There has been a lot of research highlighting the plight of street children throughout the world in the past few years. A review of the literature on street children reveals that the problem is worse in developing countries. The number of street children can be expected to increase in South Africa as a result of rapid urbanisation and development. This will certainly pose a problem for the government and other organisations concerned with the welfare of street children. In order to combat the proliferation of the number of children in the streets, concerned parties need to know more about street children before intervention and effective policies can be designed. This study was initiated to serve that purpose: to provide information on how street children perceive themselves. The information gathered and results of the study can be used by service providers to design effective intervention programmes. Twenty street children from the Pietermaritzburg central business district and the comparison group of twenty children from a "place of safety" in Pietermaritzburg were interviewed and assessed. Children from the "place of safety" were chosen as a comparison group because their familial histories have many factors which are common to street children as well. Assessment ofthe two groups of children entailed measuring the children's self-concepts by using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Human Figure Drawings were used to identify signs and levels of emotional distress using the Koppitz Emotional Indicators procedure. Furthermore, an unstructured interview was conducted with each child. The data was analysed quantitatively using statistical sub-programs of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The following statistical tests were computed: means to measure central tendency, independent t-tests to determine the statistical significance of the difference between the two groups' self-concept scores and emotional indicators. Quatro Pro and Harvard Graphics software packages were used to analyse the data qualitatively and present it graphically . Statistical analyses of the results reveal no significant differences between the self-concept of street children and that of the comparison group of placed children. Both groups' scores on the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale are within the average range. This means that street and placed children's perceptions of themselves, as measured by the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, are similar to those of other children in the general population. Signs and levels of emotional distress as measured by Koppitz' list of Emotional Indicators are within the non-pathological range for both groups. This indicates that street and placed children's levels of emotional distress are similar to those found in other children in the normal population. It is therefore concluded that despite being exposed to hazardous situations and having lived in deprived and abusive situations, street children do not display significant levels of measured emotional distress. Street children are found not to be as disturbed as previously assumed by journalists and fiction writers who tend to romanticise or politicise their plight. Placed children, who also share some of the predicaments that street children have endured in terms of turbulent childhoods, do not seem to show deficits in their self-concepts and emotional functioning either. Recommendations on how to plan intervention programmes for street children are also offered. Moreover, the standardisation of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale on local populations is recommended. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of Natal, Pietermartizburg, 1996

The University of Natal was unique in South Africa for many years in that, unlike other South African universities, it was split between two geographically distant campuses, Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The research problem which was central to this study was to document the development of the libraries of the University of Natal from inception in 1910 to the point of merger at the end of 2003 in order to arrive at an understanding of how the libraries in the two centres, Durban and Pietermaritzburg, developed. Linked to the central problem were two sub-problems which were, firstly to discover whether the two libraries had, as stated by a highly placed University Task Team, developed “too independently ...” (1) was true or at least partially true and secondly to find out whether the personalities of individual University Librarians had a significant influence on the development of the libraries. In order to solve the research problem and the two sub-problems as well as to guide the structure of the chapters, four research questions were posed: • What administrative problems were encountered as the libraries expanded and how did the dual-centred nature of the University affect their development? • What level of financial support did the University provide to the libraries and was this sufficient? • What impact did the introduction of information and communications technology (ICT) have on the development of the libraries? and lastly; • What services were offered to users of the libraries and how did these differ between the two centres. The broad approach to the study is interpretative. It has been written as a narrative, with interpretations interwoven throughout the discussion, in chronological order to best show change over time. Understanding the present and anticipating and managing change with some measure of success depends to an extent on our appreciation and understanding of history. This study, by investigating the historical record of the nine decades of existence of the University of Natal Libraries, is not only a revelation of the past but will also, it is hoped, assist in identifying possible future trends in academic librarianship in South