School of Mining Engineering, Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry, University of the Witwatersran, 2018 / The predicaments faced by humanity today differ from the past due to the increasing scale of human influence, complexities and uncertainties (Allen et al., 2010), which limit management options. Adaptive management is based on the philosophy that knowledge is incomplete i.e. there will always be uncertainty and unpredictability in the behaviour and dynamics of complex social-ecological systems. Given the complexity of the South African mining industry, this research aimed to explore the link between management and science by assessing the extent to which an adaptive management approach had been incorporated into short-term and long-term mitigation strategies for the discharge of acid mine water in the Witwatersrand Basin. The methodology included a review of the adopted mitigation strategy document, a literature review of adaptive management literature and an in-depth analysis of a case study using nine interviews, conducted with key informants and contributors from the government, an educational institution, industry (mines currently dealing with the issue), and civil society. An inductive and descriptive approach was followed to gather and analyse data to formulate answers to the research questions. The findings of the study indicated that the efforts that went into designing the short-term solutions were limited due to the lack of communicating amongst stakeholders and the failure to incorporate a value-based approach. Results also showed that complexities and uncertainties were not addressed to allow for adaptation to constant change. It was found that the short-term interventions had no managerial flexibility which limited learning. Insufficient monitoring and a lack of transparency regarding the dissemination of monitoring results were highlighted. Moreover, experimental efforts were limited due to lack of capacity and funding. In conclusion, although the long-term strategy incorporated some aspects of adaptive management, the short-term mitigation measures were reactive rather than proactive. It is recommended that on-going training and good communication are maintained amongst stakeholders. Recommendations for economic constraints include the sharing of costs through partnerships, evaluating trade-offs between costs and effectiveness and investigating cheaper measuring methods for monitoring. Risk-averse initiatives such as conducting risk assessments during pilot studies and accommodating for different project scales can be employed to mitigate against resources that are sensitive to change. / XL2019

Thesis (Ph. D.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2008 / This study primarily focuses on the factors that should be taken into account when developing Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) to be used by FET Accounting educators to improve the results of their learners. In order to accomplish this aim, literature from published books, textbooks, guidelines and syllabi from the Department of Education, speeches and articles on the internet, interviews and questionnaires were used in capturing data to establish the essence of Accounting and Accounting principles, to determine the educational changes regarding the curriculum that were made and the influence of these changes on the Accounting syllabi for the FET phase, to identify the factors that hamper the improvement of FET Accounting results in schools and to identify, describe and analyse a curriculum and LTSM. A triangulation methodology was employed in this study where qualitative data (interviews) and quantitative data (questionnaires) were captured. Through the interviews with the Learning Facilitators of Accounting and questionnaires completed by Accounting educators, it became clear that a lack of LTSM exist in Accounting. Accounting educators indicated that they are in dire need of LTSM for the FET phase to be able to improve the results of their Accounting learners in tests and examinations.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016 / Spontaneous combustion of coal may occur when coal is mined, stored or transported and is influenced by a combination of intrinsic and /or extrinsic factors. While it is unusual for intact seams to burn in the highwall, the most common occurrence is when surface mines extract seams previously partially mined by underground bord and pillar operations. The aim of the study is to provide a predictive model (matrix) of the spontaneous combustion potential of remnant pillars at Colliery X. A number of different thermal, chemical and petrographic tests (coal factors) will be undertaken to determine their individual and collective impacts on the sponcom predictive model. The primary geology at the mine is conformable with that of the Witbank Coalfield. Battacharyya (1982) described 3 main factors in the spontaneous