Wildfires destroy large tracts of veld and forest land every year in South Africa. These fires can be devastating, resulting in loss of human lives, the destruction of property and the loss of income, for example the forest fire in the Sabie district in Mpumalanga in 2007 which destroyed about 7% of South Africa’s forested areas. There are frequently legal disputes with respect to the origin of wildfires, the extent of the fire and the land cover destroyed by the fires. The forensic capabilities of remote sensing in detecting and analysing post-wildfire characteristics have become an important contribution towards solving such legal disputes and in understanding wildfire characteristics. These post fire products can be used as evidence in court cases. Most of the time those court cases came up a few years after the fire event. By then, little or no evidence can be found on the terrain where the fire was. Remote sensing archives provide a reliable source of data that can be used to analyse these events after these long intervals. The objective of this project is to highlight the methods used to generate these post-wildfire analysis products. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

South Africa presently experiences high levels of crime daily. Although crime is accepted as an everyday occurrence for its citizens, it affects the economy of the country. This study analysed security measures implemented on Commercial Private Game Reserves (CPGRs) in Limpopo and the impact of crime thereof. CPGRs are enclosed areas containing various species of fauna and flora. Visitors from domestic and foreign origins visit these reserves to enjoy nature and its tranquillity. This study analysed the security measures to determine their effectiveness for CPGRs. The study further explored the use of security risk management strategies and risk assessments as crime reduction tools. The study was carried out using a case study research design. Data were collected by the researcher using three methods: observation, onsite checklists and semi-structured one-on-one interviews which were conducted on site. Validity and reliability indicate the trustworthiness of the study. The researcher reduced the data gathered through the use of thematic data analysis. Interviews were transcribed and themes were created and identified by the researcher. The comprehensive data indicated the importance of a security risk manager on a CPGR. The research found that very few security risk managers are employed and that managers of security risks employed on CPGRs have various titles. However, while the CPGRs have similar risks, their risk reduction strategies vary. The most commonly used measures are people, physical and technological measures with each having various subdivisions. The security measures implemented by CPGRs in the Limpopo province which were analysed are not formulated using a scientific approach as most properties do not make use of a formal security risk assessment. The study is deemed valuable as a model was developed from the findings that could be used by game reserves to guide them to apply relevant security measures. A formal security programme is often limited due to financial constraints of the reserve or the reserve owners, however, not all strategies should be considered as a financial expense as much can be done without exhausting financial reserves. The findings contributed to making recommendations to improve the overall security of CPGRs. This study encourages more research into the subject to improve the security industry and to stimulate the tourism industry. / Security Risk Management / M. Tech. (Security Management)

Introduction: Despite being one of the most preventable diseases, TB still remains a serious and largely neglected disease. Nurses as compared to the general population are at greater risk of acquiring nosocomial TB. This study was conducted to describe the perceptions of nurses on the underlying contributory factors that may lead to the spread of TB in the clinics treating TB patients. Methods: Quantitative, non – experimental, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional design was used. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used. Findings: The key contributory factors identified were insufficient TB training for staff and lack of knowledge on the TB legislative framework and TB policy directives. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for a comprehensive TB infection prevention and control policy, with associated standards for provision and practice. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Text in English / The goals of this research were to explore, describe and explain the crime of associated robbery, which at the time of this study, was a scientifically unknown phenomenon. Associated robbery is defined as “a bank-related robbery (by association) of cash or attempt thereto, committed against a bank client or his/her delegate, at any stage while en-route to or from a bank branch, ATM or cash centre or inside the branch to effect a deposit, or, withdrawal” (SABRIC 2013:4) This robbery is divided into two main categories, namely robbery before cash deposit and robbery after cash withdrawal. As found in literature and also evident in the findings of this study, more incidents and related cash losses are reported from robbery after withdrawal, which is sub-divided into muti scam, money bomb and spiked drink. This study followed an exploratory, sequential, mixed-method research approach where the qualitative phase took place first – followed by the quantitative phase. The topic was firstly explored by collecting qualitative data via in-depth, one-on-one interviews (from a phenomenological point of view) where mutual meaning was sought, as understood by victims of associated robbery. To gather quantitative data, 500 bank clients (i.e. individuals, small business owners and stokvel/saving club members) completed a survey questionnaire. Their perspective on the phenomenon of associated robbery was thus explained and described through the use of descriptive statistics, particularly univariate and bivariate statistical analysis. The most significant contribution made by this study, is embedment of the preventative measures used by the banking industry and other stakeholders such as the SAPS into the Situational Crime Prevention (SCP) and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles approaches. This model is heavily grounded on 12 SCP strategies, namely: access control; deflecting offenders; controlling facilitation; entry/exist screening; formal surveillance; surveillance by employees; natural surveillance; target removal; reducing temptation; rule setting; stimulating conscience; and facilitating compliance. Furthermore, the model emphasises that the combating of associated robberies is a collaborative effort and thus the individual (bank client), the banking industry, the criminal justice system (CJS) and the general public all have to work together in fighting this endemic. The lack of knowledge mainly from a victim’s perspective was identified as one of the challenges faced. However, this presented an opportunity for this study to make a significant contribution to the development of scientific literature. Moreover, the use of opportunity theories to explain the reasons why individuals are victimised placed the phenomenon in the criminological research milieu – thus pioneering a way for researchers who may wish to conduct future research on the same topic. / Criminology and Security Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

