Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2016. / This study reports on water service delivery and it is a research that was undertaken in the Greater Giyani Municipality situated in Mopani District of Limpopo Province of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The main aim of the study is to present the community’s perception on water service delivery challenges facing municipalities in the RSA and to make recommendations towards the development of both the community and the municipality. The motivation for this research was an upsurge in water delivery protests throughout South Africa and some of these protests have resulted in an unfortunate killing of citizens in the country during 2012, 2013 and 2014. In order to accomplish the aim of the study, several objectives were addressed. In the first part of the study, a literature review and identification of the context within which water is rendered in Greater Giyani Municipality is explained. The thesis then presents findings from the survey and an evaluation of the community perceptions of the quality of water service delivery. Following the survey report are the findings from the interviews held with municipal managers. From these combined findings recommendations are made towards water service delivery improvement. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in the study. A questionnaire collected data from eighty five (85) participants (households) of Kremetart Township. Following the community survey, interviews were held with eight (8) municipal officials within the Greater Giyani Municipality. Respondents from the community (households) were randomly sampled, while municipal officials were purposefully sampled to represent those responsible for water service delivery. The questionnaire distributed to community members comprised of both closed and open ended questions with completion duration of 30 minutes. Semi-Structured interviews were used to derive an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon from the municipal officials. Major findings arising from the community survey are that clean water, sanitation, aging pipelines, lack of infrastructure and free basic services were the main service delivery challenges. However, from the municipal officials, issues of maladministration appeared more prevalent. The issue of maladministration emanates from the confusion of duties and functions between councillors and the council officials. Also of concern from the officials are issues of community engagement. The last area of concern raised by both the community and the municipal officials is payment for services. Whilst the municipal issues are centred on old infrastructure, the communities’ issues weigh more on payment of inadequate and unreliable services. The study makes several recommendations to the municipality, which if addressed, may improve service delivery and lead to positive perceptions by the community and towards significant development of the town. In order to overcome the challenge of service delivery, municipalities may consider prioritising capacity building, ensure that staff are recruited and employed on the basis of merit and also ensure that public participation is not hindered, especially functionality of ward committee structures.

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2006 / Refer to the document

Thesis (M.A. (Public Administration)) --University of Limpopo, 2007 / The Maphata Village in Ward 26, under the jurisdiction of Greater Giyani Local Municipality in Mopani District- Limpopo Province, was allocated 70 seventy (70) Reconstruction and Development Programme houses during the 2001/2002 and 2005/2006 Financial Years respectively. During the process, there were allegations from members of the community that there were corrupt practices with regard to the allocation of the Reconstruction and Development Programme houses as more that fifty (51) beneficiaries were relatives of the Ward Councillor. Since there is lack of research that looked at corruption on the allocation of Reconstruction and Development Programme houses, the present study aimed to assess the level of beneficiaries’ knowledge on corrupt practices (level of understanding) so that they can be encouraged to blow a whistle on corruption within their environment; to assess the beneficiaries’ level of understanding regarding corruption and their awareness of corrupt practices, evaluate Reconstruction and Development Programme houses Allocation Strategy; probe the nature and extent of corruption on Reconstruction and Development Programme houses; and provide possible mechanisms against the problem of corruption. The study was critical and important as provision of houses is one of the basic needs to the poor community and, as such, the Limpopo Province cannot afford to neglect this responsibility. The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa recognises amongst others, that: • housing as an adequate shelter, fulfils a basic human need; • housing is both a product and process; • housing is a key sector of the national economy; and • housing is vital to the socio-economic well-being of the nation. (iii) The findings of the study and the recommendations if implemented will improve the status of the corruption of the allocation of RDP houses to the vulnerable groups. (iv)

Thesis (M.A. (Agricultural Economics))--University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2011. / The main aim of the study was to analyse the impact of improved water access for both domestic and productive uses on human development. The study was conducted in three villages in the Letsoalo-Sekororo community within the Mopani District Municipality in the Maruleng Local Municipality around the banks of the Olifants River in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study used a total sample of 59 participants representing 40 households, 16 key informants. Three focus group discussions were held. Various variables for the households were selected and analysed using logistic regression. The method of agreement was used for key informants as well as for focus group discussions. The results from the logistic regression indicated that household size and quantity of water consumed by an individual per household was found to be showing a positive relationship to improved water access. Cattle ownership and household’s monthly income were found to be showing a negative relationship to improved water access. The results also indicated that other people’s private yard taps are the water source which showed a negative relationship to improved water access. The variable food availability throughout the year, showed a positive relationship to improved water access. Water related disease showed a negative relationship to improved water access. The results of method of agreement indicated that there are many challenges faced by the key informants. These challenges were because of the poor water reticulations and the fact that other households were unable to make their connections due to lack of a money. vii The study recommends that the Department of Water Affairs and the Maruleng Local Municipality should continue their efforts of getting enough and safe water fir the Letsoalo- Sekororo communities. Once that is done these communities will be able to get involved in income generating activities. / French Embassy through the Centre for Rural Community Empowerment

