This study examines the effects of conflict on socio-economic development. It focuses on the ongoing political conflict in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality due to national political factionalism that has negatively affected service delivery. Political conflict led to the absence of the municipal manager from 2009, impacting the administration of the Metro. Since that time, no municipal manager has held office for more than four months. The municipal manager’s job is crucial to the operation of the Metro, including the allocation of funds required for service delivery. Service delivery has therefore been negatively affected by the conflict, with waste removal being particularly neglected. This has been prevalent in areas such as New Brighton and Motherwell, which will be the primary focus of this treatise. This study found that, as a consequence of the situation in the Metro community members have become indifferent to political affairs. However, they still seek change and have faith that their livelihoods could be improved.

This study assessed the Local Government Turnaround Strategy (LGTAS), from a governance perspective, in addressing service delivery challenges in local government, with specific reference to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). The research study comprises six chapters. The research is based on the assumption that one of the biggest challenges facing most municipalities in South Africa is lack of universal access to water and electricity, sanitation, refuse removal systems and local economic development. As a result of these challenges, the NMBM has implemented the NMBM Turnaround Strategy so that it can fulfill its constitutional developmental mandate conferred on it by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. The research study provided a brief historical background on the development and transformation of local government in South Africa. This research adopted both the quantitative and qualitative approaches. The purpose of the research study was to describe and explore the 2009 Local Government Turnaround Strategy (LGTAS) with specific reference to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). The evaluation of the LGTAS of the NMBM will therefore be fundamentally descriptive, but highly exploratory in nature. The empirical survey was employed for purposes of the study and the interpretation of the research findings were analysed and described. As a metropolitan municipality, the NMBM has been entrenched with a responsibility to promote developmental progression within its locality (Integrated Development Plan: 2007). This research also identified the strengths and the weaknesses of the LGTAS as it is regarded as critical in successful service delivery. It is envisaged that this research will assist the NMBM, and other municipalities’ country-wide, to identify challenges that they are faced with and deal with it accordingly in terms of the objectives identified in the LGTAS. Furthermore, this research study envisages promoting sustainable development within the NMBM as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery that will ensure communities of their well-being and dignity. Various recommendations are presented, based on the findings primarily from the literature review and empirical survey, on how the existing status quo of the NMBM can be changed to enhance service delivery and be aligned to the Batho Pele principles. If these recommendations are adopted, the NMBM will be able to deal more effectively and efficiently with the developmental obstacles it currently faces.

SMEs play a vital role in the country. For the purpose of the study the focus was on SMEs in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Jurisdiction. Businesses which met the SME criteria (refer to Chapter 1, Section 1.7.1), (Du Plessis, 1996: 162; Marx et al., 1998: 728) were included in this study. The study is formed around the aspects of business which contribute to the growth of the business in the long term. A specific study was conducted on the ethnic entrepreneur and the aspects that influence business growth. There are many factors which influence the growth of the business; for the purpose of this study, a specific focus was placed on: (1) knowledge with regard to business; (2) entrepreneurial culture; (3) brand management; (4) location of the business; (5) business relationships; and (6) cultural influences. These variables will determine how the growth of the business is ultimately influenced. The research can also discover from respondents what they view as important in their lives. The study then goes further to analyse whether the independent variables, as reacted to by the respondents, have a significant or non-significant effect on growth.

The Kyoto Protocol of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) postulated that anthropogenic causes are the main drivers of global climate change. This Kyoto Protocol was ratified by South Africa, with South Africa accepting all the binding commitments. Since then South Africa has promulgated legislations which cater for the environment and the reduction of the greenhouse gases respectively, with the aim of promoting sustainable development. The South African constitution has recognised the environment in Section 24. This is the birth place of the “Environmental Clauses” which do not only speak to the national government but are also broken down to the provincial and local government. This study was grounded within the field of Development studies and undertook a case study of improving the socio-ecological resilience strategies of climate changes in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole (NMBM). The study employed the use of semi-structure interviews whereby a questionnaire was used to guide the researcher in the interview process. A total of 23 officials were interviewed, ranging from governmental departments (municipality) through civil societies to private consultants, in order to avoid the generation of biases. The data obtained from respondents were presented, analysed, and discussed. From the data collected, it was possible to single out certain barriers to climate change resilience initiative in NMBM. Some of these barriers include the lack of awareness of climate change resilience issues, lack of political will, lack of funding, and the poor concern given to climate change issues since the municipality does not consider it a core issue. Based on the study findings, the main recommendation offered to NMBM was the creation of a Sustainable Development Framework, which will provide a perfect platform for development, acknowledge the threat posed by the negative effects of climate change, and enhance opportunities to execute climate change projects in NMBM.

