The focus of the study is to investigate the factors that impact on effective implementation of a performance management system at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in the Eastern Cape Region, Nelson Mandela Metro District. It is said that an organisational success in service delivery largely depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of its employees in undertaking their functions, duties and responsibilities (Ntombela, Mpehle and Penciliah, 2010: 63).

Poverty is one of the social problems plaguing South Africa. In South Africa it is required of municipalities as entities in the socio-economic and political transformation process and agents of change, to eradicate poverty and unemployment by facilitating local economic development in their respective areas. Local economic development has to be implemented in a way that takes cognisance of the different challenges that exist within various areas and contexts. Various district and local municipalities have initiated an array of agricultural programs such as community or food gardens as aspect of their Local Economic Development strategies. In this study I investigated the sustainability of community gardens as a mechanism to poverty alleviation in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The study focused exclusively on community gardens in Bloemendal, KwaZakhele, Motherwell and Walmer. A mixed methods research approach was employed to gather data from the community garden members and municipal official who administers the community gardens. Semi-structured interview was conducted with the municipal official administering community gardens in Nelson Mandela Bay. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the community garden members. Observations were made on types of crops grown in the gardens, in order to supplement and validate data collected and information gathered during interviews. Community garden members identified funding as their main challenge. Community gardens have a potential to be sustainable if the requisite support structures that need to exist to support the micro-farmers are in place.

The study was undertaken to satisfy the following objectives of the research study: To determine the livelihoods of residents of a low income housing development;  To assess the role played by the local economic development initiatives in the Kuyga community; and  To make recommendations regarding policies and actions that could reduce the unemployment rate and create sustainable and viable livelihoods for the Kuyga community in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. To note, what triggered the researcher to undertake the study, are the high levels of unemployment, poverty and poor monitoring of the local economic initiatives within the area. In this study, the researcher explores the livelihoods of the Kuyga community and the opportunities for creating more sustainable and viable livelihoods. Attention is drawn to Government policies, Local economic Development as well as Integrated Development Plans of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, simultaneously realising that the South African government cannot work in isolation to deliver all the community needs effectively as expected.

Primary health care has been the cornerstone of South Africa's health policies since its transition to democracy in 1994. In order to optimise the effectiveness of primary health care, the South African government introduced community health committees hich were intended to facilitate primary health care at the grassroots level through community participation. As statutory bodies outlined in the National Health Act, 61 of 2003, and in provincial legislation, Community Health Committees were to be the liaison between communities and government and assist government in improving health services in communities. Since being re-established in 2010, Community Health Committees in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa have sought to fulfil this role and have remained sustainable. This research was aimed at investigating the strategies and approaches which sustain Community Health Committees in Nelson Mandela Bay Health District. It focused on eliciting information regarding the factors that sustain Community Health Committees, factors that threaten their sustainability and factors that motivate continued membership in Community Health Committees. Qualitative research methods of key informant interviews, observations and focus groups were used and analysed to identify these factors. The findings indicated that Community Health Committees struggle to remain sustainable because of various threats to their functioning. The major threat identified was the disengagement of the Department of Health in the operations of the Community Health Committees. The Department of Health was not visible; rather it was passive and unresponsive to the reports submitted by Community Health Committees on behalf of their communities and provided no re-imbursement for administration costs. Despite threats to sustainability, these Community Health Committees had commitment, passion and drive to assist with the health improvement of their communities in partnership with health facilities in their communities. Good interpersonal relationships in the Community Health Committees, good professional relationships with the health facility staff and the liaising role played by health facility management are some of the factors that contributed to sustainability. Recommendations were made at the end of the study that may assist the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District and the Department of Health to create a working environment that will be conducive to the sustainability of Community health Committees.

There has been an increase in the use of information technology in the hospital environment over the past decade and the use of computers by Nursing Managers is rapidly increasing. The latter poses a challenge to Nurse Managers, as their computer literacy status is unknown. This is evident from the fact that prior to 1996 there was only four computers at one of the private hospitals used in this study. Computer skills were never a requirement when applying for the position of Nurse Manager; and there is still currently no formal computer training provided for Nurse Managers or Acting Nurse Managers. Resources are however available in the hospitals to assist the managers with various computer problems but it is not known if these resources equip managers with the appropriate tools to become efficient in their role. The lack of formal training and lack of assessment of resources to determine whether the computer needs of Nurse Managers are met results in a lot of time being wasted and many frustrations experienced among Nurse Managers. The researcher was therefore motivated by the latter problem to explore and describe the computer literacy status of Nurse Managers in order to make recommendations to management regarding the research findings. The researcher selected a quantitative, explorative, contextual and descriptive survey design. The research population was made up of all Nurse Managers and Acting Nurse Managers at the time of the study. A 100 percent sample was utilised and comprised thirty-four respondents who made up the entire group of Nurse Managers and Acting Nurse Managers at the time of the study. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used in Phase One of the research and in Phase Two a data observation sheet was used to test the respondents and to collect the necessary data. This data was manually processed and analysed by the iii researcher. All ethical considerations were honoured throughout the research process. The main findings of the research study reflected that the respondents had a below average ability to use various software packages such as Microsoft Word, EXCEL and Power Point. Findings further revealed that the respondent’s literacy levels were average with regard to the use of peripheral components of the computer such as the use of the mouse and keyboard. The respondents rated their competency level as average with regard to using a computer. Due to the limitations and small sample size used in the study the researcher recommends that further research using a larger sample by expanding the research into the other private hospitals in the group through out South Africa should take place in order to produce more constructive results than this study.

