M. Tech. Entrepreneurship / Looks at how bed and breakfast managers in Bushbuckridge perceive the attributes of the internet as an advertising medium. It also looks at the advertising media that are currently used by bed and breakfast accommodations businesses in Bushbuckridge for both local and international customers.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2000.

In the field of architecture the socio-cultural factors have been deterministic in the formation of place, conditions within them and consequently, social relations. Sociologists, anthropologists and environmentalist have advocated that buildings are essentially social and cultural products - King (1980), Rapoport (1969; 1976; 1977) and Bartuska & Young (1994). Architecture that addresses the human socio-cultural factors has been advocated to make a significant contribution to human life; it fosters a sense of belonging, well being and involvement. South Africa has endured years of colonisation and apartheid ruling, this has also reflected on its built environment. It was planned and designed to communicate and reinforce the dominance of the ruling regime which thus transformed the local populace by incorporating them into their political, economic and social value systems. The political shift of 1994 has however (from apartheid to a democratic ruling state) facilitated a renewed interest in acknowledging peoples differences, their unique characteristics and celebrating the diverse nature of a heterogeneous society. The democratisation of South Africa has brought about a major shift in the social and cultural context of the society which in turn has affected the built environment and architecture. It is in this context that this study explores the nature of the transformation, its ideals and principles so to inform the making of environments that help uplift the populace and to integrate our multicultural society while simultaneously celebrating, facilitating and accommodating the diverse cultures of the groups within it. Thus as professionals involved in the design of the built environment, there is an urgent need to identify and understand the socio-culture of society due to the political shift in South Africa in order to orientate in the right direction towards playing a role in the democritisation of South Africa. Hence the topic: The role of architecture in the democritisation of South Africa. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The overall objective was to develop stocking rate models for three veld types. namely the Lowveld. the Southern Tall Grassveld and the Natal Sour Sandveld. in Natal. Sub-objectives were to determine the 1) residual herbage mass at the end of the summer, 2) residual herbage mass at the end of winter and 3) individual animal performance under grazing conditions, and the effect of stocking rate on these three variables. Multiple linear regression component models were successfully developed to meet all three of the sub-objectives for each of the three veld types. Results show that veld condition is an extremely important factor determining animal production from veld, and that stocking rate on veld in good condition could possibly be double that on veld in poor condition. Stocking rate did not have the expected impact on individual animal performance in the summer. although it did have an important moderating influence under any particular set of environmental conditions. Stocking rate did. however. have a marked effect on herbage production and therefore on herbage availability in winter and so also on the ability to overwinter cattle without having to supply additional supplementary feed. Stocking rate in summer therefore had a major indirect effect on animal production in the winter. Carryover of residual herbage from one year to the next is probably not as important in these veld types as in some other parts of the country. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1990.

Environmental education is a response to the environmental crisis. Due to the diversity of the environment, environmental education processes face a challenge, locally and globally, because it should respond to the diversity of local environmental issues, and contribute towards the addressing of local environmental issues. It is therefore important that environmental education programs focus on local environmental issues, and in the analysis there of accommodates investigative, problem solving and environmental action skills, because such programs proof to be more successful. The introduction of environmental education into formal education can only be successful within a structure that is conducive to a holistic integrated approach and accommodates investigative, problem solving and environmental action skills. Research however proves that within the school context, environmental education processes, as well as the addressing of local environmental issues, is fragmented. The development of a school environmental policy and management plan can provide a valuable framework for a holistic approach to the organization of environmental education processes in schools, that is integrated with the curriculum, resulting in the effective management of resources and the addressing of local environmental issues. Through this research, the implementation of school environmental policies and management plans in Mpumalanga was evaluated, in terms of the integration of environmental education processes in the curriculum, the organization of environmental education processes in schools, the effective management of resources in schools, and the addressing of local environmental issues. The conclusion was drawn that the implementation of school environmental policies and management plans contributes towards curriculum integration of environmental education, the organization of environmental education processes, the management of resources and the addressing of environmental issues in schools. The more exposure a school gets in terms of implementation of school environmental policies and management plans the higher the achievement in the mentioned areas. It can therefore be deducted that exposure to the implementation of school environmental policies and management plans will lead to the integration of the environment in the curriculum, the organization of environmental education processes in schools, the management of resources and the addressing of environmental issues in schools. / Educational Studies / D.Ed (Didactics)

