The researcher selected a quantitative cross-sectional design to test the concurrent validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability by evaluating the relationships between mining machine operators’ learning potential and psychomotor ability as well as their work safety behaviour. Work safety behaviour was considered indicative of their capability to operate a moving machine. The utilization of measuring instruments capable of measuring their learning potential and psychomotor ability and measuring safety behaviour by means of their safety score cards provided the required measurement data. The study involved a quantitative investigation into the relationship between learning potential and psychomotor ability as independent variables and safety behaviour as dependent variable. De Vos, Strydom, Fouche and Delport (2002, p.79) defined quantitative research as “based on positivism, which takes scientific explanation to be nomothetic. Its main aims are to measure the social world objectively, to test hypotheses and to predict and explain human behaviour. A quantitative study may therefore be defined as an inquiry into social or human problems based on testing a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analysed with statistical procedures in order to determine whether the predictive generalization of the theory holds true.” The aim of the study was to determine the learning potential and psychomotor ability of mining machine operators as well as compare the following sub-groups (based on the biographical variables): age, years’ experience, educational level and gender. The respondents’ work safety behaviour was measured and the relationship between the two measures of the independent variables (learning potential and psychomotor ability) and work safety behaviour determined. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / (M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology))

Rustenburg Platinum Mines, Union Section, is located in the mafic phase of the north-western sector of the Bushveld Complex. This part of the Complex is characterised by transgressions of Upper zone ferrogabbros across the lower sequence of mafic rocks. These transgressions have effectively isolated a roughly triangular segment of Lower, Critical and Main zone rocks. It is in the upper part of the Critical zone that the Merensky Reef, with a strike length of 9,5 km, is found to suboutcrop below a 2-3 m black turf soil cover and it constitutes the orebody being mined at Union Section. Underground mining and development have exposed a stratigraphic succession from the Middle Group chromitites to within the lower part of the Main zone gabbros. A detailed investigation of a 100 m stratigraphic succession was undertaken in the upper part of the Critical zone, which includes the Bastard Reef, Merensky Reef, Pseudo Reef, UG 2 and UG 1 layers. Stratigraphic descriptions are presented for both a normal and potholed succession, as well as a description of pothole characteristics. The variations of Merensky Reef thickness, pothole distribution and structure of the are body are also discussed. Forty seven whole-rock major- and trace-element analyses were carried out on selected samples from both normal and potholed successions, although more emphasis was placed on the former. These samples were taken from just below the UG 1 to above the Bastard Reef. Trace elements determined included Sr, Rb, Y, Nb, Zr, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu and V. The cyclical nature of the layering is clearly defined by breaks in the trends of both the major- and trace element analyses, although some elements are strongly influenced by the modal proportions of the mai n mineral phases. Although major breaks are observed for individual elements , insignificant variation of the Mg/Mg+Fe 2 + ratio is observed throughout. New electron microprobe data are presented for the main silicate phases olivine , orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and plagioclase , while only a limi ted number of analyses were carried out on the spine l phase. There would appear to be a reversal of the expected fractionation trend from the hanging wal l of the UG 2 to the Pseudo Marker layer. There is an upward increase of the Fo content of the olivine from F0₇₆ , ₇₋₈₁,₆ . A similar trend is observed for the orthopyroxene analyses . The Merensky unit, as a whole, exhibits a gradual decrease in the Mg end member of the Ca-poor pyroxenes from En ₇₈,₅₋₇₄ . was found to be markedly more calcic Cumulus plagioclase (An ₇₂, ₈-₈₁, ₇) than the intercumulus phase (An₅₆,₃₋₇₁, ₉) ' A further feature of the cumulus plagioclase is that strong zonation was observed with the cores of individual crystals being consistently lower in Ca relative to their margins . / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in

M.Com. (Leadership in Performance and Change) / In August 2012 the South African mining industry was the focus of attention due to an illegal strike at Lonmin Platinum mine that resulted in the police shooting striking employees on 16 August 2012. Thirty-four employees lost their lives on that day. An additional ten people died in violent protests in the build-up to the main shooting incident. This strike period has become widely known as ‘Marikana’. This historical incident illustrates how a single incident within an organisation can have an impact at various levels and affect multiple stakeholders. The main objective of this study was to identify the effect that the Marikana mining incident had on Lonmin (the organisation) and its main stakeholders as well as to identify the effect the stakeholders and Lonmin had on each other. In order to reach these objectives an historical timeline of the sequence of events surrounding the Marikana incident was constructed. The main stakeholders involved in the Marikana incident were then identified, and the relationships and the relative strengths between these stakeholders were mapped. The methodology used in the study was Quantitative Narrative Analysis (QNA) as applied by Franzosi (2010). In particular, the content from English newspaper articles sourced from South Africa and England relating to the Marikana mining incident for the period 1 to 24 August 2012 were reviewed, coded and analysed. All relevant data from the articles were recorded in a manual database, coded according to the semantic triplet of ‘actors’, ‘actions’ and ‘subjects’ (S-V-O) (Franzosi, 1989) and analysed based on QNA principles (Franzosi, 2010). First, a sequence analysis was conducted, identifying the roles (consequences) that the respective actors (stakeholders and subgroupings of stakeholders) enacted as well as the order in which they unfolded. The analysis was used to produce a series of network graphs to visually depict the sequence of events and the respective effects of the sequencing of these events. These graphs take the form of stake maps and visually tell the story of how events unfolded and the effects of these events on all the actors involved ...

The researcher selected a quantitative cross-sectional design to test the concurrent validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability by evaluating the relationships between mining machine operators’ learning potential and psychomotor ability as well as their work safety behaviour. Work safety behaviour was considered indicative of their capability to operate a moving machine. The utilization of measuring instruments capable of measuring their learning potential and psychomotor ability and measuring safety behaviour by means of their safety score cards provided the required measurement data. The study involved a quantitative investigation into the relationship between learning potential and psychomotor ability as independent variables and safety behaviour as dependent variable. De Vos, Strydom, Fouche and Delport (2002, p.79) defined quantitative research as “based on positivism, which takes scientific explanation to be nomothetic. Its main aims are to measure the social world objectively, to test hypotheses and to predict and explain human behaviour. A quantitative study may therefore be defined as an inquiry into social or human problems based on testing a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analysed with statistical procedures in order to determine whether the predictive generalization of the theory holds true.” The aim of the study was to determine the learning potential and psychomotor ability of mining machine operators as well as compare the following sub-groups (based on the biographical variables): age, years’ experience, educational level and gender. The respondents’ work safety behaviour was measured and the relationship between the two measures of the independent variables (learning potential and psychomotor ability) and work safety behaviour determined. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Text in English / The purpose of this study was to establish the vulnerabilities of the security control measures that are being used at Impala Platinum mines and refinery to prevent the theft of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs). It is important to ensure that the security control measures in place are effective and efficient in preventing the occurrence of such theft. The research examined the security risk management approach to the prevention of theft of PGMs and the causes of theft of PGMs by organised crime syndicates operating in South Africa and abroad. The study found that Impala Platinum employees, in collusion with contractors and members of mine security services, are involved in the theft of PGMs. To achieve the goals and objective of the research study, effective security control measures were identified that will help Impala Platinum mines and refinery to overcome the risks and challenges related to the theft of PGMs. / Security Risk Management / M. Tech. (Security Management)