Decentralisation of the multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) programme to primary health care (PHC) facilities in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan was implemented in order to improve the effectiveness of MDR TB services. This study explored the knowledge gaps of nurses at PHC facilities as regards MDR TB. A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted; data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Non-probability sampling was applied in this study. A convenient sampling technique was used and 25 of the 42 facilities were selected. Thirty-two respondents completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 64%. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. Only 38% of the nurses had been trained on MDR TB. Overall scores were high with a mean knowledge score of 61%. However there were knowledge gaps regarding side effects of MDR TB medication. This study revealed gaps in knowledge of certain areas of MDR TB management / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (M.B.A. (Rhodes Investec Business School)) - Rhodes University, 2008. / "Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration" - T.p.

Decentralisation of the multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) programme to primary health care (PHC) facilities in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan was implemented in order to improve the effectiveness of MDR TB services. This study explored the knowledge gaps of nurses at PHC facilities as regards MDR TB. A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted; data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Non-probability sampling was applied in this study. A convenient sampling technique was used and 25 of the 42 facilities were selected. Thirty-two respondents completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 64%. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. Only 38% of the nurses had been trained on MDR TB. Overall scores were high with a mean knowledge score of 61%. However there were knowledge gaps regarding side effects of MDR TB medication. This study revealed gaps in knowledge of certain areas of MDR TB management / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The society in which we live is economically based and the greater part of our activities centres in the economy. Within this context, the Department of Trade and Industry recognized that small business development was an important area for government intervention. A long process of highlighting the importance of this sector and creating the right environment in which small businesses could grow and flourish was initiated at the level of policy and legislation. In the Labour Relations field, an attempt at achieving some measure of certainty in previously disputed areas was made through the passing of the Labour Relations Act of 1995. This study aims at exploring the effects of this Act on the growth and development of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. In fulfilling this aim, the focus was restricted to factors such as dismissal of workers, strikes and lock-outs, freedom of association and dispute resolution. The theory pertaining to Labour Legislation and small business development was obtained by means of conducting a comprehensive literature study. The literature study included all relevant perspectives on the Labour Relations Act and Government Policy on small businesses. From the study, a questionnaire was developed to test the impact of the Act on the growth and development of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The empirical results, in general, indicated non-compliance with the Labour Relations Act and negative views on the value of the Act on the growth and development of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. From the literature study and the findings of the research questionnaire, it became apparent that: · A comprehensive audit of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole is needed. The aim of the audit would be to review the current operations of the small business sector in the Metropole. This outcome will indicate the extent of understanding and compliance with the various aspects of the Labour Relations Act. · The acquisition of industrial relations knowledge and skills by owners and leaders in the sector is vital for the development of the sector. The Skills Development Act provides a funding framework for skills training that is relevant to a specific industry. The small business sector could benefit significantly from the provision of this piece of legislation. · A comprehensive support programme for SMME’s is a necessary prerequisite for the growth and development of the sector. The support system could include tax incentives, flexible labour legislation and training as indicated in the above paragraph.

It is vital for knowledge workers to utilise social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing practices and the adoption of these collaborative tools in higher learning institutions. This study investigated the extent to which social media tools are utilised to enhance knowledge sharing practices among knowledge workers at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania. The study conducted semi-structured interview with the NM-AIST library staff and Information and Communication Technology Resource Centre (ICT-RC) personnel in 2014. The study found that, the utilisation of social media tools to enhance knowledge sharing among knowledge workers is still in its early stages in higher learning institutions in Tanzania. However, there was much interest amongst respondents for integrating and utilising social media tools to support knowledge sharing in higher learning institutions. The findings indicated that: social media tools can be used to enhance knowledge sharing practices; however, face to face mechanism, Google Mail, and Google Drive were indicated as main mechanisms to enhance knowledge sharing practices in higher learning institutions. Knowledge workers at the NM-AIST shared knowledge to facilitate teaching and learning activities, research and innovation; however knowledge sharing practices occur when needs arise. The study revealed the lack of knowledge sharing culture documented at the NM-AIST. The study has recommended the following: proper training for knowledge workers, employment of skilled and experienced knowledge workers, provision of full support (motivation), provide support to individual users. Application of social media tools which are very familiar and simple to use, establishment of a good relationship between knowledge workers and the management, as well as with schools and departments in higher learning institutions. Additionally, the study recommends the provision of adequate social media tools to facilitate knowledge diffusion within institutions. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted