The purpose of this study is to investigate the role played by agricultural cooperatives in developing the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. It also looks at the contributions by Government in promoting the establishment and the success of these cooperatives. The focus area was Cannon Farm in the Chris Hani District Municipality, where most of the people live below the poverty line, but have started agricultural cooperatives with the aim of eradicating poverty and developing their communities. The data for this research was gathered through group discussions and face-to-face interviews which were guided by a questionnaire. A document analysis was also conducted to fulfill all the research objectives. It has been found that agricultural cooperatives, as compared to any other type of cooperatives, are a major tool to eradicate poverty and bring economic development to rural communities. This is made possible not only by the full commitment and determination of cooperative members, but also by government which has also committed itself to providing a supportive legal environment for cooperatives (Cooperative Act No. 14 of 2005). The findings also show that, due to the challenges they are currently facing, agricultural cooperatives in the Eastern Cape Province have not yet reached their full potential. Therefore, it has been recommended that, such challenges need to be urgently addressed. As the United Nations (2001) highlights, agricultural cooperatives present themselves as an important element that can contribute to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

The Groundwater characteristics of a portion of the Eastern Cape are depicted on a General Hydrogeological Map (Queenstown 3126) at 1 :500 000 scale. The purpose of the map and accompanying text is to provide a synoptic overview of the hydrogeology of the area. The "fractured and intergranular" aquifer type predominates in the more humid eastern part of the study area where the lithologies are more highly weathered whereas the fractured type predominates in the drier west. For the bulk of the area borehole yields are in the 0.5 - 2.0 ℓ/sec range. Higher yields (in the 2.0 - 5.0 ℓ/sec range) are common only in a small area in the south-west of the map. Lowest yields (0.1 - 0.5 ℓ/sec) are obtained in an area immediately north of East London and in the Dwyka Group near the NE coast. It is important to note that these yield ranges are merely a measure of the central tendency, and that higher yields - in excess of 3 ℓ/sec - could well be obtainable at optimal hydrogeological target features within these areas. Highest borehole yields are obtained in folded areas (restricted to the southern edge of the study area) followed by rocks with dolerite intrusions (common over the bulk of the study area). Other targets include fractured sedimentary and volcanic rock and unconsolidated deposits. Yields obtained from dolerite contact zones vary across the area; differences correspond to spatial variations in the style of intrusion. Highest success rates are obtained in areas intruded by a combination of dykes, ring-shaped sheets and irregular sheets while poor results are obtained in areas intruded by thick massive sills. Air photo and satellite image interpretation, geological mapping, magnetic, electrical resistivity and electromagnetic geophysical methods can be used to locate drilling target features. Groundwater quality is good since electrical conductivities over much of the area are lower than 70 mS/m and rarely exceed the South African Water quality guideline limit for human consumption of 300 mS/m. The volume of groundwater abstractable ranges between approximately 2 000 m³/km²/annum and 80 000 m³/km²/annum and is limited by either volumes of recharge or subsurface storage.

The study focused on the evaluation of the integrated management system (IQMS) at selected schools within the Queenstown Education District. A quantitative research method was used for the study and questionnaires were used as a research tool to collect data. The respondents were members of the school management teams (SMT) which comprised the principals, deputy principals, heads of departments, senior educators and educators. These are key role-players in the management and implementation of IQMS. The rationale was to obtain pertinent information which would address the research questions and objectives of the study. The primary objective of the study as outlined above was to evaluate the impact of IQMS implementation in the Queenstown district with specific reference to the Lukhanji Circuit, on the performance of the high schools selected. It was envisaged that the results of the study would contribute towards developing measures to ensure that IQMS implementation achieves the desired objectives. The research questions were: To what extent can IQMS implementation be used as a tool to measure and improve teaching and learning? What measures have been put in place by the district to support and build capacity of the educators to perform? What factors hinder the effective IQMS implementation? The key findings of the study reveal that IQMS as a tool to improve teaching and learning had the overwhelming support of the majority of the respondents. However, a reasonable percentage of the respondents were of the view that IQMS constituted an administrative burden to educators. There are educators who displayed a negative attitude towards the implementation of IQMS. The respondents also felt that the district office needs to provide more support for IQMS implementation so that its objectives can be fully realised. The study makes clear recommendations such as the de-linking of IQMS from salaries and pay progression, provision of more support by the district, to make IQMS more user-friendly to educators and additional budget and teacher training to enhance educators’ professional development.

