Cancer is a potentially life-threatening disease, which affects millions of people worldwide. It is multifaceted in nature and can lead to impairment in a person‟s physical, social and emotional functioning (Beatty, Oxlad, Koczwara, & Wade, 2008). Multidimensional treatment, with highly specialised professionals, equipment and services is thus needed for the effective treatment thereof (Mathews, West, & Buehler, 2009). Patients treated within the private and public healthcare sectors of South Africa have vastly differing treatment experiences. Only about 20% of the South African population has access to and can afford treatment within the private healthcare sector (Somdyala, Bradshaw, Gelderblom, & Parkin, 2010). While private sector patients have access to information, social workers and support groups, those in the public sector face life-threatening waiting times and a lack of empathy by public sector staff, weighed down by patient numbers and a lack of resources (Pillay 2002; Bateman, 2011). A study previously conducted by the researchers highlighted cancer patients‟ perceptions and experiences of treatment as being one of the most prominent themes influencing patients‟ overall cancer experience (Venter, Venter, Botha, & Strydom, 2008). This, coupled with the fact that the majority of research studies previously conducted in South Africa generally focused on the biomedical aspects of cancer (Albrecht, 2009), make exploring patients and healthcare professionals‟ perceptions and experiences of cancer treatment in a South African context potentially valuable. The thesis consists of three sub-studies reported in three manuscripts. The aim of the first article was to provide a narrative literature review exploring cancer survivorship and management in the South African context by scrutinising research previously conducted on cancer treatment. The aim of the second and the third article was to explore patients and healthcare professionals‟ perceptions and experiences of cancer treatment in the private and public healthcare sectors in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A 100 participants were purposively sampled from a government-funded hospital (n = 30 patients; n = 22 healthcare professionals) and a private treatment facility (n = 30 patients; 18 healthcare professionals). Data was collected by making use of both qualitative (self-report questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions; interviews) and quantitative (Needs Evaluation Questionnaire) measures. A qualitative content and statistical analysis was conducted. Findings indicate that despite the expressed need for treatment to move towards a more biopsychosocial approach, the majority of the healthcare professionals in the current study are still primarily following a biomedical approach. Findings also indicate that the majority of the difficulties and frustrations experienced could be seen as being contextual problems and were not necessarily related to cancer treatment per se. Poor availability of resources and the South African population‟s diverse characteristics were responsible for the majority of the difficulties reported. Differing cultural beliefs, language barriers, illiteracy and unemployment were al seen as negatively influencing the treatment process. This is consistent with Serin et al. (2004), who reported that there is a significant relationship between the systemic nature of medical issues and the social, material and psychological difficulties cancer patients‟ experience. The systemic nature of healthcare needs highlighted in the current study emphasises the necessity for cancer treatment in South Africa to employ a more biopsychosocial approach. True collaboration between healthcare professionals working towards a common goal should thus be considered as being the ideal. Considering the socioeconomic divide and resource discrepancy between the private and public healthcare sectors in South Africa, credence must be given to the allocation of resources in the public sector. If this incongruity is to be addressed, there would have to be cooperation at government level. Assistance with regard to the allocation of funds, as well as the meticulous monitoring of the distribution thereof, is needed. Funding should be used to increase human and technical resources, as well as for staff development. Equitable care for all cancer patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status, is the ideal. The following recommendations on how to improve overall cancer care, in both sectors, can also be made: existing treatment sites need to be updated and additional sites developed; continuous research needs to be conducted; funds need to be allocated towards the development of effective transport and translation services; cultural diversity should be taken into account when developing awareness campaigns and treatment plans; healthcare professionals need to adopt a holistic approach during which attention is given to communication, establishing rapport and patient participation; and lastly healthcare professionals should also be encouraged to pay attention to their own healthcare needs as well. