Despite the array of polices adopted to address the housing issue in South Africa in the post ’94’ dispensation, South Africa in 2015 remains riddled with the same housing challenges as at 1994 even despite the significant improvements that have been achieved. Subsidised housing projects completed between 1994 and 2004 are characterised by poor design, poor quality, late delivery, poor location, and spatial marginalisation. To address these shortfalls, the Department of Human Settlements adopted the Breaking New Ground (BNG) principles in 2004 and the housing code of 2009 to mitigate shortfalls in the provision of low cost housing and thereby creating sustainable human settlements. It was in such context that this study sought to assess whether the BNG and housing code of 2009 was implemented in the building of the low-cost houses of the Wells Estate Human Settlement in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), constructed post-2004. An exploratory study using both the quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was used to conduct the study. A questionnaire with open and closed questions was used to collect data. To complement the use of the questionnaire, transect walks were also undertaken. The findings of the study were that; firstly: The majority of the beneficiaries belonged to the productive age that is between 18 and 60; Wells Estate depicts a pre ‘94 spatial planning given its peripheral location there by affecting cost to work and job searching; The quality of houses complied with the tenets of the BNG and housing code of 2009; Access to services and facilities like police station, community halls, clinics, and schools remained a challenge because their availability is determined by the population size and utilisation rate, and Access to socio economic opportunities was still a challenge. The beneficiaries of Wells Estate even in the case for businesses owned this; these were for subsistence only such as street vending, shoe repairing, and painting. Given the above findings, the study recommends that: There is need to focus on human capital development through skill development to the productive age group which is unemployed. With skills, the unemployed have an opportunity to look for employment thereby improving their livelihoods; The provision of housing alone cannot alleviate the socio-economic challenges affecting the poor, however there is a need for a multi-pronged approach to address other socioeconomic determinants such as access to employment and education, and There is need to for a collaboration approach between the NMBM and other government departments for instance with the Department of Basic Education for scholar transport.

The students are the future economic backbone of the country and it is essential that measures are taken to reduce the number of new HIV infections in this segment of the population. Free voluntary counselling and testing for HIV was introduced at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University as one of the prevention strategies to curb the spread of HIV. This service has grown steadily over the years but strategies need to be formulated and implemented to improve the existing service and thereby increase the utilisation of the testing service. This treatise takes the form of an investigative survey involving literature review and a survey of all the individuals who utilised the VCT service over a three month period. The author has attempted to portray the general views and best practices of experts in the field of VCT service delivery. The identified best practices were used as an assessment tool to determine to what extent the VCT service at the NMMU complies with national and international standards. The quantification of these insights must be viewed with caution since the survey sample was relatively low due to time constraints. It has been shown that the VCT service at the NMMU largely complies with national and international standards although several recommendations have been presented for consideration.

