South Africa is ranked as one of the most mega-biodiverse countries in the world. But as the country faces poverty, unemployment and income inequalities, it is a mammoth task to develop, sustainably use and appreciate this natural capital. Thus, South Africa must find ways to ensure a balance between conservation of biodiversity and the achievement of socio- economic development. But when land is set aside for conservation, in most cases, local communities are on the receiving end of the decision making, with little to no opportunity to be involved. The Colbyn Valley Wetland is different, however. The site provides invaluable ecosystem goods and services to the local residents, as well as being an integral part of the Hartbeesspruit catchment and Roodeplaat dam. It has a history of sustained attempts to convert the site into housing estates, shopping centres or car parking. These attempts have met with unrelenting resistance by the local residents. Contrary to the experiences of other communities in South Africa, Colbyn Valley residents have elected to work together with other stakeholders to ensure the protection of this site. This study documents the processes that the residents undertook to protect the wetland. In this regard, local authorities can learn how to leverage stakeholder engagement to protect other sites. Importantly, the study found that the various stakeholders involved in the preservation of the Colbyn Valley Wetland were driven by different but interwoven interests. Thus, different interests need to be taken into consideration before protected areas adjacent to communities can be proclaimed. For example, the primary stakeholders - local residents who initiated the call to protect the Colbyn Valley Wetland – hold strong beliefs that the wetland must be preserved for ecosystem goods and services that it provides. Secondary stakeholders – the provincial government departments responsible for the management and protection of ecosystems – only acted when pressured by the local residents, despite their legal obligations to protect the site (as it carries so much value to the water provision of the city). The tertiary stakeholders – various voluntary institutions and people – elected to support the conservation effort due to the manner in which the local residents organised themselves and developed a vision for the site. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Youth entrepreneurship is one of the solutions to reducing unemployment. The purpose of the study was to analyse youth entrepreneurship business performance in the Capricorn District Municipality in Limpopo Province. An entrepreneurship development model focusing on internal factors (entrepreneurial orientation) and external factors (supportive and cooperative environments), was adapted to establish whether they are related to youth business performance. The business environmental factors, such as business location, crime, and corruption were also tested as to whether they are related to youth business performance. The research used a census survey and primary data was obtained through questionnaires. The respondents for this study were 26 youth entrepreneurship business units in CDM, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings reveal that youth businesses have shown negative performance in terms of the employment in the CDM, which results in employing fewer than five employees. / Business Management / M. Tech.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The community development workers’ programme (CDWP) is a strategic policy intervention by government to address challenges of service delivery to communities. The purpose of the CDWP is to facilitate the removal of obstacles in the course of providing services to communities. The CDWP is located in local government. Its purpose is often misunderstood by the stakeholders, because of the perception that the programme is meant to deliver services like provision of water, electricity and other social services. In essence, the CDWP is meant to facilitate communication between government and communities in order to ensure that services are delivered effectively and efficiently. Some of the challenges faced in the Makhado Local Municipality relate to the lack of infrastructure maintenance initiatives, including expansion plans that are well funded. Massive backlogs of infrastructure and services remain in the areas of water and sanitation, energy provision, housing, social security and others. If these problems relating to infrastructure and access to services are not adequately addressed, it will be impossible for the implementation of the CDWP to be successful. It is, therefore, critical that the government as a whole, and working with the private sector, should develop a comprehensive programme that mobilises society through both public and private initiatives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by community development workers (CDWs) in the implementation of the CDWP in Makhado Local Municipality. A qualitative research paradigm was adopted for the study. A literature review, focus groups and interviews were employed within the context of structured questions formulated in line with the framework of the study. The above were meant to facilitate a response to the research question of the study, which sought to find out what the challenges was faced by CDWs in the implementation of the CDWP in Makhado Local Municipality. One of the recommendations of the study is that the CDWP should be integrated with the Makhado Local Municipality plans and budget in order to ensure that it is sustainable and meets its stated objectives. Once this is achieved, it will be possible to confidently say that:  The introduction of CDWs is succeeding in addressing challenges of service delivery in the implementation of the CDWP  Challenges of CDWs in municipalities are being resolved through the effective implementation of the CDWP If the CDWP can be implemented fully in the Makhado Local Municipality, challenges of service delivery can be resolved over a reasonable period. It is, therefore, critical that the CDWP should remain an intergovernmental programme that fosters planning and partnership between the public, as beneficiary, and the government as service provider. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers Program (GOWP) is ‘n strategiese beleidsintervensie deur die regering om uitdagings met betrekking tot dienslewering aan gemeenskappe aan te spreek. Die doel van die GOWP is om hindernisse tot dienslewering aan gemeenskappe uit die weg te ruim, en die program is binne die plaaslike regering gesetel. Misverstand oor die doel daarvan kom dikwels onder belanghebbendes voor vanweë die veronderstelling dat die program bedoel is om dienste soos die voorsiening van water, elektrisiteit en ander maatskaplike dienste te lewer. In wese is die GOWP bedoel om kommunikasie tussen die regering en gemeenskappe te bewerkstellig om te verseker dat dienste doeltreffend en effektief gelewer word. Uitdagings vir die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado staan in verband met die gebrek aan inisiatiewe om infrastruktuur in stand te hou, insluitend goed befondste uitbreidingsplanne. ’n Massiewe agterstand van infrastruktuur en dienste bestaan steeds op die gebied van water en sanitasie, kragvoorsiening, behuising en sosiale sekerheid. Indien hierdie probleem met betrekking tot infrastruktuur en toegang tot dienste nie voldoende aangespreek word nie, sal die implementering van die GOWP geen sukses behaal nie. Dit is dus van uiterste belang dat die regering, in geheel, en met die samewerking van die private sektor, ‘n omvattende program ontwikkel wat die gemeenskap deur middel van openbare en private inisiatiewe mobiliseer. Die doel van die huidige studie was om die uitdagings waarvoor gemeenskapswerkers met die implementering van die gemeenskaps- ontwikkelingswerkers program in die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado te staan kom, te ondersoek. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsplan is vir die studie gebruik. ‘n Oorsig van die literatuur, fokusgroep en onderhoude is gebruik, met gestruktureerde vrae wat binne die raamwerk van die studie geformuleer is. Die vrae was bedoel om ‘n respons tot die navorsingsvraag oor die uitdagings wat deur die gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers met die implementering van die GOWP in Makhado ondervind word, te fasiliteer. Een van die aanbevelings van die studie is dat die GOWP by die planne en begroting van die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado geïntegreer moet word om die onderhoubaarheid van die program te verseker en dat die gestelde doelwitte bereik word. Wanneer dit geskied, sal dit moontlik wees om te sê dat:  Die instelling van die gemeenskapsontwikkerlingswerkers behaal sukses ten opsigte van die uitdagings van dienslewering binne die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers program.  Die uitdagings aan gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers in die munisipaliteite word deur die effektiewe implementering van die GOWP oorkom. Indien die GOWP ten volle in die Makhado Munisipaliteit geïmplementeer kan word, kan die probleem rondom dienslewering binne ‘n redelike tydperk opgelos word. Dit is dus belangrik dat ‘n onderneming soos die program vir die gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers behoue bly as ‘n inter-regeringsprojek wat die vennootskap tussen mense en die regering ondersteun.

Orientador: Leonor Maria Tanuri / Banca: José Marcelino de Rezendo Pinto / Banca: Cleiton de Oliveira / Banca: José Luiz Guimarães / Banca: Maria Sylvia Simões Bueno / Resumo: A municipalização do ensino fundamental, após a promulgação da Emenda Constitucional nº 14, de 12/09/1996, que criou o FUNDEF, vem evidenciando problemas que se refletem diretamente na qualidade do ensino público. O presente trabalho focaliza a aplicação de recursos da educação pelos Municípios do Estado de São Paulo - após a municipalização do ensino fundamental decorrente do FUNDEF - a partir da análise de registros do Tribunal de Contas do Estado (TCESP). Os dados coletados permitiram: a análise do Município como entidade federativa; a observação dos problemas decorrentes da Emenda Constitucional nº 14/96, que criou o FUNDEF; o exame comparativo dessa Emenda com a Emenda Constitucional nº 53, de 19/12/2006, que cria o FUNDEB; a análise dos problemas que afetam a aplicação de recursos da educação pelos Municípios, conforme a ótica do TCESP. Os resultados demonstram que, embora os Municípios tenham sido contemplados na Carta de 1988 com o status de entes federativos, a posição de dependência financeira que ocupam no Sistema Tributário Nacional e a ausência de um pacto federativo cooperativo atingem a autonomia municipal. Os dez anos de vigência do FUNDEF apontam os problemas enfrentados e o comprometimento do objetivo de assegurar educação básica de qualidade para todos. O FUNDEB representará alguns avanços em relação ao FUNDEF, mas limitações persistirão. Os registros efetuados pelo TCESP, a partir da criação do FUNDEF, demonstram que há desvios significativos dos recursos vinculados à manutenção e ao desenvolvimento do ensino por parte dos Municípios. O Fundo, criado em 1996, não foi capaz de acabar com os desperdícios dos recursos da educação. O cenário educacional evidencia a persistência dos velhos problemas: falta de recursos para a educação e, ao mesmo tempo, má aplicação dos recursos existentes... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Municipalisation of fundamental education, after promulgation of the No 14, 12/09/1996 Constitutional Amendment that created the Fund for Maintenance and Development of Fundamental Education (FUNDEP), has had problems which affect directly the quality of public education. This work focus on use of education financial resources by Municipalities of the State of São Paulo, Brasil – after municipalisation of fundamental education owing to the FUNDEP creation – based on data analysis provided by the State of São Paulo Court of Accounts (TCESP). Collected data allowed us: to analyze Municipality as a federative entity; to go through the problems resulting from No 14/96 Constitutional Amendment ; to compare this amendment with the one No 53, 19/12/2006 that created the Fund for Maintenance and Development of Basic Education (FUNDEB); to analyze the problems which involve use of education resources by Municipalities, according to TCESP’s view. The results show that although Municipalities are considered as having the status of federative entities in the Constitution of 1988, their situation of finance dependence on the national tributary system, and the lack of a cooperative federative pact affect their autonomy. Ten years of FUNDEP having the force of law point out those problems, and that the goal of ensuring basic education of quality is at risk. FUNDEB will represent some improvement when compared to FUNDEP, but limitations will persist. TCESP data, from FUNDEP creation onwards, have made known important misappropriations, on the part of Municipalities, of resources previously destined to keeping and developing of education. FUNDEP, created in 1996, proved not being able to put a stop to education resources waist. Educational scene shows persistence of old problems: lack of resources for education and, at the same time, bad use of those existing ones ... (Complete abstract, access undermentioned electronic address) / Doutor

There has been few research studies aimed at investigating strategy in small businesses. The current study sought to contribute to small business management and help small businesses attain success as they are important in any economy. Furthermore to close the gap as a response to the call for research in what people actually do when strategising. The following study explored the strategising practices of small business managers from the accommodation sector and the tools they use when strategising. A total of 12 interviews were conducted during the period 2014-2015 in the Tshwane metropolitan area. The findings of the study show that small business managers strategise although not in the way proposed by literature which may reveal that strategy-as-practice may be more appropriate for small businesses. The findings also show the tools that small business managers use in strategising. The research will serve as a contribution to the current challenges facing small businesses in the practice of strategic management or lack thereof in the managing of small businesses to ensure success. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

While the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is widely used, it is not seen as the most appropriate to describe responsible business activities in Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs). The concept of Responsible Business Practices (RBP) is better suited to SMMEs, although the theory is still based in the broader literature of CSR. Choices and decisions made by the owners/managers of SMMEs regarding the expenditures for RBP may reflect various influences. These influences may be conscious and purposely orientated toward a personal set of beliefs, but may also be indirectly, subconsciously influenced. This research will explore the influences behind expenditure decisions. Structured questionnaires will be used to reveal conscious influences that play a role in decision-making in SMMEs. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the aspects that consciously influence the decision-makers at SMMEs in Tshwane, South Africa, to expend resources on RBP. The study also aims to determine the awareness of, perceptions about and attitudes towards RBP among SMME decision-makers, as well as to determine the RBP activities SMMEs are involved in. Relationships between the extent of RBP engagement and the level of RBP awareness, the activities involved in, and the respondents’ highest level of education will be discussed. Key differences between the respondents’ age, highest level of education and gender with regards to the influencing aspects are also covered. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on individual-level studies in the RBP field and makes a contribution to the South African SMME literature that focuses on the doing of responsible business. It also addresses the gap in RBP knowledge by investigating the influences on RBP decisions in SMMEs, as the small business decision-making processes might prioritise influencing aspects differently than that in larger organisations. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-03-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:05:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 butarelo_fs_dr_mar.pdf: 1236343 bytes, checksum: 482198ad0687c4575d37ef48f1daa623 (MD5) / A municipalização do ensino fundamental, após a promulgação da Emenda Constitucional nº 14, de 12/09/1996, que criou o FUNDEF, vem evidenciando problemas que se refletem diretamente na qualidade do ensino público. O presente trabalho focaliza a aplicação de recursos da educação pelos Municípios do Estado de São Paulo - após a municipalização do ensino fundamental decorrente do FUNDEF - a partir da análise de registros do Tribunal de Contas do Estado (TCESP). Os dados coletados permitiram: a análise do Município como entidade federativa; a observação dos problemas decorrentes da Emenda Constitucional nº 14/96, que criou o FUNDEF; o exame comparativo dessa Emenda com a Emenda Constitucional nº 53, de 19/12/2006, que cria o FUNDEB; a análise dos problemas que afetam a aplicação de recursos da educação pelos Municípios, conforme a ótica do TCESP. Os resultados demonstram que, embora os Municípios tenham sido contemplados na Carta de 1988 com o status de entes