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Cancer is a potentially life-threatening disease, which affects millions of people worldwide. It is multifaceted in nature and can lead to impairment in a person‟s physical, social and emotional functioning (Beatty, Oxlad, Koczwara, & Wade, 2008). Multidimensional treatment, with highly specialised professionals, equipment and services is thus needed for the effective treatment thereof (Mathews, West, & Buehler, 2009). Patients treated within the private and public healthcare sectors of South Africa have vastly differing treatment experiences. Only about 20% of the South African population has access to and can afford treatment within the private healthcare sector (Somdyala, Bradshaw, Gelderblom, & Parkin, 2010). While private sector patients have access to information, social workers and support groups, those in the public sector face life-threatening waiting times and a lack of empathy by public sector staff, weighed down by patient numbers and a lack of resources (Pillay 2002; Bateman, 2011). A study previously conducted by the researchers highlighted cancer patients‟ perceptions and experiences of treatment as being one of the most prominent themes influencing patients‟ overall cancer experience (Venter, Venter, Botha, & Strydom, 2008). This, coupled with the fact that the majority of research studies previously conducted in South Africa generally focused on the biomedical aspects of cancer (Albrecht, 2009), make exploring patients and healthcare professionals‟ perceptions and experiences of cancer treatment in a South African context potentially valuable. The thesis consists of three sub-studies reported in three manuscripts. The aim of the first article was to provide a narrative literature review exploring cancer survivorship and management in the South African context by scrutinising research previously conducted on cancer treatment. The aim of the second and the third article was to explore patients and healthcare professionals‟ perceptions and experiences of cancer treatment in the private and public healthcare sectors in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A 100 participants were purposively sampled from a government-funded hospital (n = 30 patients; n = 22 healthcare professionals) and a private treatment facility (n = 30 patients; 18 healthcare professionals). Data was collected by making use of both qualitative (self-report questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions; interviews) and quantitative (Needs Evaluation Questionnaire) measures. A qualitative content and statistical analysis was conducted. Findings indicate that despite the expressed need for treatment to move towards a more biopsychosocial approach, the majority of the healthcare professionals in the current study are still primarily following a biomedical approach. Findings also indicate that the majority of the difficulties and frustrations experienced could be seen as being contextual problems and were not necessarily related to cancer treatment per se. Poor availability of resources and the South African population‟s diverse characteristics were responsible for the majority of the difficulties reported. Differing cultural beliefs, language barriers, illiteracy and unemployment were al seen as negatively influencing the treatment process. This is consistent with Serin et al. (2004), who reported that there is a significant relationship between the systemic nature of medical issues and the social, material and psychological difficulties cancer patients‟ experience. The systemic nature of healthcare needs highlighted in the current study emphasises the necessity for cancer treatment in South Africa to employ a more biopsychosocial approach. True collaboration between healthcare professionals working towards a common goal should thus be considered as being the ideal. Considering the socioeconomic divide and resource discrepancy between the private and public healthcare sectors in South Africa, credence must be given to the allocation of resources in the public sector. If this incongruity is to be addressed, there would have to be cooperation at government level. Assistance with regard to the allocation of funds, as well as the meticulous monitoring of the distribution thereof, is needed. Funding should be used to increase human and technical resources, as well as for staff development. Equitable care for all cancer patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status, is the ideal. The following recommendations on how to improve overall cancer care, in both sectors, can also be made: existing treatment sites need to be updated and additional sites developed; continuous research needs to be conducted; funds need to be allocated towards the development of effective transport and translation services; cultural diversity should be taken into account when developing awareness campaigns and treatment plans; healthcare professionals need to adopt a holistic approach during which attention is given to communication, establishing rapport and patient participation; and lastly healthcare professionals should also be encouraged to pay attention to their own healthcare needs as well. