Since time in memorial, mobility by humans has been a major activity which has undergone a lot of transformation. During the ancient times, people moved from one place to another for various reasons using different methods. Modernisation has brought along a new dimension of commuting from one place to the other. Unlike the olden times when commuters used to walk long distances with the help of stars, clouds and other natural landmarks to navigate their way to the desired destinations . The invention of a wide variety of modes of commuting has brought about different choices of which mode to use with certain factors being the influence of such choices. The study has explored a wide variety of issues pertaining to the factors which influence commuters in the North West Province particularly in the Mafikeng area and among other things, source of income, status in society, speed, affordability and age have been thoroughly investigated in order to come up with the influencing factors. The research revealed that the majority of commuters who utilize both public and private commuting modes are of the school going age which is below 20 years. That means this category of commuter has a great influence on the commuting sector. Other factors that influence the choice of mode are age and income. Also, weather can have an impact on the service provided and therefore, cause disruptions. On the other hand, government needs to be in partnership with private service providers. It will regulate public transport and overhaul the entire road infrastructure. The researcher recommends that both government and the public sectors need joint effort in order to effectively respond to the challenges of providing an effective and efficient transport system recommendations have further been made regarding the issue so that the identified gaps may be sealed to have a smooth running system. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

From day's ceremonial, the nursing profession, was held in high esteem and was the most cherished health career amongst the black community. The profession popularised by Florence Nightingale, alias, "The lady with the lamp," highly emphasised absolute virtues, such as selflessness, dedication and hard work, to mention just a few. Some individuals like the late Sister Lekgetha and Cecilia Makiwana later became epitome of the health profession and were marvelled by the community at large. The paradigm has shifted somewhat, unfortunately, with today's nurses capable of leaving their death-bed-ridden patients in hospital wards, to take to the streets in demand of salary increases. Their hostile attitudes are perceived in community circles as irresponsible and uncaring, culminating in poor health service deliveries at health centres. Nurses, on the other hand, cite a number of issues that have rendered the health profession a disaster, in which it find itself. These range from the working conditions to the job description as rolled out by the supervisor and the Department. It is for this reason that a study at the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital was prompted, to try and reach the bottom of the truth. / M. Admin (HRM) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

The study set to investigate customer care in the Mafikeng Post Office. This was achieved through the following. Highlighting any inadequacy of customer care process at Mafikeng Post Office, determining if the current customer care tools utilised are optimal or not, determining the extent at which such tools are utilised and determining where accountability lies for customer care within the organisation. The measuring instruments utilised was a questionnaire because of the descriptive nature of the study. The questionnaire was in a structured format. I 00 respondents participated in filling in the questionnaires. The findings indicated that most respondents are not satisfied with the service provided with only a few who are happy about certain elements of the questionnaire. The methodology adapted in this case was that of survey where a questionnaire was administered. The chapter which? further gave the statement of the problem and the objective of the study. In chapter two, the nature and scope of customer service was outlined from the literature consulted. The chapter defined terms like service, customer service and customer. The chapter also focused on the important things that customers loves and loathe, approaches to handling a customer especially an unhappy customer. The literature indicates that there is a need for good customer service. Customer service also requires that all the key players should get involved in. Chapter three presented research problems and posing some research questions. The questionnaire was the key instrument in the collection of data for the study. Chapter four presented the research design which incorporates the sampling design. The researchers recommends that staff need to be trained on the following: how to be friendly to customers and greet them with a smile. Greet them by name if possible as it will impress the customer to notice that staff members know them. To be polite and pleasant when talking to clients. To be trained on product knowledge as it improves competency and confidence of client in a person. Adequate training of staff is important as it ensures provision of quality service to the clients, thus reducing complaints. Even though the results of the study were not satisfactory, it is important for the management of the organisation to concentrate on those unhappy clients. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

