factors associated with the choice of type of contraceptive methods used by sexually active young women to prevent a pregnancy. Methodology: Data for this study was obtained from Wave 2 of the Transitions to Adulthood survey. The weighted sample size is 464. Analysis on the weighted data was conducted in STATA 13.1 in survey mode in order to achieve the objectives of this study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data at the univariate level. The Chi-squared test was conducted to examine the relationship between the variables under investigation and the outcome, contraceptive use. The multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyse the data at the multivariate level. The results of which were provided in terms of relative risk ratios. Findings: Approximately 41% of sexually active young women in KwaZulu Natal did not use contraception to prevent a pregnancy with their most recent sexual partner. Results from the multinomial logistic regression model revealed that sexually active young women who were single were 77% less likely to make use of hormonal and other contraceptive methods to prevent a pregnancy compared to their who were counterparts in a relationship (p-value= 0.00001). Young women who have been pregnant at least once were approximately 60% less likely to utilise hormonal and other contraceptive methods to prevent a pregnancy with their most recent sexual partner. Conclusion: By using the Health Belief Model as a theoretical basis this study highlighted the complex non-linear relationships between the variables selected to constitute the health beliefs as well as the health-related behaviour of contraceptive use. The findings of this study demonstrate two key realities related to contraceptive use of sexually active young women in KwaZulu Natal. Firstly, relatively low rates of contraceptive uptake. Secondly, amongst sexually active young women who utilised contraception, there are even lower usage rates of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods. As such, it is important for healthcare facilities in KwaZulu Natal and South Africa at large to support young women in their decision to protect themselves from unintended pregnancies and from infections of HIV and others STIs. / XL2018