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In this dissertation a study was undertaken of the function of the public sector manager at the central level of government and of the role which the public manager plays in the human resources management. South Africa is a three-tier state, which consists of the central, provincial and local levels of government. The central government is the supreme body of government entrusted with the responsibility of making policies, rules and giving direction to the entire citizenry. The central government is manned by politicians from different political parties who have to decide on behalf of their electorates. It is a given fact and a reality that politicians alone cannot deliver the services to the communities. So public officials are appointed to implement the policies enacted by Parliament. Public managers have to interpret policies and give direction to the various structures of government. Among the activities of government, public managers have also to give direction as to the management of human resources in the public sector. This study investigated the function of the public manager at the central government with a reference to the management of human resources. This research was necessitated by the fact that since the new constitutional dispensation in South Africa, many changes have taken place most of which implied that the management of human resources in the public sector would have to reflect such changes. Public managers perform various functions, including generic administrative functions, auxiliary functions and functional activities. These functions are performed at senior management level. Furthermore, these functions performed by public managers will be viewed from the human resource management. Particular, attention is focused on the staffing in the public sector and how public managers can best perform their function in absorbing proper personnel in the public sector. AFRIKAANS : 'n Studie is onderneem om die funksie van die openbare sektor bestuurder op sentrale regeringsvlak te ondersoek asook die rol wat die openbare bestuurder speel in menslike hulpbronbestuur. Die verantwoordelikheid van die openbare sektor is om dienste te verskaf aan die landsburgers en om dit suksesvol te bereik meet die openbare sektor oor goed opgeleide personeel beskik. Ten einde personeel te kan bestuur behoort openbare bestuurders kennis te dra van die behoeftes, vrese en verwagtinge van die publiek. Een van die vernaamste funksies van die openbare bestuurder is om leiding te gee aan andere. Suid Afrika is 'n driedelige staat, wat bestaan uit die sentrale, provinsiale en plaaslike vlakke van regering. Die sentrale regering is die hoogste regeringsliggaam verantwoordelik vir beleidmaking, die daarsteling van reëls en om rigting te gee aan alle landsburgers. Die sentrale regering word gevorm deur politici van verskillende politieke partye wat namens hul ondersteuners besluite moet neem. Dit is 'n onomstootlike feit en werklikheid dat politici nie alleen die dienste aan die gemeenskap kan verskaf nie. Daarom word openbare amptenare aangestel om die beleid wat deur die Parlement aanvaar is, te implementeer. Openbare bestuurders moet beleid interpreteer en leiding gee binne die verskillende strukture van die regering. Die aktiwiteite van die regering bring mee dat openbare bestuurders leiding moet gee rakende die bestuur van menslike hulpbronne in die openbare sektor. Hierdie studie het die funksie van die openbare bestuurder in die sentrale regering ondersoek met verwysing na die bestuur van menslike hulpbronne. Die navorsing was genoodsaak deur die feit dat sedert die nuwe grondwetlike bedeling in Suid Afrika baie veranderinge plaasgevind het waarvan meeste impliseer dat die bestuur van menslike hulpbronne in die openbare sektor sodanige veranderinge sal reflekteer. Openbare bestuurders voer verskeie funksies uit insluitende generiese administratiewe funksies, hulpfunksies en funksionele aktiwiteite. Hierdie funksies word op senior bestuursvlak uitgevoer. Verder word hierdie funksies wat deur openbare bestuurders uitgevoer word beskou vanuit 'n menslike hulpbron oogpunt. Spesifieke aandag is gegee aan die personeel in die openbare sektor en hoe openbare bestuurders hulle funksies tot die beste van hul vermoë kan uitvoer deur bekwame personeel in diens te neem in die openbare sektor. Die studie toon aan dat daar tydens die