combustion of coal, mining factor, coal factor and geological factor which have an aggregate effect. Some of the main historical and present theories of sponcom are the pyrite theory, the bacterial theory, the oxidation theory and the humidity theory. It is important to note that no single factor is responsible for spontaneous combustion. The oxidation of coal occurs constantly. The temperature of the coal is a function of the rate of heat generation versus the rate of heat loss. Fires can start at outcrops and move through interconnected workings with heat transfer by conduction (into the overburden) or convection (between panels).The overburden can also insulate the burning coal seam. Geological factors such as depth of overburden, the degree of fracturing, and the nature of the overlying strata vary between coalfields. A coal seam fire or mine fire is the underground smouldering of a coal deposit, often in a coal mine. Such fires have economic, social and ecological impacts In order to extinguish a fire, one of three elements, fuel, oxygen, or energy, must be removed. The components of the fire triangle can be further subdivided into conventional mine control techniques and more or less unconventional or unproven mine fire control techniques. The thermal techniques discussed include the crossing point temperature, thermogravimetric analyses and oxygen absorption. Macerals, the microscopically identifiable organic constituents of coal, are one of the three basic parameters that define coal. The other two parameters are the coal rank and the mineral matter Vitrinite is the principal maceral group of the No.5 seam and inertinite dominates the No.2 and No.4 seams. The results obtained from the 22 drill-core samples and 2 ROM samples were matched to the existing borehole dataset (2296 boreholes) based on similarity of heat value (figure 3.11). A total of 24 test results (thermal, chemical and petrographic) from borehole A and borehole B were thus assigned to the borehole database which has approximately 1500 samples for each seam. By linking the laboratory datasets (borehole A and B) and the existing borehole database used for resource modelling, the sponcom variables could be modelled in a similar way to the coal resources. The overall risk matrix was calculated on a full seam basis by combining 15 variable scores, each variable having a score of 0, 1 or 2 (low-mod-high probability). The overall results from this research produced clear and unambiguous contour plans of different factors effecting sponcom of coal using single variable and combined variable datasets. In conclusion, it appears that the acceptability of a method for determining spontaneous heating characteristics of coal mainly depends upon how closely it predicts the spontaneous heating behaviour in the field conditions / CK2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering Johannesburg 2017 / The study assesses the drilling, loading and trucking stages of the mining cycle of an iron ore mine situated in the Northern Cape province of South Africa for the period of 1 January to 30 June 2011. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of increasing reliability and maintainability of mining equipment in an effort to increase throughput of iron ore. The data processing indicated that both availability and utilisation are contributing to the sub-optimal performance of the mine. Data regarding reliability (MTBF), maintainability (MTTR), planned and unplanned maintenance was analysed, and this provided input for the simulation model. The intention of the simulation model is to simulate scenarios of proposed improvement in MTBF and MTTR through increasing planned maintenance activities. A simulation model provides insight regarding where to invest in interventions. It is determined that the drilling equipment is the problem area. / MT2018

M.Com. / The objective of this study was to address problems pertaining to the effectiveness of hostel representative structures within the mining industry. As part of the study, it was thought pertinent to interview hostel representatives themselves, in order to establish areas in which improvement could be made. The actual approach was to determine the roles and responsibilities of the hostel representatives and gain suggestions from hostel representatives themselves on the causes of inefficiencies of hostel representative structures. In addition, hostel accommodation preferences were determined; by identifying major functions of the hostel representatives, problems reducing their effectiveness, hostel structures which are more effective, and the reasons of their effectiveness. Views of management and representative structures were also determined; this was done by identifying the degree of trust in both mine and hostel management to look after the interests of the hostel representatives. In addition, effectiveness of various hostel representative groupings was