This research provides insight into the use of social networks and social media by students at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The primary purpose of this research is to investigate student social media practices at NMMU to establish the reasons for students engaging in social media. A growing number of educators acknowledge the potential of social networking to (re)engage learners with their studies, while others fear that such practices compromise and disrupt student engagement with traditional education provision (Selwyn, 2009). This study, therefore, aims to identify how and for what reasons students use social networks and social media. This study attempts to provide answers to the following research questions: For which social networking sites do students register and actively engage in? What is the most popular social networking site for students? How often do students engage in social media practices? What is the main purpose for students engaging in social media practices? How do students gain access to social media? For what educational purposes can social media be used? For which business purposes can social media be used? Do students use social media to collaborate with peers and lecturers? Do students use social media to make buying decisions? The literature overview was conducted on social media and social networks from journals and books published between the periods 2003 to 2011 as the popularity of social media came to the forefront during this period. Topics researched included social networks and libraries, educational and business uses of social networking and social media. A quantitative study was considered to be most appropriate to conduct the research for this study; and non-probability sampling was the most appropriate given the size of the population and the nature of this research. xiv Students were invited to participate in the research by completing and submitting a survey questionnaire at the conclusion of their lectures in the second semester during the month of September. The data collected was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to provide insight into student use of social media. The results would determine if relationships exist between the independent variables from the questionnaire, namely, age, gender, campus and course enrolment and the dependent factors, namely, usage, information exchange and security. This relationship would be determined for both the perceptions of social networking in general and the perceptions of NMMU social networking. These results are then used to identify further areas of research in the future. The majority of the population sample was between the ages of 17 and 21 and primarily females. The sample typically became aware of social media by means of word-of-mouth and accesses their social networking site/s more than five times a day. The main reason for registering and joining social networking sites was for social purposes. Furthermore, the sample used social networking sites for entertainment, social involvement, meeting new friends and maintaining relationships. The sample agreed that social networking makes information searching easier. The majority of the sample indicated that they were not registered on any NMMU Social Networking sites of the university or any faculty, department or unit social networking sites at the NMMU. However, it was clear that the majority of students was registered on social networking sites of some sort and would continue to use social networking and social media. The results from the study indicated that the mean value for the perceptions of social media in general were greater than that of the perceptions of NMMU social media in terms of usage. Likewise, the mean value for the perceptions of social networking in general was also greater than that of the perceptions of NMMU Social Networking for information exchange but the difference were very small. However, the mean value for the perceptions of NMMU Social Networking showed a greater mean value than that of the perceptions of social networking in general in terms of security. This means that respondents used social networking in general more than NMMU Social Networking. xv However, the respondents perceived NMMU Social Networking sites to be more secure than social networking sites in general. The results of this study could provide Higher Education Institutions in South Africa with the impetus to use social networks and social media to enhance students‟ learning experiences.

Past research on activity-based costing (ABC) success factors has predominantly focused on establishing relationships between known success factors and ABC implementation success. According to the researcher, there is a lack of exploratory studies to establish ABC implementation factors especially in a South African context. This study has explored these factors from literature and attempted to identify any other factors of importance with the use of semistructured interviews. A total number of 13 interviews were conducted with participants from manufacturing organisations in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole using some form of ABC. The findings suggested that ABC may be more beneficial at larger, more diverse organisations but that smaller organisations may also benefit from ABC if product costing accuracy could be significantly improved with ABC and if no major pressure on company resources is incurred. In addition it seems that ABC should be utilised to the fullest extent that is practical for the manufacturing organisation and that the use of supplementary cost-saving mechanisms with ABC may be beneficial. Finally it is recommended that users be fully trained at ABC and that careful consideration of an appropriate ABC software package may increase the likelihood of ABC implementation success. / Management Accounting / M. Phil. (Management Accounting)

The global threat of climate change is one of the most crucial environmental issues facing the world in modern times. In response to this threat, international governments have drafted the Kyoto Protocol which included the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The CDM is a scheme which invited developing countries, like South Africa, to become involved in climate change mitigation projects. While South Africa has been identified as an attractive host country for CDM projects, research has revealed that it lags behind other developing countries in this regard. This study provides a theoretical background to the CDM and grounds the subject within the field of Environmental Economics. Following a literature review of factors that could influence the involvement of a municipality in CDM projects, this thesis undertook a case study of the barriers and drivers to CDM implementation within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). Use was made of semi-structured interviews, where a questionnaire was used to guide the researcher’s interview process. Five NMBM officers, who were likely to have been involved with CDM project implementation, were interviewed. Data collected was analyzed using a coding technique and was compared and contrasted to the literature in a process of explanation building. It was possible to elicit 14 factors that acted as CDM-barriers; seven that acted as CDM-drivers; and 10 that were required to change within the NMBM to encourage greater CDM involvement. Of the barriers, lack of awareness, poor political will and lack of funding emerged as the most inhibiting. Of the CDM-drivers, the potential financial benefits; ownership of infrastructure capable of producing carbon assets; and technology transfer emerged as the factors most likely to promote CDM involvement. With regards the factors that require change, it emerged that a positive response would result from a proactive stance by National Government on the CDM; the use of Public-Private-Partnerships to facilitate CDM projects; and improved communication and capacity building within the NMBM and the Nelson Mandela Bay business community. The main recommendation offered to the NMBM was for it to draft a Sustainable Development Policy as well as a formal sustainable development strategy to drive a coherent and consolidated approach to the Municipality’s involvement with CDM projects. Further, it was proposed that the NMBM should, lobby National Government for it to promulgate enabling legislation and a framework which would encourage CDM investment in South Africa; and engage with local business to promote the active involvement of the Nelson Mandela Bay with the implementation of CDM projects. Keywords: Global Warming, Kyoto Protocol, Clean Development Mechanism, Sustainable Development, Environmental Economics, Public Sector, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

Past research on activity-based costing (ABC) success factors has predominantly focused on establishing relationships between known success factors and ABC implementation success. According to the researcher, there is a lack of exploratory studies to establish ABC implementation factors especially in a South African context. This study has explored these factors from literature and attempted to identify any other factors of importance with the use of semistructured interviews. A total number of 13 interviews were conducted with participants from manufacturing organisations in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole using some form of ABC. The findings suggested that ABC may be more beneficial at larger, more diverse organisations but that smaller organisations may also benefit from ABC if product costing accuracy could be significantly improved with ABC and if no major pressure on company resources is incurred. In addition it seems that ABC should be utilised to the fullest extent that is practical for the manufacturing organisation and that the use of supplementary cost-saving mechanisms with ABC may be beneficial. Finally it is recommended that users be fully trained at ABC and that careful consideration of an appropriate ABC software package may increase the likelihood of ABC implementation success. / Management Accounting / M. Phil. (Management Accounting)

This dissertation provides an account of 'Batho Pele' (People First) and 'new public management' as applied in two government call-centres in the Eastern Cape. Focusing on the workers at these call-centres, this research examines the workplace organisation of these call-centres based in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The study involved interviews with managers, call-centre operators and trade unionists. The findings show how the work environment is not conducive to the goals of customer satisfaction as presented in the Batho Pele policies. The research investigates the conditions of workers as one explanatory factor for poor call-centre service. If workers are a key element in the success of the 'new public management', their work environment and conditions have to facilitate their job satisfaction and their improved customer service. The research demonstrated the evident lack of professionalism in the call-centre, customer care designed as a matter of compliance rather the need to change the culture and the persistent lack of discipline and supervision. The call centre operator's experiences include issues of surveillance, stress, emotional labour, lack of training, internal conflicts and bad 'customer service' as perceived by the citizens of the Metro.

The study investigated the application of the crime threat analysis process at station level within the Nelson Mandela Metro City area with the objective of determining inhibiting factors (constraints) and best practices. Qualitative research methodology was applied and interviews were conducted with crime analysts and specialised investigators/intelligence analysts. The research design can be best described as descriptive and explorative in nature. The crime threat analysis process embroils the application of various crime analysis techniques and the outcomes thereof intends to have a dual purpose of generating operational crime management information in assisting crime prevention initiatives and crime detection efforts, mainly focussing on the criminal activities of group offenders (organised crime related), repeat offenders and serial offenders. During the study it became evident that crime analysts understand and thus apply the crime threat analysis process indifferently, which impeded on the relevancy and the utilisation thereof as an effective crime management tool. / Criminology / M.Tech. (Policing)

The study investigated the application of the crime threat analysis process at station level within the Nelson Mandela Metro City area with the objective of determining inhibiting factors (constraints) and best practices. Qualitative research methodology was applied and interviews were conducted with crime analysts and specialised investigators/intelligence analysts. The research design can be best described as descriptive and explorative in nature. The crime threat analysis process embroils the application of various crime analysis techniques and the outcomes thereof intends to have a dual purpose of generating operational crime management information in assisting crime prevention initiatives and crime detection efforts, mainly focussing on the criminal activities of group offenders (organised crime related), repeat offenders and serial offenders. During the study it became evident that crime analysts understand and thus apply the crime threat analysis process indifferently, which impeded on the relevancy and the utilisation thereof as an effective crime management tool. / Criminology and Security Science / M.Tech. (Policing)