This study defines the need and practicality of measuring and determining the metrics and success indicators for an international commodity marketing office for a bulk material resource mining corporation and more particularly for the recently established international marketing office of the specific corporate. The methodology of the study offers the industry a comprehensive investigative process to prove the viability of various quantifiable and qualifiable metrics and success indicators as well as value proposition potentials for an international commodity marketing office were found. The expected and high priority functions of the international marketing office were Customer relationship management and Competitive & Market intelligence The measurement criteria are collated within 4 main groupings namely General, Products, Markets and Financial. The specificity of the monitoring points and the fact that they are derived from non-financial and non marketing bases proves that their determination and measurement is viable and will further increase the potential value added by a coal commodity marketing office. Based on similarities between coal commodity market drivers and drawing this relation back through the generality of the bulk commodity marketing concepts and processes, the same benefits and or metrics may also be true for all commodities and their relevant marketing offices.

M. Phil. / Risk management comprises of risk identification, risk analysis, response planning, monitoring and action planning tasks that are carried out throughout the life cycle of a project in order to ensure that project objectives are met. Risk is a fact of life in all mining type projects. This research dissertation documents the risk management practices of an EPCM company involved in mining projects. Risk analysis techniques are discussed and the author goes deeper to examine what risk means to a project, and how the project team perceive, identify and quantify project risks. This dissertation uses a case study to focus on an EPCM firm‘s approach to risk management in the mining projects environment. This study aims to illustrate how the risks involved in a project have to be identified, controlled and managed. The purpose of this dissertation is therefore to act as an implementation risk management model for the case company and for use in a typical mining projects environment. Risk is an integral part of engineering projects, and it is necessary to manage the risks in order to ensure project success.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / This qualitative study investigated the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder within the mining industry. It further reviewed systems used to manage the same disorder following a disastrous mining accident in the Slater Coal Mines. There are key challenges that were reviewed as part of improving diagnosis and management of post-traumatic stress disorder. Two focus groups consisting of six African mineworkers, working in the Slater Coal Mines, were conducted. All participants were isiZulu speakers. The data was analysed using grounded theory, which is a qualitative technique. In using this data analysis technique, data labelling, open coding, axial coding and selective coding were the steps that were followed as a guide. Research findings indicated that post-traumatic stress disorder is prevalent within the mining industry and differs from post-traumatic stress. Existence of post-traumatic stress disorder was represented by symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, avoidant behaviours and terror. Further, causes of mining accidents and accident management measures were the findings. Different work conditions were implicated in the study as contributing to trauma in the mines in addition to accidents that happen underground.

MA , Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / South Africa has a high number of people living with HIV as UNAIDS (2009) projected the population of people living with HIV to be 5.7 million of which 20% of this population is said to be in employment. As a corrective measure, various strategies at national and company levels are being employed to get people to test for HIV. HIV testing helps people to know their status which is a gateway to informed prevention behavior and treatment. In workplaces, peer educators play an important role in getting workers to take up HIV test. As workplace peer educators mobilize workers to take up HIV test, they continue to face challenges. This precedes the broad objective of this study, which is to understand challenges faced by workplace peer educators in getting workers to take up HIV test. This report is a product of in-depth interviews, with fourteen peer educators, two wellness officers and the wellness coordinator. Participant observations and document analysis were also employed in gathering data. The data collection process extended from July to December 2010 in a mining company in the North West province in South Africa. Findings of the research revealled that despite the company’s HIV testing programme being a success as evidenced by a recorded cumulative annual uptake rate of 82% (2009), peer educators still face challenges emanating from environmental, programmatic and socio-interactional and perceptional factors. Environmental factors include skepticism based on precarious employment contracts while programmatic factors include certification of test results, speculation of test results based on time spent in the testing cubicle, consent procedures and incentivisation of testing. Lastly socio-interactional and perceptional factors that include stigma and discrimination, cultural beliefs, poor disclosure strategies, perceived racialisation of workplace testing centers and male workers relying on results from partner’s antenatal test were identified as another set of challenges faced by peer educators. The study suggests that in order to improve the HIV test uptake rate, in this context referring to the attainment of an absolute uptake rate, mitigation measure which include the use of trade unions in mobilizing workers for HIV testing, training on disclosure, re-negotiation and design of testing programmes and education must be considered. The adoption and administration of these measures into the case study company’s HIV test programme and other institutions facing the same challenges will help improve the HIV test uptake.

There is significant historical research on coal, education, religion, churches, and cultural values of the Tazewell County. However, there is no research weaving all of these elements together to tell a story of the county and its political development. This research project is a qualitative study in which I wish to reveal the story of the culture, specifically the political culture, of Tazewell County. I would like to examine objectively whether or not the mining industry has had an effect on the cultural aspects of the county. I want to ask: Is there evidence that the coal industry has shaped the political culture of Tazewell County and, if so, through what mechanisms did it exert this influence? Research will include the examination of mechanisms by which a political culture is created in single-dominant industry communities, such as Tazewell County Virginia. Research will include elements of political socialization such as peer groups, coal camps, church groups, family and community. The research will specifically focus on religion and education and how they have or have not defined the political culture of the area. / Master of Arts