The purpose of this study was to describe and explore the organisational climate as a cause of job dissatisfaction among nursing staff in selected hospitals within Mpumalanga Province. The major objectives were to determine what organisational climate encompasses; ascertain which factors related to organisational climate can cause dissatisfaction among nurses; determine whether there is a difference in the way nursing management and the nursing staff perceive the existing organisational climate; and make recommendations for health service managers to improve the organisational climate in order facilitate greater job satisfaction among their subordinates. The descriptive exploratory survey method was used. A questionnaire with closed-ended and open-ended questions were distributed and collected from one hundred and fourty (140) respondents. The results indicated that the nursing management and the nursing staff are happy with the intrinsic factors of the job, but dissatisfied with the extrinsic factors of the organisational climate. The outcome of this research affirms that there are extrinsic factors within the work climate that affect the nursing management and the nursing staff negatively. Recommendations are made to promote job satisfaction in selected hospitals within the Mpumalanga province. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between attitudes towards supervisory support after training and work performance of employees at the Department of Education’s Nkangala District in Mpumalanga during 2008. The sample comprised a complete sampling frame of HR and finance personnel. A five-point Likert scale was used to evaluate the attitudes of respondents towards supervisory support, and their work performance scores were correlated with the ratings of the attitudes towards supervisory support after training. Pearson’s product- moment correlation coefficient (PPM) was used to assess the relationship between the two variables. The results showed no significant relationship between attitudes towards supervisory support and work performance. The ANOVA test found that a significant (p= .016) difference only existed between attitudes towards supervisory support and educational level. The hypothesis stated in this study was therefore rejected. / Human Resource Management / M. Tech. (Human Resource Development)

M.Sc. / This work documents the lithostratigraphy and interpreted depositional environments of the Permian Vryheid Formation in the most northern proximal setting yet studied in the Witbank Coalfield. Data from 924 boreholes from two mining companies (Anglo Operations Ltd. and Xstrata Coal Ltd.) drilled over 50 years, covering an area of 910km2 revealed a 35m sequence of terrigenous clastic sedimentary rocks containing two coal seams. These seams are numbered No. 1 at the base and No. 2 at the top. Delineation of facies type, facies assemblages, lateral facies distributions and computer-based three-dimensional modeling facilitated the interpretation of the palaeodepositional environments. Eleven lithofacies are defined and interpreted hydrodynamically. Facies classification is based primarily on grain size and sedimentary structures. The modeling of the borehole information uses the finite element method to interpolate the thickness, roof and floor surfaces and trend of each seam and inter-seam parting between boreholes. The spatial position of the boreholes is defined using a digital terrain model that represents the current surface topography. Lateral distributions were correlated by repositioning the boreholes using the base of the No. 2 seam as a datum. Glaciofluvial, glaciolacustrine, bed-load (braided) fluvial and constructive progradational deltaic environments are interpreted in the study area. Fluvial channel sequences are dominant and cause the thinning of the coal seams below channel axes as well as splitting of both the No. 1 and No. 2 seams. Glaciofluvial influences also affect the lower portion of the No. 1 seam. Basement palaeotopography restricts the distribution of the lower splits of the No. 1 seam. The coals either ‘pinch-out’ or are absent above basement highs but blanket the adjacent low-lying areas. In contrast to the greater Witbank Coalfield, but concurrent with other studies in the more northern proximal regions, fluvial systems dominate over deltaic systems in the study area. Glaciodeltaic, fluviodeltaic and anastomosed channel fluvial systems recognized in the remainder of the Karoo Basin were fed by the braided fluvial systems in the study area. The close proximity of the study area to the northern edge of the basin accounts for the subtle differences in lithostratigraphy and interpreted depositional environments when compared with more distal sites to the south. For example, glaciofluvial clastic sediment input in the lower portions of the No. 1 seam and post-Karoo erosion that has removed the overlying seams; the deltaic progradational sequence, above the No. 2 seam, occurs twice in succession and the bioturbation, that has become characteristic of sedimentary sequence of the Vryheid Formation above the No. 2 seam in the central and southern parts of the Karoo Basin, is not as identifiable. These differences are explained by the extreme proximal location of the study area on the northern basin margin relative to the remainder of the Karoo Basin.

