Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Internet is coming more and more into focus of national and international legislation. Especially with regard to copyright law, the rapid growth of the Internet, its global character, its novel technical applications and its private and commercial use by millions of people makes the control over a work complicated and raises copyright problems all over the world. Present legislation is therefore challenged to avoid gaps in the law. Considering the rapid growth of online providers and users in South Africa, it is likely that copyright disputes with regard to the Internet will evolve here soon. In this dissertation, the "world" of the Internet and its lawfulness with regard to existing South African copyright law will be examined. The examination tries to establish whether South African copyright law is able to cope with the present Internet problems and whether it leads to reasonable results. The first chapter of this dissertation will give an overview of the basic principles of the Internet, including the history, development and function of the Internet. Furthermore the changing aspects by means of diqital technology will be discussed. Because the global character of the Internet lead to "international" infringements, governments are considering the prospect of reaching international accord on the protection of intellectual property in the digital era. In chapter two, the present international harmonisation of copyright law will be introduced. Especially the quick adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Treaties in December 1996 demonstrated that an international realisation for a call for action is existing. In chapter three, the application of South African copyright law with regard to the Internet will be discussed. First, it will be examined if a digital work on the Internet is protected in the same way as a "traditional" work. Second, the various rights of the copyright holder are discussed in connection with the use of a work on the Internet. Third, the potential application of the exclusive rights of the copyright holder to various actions on the Internet, such as caching, Web linking and operating an online service will be discussed. The Internet is a worldwide entity, and, as such, copyright infringement on this system is an international problem. The scenario of global, simultaneous exploitation of works on the Internet conflicts sharply with the current system of international copyright protection, which is firmly based on national copyright laws with territorial effects. Section four provides therefore an overview of the applicable law on an international net and analyses the necessity and borders of protection. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nasionale en internasionale wetgewing fokus in In toenemende mate op die Internet. Die versnelde groei van die Internet, sy wêreldkarakter, sy nuwe tegnologiese aanwendings en sy private en kommersiële gebruik deur miljoene mense maak beheer oor In werk baie gekompliseerd en skep veral outeursregprobleme regoor die wêreld. Wetgewing soos dit tans is, word dus uitgedaag om die leemtes in die reg te ondervang. Gegewe die vinnige groei van gekoppelde verskaffers en gebruikers in Suid-Afrika, is dit waarskynlik dat - outeursreggeskille met betrekking tot die Internet binnekort ook hier gaan ontwikkel. In hierdie verhandeling gaan die "wêreld" van die Internet en sy wettigheid onder bestaande Suid-Afrikaanse outeursregwetgewing ondersoek word. In die ondersoek word gepoog om vas te stelof Suid-Afrikaanse outeursregwetgewing geskik is om die Internetprobieme wat tans bestaan te hanteer en of dit lei tot aanvaarbare resultate. Die eerste hoofstuk van die verhandeling sal In oorsig gee van die basiese beginsels van die Internet, insluitende die geskiedenis, ontwikkeling en funksie van die Internet. Verder sal die veranderende aspekte as gevolg van digitale tegnologie bespreek word. Die wêreldkarakter van die Internet gee aanleiding tot "internasionale" inbreukmakings en om hierdie rede oorweeg regerings die moontlikheid van internasionale ooreenkomste oor die beskerming van intellektuele eiendom in die digitale era. In hoofstuk twee word die bestaande internasionale harmonisering van outeursreg bespreek. Veral die vinnige aanname van die World Intellectual Property Organisation se verdrae in Desember 1996, illustreer dat daar In internasionale bewustheid is dat iets in die verband gedoen moet word. In die derde hoofstuk word die aanwending van die Suid-Afrikaanse outeursreg met betrekking tot die Internet bespreek. Eerstens word ondersoek of a digitale werk op die Internet op dieselfde wyse as 'n "tradisionele" werk beskerm kan word. Tweedens word die verskillende regte van die outeursreghebbende in verband met die gebruik van 'n werk op die Internet, bespreek. Derdens word die potensiële aanwending van die eksklusiewe regte van die outeursreghebbende op verskillende aksies op die Internet, soos byvoorbeeld kasberging, web koppeling en die werking van 'n gekoppelde diens, bespreek. Die Internet is 'n wêreldwye verskynsel en sodanig is outeursreginbreukmaking op hierdie stelsel 'n internasionale probleem. Die scenario van 'n wêreldwye, gelyktydige uitbuiting van werke op die Internet is in skerp konflik met die huidige stelsel van internasionale outeursregbeskerming wat stewig gegrond is op nasionale wetgewing met territoriale werking. Hoofstuk vier bied daarom 'n oorsig oor die toepaslike reg op 'n internasionale netwerk en analiseer die nodigheid en ook grense van beskerming.