Africa, particularly as far as the management of multi-centred university libraries is concerned. The value of the study also lies in the consolidation and interpretation of information in numerous unpublished records and scattered, ephemeral resources. The historical research method was chosen for this study. Given the nature of the research problem it was deemed to be the optimal method for the collection and analysis of data. In order to gain an understanding of the problem, evidence was gathered from primary sources, such as letters, library committee minutes, memoranda, newsletters, photographs and reports, including library annual reports, as well as secondary sources. Oral testimonies assisted in verifying information pertaining to the written record, shedding light on certain events and providing added insight. The research undertaken for the study showed that an offer of a Library Fellowship by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which would enable a staff member to undergo professional training in librarianship in the United States, was the catalyst for the unification of the two libraries. This system prevailed for 22 years. Thereafter the unitary library system was dismantled and the two libraries developed in completely different directions until economic necessity resulted in a concerted effort to bring the libraries together again in 1997, although this time as a federal rather than a unitary system. The research showed that the criticism that the two libraries had developed too independently was true and that a holistic approach to library services at the University of Natal was lacking. Secondly, the research also showed that the personalities of individual University Librarians did exert a significant influence on the development of the libraries although other elements also influenced their development. Although the study is an history of a university library rooted in a “first world” (2) culture there are lessons to be learnt which could be applied to other institutions, particularly in the context of post-apartheid South African higher education. Several dual- or multi-centred institutions now exist. The integration of different libraries, each with its own idiosyncrasies and its own ethos can be complex and is potentially divisive. There has to be institutional commitment to the idea of a unitary library system as the library service in any university is shaped to a large extent by the parent institution. The study was limited to an investigation of the historical record of the University of Natal Libraries. An historical analysis of university libraries on a national scale lay beyond the scope of this study. It was also limited to a focus on the institution itself and the difficulties encountered in the administration of a dual-centred library service rather than focusing on the library service from the users’ point of view. Lastly the study suggests several areas for future research. It is noted that there is a dearth of in-depth critical texts available on the history of South African university libraries. An historical analysis of university libraries on a national scale would become feasible if research is undertaken into the histories of more South African university libraries. (1) [University of Natal, Library Task Team], A report on the University of Natal Libraries submitted to the Executive Implementation Team, 1998, p. 31. (2) C. Darch & P. Underwood, Dirt road or yellow brick superhighway?, Library hi tech, vol. 17, no. 3, p. 285. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

Are South Africa's water service delivery policies and strategies equitable, accessible, affordable, efficient, effective and sustainable for Msunduzi low-income households? The primary objective of this study was to elicit the community experience of South Africa's water service delivery policies and strategies and link these experiences to a broader analysis of policy and strategy to locate water service delivery contraventions, inconsistencies and inadequacies. The secondary objective was to initiate community-based platforms for engagement with water-related issues and build capacity within local community task teams to initiate lobbying and advocacy strategies to support community-suggested and research-outcome reforms thereby returning popular control to the locus of communities. The study was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, within the Msunduzi municipal jurisdiction, under the uMgungundlovu district municipality (DC22) in the period from October 2002-April 2003. Households in five low-income urban areas were included in the study: Imbali (units 1 and 2), Sobantu, Haniville and Thembalihle. The study employed a community action research design using non-probability sampling. Surveys, conducted by community researchers, were complemented by broad community engagement approaches, informal interviews with external stakeholders and the initiation of platforms for information sharing and fundamental debate. The study revealed two significant findings. The first finding found that South Africa's water service delivery policies, strategies and implementation mechanisms were inconsistent with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry's sector goals of equity, affordability, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability. They contained serious scientific and social inadequacies, inequitably promoted economic considerations above social and environmental considerations; lacked regulation and monitoring systems to identify and address implementation contraventions; were not receptive to the socioeconomic situations of low-income households and should be fundamentally re-worked. Policies and strategies purported to ensure that the basic water service requirements of low-income households were met, essentially compounded socio-economic constraints and compromised human rights, justice and equity. The second finding was