determined. Different forms of worker representative structures on the mine were identified and discussed. The theoretical model of forms of worker participation was discussed to further assist in conceptually clarifying the wide field of worker participation. The actual results reported from this study seem to indicate that: hostel representatives' major functions are; disciplinary, communication, domestic, legal, dispute resolution and hostel management deputising functions. Problems that reduce the effectiveness of the hostel representatives were hostel intruders and undisciplined residents, lack of maintenance in the hostel, lack of protective clothing, mine management undermining of the hostel representatives, hostel committee's failure to follow constitution, a lack of promotional opportunities, power struggle union and management structures. In addition, having to consult with other representative structures caused delays in case settlement. Lack of remuneration of the hostel representatives reduced the effectiveness of the hostel representatives. Role conflict between underground work and representative role was also a hindrance to the hostel representatives. Failure of the hostel representatives to attend meetings was also a cause which reduced the effectiveness of the hostel representatives. The Tribal Prefect is considered as more effective than the Block Stewards, the Administration Assistants and the Hostel Committee Members. The Administration Assistants are perceived as most effective in looking after the interests of hostel employees than other hostel representatives.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science Johannesburg, November 2012. / Acid rock drainage (ARD) and dust are potential consequences of gold and uranium mine residue deposits (MRDs) on the Witwatersrand basin. Urbanisation has taken place around mines and, with the curtailing of mining activities and clearing of land previously covered by MRDs, there is pressure to use this land for residential, industrial and agricultural purposes. However, mining companies historically were not required to provide pollution control measures and there is evidence for contamination of land and water. Thus, there is a need to prioritise contamination sources for mitigation and to understand the extent of contamination and potential risks associated with different categories of land-use on mining land. The aim of my study was to conduct a first-order risk assessment to aid in identifying vulnerable land use in the vicinity of gold and uranium mining, and prioritising MRDs, including footprints, for mitigation. To achieve this I constructed a Geographical Information System (GIS) using publicly available spatial data, and then tested the usefulness of historical aerial photographs and remote sensing imagery for mapping MRDs and impacts of MRD origin under Highveld conditions (i.e. a seasonal climate with summer rainfall and annual evapotranspiration of >2.5 times mean annual precipitation). The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM; 1923 km2) is an area of extensive historical mining with major urbanisation, while retaining areas for agricultural land use; thus it was selected as a representative study site. I used a numerical rating scheme, which combined a number of parameters in two separate stages to calculate a risk index. The first stage involved the classification of hazards associated with MRDs while the second involved an assessment of land use vulnerability based on exposure pathways and proximity. Historical aerial photographs (1938, 1964 and 2003) and the Chamber of Mines (CoM) Dump Indexes were used to identify and classify MRDs in terms of basic geotechnical properties, current status and historical failure. Multi-spectral data, acquired over two years (2002 and 2003) in two seasons (spring and summer) by the TERRA satellite’s Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor, were used to compile thematic images, indicating potential contamination of surrounding land. It was intended that a zone of influence could be distinguished for each MRD enabling me to rate the hazard severity. The thematic images I selected included primary minerals (pyrophyllite and chlorite), secondary minerals (copiapite and jarosite), an indicator of uranium-bearing ore (referred to as mincrust) and the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). These minerals were chosen as potential indicators of different transport routes of contaminants and I tested their associations with different features and land use. I also tested for seasonal differences in the detection of these minerals, and used NDVI to examine the masking effect of active vegetation. I found GIS to be well suited for combining the various forms of spatial data and providing information about MRDs, aqueous pathways, proximity to vulnerable land uses and impacted areas. However, I found that the potential