Bibliography / Thesis (LLM (Public Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Traditionally, the common law rule as interpreted by South African case law required that mutual consent be obtained in order to relocate a specified servitude of right of way. Since the Linvestment judgment, the legal position pertaining to the unilateral relocation of a specified servitude of right of way is that the location of an existing specified servitude of right of way may be altered unilaterally by the owner of the servient tenement. Unilateral relocation of a specified servitude of right of way will only be allowed if strict requirements are met, namely that the servient owner will be materially inconvenienced in the use of his property if the status quo is maintained; that the relocation will not prejudice the owner of the dominant tenement; and that the servient owner pays all costs incurred in the relocation of the servitude. In order to justify the departure from the common law, the court in Linvestment relied on historical argument, comparative law, and policy arguments to reach the conclusion that a servitude may be relocated unilaterally if it is in the interest of fairness, equity and justice. The court relied on section 173 of the Constitution, which entitles the courts to develop the common law. This decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal has far-reaching implications. A servitude is a limited real right to the property of another person which grants the holder of that right specific entitlements. South African law requires that registration in the deeds registry take place in terms of section 63(1) of the Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937 as soon as a limited real right in immovable property is created or transferred. Once the servitude is registered, it will be enforceable against the owner of the servient tenement and all his successors in title. When the servient owner is allowed to relocate the servitude unilaterally, it will have the effect of undermining the limited real right that the dominant owner holds in the property in question. This thesis evaluates the extent to which the courts may change common law principles on the basis of fairness, justice and equity. The conclusion is that the policy grounds on which the court based its decision are convincing, as the law cannot remain rigid and needs to be continually changed in order to meet changing conditions. However, the comparative and historical reasons provided for the decision are insubstantial and unconvincing. The thesis points out that there are no historical grounds for the decision, but that more extensive and contextual comparative research does support the decision. This thesis considers the constitutional implications of a flexible legal approach to the unilateral relocation of a specified servitude of right of way and concludes that an approach that allows for unilateral relocation will not amount to an expropriation and will not establish an arbitrary deprivation either, provided that the requirements set out in the decision are applied strictly and that a court order is required for the relocation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tradisionele gemeenregtiglike beginsel rakende die verlegging van 'n gespesifiseerde reg van weg het vereis dat wannneer 'n roete eers vasgestel is, die eienaar van die dienende erf dit nie mag verander nie tensy hy toestemming verkry het van die eienaar van die heersende erf. Sedert die uitspraak in Linvestment, is die regsposisie dat die eienaar van die dienende erf wel die ligging van 'n serwituut eensydig mag verander. Die eienaar van die dienende erf sal slegs gemagtig wees om die servituut te verskuif onder omstandighede waar die huidige ligging van die serwituut wesenlike materiële nadeel vir hom meebring, die verskuiwing van die serwituut geen nadeel vir die eienaar van die heersende erf sal veroorsaak nie en mits die eienaar van die dienende erf die kostes wat verband hou met die verskuiwing van die serwituut sal dra. Die hof het op historiese, regsvergelykende en beleidsoorwegings gesteun om die gevolgtrekking te staaf dat 'n serwituut verkuif kan word, selfs al is dit teen die wens van die eienaar van die heersende erf. Die hof het ook beslis dat die howe die inherente bevoegdheid het om die gemenereg te ontwikkel ingevolge artikel 173 van die Grondwet. Die beslissing het verreikende implikasies. 'n Serwituut is 'n beperkte saaklike reg op die saak van iemand anders wat aan die reghebbende bepaalde genots- en gebruiksbevoegdhede ten aansien van daardie saak verleen. Artikel 63(1) van die Registrasie van Aktes Wet 47 van 1937 vereis dat 'n beperkte saaklike reg ten aansien van onroerende goedere geregistreer moet word sodra 'n beperkte saaklike reg gevestig word. Indien die serwituut geregistreer word, sal dit afdwingbaar wees teen die eienaar van die dienende erf asook sy regsopvolgers. Indien die genoemde eienaar gemagtig is om die serwituut eensydiglik te verskuif, sal dit inbreuk maak op die eienaar van die heersende erf se beperkte saaklike regte ten aansien van die dienende erf. