This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of life skills training as a preventive strategy for HIV and AIDS, for secondary school learners in one secondary school in the Moretele District of Mpumalanga. The objectives of this study were to determine the levels of learners’ knowledge about HIV and AIDS, and levels of teacher training in life skills, to assess how teachers’ and learners’ attitudes affect life skills training, to explore the perceptions of teachers and learners regarding the usefulness of life skills training in the prevention of HIV transmission and to assess the usefulness of the learning and teaching support materials (LTSM) used in life skills training. The study also investigated the challenges encountered by learners and teachers in life skills training in order to make recommendations for improvements. This is a qualitative evaluation study that involved qualitative focus group interviews, qualitative semi-structured interviews and qualitative observation. Sampling was purposive and it entailed 30 grade 9 learners and 2 grade 9 Life Orientation teachers. The Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory formed the theoretical framework for this study. The results of the study showed that the aspects which significantly benefited learners were: sufficiently acceptable levels of knowledge about HIV and AIDS, the use of other resources from the library, and development of positive attitudes of learners and teachers involved in life skills. Aspects of life skills training which demonstrated partial benefits for the learners were teacher training and involvement of parents and other health care professionals. However, aspects which were less developed were the learners’ and teachers’ knowledge and application regarding some skills needed for prevention of HIV infection / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV-AIDS)

The study investigates how the school management teams (SMTs) manage the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). The NCS has been incrementally implemented as a curriculum change in the South African secondary schools’ Grades 10-12 from 2006. In addition to literature review, this study employed empirical investigation based on qualitative research approach which involved three semi-structured focus group interviews to gather data from the six sampled schools in Moretele Area Project Office, North West Province. The review of related literature reflected that SMTs are responsible for the successful implementation of curriculum change in schools. The empirical findings revealed that SMTs experience challenges that overwhelm their function of managing the implementation of the NCS effectively. These challenges involve, poor training of SMTs, resources constraints, poor stakeholder involvement, policy overload, and lack of APO administrative support. Finally, the study elicited some strategies that can be applied to overcome certain challenges. / Educational Leadership and Management / MED (ED MNG)

The principles of Total Quality Management (TQM), initially designed to effect continuous improvement in the business sector, have been successfully applied in educational settings. Hence, this study was undertaken to explore educator participation in the implementation of a TQM Strategy at selected academically underperforming secondary schools in the Moses Kotane Area to address shortfalls. A literature review on TQM provided a conceptual framework for the empirical inquiry. Special attention was given to the role of educators in TQM implementation. The empirical study used qualitative research methods to explore the use of TQM in fifteen schools selected by purposive sampling. Observation, document analysis and focus group interviews were used to gather data. The findings indicate that educators regard TQM as an improvement tool; however, they hold negative and positive views about TQM. Finally, recommendations were made to enhance the implementation of TQM in underperforming secondary schools in the Moses Kotane Area. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The principles of Total Quality Management (TQM), initially designed to effect continuous improvement in the business sector, have been successfully applied in educational settings. Hence, this study was undertaken to explore educator participation in the implementation of a TQM Strategy at selected academically underperforming secondary schools in the Moses Kotane Area to address shortfalls. A literature review on TQM provided a conceptual framework for the empirical inquiry. Special attention was given to the role of educators in TQM implementation. The empirical study used qualitative research methods to explore the use of TQM in fifteen schools selected by purposive sampling. Observation, document analysis and focus group interviews were used to gather data. The findings indicate that educators regard TQM as an improvement tool; however, they hold negative and positive views about TQM. Finally, recommendations were made to enhance the implementation of TQM in underperforming secondary schools in the Moses Kotane Area. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The phenomenon of stigmatisation in the transmission of HIV/AIDS was highlighted in this study, and considered from a social constructionist perspective. The lived experiences of 20 participants were explored in the context of a stigma reduction programme. Perceived meanings attached to stigma, and its influence on participant behaviour was revealed through narratives. The influence of the programme on participant meaning making and perceptions was also revealed, and found that the meaning of stigma remained unchanged, and therefore stigma was not reduced. Not discounting the therapeutic platform of the programme in enabling co-construction of new perspectives which enabled coping mechanisms for participants in dealing with their circumstances. It is recommended that studies such as this be used to assist future stigma reduction programmes to identify their roles in meaning making regarding stigma, with the premise in mind that if meaning shifts, experiences will shift. / Psychology / M.A (Psychology)