Thesis (M.Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2011 / The legacy of apartheid has left the Democratic South African government with many challenges. Sixteen years of governance have not been enough for the state to close the gap between the rich and the poor. Instead, the gap is widening day by day. The Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and other government intervention strategies have not done enough to uplift the standard of living of the majority of people in the country. The poor, living in rural areas, remain the most hard-hit and recipients of the bitter fruits of the past. Little or no development has been taking place in their communities. Regardless of the many efforts by the current government, water supply and sanitation in rural areas are a nightmare. The study was conducted in two rural villages in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM), namely, Clare B and Islington. In some parts of the villages residents have never fetched water in their streets less than one kilometre for close to a year. The results show that villagers are negatively affected by the lack of water in their communities. The economic power of these communities is very low, most of them are living below the poverty line. The results suggest, as elsewhere, that the BLM should install water pipes that will transfer water from the Injaka Dam to all rural areas in the municipality, as the two villages under study are not the only ones experiencing water shortages in the area.

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2007 / The aim of this inquiry was to analyze the role played by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in service delivery, i.e. supply water in the northern region of the Limpopo Province. Not much research has been conducted in this field especially in the Limpopo Province. Public Services are not a privilege in a civilized and democratic society, but are a legitimate expectation. Hence, meeting the basic needs of all citizens is one of the five key programmes of the government’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). From the literature review, it was evident that service delivery is essential in the communities, and, as such, government departments and municipalities have a critical role to play. The study also aimed to examine the problems and challenges the community faced during the construction of the community development programme. It reflected on the importance of consultation, project management and even feedback as a point of departure in showing both to the department and the municipality the attitudes and perceptions of communities and their level of satisfaction with regard to the effectiveness of service delivery. In order to achieve this goal, an interview was conducted with various interviewees. The participants ranged from the youth to the elderly citizens in the community, and the government officials. The main patterns that emerged from the collected data related to the dissatisfaction of the community about the lack of consultation. It would be advisable for government, especially municipalities, to take cognizance of the results and concerns in an effort to improve and ensure the effective service delivery as stipulated in the Reconstruction and Development Programme document. / Limpopo Legislature

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / The purpose of the study was to develop a framework that could be used to assess e-health readiness for rural South Africa. Data for the study was collected from Moses Kotane Municipality in the North West Province of South Africa. One state hospital and ten clinics were used for data collection. From related literature, six constructs of; core readiness, structural readiness, engagement readiness, societal readiness, performance and effort expectance were used as pillars for e-health readiness assessment. The attributes that were identified in the literature were validated by healthcare administrators at the regional office of the Northwest province.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Education) -- Tshwane University of Technology, 2009. / The purpose of the study was to determine whether rural farm educators are managing the Revised National Curriculum Statement as a new approach to teaching the curriculum of outcomes-based education. For this purpose, Witbank 3 rural farm primary schools were selected. The study followed a qualitative approach. Data were collected from three principals and three educators who were all teaching multi-graded (combined grades) classes. The study found that the educators and the principals were not coping with the demands of the curriculum, therefore learners did not benefit from their everyday learning. The educators felt that there is too much paperwork involved in managing the implementation of the curriculum. The lack of support from parents, subject advisors and the deputy chief education specialist (circuit manager) is detrimental to managing the implementation of Revised National Curriculum Statement. This has led to a serious communication breakdown among these stakeholders. The research revealed grey areas in the Revised National Curriculum Statement in its interpretation of learning. The policy states that every child has the potential to learn, but it fails to state the conditions that allow for effective learning to all the learners. The study also found that the training received at the workshops is suitable for urban schools. Educators struggle to apply the teaching and learning strategies at rural farm schools. Subsequently rural farm educators resort to using the old traditional (telling and recalling) method of teaching/learning.