This study is based on investigation into the role of the North West Water supply (which changed the name to Botshelo Water Board during the period of study in water service delivery management in municipalities. The case of Mafikeng Central District municipality. The major findings area as follows: In South Africa the role of regional water supply services providers, typically water boards, is changing. Historically they were established with the primary function of supplying large urban canters with bulk water. Their emphasis has thus been on developing and running large, technically complex systems. Most importantly they have generally been selling bulk water to financially strong municipalities. With the new imperative to rapidly increase the provision of water services to all South Africans, these regional services providers are facing new challenges of management integration and provision of 6 kl free basic water to poor of the poorest in our country. The South African White Paper on Water and Sanitation policy proposed that Local Authorities to take over the functions of water provision and sanitation services. There is an urgent need to co-ordinate local development needs and integrate them into optimal development and operation plans . at regional level which will take advantage for involving all parties affected. The Water Service Act of (1997) defines the roles for various parties involved in water service delivery and will have a profound impact on the relationship between the parties. The Act recommended that close working relationship between water boards and local authorities must be maintained. Chapter 3 of the Constitution describes Government in South Africa as consisting of National, Provincial and Municipal Spheres which are not only distinctive but also interdependent and interrelated. It provides that all spheres of Government and all · organs of State must trust and good faith by co-ordinating their actions and legislation with each other. Co-operative governance and integration are not only policy matters they are constitutionally mandated. The recommendation from this study is that, awareness campaign be made in the areas to encourage people to pay for services and take responsibility for meter reading on their own like it is happening in Denmark. In Denmark each household reads its own meters for both water and electricity and. submits the readings to the municipality for billing. As a result the municipality did not employ special meter readers thus saves on salaries. Greater resource allocation is made to cover the shortfalls experienced due to lack of management capacity and other resources that would enable Central District municipality to run the functions on their own. Capacity building and support for professionals be streamline on the current Botshelo Water staff for future absorption by municipality. Promotion of community based development be continued to encourage community ownership on water management functions. This could be done through the formation of water committees associations. While community-based approaches are now accepted as the norm, the necessary capacity to support them in most cases does not generally exist at higher levels (National, district and local) and central needs to look at this. If the municipal cannot handle these functions on its own, then joint venture, synergy, merger and acquisition of all affected institution be considered. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

This study was on the effect of non-payment of services by the government to the local municipality referring specifically to the Mafikeng Local Municipality. According to the literature review, there Is lack of research on the management of finances hence not only this municipality Is still struggling to manage their finances and as a result, some are collapsing. The main objective was to Investigate the reasons for non-payment of services by the government. The study used questionnaires and structured interviews to get the information on non-payment. The government owes the Mafikeng Local Municipality huge amount of services. There is a poor system of collection of debts at the Mafikeng Local Municipality which impact negatively on the financial condition of this municipality. There are challenges surrounding the failure of the government departments In paying the Mafikeng Local Municipality due to the fact that they do not budget enough for services. The other factor is that they do not receive their bills on time which makes difficult for them to pay their bills on time. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

This research report examines poverty as a socio-economic factor that may hamper the academic performance of learners in rural areas of Mafikeng (Magogoe). The research was conducted in Magogoe village of Mafikeng. The researcher is a professional Middle school educator, who in her experience as an educator realised that there are learners who do not achieve academically because of their social background. A descriptive 'study was undertaken to research on poverty and academic performance of learners in rural areas of Mafikeng. Middle school learners are in a transition stage, which according to Erikson (Louw, 1991) is adolescent stage. They seek positive identity and according to Freud (Louw, 1991) they are in genital stage in which they form relationships with opposite sex persons. During this time of their lives, they need more energy that is provided· by healthy nutrition, as their physical being also grows at a faster rate. Those that experience hardships are, because of poverty, greatly affected and eventually become prone to health and social pathologies. Factors such as accommodation, income, mode of transport to school, source of energy and parental involvement in children's schoolwork were explored to verify the effects of poverty on academic performance. The sample of the research consisted of 60 participants whom are all learners from three different middle schools in Magogoe village. Data was obtained through questionnaires, which were self administered by the researcher to the participants. From the literature and empirical findings, it became evident that poverty does affect scholastic performance of learners. The researcher's recommendations are that, permaculture and feeding schemes be introduced in rural schools. The Department of Transport assist learners who walk long distances to schools by providing the learners with bicycles and or school buses. Government improve infrastructures in schools and the Department of Education implement structured study periods after school where the educators can supervise the learners. Learners be provided with Life Skills education which will help them understand their situation and learn to cope in their family circumstances. / Thesis (M.A. (Life Skills)) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

The aim of this research was to examine whether and to what extent supply chain management (SCM) officials in the Central District Municipality designed and implemented SCM in a manner that encouraged sound financial management and compliance to SCM legislative requirements in local government. The substantive area of research was the Central District Municipality and its five local municipalities. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research designs with semi-structured face-to-face interview questionnaire administered over three months. The sampling population was the Central District Municipality and its local municipalities. The researcher conducted 30 interviews and the research analysis strategy was the grounded theory supported by quantitative presentation of closed ended questions in tables and figures with the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study revealed that Central District Municipality to a certain extent depicted the practice of some of the elements of SCM. SCM implementation is currently at an infancy stage and these municipalities do not fully comply with national treasury circulars and regulations. The municipalities are faced with problems of lack of knowledge, skills and capacity. The study concludes with the development of proposition that need to be tested on SCM implementation and recommendations on how the central district municipality can improve SCM implementation process. / (M.Com.) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