severity of the hazards posed by each MRD, as indicated by a zone of influence, could not be determined from aerial photographs and ASTER alone. I therefore utilised the findings expressed in the literature survey to assign ratings for the different classes of MRDs. The vulnerability assessment was also supplemented by literature review to rate land uses based on human exposure pathways. I determined that MRDs (including footprints) cover 4.1% of EMM, with slimes dams, totalling 3.5%, occupying the majority of this area. I found that 64% of slimes dams had failed prior to 2003 and I plotted a further 0.6% of EMM covered by visible mine residue spillage. Fifty three percent of MRDs were situated within 100 m of drainage lines or old wetlands, while 52% of these (i.e. 27% of the total) had been constructed in the watercourse. I also found that 15% were constructed on dolomites. Informal settlements were located on or bordering 6% of MRDs, with 41% of MRDs within 1 000 m. Eighty eight percent of MRDs were found within 1 000 m of formal residential areas, 71% within 500 m, and formal settlements were located on or bordering 5% of MRDs. Twenty three percent of MRDs were located within 500 m of agricultural land, while 35% were within 1 000 m; and industrial land use was on 9% of MRDs (footprints), with 40% of MRDs being within 500 m of industrial areas and 61% within 1 000 m I found that chlorite did not provide a ‘signature’ of gold and uranium mine residue, whereas the other four minerals did. I also found that, of the two seasons examined (spring and summer), the best time to take an ASTER image to detect mineral signatures of gold and uranium mine contamination is after a few dry days following the first spring rains. For this reason, I used the ASTER taken in late October (spring) 2003 to examine associations with pathways and land use. I found more pyrophyllite and copiapite on industrial and business land use than background, which I suggest is associated with the settling of windborne dust on large and flat roofs; although, in the case of copiapite this could be related to the oxidation of settled wind blown pyrite material. I found jarosite to be a reliable indicator of mine residue, which, together with mincrust, helped me identify contamination in former agricultural holdings, which are now a township. Although, chemically undefined, mincrust was a useful indicator of contamination, as I found it to be reliably detected on MRDs (including footprints), mine residue spillage, wetlands and other contaminated sites, and absent from known uncontaminated sites. Furthermore, it was not necessarily masked by active vegetation, whereas copiapite, jarosite and pyrophyllite were. Mincrust was also detected on irrigated agricultural land with an odds ratio of between 10 to 36 times greater than for rain-fed. Consequently, the most likely pathway for mincrust is the aqueous. The mincrust signature, together with historical aerial photographs, also assisted me to identify historical mining along Black Reef outcrops, through detection in a wetland upstream of known mining activities. The culmination of my study was a risk class and index for MRDs from which ‘risk maps’ were produced. These maps provide a guide to the level of risk posed by each MRD to the surrounding land use. Of the total 287 MRDs (including footprints) identified in the EMM, 50% were classified lower-risk; 40% medium-risk; 10% higher-risk and 0% as much higher risk. The lower-risk MRDs were predominantly rock dumps, whereas the higher-risk MRDs were slimes dams. The findings from my study will contribute to meaningful recommendations for future land use and enable mining companies, landowners, developers and government to allocate their resources judiciously (i.e. appropriate to the level of risk). The results of this study have been published as: Sutton, M.W., Weiersbye, I.M., Galpin, J.S and Heller, D., 2006. A GIS-based history of gold mine residue deposits and risk assessment of post-mining land uses on the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa. In: A. B. Fourie and M. Tibbett (eds.), Mine Closure 2006: Proceedings of the 1st International Seminar on Mine Closure, Perth, ISBN: 0-9756756-6-4, pp. 667–678 (Appendix I). Sutton, M.W. and Weiersbye, I.M., 2007. South African legislation pertinent to gold mine closure and residual risk. In: A.B. Fourie, M. Tibbett and J. Wiertz (eds.), Mine Closure 2007: Proceedings of the 2nd International Seminar on Mine Closure, Santiago, ISBN: 978-0-9804185-0-7, pp. 89–102 (Appendix II). Sutton, M.W. and Weiersbye, I.M., 2008. Land use after mine closure – Risk assessment of gold and uranium mine residue deposits on the eastern Witwatersrand, South Africa. In: A.B. Fourie, M. Tibbett, I.M. Weiersbye and P.J. Dye (eds.), Mine Closure 2008: Proceedings of the 3rd International Seminar on Mine Closure, Johannesburg, ISBN: 978-0-9804185-6-9, pp. 363–374 (Appendix III).

