The effect of FDI on economic growth is not a straight jacket. Literature has shown that the effect of FDI on economic growth can be either positive or negative. The positive effects of FDI can be caused by increase in output stimulated by new technological innovations and increase in capital flows. The negative effects could result in a ‘crowding out’ effect on domestic investments, external vulnerability and dependence, destructive competition of foreign affiliates with domestic firms, and market stealing effect due to poor absorptive capacity.This treatise will attempt to shed light on the effect foreign direct investment has on economic growth in South Africa in order to ascertain whether a positive or negative relationship exists between these two variables. This study thus aims to investigate, analyse and estimate the extent to which FDI impacts economic growth in South Africa. The findings of this research will provide policymakers, commercial businesses and scholars with relevant updated theoretical and empirical results that will assist relevant government policy makers in generating effective measures of attracting FDI if it proves to be beneficial for the host country. If the results of the study prove that FDIs do not generate positive spill over effects then the policymakers are thus obliged to formulate policies that will discourage FDIs from penetrating the host country’s economy.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / This dissertation deals with an audit of community tourism projects that were invested in, in the Eastern Cape as part of government intervention to create job opportunities and contribute to the growth of the Eastern Cape economy through the tourism industry. The focus is on projects that received capital allocations for infrastructural development rather than operational costs. The study sought to achieve the following objectives: • Determine the status quo of publicly funded capital tourism projects developed since 2004. • Determine the modus operandi followed with regard to capital tourism projects. • Determine the reasons for the successes or failures of these projects. • Provide recommendations to address gaps and failures in tourism projects. The key informants to the study were steering committees that were established to implement community tourism projects. The steering committees are represented by government officials (local, provincial and national), consultants and community trusts or any community structure that represents the broader community. The study revealed three types of community projects, namely: • Projects that are operational – although there are projects operating, the number is insignificant and it is unlikely that they would achieve the objectives that they were built for. The overall operational status does not warrant the R500m that was invested by government. • Projects that operated before but closed hence, referred to as ‘white elephants’ – there are a number of projects that were in business but currently closed due to poor management and lack of skills. • Projects that were under planning during the survey – these are projects that have been under planning for a very long time.

Income generating projects represent one strategy adopted by the Department of Social Development to alleviate poverty. The purpose of this study is to explore challenges of an income generating project funded by the Department of Social Development in Kwa-Nobuhle, Uitenhage of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa., A sample of thirty respondents was drawn from ten income generating projects funded by the Department of Social Development. The sampling method of this study was purposive sampling. Data was gathered through semi-structured questionnaires. Related literature has been reviewed that focuses on income generating projects for poverty alleviation. Various recommendations have been made on the findings of the study. The findings of the study indicated the need for regular visits from the officials of the Department, to conduct monitoring and evaluation. Project members also need training on financial management so they cannot mismanage their finances. The research findings indicated clearly that strategies that were used by the Department were not effective enough to achieve desired goals of poverty alleviation.

Social entrepreneurship and international business theory have not been properly introduced. Many authors conducted micro-studies within their field of interest but limited information has been published on the opportunity selection models and entry mode strategies that social entrepreneurs use to venture into foreign countries. The primary purpose of this study was then to introduce these distinct industries to one-another, transferring international business's best practices into the social entrepreneurship arena. The outcome of the study is a Global Social Investment Model that will empower social entrepreneurs and investors with a means to structure their project proposals prior to entering a new country and to highlight problem areas within their existing proposals. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / M.B.L.

Social entrepreneurship and international business theory have not been properly introduced. Many authors conducted micro-studies within their field of interest but limited information has been published on the opportunity selection models and entry mode strategies that social entrepreneurs use to venture into foreign countries. The primary purpose of this study was then to introduce these distinct industries to one-another, transferring international business's best practices into the social entrepreneurship arena. The outcome of the study is a Global Social Investment Model that will empower social entrepreneurs and investors with a means to structure their project proposals prior to entering a new country and to highlight problem areas within their existing proposals. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / M.B.L.

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 study has empirically examined the relative impact of public and private investment on economic growth and has also tested the crowding in or crowding out effect of public investment on private investment in four Southern African economies – Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The analysis used annual time-series data covering the period from 1970 to 2014. The study provides new evidence to contribute firstly to the current debate regarding the relative importance of public and private investment in economic growth processes and secondly, on whether public investment crowds in or crowds out private investment in the selected countries. For this purpose, the study employed two empirical models using the recently developed Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL)-bounds testing approach to cointegration. Model 1 examines the relative impact of public and private investment on economic growth while Model 2 investigates the crowding in or crowding out effect of gross public investment and its subcomponents (infrastructural and non-infrastructural) on private investment. The results of Model 1 largely supported the private investment-led economic growth strategy. In all the study countries, private investment had a positive impact on economic growth. Also, public investment positively contributed to economic growth in Zimbabwe, but in the remaining study countries, public investment had a negative relationship with economic growth. Results from Model 2 reveal that: (i) the crowding out effect of gross public investment on private investment predominates in the study countries; (ii) infrastructural public investment crowds in private investment in South Africa and Zimbabwe in the long run while it crowds out private investment in Malawi and Zambia in the short run; and (iii) non-infrastructural public investment crowds out private investment in South Africa and Zambia. On balance, the results from Model 2 show that public investment tends to crowd out private investment in the selected countries and this further underscore the importance of the private sector-led economic growth processes in the study countries. / Economics / D. Phil. (Economics)

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / The aim of the study investigates the significance of Auditor General in the control of public funds in local government with specific reference to Mopani District Municipality in order to make recommendations that can assist in improving the control of public funds. The research identifies and assesses weaknesses in how Mopani District Municipality has been controlling its public funds by analyzing the Auditor General reports for the past three financial years and its implications to service delivery. The research further assesses the role played by Auditor General in influencing the internal financial control of the municipality and in auditing the performance of the municipality since in other municipalities money is paid to contractors for services not rendered. The study provides academic input into public administration, specifically in the area of improving service delivery performance, control and financial performance management in municipalities. The study could contribute to the establishment of effective ways of monitoring the control of public funds by municipalities. / NRF