Not available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2003.

The objective of this study is to determine whether businesses In Mooi River are exhibiting symptoms of small business failure. Based upon the literature addressing small business failures, three general internal factors are identified: finance, management, and marketing. Within each of these three problematic areas, numerous specific difficulties are identified and examined. The external reasons for small business failures that are outside the owners control have been identified as inflation, economic conditions and union problems. The economic structure within which a firm must exist acts as a cause of failure that originates outside the business itself and is not a result of acts of management. A company cannot change the environment; it must be able to use it to its benefit. Due to time and cost limitations only 30 small businesses were surveyed using a systematic sampling method. The data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire, with closed ended questions. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software and data analysed using frequency counts and statistical methods such as tests of significance and goodness of fit tests. From this study it can be concluded that the major symptoms of failure being demonstrated by the small businesses in Mooi River are external and marketing causes of failure. However, the small businesses are also demonstrating certain symptoms of money and management causes of failure. Due to the high turnover of small businesses in South Africa it is recommended that this study be extended to other areas or regions in Kwa-Zulu Natal and in South Africa to determine the factors impacting adversely on small businesses, as small businesses are vital components to our economy. / Thesis (MBA)- University of Natal, 2003.

Water is an essential element for life and crucial to survival. South Africa is a semi-arid country and therefore water should be protected and managed effectively by all residents of the country. In the 1830s the Mooi River was the key reason for the Voortrekkers to establish Potchefstroom at a locality adjacent to this river. The Voortrekkers noticed the dolomitic outcroppings in the vicinity, but still opted to reside next to the river for it provided easily accessible water and fertile soil. Since the 1830s water legislation regulating the management and use of the water in the Mooi River has been amended innumerable times to bring us to the current situation of Potchefstroom’s water (mis)management by the role-players and stakeholders of the water source. As a resident of Potchefstroom, the researcher has a keen interest in the origin of the city’s water sources, the re-routing of the water from the origin to the water purification unit via the open-on-top cement canal system, and the overall management of these canals and their servitudes. In order to conduct a research study on the Mooi River’s water re-routing canals and servitudes, the following research methods were applied: The researcher performed a comprehensive literature review, conducted fieldwork, held interviews with landowners and experts in the geographical area of the Mooi River Valley, and performed statistical analyses as well as content analyses of the findings. Some of the most alarming findings include the lack of co-operative governance between water users and – authorities, and the current public management and disaster risk management challenges in the re-routing of water from Klerkskraal Dam down to the water purification plant of Potchefstroom. It is recommended that the major stakeholders of the Mooi River Valley, e.g. the disaster management centre in Potchefstroom, the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) regional offices in Potchefstroom, as well as the Tlokwe Local Municipality need to join forces for a combined effort to accomplish the overarching research objective of achieving improved cooperative municipal governance and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to eventually ensure the safe and effective re-routing of water from the Klerkskraal Dam to the Potchefstroom water purification plant. Note: Since July 2014 the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has changed to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). / MA (Public Management and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Water is an essential element for life and crucial to survival. South Africa is a semi-arid country and therefore water should be protected and managed effectively by all residents of the country. In the 1830s the Mooi River was the key reason for the Voortrekkers to establish Potchefstroom at a locality adjacent to this river. The Voortrekkers noticed the dolomitic outcroppings in the vicinity, but still opted to reside next to the river for it provided easily accessible water and fertile soil. Since the 1830s water legislation regulating the management and use of the water in the Mooi River has been amended innumerable times to bring us to the current situation of Potchefstroom’s water (mis)management by the role-players and stakeholders of the water source. As a resident of Potchefstroom, the researcher has a keen interest in the origin of the city’s water sources, the re-routing of the water from the origin to the water purification unit via the open-on-top cement canal system, and the overall management of these canals and their servitudes. In order to conduct a research study on the Mooi River’s water re-routing canals and servitudes, the following research methods were applied: The researcher performed a comprehensive literature review, conducted