Recurring drought conditions have always been an endemic feature of climate in South Africa, limiting maize development and production. However, recent projections of the future climate by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggest that due to an increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases, the frequency and severity of droughts will increase in drought-prone areas, mostly in subtropical climates. This has raised major concern for the agricultural sector, particularly the vulnerable small-scale farmers who merely rely on rain for crop production. Farmers in the Luvuvhu River catchment are not an exception, as this area is considered economically poor, whereby a significant number of people are dependent on rain-fed farming for subsistence. This study was therefore conducted in order to improve agricultural productivity in the area and thus help in the development of measures to secure livelihoods of those vulnerable small-scale farmers. Two drought indices viz. Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (WRSI) were used to quantify drought. A 120-day maturing maize crop was considered and three consecutive planting dates were staggered based on the average start of the rainy season. Frequencies and probabilities during each growing stage of maize were calculated based on the results of the two indices. Temporal variations of drought severity from 1975 to 2015 were evaluated and trends were analyzed using the non-parametric Spearman’s Rank Correlation test at α (0.05) significance level. For assessing climate change impact on droughts, SPEI and WRSI were computed using an output from downscaled projections of CSIRO Mark3.5 under the SRES A2 emission scenario for the period 1980/81 – 2099/100. The frequency of drought was calculated and the difference of SPEI and WRSI means between future climate periods and the base period were assessed using the independent t-test at α (0.10) significance level in STATISTICA software. The study revealed that planting a 120-day maturing maize crop in December would pose a high risk of frequent severe-extreme droughts during the flowering to the grain-filling stage at Levubu, Lwamondo, Thohoyandou, and Tshiombo; while planting in October could place crops at a lower risk of reduced yield and even total crop failure. In contrast, stations located in the low-lying plains of the catchment (Punda Maria, Sigonde, and Pafuri) were exposed to frequent moderate droughts following planting in October, with favorable conditions noted following the December planting date. Further analysis on the performance of the crop under various drought conditions revealed that WRSI values corresponding to more intense drought conditions were detected during the December planting date for all stations. Moreover, at Punda Maria, Sigonde and Pafuri, it was observed that extreme drought (WRSI <50) occurred once in five seasons, regardless of the planting date. Temporal analysis on historical droughts in the area indicated that there had been eight agricultural seasons subjected to extreme widespread droughts resulting in total crop failure i.e. 1983/84, 1988/89, 1991/92, 1993/94, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2004/05 and 2014/15. Results of Spearman’s rank correlation test revealed weak increasing drought trends at Thohoyandou (ρ = of 0.5 for WRSI) and at Levubu and Lwamondo (ρ = of 0.4 for SPEI), with no significant trends at the other stations. The study further revealed that climate change would enhance the severity of drought across the catchment. This was statistically significant (at 10% significance level) for the near-future and intermediate-future climates, relative to the base period. Drought remains a threat to rain-fed maize production in the Luvuvhu River catchment area of South Africa. In order to mitigate the possible effects of droughts under climate change, optimal planting dates were recommended for each region. The use of seasonal forecasts during drought seasons would also be useful for local rain-fed maize growers especially in regions where moisture is available for a short period during the growing season. It was further recommended that the Government ensure proper support such as effective early warning systems and inputs to the farmers. Moreover, essential communication between scientists, decision makers, and the farmers can help in planning and decision making ahead of and during the occurrence of droughts. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Introduction: Despite being one of the most preventable diseases, TB still remains a serious and largely neglected disease. Nurses as compared to the general population are at greater risk of acquiring nosocomial TB. This study was conducted to describe the perceptions of nurses on the underlying contributory factors that may lead to the spread of TB in the clinics treating TB patients. Methods: Quantitative, non – experimental, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional design was used. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used. Findings: The key contributory factors identified were insufficient TB training for staff and lack of knowledge on the TB legislative framework and TB policy directives. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for a comprehensive TB infection prevention and control policy, with associated standards for provision and practice. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This study identified pregnancy-related challenges encountered by student nurses at SAMHS Nursing College, with an aim of identify factors contributing to student nurses' pregnancies as well as finding ways to deal and minimize the rate of the pregnancies amongst the student nurses. Thirty (30) structured interviews were conducted with student nurses who were pregnant and those who delivered their babies during the period 2002 to 2007. It has been revealed that ignorance is the major contributing factor for student nurses' pregnancies, 63% of the pregnancies were not planned, 52% of the respondents related their pregnancies to risk taking as they engaged in unprotected sex without the use of contraceptives, and thus it was concluded that student nurses are engaging themselves in risk behaviours and also engaging in unsafe sexual practices. The study also found that student nurses face physical, social, emotional as well as academic problems during pregnancy and after the delivery of their babies. Student nurses should be encouraged to use condoms and other methods of contraception, coupled with educating them on life skills, provision of recreational facilities; provision of counseling and support services may be the tool to minimise the unplanned pregnancies. / Health Studies / (M.A.(Public Health ))

