Thesis (MPhil) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After 1994, the year in which the first democratic election in the country was held and which placed South Africa irrevocably on the road to the creation of a new society, many institutions had to change to adapt to the new circumstances. All government and private institutions were compelled to adhere to transformation requirements. This study investigates the damage to blacks in the period before 1994, as well as the legal instruments and other regulations of the new government to assist black empowerment, with a view to creating a more equal society. The transformation of media institutions is a subject which, up to now, has not yet been researched thoroughly. This study was undertaken to establish the progress that has been made by Media24, a Naspers affiliate. The paper discusses the practical problems surrounding transformation, specifically those attached to an historic Afrikaans "white" institution like Media24. The conclusion which was derived at after interviews with top management, is that the company's leadership has moved into a position where transformation isn't questioned any more. Practical efforts are now being made to accelerate affirmative action and transformation. An audit of Media24 which was completed in 2004, and which is indicative of the company's achievements according to the transformational charter for black economic empowerment, was studied. The result shows that Media24 has made excellent progress in some areas, but has failed to achieve the desired results in others. Resulting from this, Media24's management began to set specific goals in order to be able to adhere to certain legal requirements (which includes, amongst others, affirmative action) within a specific time frame. Some of the proposals in this study include: That Media24's upcoming leadership should be measured against its ability to understand the requirements to do business in a new, diverse society; that more successful communication measurements be instituted around transformational processes and measurements and that a transformational ombud be appointed to highlight shortcomings and to help accelerate the process. The study has not exhausted the subject and, with transformation being an ongoing process, it is recommended that it be investigated further. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ná 1994, die jaar waarin die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in die land gehou is en Suid-Afrika onherroeplik op pad na die skepping van 'n "nuwe samelewing" geplaas is, sou baie instellings moes verander om by die nuwe omstandighede aan te pas. Alle staats- en private instellings sou aan transformasievereistes onderhewig wees. Dié werkstuk ondersoek kortliks die benadeling van swart mense in die tydperk voor 1994 en die wetlike instrumente en ander maatreëls van die nuwe regering om swart bemagtiging te help versnel en 'n meer gelyke samelewing te help skep. Die transformasie van media-instellings is 'n onderwerp wat nog nie behoorlik nagevors is nie en dié studie is aangepak om vas te stel hoe ver Media24, 'n filiaal van Naspers, gevorder het daarmee. Die praktiese probleme rondom transformasie word uitgelig, spesifiek dié by'n histories Afrikaanse "wit" instelling soos Media24. Die afleiding wat gemaak word uit onderhoude met die topbestuur van Media24 is dat die maatskappy se leierskap verby die punt is waar transformasie bevraagteken word. Praktiese pogings word nou aangewend om regstellende aksie maatreëls te versnel en transformasie vinniger te laat geskied. 'n Oudit van Media24 wat in 2004 uitgevoer is en wat die maatskappy se prestasie volgens die bemagtigingstelkaart vir swart ekonomiese bemagtiging aandui, is bestudeer. Die resultaat daarvan het getoon dat Media24 op sekere gebiede van swart bemagtiging goed vaar, maar op ander gebiede ver agter is. Media24 se bestuur het na aanleiding hiervan bepaalde teikens begin stelom die wetlike vereistes, wat onder meer regstellende aksie insluit, binne 'n sekere tydperk na te kom. Van die voorstelle in die studie sluit in: dat Media24 se opkomende leierskorps gemeet word aan die mate waarin hulle die vereistes verstaan om in die nuwe, diverse samelewing sake te doen, daar groter kommunikasie in die maatskappy moet wees oor transformasieprosesse- en maatreëls en dat 'n transformasie-ombud aangestel word om op tekortkominge te wys en die proses te help versnel. Die studie het nie die onderwerp uitgeput nie en verdere navorsing kan aangepak word, veralomdat transformasie 'n deurlopende proses is.