fieldwork, held interviews with landowners and experts in the geographical area of the Mooi River Valley, and performed statistical analyses as well as content analyses of the findings. Some of the most alarming findings include the lack of co-operative governance between water users and – authorities, and the current public management and disaster risk management challenges in the re-routing of water from Klerkskraal Dam down to the water purification plant of Potchefstroom. It is recommended that the major stakeholders of the Mooi River Valley, e.g. the disaster management centre in Potchefstroom, the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) regional offices in Potchefstroom, as well as the Tlokwe Local Municipality need to join forces for a combined effort to accomplish the overarching research objective of achieving improved cooperative municipal governance and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to eventually ensure the safe and effective re-routing of water from the Klerkskraal Dam to the Potchefstroom water purification plant. Note: Since July 2014 the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has changed to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). / MA (Public Management and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The prospects for the establishment of a system of developmental local government in South Africa appear to be dim. This dissertation examines development delivery in the broader state/market debate. From this debate a clear role is developed for local government as an agent of delivery. This type of local government is characterised by strength and a developmental outlook. An analysis is provided of the history of local government, as well as the legislation and policy that has been out in place to facilitate the transition between apartheid and post-apartheid local government. Through a series of interviews, participant knowledge and data collection, an assessment of the Mooi River TLC is made in terms of its strength and its developmental outlook. The future of local government is found to be constrained by a historical legacy as well as by the actions of groupings inside and outside the local sphere. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 2000.

Wetlands are now recognized as being an integral component of the physical landscape. Geomorphology has recently been recognised by wetland scientists as being of fundamental importance in wetland genesis, maintenance and evolution, thereby providing the context for informed, effective wetland management and conservation. At present there exists a paucity of geomorphological wetland research in South Africa. A hydro-geomorphic approach was adopted to attain an understanding of wetland genesis, distribution and functioning of a range of different palustrine wetland systems in the upper Mooi-River Catchment of KwaZulu-Natal. The physical, chemical and landscape-morphological characteristics of wetland soils were investigated to interpret the processes operating within those wetland systems. Both field and laboratory work suggest that wetland creation and maintenance in the upper Mooi River catchment may be attributed primarily to climatic factors, landscape position, landform and geological characteristics. These factors were found to cumulatively control the hydrological characteristics of wetlands, which impart an important influence on internal wetland conditions. While soil properties do not appear to be a primary factor in the establishment of these wetlands, they are nevertheless found to be important in the regulation of the hydrological dynamics of wetland systems. The close interdependence between wetlands and the surrounding landscape and the hydrological cycle is evident in the wetland systems investigated. Geomorphic processes within wetlands such as overbank flooding, overland flow, sedimentation, piping, leaching, soil swelling, shrinkage and cracking and channel incision and dynamics were found to be important variables in determining the nature and internal characteristics of wetland systems. In several of the systems investigated, all of the above mentioned processes were operative, while in other systems, a number of these processes were either insignificant or absent. Canonical Variate Analysis indicated that while commonalities exist between the palustrine wetland systems investigated in this study, significant differences were found between different groups. This supports the argument that a subclassification of the palustrine system into five different palustrine wetland types is warranted. While the scope of the present research did not allow for an extensive investigation of suitable methods of rehabilitation, the study suggests that an understanding of geomorphic process and wetland dynamics will be beneficial to wetland management and conservation as a whole. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