related to popular involvement and engagement. Community consultative processes for input into local and national policies and strategies were inadequate and often pseudoparticipatory; political platforms (local and national) for communities to engage and influence decision-makers were inadequate or lacking; and the community control, ownership and acceptance of the Msunduzi water service delivery institution and its mechanisms were low. Recommendations for the reform of policy, strategy and implementation of such reforms were advocated through the vehicle of reviews, evaluations and audits, to inform the necessary amendments, adjustments and intensification of local and national regulation and monitoring mechanisms. Lobbying and advocacy strategies, to support the implementation of reforms, were promoted through community-based approaches of popular engagement with water-related issues, information dissemination; community mobilisation and popular control of public processes. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

The dissertation seeks to investigate, examine, and critically analyse the reasons why Pietermaritzburg churches lack gender sensitivity in combating HIV/AIDS. The dissertation's focus is on Springs of Hope Support Group Project (SOH) - a support group that seeks to meet the felt needs amongst the HTV positive people around Pietermaritzburg. Amongst other motivations, the dissertation was undertaken as a contribution to the church in its fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. The methodology that was used involved field and library research as well as observations of other HIV/AIDS support groups. The primary source of this dissertation consists of interviews that were conducted among SOH members, NGOs workers, and Church ministers. Chapter one is an introduction to the whole dissertation and includes an introduction to chapter one, experiences of African women, the story of Ann Ntombela, the background of the study, statements of the problems and motivations, objectives of the study, research hypothesis/promises, significance of the study, the theoretical frameworks, critical reviews of existing literature, research methodology, research ethics, expected results, limitation of the study and a summary and conclusion. Chapter two deals with the negative effects of colonialism and failure of development on African women. Its objective is to unearth the factors behind the deplorable social, political, and economic position of African women before HIV was reported. It seeks to find out why the plight of African women has worsened since the coming of colonialism and the start of development efforts. Chapter three deals with gender. It relates the effects of development failure to the plight of African women. Matters of marginalization, exploitation and oppression of African women are dealt with at length. Chapter four focuses on HIV/AIDS infection, transmission, prevention, cure and treatment. It also tackles the matter of the vulnerability of African women to HIV/AIDS at length by relating chapter two to the realities that facilitates the infection of the virus especially on women. Chapter five deals with the field research and formulation of a gender sensitive approach to combating HIV/AIDS. It also seeks to formulate 'a church based gender sensitive approach' as the way forward in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst African women in Pietermaritzburg. This chapter elaborates on how the church should reposition itself in order to be relevant and effective to women who are HIV positive. Chapter six is the conclusion of this dissertation. It includes a summary, a theological reflection and conclusion of the whole dissertation. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, PIetermaritzburg, 2004.

So much has been said about the involvement of the Church in socio-economic and political development globally, in Africa, and in South Africa in particular. The appalling fact is that division of the Church into several denominations, and also division along racial and tribal lines, has crippled the much-needed unity for rural, urban and human development. This division, especially when it is expressed within the body of a particular denomination, tends to cut asunder all the connections between the Christian faith, with its concern for love, reconciliation and justice, and the striving to make life worth living for the poor and the marginalised in society. The impact of the Church in community development is very likely to be zero if the Church is divided against itself within racial lines, doctrinal issues and lack of cohesive leadership structure. The focus in the present study is on the Assemblies of God denomination in South Africa. This Church fully reflected and manifested the racial complex of South Africa. The Assemblies of God denomination, instead of creatively making this racial complex a prototype ofChrist's wise blending of his twelve Apostles from various social and tribal backgrounds, used this mosaic complex to destroy and to operate as a divided people along racial lines. The justification for this found expression in the ways and manners in which important doctrines such as ecclesiology, eschatology, soteriology and Christology were taught and upheld by each group in the Assemblies of God. This being the case, the Assemblies of God denomination sought to contribute to development along racial and group lines. Some of the groups became involved in community development and made meaningful impacts. Others did not concern themselves with development, yet others found dualism, individualism and privatisation of faith as the best way to excuse themselves from community development and/or anything that has to do with improving better the life ofthe poor. Did the Church work together or did different groups engage development from their own contexts? The thesis is that the Assemblies of God failed to work together in unity. They operated as a divided group. This is an unhealthy testimony to the world, to whom Christ had told his Church to shine as lights in darkness and to serve as salts to preserve. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