The phenomenon of stigmatisation in the transmission of HIV/AIDS was highlighted in this study, and considered from a social constructionist perspective. The lived experiences of 20 participants were explored in the context of a stigma reduction programme. Perceived meanings attached to stigma, and its influence on participant behaviour was revealed through narratives. The influence of the programme on participant meaning making and perceptions was also revealed, and found that the meaning of stigma remained unchanged, and therefore stigma was not reduced. Not discounting the therapeutic platform of the programme in enabling co-construction of new perspectives which enabled coping mechanisms for participants in dealing with their circumstances. It is recommended that studies such as this be used to assist future stigma reduction programmes to identify their roles in meaning making regarding stigma, with the premise in mind that if meaning shifts, experiences will shift. / Psychology / M.A (Psychology)

The objective of the study was to identify the factors that affect the survival lifetime of HIV+ terminal patients in rural district hospitals of Albert Luthuli municipality in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. A cohort of HIV+ terminal patients was retrospectively followed from 2010 to 2017 until a patient died, was lost to follow-up or was still alive at the end of the observation period. Nonparametric survival analysis and semiparametric survival analysis methods were used to analyse the data. Through Cox proportional hazards regression modelling, it was found that ART adherence (poor, fair, good), Age, Follow-up mass, Baseline sodium, Baseline viral load, Follow CD4 count by Treatment (Regimen 1) interaction and Follow-up lymphocyte by TB history (yes, no) interaction had significant effects on survival lifetime of HIV+ terminal patients (p-values<0.1). Furthermore, through quantile regression modelling, it was found that short, medium and long survival times of HIV+ patients, respectively represented by the 0.1, 0.5 and 0.9 quantiles, were not necessarily significantly affected by the same factors. / Statistics / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Two field experiments were conducted on sandy loam soils in OKhahlamba Local Municipality (OLM) (Bergville area), KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa, during the rainy seasons of 2014/15 and 2015/16 to study the effect of calcium source (gypsum) fertilizer application on yield and quality of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The household economy of OLM is mostly dependent on agriculture and the majority of farmers in this area are small-scale farmers subsisting mainly on maize (constituting the staple diet) and groundnut production. Crop diversification, therefore, becomes an important aspect for farmers, and this is traditionally done using crops that are produced in almost similar agronomic circumstances to that of maize under dryland conditions. A large proportion of the OLM population depend on groundnut as a vital supplement to their daily food requirements, particularly as a cheap source of protein for resource-poor farmers. Therefore, any scientific approach to increase the yield of groundnut should be considered important in the livelihood of this community. Moreover, groundnut is an excellent rotational crop, since it responds well to fertilizer applied to previous crop and maize, as well as to crop, since it responds well to fertilizer applied to previous crop and maize, as well as to nitrogen left over by peanut. Thus, farmers save money because they use less fertilizer. The consideration for this study was based upon the above. The experiment was laid in a randomised complete block design with factorial arrangement, which was replicated three times in 48 plots. The factors studied were four levels of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) i.e. 0 kg/ha, 500 kg/ha, 750 kg/ha, and 1000 kg/ha and four levels of lime (MgCO3.CaCO3) i.e. 0 kg/ha, 250 kg/ha, 500 kg/ha, 750 kg/ha. Soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), pod yield, seed yield, 100 seeds weight, shelling percentage, dry shoot weight, seed moisture content percentage at harvest, and leaf calcium concentration data were collected prior to, and post harvesting. The application of 500 kg gypsum/ha alone acted as a liming factor for legumes, decreasing acid stress on nodulating bacteria, and improved soil chemical properties (increased soil pH), vegetative growth, yield, and quality of groundnut. The smallholder famers can afford this application rate, since gypsum acts both as a liming factor and as a calcium source to improve crop yield. The application of 1000 kg gypsum/ha improved seed yield, shelling percentage as well as kernel weight, which is yield, and quality of groundnut under dryland conditions. Since smallholder farmers practise dryland production, it is advisable to adopt the application of gypsum at the rate of 1000 kg/ha to improve yield and quality of groundnuts. It was also found to be more economical than using both gypsum and lime. The application of 500 kg gypsum per hectare in combination with 250 kg lime per hectare produced the highest shelling percentage. This combination of two calcium sources (gypsum and lime) is not recommended for small-scale farmers because it is not economical. The application of 500 kg gypsum per hectare in combination with 750 kg lime per hectare increased pod yield. However, this combination is also not recommended because it is not cost-effective. The application of 1000 kg gypsum per hectare in combination with 500 kg lime per hectare increased seed yield and produced sound mature kernel (SMK), whereas the application of 1000 kg gypsum alone per hectare also increased seed yield. This combination is also considered unacceptable due to the high increase in input costs. The application of 750 kg lime per hectare was more effective as an acid ameliorant and led to the improvement of the chemical composition of the soil (increased soil pH), resulting