This study investigates the paid and unpaid work experiences of Indian Christian women in Pietermaritzburg as they would inform a framework for a gendered theology of work. Intersecting gender and development theory with theologies of work, the study asserts that gender, particularly as it relates to understandings of what constitutes "work", has been neglected by theologians. In order to better understand the "work" roles of women, gender and development theorist, Caroline Moser (1993) has provided a framework. She asserts that women‘s work roles can be categorized in three important ways namely, productive work, reproductive work and community work. The gender-based division of labour has contributed to socially ascribed gender roles that cause women to be primarily responsible for monotonous, exasperating, tiring, time-consuming and economically unrewarding activities. Men on the other hand occupy "productive" roles that are economically rewarding and community roles that are usually seen as prestigious. Similar roles carried out by women are often not rewarded and are undervalued. Due to the social construction of differentiated gender roles, tasks associated with the reproduction of society fall almost entirely to women. Moser‘s (1993) conceptualization of women‘s roles is useful in this study, highlighting the different types of work that Indian women are involved in. However, this gendered analysis has not been prevalent in existing theologies of work. Rather, these focus solely on doctrinal, class or ethics perspectives. Furthermore, it is argued that these theologies of work are developed without the first-hand knowledge of the experiences, struggles and challenges that workers themselves encounter. This is particularly the case for women workers. In order to investigate women‘s work experiences in this study, extensive fieldwork was carried with a group of Indian Christian women in Pietermaritzburg. Four research tools, namely a questionnaire, a 24-hour time study diary, semi structured interviews and focus group discussions were developed and employed to better understand their work roles. The findings revealed that Indian women continue to remain confined to these roles of productive, reproductive and community work because of the impact of culture as well as religion. While some Indian women have entered the productive market and are financial contributors to households, they still assume the roles that are culturally seen as 'women‘s work‘. In addition, their theological understandings and Biblical interpretations of work have resulted in women remaining acquiescent to such roles which are often depicted as 'the ideal woman‘. In a context where women find themselves immersed in roles of production, reproduction and community work, it is crucial that theological reflection engages these work experiences which are intertwined with women‘s faith practices. This study is an attempt to do this as it offers a framework that points toward a gendered theology of work. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

The participation of the public has become widely accepted through legislation as a critical component of managing water resources in South Africa. However, achieving meaningful participation continues to be a challenge especially for the previously disadvantaged communities. Participants from these communities, through legislative requirements have the opportunity to participate and make contribution in water management arena with little emphasis of their level of knowledge in understanding the information presented in the participation processes. The level of knowledge and understanding of participants has been found by Anderson (2005) and Faysse (2005) to affect meaningful participation in the water management arena. There have been, however, few empirical studies (Anderson, 2005; Faysse, 2005) to find out whether the disadvantaged community participants feel their participation in water management institutions such as the catchment management forum (CMF) is meaningful. Meaningful public participation has increasingly been used in public participation literature to describe the quality of participation process Solitare, (2005), Canadian Association of Petroleum Produces (CAPP) (2004) and Videira et al. (2003). Authors have generally avoided strictly defining the adjective ‘meaningful’ in relation to public participation. Authors have however, concentrated on attributes of the concept which includes: the ability of the participation process to meet the expectation of the participants, inclusiveness of stakeholder, trust among participants in a participation process, participation process contribution to learning of participants and opportunity for participants to improve quality of decision. The purpose of this research was to find out whether the disadvantaged community participants find their participation in the Msunduzi Catchment Management Forum (MCMF) to be meaningful. To achieve this aim, the specific objectives of the study were: • firstly, to determine whether the participation processes meet the expectations of the participants; • secondly, to determine whether the MCMF is inclusive of those having an interest in catchment management issues; • thirdly, to determine whether there is trust among participants in the participation processes; • fourthly, to determine whether participants have access to and understand appropriate and relevant information given at the forum; and • lastly, to determine whether participants are notified about the forum early and adequate time given for sharing of information in the process. A review of relevant literature on this research issues was conducted. A qualitative research approach was used to address the goals of the research, including a semistructured interview of stakeholders of the MCMF. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from the disadvantaged community, industry, municipality, DWAF and members of other non-governmental organizations that are not from the disadvantaged community. The other stakeholders who are not from the disadvantaged communities were included in the studies to find out whether they are aware of the perspectives of the disadvantaged community participants on the meaningfulness of the MCMF. Another objective for including these stakeholder groups was to find out whether they share the same views as those from the disadvantaged community on the meaningfulness of the MCMF. The results from the interviews were used to determine whether participants from the disadvantaged communities find their participation in the MCMF to be meaningful. The results established five key finding from the research. Firstly, the disadvantaged community participants do not see their involvement in the MCMF to be meaningful. Secondly, the disadvantage community participants have expectations that have not yet been met. Thirdly, there is a degree of differences in relationship among stakeholders based on educational background which is affecting networking and trust building. Fourthly, the lack of understanding of the information presented at the forum by the disadvantaged community participants, and lastly improper medium and timing of notification by DWAF. These were found to be the major factors affecting disadvantaged community participants’ meaningful participation in the MCMF. This research has recommended five key means through which the MCMF public participation process can be improved which are based on the conclusions of this research. It is recommended that: 1. Expectations of participants especially those from the disadvantaged community on the functions of a catchment management forum should be addressed urgently. 2. Degree of differences that exist among some participants especially those from the disadvantaged community that educational background influence views presented by a participant should be dealt with through measures such as field trips. 3. Technical information is presented in a medium that disadvantaged community participants can understand. 4. The medium of notification used to ensure effective public participation at the MCMF be addressed. 5. DWAF evaluates the MCMF participations process to find out the level of satisfaction among participants. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Environmental management has increasingly become a critical approach for dealing with environmental issues. Implicit in this, is the premise that for environmental management to be effective, a systematic approach is imperative. For this reason, environmental management systems have emerged as the strategy for organizations within which environmental management initiatives are co-ordinated. While environmental management systems (EMS) are a necessary and important tool to achieve quality environmental performance and protection, experience with them illustrates how their adoption and implementation are constrained by a number of factors. EMS cannot operate in isolation. Rather, they need to be incorporated into an organization's overall management strategy. Using the Msunduzi Council as a case study, this study looks at the challenges and complexities that local governments, tasked with the protection of the environment at local level, encounter. The New England Road Landfill Site has been highlighted as a section of the Msunduzi Council where an Environmental Management System is entrenched. Research methods used to obtain data comprised a workshop and key informant interviews. Issues that emerged from the workshop informed and directed the analysis of the data. As research undertaken and conclusions drawn suggest, the adoption and implementation of an Environmental Management Framework or System ensures that environmental matters are tackled in a systematic and proactive manner within an organization. This in turn promotes quality environmental management and subsequently sustainable development. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

Inequality in South Africa in terms of access to education, finance, food security, and public amenities is worse in rural areas under traditional leadership than in urban areas not under the control of traditional leaders. In most of these areas, people live in abject poverty and underdevelopment is rife with no access to economic opportunities, basic services and economic and social infrastructure. This study attempts to ascertain the involvement of traditional leadership in the Local Economic Development (LED) of these areas. It also explores the mandate given to traditional leadership through government legislation, policies and programmes in LED. The study further seeks to suggest through a model how traditional leadership could be involved in LED. This study focuses on the following questions:  What are the fundamental causes of the exclusion of traditional leadership in LED?  What government policies and programmes are in places that explicitly spell out the role of traditional leadership in LED? and  What are the perceptions of traditional leadership implicit in the government’s LED initiatives? The scope of the study covers the uMgungundlovu District which has 24 traditional councils that form the local House of Traditional Leaders. These traditional councils spread across the seven local municipalities that form part of the District. The data was collected using a qualitative research methodology which focused on interviews with government officials and traditional leaders, to get their perceptions on the role of traditional leadership in LED. Government legislation, policies and programmes have also been reviewed to check the official government position on the role of traditional leadership in LED. Engagement with government officials, traditional leaders and government publications reveals that traditional leadership is not playing a role in LED. There are no LED programmes directed to traditional communities that are led by traditional leaders. There is then a justifiable perception that traditional leaders are being deliberately excluded from government LED initiatives. A review of the government legislation, policies and programmes indicates that they do not bar the traditional leaders from playing a role in LED. The constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides a broad framework with regard to the role of traditional