Aim: To determine the use and interpretation of the nutrition information on the food label of selected fat spreads by female consumers aged 25 to 45 years, living in Pietermaritzburg. Objectives: This study set out to determine the following objectives regarding the food label: what the demographics of the consumers making use of the label were; how these consumers used the label and their motivation behind this label use and did the use of the label alter the purchase of that product? Method: One hundred and fifty women aged 25-45 years were chosen from an accidental, non-probability sample of consumers shopping at selected supermarkets within Pietermaritzburg. Respondents were presented with a four part questionnaire surrounding the purchase of selected fat spreads. Results: The greatest number of respondents were from the white population group (n = 65), followed by black respondents (n = 46), Indian respondents (n = 29) and then coloured respondents (n = 10). Results showed that the respondent who was most likely to use the nutrition information on the food label had a tertiary education; was a primary food purchaser, lived with other people, had more than R1000 a month to spend on food and was conscious of choosing the healthier option. Fifty five percent of this study sample (n = 82) claimed to use the nutrition information on the label to assist with purchases and 68% (n = 102) found the nutrition information important for purchasing a new product. Of the potential factors that have previously been found to impede the use of the nutrition information label:-inadequate print size, lack of education as well as lack of nutrition information on the food label were found to be factors restricting label use in this study. The most commonly used sources of nutrition information were the media as well as friends and family and the most trusted source was the Health Professional. Discussion: If the nutrition information is to be used both correctly and effectively, there must be a major educational campaign that sets out to meet the needs of the population that are most vulnerable, especially those with an inadequate education. Conclusion: The consumer most likely to use the nutrition information on the food label has a tertiary education, is a primary food purchaser with a large amount of money available for groceries and is conscious of choosing a healthier option. The label is most likely to be used when purchasing a fat spread for the first time. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

The aim of this dissertation was to develop a multi-criteria decision support system (MCDSS) to allow a specified manager to select with confidence one or many of these BMPs for a particular site. The principal design approach was a review of South African and international literature pertaining to stormwater management techniques, in particular BMPs. This information was formulated into a primary matrix using a rank-and-weighting method. The scores were then checked against the literature to ensure that they were reasonable, culminating in the initial MCDSS. The MCDSS was then provided with seven scenarios, described in the literature, and the output reviewed. Although, the MCDSS would select appropriately when given few criteria for selection when these were increased, inappropriate outcomes resulted. Consequently, weighting factors were assigned to each criterion. The MCDSS was further tested using all the selection criteria and the output deemed satisfactory. The MCDSS was then tested in a case study of the Town Bush stream catchment at eleven sites along the river network and the results were adequate. Taking into consideration the economic aspects of BMP implementation a need also arose for the sites to be allocated to certain authorities depending upon ownership or responsibility. The sites were prioritised depending on potential threat to property and lastly by the hydrological nature of the stream at each site. A stormwater plan for the study area was also proposed. Although the MCDSS was functioning adequately it was not without its limitations. Limitations included the use of drainage areas as a surrogate measure for peak discharge thus, not allowing the user to design a series of BMPs or treatment chain. A second limitation was that initially the BMPs were designed as offline systems where stormwater is managed before entering the channel but in this study they were used as inline systems. Hence the ultimate selection was biased towards those BMPs able to deal with large drainage areas. Recommendations for further improvement include the development of a surrogate measure for drainage area thus allowing the user to design a treatment chain of BMPs; testing the MCDSS in more diverse circumstances; developing a more comprehensive set of selection criteria; and developing a clearer priority-setting model as the one used was rather simplistic. In conclusion the MCDSS provides the user with a useful tool where the selection and implementation of BMPs no longer has to take place in an ad hoc manner. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001