At the dawn of democracy in South Africa, there were still an estimated 12 million people without adequate water supply services and nearly 21 million people without adequate sanitation services (Strategic Framework for Water Services, 2003). Since then South Africa has made great strides in reducing this gross inequality in water services provision. In response to this evident challenge, the South African Government has developed various key pieces of Local Government legislation which aim to address water services. To speed up water services provision, a number of service delivery strategies and agents were explored. The Mvula Trust is one such agent that was established in 1993 with the sole mandate of supporting the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) to develop affordable and sustainable water services in both rural and peri-urban parts of South Africa. After the establishment of Local Government in year 2000, the Mvula Trust had to enter into a new contract with this tier of government for the continuation of their primary constitutional mandate for water services delivery. In order to respond to the new operational requirement put on it and to align itself with the Local Government mandate, Mvula Trust embarked on the process of crafting its new strategy that would strengthen its ability to support the water services delivery role of Local Government. Hence the main objective of this research study was to conduct a rigorous evaluation of Mvula's Strategic Business Plan (SBP) developed in 2003 by subjecting it to contemporary strategic planning processes. The study also looks at the extent to which the crafted five-year strategy has supported three northern KwaZulu-Natal District Municipalities of Uthungulu, Umkhanyakude and Zululand to deliver water services to their respective communities. A qualitative approach was employed to gather data about the situation under investigation. The first step was to gather secondary data from documents developed by both Mvula and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The second step entailed collecting data from officials of Uthungulu, Umkhanyakude and Zululand District Municipalities using the questionnaire. The total number of questionnaires administered for the purpose of this study was thirty (30). For data analysis, all twenty-five (25) returned questionnaires were captured and coded using the software called Microsoft Access and subsequently imported into an analytical tool called stata. The main results from literature review and analyses indicate that Mvula's crafted strategy is not providing the organization with the competitive edge since it was not developed in line with contemporary strategic planning processes. Secondly, the existing strategy is not delivering on services requirements of municipalities. The services articulated by municipalities are mainly Institutional and Social Development (ISD) and quality sanitation development, in which roles Mvula can serve as a Project Agent (PA) instead of an Implementing Agent (IA). Finally, Mvula has not succeeded in supporting the water services delivery role of Northern KwaZulu-Natal District Municipalities. These findings imply that Mvula should embark on a rigorous strategic review. It should develop both a vision statement and a new mission statement which will respectively serve as a roadmap of the organization's future as well as a description of the organization's present capabilities, customer focus, activities and business make-up. Mvula should broadly consult with existing and prospective clients to better understand their support services needs. It is recommended that Mvula define its specific niche within the water services sector. Thus, the resulting strategy should adequately support local government towards meeting the 2014 deadline set for the eradication of water services backlog in their jurisdictional areas. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to the great differences of opinion regarding the exact area covered by the Overberg, the following boundaries are stipulated for the purposes of this study: the Hottentots Holland Mountains form the boundary to the west, the Riviersonderend and Langeberg Mountains to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest and the Indian ocean to the southeast. In the east the area stretches up to the Duivenhoks River near Heidelberg. The history of education in South Africa is closely interwoven with the general history of the country. Education in rural areas had to contend with various inhibiting factors during the 18th and 19th centuries. Among these factors were the scarce population, large distances between main centres and a shortage of well-trained teachers. In spite of such limitations, education in farm schools blossomed after the initial period up to approximately 1940, after which time there was a steady decline in the numbers of these schools. The farm schools in the Overberg are not only important regarding the part they play in contributing to the formal education and upbringing of rural children, but also for the important contribution they make to cultural history. The child attending a farm school experiences certain aspects of culture such as folk tales, rhymes, songs, games and the close ties between culture and nature in a unique way, and this has an extremely important influence on the general development and education of these children. In the rural environment the parental horne and the church are two important allies of the farm school. Although there are currently (1999) no formal policies in place for the purposeful phasing out of farm schools, it is, however, a fact that they are forced to close their doors the one after the other. The importance of the cultural contribution these schools make to the upbringing of the child should be taken into consideration by the authorities before the decision is made to close them down. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar heers groot verskil van mening oor waar die grense van die Overberg lê en daarom word die gebied vir die doeleindes van hierdie studie soos volg afgebaken: die Hottentots- Hollandberge as die westelike grens, die Riviersonderend- en Langeberge as die noordelike grens, die Atlantiese oseaan as die suidewestelike en die Indiese oseaan as die suidoostelike grens. Aan die oostekant strek die gebied tot by die Duiwenhoksrivier naby Heidelberg. Die geskiedenis van die onderwys in Suid-Afrika is nou verweef met die algemene geskiedenis van die land. Onderwys op die platteland het in die 18de en 19de eeu met verskeie stremmende faktore te kampe gehad, byvoorbeeld die yl bevolking, groot afstande van die hoofsentra en 'n tekort aan goed opgeleide onderwysers. Ten spyte van dié beperkinge het onderwys in die plaasskole ná die vestigingsperiode 'n bloeitydperk beleef wat vanaf ongeveer 1940 gevolg is deur 'n afuame in die getal plaasskole. Die rol van die plaasskole in die Overberg is nie slegs belangrik as gevolg van hul bydrae tot die formele onderwys en opvoeding van die plattelander nie, maar ook vir die belangrike bydrae wat hulle lewer op die gebied van die kultuurgeskiedenis. Plaasskole is 'n goeie teelaarde vir die volkskultuur en die plaasskoolkind se belewing van sekere aspekte van die kultuur soos byvoorbeeld die volkswoordkuns, speletjies, en die noue band tussen bodem en kultuur, lewer 'n uiters waardevolle bydrae tot hulle algemene opvoeding en vorming. In die plattelandse milieu is die ouerhuis en die kerk besondere bondgenote van die plaasskool. Hoewel daar tans (1999) nie 'n formele beleid bestaan deur middel waarvan plaasskole doelbewus uitgefaseer word nie, gebeur dit wel in realiteit dat die een na die ander skool sy deure moet sluit. Die belang van die kulturele bydrae wat plaasskole maak tot die opvoeding en vorming van die kind, behoort in ag geneem te word voordat skole deur die owerheid gesluit word.