M.Sc. (Zoology) / An investigation was made into the ecology of Barbus brevipinnis and Opsaridium zambezense in the Incomati River System in the Eastern Transvaal. Special attention was given to factors which may threaten the existence of both species. New information was collected on aspects concerning their length:mass relationship, condition, fecundity, feeding habits as weIl as parasites. Measurements were made of the standard, fork and total lengths of both species, which in each case was related to the specific mass of the fish. Both species are, according to the information obtained, capable of successive spawning over an extended period during the breeding season. This implies that the evaluation for fecundity according to standard procedures may in both species be conservative in terms of estimates of the total numbers of eggs produced during the breeding season. Indications are, however, that of Zambezense may produce relatively low numbers of eggs and this as weIl as certain environmental factors, may in combination explain the relative scarcity of this fish in the Inkomati River System. Environmental pollution may further complicate this issue. One of the main objectives of this study was to investigate the habitat requirements of both species. In doing so, both species can now be better defined in terms of certain biological requirements as welI as environmental conditions under which they occur. It is hoped that this information may contribute towards a better understanding of the environmental conservation status of both species. The scarcity collection of studies into including GSI. of both species prohibited the large scale specimens normally required to enable intensive factors such as feeding, growth and breeding, It was therefore not possible during this study to obtain an accurate assessment of parameters such as fecundity, which should be investigated in more detail if and when material on both species becomes available. Recommendations are made concerning morphometric and electrophoretic investigations of both species in order to evaluate their species status more accurately. It is suggested that the habitats where B.brevipinnis and O.zambezense occur be closely monitored in future to observe any further deterioration which may be caused by agricultural and mining activities. It is recommended that because of the relative scarcity of Zambezense in the Inkomati River System, and to the apparent sensitivity of this species to environmental disturbance of its habitat, its conservation status be changed from indeterminate scarce to vulnerable.

M.A. / A stable environment for future economic growth in South Africa will depend on curbing violence, crime and poverty. Government has started to address the development backlog by initiating programmes such as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Urgent problems such as housing shortages, the education crisis, unemployment, violence and poverty are receiving priority. This has had a further effect on the policy of service delivery in the field of Social Work, hence there is a paradigm shift towards development social work as emphasized in the White paper for Social Welfare (Government Gazette, 1997). Communities establish development projects with the aim of creating jobs, etc but are not aware of the process involved (e.g. management) for such a project to be successful. For this reason the researcher is of the opinion that many community development projects fail due to the fact that they are not managed properly. The main goal of the study is to develop guidelines on how to manage development projects in deprived communities. A qualitative exploratory study was used to address the following main question: “How do you manage your project?” A non-probability sampling procedure was used to select two projects that were under study. The data collection methods that were employed were face-to-face and focus group interviews, observation and the analysis of project documents. The method of data analysis utilized was data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing. The following main themes were identified as important entities in the management of community development projects: teamwork, planning, implementation, monitoring and control, leadership and evaluation. All these themes are considered to be very important in ensuring project success. / Prof. J.B.S Nel