The Ferncliffe Catchment Conservancy has been identified, within the context of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, for its important geographical and ecological features. The mapping and communication of these features to the broader community resident within the Conservancy have been envisaged as an important undertaking. A most effective way of achieving this goal was to use a Geographic Information System in the mapping exercise and in creating an inventory of the resources in the Conservancy and a monitoring database. Such spatial information would then provide stakeholders with a spatial context within which to appreciate the natural resources available and the problems associated with them. In undertaking this task, spatial data were acquired in digital form as well as from aerial photographs and 1:50000 topo-cadastral maps. These data were imported into ArcView GIS Version 3.1 where the mapping of the various resources was done. An inventory of the resources was created and a spatial database linking attributes that describe the physical environment, the natural vegetation, agricultural activities and the built environment, was set up. It became evident that using a Geographic Information System for natural resource management provides for integration of spatial information which would otherwise be contained in several separate databases and maps. Further, these data can be readily accessed, queried, upgraded and manipulated. For conservancies in urban and rural KwaZulu-Natal, and indeed, the rest of South Africa, to achieve their aims in natural resource management and monitoring, such an approach would be most efficient and effective. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

This study provides an overview of an environmental education programme being implemented in an organization (Umgeni Water), in Pietermaritzburg. In recent years assessment of this education programme’s performance has lost its focus to the detriment of the programme. This has then led to the aim of this study which is to develop a framework to assess the programme. The aim of the study was to develop a framework to assess Umgeni Water’s environmental education programme. Four sub-objectives were identified. These are; to review three learning models and select one best suited to Umgeni Water’s School Environmental Education Programme, to assess which components of the selected learning model are being practiced naturally by teachers, to assess Umgeni Water’s schools environmental education programme against the selected learning model and to develop an outline of a plan for the future of Umgeni Water’s environmental education programme based on the selected learning model. A qualitative research design was used and data collection was through semi-structured interviews and a focus group. One sample of teachers was drawn from schools that had used Umgeni Water’s programme of water treatment plant visits. A second sample was drawn from schools that had no exposure to this programme. The findings revealed that, to some degree, teachers in both instances were naturally applying the components of learning from the selected learning model although they were not aware of the model as such. The study recommends that Umgeni Water’s environmental education programme needs to focus on working with schools that are naturally applying the learning components since the findings revealed that the teachers in these schools could be key in teaching teachers from other schools. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This study is concerned with the efficacy of the Skills Development Act in promoting skills development and training in South Africa. Skills development and training was examined in the context of the 30 manufacturing companies and 20 retail companies based in Pietermaritzburg. Firstly, the literature study provided a foundation on which to base the idea that skills development and training is vital in order for a country to achieve economic success. Secondly, efforts of other countries in promoting skills development and training were examined. Thirdly, skills development and training was examined in the South African context. The literature study lent support to the idea that there is a need for skills development in South Africa, considering factors such as HIV/AIDS, the shortage of scarce skills and labour demand trends in the South African labour market and the South African economy. The field study involved the use of questionnaires to gather data from the respondents. The results of the field study were group into pre-defined variables. The variables were then correlated and hypothesis testing was conducted to test the relationship between the variables. The main conclusions of the study are based on the hypothesis testing and the results of the field study and are detailed below. 1. The perceived effectiveness of the Skills Development Act was found to be a positive correlate of the effectiveness of training, the application of effective training procedures, the percentage of employers conducting formal training and the percentage of training costs recovered from the SETAs. 2. Training was perceived to be effective in terms of employee learning, employee performance and organizational performance. 3. There was an even split between companies that applied effective training procedures and those that did not. 4. Compliance with the Act was a pre-requisite for selection of the sample, however full participation in the Act was found to be lacking in general. This means that the majority of companies in the sample did not submit Workplace Skills Plans and Implementation of Training reports. 5. Compliance with the Skills Development Act was found to be a correlate of the application of effective training procedures, assistance received from the SETAs, the perceived effectiveness of training and the perceived effectiveness of the Skills Development Act. 6. It was generally perceived that the assistance received from the SETAs was poor. 7. On-the-job training was found to be prevalent in all companies; however formal training was more prevalent in companies that have a large number of employees. The average rate of formal training was calculated as 29.64%. 8. The number of employees was found to be a correlate of the percentage of formal training conducted, the percentage of training costs recovered from the SETAs, the perceived effectiveness of training and the application of effective training procedures. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.