M.Ed.

This study evaluated potential health risks associated with the consumption of commonly consumed leafy vegetables, Amaranthus hybridus (tepe), Brassica oleracea (cabbage) and Spinacia oleracea (spinach) in the gold mining town of Kanana in North West Province, where these three plants were the most commonly consumed. Structured interviews were conducted with 40 households to determine their socioeconomic status and the consumption patterns of vegetables (cultivated and wild plants). Along with interviews, plant samples were sampled in home gardens and at various harvesting locations in the wild for chemical analysis. Finally, analysis of mercury content in the sampled three leafy vegetable species was performed to ascertain the contributions of the vegetables to the dietary mercury intake among a predominantly young and poor subpopulation of Kanana, which was found to be largely dependent on state welfare grants and on the cultivation and gathering of wild plants for survival. The study found that all three leafy vegetable species under analysis had mercury concentrations that exceeded the maximum permitted by the World Health Organisation. The highest mean mercury concentrations were found in A. hybridus 0.287μg/g dry mass and the lowest in S. oleracea 0.128μg/g dry mass. Equally, mercury ingestion through the three leafy vegetables by adults in the surveyed subgroups of Kanana exceeded thresholds prescribed by the (2007). Based on consumption patterns, dietary mercury intake by adults exceeded the recommended limits by one order of magnitude, with yearly dose exceeding by as much as four and three orders of magnitude. Long term mercury exposure can cause damage to the central nervous system and chronic intoxication. The surveyed subpopulation is therefore exposed to health risks from mercury toxicity. To ensure food safety and to protect the residents from metal toxicity, awareness programmes are recommended to educate communities living in the vicinity of mines to avoid the areas of highest contamination, such as the artisanal mine dumps and (in this case) the Schoonspruit stream, and to control the artisanal use of mercury. Alternative vegetable gardening methods such as vegetable container gardening using unpolluted soil can also be implemented for the community. In addition, remediation of all the sites where local people cultivate vegetables and gather edible wild plants should be considered where feasible. The insights gained through the study should be used to inform local land use planning and create awareness among personnel from local regulators and development agencies. The insights can also be used to inform environmental management planning processes, risk mitigation and social impact assessment for industries in the region, in particular those involved in mining. Keywords: consumption patterns, gold mining, human health risk, leafy vegetables, mercury.

The Integrated Development Planning is regarded as a tool for bridging the gap between the current development reality and the vision of equitable, sustainable development and service delivery. This new planning approach is meant to enable municipalities to develop strategic policy capacity, to mobilise resources and to target its own. activities. It is a tool that municipalities can use to become developmentally oriented, as well as to mobilise participation of local communities with the intention of meeting local citizens' social, economic and material needs. It guides and informs all planning, development, management actions and decisions. This study has attempted to analyse the implementation of the Integrated Development Plan using the Bophirima District Municipality as a case study. The critical question that the study attempted to answer was whether there was any progress made in the implementation of the district municipality's plan to uplift the living conditions of local citizens. The study also focused on whether local citizens participated in the planning process of their own development. The primary instrument for data collection used in this study was questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that municipalities lacked high quality technical skills to manage, administer and source finances to implement sustainable projects. It is therefore recommended that:- a) For development to be sustainable, all municipalities in the district should design and implement a full participation strategy by all municipal stakeholders and mobilise financial resources to implement projects identified to improve the living standards of communities. b) Municipalities should expedite the implementation of local economic development strategy to attract sustainable businesses to the area to create jobs and markets for internal and outside suppliers. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

The research attempts to find the relationship between self-concept, academic achievement and peer counselling among students of the University of North West in South Africa. The study covered the following: Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Diplomas. The following questions are the focus of the research: Do you accept criticism objectively?; Do you reward yourself when YSU study?; and Are you comfortable working in a group?. Data for the research were collected by means of questionnaires. Facts, opinions and information were obtained from 100 respondents. An analysis of data revealed some interesting results. Though self-concept, academic achievement and peer counselling were in a way related, it is crucial for all stakeholders to make coherent efforts to assist students to improve drastically in their academic performance. / Thesis (M. Ed.) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2003

This study aimed to determine the applicability of western migration models to the movement patterns of foreign migrant traders at the Hartebeespoort Dam. After reflecting on theoretical dimensions of migration and the informal sector, an overview was provided of the historical development of migration patterns to and within South Africa. The complex nature of migration phenomena ensures the application of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. A snowball sampling technique was used to select 30 respondents for the purpose of the questionnaire survey. Information obtained from this survey was supplemented by five in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistical techniques were used to analyse the information obtained from the survey. The study concluded that western migration models do not offer adequate explanation for the migration patterns observed among foreign migrant traders at the Hartebeespoort Dam. The study also established the merit of the combined use of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in migration studies. / Geography / M.A. (Geography)