transformasie van die Suid-Afrikaanse staatdiens politieke oorweging geskenk sal moet word aan die vervanging van wit persone met swartes, vrouens en gestremdes. In partypolitieke terme beteken dit geensins 'n balans tussen diegene wat die waardes van die ou orde aanhang en diegene wat die waardes van die nuwe orde bevorder nie. Die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, 1996 volg 'n humanistiese benadering, wat beteken dat die armes, werkloses, verwaarloosde en wanhopige mense gehelp moet word wat in sigself nie 'n partypolitieke kwessie is nie. Verder toon internasionale onderving dat die radikale transformasie van grondwette dikwels vrees, onsekerheid en paniek onder inwoners veroorsaak. Hierdie gevoelens word dikwels op verskillende wyses deur verskillende gemeenskappe tot uiting gebring. S.A. is daarom geen uitsondering nie. Die vermoë van die staatsdiens om dienste te lewer sal nie net afhang van die politieke leierskap en bestuursvaardighede van die politieke ampsbekleders nie, maar ook van die professionalisme van staatsamptenare. Copyright / Dissertation (MAdmin)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) / Unrestricted

Corporate governance failures raise questions by stakeholders seeking explanations why audit committees are failing to play their agency role effectively. The objective of this study was to determine the relation between 49 disclosed audit committee effectiveness variables based on King III Code recommended practices and the external audit opinion expressed in South African central government departments. Descriptive statistics highlighted variances in 14 variables across 93 departments. Categorical principal component analysis categorised the 14 variables into four factor variables and hypotheses. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression tested the hypotheses. Results suggest that disclosure of a higher number of variables was generally associated with a clean audit report, while the association between a higher number of disclosures regarding audit committee structure and profile variables and a clean audit report was significant. Improvements to National Treasury’s disclosure templates and review of departmental managers’ disclosures about audit committees in annual reports are recommended. / Gevalle van korporatiewe beheer mislukking laat vrae by belanghebbers ontstaan waarom ouditkomitees versuim om hul oorsigrol doeltreffend te vervul. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal watter verband daar bestaan tussen 49 vasgestelde ouditkomiteedoeltreffendheidsveranderlikes vervat in die aanbevole praktyke volgens die King III-kode en die eksterne ouditmening wat in sentrale staatsdepartemente in Suid-Afrika uitgepreek is. Beskrywende statistiek het variasies in 14 veranderlikes oor 93 departemente uitgewys. Kategoriesebeginsel-komponentontleding het die 14 veranderlikes in vier faktorveranderlikes en hipoteses gekategoriseer. Meerveranderlike ordinale logistieke regressie het die hipoteses getoets. Resultate toon dat openbaarmaking van ʼn groter getal veranderlikes oor die algemeen verband hou met ʼn skoon ouditverslag; en die verband tussen ʼn groter getal openbaarmakings betreffende ouditkomiteestruktuur- en profielveranderlikes en ʼn skoon ouditverslag was beduidend. Verbeteringe aan Nasionale Tesourie se openbaarmakingstemplet en nasiening van departementele bestuurders se openbaarmakings rakende ouditkomitees in jaarverslae word aanbeveel. / Go palelwa ga ditshepedišo tšeo di latelwago go laola khamphani go dirile gore bengdithoto ba ipotšiše dipotšišo tše di nyakago ditlhalošo tša gore gobaneng dikomiti tša tlhakišo di šitwa go kgatha tema ya tšona ya bodiredi ka bokgoni. Maikemišetšo a thutelo ye e be e le go šupa tswalano gare ga mabaka ao a ka fetogago a go tliša katlego a 49 ao a utollotšwego a komiti ya tlhakišo go ya ka ditlwaelo tše di šišintšwego tša King III Code le maikutlo a tlhakišo ya ka ntle ao a filwego ke dikgoro tša mmušo wa gare tša Afrika Borwa. Dipalopalo tšeo di fago tlhalošo ya popego ya datha di bontšhitše phetogo go mabaka ao a ka fetogago a 14 ka go dikgoro tše 93. Tshekatsheko ya karolo ye kgolo ya tlhopho e hlophile mabaka ao a ka fetogago a 14 go ya ka mabaka ao a ka fetogago le ditlhalošo tše di šišintšwego tše nne. Mokgwa wa tshekatsheko ya go fetogafetoga ga didatha go ya ka tatelano goba kgetho o dirišitšwe go leka ditlhalošo tše di šišintšwego. Dipoelo di šišintše gore kutollo ya palo ya godingwna ya mabaka ao a ka fetogago ka kakaretšo e tswalane le maikutlo a tlhakišo ao a se nago bosodi, gomme tswalano gare ga palo ya godingwana ya dikutollo tša mabaka ao a ka fetogago a popego ya komiti ya tlhakišo le profaele le maikutlo ao a se nago bosodi e bile bohlokwa. Dikaonafatšo go mokgwatshepedišo wa kutollo wa Polokelo ya Bosetšhaba le tekolo ya dikutollo tša bolaodi ka ga dikomiti tša tlhakišo ka go dipego tša ngwaga ka ngwaga di a eletšwa / Centre for Accounting Studies / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