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om te evalueer tot watter mate howe daartoe in staat is om die gemenereg te verander op grond van billikheid en geregtigheid. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die hof se beleidsargumente oortuigend is aangesien die reg voortdurend moet verander ten einde te voldoen aan die veranderende omstandighede. Die regsvergelykende en historiese gronde vir die hof se gevolgtrekking is egter onoortuigend. Die tesis illustreer dat daar geen historiese gronde bestaan vir die beslissing nie asook dat meer ekstensiewe en kontekstuele regsvergelykende navorsing wel die hof se beslissing staaf. Hierdie tesis evalueer ook die grondwetlike implikasies van die nuwe reël en kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die toepassing van 'n benadering ingevolge waarvan die eienaar van „n dienende erf gemagtig word om 'n serwituut eensydig te verskuif, nie 'n onteiening of 'n arbitrêre ontneming teweegbring nie op voorwaarde dat die vereistes soos uiteengesit in die uitspraak aan voldoen word en dat die verkryging van 'n hofbevel 'n moontlike voorvereiste is vir die verskuiwing van 'n serwituut.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Women’s rights to property have still not been recognised in many countries as a basic individual right. Furthermore, women have often been excluded in the policies that govern land reform, that is, the economic restructuring programmes and land distribution policies. It is important to understand how women's rights in and access to land are being addressed, and the ways in which institutional reforms have benefited or disadvantaged women, given the importance of women as agricultural producers in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the commitment to gender equality adopted by many governments. The determination of the criteria used to target land beneficiaries for land reform in South Africa is largely unclear and undocumented. Furthermore, there is a limited focus in existing literature on the actual impact of land reform on its beneficiaries. Land reform in South Africa is only benefiting a small proportion of the population. The findings of this research also indicate that there is a conscious attempt by the state to address racial injustices of Apartheid, with the majority of recipients of land in South Africa being African/black, and Coloureds following closely. Furthermore, the beneficiaries of land appear to be largely uneducated and unmarried. The research indicates that women in South Africa have equal, if not more opportunity than men to gain access to land through land reform. However, it does appear that males are heading most of the households with access to land through land reform and women in male-headed households have more access to land through land reform than those in female-headed households. This suggests that unmarried women are still at a disadvantage for accessing land through land reform, which further validates the findings of existing literature that customary practices may still be prevalent in South Africa and women’s primary access to land is through marriage. The findings of the research also indicate that generally people with access to land through land reform are more likely to have better household welfare than those with no access to land through land reform. Therefore, with only 2.5 per cent of the population accessing land, there is a significant limitation on the number of households whose welfare can be improved by land reform. The results also indicate that males without access to land have better household welfare than females without access to land therefore implying that women are more vulnerable without land access and they are more likely to face poverty when they are not afforded the opportunity to access land through land reform. Furthermore, it appears that females with access to land have better household welfare than males with access to land, which implies that females are an essential contributor to household welfare, more so than their male counter parts. Similar to existing literature, these findings further validate the need for the state to address gender inequality in land reform and ensure that women are included in the process. Nevertheless, with the majority of the land beneficiaries in this research being female, household welfare in South Africa is expected to improve in the future due to land reform.