Graduate School of Business Leadership / MBL

Graduate School of Business Leadership / MBL

The objective of this research and aim of this dissertation was to determine the potential impact of the introduction of a carbon emissions tax (hereafter CET) on the South African mining industry and this has been achieved by addressing the following three areas of research: Most urgently, a literature review was required in order to obtain an understanding of why a carbon tax or alternative system was required. A detailed understanding of the functioning of these systems was invaluable to the outcome of the study. The survey conducted, confirmed the fact that global warming and related climate change brought about by human interference, constitute both global and national complications. The study confirmed that market based instruments can assist in addressing this problem and that these are generally considered to be more effective than traditional command-and-control policies. Notwithstanding this finding, in order to ensure efficacy, careful consideration should be given to the economic climate in which they are to be implemented. Secondly, a literature review was essential in order to fully comprehend the nature of the South African economy and specifically the South African mining industry’s contribution to the aforementioned problem. The importance of the industry to the economy had to be acknowledged. It was then established that the South African economy, and in particular the South African mining industry, contribute to this predicament due to their considerable dependence on coal fired power stations for the supply of electricity. The study revealed that should this industry be adversely affected by the proposed taxation, the economy as a whole would suffer. Finally, a literature review as well as quantitative examples were used to estimate the impact of CET on the South African mining industry. This outcome was achieved by evaluating the results of taxation as opposed to the objectives of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). The study found that the effect on most of the objectives of the MPRDA, and especially those related to job creation, economic growth and equal access for all applicants on entering the arena of the mining industry, may well be affected adversely by the implementation of the proposed CET, as the tax was found to impact negatively on the industry’s profits. It has also been assessed that the iron ore sector will be the most affected sector and that smaller companies will be affected to a larger degree than larger companies. The modus operandi and selection of allocated beneficiaries when allocating the revenue collected from the proposed CET by the National Treasury were also found to play a significant role in whether or not the objectives of the MPRDA were positively or negatively influenced by the implementation of the tax. The outcome of the study performed on the research question confirmed that, if said effect of the proposed CET on the South African mining industry was to be compared to the objective of the MPRDA, both positive and negative implications could be identified. / MCom (South African and International Taxation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The objective of this research and aim of this dissertation was to determine the potential impact of the introduction of a carbon emissions tax (hereafter CET) on the South African mining industry and this has been achieved by addressing the following three areas of research: Most urgently, a literature review was required in order to obtain an understanding of why a carbon tax or alternative system was required. A detailed understanding of the functioning of these systems was invaluable to the outcome of the study. The survey conducted, confirmed the fact that global warming and related climate change brought about by human interference, constitute both global and national complications. The study confirmed that market based instruments can assist in addressing this problem and that these are generally considered to be more effective than traditional command-and-control policies. Notwithstanding this finding, in order to ensure efficacy, careful consideration should be given to the economic climate in which they are to be implemented. Secondly, a literature review was essential in order to fully comprehend the nature of the South African economy and specifically the South African mining industry’s contribution to the aforementioned problem. The importance of the industry to the economy had to be acknowledged. It was then established that the South African economy, and in particular the South African mining industry, contribute to this predicament due to their considerable dependence on coal fired power stations for the supply of electricity. The study revealed that should this industry be adversely affected by the proposed taxation, the economy as a whole would suffer. Finally, a literature review as well as quantitative examples were used to estimate the impact of CET on the South African mining industry. This outcome was achieved by evaluating the results of taxation as opposed to the objectives of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). The study found that the effect on most of the objectives of the MPRDA, and especially those related to job creation, economic growth and equal access for all applicants on entering the arena of the mining industry, may well be affected adversely by the implementation of the proposed CET, as the tax was found to impact negatively on the industry’s profits. It has also been assessed that the iron ore sector will be the most affected sector and that smaller companies will be affected to a larger degree than larger companies. The modus operandi and selection of allocated beneficiaries when allocating the revenue collected from the proposed CET by the National Treasury were also found to play a significant role in whether or not the objectives of the MPRDA were positively or negatively influenced by the implementation of the tax. The outcome of the study performed on the research question confirmed that, if said effect of the proposed CET on the South African mining industry was to be compared to the objective of the MPRDA, both positive and negative implications could be identified. / MCom (South African and International Taxation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Local government, as government at grassroot, has, probably undergone transformation more than any institution in post-1994 South Africa. State-of the- art legislation have been passed that have restructured municipalities, and, especially, in the areas of performance and conduct of councillors and officials. Prominent in the areas of transformation are the roles of the Executive Mayor, which are no longer ceremonial as well as the radical changes which have been legislated in municipal financial management. This study was undertaken to determine the challenges that confront the Executive Mayor in financial management in selected local municipalities in the Free State. The hypothesis was formulated that “despite the state-of-the art legislation to regulate municipal finance, Executive Mayors in municipalities face the challenge of poor service delivery as a result of noncompliance to financial statutes due to human resource incapacity”. To test the hypothesis, use was made by empirical research that comprised questionnaires completed by sample of managers and officials in the selected local municipalities of Mafube, Metsimaholo, Moqhaka and Ngwathe.The findings, amongst others, were that: • Human capital in the 4 selected local municipalities are in their prime age. 69 present of managers are in the aged between 30 years to 50 years; • 57 present of the managers responded that they have adequate qualifications and training to pursue the challenges in municipal finance; • All 4 municipalities normally get their budgets approved as required by compliance. • The hypothesis was consequently, invalidated. The study ends with recommendations to help improve standards and quality of financial management practice in the 4 municipalities. / MA (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014