The performance management system has been introduced in the South African public service with the intensions of monitoring, reviewing, assessing performance, developing underperformers and recognising and rewarding good performance. This study was undertaken as an attempt to assess whether the Lukhanji municipality performance management systems contribute to the improvement of service delivery and employee productivity. The literature review undertaken in this study, shows that there is a general poor understanding of performance management systems in Lukhanji municipality. The literature review further establishes that there are several challenges that hinder the effective implementation of a performance management system in the municipality. Other findings of the study include that there is a challenge in setting the unrealistic performance targets which are unrealisable by employees. These are the reasons why productivity levels are not always realised and targets not achieved by Lukhanji municipality. The main findings of the study are that, although performance management systems play a significant role in the improvement of service delivery, it has not contributed in the improvement of employee productivity of the Lukhanji municipality. The main recommendation on the basis of this finding is that there should be thorough and regular training of officials within the Lukhanji Municipality about the performance management system and how it influences productivity and service delivery. In conclusion, the Municipal Executive Mayoral Committee should demand verifiable evidence to justify a higher rating during quarterly assessments, and that punitive disciplinary measures be taken against those who do not comply with the provision of the performance management system framework, particularly failure to submit performance instruments.

This thesis is based on an in-depth assessment of the three rural women co-operatives in the Tsojana village, within the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality, which is the largest and most rural municipality within the Chris Hani District Municipality. 95 percent of households in this municipality live in rural areas or villages (Integrated Development Plan (IDP), 2010-2011). Rural areas are characterised by high levels of poverty, deprivation, poor infrastructure, and poor linkages to markets. Rural women are the ones experiencing poverty at first hand due to the fact that they are less mobile; when food crisis hits, men tend to leave to look for work or income in towns/cities, while women stay behind to look after their families (Moyo-Mhlanga, 2001). In 1975, the World Bank addressed the question of how women can become effective in economic development, hence the establishment of Women in Development Projects to encourage them to be more involved in income-generating activities like rural projects, co-operatives (co-ops) and self-help groups. A co-operative is an autonomous association of people who join voluntarily to meet their socio-economic and cultural needs through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise (International Labour Organization (ILO), 2002). The United Nations (UN) recognized the contribution cooperatives can make to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through productive employment, eradicating poverty, enhancing social integration and promoting the advancement of women. This research study was motivated by the fact that- there are various women development projects/co-operatives in Tsojana Administrative Area (A/A) which aim to improve the lives of the rural people for the better, but most of these co-ops are not sustainable and financially viable. Rural women have realized that in order to sustain development they have to integrate themselves into village development structures, as in various co-operatives, informal rural entrepreneurs and agricultural and non-farm income-generating activities. The study proposes to investigate the reasons for the failure of these co-ops to create sustainable rural livelihoods. The study further attempts to explore development strategies that will assist to transform and advance the co-ops towards sustainable development for all. It also aims to explore strategies that will alleviate poverty, create jobs, and address all factors of underdevelopment and deprivation. The overall methodological approach in this study is qualitative in nature, as it is based on the understanding of the situation from the participant‟s point of view, or perspective. It seeks to describe, investigate and explore aspects of development projects, and to also understand the aspects of socio-economic life of rural women. It combines three traditions of enquiry, i.e. case study, phenomenology, and ethnography. A non-probability type of sampling, in particular purposive sampling, was used for the study because the researcher‟s samples are based on her judgement. Interpretive research paradigm was used to allow the researcher to study meaningful social action, not just the external or observable behaviour of people, and various research tools were used to collect data. These co-operatives have been identified as struggling for survival, and lacking training, and material and financial resources. The co-operatives require support for expansion and modernizing their operations.

After 18 years of democracy South African government is still faced with challenges such as high levels of unemployment, inequality and high levels of poverty. There have been various policies, poverty alleviation programmes and projects that have been established in an effort to eradicate poverty. According to Gathiram (2005: 123) despite these efforts, poverty in South Africa has worsened. The challenge has been that a number of such projects have not been properly implemented and as a result, they were not sustainable. This paper investigates the reasons for some of these poverty alleviation projects to be successful and others to be apparently unsustainable. The research focuses on two poverty alleviation projects in Chris Hani District Municipality. The research methodology used is descriptive study. The findings of this report revealed that some of poverty alleviation projects are sustainable and some are not sustainable. The study reveals factors contributing to sustainability of poverty alleviation projects. The study recommends the sustainable development approach as an approach that can assist in the sustainability of poverty alleviation projects.

