This study explores issues of sustainability, viability and stability in the projects funded by the Department of Social Development, situated in the Nelson Mandela Bay. The researcher makes use of a combination of qualitative and quantitative research designs to gather data. The sample consisted of about three members from each of the four projects selected, as well as two officials of the Department of Social Development in the Nelson Mandela Bay. The respondents participated in structured and semi-structured interviews exploring their demographic information, information about the project and how it is managed, views and opinions about differences between a business venture and a project, their understanding of what constitutes a sustainable, viable and stable income-generating project as well as their opinions about what would contribute to ensuring sustainability, viability and stability in these projects. The results of the study reveal that it is important to structure and run the income generating projects using business principles which include vigorous marketing and proper costing. There is also a need to train the participants in business management so that they can run the ventures successfully. It has also become apparent that a clear leader or manager is lacking and thus decision making process is too long, meaning a meeting must take place involving all project members before a decision that affects the operations can be made. Almost all key factors contributing to a sustainable and viable income generating project, as defined by Mango (2004) and Madi (2007) were also found to be lacking in these projects.

The initiative of land restitution in South Africa was an advantage to some people who were forcibly removed from Korsten area, which was a mixed residential area and the only area in Port Elizabeth where Black people had freehold tenure rights. The intention of the South African land reform programme which is to restore land and transform socio-economic relations has been achieved by means of land restitution. Successful Korsten land claimants have been granted land in Fairview through the land restitution programme. The successful resolution of land claims has shown the democracy and development in the country of South Africa.

The provision of low cost housing has become one of the current South African government‟s top priorities. With the establishment of these new housing developments comes the need for accompanying social infrastructure. This includes the provisioning of schools, police stations, clinics and sports fields. In this study, I attempted to identify and explore the key basic elements that needed to be present when opening a new community school in one of these low income housing developments. The study gives voice to what key stakeholders thought these elements should be. The stakeholders were the teachers and community volunteers, which included parents of the learners. They actively participated in this study through the methodology of participatory action learning and action research (PALAR). The participants identified strong, compassionate and visionary leadership as an essential element that need to be present when opening up a new school. The study further shows that this leadership must have some knowledge of effective management systems in order to support the establishment of a new school. The findings also show that leadership and the effective implementation of these management systems rely heavily on the support of a variety of internal and external stakeholders, especially when support was lacking from the Department of Basic Education. The study further shows that the roles of the various stakeholders should be clearly defined and managed, so as to avoid tensions that might arise by having a large number of people involved in a confined space like a school. Teachers and community volunteers emerged as the key stakeholders who contributed to the effective functioning of the new school. Their continued involvement in the school requires on-going professional development and support.

The role played by medical doctors and the employment positions they hold in South Africa and in the world today has shifted from being clinical only to include management. They were once only responsible for patient care, now are responsible for their organization's management. Physician managers have difficult tasks for which medical school provides no preparation. Doctors in an assortment of roles take on management responsibilities to varying degrees: these may be a single-handed private practitioner or lead a small clinical team; or a clinical or medical director or a chief executive; or hold senior management positions in National or Regional Legislature. Some are also managing and supervising colleagues in public or private hospitals and are responsible for managing budgets, allocation of resources; developing policies and making other management decisions. These roles require knowledge and competence of managerial skills in order to facilitate and lead in an effective and efficient manner. This study revealed that medical doctors, as business owners, in Mercantile Hospital are running their businesses, the medical private practices, without any managerial skills’ training. There was a general consensus that there is a need for managerial skills in any business and the respondents confirmed that managerial skills are important and necessary for the successful achievement of goals in a medical private practice.

South Africa as integral part of the global village has been affected by the global economic meltdown that affected some parts of the globe. The Government has her other three monsters to deal with which exacerbated after the meltdown, inter alia; poverty, unemployment and inequality. The heat is felt most on unemployment and poverty. The masses on the ground are the greatest victims. Missionvale just like other small areas is not immune to the scourge caused by the crisis alluded to before. The ripple effect of the crisis is felt in classroom, when manifestations emerge in different forms, leaving victims by the way side. Poverty is rife in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as a consequence to that the title of the study on poverty alleviation came into being. South Africa as a country rich in natural and human resource experiences a high rate of unemployment and harbours the majority of people living in squalor and chronic poverty. Methodology approach to gather information for this study is through relevant literature consisting of books, legislation and interviews with knowledgeable individuals in the field. The study points out the major role the municipality in collaboration with other stakeholder, inter alia; social development, and other sister departments and NGO‟s can play towards poverty alleviation in Missionvale.

This study investigates the changing role of the organ within the Anglican Church of Port Elizabeth. In this study, the term The Church of England is used to refer to both the Anglican Church in England and the Anglican Church (Church of the Province) of Southern Africa. The organ has over many centuries evolved and risen to a place of dominance within the church. Many factors such as political influence, the increase in technology and the use of the organ within the liturgy of the church have contributed to this situation. Equally evident in practices in modern churches and societies is the diminished role of the organ. Again, many factors such as a change in church liturgy, a lack of organists and a negative bias towards the organ have influenced the decrease in the popularity and use of the instrument. In order to prove the rise and fall of the organ a quantitative study in the form of a literature review was employed to trace the organ‟s claim to power as well as the status it gained and to outline the reasons for its decline in power. To investigate this phenomenon, research was conducted in nine selected Anglican churches in Port Elizabeth, that have pipe organs and which were established by the British settlers, along the traditional lines of Anglican churches. The results are discussed and the narratives of the respondents recorded. Findings from the study show that the organ has lost its authoritative voice in the church. The organ is no longer the preferred and only instrument utilized for music and accompaniment within the average Anglican parish service. An urgent and careful response is needed to promote the organ in church services and in the music life of society.

Newspaper article: "Century of growth”. Article reads: "Lovely 20-year old Denise Baker reads a plaque on an almost forgotten oak in St. George's Park. The tree was planted 100 years ago today. The inscription reads, "This tree was planted by Nathaniel Adler, Esq. on the occasion of the visit of H.R.H. Prince Alfred, August 6, 1860."

Newspaper article: "Ancient oak owes longevity to plaque it stoutly bears”. Plaque reads: "This tree was planted by Nathaniel Adler, Esq. on the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, August 6th 1860".

Newspaper article: "Sit under oak and think of our ancestors”.

Typed note: "Oak Tree. As at 1977.11.19. In the northwestern part of St. George's Park, Port Elizabeth against the fence of the granstand at the Union Cricket Ground is an oak tree bearing a plate: 'This tree was planted by Nathaniel Adler, Esq. on the occasion of the visit of H.R.H. Prince Alfred, August 6th 1860'. This tree has therefore been there fro 117 years, but it is a very poor specimen of oak with a weak spread of branches, certainly not a good example for its age. It is typical oak".