Thesis (M. Comm.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007 / From the Stone Age, each nation or group of people has had a distrust of those different from themselves. This is evidenced in various ways, for example, social welfare given to local residents only, scornful names given to foreigners and other ethnic groups and rituals designed to keep themselves separate from others. These incidents of diversity resulted into an unplanned and emergent set of norms, values and beliefs that exert enormous influence on the way in which an organisation operates, how organisational structure is developed, the integration and adaptation of internal and external relationships, as well as the orientation of the underlying values of the organisation. The main aim of changing culture is to improve organisational performance. To achieve this aim, it requires an understanding of the underlying assumptions and values that determine what is important in an organisation as well as assessment of the impact of culture on operational efficiency. The impact of organisational culture is identified through the negative and positive outcomes of mining activities, and is illustrated by employee satisfaction, job commitment, organisational loyalty, turnover, absenteeism and productivity. The aim of this research study was to identify the characteristics of organisational culture and evaluate the impact of organisational culture on gold mining activities in the Free State. The methodology used in this study comprises of empirical as well as a literature study. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather information for the empirical study. The empirical study revealed that firstly, organisational culture is created partially by leaders, and that one of the most critical functions of leadership is the creation and the management of culture. Lastly, organisational culture emerges when employees think, believe and act according to the pressures and priorities of their environment. Unfortunately, employees do not set aside their cultural values and lifestyle preferences when they come to work. It is the responsibility of the management to create an environment that is conducive to a healthy working environment. This study established that the necessity to control the workforce productivity need not be accompanied by ruthless or aggressive exploitation of cultural management, but by reliance on employees’ capability to exercise judgement to cope effectively with environmental uncertainty. Rules, norms and strategies developed cannot “fit” every circumstance but encourage conformity rather than creativity, and compliance rather than commitment.

The mining of silver, although not as significant as the mining of gold, has a history of money being made and lost, as well as instances of fraud and theft. In the late 1880s, when silver and lead deposits were discovered 100 km south-east of Pretoria, the Barnato family was quick to invest and float a company to exploit the deposit. To the north of Pretoria, Alois Nellmapius, later famous as the founder of the Hatherly distillery, established a company to mine a silver and copper rich deposit. The Strubens, pioneers of the Witwatersrand gold fields, discovered a silver rich copper deposit on their farm ‘The Willows’ east of Pretoria. The successful silver mining companies listed on the Stock Exchange in Johannesburg soon attracted the attention of the Randlords of Johannesburg and specifically that of H Eckstein & Co. The development of the company’s activities in silver mining in the 1880s and 1890s forms a significant part of this study. The relationship between the mine owners and their managers during the nineteenth century is explored, along with local and international events in politics and economics that had an impact on the mining of silver in South Africa over the period from 1885 to 1999. Silver mining in South Africa has had a ‘rise and fall’ life from the 1880s with three significant periods of investment, mining activity and decline. As with most commodities, prices vary over time. The international metals market has been a dominant factor in the life of the silver mines of greater Pretoria. The relationship between rising and falling international metal prices, and the operating lives of the mines, form a theme throughout this dissertation as it will be shown that the operating periods all coincided with periods of strong metal prices. In the one hundred and fourteen years, coupled with large tonnages of base metals – lead, copper and zinc - the mines produced over ninety-three tons of silver. Over thirty silver mines and ventures were revealed during the research, but discussing all of them in this dissertation was not