<p>This thesis discussed the subjects of bioprospecting and the protection of traditional knowledge. At first the international approach to the subjects was elaborately discussed. The focus was on the respective provisions of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the related Bonn Guidelines, stressing the matter of access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Enclosed in this discussion was the examination of different legislatory approaches to tackle the subject with an emphasis on national intellectual property rights laws and the role and potential merit of national registers of and databases for specific traditional knowledge. The way national legislators have implemented the concerned obligations of the convention, and their peculiarities as for example the restriction of scope of law to indigenous biological resources, was exemplified with the respective Bolivian, South African as well as Indian laws.</p>

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Building (Property Development and Management), to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / The purpose of this study is to fill specific gaps in the existing body of knowledge of South African corporate real estate management by investigating the determinants influencing the lease versus buy decision; the methods and financing sources of corporate real estate acquisition; and the criteria used in deciding on the financing technique for corporate real estate acquisition. The research followed a similar methodology to that of Redman and Tanner (1991) in their study “The Financing of Corporate Real Estate: A Survey”. However, it specifically focused on the South African corporate real estate environment. The data collection instrument was an online survey and the survey produced quantitative descriptions of certain aspects of the population. The population for the research was corporate real estate decision makers of leading South African companies. The data captured was presented through the aid of tables, charts and graphs. The data was further analysed through cross tabulations and hypothesis testing using the Chi Squared test of independence to determine significance of results. South African firms use some form of leasing (mainly long term leasing) in acquiring their corporate real estate. However, ownership is also a common form of real estate acquisition through the use of mortgages secured by the acquired property, mortgage backed securities and sale of unsecured bonds. The decision criteria for acquisition includes both financial and non-financial determinants. Financial analysis is also an important factor in analysing the lease versus buy decision. This is mainly done by comparing the undiscounted cash flow of leasing versus buying. Where a discounting approach of evaluation is used, the most favoured discount rates include the weighted average cost of capital and rate of return on new investments. Mostly outscored professional services are used when making the lease versus buy decision. The benefit of this study was to understand the factors influencing the corporate real estate decision making process and to provide a corporate real estate decision makers with a decisional framework when determining the form or real estate tenure. Future studies should attempt to secure better response rate to allow for robustness of results and other methodologies of analysis. / XL2018

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Science degree in Building to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Construction Economics and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2016 / Background – The South African (SA) real estate sector lacks transparency and there is limited research and robust data on the performance drivers of underlying commercial real estate assets in investment portfolios as opposed to the residential and listed property sectors in the SA context. SA real estate competes internationally and the rapid growth in emerging countries is creating new real estate players and growing competition for real estate investment opportunities (PwC, 2015). It is important for investors in the industry to understand the factors that affect the sector’s performance to be able to plan, review investment strategies, allocate resources efficiently, understand past trends and manage future risks. Purpose - The purpose of the study is to understand the performance of the SA direct commercial real estate sector and identify the key factors that drive the sector’s total returns in the country. Literature review is conducted to identify factors that drive direct commercial real returns in other countries and the identified drivers are tested for relevancy in the SA market. The study applies SA annual commercial real estate returns published by the International Property Databank (IPD) over the past 20 years, from 1995 to 2014, as dependent variables. Findings - Using Pearson’s correlation analysis, the study tests for correlations between CRE returns and independent variables; macroeconomic indicators (exogenous factors) and property performance variables (endogenous factors). The study finds gross rental escalation and real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates to be highly positively correlated with direct real estate returns. The results provide evidence that gross rental escalation and real GDP have high explanatory values of commercial real estate returns. The study concludes that rental income growth and economic growth are the key drivers of direct commercial real estate total returns. Value - The findings provide evidence of the correlations that exist between exogenous, endogenous variables and CRE returns and assist in understanding the behaviour of the direct commercial real estate sector. This study sets a basis for real estate investments analysis and the results can be applied in asset allocation strategies by guiding investors on the direction CRE returns could take based on performance of the widely published macroeconomic and property performance variables under study. Limitations - The limitation to this study is that the dependent variables, SA