leaders by stating that the national government may provide for a role of traditional leadership in matters affecting their communities. The White Paper on Traditional Leadership and Governance recognizes traditional leadership as an institution located in rural areas that has a role to play in the fight against poverty. The Traditional Leadership Governance and Framework Act states that government may provide a role for traditional leaders in respect of economic development. This study provides a model through which traditional leadership could be involved in LED. The model provides for a role to be played by the provincial House of Traditional Leaders, as part of LED policy formulation; a role for the local House of Traditional Leaders as part of LED strategy development; and for a Traditional Council, as part of LED implementation monitoring. Traditional ward’s headmen are envisaged as assisting in coordination and a ward committee, in which traditional leadership is represented, is envisaged as contributing towards evaluation. The study finally recommends that the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs should establish a fund for a LED programme for traditional communities. The study further recommends that the conceptualization of LED programmes should be done in consultation with traditional leadership, and that traditional leadership should lead the implementation of the programme in their respective areas. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

The purpose of this enquiry was to explore reading development experiences of adult learners learning English Level 4. The research focused on their early reading experiences and the development of their reading experiences over the years and particularly in the present classes. The research site was an Adult Literacy Centre at a school in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The study was conducted within a qualitative interpretive paradigm, using a case study approach. Data collection techniques employed included personal interviews, observations and a focus group interview. The data collection instruments used was: interview schedules, observation checklists and audio visual aids. Data was analysed thematically. In exploring the participants’ lived experiences in the development of reading; this study drew on the Landscape Model of reading by David Rapp and Paul van den Broek, as well as Vygotsky’s social constructivism. The themes that emerged from the study were: reading development in Adult Basic Education (ABE) level 4 classes in relation to achieving the learners’ goals, reading development in ABE level 4 classes in relation to achieving the goals of the curriculum, motivation to read, reading and family life, reading and life in general, learners’ difficulties in expressing themselves, language gaps as a barrier to learning in the second language and finally, the functioning of and challenges faced at adult literacy centres. The main reasons for adult literacy centres not being fully functional were: a lack of learning, teaching and support material due to insufficient funds, some educators are not qualified or lacked the skills to teach reading and writing, goals of the curriculum are too academic, the distances that learners have to travel to the centres are too long and the times of the classes are not always suitable to the learners, especially if they are employed. Finally, the study presented recommendations to improve the functionality at adult literacy centres, to enable learners to gain maximum benefit. Recommendations were made for further research. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermartizburg, 2013.

This is an in-depth case study of urban water services to poor households and their interactions with local state power in the community of Eastwood, Pietermaritzburg, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, for the period 2005-2007. It draws especially on the experiences of poor women, exploring the conceptions and implications of the movement of municipal services into the realm of welfare-based urban service concessions. It interrogates what value municipal services, framed in the language and form of welfare but within a commodification milieu and in the context of shifting citizen-state relations offer the state apparatus and how such free basic service offerings are experienced by poor households at the level of domestic, social and economic functioning. The study adopts a fluid mixed-methodological approach to optimise exploration and interpretation. It argues that the interface of state service delivery and citizens is fraught with contradictions: core to this is the nature of state ' help.' Free basic water encompassed in the social wage did not improve the lives of poor households; instead it eroded original water access. Free basic water stole women's time spent on domestic activities; compromised appropriate water requirements, exacerbated service affordability problems and negatively affected household functioning. Poor households experienced the government's policy of free basic services as containment and punishment for being poor. The Indigent Policy activated the state's surveillance, disciplinary and control apparatus. In the absence of effective national regulation over municipalities and with financial shortfalls, street-level bureaucrats manipulated social policies to further municipal cost recovery goals and subjugate poor households. Social control and cheap governance were in symmetry. Citizens, desperate for relief, approached the state. Poor households were pushed into downgraded service packages or mercilessly pursued by municipally outsourced private debt collectors and disconnection companies. Municipalities competing for investments brought about by favourable credit ratings abandoned the humanity of their citizens. Such re-prioritisation of values had profound implications for governance and public trust. Citizens were jettisoned to the outskirts of municipal governance, resulting in a distinct confusion and anger towards the local state - and with it, major uncertainties regarding future stability, redistribution and equity.