The problem this research seeks to address concerns related to the role allocated and strategies implemented by HIV and AIDS education NGOs, in mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS in Nelson Mandela Bay. The problem is approached as a development challenge and examples are drawn from the undertakings of South African Partners (SAP), an NGO operating in the education field. The study adopted qualitative research, relative unstructured interviews, direct observation and literature review as methods of data collection. The study further identified specific roles that education NGOs play in response to HIV/AIDS and delineated the strategies that HIV and AIDS education NGOs employ in responding to HIV/AIDS. The research found that HIV/AIDS education NGOs have become important channels through which people affected and living with HIV/AIDS participate in development, share their experience and access information and resources. Further noted was that HIV/AIDS results in a diminished workforce and a higher allocation of state funds to public healthcare. The research findings showed that an education NGO in a prison context serves to mobilise the prison community and sensitise it to HIV and AIDS issues. This, through its addressing of the needs and causes of HIV infections in prison. SAP aid recipients were found to be satisfied for the most part, with the service rendered them by the education NGO. The study found that HIV prevention educational sessions were quite effective in disseminating HIV and AIDS basic information and that SAP achieves their goals through their training of facilitators who employ the STEPS curriculum. The trained facilitators facilitate group discussions, distribute condoms and lubricants through partnerships, and solicit behavioural change through the use of theatre to disseminate HIV prevention information. Key recommendations of the study are that HIV and AIDS education NGOs must integrate poverty reduction interventions in their activities and that further, they would do better to form coalitions in order to strengthen their capacity to sustain their activities and manage partnerships. Education NGOs should form partnerships that provide social protection. Ruther recommended is that education NGOs should further their curriculum in consideration for sexual preferences.

This research adds on to Chaulk & Brown (2008) research on the assessment of employees’ reaction towards management and the union in the pre-strike and post-strike period. Research problem: The study raised two aspects that form part of the statement of the problem. Firstly, strike action has been a major aspect describing the South African industrial relations climate. The high level of strike action prompts the question; “Are South Africans World Class Strikers?” (Anstey, 2006). Secondly, the analysis of strike action has focussed more on the economic and power testing impact analysis rather than psychological and affective impact analysis of the strike such as establishing the impact of the strike on job satisfaction, work climate satisfaction, organisational commitment, management satisfaction, and union commitment. Research objectives: To address the research problem, research objectives, research questions and hypotheses were established. The main objective of the study was to examine the causes, processes and the impact of the strike, thereby making a contribution to both theory and practice. Whereas the contribution to theory took a form of building on to the research carried out by Chaulk & Brown (2008), and exploring through the process analysis on how behaviour during the conflict impacts on the ongoing relationships within the organisation, the contribution to practice took a form of highlighting to management and unions the impact of the strike on employees so that necessary interventions to prevent the negative impact of the strike would be created. Research questions: Six research questions were established and these were; what were the causes of the strike; how did the strike unfold; what were the substantive outcomes of the strike; what were the procedural outcomes of the strike; what were the climate outcomes of the strike; is there a relationship between the demographic factors and the affective outcomes of the strike? Research hypotheses; Five research hypotheses were established for the research. These hypotheses were aimed at establishing the impact of the strike on the affective outcomes of the strike. These were; there was a significant change in the level of organizational commitment after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of job satisfaction after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of work climate satisfaction after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of management satisfaction after the strike; and there is was significant change in the level of union commitment after the strike. Research design and methodology: Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data. Qualitatively, interviews, media reports and the Municipality records were being used to collect data on the causes, processes and outcomes of the strike. Quantitatively a survey questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was collected from 105 Traffic Officers who had recently been on strike in the NMBM. Measures of organisational and union commitment, employee job satisfaction, and work climate satisfaction were assessed using the Chaulk & Brown (2008) questionnaire. A paired sample t-test, ANOVA test, and Scheffe test and Cronbach’s alpha, were some of the quantitative methods used in data analysis. Henning’s approach was used to analyze qualitative data. Major findings: The results from the questionnaire revealed that job satisfaction, work climate satisfaction and management satisfaction significantly changed in the post-strike period. In addition, impact of demographic factors on affective factors was evident for participation in the strike and the level of union commitment; age and job satisfaction; occupational level and job satisfaction; and service length and union commitment.