The aim of this research is to evaluate the Eskom customer safety education programme in the Queenstown Customer Services Area. The research focuses on the implementation of the programme with the aim of assessing whether there is need for optimisation in the way that the customer education and training is delivered. The paper consists of three sections. Section one is directed to Eskom and is made up of (i) a review of the literature that is relevant to the Eskom safety education programme, (ii) the findings made from the study and (iii) recommendations from the author. Section two is a review of the key concepts which were identified for this paper and these are: (i) education and training, (ii) consumer education, (iii) citizenship education, (iv) training programme development, and (v) training programme evaluation. Section three provides detail on and justifies the research methodology that was followed for this paper. The author adopted the deductive approach and collected data from literature sources and Eskom documents as well as face-to-face interviews with the Eskom trainers and customers. Qualitative data was collected from the interviews and is presented in section one of the report in the form of (i) narratives, (ii) graphs and (iii) tables. The research has identified some shortcomings in the delivery of the training and recommendations have been made on how these shortcomings can be addressed. Trainer skills, training evaluation and training tools are amongst the issues that require attention in the Queenstown Customer Services Area. The results revealed that 67 percent of the trainers have not received training related to conducting customer forums. Inconsistencies with regard to the evaluation of the training interventions were also identified and there were differences in terms of the training tools that are utilised at the forums. The recommendations made by the author are based on the literature that was reviewed as part of this study and are aimed at addressing the delivery of the training. The respondents all displayed an understanding of the objectives of the Eskom safety education programme and made recommendations in terms of how Eskom can reduce the tampering of Eskom equipment. The recommendations made included the involvement of the community as well as unannounced door-to-door audits aimed at identifying damaged and tampered Eskom equipment. These recommendations are in line with the guiding principles of safety education presented in McWhirter (2008: 32) which include the involvement of young people in real decisions to help them stay safe, as well as the use of active approaches in addressing safety issues. A review of the electrical contact incidents which were reported to Eskom in 2011/12 revealed that in 61,5 percent of the cases that occurred in the Eastern Cape, Eskom had conducted electricity safety education before the incidents occurred. The recommendations in terms of the training delivery should be implemented to improve the delivery of the training. The author however recommends further research on how Eskom can reduce the number of electrical contact incidents that occur, as it has been proven through previous studies that safety education “has an impact on knowledge, behaviour, risk and skills and no papers have provided evidence of the impact of safety education on injury rates” (Mulvaney, Watson and Errington, 2012: 27).

This thesis employs a case study approach to investigate local implications of globally restricted mobility by examining Queenstown’s vulnerability to peak oil and climate change. Qualitative research methods are the principal means of inquiry. The research findings suggest that Queenstown is particularly vulnerable to peak oil and climate change at a broad scale because of its dependence on tourism and heavy reliance on air transport. However, Queenstown has fortuitously built up resilience to peak oil and climate change through tourism industry diversity, comparative advantage and an increasing proportion of short-haul visitors. A selection of key Queenstown tourism stakeholders interviewed as part of the research demonstrated some grasp of peak oil and climate change issues but lacked in-depth understanding. They generally considered the issues as being beyond their control although several suggested ways that Queenstown could strengthen resilience to peak oil and climate change. In terms of solutions, this research identifies three potential strategies. The first involves investing in a low carbon local transport system to increase destination level resilience to peak oil and climate change and enhance the uniqueness of the Queenstown brand. The second involves Queenstown promoters targeting the high-end niche tourism market in order to create a more resilient visitor profile. And the third involves the creation of new and expansion of existing industries not tied to tourism – preferably industries that are not excessively oil dependent and carbon intensive. But in order to successfully tackle the problem, it is imperative to first raise awareness. The research recommends implementing a framework that ensures an inclusive community-wide open dialogue process as the most effective way to achieve this.