Submitted in fulfillment for the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2014 / Universities are seen to be facing a turbulent storm of challenges, demands, environmental changes, and facilitated thrust in the midst of economic meltdown. The environments in which these institutions are operating are becoming increasingly tempestuous, and competitive which makes leadership crucial as they continuously interface with the local and wider environments. At its best leadership is proximate, contextual and distributed especially in the case of complex organisations like universities. Changes and institutional mergers that took place worldwide two decades ago diffused to the south of Africa as well. These mergers resulted in the formation of mega universities and universities with satellite or branch campuses. If the trend continues with branch campuses spreading even into foreign countries, it will lead to growth and even more leadership complexity. This study was conducted in order to establish the challenges that are faced by staff and students at satellite campuses of universities using the Riverside Campus of the Durban University of Technology as a case study. Literature on leadership and management theories, leadership in higher education and organisational structures was reviewed in order to contextualise the study. A sample of the executive leadership of the university used as a case study was interviewed in order to determine their attitudes towards the current organisational structure. Data was also gathered from the academic and administrative staff at the satellite campus used for the study as well as first and third year students at the same campus using questionnaires. This study is significant because it feeds into the year-long study that was initiated by the Leadership Foundation on Higher Education and conducted from 2010 and finished in July 2011 by the Hull University’s Scarborough Campus that was aimed at determining the most effective relationship between the centre (mother campus) and its satellite campuses, identifying tensions between the strategic and operational levels and making students’ experience consistent. The whole project was undertaken to arrive at a better understanding of the challenges of managing two or more campuses with particular emphasis on strategic matters, organisation, leadership and management structures. The study discovered that there were leadership challenges which were not unique to the university and campus used as a case study, but similar to those identified during literature review. Issues such as lack of leadership and strategic direction, diverse cultures, incomplete merger, isolation, inequitable distribution of resources and lack of development were identified as challenges that needed to be addressed. The study advances as original contribution the ‘Radial Structure’, which was greatly inspired by the natural movement, flow and distribution of energy and information in fractals. This structure ensures equity across all campuses irrespective of size and location. In the radial structure as suggested and implied by the name the corporate division is the source of energy in the form of vision, mission, goals, strategy, and resources which it disburses or radiates equitably across all the campuses. The corporate division is not attached to any campus, but it is a pole that provides an anchor for all the campuses. The energy or feedback is also radiated back to the corporate office from the campuses in the form of student fees, research output from staff and students, pass rates, information to aid decision-making and so on. The relationship that was established between the radial structure and the regression model developed from the responses of the students and theory, was that each campus should be fully-equipped with all the services that the users require for the campus to be fit for purpose. The radial structure would also allow for student services to grow and develop as the campus grows. Like any organisational structure, the radial structure could be adjusted to suit the needs of any university with satellite campuses. The organisational structure would also have to be revisited and adjusted as the needs of the university change. In essence the structure is aimed at ensuring that there is no leadership vacuum at any of the satellite campuses of a university. / D

Submitted in fulfillment of requirements for the Degree of Master of Health Sciences: Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Introduction Through centuries the birth of a baby has been considered as a deeply felt spiritual experience. Childbirth is not merely a physiological experience; it also embraces social, emotional, psychological, spiritual and religious aspects. In most Western societies the sacred moment of birth dissipates within the context of a pressured hospital environment. Whilst literature and empirical research has proliferated on midwifery very little has been done to explore how women experience childbirth personally and more importantly how spirituality interfaces within the context of the childbirth experience and midwifery care. There is a growing body of literature on spiritually sensitive care. However, there remained a need to inquire about mother’s personal experience and how spirituality interfaces with the childbirth experience in the hospital context. Problem statement Whilst empirical research in the field of midwifery, has grown, research pertaining to the spiritual aspects related to women’s diverse spiritual needs during childbirth is sparse (Crowther and Hall 2015). Furthermore little attention has been paid to issues relating to how women experienced childbirth in the public sector, and how religion and spirituality influence and impact on childbirth. It is against this background that the current study was conceived. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience of childbirth amongst women from diverse spiritual or religious backgrounds viz. Christianity, Islam, African Traditional Religion and Hinduism, at public hospitals in the uMgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal. Methodology A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study design was used. A total sample of twenty-two postnatal mothers from the following common spiritual backgrounds in South Africa viz. Christianity, Islam, African Traditional Religion and Hinduism were purposively chosen. Data was collected until saturation. Participants were selected from three public hospitals in the uMgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews conducted six weeks post-delivery at the six-week health check, but within three months of delivery. Interviews were transcribed manually; the data was analysed through thematic analysis. Findings The main themes drawn from the data reflected that childbirth was a deeply personal and meaningful experience. It was seen as a spiritual experience and spirituality was seen as a vital support system in enabling mothers to cope better with pain and other challenges. Emotional and comfort needs were also identified by mothers as being very important to cope with pain and an easier delivery. The presence of midwives and the need for partner and family support were also seen to be important. More importantly the study found that their spirituality and spiritually based activities and rituals were an important aspect of the overall birth experience. The study found a diverse range of spiritual practices and rituals that were salient across all the spiritual worldviews during childbirth and post-delivery. It also found that mothers often resorted to alternate and traditional therapies to help cope with labour and delivery all of which have salience to midwifery practice that is both respectful and sensitive to the diverse worldviews of mothers. Conclusion Collectively the data reflected that childbirth was a holistic experience that cannot be separated also from partner, family and medical support. Whilst traditionally effective midwifery practice may have been so to focus on primarily physical care, the study found that the physical component is interrelated with the psychological, social and cultural aspects as well. Hence effective and ethical midwifery practice is inseparable from these facets but most importantly inseparable from the spiritual worldviews that most mothers follow and ascribe to. Contemporary education needs to recognize the current move towards spiritual care and provide knowledge and skill to deal with patients from diverse spiritual backgrounds. Finally it needs to recognize as this study has found, that childbirth is a multifaceted experience which is spiritual in nature. Viewed in this way both midwives and the management of public hospitals should then make every effort to create spiritually sensitive care during the childbirth experience. / M

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000

This research project aims to explore the implementation process of the low cost housing policy, over the period from 1994 to 2001 in the, Msunduzi Municipality area. There are problems with the implementation of the housing policy by local government and this is causing delays in the delivery of the low cost housing for the poor. The findings of this research project will show that these problems have many sources. These include: firstly, the funding and the budget allocated for the housing projects. Secondly, the interference of the provincial government and the power play to control the housing policy. Thirdly, the uniformity of the houses in the projects; these houses can be related to the social and township houses of the late apartheid era. The housing policy in Msunduzi is facing many problems in the implementation stages. In order to identify the problems one must first find out what makes a problem free and an efficient policy. The information provided in the background study was gathered from a collection of sources, namely, journal articles, newspaper articles and government papers including the housing White Paper. A major part of the information gathered was through interviews conducted with a handful of members of the housing sector in the Msunduzi area. My interviews were conducted with a member of the Msunduzi Housing Association, a member of the National Home Builders Registration Council, and three members of the local Department of Housing. These interviews have allowed me to analysis the situation in Msunduzi area and come up with certain conclusions, as seen in the final report. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003