annual commercial real estate returns, has time series data of 20 variables in its existence and this has restricted the quantitative methodology choice, hence the use of correlation analysis to quantitatively analyse the relationships that exist between CRE returns and the exogenous and endogenous factors. Further research in the topic would include regression analysis to test for causality. This study has implications on real estate investment decision making and contributes to real estate market literature in SA. / MT2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Building (Property Development and Management), Johannesburg, 2017 / In 2013 new legislation was introduced allowing for the creation of a new listed property entity called a Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT). Previously the listed property sector was dominated by two main types of property which were Property Unit Trusts (PUT) and Property Loan Stock Companies (PLS). The introduction of the REIT entity allowed existing listed property companies to convert to REIT status and for new companies to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as REITs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of REIT implementation and the conversion of PLS and PUT to REIT status on shareholder wealth in South Africa. The study evaluates the change in shareholder wealth through the use of abnormal return calculations during events that led up to the implementation of REITs and conversion to REIT status. The findings show that implementation and conversion to REITs did not result in significant industry gains in shareholder wealth. The events leading to the implementation of REITs however showed positive abnormal returns out lining positive sentiments in the market. For the companies that converted to REIT status their shareholder wealth had negative performance returns. Immediate gains in shareholder wealth are not present. This indicating that the use of REITs as an investment will have to be monitored in the long term. / XL2018

M. Tech. Architecture (Professional) / The Old Jewish Synagogue on Paul Kruger Street in the centre of Pretoria is the foundation for this thesis project. This heritage building facilitated some of the most pivotal events in apartheid history - the Treason Trial of former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, and the Steve Biko Inquest. For decades restoration attempts have not been fruitful, due to the costs involved paired with impractical reuse functions for the building and the surrounding site. This thesis project aims to once again make the Old Synagogue accessible to the public, through suitable incorporation of the building, as well as its site, into the urban fabric. Therefore this document is structured chronologically - as information was acquired through the year, to reach a solution.

<p>This thesis discussed the subjects of bioprospecting and the protection of traditional knowledge. At first the international approach to the subjects was elaborately discussed. The focus was on the respective provisions of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the related Bonn Guidelines, stressing the matter of access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Enclosed in this discussion was the examination of different legislatory approaches to tackle the subject with an emphasis on national intellectual property rights laws and the role and potential merit of national registers of and databases for specific traditional knowledge. The way national legislators have implemented the concerned obligations of the convention, and their peculiarities as for example the restriction of scope of law to indigenous biological resources, was exemplified with the respective Bolivian, South African as well as Indian laws.</p>

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The study aims to investigate challenges in implementation of asset management strategy in the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, in order to recommend possible alternatives to improve asset management in the department. The Department achieved qualified audit opinions on asset management from the regularity audit conducted by the Auditor General for the financial years 2013/14 to 2015/16, which indicate that there is a lack of compliance, ineffectiveness and inappropriateness of asset management systems within the Department. This study examines the effectiveness of asset management practices in the LDPWRI and to determine the challenges faced by the LDPWRI in the implementation of asset management strategy and also to recommend strategic interventions that should be undertaken to improve asset management in the department. The information obtained from the literature identified the procedure which is used to manage assets in South Africa, the implementation process of asset management, and policies applied in the LDPWRI. The research process in this study includes methods such as a qualitative and quantitative approach necessary to collect the data. Furthermore, interviews and questionnaires were used in assessing the attitude of the participants. The primary data from the participants was obtained by the researcher to understand behaviour, working conditions, and the asset management process by the employees. The data revealed various challenges that are prevalent in how the inventory, record keeping, and the implementation of the strategies are implemented. The results showed that there are major challenges in managing inventory, and the information of the inventory is not recorded. There is also poor record keeping of the inventory. Furthermore, while the employees indicated that there is asset management strategy, a few indicated that there is no asset management strategy. The recommendations include that Asset Management strategies should be communicated to all employees and easily accessible on the Intra-Net of the Department for ease of reference and consultation. Urgent drastic steps should be taken to ensure that vacancies in the Asset Management and Logistics Directorate are filled without fail and within the acceptable service standards as stipulated by DPSA.