Abstracts in English and Afrikaans / There is a growing recognition of the role internal communications play in the overall functioning of an organisation. Scholars link effective internal communications with business performance and in the context of a government institution it means that in order to improve service delivery they must pay attention to the effectiveness of their communication practices. To execute its mandate effectively the Government Communications and Information systems (GCIS) as an entity responsible for managing communications on behalf of government has to ensure that it leads by example in this regard. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe communication experiences of GCIS employees. To answer the research question a cross-sectional survey of n=40 randomly selected employees was conducted at the GCIS head office. The survey resulted in initial findings which were further explored by interviewing nine (n=9) purposefully selected individuals. Results indicate that employees are satisfied with communications in general. Evidence suggests that not all communication channels are considered reliable however, perceptions of trust or reliability regarding channels is influenced by an inherent culture at the GCIS that equates authority and rank with trust. Concerns were raised with official channels in particular which are perceived as slow, outdated and irrelevant, blamed in part on bureaucratic processes. Findings show that there is a strong positive relationship between communication satisfaction and job satisfaction in line with findings from other studies. This underscores the importance of effective internal communication practices in state institutions. If communication is effective, evidence suggests that it will lead to employee job satisfaction. It is therefore recommended that the GCIS conducts a strategic review of its internal communication systems and practises in order to evaluate their effectiveness in helping to achieve communication goals of the organisation. A follow up study be conducted at the GCIS to measure the implementation of recommendations made in this study. Furthermore, research is recommended within the government sector as this will provide a holistic view of communication experiences within state institutions in South Africa, in particular the influence of bureaucratic systems. / Daar word toenemend erkenning gegee aan die rol wat interne kommunikasie speel in die algemene funksionering van 'n organisasie. Geleerdes koppel effektiewe interne kommunikasie met ondernemingsprestasie, en in die konteks van 'n regeringsinstelling beteken dit dat hulle, ten einde dienslewering te verbeter, moet let op die effektiwiteit van hul kommunikasiepraktyke. Om sy mandaat effektief uit te voer, moet die Regeringskommunikasie- en Inligtingstelsels (GCIS) as 'n entiteit wat namens die regering verantwoordelik is vir die bestuur van kommunikasie verseker dat dit 'n voorbeeld hiervan is. Die doel van hierdie studie is om kommunikasieervarings van werknemers van GCIS te verken en te beskryf. Om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord, is 'n deursnee-opname van (n=40) lukraak geselekteerde werknemers by die GCIS-hoofkantoor gedoen. Die opname het gelei tot aanvanklike bevindings wat verder ondersoek is deur nege (n =9) onderhoude met doelgerigte geselekteerde onderhoude. Die resultate dui daarop dat werknemers oor die algemeen tevrede is met kommunikasie. Bewyse dui daarop dat nie alle metodes as betroubaar beskou word nie, maar dat persepsies van vertroue of betroubaarheid ten opsigte van kanale beïnvloed word deur 'n inherente kultuur by die GCIS wat gesag en rang met vertroue vergelyk. Daar is ook kommer uitgespreek met amptelike kommunikasiekanale wat gesien word as stadig, verouderd en irrelevant, en deels die skuld op burokratiese prosesse. Bevindinge toon dat daar 'n sterk positiewe verwantskap bestaan tussen kommunikasiebevrediging en werkstevredenheid, in ooreenstemming met bevindings van ander navorsers. Dit onderstreep die belangrikheid van effektiewe interne kommunikasiepraktyke by staatsinstellings. As kommunikasie effektief is, dui die getuienis daarop dat dit tot werkstevredenheid van die werknemers sal lei. Daarom word aanbeveel dat die GCIS 'n strategiese oorsig van sy interne kommunikasiestelsels en -praktyke uitvoer om die doeltreffendheid daarvan te evalueer om die organisasie se kommunikasiedoelwitte te bereik. n Opvolgstudie word by die GCIS uitgevoer om die implementering van die aanbevelings wat in die studie gemaak is, te meet. Verder word navorsing binne die owerheidsektor aanbeveel, aangesien dit 'n holistiese siening bied van kommunikasie-ervarings binne staatsinstellings in Suid-Afrika, veral die invloed van burokratiese prosesse. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communications)