The objective of this study is to conduct a survey concerning the perceptions of educators in the Queenstown education district of the labour dispute resolution system. The education department is one of the biggest departments in the Eastern Cape’s Provincial Administration system. The likelihood of disputes is high when there are many employees. The focus of the study therefore is on how educators perceive the role of the department in terms of ensuring that labour disputes with the department are resolved efficiently and speedily. The advent of a democratic dispensation resulted in the ushering in of progressive labour legislation such as Labour Relations Act 55 of 1995. The objective of this Act is to facilitate economic development, social justice, labour peace and democratization of the workplace. In other words this Act gave birth to the manner in which labour disputes should be resolved. The study was carried out not only to explore the perceptions of educators but also with a view to making recommendations on the findings in order to help contribute towards labour peace and productivity in the workplace. The attitudes of one hundred and forty-one educators were surveyed via questionnaires and six educators who have had labour disputes with the department were interviewed. The key findings of the study revealed that both the educators who were surveyed and those interviewed lack confidence in the effectiveness of the labour dispute procedures in the district; they perceive the system as being inaccessible to them; time taken to resolve disputes is too lengthy; the system lacks necessary independence from the department of education or government and the department is seen as not adhering to its own policies and legislation. Hence there are many disputes and there is a great need for more awareness and for improved training in handling labour dispute resolution systems for district officials and educators. The study recommends more awareness and training sessions for both district officials responsible for labour relations and educators at large. It also calls for an increasingly proactive role by teacher unions in partnership with the department of education to avoid labour disputes. Although the findings cannot be generalized toother districts of the province, they do however highlight critical areas in labour dispute resolution where attention can be paid and focus made in order to ensure labour peace in the workplace for improved productivity and effective teaching and learning.

