MPH / Department of Public Health / Workplaces are important settings for health promotion and disease prevention. Participation in sport and recreation can lead to improved health of individuals and increased productivity levels at work places. Despite the health benefits of sports and recreation and the approval of the workplace sports and recreation policy in the Limpopo Department of Health, many employees still do not participate, even when invited for games. The aim of the study was to determine the perceived factors influencing participation of non-medical staff members in workplace sports and recreation at Elim Hospital using the constructs of the Health Belief Model. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The population were all non-medical staff members of Elim Hospital. A total sample of 222 non-medical staff members of Elim Hospital were used for the study. Participants were divided into three categories, depending on the type of their work. A researcher-administered structured questionnaire based on the construct of the Health Belief Model was used to collect data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and Microsoft Excel was used to analyse the data. A descriptive statistical method was used to analyse frequencies and Chi-square test was used to determine the level of significance of correlations between the different variables. A probability level of 0.05 or less was used to indicate statistical significance. The study revealed that the rate / level of participation in workplace sports and recreation among non-medical staff members at Elim Hospital was low (30%). Participants perceived themselves mainly as less susceptible and not susceptible to NCDs. The major barriers to participation that were identified include lack of awareness of the sports and recreation policy as well as busy work schedule. There was a significant relationship between participation and age of respondents, as well as between participation and occupation category. Educational programme geared towards increasing awareness of employees on the policy as well as on benefits of sports and recreation can significantly improve participation in workplace sports and recreation.

MURP / Department of Urban and Regional Planning / University towns or town gown relationships are increasingly becoming an accepted developmental narrative between institutions of higher learning and their host communities. The University of Venda was mandated by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr. Blade Nzimande, in October 2014, to devise a university town strategy aimed at developing Thohoyandou and its rural environs to become a university town. The University of Venda in its approach towards the development of a university town has adopted the new governance approach of formulating innovative collaborative partnerships with its surrounding stakeholders that include Limpopo Premier’s Office, Vhembe District Municipality, Thulamela Local Municipality, VBS Mutual Bank, Madzivhandila Agricultural College and Traditional leaders. The study approach adopted quantitative research method. Its centre piece was the Optimal College Town Assessment (OCTA) a quantitative tool which was utilized to gather data from the representatives of the university and Thohoyandou town stakeholders. To test the town and gown developmental paradigm, this study explored student housing development possibilities as a manifestation of university-community partnerships. The study findings highlight that existing town-gown relationships between the University of Venda and its stakeholders are categorized as traditional relationship type which is characterized by low effort and higher comfort level. Institutional context roles that the University of Venda should play in the successful development of town-gown partnerships were also established. The study identified the factors essential for the development of viable and functional innovative collaborative university-stakeholder’s partnerships for the University of Venda and the town of Thohoyandou and its stakeholders. The study findings also show that there is potential for student housing development when there are positive town-gown relationships. This is in line with the calls from South Africa’s Ministry of Higher Education and Training expectations to resolve student housing backlogs facing public universities. This study recommends the improvement of town-gown relationships and it provides a conceptual model indicating the building blocks that the university should adopt to develop successful, innovative, viable and functional town-gown partnerships.

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / See the attached abstract below

MSc (Zoology) / Department of Zoology / See the attached abstract below

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / See the attached abstract below

MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

MSc (Microbiology) / Department of Microbiology / See the attached abstract below

MSc (Zoology) / Department of Zoology / See the attached abstract below

MEd (Curriclum Studies) / Department of Curriculum Studies / See the attached abstract below