feasible. It is therefore limited to the history of the seven mines that produced the greatest amounts of silver and other metals such as lead, copper and zinc and how their individual and interrelated histories together form the dominant part of the history of silver mining in the greater Pretoria region. / History / MA (History)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Corporate cu~ure is the foundation of businesses today and in every way underties the way business is done. The discovery and subsequent mining of gold during the last century have shaped the gold-mining corporate cu~re; it gave birth to racial segregation and laid the foundation of the system in which the industry finds itse~ today. The purpose of this study is to uncover the deeper patterns of corporate cu~ure that drive visible behaviour and attitudes. Once the root metaphor or main undertying assumptions of the gold-mining corporate cutture have been determined, a process of multilevel, frame-breaking, radical transformation can be initiated. A 'paradigm interplay' approach, which describes cu~re as an explicit variable and an implicit root metaphor, was adopted. Within this frameworK the study aims to explore concepts and meanings of corporate cu~re in a hermeneutic fashion by uncovering the human, expressive, symbolic texture of life in a gold mine. The frameworK provided a way of thinking about organisations, not to present 1001s' or 'methods' for managing or transforming culture, but to think culturally and holistically about the process of transformation. An in-depth investigation into Schein's 'three levels of cu~re' model was necessary in order to derive at the core transformational aspect of the gold-mining corporate culture. An analysis of Schein's model indicated that behavioural characteristics are shaped and determined by undertying values, beliefs and attitudes, which are shared among members of the organisation. If not espoused, these in turn rest upon sets of undertying assumptions that are the innermost core of corporate cu~re. One such a se~ the nature of human relationships, had been identified as the main undertying theme behind the vested interests as well as ingrained paradigms that exist on both sides of a racially divided workforce. The historical background of the industry and cultural perceptions created a shared assumption set that shaped these deep-rooted, embedded mindsets, affecting human relationships significantly. The study made it clear that any transformation attempt could be possible only when one goes deeper than the stated values and norms to understand the undertying assumptions and the true nature of human relationships that drive the visible behaviour and attttudes. The central dimension of this study, the nature of human relationships, referred to the opposing concepts of individualism versus communalism. These opposing paradigms are manifested in the two main management approaches or corporate cultures that exist in South Africa. Many suggested that the acknowledgement and utilisation of the Afrocentric value system, Ubuntu, alongside a Westem individualistic corporate culture are imperative to improve relationships in general and promote humanism. This study proposed that the humane spirit of Ubuntu, a spirit of trus~ caring and respect for human dignity, should be 'married' with the Westem approach to management instead of Ubuntu being adopted as a single framework that may be perceived negatively by the current business community. Thinking culturally', the purpose phrase of this study, succeeded therefore in abandoning the eitheror kind of thinking in favour of a more holistic 'both-and' way of doing. A desired culture of trust, honesty, openness, integrity and non-<liscrimination are sought after - a morally and ethically acceptable corporate culture where empowered employees are inspired rather than driven. Transformation is about the intellectual, social, spiritual and, most important, the emotional resources of the organisation. The 'senses of awareness' that are fundamental to the spirit of Ubuntu, originate from an understanding of our own emotions and secondly the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence is emerging as a major contributor to self-regu lation and is a crucial ingredient of the transformation process of the gold-mining corporate cu~ure . The study recommends the process of transformation can be initiated by creating a focal even~ a moment of concem about the current predicament in which the organisation or, more importa~ the individual finds itse~lhimse~. An act of confrontation may provide a moment of insight that will lead to a reinterpretation of historical and current events. In the process of insight or reflection an increase in seW-knowledge is gained that leads to a new beginning. This study calls for a willingness to change, a motivation to "switch cognitive gears' from an automatic haM of mind to active, conscious reflection of what is right and what is wrong. ~ also calls upon the individual to make the gold mines and South Africa a better place in which to work and live. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die organisasiekultuur van 'n maatskappy is nie alleen die "gom" wat die besigheidsinstelling en sy onderafdelings bind nie, maar in 'n hoe mate ook die onderliggende rede waarom die besigheidsinstelling bestaan. Die punt sal aan die hand van die goudmynbedryf geillustreer word. Die ontdekking en gepaardgaande ekstraksie van goud gedurende die laaste eeu het die organisasiekultuur van die mynwese gevorm. Dit het help beslag gee aan rasse segregasie en het die grondslag gelê vir die sisteem waarin die industrie homself bevind. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die dieper aspekte van organisasiekultuur bloot te Iê - aspekte wat optrede en die sigbare gesindheid aandryf. Die grondliggende paradigma, kern metafore en aannames van die goudmyn industrie sal daarom eers bepaal moet word voordat 'n radikale transformasieproses geinisieer kan word. 'n Benadering van "paradigma wisselwerking" ("tussenspel") is gevolg waarvolgens kultuur beskryf word as 'n eksplisiete verandelike en 'n implisiete kern metafoor. Binne hierdie raamwerk word konsepte en betekenisse van organisasiekultuur binne 'n hermeneutiese metodiek ondersoek. Die doel daarvan is om die menslike, ekspressiewe en simboliese tekstuur van lewenswyse binne die goudmynbedryf te interpreteer. Die raamwerk verskaf 'n denkwyse oor organisasies wat nie daarop gerig is om spesifieke metodes of stappe daar te stel vir die bestuur of transformasie van organisasiekultuur nie. Die doelwit is om kultureel en holisties te dink oor die proses van transformasie. 'n Indiepte ondersoek van Schein se 'drie vlakke' van kultuur was noodsaaklik om die kern transformasie aspek van die Suid Afrikaanse goudmyn kultuur te ontrafel. Daar is bevind dat gedragseienskappe gevorm en bepaal word deur die gesamentlike onderliggende waardes, oortuigings en gesindhede van lede van 'n organisasie. Hierdie eienskappe skakel in by 'n reeks onderliggende aannames wat die binneste kern van organisasiekultuur uitmaak. Die aard van menslike verhoudings, 'n onderliggende aanname, is ge"identifiseer as die hoofonderliggende tema agter die bestaande belange sowel as die ingewortelde paradigmas wat bestaan aan beide kante van die rasverdeelde werksmag. Die historiese agtergrond van die industrie en die kulturele persepsies het 'n gedeelde reeks aannames daargestel wat diep-gewortelde denkpatrone en denkgietsels gevorm het en wat menslike verhoudings aansienlik beinvloed. Die studie maak duidelik dat enige transformasiepoging alleenlik moontliik is indien daar dieper as die bepaalde waardes en norme gedelf word om die onderliggende aannames en denkwyses asook die aard van menslike verhoudings te bepaal wat die sigbare optrede en gesindheid van mense dryf. Die sentraie dimensie van die studie, naamlik die aard van menslike verhoudings, berus op die opponerende konsepte van individualisme en kommunalisme. Hierdie twee konsepte, en die paradigmas wat hulle aandui, word gemanifesteer in die twee hoof bestuursraamwerke van organisasiekultuur wat in Suid Afrika bestaan. Baie navorsers suggereer dat die erkenning en gebruikmaking van die Afrosentriese waardesisteem, Ubuntu, naas 'n westerse individualistiese organisasiekultuur, noodsaaklik is om 'n outentieke humanisme, en verhoudinge in die algemeen te bevorder. Die studie stel voor dat die humane (mens-georianteerde) gees van Ubuntu, 'n gees van vertroue, omgee en respek vir menswaardigheid, saamgesnoer word met die westerse benadering tot bestuur, in plaas daarvan om Ubuntu as 'n enkele raamwerk aan te neern wat dalk negatief waargeneem kan word deur die moderne sakesektor. Die kulturele denkwyse wat gegenereer is in hierdie studie het dus geslaag daarin om die 'of-die-eenof- die-ander' denkwyse te vervang met 'n meer holistiese 'en-en' manier van dink en doen. 