The International, as the weekly newspaper of the International Socialist League, articulated from 1915 to 1919 an ideology which stood opposed both to organised labour and nationalist movements in South Africa. This situation reflected significant historical struggles during this period, which constitutes essential background to the discourse of the International. The International's writers opposed the institution of trade unionism in the labour movement because it was fragmented on the lines of skill and race. They opposed both the National Party and the South African Native National Congress because they advocated racial (and national) rather than working class interests. Instead, these writers, according to their international socialist paradigm, advocated a working class united irrespective of race and skill at the level of industry. To analyse these ideological positions, discourse analysis provides a fruitful method for locating its dynamics in relation to other positions and extra-ideological (contextual) practices: The International's writers g~nerated a socialist position against racism by engaging in an ideological struggle in discourse. They articulated their anti-racist position from international socialism's critique of the 'languages' of both militarism and trade unionism in the discourse of labour. Within the discourse of militarism, the working class was signified as divided between hostile nations. These writers applied this as a metaphor to the division of the local labour movement and criticised the latter accordingly. In their view, just as workers were divided between the nations (nationalism), so they were divided within the nation (racism) in South Africa. One context cohered with the other, and both agreed with imperatives of international capitalism. This was fundamentally opposed to the principles of international socialism which characterised the International's discourse. Within the dominant discourse oflabour, workers were signified as divided between different trade unions on the basis of skills. Furthermore, in the South African context, trade unions organised only white workers, and ignored the far larger proportion of black labour. In this context, the International advocated industrial unionism, and criticised the narrow base of the white trade unions for fragmenting and weakening the working class in South African. The International's writers were thus led by the discourse of international socialism to a new discourse, whereby not white workers alone, but a racially-united working class movement would be the key to a socialist future in South Africa. Their struggle entailed a bid in and over discourse to rearticulate the sign of the 'native worker' within their own discourse as the dominant discourse type. Underpinning their struggle was a fundamental opposition to capitalist class relations.

The importance of supervision and the influence of this relationship on the process of supervision, is often underrated. In order for this process to be implementede success-fully knowledge of the different functions including the administrative- educational- and supportive functions is of the utmost importance. It is also becoming increasingly impor-tant that note should be taken of the impact that cultural differences has on supervisor-relationships, the supervisional process and the effectivity of rendering of service as so-cial service organisations increasingly consists of diverse staff members rendering service to a diverse clientelle. This descriptive study has as goal to describe the impact of cultural differences on the practice focussing on the function of supervision and the establishment of diverse organisations and problems arising in this connection. Carefull attention will be paid as to how respondents experience cultural differences in the working environment, their problems and their opinions of how to solve these problems effectively. Conclusions and recomendations were made, which focussed on problems arising as result of cultural differences. The compilation of tentative guidelines which could be usefull in establishing supervision services with greater cultural sensitivity were given. / Social Work / M.Diac (Maatskaplike Werk-Rigting)

This thesis is a biographical study of Erika Theron (1907-1990), an Afrikaner woman who played a significant role in many aspects of public life in South Africa in a critical time in the country‘s history. The study seeks to give recognition to her achievements, which have received scant attention in a historiography with a masculine bias. At the same time it examines her changing role from collaborator to critic of the apartheid system. Certain defining features of Theron‘s life have been highlighted. First, Theron grew up in a staunchly Afrikaner nationalist, service-oriented family which encouraged loyalty to her own people and civic responsibility. Second, she was unusual among Afrikaner women of her generation, in that she was highly educated, independent and ready to assume leadership roles. She became a pioneer in a number of fields, attaining high professional rank and holding important public offices – frequently as the first woman to do so in the country. The thesis focuses on five areas of Theron‘s public life. After returning from post-graduate studies abroad, she worked with Hendrik Verwoerd in the campaign to uplift poor whites, particularly the rehabilitation and re-integration of the Afrikaner poor. She thereafter commenced a long career as a social work academic, which included a number of milestones for her new discipline, for the profession of social work and for the advancement of women in academia. From the 1950s she served on the town council of Stellenbosch, including terms as deputy mayor and mayor. She played an important role in historic conservation but was also instrumental in the rigorous institution of apartheid structures in the town during the early days of National Party rule. In the early 1970s she served as chairman of the Commission of Enquiry into Coloured Affairs which influenced her personal views on the country‘s race policies. She became a public critic of many aspects of the apartheid system and vocal advocate for coloured rights. / History / D. Litt. et Phil. (History)