This study identified pregnancy-related challenges encountered by student nurses at SAMHS Nursing College, with an aim of identify factors contributing to student nurses' pregnancies as well as finding ways to deal and minimize the rate of the pregnancies amongst the student nurses. Thirty (30) structured interviews were conducted with student nurses who were pregnant and those who delivered their babies during the period 2002 to 2007. It has been revealed that ignorance is the major contributing factor for student nurses' pregnancies, 63% of the pregnancies were not planned, 52% of the respondents related their pregnancies to risk taking as they engaged in unprotected sex without the use of contraceptives, and thus it was concluded that student nurses are engaging themselves in risk behaviours and also engaging in unsafe sexual practices. The study also found that student nurses face physical, social, emotional as well as academic problems during pregnancy and after the delivery of their babies. Student nurses should be encouraged to use condoms and other methods of contraception, coupled with educating them on life skills, provision of recreational facilities; provision of counseling and support services may be the tool to minimise the unplanned pregnancies. / Health Studies / (M.A.(Public Health ))

The rapid increase and popularity of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in civil usage around the world is due to their versatility. With advancement in technology across the globe, there are UAS of different sizes and capabilities in the market. It is imperative to note that the use and operation of UAS have numerous merits and equally, potentially poses serious risks to aviation safety, unlawful interference with States’ security as well as invasion of the privacy of persons. This reality poses a challenge to integration of UAS into the civil airspaces of different States. Accordingly, the international community developed the Chicago Convention that provides the principal framework to address the threefold concerns. At the international level, however, there is lack of a unified system of regulation of UAS. Consequently, the Chicago Convention requires States to develop national institutions and legal frameworks to not only effectively address these concerns, but also create a delicate balance between national security and right to privacy. This thesis evaluates how the legal, institutional and policy frameworks for UAS in the US, South Africa and Kenya have addressed the current needs and challenges in operation and integrating them into regulatory frameworks for civil aviation. It follows that the three States have developed constitutional frameworks, legislation, regulations, policies and strategic plans as they seek to address the challenges that emanate from integrating UAS into the civil aviation airspace. This encompasses ineffective enforcement mechanism of regulations. The thesis maps out experiences of integration in the three countries, emanating from research goals including investigating the extent to which existing international regulatory frameworks address the threefold concerns. The study establishes that the common thread running through UAS regulation is each country’s unique issues and paths to integration. Additionally, that the approach for integration of UAS into civil aviation needs be gradual and pragmatic. For this reason, this thesis recommends the development of institutional capacity, coordination and funding, and increase in regional efforts to revamp UAS integration efforts into civil aviation. / Public, Constitutional, and International Law / LL. D. (Public, Constitutional and International Law)