The aim of this research project was to investigate the impact of funding on the service delivery of the Information Technology Division in the Department of Finance, North West Province. A secondary related purpose of the study was to determine the existence and utilisation of a proper strategic plan in the Division of Information Technology. A Division or Programme without a proper strategy would not be in a position to compile a credible budget. Two different self-administered questionnaires were developed. The first questionnaire was a survey of all Information Technology staff members including high-ranking officials such as assistant directors, deputy directors and managers. The second questionnaire was directed to provincial departmental officials across various departments who were willing to take part in the study. Eight provincial departments were chosen and the sample represented a total population of twelve provincial departments in the North West Provincial government. In addition to the surveys, direct interviews were conducted in cases where the respondents were not able to complete questionnaires without assistance. Although the intention of the study was to determine the impact of funding on the service delivery of information technology Division in the Department of Finance, the overall findings revealed that the strategic plan, which was not well defined, was found as the major problem that impacted on the process of compiling a reasonable budget. This, in effect, had a greater impact on service delivery than the actual funding of the Division. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2004

This study aimed to determine the applicability of western migration models to the movement patterns of foreign migrant traders at the Hartebeespoort Dam. After reflecting on theoretical dimensions of migration and the informal sector, an overview was provided of the historical development of migration patterns to and within South Africa. The complex nature of migration phenomena ensures the application of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. A snowball sampling technique was used to select 30 respondents for the purpose of the questionnaire survey. Information obtained from this survey was supplemented by five in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistical techniques were used to analyse the information obtained from the survey. The study concluded that western migration models do not offer adequate explanation for the migration patterns observed among foreign migrant traders at the Hartebeespoort Dam. The study also established the merit of the combined use of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in migration studies. / Geography / M.A. (Geography)

Information literacy is a skill and forms the basis for life-long learning. The aim of this study is to investigate the information literacy skills of first year students at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU), with specific reference to the role of the academic library. The NWU‟s Vaal Triangle Campus Library supports first-year students in their studies by helping them to improve their information skills and teach them to find, evaluate and organise information in different formats. The purpose of this is to help first-year students to find relevant information that meet their information requirements. Students who are information literate not only have the necessary skills; but also have insight, comprehension, and knowledge at their disposal, while being life-long learners. A compulsory literacy module forms part of the curriculum for first-year students at the NWU‟s Vaal Triangle Campus, and is presented by academic staff. The credit-earning module (known as AGLE 121) consists of three components, namely computer and information literacy, reading literacy, and academic literacy. This study focuses on the module for basic information literacy, which is mainly of a theoretical nature. First year students were tested by questionnaires and interviews before and after completion of the information literacy module, to determine what contribution the module makes to their information literacy. This studyconcluded that after completing the information literacy module, first-year students have the theoretical knowledge at their disposal, but still do not know where to find databases or information. The role of the campus library regarding information literacy is to expand and improve students‟ information skills as well as being involved in the planning and development of the information literacy module. A recommendation is made that the information literacy module should already be offered during the first semester (instead of the second semester), so that students can use their information skills effectively for their studies. / Information Science / M. (Information Science)

Information literacy is a skill and forms the basis for life-long learning. The aim of this study is to investigate the information literacy skills of first year students at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU), with specific reference to the role of the academic library. The NWU‟s Vaal Triangle Campus Library supports first-year students in their studies by helping them to improve their information skills and teach them to find, evaluate and organise information in different formats. The purpose of this is to help first-year students to find relevant information that meet their information requirements. Students who are information literate not only have the necessary skills; but also have insight, comprehension, and knowledge at their disposal, while being life-long learners. A compulsory literacy module forms part of the curriculum for first-year students at the NWU‟s Vaal Triangle Campus, and is presented by academic staff. The credit-earning module (known as AGLE 121) consists of three components, namely computer and information literacy, reading literacy, and academic literacy. This study focuses on the module for basic information literacy, which is mainly of a theoretical nature. First year students were tested by questionnaires and interviews before and after completion of the information literacy module, to determine what contribution the module makes to their information literacy. This studyconcluded that after completing the information literacy module, first-year students have the theoretical knowledge at their disposal, but still do not know where to find databases or information. The role of the campus library regarding information literacy is to expand and improve students‟ information skills as well as being involved in the planning and development of the information literacy module. A recommendation is made that the information literacy module should already be offered during the first semester (instead of the second semester), so that students can use their information skills effectively for their studies. / Information Science / M. (Information Science)

Traditional development theories concentrated on stimulating economic growth without considering the extent to which growth would affect rural people's quality of life. Modernisation has failed to improve life in rural Third World areas. Current development thinking emphasises the human aspect of development and IS more inclined towards participatory rural development. Referring specifically to the Batlharos Water project, the study investigates and identifies the causes ofthe limited initiatives in participatory development within the Kudumane district in the North-West Province of South Africa. Trends in the evolution of development thought to people's participation, including factors, processes and approaches that may facilitate participatory development in the Kudumane area are discussed. Factors that have affected and limited earlier participatory initiatives in this area are isolated. The study concludes that unless rural communities constantly become the planners, initiators and executors of local development, no real transformation of their lives can be accomplished. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Administration)