'n Kultuur van vertroue, opregtheid, integriteit en geen diskriminasie is noodsaaklik, ofte wel 'n morele en eties aanvaarbare organisasiekultuur waar bemagtigde werkers geinspireer word eerder as gedryf word. Transformasie is gemoeid met die intellektuele, sosiale, spirituele en van groot belang, die emosionele hulpbronne van 'n organisasie. Die aksent op selfbewussyn, wat fundamenteel is vir die gees van Ubuntu, word gegenereer deur 'n verstaan van ons eie emosies, en tweedens die verstaan van die emosies van ander. Emosionele intelligensie het onlangs te voerskyn gekom as 'n belangrike bydraer tot self-regulasie. Dit is 'n beslissende bestanddeel in die transformasieproses van die organisasiekultuur van die goudmynbedryf. Die studie stel voor dat die transformasieproses geinisieer kan word deur 'n spesifieke gebeurtenis wat die fokus word, 'n oomblik van besorgdheid rakende die huidige predikament waarin die industrie of meer belangrik, die individu homself/haarself bevind. Konfrontasie is selfs nodig vir 'n ontwikkeling van 'n oomblik van insig wat aanleiding kan gee tot 'n reinterpretasie van historiese en huidige gebeure. Tydens die proses van insig of nabetragting word 'n toename in selfkennis opgedoen wat lei tot 'n nuwe begin. Die studie vestig die aandag op 'n noodsaaklikheid van 'n verandering van gesindheid en aanvaarding van die eis tot verandering. Dit sluit in 'n verbintenis om kognitiewe 'ratte' te verander vanaf 'n outomatiese sienswyse na 'n aktiewe, bewuste refleksie van wat is reg en wat is verkeerd. Dan kan die goudmyne en Suid Afrika in geheel 'n beter plek gemaak word om in te leef en te werk.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: DRDGOLD is a mining company forming part of the declining South African gold industry. During the turn of the century, the opportunity to innovate the business model arose. Without proactive intent, DRDGOLD tapped into the opportunity and revised their business model with great success. The success is evident in the improvement of headline earnings from 2002 to 2012. To discuss the changes to the business model, the author conducted a literature review on business models and innovation. From the review, the author selected the Osterwalder Business Model Canvas as the most suitable framework to discuss the changes of the business model. The Osterwalder Business Model includes the business-centric approach and is thus favoured for this discussion. First, the business model was populated with the information to have a comprehensible business model, and secondly, the changes to the business model were identified. The information for the study was sourced from public company documentation, mainly annual reports, secondary sources like Datamonitor, and interviews with four members of the leadership team. The four interviewees were Niel Pretorius, chief executive officer (CEO), Kobus Dissel group financial manager, Charles Symons, chief operating officer (COO), and Craig Barnes, chief financial officer (CFO). The four members had a long-standing relationship with the company and were part of the change process that took place at the company. The period before the study made the business model innovation possible. Firstly, the long mining history around Johannesburg produced the mine dumps that formed the core resource of the operations. Secondly, the craze to buy anything that looks like gold during the end of the 1990s introduced DRDGOLD to the surface retreatment operations with the purchase of Crown. The environment of the operations started to change, not only the operating environment, but also the other stakeholders. The importance of the community grew, the dividend yield to the shareholder increased in importance, the engagement with the regulators changed to a proactive engagement, and the environment was managed for a long-term perspective. The risks and returns for DRDGOLD started to misalign. The risk of pursuing the underground operations further increased considerably and unintentionally drove the costs up. Within the context of South Africa, the returns of underground operations started to erode as unscheduled stoppages increased. These stoppages were caused by events outside the control of the company, for example power failures, seismic activities and labour unrest. DRDGOLD repositioned itself as a factory that has a high throughput in material on a 24/7-operation rooster. The yields are significantly lower than the underground operations, but the risk of the new setup is also reduced greatly. Seismic activity does not impact the operations anymore. The production time of the operations has increased with less unscheduled stoppages. DRDGOLD changed to have itself valued on the discounted cash flow (DCF) method. The company’s share price is now valued on the DCF method based on the operational revenues. This is contrary to the gold mining industry valuation of South African mines. These mines are mainly valued on the reserves statement multiplied by the commodity price. The share price of DRDGOLD is heavily leveraged on the spot price of gold and the exchange rate of the South African Rand (ZAR) to the United States Dollar (US$). Any movement in these two indicators will have a significant impact on the share price.