South Africa, like many other developing countries, faces a growing problem of informal settlements which are mushrooming in and around the major urban centres. Living conditions within these settlements are typically poor with residents facing a range of basic livelihoods challenges, exacerbated by poverty, inequality and social exclusion. Unplanned and rapid urbanisation, from which informal settlements originate, and existing conditions in these areas, heighten risk to disaster and provide the conditions that turn natural and man-made events into major livelihoods disruptions. The most devastating of these disruptions are disasters brought on by uncontrolled fires, extreme wet weather and associated flooding. To forestall disaster, minimise livelihoods disruptions and debilitating loss of assets, and safeguard developmental progress, local governments have increasingly adopted risk reduction approaches to their development planning and implementation. Among some of the critical risk reduction measures adopted is the deployment of communication interventions meant to cultivate a culture of risk avoidance among at-risk communities. While it is largely accepted that developmental losses can be considerably reduced if people are properly educated and well-prepared for a disaster, it is also widely recognised that current tools and guidelines for communication of disaster risk in developing communities have largely proved inadequate. Among leading criticisms is that the communication interventions implemented neither fully cater for the contemporary proactive and pre-emptive (risk minimising) approach to disaster risk management nor the developmental imperatives of the disaster risk reduction paradigm. This study, therefore, sought to propose a conceptual framework for the reorientation of thinking and improvement of the on-the-ground practice of disaster risk communication in South African municipalities, and to ensure, among other things, that the practice of disaster risk communication in South Africa places participation of at-risk communities at the centre of communication interventions for disaster risk reduction. A literature study was conducted to explore what principles of the participatory approach to development communication could be applicable to a framework for disaster risk communication interventions. Following the literature study, an empirical study into the contemporary disaster risk communication practice in the three study sites of Cape Town, George and uThungulu District was carried out. The field study comprised semi-structured interviews with disaster risk communication managers and other key informants, and focus group discussions with members of informally settled communities in the study areas. Using a hybrid thematic analytic approach, the data gathered empirically were analysed against the salient themes derived from the literature study and those emerging as the empirical study progressed, and from that process a conceptual framework for disaster risk participatory communication for at-risk communities in South African municipalities was developed and proposed. In conclusion, guidance was also given for translation of the conceptual framework into actual practice by disaster risk managers and other disaster risk reduction role-players in South Africa. / PhD (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

South Africa, like many other developing countries, faces a growing problem of informal settlements which are mushrooming in and around the major urban centres. Living conditions within these settlements are typically poor with residents facing a range of basic livelihoods challenges, exacerbated by poverty, inequality and social exclusion. Unplanned and rapid urbanisation, from which informal settlements originate, and existing conditions in these areas, heighten risk to disaster and provide the conditions that turn natural and man-made events into major livelihoods disruptions. The most devastating of these disruptions are disasters brought on by uncontrolled fires, extreme wet weather and associated flooding. To forestall disaster, minimise livelihoods disruptions and debilitating loss of assets, and safeguard developmental progress, local governments have increasingly adopted risk reduction approaches to their development planning and implementation. Among some of the critical risk reduction measures adopted is the deployment of communication interventions meant to cultivate a culture of risk avoidance among at-risk communities. While it is largely accepted that developmental losses can be considerably reduced if people are properly educated and well-prepared for a disaster, it is also widely recognised that current tools and guidelines for communication of disaster risk in developing communities have largely proved inadequate. Among leading criticisms is that the communication interventions implemented neither fully cater for the contemporary proactive and pre-emptive (risk minimising) approach to disaster risk management nor the developmental imperatives of the disaster risk reduction paradigm. This study, therefore, sought to propose a conceptual framework for the reorientation of thinking and improvement of the on-the-ground practice of disaster risk communication in South African municipalities, and to ensure, among other things, that the practice of disaster risk communication in South Africa places participation of at-risk communities at the centre of communication interventions for disaster risk reduction. A literature study was conducted to explore what principles of the participatory approach to development communication could be applicable to a framework for disaster risk communication interventions. Following the literature study, an empirical study into the contemporary disaster risk communication practice in the three study sites of Cape Town, George and uThungulu District was carried out. The field study comprised semi-structured interviews with disaster risk communication managers and other key informants, and focus group discussions with members of informally settled communities in the study areas. Using a hybrid thematic analytic approach, the data gathered empirically were analysed against the salient themes derived from the literature study and those emerging as the empirical study progressed, and from that process a conceptual framework for disaster risk participatory communication for at-risk communities in South African municipalities was developed and proposed. In conclusion, guidance was also given for translation of the conceptual framework into actual practice by disaster risk managers and other disaster risk reduction role-players in South Africa. / PhD (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In recent years the ideas of good governance and the responsibility of corporate South Africa to contribute to the society in which they operate have become an undeniable part of organisational conception. Indeed, South Africa is considered to be a leader in the field of corporate governance internationally. Forming part of governance practices is Corporate Social Investment (CSI) whereby corporate organisations contribute to causes and societal groupings in need of financial and other assistance. Among these societal groupings that receive support from CSI activities are non-profit organisations (NPOs) that rely on funding from their corporate donors for survival. Based on the exchange of funding and a shared attempt at social development, a relationship between the two parties emerges. From the perspective of the stakeholder theory, corporate organisations, through their CSI activities, and NPOs are stakeholders of each other and a positive relationship between them could strengthen their individual and collective goals. This study explored and described the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs in order to understand the state of the relationship and to critically consider the way in which the relationship is defined, described and measured. First, the relationship was explored by means of partially structured interviews based on well-known relationship indicators where it appeared that the relationship is not only fraught with negative perceptions from both sides, but also where the relationship indicators used to explore the relationship were not entirely suited for the specific context of this relationship. The negative perceptions and inappropriate relationship indicators formed the basis of a theoretical inquiry of literature on CSI, stakeholder relationships and participatory development communication. Subsequently, the partially structured interviews and the literature review informed the design of two corresponding survey questionnaires that could test both findings quantitatively. The results of validity and reliability testing confirmed the qualitative finding that a contextualised measurement is suited for this relationship. A mix of existing and newly formulated items grouped in contextual elements and redefined relationship indicators was used to describe the relationship. A combined analysis of qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the relationship is not as negative as the qualitative research might have suggested (possibly a result of contextualised measurement); but that very specific relational challenges are present and it is suggested that these challenges need a realistic approach of which accurate description is a starting point. The research contributes twofold with the first contribution being a clearer understanding of the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs and the second being a set of redefined and contextualised relationship indicators with which to define and measure this relationship. / PhD (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In recent years the ideas of good governance and the responsibility of corporate South Africa to contribute to the society in which they operate have become an undeniable part of organisational conception. Indeed, South Africa is considered to be a leader in the field of corporate governance internationally. Forming part of governance practices is Corporate Social Investment (CSI) whereby corporate organisations contribute to causes and societal groupings in need of financial and other assistance. Among these societal groupings that receive support from CSI activities are non-profit organisations (NPOs) that rely on funding from their corporate donors for survival. Based on the exchange of funding and a shared attempt at social development, a relationship between the two parties emerges. From the perspective of the stakeholder theory, corporate organisations, through their CSI activities, and NPOs are stakeholders of each other and a positive relationship between them could strengthen their individual and collective goals. This study explored and described the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs in order to understand the state of the relationship and to critically consider the way in which the relationship is defined, described and measured. First, the relationship was explored by means of partially structured interviews based on well-known relationship indicators where it appeared that the relationship is not only fraught with negative perceptions from both sides, but also where the relationship indicators used to explore the relationship were not entirely suited for the specific context of this relationship. The negative perceptions and inappropriate relationship indicators formed the basis of a theoretical inquiry of literature on CSI, stakeholder relationships and participatory development communication. Subsequently, the partially structured interviews and the literature review informed the design of two corresponding survey questionnaires that could test both findings quantitatively. The results of validity and reliability testing confirmed the qualitative finding that a contextualised measurement is suited for this relationship. A mix of existing and newly formulated items grouped in contextual elements and redefined relationship indicators was used to describe the relationship. A combined analysis of qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the relationship is not as negative as the qualitative research might have suggested (possibly a result of contextualised measurement); but that very specific relational challenges are present and it is suggested that these challenges need a realistic approach of which accurate description is a starting point. The research contributes twofold with the first contribution being a clearer understanding of the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs and the second being a set of redefined and contextualised relationship indicators with which to define and measure this relationship. / PhD (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In this study it is argued that organisations can contribute to development through their Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives (CSR). Therefore one should consider CSR programmes similar to development programmes and should be managed accordingly. When one communicates in a development context it happens within the extensive field of development communication. In this field the participatory approach to development communication is regarded as the normative approach. In view of this, this study argues that communication in CSR programmes should conform to the principles of the participatory approach. Participatory evaluation is one of the elements of the participatory approach; therefore the evaluation of programmes should adhere to the principles of the participatory approach to contribute to sustainable development. For this reason this study is informed by the relevant principles of the participatory approach to evaluation: dialogue; participation; empowerment and diversity. These principles of participatory evaluation are rooted in the mentioned principles and they are: partnership; participation in evaluation; acknowledgement of local knowledge; empowerment and change. The financial sector in South Africa is one of the largest financial contributors towards CSR. As a result, two financial organisations were chosen to be studied. The research question of this study is: What is the nature of the communication during evaluation of CSR programmes in the financial sector? A qualitative approach is used in this study to obtain the relevant information. Qualitative content analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used as research methods. The conclusion is made that none of the five programmes in this study use participatory evaluation to evaluate their CSR programmes. In two of the programmes a limited partnership is identified between the organisation and/or the program leader and the beneficiaries, while no partnership was found in the other three programmes. Limited participation from the beneficiaries of the two programmes during evaluation was observed; hence limited local knowledge is recognised in these two programmes. It was also found that only two programmes' beneficiaries are empowered through evaluation and only these two programmes changed according to the beneficiaries’ input. These findings that were made through an empirical study indicate that in spite of the limited presence of some principles of participatory evaluation in two of the five programmes, neither of the organisations uses participatory evaluation methods to evaluate their CSR programmes. / Thesis (MA (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The Student RAG Community Service (SRCS), a unique non-governmental organisation (NGO) of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, aims to support and to enable other NGOs to function independently. For this reason, the communication between the SRCS and these NGOs is viewed from the sub discipline of development communication, with the participative approach currently being perceived as the normative approach to communication for development. Communication between the SRCS and representatives of the NGOs should therefore conform to the principles of the participative approach to development communication to contribute to empowerment and development. The principles of the participative approach that was identified as relevant to this study are participation, dialogue, cultural sensitivity, to enable the community to be self-reliant and community development. This study is qualitative in nature and the research methods used to gather information about the nature of communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects are qualitative content analysis, partially structured interviews and observer–participant reporting. Although this study has focused only on early child development projects, the nature of these projects and their communication varied to a large extent. The overall conclusion of this study is that there are gaps in the participative communication between the SRCS and the representatives of all the researched projects. The type of communication between the SRCS and early childhood development projects did not conform to the principles of cultural sensitivity, community development and the enablement of the community to be self-reliant. These gaps are attributed in part to the present documentation of the SRCS (2010 annual report, portfolio descriptions, transfer reports and minutes of 2010’s and 2011’s meetings) as well as the fact that this NGO’s training guidelines do not emphasise the importance of participatory principles, and do not offer sufficient training in the implementation of these principles to its various members. Although the results indicate that the communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects presently does not conform to the principles of participative communication, the organisation is committed to addressing these gaps in future. / Thesis (MA (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

In this study it is argued that organisations can contribute to development through their Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives (CSR). Therefore one should consider CSR programmes similar to development programmes and should be managed accordingly. When one communicates in a development context it happens within the extensive field of development communication. In this field the participatory approach to development communication is regarded as the normative approach. In view of this, this study argues that communication in CSR programmes should conform to the principles of the participatory approach. Participatory evaluation is one of the elements of the participatory approach; therefore the evaluation of programmes should adhere to the principles of the participatory approach to contribute to sustainable development. For this reason this study is informed by the relevant principles of the participatory approach to evaluation: dialogue; participation; empowerment and diversity. These principles of participatory evaluation are rooted in the mentioned principles and they are: partnership; participation in evaluation; acknowledgement of local knowledge; empowerment and change. The financial sector in South Africa is one of the largest financial contributors towards CSR. As a result, two financial organisations were chosen to be studied. The research question of this study is: What is the nature of the communication during evaluation of CSR programmes in the financial sector? A qualitative approach is used in this study to obtain the relevant information. Qualitative content analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used as research methods. The conclusion is made that none of the five programmes in this study use participatory evaluation to evaluate their CSR programmes. In two of the programmes a limited partnership is identified between the organisation and/or the program leader and the beneficiaries, while no partnership was found in the other three programmes. Limited participation from the beneficiaries of the two programmes during evaluation was observed; hence limited local knowledge is recognised in these two programmes. It was also found that only two programmes' beneficiaries are empowered through evaluation and only these two programmes changed according to the beneficiaries’ input. These findings that were made through an empirical study indicate that in spite of the limited presence of some principles of participatory evaluation in two of the five programmes, neither of the organisations uses participatory evaluation methods to evaluate their CSR programmes. / Thesis (MA (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The Student RAG Community Service (SRCS), a unique non-governmental organisation (NGO) of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, aims to support and to enable other NGOs to function independently. For this reason, the communication between the SRCS and these NGOs is viewed from the sub discipline of development communication, with the participative approach currently being perceived as the normative approach to communication for development. Communication between the SRCS and representatives of the NGOs should therefore conform to the principles of the participative approach to development communication to contribute to empowerment and development. The principles of the participative approach that was identified as relevant to this study are participation, dialogue, cultural sensitivity, to enable the community to be self-reliant and community development. This study is qualitative in nature and the research methods used to gather information about the nature of communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects are qualitative content analysis, partially structured interviews and observer–participant reporting. Although this study has focused only on