Thesis (MBA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study was motivated by the widely reported problem of poor financial management within South African local government and, more specifically, the deteriorating status of revenue management, especially in medium to smaller municipalities. The reasons for the alleged poor financial management are complex and involve issues of management capacity, inappropriate systems, and socio-economic circumstances. It is obvious that a holistic approach will be required to address such a multi-ciimensional problem. This research proposes to suggest solutions to the revenue management problems facing South African municipalities. If this issue is not resolved urgently, local government will impede service delivery rather than improve it. Service delivery is key to the integration of South Africa's first economy into a second economy. The specific objectives of the research are; firstly, to develop a revenue management value chain model specific for municipalities; and, secondly, to conduct an analysis of the Lukhanji Local Municipality's financial status against the value chain model. To attain the objectives of this study existing literature and the scope of the problem must first be examined and understood. It is evident that the prevailing revenue management problem experienced, lie with the local government themselves in terms of their inadequate financial management. These problems have placed Significant pressure on municipalities' cash flows and eroded their financial resources. In turn, this has resulted in questionable sustainability and financial via bility, as the problematic cash position of municipalities has impacted negatively on their capital and maintenance expenditure. One of the greatest challenges facing local government is the collection of revenue raised for services rendered to various consumers. Of the various actions taken by government to address the current crisis situation in municipalities in the short to medium term, national grants to sponsor capital projects and services have been key in Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za iv ensuring that the decrease in municipal expenditure has not been greater, preventing the potentially disastrous consequences. The Municipal Finance Management Act, together with the Municipal Structures Act, Municipal Systems Act; and also the Constitution provide a well -defined financial framework within which local government can function. The research also reviewed all four main revenue sources of local government, namely own revenue {utility fees and property tax}; subsidies through intergovernmental transfers; loans; and private-sector equity. Despite the improvement in intergovernmental transfers, it is important that all municipalities maximise their own revenue, while considering those that cannot afford basic services. The research proposes the following revenue management value chain model, specifically for South African municipalities: Revenue Planning Indigent Management Tanff Setling ~ Metering Billing Customer Database Management Revenue Coliection I) Credit Control Loss Management In the analYSis of the Lukhanji Local Municipality's financial status against the value chain model, it became evident that problems existed in all elements of the value chain. General financial and viability assessments supported the above finding and indicated financial difficulties and serious cash-flow problems. The research present several recommendations regarding the improvement of poor financial management in South African municipalities and the Lukhanji Local Municipality. However, in brief, urgent attention is required in terms of the Lukhanji Local Municipality's cash-flow in the short term, while a performance-driven culture needs to be developed in the long term. Lastly, local government in general, and the Lukhanji Local Municipality specifically, will succeed in improving their revenue management if they harness the collective will and skills of all the stakeholders involved in the provision of services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie spruit voort uit die negatiewe publisiteit oor die probleem van swak finansi~le bestuur in plaaslike regering en, meer spesifiek, die verslegtende stand van inkomstebestuur, veral in mid del slag- tot klein munisipaliteite. Die redes is ingewikkeld en behels probleme met bestuursvermo~, onvanpaste stelsels, 'n kultuur van nie-hetaling, en sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede. 'n Holistiese benadering is ooglopend nadig om die vee/dimensionele probleem op te los. Die doel van die navorsing is om by te dra tot die vind van oplossings vi r die inkomstebestuursprobleme wat munisipaliteite in die gesig staar. Indien die situasie nie dringend omgekeer word nie, bestaan die gevaar dat ons munisipaliteite in bankrotskap gebring kan word , wat beteken dat hulle nie hul grondwetlike verpligting sal kan nakom nie en dat hulle dienslewering sal belemmer en dit verbeter nie. Goeie dienslewering is die sleutel vir die integrasie van Suid Afrika se eerste ekonomie met die tweede ekonomie. Die doelwitte van die navorsing is; eerstens, om 'n spesifieke inkomstebestuurs-waardekettingmodel vir munisipaliteite te ontwikkel; en meedens, om Lukhanji Plaaslike Munisipaliteit se finansiele status teen die model te meet. Om die doelwitte te bereik moet die probleem vestaan word deur bestaande literatuur te bestudeer . Oit is duidelik dat die heersende inkomstebestuurs probleme h§ by die plaaslike regering in terme van hul onvoldoende finansiele bestuur. Die probleme het geweldige druk op munisipaliteite se kontantvloei gesit en sodoende hul hulpbronne gedreineer. Oit het 'n vraagteken geplaas op die volhoubaarheid en finansiele lewensvatbaarheid van munisipaliteite as gevolg van die kontant probleme se negatiewe impak op die kapitale en instandhouding bestedings. Een van die grootste uitdagings waarvoor plaaslike regering te staan kom, is die invordering van inkomste wat gehef word vir dienste wat aan verskeie verbruikers gelewer word . As dit nie vir die Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za vii nation ale tussenregeringsoordragte, vir beide dienslewering en kapitaal projekte was nie, sou munisipaliteite met baie erger probleme gesit het. Die Wet op die Bestuur van Munisipale Finansies, tesame met die Wet op Munisipale Strukture; die Wet op Munisipale Stelsels; asook die Grondwet verskaf 'n goed omskrewe finansif!le raamwerk binne plaaslike regering. Die studie behandel die vier vernaamste inkomstebronne van plaaslike regering, wat eie inkomste (utiliteitsgelde en eiendomsbelasting), subsidies deur tussenregeringsoordragte, lenings en privaatsektor-ekwiteit insluit. Ten spyte van die verbetering van tussenregeringsoordragte vir sommige jurisdiksies, is dit belangrik dat aile munisipaliteite huJ eie inkomste maksimeer, met die fokus op diegene wat wei basiese dienste kan bekostig. Die navorsing doen die volgende inkomstebestuurs-waardekettingmodel spesifiek vir munisipaliteite aan die hand: Inkomstebeplanning Bestuur van hulpbehoe- Tarief· wendes vasstelling C. Metenesing Fakturering Klante- Databasisbestuur Inkomsteinvordering ~ Kredietbeheer Verliesbestuur By die ontleding van die Lukhanji Plaaslike Munisipaliteit se finansiele status teenoor die waardekettingmodel het dit duidel ik geblyk dat probleme in al die elemente van die waardeketting bestaan. Die algemene finansiele ontleding en finansiele lewensvatbaarheidsmodel ondersteun die bostaande bevindinge en toon dat die Munisipaliteit in ernstige finansiele moeilikheid verkeer. Die navorsing sluit verskeie onderling velWante aanbevelings oor die verbetering van swak finansieJe bestuur in Suid Afrikaanse munisipaliteite en die Lukhanji PlaasJike Munisipaliteit in. Die Munisipaliteit se kontantvloei het veral dringende aandag nodig in die korttermyn, terwyl die Munisipaliteit 'n kultuur van prestasiebestuur in the langtermyn moet ontwikkel. Plaaslike regering oor die algemeen en die Lukhanji Plaaslike Munisipaliteit in die besonder sal net in hul inkomstebestuur slaag as hulle die gesamentlike wil en vermof!ns van al die belanghebbendes wat by die verskaffing van dienste betrokke is, kan aanwend.