The problem facing the Tlokwe Local Municipality is that it is Constitutional and legislatively obliged to avoid and/or mitigate the impact of potential disasters within its boundaries, through the effective management of potential disaster risks and disasters. The lack of effective risk management tools is especially concerning in the context of the water catchment management of the Mooi River, which is the main water supply of the Tlokwe local Municipality. The Mooi River is exposed to many potential catchment related hazards that could affect the municipality of which the origins are both anthropogenic and natural. Although, many of the impacts on the catchment arise beyond the boundaries and the control of the municipality, this does not relieve the municipality from the responsibility to develop tools to manage the risks. The aim of the study is to assist in addressing the above stated problem through establishing the requirements for a conceptual model for an effective spatial information system that will assist the municipality in effectively managing the potential disaster risks and disasters that may arise in the Mooi River Catchment area that could impact on the Tlokwe Local Municiaplity. The aim gives rise to three-research questions that are formulated as research objectives that are used to identify the conceptual model requirements. The first is to identify and conceptualise the constitutional and legislative obligations in respect of disaster risk management in general and specifically those governing the disaster disk management in the water catchment area for the Mooi River. The study of this objective not only highlight the constitutional and legal obligations that the local municipality is subject to, but provides legislatives remedies that the local municipality can utilise to assist with disaster risks reduction. The second is to identify and conceptualise the generic hazards that are related to water catchment areas (including the related groundwater compartments) and those specific in the Mooi River catchment area. In this section, potential anthropogenic and natural hazards are listed, a methodology for risk and vulnerability analyses is provided, and a concise study of quaternary catchment C23D is provided. The third is to identify and conceptualize the requirements for an effective conceptual model of GIS for Disaster Risk Management in the Tlokwe Local Municipality. An overview of a GIS is provided. The essential components of a generic information system namely, people, software, hardware, procedures and processes, data and telecommunications or networks are discussed. The information and system requirements cumulating from the analyses of the three research questions, serve as the drivers of the goal, outcomes and transformation process of the system as well as the requirements for the conceptual model. In this section: a comparison of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Framework for Applied Systems Thinking (FAST), problem solving and the phases addressed in this study; the identification of the conceptual model requirements; and a concise systems conceptualisation of an effective GIS is provided. As the, mini-dissertation focuses on the needs for a conceptual model, the additional activities required before the system can be implemented are identified and formulated as recommendation that provide the opportunity for future research. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The problem facing the Tlokwe Local Municipality is that it is Constitutional and legislatively obliged to avoid and/or mitigate the impact of potential disasters within its boundaries, through the effective management of potential disaster risks and disasters. The lack of effective risk management tools is especially concerning in the context of the water catchment management of the Mooi River, which is the main water supply of the Tlokwe local Municipality. The Mooi River is exposed to many potential catchment related hazards that could affect the municipality of which the origins are both anthropogenic and natural. Although, many of the impacts on the catchment arise beyond the boundaries and the control of the municipality, this does not relieve the municipality from the responsibility to develop tools to manage the risks. The aim of the study is to assist in addressing the above stated problem through establishing the requirements for a conceptual model for an effective spatial information system that will assist the municipality in effectively managing the potential disaster risks and disasters that may arise in the Mooi River Catchment area that could impact on the Tlokwe Local Municiaplity. The aim gives rise to three-research questions that are formulated as research objectives that are used to identify the conceptual model requirements. The first is to identify and conceptualise the constitutional and legislative obligations in respect of disaster risk management in general and specifically those governing the disaster disk management in the water catchment area for the Mooi River. The study of this objective not only highlight the constitutional and legal obligations that the local municipality is subject to, but provides legislatives remedies that the local municipality can utilise to assist with disaster risks reduction. The second is to identify and conceptualise the generic hazards that are related to water catchment areas (including the related groundwater compartments) and those specific in the Mooi River catchment area. In this section, potential anthropogenic and natural hazards are listed, a methodology for risk and vulnerability analyses is provided, and a concise study of quaternary catchment C23D is provided. The third is to identify and conceptualize the requirements for an effective conceptual model of GIS for Disaster Risk Management in the Tlokwe Local Municipality. An overview of a GIS is provided. The essential components of a generic information system namely, people, software, hardware, procedures and processes, data and telecommunications or networks are discussed. The information and system requirements cumulating from the analyses of the three research questions, serve as the drivers of the goal, outcomes and transformation process of the system as well as the requirements for the conceptual model. In this section: a comparison of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Framework for Applied Systems Thinking (FAST), problem solving and the phases addressed in this study; the identification of the conceptual model requirements; and a concise systems conceptualisation of an effective GIS is provided. As the, mini-dissertation focuses on the needs for a conceptual model, the additional activities required before the system can be implemented are identified and formulated as recommendation that provide the opportunity for future research. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Wonderfonteinspruit (WFS) flows through the richest gold mining region in the world and has subsequently been exposed to the related pollution for more than a century. In order to determine the extent of mining related pollution in the WFS, sediment, water, soil, grass and cattle tissue samples were collected, analysed and compared from an experimental group and a control group. This study identified cobalt, nickel, zinc, selenium, cadmium, gold, lead and uranium as elements of interest by comparing sediment samples from the WFS and the Mooi River (MR) (which served as a control or background site). The cobalt concentration was found to be 16.37 times higher, the nickel concentration was 30.4 times higher, the copper concentration was 3.59 times higher, the zinc concentration was 103.49 times higher, the selenium concentration was 7.14 times higher, the cadmium concentration was 17.88 times higher, the gold concentration was 4.78 times higher, the lead concentration was 1.32 times higher and the uranium concentration was 375.78 times higher in the initial comparison with sediments from the MR. These results were all found to be significant. All these elements are by products of non-ferrous mining activities as was described in the literature review. The elevated concentrations of these elements, which were found in the streambed sediment of a site in the Lower-Wonderfonteinspruit, suggest that they could have resulted due to upstream gold mining activities. These gold mining activities were initiated more than a century ago and continue to this day. Analysis of the different particle size fractions (sand, silt and clay fractions) revealed that the highest elemental concentrations were found in the clay sized fractions. The clay sized fraction usually contains secondary soil minerals which have the ability to adsorb dissolved cations onto their surface areas. Further analysis revealed that the sand fraction of the WFS sediment contained a substantial concentration of cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium which, upon initial inspection could not be explained. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that more than 90 % of the WFS sand, silt and clay fractions consisted of quartz, which was much higher than that of the MR. Due to the particle size of quartz, it generally dominates the sand and silt fractions, and finding it at levels above 90 % in the clay sized fraction is thought to be highly irregular. This could be explained by the extraction and processing of gold reefs from the goldfields in the catchment. The gold reefs consisted of quartz veins that were milled to a fine dust and pumped onto slime and sand dumps after the gold was extracted. The most abundant ore minerals found within these dumps were uraninite(UO2), brannerite (UO3Ti2O4), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), cobaltite (CoAsS), galena (PbS), pyrrhotite (FeS), gersdofite (NiAsS) and chromite (FeCr2O4), which contain some of the elements of interest. These dumps are either located in close proximity to the WFS or connected to the WFs via canals or pipelines. Erosion of these dumps would then introduce this finely milled quartz into the stream system. Therefore, the elements found in the sediment of the WFS were not only introduced to the system in the dissolved form, but also in the particulate form. The water samples that were collected from the experimental site (WFS) were found to exceed the cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium and cadmium concentrations ranges which are normally found in natural waters. In addition to this, the cadmium, lead and nickel concentration in the WFS water samples were found to occasionally exceed the target water quality ranges for livestock water as set by DWAF (1996). Water samples that were collected from the control group were found to exceed only the selenium concentration found in natural water sources as found by Crittenden et al., (2005). Cattle in the experimental group drink directly from the WFS and may stir up the sediment and thereby increasing the elemental concentrations within the water prior to ingestion. The target water quality ranges (TWQR) for livestock watering, as set by DWAF 1996, were exceeded by the average nickel and lead concentrations found in the disturbed WFS water samples. Although the elemental concentrations in the respective water samples were fairly low there was a definite practical significant difference between the WFS water and the MR water samples, as well as the disturbed WFS water and the MR water samples. The WFS water quality seemed to have a very large standard deviation which could serve as an indication that the elemental concentrations are highly variable over time. The elemental concentrations that were found in soil samples from the respective sites were compared to elemental concentrations found in normal agricultural soil as presented by Bergman (1992), which revealed the following results. The cobalt concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The nickel concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site, wetland WFS and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The zinc concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. Copper, selenium, cadmium and lead concentrations did not exceed the agricultural threshold values in any of the respective sites. The agricultural threshold value for uranium concentrations was exceeded in the soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The comparison between the elemental concentrations that were found in the soil samples from the irrigated soil WFS site and the irrigated soil MR site revealed a practically significant difference for the copper, zinc and uranium concentrations. The comparison between the elemental concentrations found in soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the soil along the MR site revealed a practically significant difference for all elements of interest. The analysis of the elemental concentration in the different particle size fractions of soil samples from all the sites (excluding the irrigated pastures) displayed highest elemental concentrations in the clay sized fraction. The elemental concentrations that were found in this fraction are generally considered to be available for plant uptake, as most of them are usually bound to the surface of secondary soil minerals. The sites with the highest concentration of plant available elements were found to be the soil along WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The elemental concentrations found in the grass samples from the respective sampling sites were compared to elemental concentrations that are normally found in grass pastures (Underwood & Suttle, 2001). The cobalt, nickel, copper and concentrations that were found in the grass samples from most of the sites in both the control and experimental groups were all found to exceed the concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The cadmium and zinc concentrations in the grass samples from the soil along WFS site were found to exceed the respective concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The normal uranium concentration found in irrigated or natural grasses could not be found in an extensive search. Dreesen et al. (1982) reported 0.16 mg/kg uranium in grasses and 1.8 mg/kg uranium in shrubs that grew on soil-covered tailings material. All the sites in the experimental group, including the control WFS site, drastically exceeded these concentrations, which may suggest that the grasses in the experimental sites have been exposed to elevated uranium concentrations. The grass samples with the highest average elemental concentrations were found in the soil along WFS site and irrigated soil WFS site. Lead was to be the only element of interest to have the highest concentration in grass samples from the irrigated soil WFS site. The irrigated soil WFS site portrayed significant transfer factors for nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium. This could serve as an indication that the grasses under irrigation in the WFS site absorb and accumulate the highest concentration of elements in respect to the soil concentrations found in the various sites. Therefore, the irrigation from the WFS has a profound effect on the nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium concentration in the grass samples under irrigation. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the irrigation WFS and irrigation MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations except for that of zinc had a difference that was practically significant, with the uranium concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the soil along WFS and soil along MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations had a difference that was practically significant uranium, nickel and zinc concentrations having the largest effect sizes. Considering that a large effect size is achieved at a value equal to or greater than 0.8, the uranium concentration therefore had a massive difference in both comparisons. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the wetland WFS and control WFS sites revealed that only the cobalt, nickel and uranium concentrations had differences that were practically significant, with the cobalt concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in the grass samples from the soil along WFS and control WFS sites revealed that all the elemental concentrations except for the lead concentration had a difference that was practically significant. The cobalt, nickel and zinc had the largest effect sizes. The elemental concentrations that were found in cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were compared to elemental concentrations normally found in cattle samples as found in Pulse (1994), ATSDR (2004), and ATSDR (2011). This comparison revealed the following results: The nickel, cadmium and lead concentration that were found in the cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were found to be within the ranges normally found in cattle. Cobalt concentrations found in the liver and muscle tissue samples of cattle from both the experimental and control groups exceeded the normal ranges, and the cobalt concentrations found in the kidney samples from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The copper concentration found in the kidney samples from the cattle in the experimental group exceeded that of the normal concentration range. The zinc concentration found in the liver and kidney samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The selenium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The uranium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The comparison between cattle tissue samples from the experimental and control group revealed that nickel, zinc, selenium, lead and uranium concentrations all reveal a practically