The nursing student who has undergone the four year diploma or degree training as a nurse also has to undergo compulsory community service as a requirement before she/he can be registered as a qualified professional nurse. While it has been compulsory for other health professionals such as doctors, dieticians or dentists to place students in compulsory community service, it has only been compulsory for nursing students since 2008. This means that the practice is relatively new in nursing and it is not clear how the newly qualified professional nurse experiences compulsory community service (CCS). The overall goal of this study is to determine the experiences of professional nurses placed at the state hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay regarding compulsory community service clinical placement exposure and to use these descriptions to develop guidelines. The study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual design. Literature was reviewed in order to identify research that was done previously regarding compulsory community service amongst health care professionals. The research population included professional nurses who underwent compulsory community service in the three state hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay. Purposive sampling was utilised to identify the participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information and field notes were kept. The interviews were transcribed and Tech’s (1990) in Creswell, 2009:186) eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. An independent coder assisted with the coding process to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. The researcher ensured the validity of the study by conforming to Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness which consists of the following four constructs, namely credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability (Lincoln & Guba, 1999, as cited in Schurink, Fouche & de Vos, 2011:419- 421). Three themes and sub themes were identified. Literature control was done to compare the findings with existing research results. The researcher ensured that the study was conducted in an ethical manner by adhering to ethical principles such as beneficence, justice and fidelity. All the participants in the study felt that the clinical placement exposure was a worthwhile experience. The participants expressed a feeling of gratitude that they were afforded this opportunity of practicing under the guidance of experienced professional nurses. To them it was an opportunity to master whatever they were taught as student nurses so that by the time they practice as independent practitioners they would be confident and knowledgeable. The CCS nurses indicated that orientation and mentorship were not always of good quality and professional nurses were not always available as in some units professional nurses were not readily accessible. The CCS nurses were left alone and isolated with no one to consult. If proper orientation and mentorship had been in place the CCS nurses would have enjoyed the community service year more and they felt that they would have benefited more. Had there been a mentoring system in place it could have gone a long way to ascertain that the participants gained confidence and were able to perform tasks independently and confidently. The participants overwhelmingly indicated that unit management should have been included in their CCS year placement. During the CCS year the CCS nurses were not exposed to unit management. This was seen by CCS nurses as a missed opportunity. Had they been afforded the opportunity to practice unit management under the supervision of unit nursing managers, professional growth and development in unit management could have been facilitated. That they were not afforded that opportunity deprived them of a valuable skill as well as personal and professional growth. In conclusion guidelines for placement of CCS nurses in the Nelson Mandela State hospitals have been formulated for implementation. Recommendations were made to enhance nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research.

Municipal solid waste management is gradually becoming a major challenge that is confronting governments in all spheres. This can be attributed to urbanisation and startling population escalation. Each and every member in a community is a contributor to this dilemma and a generator of waste. The essence of this study is to investigate whether the utilisation of education programmes can assist to improve how communities handle and dispose their household waste and its contribution to the effectiveness of the integrated solid waste management system for the New Brighton Township in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. A theoretical framework is developed using the systems theory in trying to address the challenge. The study used the qualitative research method. Data were gathered using questionnaires and face-to face interviews. The empirical survey was employed for the purposes of the study and the interpretation of the research findings were analysed and described. As a metropolitan municipality, it is envisaged that this research will assist the NMBM, to identify how to manage solid waste efficiently and effectively and thus enhancing service delivery that will ensure communities of their well-being and dignity. Various recommendations are presented, based on the findings of the study. It is hoped that these recommendations If are adopted, the NMBM will be able to deal more effectively and efficiently with the challenges that the NMBM is faced with in dealing with waste management issues thereby enabling the NMBM to deliver the most basic need to the communities of the New Brighton Townships.

This paper is set to evaluate the factors leading to prostitution and provide the understanding of the hardships that are experienced by prostitutes in their pursuit for income generation. However, this will be preceded by the background to the study. Secondly, this paper will lament or touch on the strategies employed by the Nelson Mandela Metro and other countries in an attempt to alleviate poverty. Thirdly, the views of academics and other experts in the fields of both the prostitution and poverty will be put into perspective. The relevant research methodology used to this study was found to be a descriptive study. The concluding remarks and recommendations on what is needed in order to improve the situation in the Nelson Mandela Metro are provided for the purpose of this study. Towards the end of this study, bibliography has been provided followed by the relevant annexures which will serve as evidence that inform this study.

Investment planning (as one of the key components of financial planning) is seen as an important solution to investment problems and challenges. Previous research however indicated that compare to men, women are not as confident and knowledgeable about financial and investment matters. As a result, women do not conduct investment planning until it is often too late and when they are confronted with a financial crisis or a life predicament such as a divorce or death. Given the lack of research attention focusing on women's perceptions of financial and investment planning in South Africa, and in particular the Eastern Cape, the objective of this research is to investigate the factors that influence women‟s Perceived successful investment planning in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. After conducting a comprehensive literature study, seven factors (independent variables) namely Values, Attitudes, Time horizon, Personal life cycle, Risks and Returns, Investment Knowledge, were identified as influencing the Perceived successful investment planning (dependent variable) of women. Various hypotheses were formulated to be tested in the empirical investigation. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument were tested among 207 respondents. The Exploratory Factor Analysis, as well as the Cronbach‟s alpha coeffient analysis, revelead that Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values are important factors that influence the women‟s Perceived successful investment planning. As a result of these analyses, the hypotheses had to be reformulated. In order to establish whether correlations existed between the various factors investigated in this study, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients were calculated. Positive correlations were found between all the variables, except between Values and Personal life cycle and between Values and Perceived successful investment planning. To analyse the association in which the effects of the independent variables (Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values) have on the dependent variable (Perceived successful investment planning) of this study, multiple regression analysis was conducted. Only one independent variable emerged as having a significant influence on Perceived successful investment planning of women, namely Investment knowledge. In order to investigate the influence of the various demographic variables on the dependent variable, an Analysis of Variance was performed. No significant differences were found between the selected demographic variables, namely Age, Ethnic group, Marital status, Education and Investment experience and the independent variables or dependent variable of this study. By investigating the influence of women‟s Perceived successful investment planning, this study has added to the body of knowledge of both financial and investment planning. Based on the empirical results of this study, several recommendations have been made in an attempt to assist women to make better investment decisions and manage their investment planning more effectively.