early child development projects, the nature of these projects and their communication varied to a large extent. The overall conclusion of this study is that there are gaps in the participative communication between the SRCS and the representatives of all the researched projects. The type of communication between the SRCS and early childhood development projects did not conform to the principles of cultural sensitivity, community development and the enablement of the community to be self-reliant. These gaps are attributed in part to the present documentation of the SRCS (2010 annual report, portfolio descriptions, transfer reports and minutes of 2010’s and 2011’s meetings) as well as the fact that this NGO’s training guidelines do not emphasise the importance of participatory principles, and do not offer sufficient training in the implementation of these principles to its various members. Although the results indicate that the communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects presently does not conform to the principles of participative communication, the organisation is committed to addressing these gaps in future. / Thesis (MA (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The North-West University (NWU) is an example of an organization that has a social responsibity towards the community and the environment within which it finds itself (Van Schalkwyk, 2013). One of the social responsibility programmes of the NWU-Pukke is known as the Students’ Rag Community Service (SRCS). The SRCS is a registered NPO (non-profit organization) which is run by the students of the NWU Potchefstroom Campus and which has been in existence since 1992 in its present form. In this study it is argued that the SRCS developmental projects could be offered in a more effective and sustainable manner by implementing the basic principles of the participatory approach, viz. Participation, dialogue, empowerment and cultural identity in order to support the local communities in their developmental processes. For the present study the focus was solely on one of the SRCS projects, the Pick a leader-leadership development project. This project has the aim of providing in the developmental needs of ten to fifteen Grade 11 learners in three schools in the North West Province (Potchefstrom and the surrounding communities in Ikageng). Thus project participants (learners) are instructed in basic skills about starting their own businesses (entrepreneurship); how to develop their leadership skills and to apply these skills, and how to be able to use basic life skills in their everyday lives. Various theoreticians have explained how NPO’s without participatory communication are seldom successful in terms of developmental initiatives. The learners can only develop if the relevant roleplayers of the project take ownership of the project by also being able to communicate in a participatory manner about their specific needs with both the NPO and the project volunteers. The NWU-Pukke volunteers, who manage this particular project, therefore have the responsibility to communicate in a participatory manner with the relevant learners, their teachers and then also the different principals to make the project succeed and to contribute to the realization of the developmental needs of the learners. The general research aim of the study had been to determine the nature of the communication among interest groups in the Pick a leader-leadership development programme of the SRCS. Qualitiative research methods, viz. Semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews and participant observation, were used in this study for purposes of making making a thorough investigation into the nature of the communication among those involved in the Pick a leader leadership development programme. The purpose of this was to determine perspectives about the project held by the persons involved (but especially those of the learners) and to interpret these in line with the normative theoretical principles of the participatory approach to developmental communication. It was ultimately found that the communication in the Pick a leader-leadership development programme was mostly one-way. / MA (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The North-West University (NWU) is an example of an organization that has a social responsibity towards the community and the environment within which it finds itself (Van Schalkwyk, 2013). One of the social responsibility programmes of the NWU-Pukke is known as the Students’ Rag Community Service (SRCS). The SRCS is a registered NPO (non-profit organization) which is run by the students of the NWU Potchefstroom Campus and which has been in existence since 1992 in its present form. In this study it is argued that the SRCS developmental projects could be offered in a more effective and sustainable manner by implementing the basic principles of the participatory approach, viz. Participation, dialogue, empowerment and cultural identity in order to support the local communities in their developmental processes. For the present study the focus was solely on one of the SRCS projects, the Pick a leader-leadership development project. This project has the aim of providing in the developmental needs of ten to fifteen Grade 11 learners in three schools in the North West Province (Potchefstrom and the surrounding communities in Ikageng). Thus project participants (learners) are instructed in basic skills about starting their own businesses (entrepreneurship); how to develop their leadership skills and to apply these skills, and how to be able to use basic life skills in their everyday lives. Various theoreticians have explained how NPO’s without participatory communication are seldom successful in terms of developmental initiatives. The learners can only develop if the relevant roleplayers of the project take ownership of the project by also being able to communicate in a participatory manner about their specific needs with both the NPO and the project volunteers. The NWU-Pukke volunteers, who manage this particular project, therefore have the responsibility to communicate in a participatory manner with the relevant learners, their teachers and then also the different principals to make the project succeed and to contribute to the realization of the developmental needs of the learners. The general research aim of the study had been to determine the nature of the communication among interest groups in the Pick a leader-leadership development programme of the SRCS. Qualitiative research methods, viz. Semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews and participant observation, were used in this study for purposes of making making a thorough investigation into the nature of the communication among those involved in the Pick a leader leadership development programme. The purpose of this was to determine perspectives about the project held by the persons involved (but especially those of the learners) and to interpret these in line with the normative theoretical principles of the participatory approach to developmental communication. It was ultimately found that the communication in the Pick a leader-leadership development programme was mostly one-way. / MA (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014