significant difference. Uranium, nickel and lead portrayed the largest differences between the two groups. The uranium concentration in the cattle samples from the experimental group was 126.75 times higher in the liver, 4350 times higher in the kidney, 47.75 times higher in the spleen, 31.6 times higher in the muscle tissue, 60 times higher in the bone and 129 times higher in the hair than that of the cattle samples from the control group. In addition to this, the uranium did not only accumulate in the predicted tissue samples (bone, liver and kidney), but also in the muscle tissue samples. The nickel concentrations in the cattle samples were all found to be higher in the experimental group, with liver 1.4 times higher, kidney 387.5 times higher, spleen 2.1 times higher, muscle tissue 2.8 times higher, bone 167.5 times higher and hair 76.5 times higher than that of the cattle samples from the control group. The lead concentrations found in the cattle samples from the experimental group were found to be 3.8 times higher in the liver, 17.3 times higher in the kidney, 3.3 times higher in the spleen, 3.2 times higher in the muscle tissue, 9 times higher in the bone and 12.2 times higher in the hair than the cattle samples from the control group. Furthermore, the study revealed that the major route of ingestion for all the elements of interest, excluding nickel and cobalt was via the ingestion of grass. The major route for nickel and cobalt ingestion was via soil ingestion. The elemental concentrations from water ingestion were found to be a less significant. It was shown that a predictive cattle consumption model was developed and calibrated from data gathered from a control and experimental group. Animal matter analysed for both groups were related to the cattle age of six years. Although good correlation between observed and simulated values was achieved, the exiting model fit is non-unique. To obtain a more precise model fit a similar dataset is required for both groups, but at a different age. The predictive model also showed that if only grass were to be used as input, there were no significant changes in the correlation between observed and simulated values. This has a huge advantage in terms of costs associated with laboratory analyses as the analysis of grass will be sufficient for using the model. A human health risk assessment was performed based on the results of the cattle consumption model. It was shown that no toxic risk exits for both the control and experimental groups if an intake rate of 0.13 kg of meat per day was assumed. Furthermore, Figure 6-11 clearly indicates that an intake rate of up to 0.38 kg of meat per day also has no toxic risk for both groups, which strongly suggests that there is no risk to the human food chain. The cattle grazing in the WFS appear to be in a good physical condition and according to the farmer; the reproduction rate is at desirable levels. Good farming practices would have also played a significant role to achieve this. / Thesis (MSc (Environmental Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The Wonderfonteinspruit (WFS) flows through the richest gold mining region in the world and has subsequently been exposed to the related pollution for more than a century. In order to determine the extent of mining related pollution in the WFS, sediment, water, soil, grass and cattle tissue samples were collected, analysed and compared from an experimental group and a control group. This study identified cobalt, nickel, zinc, selenium, cadmium, gold, lead and uranium as elements of interest by comparing sediment samples from the WFS and the Mooi River (MR) (which served as a control or background site). The cobalt concentration was found to be 16.37 times higher, the nickel concentration was 30.4 times higher, the copper concentration was 3.59 times higher, the zinc concentration was 103.49 times higher, the selenium concentration was 7.14 times higher, the cadmium concentration was 17.88 times higher, the gold concentration was 4.78 times higher, the lead concentration was 1.32 times higher and the uranium concentration was 375.78 times higher in the initial comparison with sediments from the MR. These results were all found to be significant. All these elements are by products of non-ferrous mining activities as was described in the literature review. The elevated concentrations of these elements, which were found in the streambed sediment of a site in the Lower-Wonderfonteinspruit, suggest that they could have resulted due to upstream gold mining activities. These gold mining activities were initiated more than a century ago and continue to this day. Analysis of the different particle size fractions (sand, silt and clay fractions) revealed that the highest elemental concentrations were found in the clay sized fractions. The clay sized fraction usually contains secondary soil minerals which have the ability to adsorb dissolved cations onto their surface areas. Further analysis revealed that the sand fraction of the WFS sediment contained a substantial concentration of cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium which, upon initial inspection could not be explained. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that more than 90 % of the WFS sand, silt and clay fractions consisted of quartz, which was much higher than that of the MR. Due to the particle size of quartz, it generally dominates the sand and silt fractions, and finding it at levels above 90 % in the clay sized fraction is thought to be highly irregular. This could be explained by the extraction and processing of gold reefs from the goldfields in the catchment. The gold reefs consisted of quartz veins that were milled to a fine dust and pumped onto slime and sand dumps after the gold was extracted. The most abundant ore minerals found within these dumps were uraninite(UO2), brannerite (UO3Ti2O4), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), cobaltite (CoAsS), galena (PbS), pyrrhotite (FeS), gersdofite (NiAsS) and chromite (FeCr2O4), which contain some of the elements of interest. These dumps are either located in close proximity to the WFS or connected to the WFs via canals or pipelines. Erosion of these dumps would then introduce this finely milled quartz into the stream system. Therefore, the elements found in the sediment of the WFS were not only introduced to the system in the dissolved form, but also in the particulate form. The water samples that were collected from the experimental site (WFS) were found to exceed the cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium and cadmium concentrations ranges which are normally found in natural waters. In addition to this, the cadmium, lead and nickel concentration in the WFS water samples were found to occasionally exceed the target water quality ranges for livestock water as set by DWAF (1996). Water samples that were collected from the control group were found to exceed only the selenium concentration found in natural water sources as found by Crittenden et al., (2005). Cattle in the experimental group drink directly from the WFS and may stir up the sediment and thereby increasing the elemental concentrations within the water prior to ingestion. The target water quality ranges (TWQR) for livestock watering, as set by DWAF 1996, were exceeded by the average nickel and lead concentrations found in the disturbed WFS water samples. Although the elemental concentrations in the respective water samples were fairly low there was a definite practical significant difference between the WFS water and the MR water samples, as well as the disturbed WFS water and the MR water samples. The WFS water quality seemed to have a very large standard deviation which could serve as an indication that the elemental concentrations are highly variable over time. The elemental concentrations that were found in soil samples from the respective sites were compared to elemental concentrations found in normal agricultural soil as presented by Bergman (1992), which revealed the following results. The cobalt concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The nickel concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site, wetland WFS and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The zinc concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. Copper, selenium, cadmium and lead concentrations did not exceed the agricultural threshold values in any of the respective sites. The agricultural threshold value for uranium concentrations was exceeded in the soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The comparison between the elemental concentrations that were found in the soil samples from the irrigated soil WFS site and the irrigated soil MR site revealed a practically significant difference for the copper, zinc and uranium concentrations. The comparison between the elemental concentrations found in soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the soil along the MR site revealed a practically significant difference for all elements of interest. The analysis of the elemental concentration in the different particle size fractions of soil samples from all the sites (excluding the irrigated pastures) displayed highest elemental concentrations in the clay sized fraction. The elemental concentrations that were found in this fraction are generally considered to be available for plant uptake, as most of them are usually bound to the surface of secondary soil minerals. The sites with the highest concentration of plant available elements were found to be the soil along WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The elemental concentrations found in the grass samples from the respective sampling sites were compared to elemental concentrations that are normally found in grass pastures (Underwood & Suttle, 2001). The cobalt, nickel, copper and concentrations that were found in the grass samples from most of the sites in both the control and experimental groups were all found to exceed the concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The cadmium and zinc concentrations in the grass samples from the soil along WFS site were found to exceed the respective concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The normal uranium concentration found in irrigated or natural grasses could not be found in an extensive search. Dreesen et al. (1982) reported 0.16 mg/kg uranium in grasses and 1.8 mg/kg uranium in shrubs that grew on soil-covered tailings material. All the sites in the experimental group, including the control WFS site, drastically exceeded these concentrations, which may suggest that the grasses in the experimental sites have been exposed to elevated uranium concentrations. The grass samples with the highest average elemental concentrations were found in the soil along WFS site and irrigated soil WFS site. Lead was to be the only element of interest to have the highest concentration in grass samples from the irrigated soil WFS site. The irrigated soil WFS site portrayed significant transfer factors for nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium. This could serve as an indication that the grasses under irrigation in the WFS site absorb and accumulate the highest concentration of elements in respect to the soil concentrations found in the various sites. Therefore, the irrigation from the WFS has a profound effect on the nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium concentration in the grass samples under irrigation. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the irrigation WFS and irrigation MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations except for that of zinc had a difference that was practically significant, with the uranium concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the soil along WFS and soil along MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations had a difference that was practically significant uranium, nickel and zinc concentrations having the largest effect sizes. Considering that a large effect size is achieved at a value equal to or greater than 0.8, the uranium concentration therefore had a massive difference in both comparisons. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the wetland WFS and control WFS sites revealed that only the cobalt, nickel and uranium concentrations had differences that were practically significant, with the cobalt concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in the grass samples from the soil along WFS and control WFS sites revealed that all the elemental concentrations except for the lead concentration had a difference that was practically significant. The cobalt, nickel and zinc had the largest effect sizes. The elemental concentrations that were found in cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were compared to elemental concentrations normally found in cattle samples as found in Pulse (1994), ATSDR (2004), and ATSDR (2011). This comparison revealed the following results: The nickel, cadmium and lead concentration that were found in the cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were found to be within the ranges normally found in cattle. Cobalt concentrations found in the liver and muscle tissue samples of cattle from both the experimental and control groups exceeded the normal ranges, and the cobalt concentrations found in the kidney samples from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The copper concentration found in the kidney samples from the cattle in the experimental group exceeded that of the normal concentration range. The zinc concentration found in the liver and kidney samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The selenium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The uranium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The comparison between cattle tissue samples from the experimental and control group revealed that nickel, zinc, selenium, lead and uranium concentrations all reveal a practically significant difference. Uranium, nickel and lead portrayed the largest differences between the two groups. The uranium concentration in the cattle samples from the experimental group was 126.75 times higher in the liver, 4350 times higher in the kidney, 47.75 times higher in the spleen, 31.6 times higher in the muscle tissue, 60 times higher in the bone and 129 times higher in the hair than that of the cattle samples from the control group. In addition to this, the uranium did not only accumulate in the predicted tissue samples (bone, liver and kidney), but also in the muscle tissue samples. The nickel concentrations in the cattle samples were all found to be higher in the experimental group, with liver 1.4 times higher, kidney 387.5 times higher, spleen 2.1 times higher, muscle tissue 2.8 times higher, bone 167.5 times higher and hair 76.5 times higher than that of the cattle samples from the control group. The lead concentrations found in the cattle samples from the experimental group were found to be 3.8 times higher in the liver, 17.3 times higher in the kidney, 3.3 times higher in the spleen, 3.2 times higher in the muscle tissue, 9 times higher in the bone and 12.2 times higher in the hair than the cattle samples from the control group. Furthermore, the study revealed that the major route of ingestion for all the elements of interest, excluding nickel and cobalt was via the ingestion of grass. The major route for nickel and cobalt ingestion was via soil ingestion. The elemental concentrations from water ingestion were found to be a less significant. It was shown that a predictive cattle consumption model was developed and calibrated from data gathered from a control and experimental group. Animal matter analysed for both groups were related to the cattle age of six years. Although good correlation between observed and simulated values was achieved, the exiting model fit is non-unique. To obtain a more precise model fit a similar dataset is required for both groups, but at a different age. The predictive model also showed that if only grass were to be used as input, there were no significant changes in the correlation between observed and simulated values. This has a huge advantage in terms of costs associated with laboratory analyses as the analysis of grass will be sufficient for using the model. A human health risk assessment was performed based on the results of the cattle consumption model. It was shown that no toxic risk exits for both the control and experimental groups if an intake rate of 0.13 kg of meat per day was assumed. Furthermore, Figure 6-11 clearly indicates that an intake rate of up to 0.38 kg of meat per day also has no toxic risk for both groups, which strongly suggests that there is no risk to the human food chain. The cattle grazing in the WFS appear to be in a good physical condition and according to the farmer; the reproduction rate is at desirable levels. Good farming practices would have also played a significant role to achieve this. / Thesis (MSc (Environmental Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.