in a higher shoot weight of groundnut. This application also provided the catalyst for stimulating phosphorus production and enhancing the growth of an extensive root system for absorbing water and nutrients. The use of lime in acid soils is highly beneficial because it improves the chemical composition of the soil, ensures the availability of nutrients to plants, serves as an efficient calcium source, and ultimately leads to an improvement in yield. Results show that the application of gypsum at 1000 kg/ha and lime at 500 kg/ha respectively, significantly improved peanut yield and soil pH. The combination of gypsum and lime (500 kg/ha gypsum and 250 kg/ha lime) significantly improved shelling percentage (yield). Based on data on yield, yield components, and soil chemical properties, it is concluded that gypsum is the best calcium source fertilizer for groundnut production in OLM and lime should only be applied on acid soils to attain optimum groundnut yield in the region / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Local opposition to town planning applications creates time delays for developers, town planners, and municipal authorities, while also increasing financial costs associated with development. For local communities, opposition means considerable time and financial investment to protect the place they live in from unwanted development. Place attachment, which develops as a result of experiences with or in a place, is one of the reasons why local communities oppose land development – this reaction towards proposed land changes is often considered NIMBYist. Although disciplines such as natural resource management already trained its focus on the influence of place attachment as a motivating factor in participatory planning intentions internationally, it is not clear whether there exists a relationship between place attachment and public participation in South African town planning processes. As such, the aim of this research is to explore the relationship between place attachment and public participation in a South African town planning process. This research focuses on the lived experience of place attachment of residents of the Bult area of the Tlokwe Local Municipality in the North West Province of South Africa, and the role that place attachment experiences played in their participation in a town planning process. The research design is qualitative, using archival data, located participant interviews, and supportive photographic data to explore the lived experiences of 18 participants from three case studies. The data was analysed thematically. The data indicated the link between actual or potential incremental changes through town planning actions in an urban environment and the impact these changes had on the well-being of the residents of that place. The effect of incremental urban changes, actual or potential, motivated participants to participate in the public participation process of rezoning applications in order to oppose the environmental changes. These potential and/or actual environmental changes also led to place protective actions outside the formal participation process. This research indicates that due consideration should be given to opposition to town planning applications, as it can in fact be driven by deeper emotional reasons that cannot be expressed in the legal and technical language associated with the town planning discipline. These reactions should not be considered in a negative light by developers, town planners, and municipal authorities, as they can provide insight on what types of land use changes can implemented successfully in a place. To this effect, a life cycle relationship between place attachment and public participation in a town planning process (as it happened in the three case studies) is proposed as a point of departure for future research. A suggestion is made to incorporate place attachment in urban planning practice. / PhD (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In any democratic dispensation public participation is a wide spread concern and highly topical to guide a discourse on openness, transparency, and inclusiveness in government. The importance and contribution of public participation to a healthy and developing democracy should not be underestimated. There are various forms of public participation that are known in the literature. They range from general consultation, submission of comments to public institutions, to direct negotiations and interaction. In the South African Police Service, the notion and principles of public participation are embedded in a modern community policing approach. This approach was adopted by the South African Government post-1994. The concept Community Policing is generally about making policing more community-centred through the active engagement of community members in the affairs of the police. Community policing is multidimensional in addressing social problems such as crime and poverty. It also involves community empowerment to guide the community in addressing their own challenges. To give operational impetus to a community policing approach, Community Policing Forums (CPFs) have been established as a mechanism to foster public participation in general and active community engagement in policing matters in particular. The roles of CPFs are entrenched in national legislation and a comprehensive regulatory framework further guide the functioning of these structures. The functioning of these CPFs is, however, not without challenges. By following a qualitative case study design, this study investigated the particular challenges associated with public participation in the CPFs of the Tlokwe Local Municipality (TLM). The study has been conducted in the three police stations of TLM, namely Potchefstroom, Ikageng and Buffelshoek. The aim of this study was to present the need for the development of a comprehensive strategy to enhance public participation in CPFs in TLM. Such a strategy is suggested as main solution to address the variety of challenges identified. / MA (Public Management and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015