This thesis examines the 1998 complaint of racism against the Mail & Guardian, a leading exponent of South Africa's alternative press in the 1980s, and important contemporary producer of investigative journalism. The study is framed within a cultural studies approach, analysing the Mail & Guardian as constituted by a 'circuit of production': its social context, production, texts, and audiences. The thesis makes three main arguments. First, that the claim of racism cannot be understood outside of a consideration of both the changing political milieu, and subtle changes within the Mail & Guardian itself. Significant social changes relate to the reconfiguration of racial and class identities wrought by the 'Mbeki state'. Within the Mail & Guardian, the thesis argues for the importance of the power and subjectivity of the editor as a key 'factor' shaping the identity of the paper, evidenced in its production practices and textual outputs. In this regard, the thesis departs from a functionalist analysis of particular 'roles' within the newsroom, drawing instead on a post-structuralist approach to organisational studies. Based on this production and social context, the thesis examines key texts which deal with aspects of South Africa's social transformation, and which exemplify aspects of the Mail & Guardian's reporting which led to the complaint of racism by the Black Lawyers Association (BLA) and the Association of Black Accountants (ABASA). Their complaint was that the Mail & Guardian's reporting impugned the dignity of black people, and in so doing was a violation of their rights to dignity and equality which are constitutionally guaranteed. However, as freedom of the press is also guaranteed by the South African constitution, their complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) resulted in public debate about these contending rights. My second argument relates to the jurisprudential approach to racism, and the related issue of affirmative action, which informed the complaint against the paper. Contrary to the 'normative', liberal approach to these issues, this thesis highlights Critical Race Theory as the jurisprudential basis for both the claimants' accusation of racism against the Mail & Guardian, and aspects of its implicit use in South African human rights adjudication. The thesis argues that in failing to recognise these different philosophical and political bases of legal reasoning, the media, including the Mail & Guardian, in reporting on these matters failed in their purported role of serving the public interest. The thesis concludes by applying Fraser's critique of Habermas's notion of a single, bourgeois public sphere to journalism, thereby suggesting ways in which the critiques of some of the Mail & Guardian's own journalists could be employed to enlarge its approach to journalism - giving voice to constituencies seldom heard in mainstream media.

The importance of supervision and the influence of this relationship on the process of supervision, is often underrated. In order for this process to be implementede success-fully knowledge of the different functions including the administrative- educational- and supportive functions is of the utmost importance. It is also becoming increasingly impor-tant that note should be taken of the impact that cultural differences has on supervisor-relationships, the supervisional process and the effectivity of rendering of service as so-cial service organisations increasingly consists of diverse staff members rendering service to a diverse clientelle. This descriptive study has as goal to describe the impact of cultural differences on the practice focussing on the function of supervision and the establishment of diverse organisations and problems arising in this connection. Carefull attention will be paid as to how respondents experience cultural differences in the working environment, their problems and their opinions of how to solve these problems effectively. Conclusions and recomendations were made, which focussed on problems arising as result of cultural differences. The compilation of tentative guidelines which could be usefull in establishing supervision services with greater cultural sensitivity were given. / Social Work / M.Diac (Maatskaplike Werk-Rigting)

This thesis is a biographical study of Erika Theron (1907-1990), an Afrikaner woman who played a significant role in many aspects of public life in South Africa in a critical time in the country‘s history. The study seeks to give recognition to her achievements, which have received scant attention in a historiography with a masculine bias. At the same time it examines her changing role from collaborator to critic of the apartheid system. Certain defining features of Theron‘s life have been highlighted. First, Theron grew up in a staunchly Afrikaner nationalist, service-oriented family which encouraged loyalty to her own people and civic responsibility. Second, she was unusual among Afrikaner women of her generation, in that she was highly educated, independent and ready to assume leadership roles. She became a pioneer in a number of fields, attaining high professional rank and holding important public offices – frequently as the first woman to do so in the country. The thesis focuses on five areas of Theron‘s public life. After returning from post-graduate studies abroad, she worked with Hendrik Verwoerd in the campaign to uplift poor whites, particularly the rehabilitation and re-integration of the Afrikaner poor. She thereafter commenced a long career as a social work academic, which included a number of milestones for her new discipline, for the profession of social work and for the advancement of women in academia. From the 1950s she served on the town council of Stellenbosch, including terms as deputy mayor and mayor. She played an important role in historic conservation but was also instrumental in the rigorous institution of apartheid structures in the town during the early days of National Party rule. In the early 1970s she served as chairman of the Commission of Enquiry into Coloured Affairs which influenced her personal views on the country‘s race policies. She became a public critic of many aspects of the apartheid system and vocal advocate for coloured rights. / History / D. Litt. et Phil. (History)