HN/AIDS in South Africa has grown to very serious proportions. An estimated number of 5.3million South Africans are infected with HIV and the majority of these infections are in the reproductive age group. Based on Annual Antenatal survey 2002,of the total 2.95 million were women aged 15-49, with an estimation of 91271 babies infected through mother to child transmission. Breastfeeding is said to be an ideal food for growth and development of a child. Given that HIV is transmissible through breastfeeding, the paper aims at examining patterns and attitudes towards breastfeeding in the era of HIV/AIDS. A total of 400 respondents drawn from Mafikeng district were interviewed. The majority were aged 20-39, never married, rural, unemployed with high school level of education. Areas of interest were knowledge about HIV/AIDS, patterns of breastfeeding and attitudes towards alternative methods of infant feeding for an HIV positive mother. Previous reports gave clarity to HIV transmission rates at various stages of life. Evidence has shown that rates of transmission are higher in early stages than late stages of life. Few weeks of life from 6-8 weeks may particularly be a period of high risk than ages above three months. Transmission might have occurred during pregnancy, labor or through breastfeeding, whereby data has shown that colostrums have high concentration of Human Immune Virus than mature milk. The study shows that breastfeeding is still regarded as an important infant feeding method that is ideal for child's growth and development but HIV infection is seen as a disturbing factor to successful breastfeeding. Fifty four percent of respondents did not breastfeed exclusively as promoted by UNICEF and WHO; mean duration for exclusive breastfeeding is two months, support is given by SADHS 1998, mean duration for complementary feeding is two months which gives an indication that more infants are at higher risk of contracting the virus should their mothers test positive which in turn gives rise to high infant /childhood morbidity and mortality rates. There is a need to strengthen and expand programmes such as VCT and PMTCT in all communities especially in rural setting where there is lack of pure water supply and proper sanitation. Efforts to reduce the risk of transmission should therefore be centered on promoting the understanding that mixed feeding or breastfeeding with supplementary feeding carries the highest risk of HIV transmission compared to exclusive breastfeeding or exclusive formula feeding. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc. (Population Studies) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2004

Assuring quality of the education is the overriding role of the Ministry of Education. The new adopted model for Whole School Evaluation is different from the previous school inspection system carried out in South Africa under the apartheid regime. Accountability is the cornerstone of all the programmes that are aimed at improving the quality of learning and teaching in our schools. It is therefore important to evaluate whether or not our efforts have an impact in the schools. It is against this background that the monitoring and evaluation became a reality and a necessity. Accountability is anchored by monitoring and evaluation. Formerly it was assumed that the systems would work without any monitoring and evaluation process. But the dawn of democracy dictated that monitoring and evaluation process is a clear reality and an integral part of any programme. This research project looks into the effectiveness of the performance management programmes with regard to Whole School Evaluation to the educators in the Mafikeng District of the North West Province. Some of the issues discussed in this research are t How effective is this programme in building up the school education system as a whole? • Are there any problems encountered in the proper implementation process? • Is this programme functional? The findings suggest that evaluation is an integral part of the education system that can build an educator if applied in the right way. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2003

The purpose of this study was to establish how foundation phase educators in the North West Province facilitate learning in Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) classrooms. In essence the study looked into the manner and extent to which the educators implement OBE as envisaged in South Africa. The nature of the research question led to the study following a qualitative research paradigm. Observation and interviews were used to collect data in an explanatory approach. The classroom observations were done by means of a schedule produced through literature review. The interviews were conducted in a one-to-one basis following each classroom observation, and were used to clarify any matters picked up from the observations. Two standard questions, what role do parents play in teaching and learning in your classroom? plus what do you use assessment for? were asked in every interview. In addition, any other question was asked flowing from the responses as well as matters and/or actions/behaviour picked up from the observation. The study culminated on recommendation for In-service Education and Training (INSET) programme framework. The findings of this study revealed that the educators, who participated, . although labelled the best in their cohort, were far from performing as expected. It was clear that although they tried their best to implement as directed, they need thorough training to do it right. Most of these educators have some insight of the theory of OBE but lack the skill to implement in their classrooms. For instance, although all of them indicated that assessment is an integral part of teaching in OBE, in practice it was not. These findings may be summarised by saying that the educators who participated 1 need to be retrained to implement OBE. Also, if the subject advisors who chose the participants were right in labelling them best within their cohort, then the challenge is even bigger for OBE to succeed. As such, the INSET programme framework suggested in this study, would contribute a great deal towards retraining. / Thesis (PhD) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2003