federativos, a posição de dependência financeira que ocupam no Sistema Tributário Nacional e a ausência de um pacto federativo cooperativo atingem a autonomia municipal. Os dez anos de vigência do FUNDEF apontam os problemas enfrentados e o comprometimento do objetivo de assegurar educação básica de qualidade para todos. O FUNDEB representará alguns avanços em relação ao FUNDEF, mas limitações persistirão. Os registros efetuados pelo TCESP, a partir da criação do FUNDEF, demonstram que há desvios significativos dos recursos vinculados à manutenção e ao desenvolvimento do ensino por parte dos Municípios. O Fundo, criado em 1996, não foi capaz de acabar com os desperdícios dos recursos da educação. O cenário educacional evidencia a persistência dos velhos problemas: falta de recursos para a educação e, ao mesmo tempo, má aplicação dos recursos existentes... / Municipalisation of fundamental education, after promulgation of the No 14, 12/09/1996 Constitutional Amendment that created the Fund for Maintenance and Development of Fundamental Education (FUNDEP), has had problems which affect directly the quality of public education. This work focus on use of education financial resources by Municipalities of the State of São Paulo, Brasil after municipalisation of fundamental education owing to the FUNDEP creation based on data analysis provided by the State of São Paulo Court of Accounts (TCESP). Collected data allowed us: to analyze Municipality as a federative entity; to go through the problems resulting from No 14/96 Constitutional Amendment ; to compare this amendment with the one No 53, 19/12/2006 that created the Fund for Maintenance and Development of Basic Education (FUNDEB); to analyze the problems which involve use of education resources by Municipalities, according to TCESP s view. The results show that although Municipalities are considered as having the status of federative entities in the Constitution of 1988, their situation of finance dependence on the national tributary system, and the lack of a cooperative federative pact affect their autonomy. Ten years of FUNDEP having the force of law point out those problems, and that the goal of ensuring basic education of quality is at risk. FUNDEB will represent some improvement when compared to FUNDEP, but limitations will persist. TCESP data, from FUNDEP creation onwards, have made known important misappropriations, on the part of Municipalities, of resources previously destined to keeping and developing of education. FUNDEP, created in 1996, proved not being able to put a stop to education resources waist. Educational scene shows persistence of old problems: lack of resources for education and, at the same time, bad use of those existing ones ... (Complete abstract, access undermentioned electronic address)

Health practitioners collect health data on a daily basis at health facility levels in order to monitor and evaluate the performance of priority national health programmes (District Health Plan 2012:6). Routine data quality for health programmes monitoring need a collective intervention to ensure clear understanding for what data to be collected at primary health care setting. The aim of the study is to explore the understanding of routine health data, determine the use of routine data and feedback mechanism at primary health care clinic setting. Quantitative descriptive research design was used to answer the research question on this research study. Structured data collection questionnaire was used for the study to accomplish the research purpose and reach the study objectives. A total of 400 participants was sampled, and 247 responded. One of the findings was that the understanding of routine health data by Health Practitioners was at 82.6% (% = f/n*100, f= 3242 and n= 3926). / Health Studies

Health practitioners collect health data on a daily basis at health facility levels in order to monitor and evaluate the performance of priority national health programmes (District Health Plan 2012:6). Routine data quality for health programmes monitoring need a collective intervention to ensure clear understanding for what data to be collected at primary health care setting. The aim of the study is to explore the understanding of routine health data, determine the use of routine data and feedback mechanism at primary health care clinic setting. Quantitative descriptive research design was used to answer the research question on this research study. Structured data collection questionnaire was used for the study to accomplish the research purpose and reach the study objectives. A total of 400 participants was sampled, and 247 responded. One of the findings was that the understanding of routine health data by Health Practitioners was at 82.6% (% = f/n*100, f= 3242 and n= 3926). / Health Studies

Effective and satisfactory security service is critical to private security officers (PSOs) working in the private, state-owned and public sectors as it plays a pivotal role in improving organisational productivity and helps to promote good working relationships. When PSOs project poor attitudes, clients are seriously affected by such negative behaviour and the level of service rendered will eventually deteriorate. This study sought to understand and explore the factors that contributed to unsatisfactory services rendered by PSOs at GPW in Tshwane. The researcher utilised a nonexperimental quantitative research approach and a self-administered questionnaire survey was used to collect data. Data collected was analysed and interpreted using quantitative methods and procedures. The findings emanating from the research revealed that the levels of service rendered by PSOs at GPW in Tshwane was ineffective and unsatisfactory and various factors contributed to ineffective service delivery. Several recommendations are proposed to improve the level of service rendered by PSOs. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Security Management)