The purpose of the dissertation was to evaluate the Russell High School library collection in meeting the curricula needs of learners. A study population consisting of 150 learners, 13 teachers, the librarian and Principal was surveyed by means of questionnaire and interview. Three types of questionnaires were used, one each for the learners, the teachers and the librarian. The Principal's interview was based on a checklist. Results were discussed in terms of frequencies and cross-tabulations of responses were made. Results are graphically displayed in the form of tables, pie charts and bar charts. The present situation of the library and its problems are discussed with regard to resources, the availability and suitability of the present collection, types of materials used, and satisfaction with the library by users as well as encouragement from teachers and the librarian to learners in the use of the library. The discussion was situated within the current requirements of Outcomes-Based Education as guided by Curriculum 2005 and 21. The study findings indicated that learners and teachers were satisfied with the library stock although a need for books, especially new titles, was identified. Learners and teachers felt that more books and better infrastructure for example, computers, television sets, and more space were needed. It was also revealed, however, that the budget was severely limited. These findings are discussed within the framework provided by a review of international, African and local school libraries. Recommendations for possible future services are made in the light of this discussion. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The appearance and content of magazines in the South African consumer market has changed drastically during the past two decades. Where once only a handful of women’s magazines existed from which readers could choose, shelves in shops today are filled to capacity with glossy publications which address every possible need, interest and desire of feminine readers. This diversification in the South African women’s magazine market happened almost overnight and there is no doubt that the advent of the niche market of women-focused magazines has changed the landscape of the South African magazine. The established traditional women’s magazine of broad general interest had to take cognizance meticulously of the worldwide trend and of various economical, political and socio-cultural factors influencing the successful publication of women’s magazines locally. The aim of this study is to see how the advent and growth of niche-market magazines focused exclusively on matters of interest specifically to women such as home, décor, garden, food, health, lifestyle, handcrafts and parenting have affected the world of the “traditional” South African women’s magazine. The researcher endeavours to answer the question as to whether the traditional women’s magazine of general interest can survive the flood of new “women-directed” magazines and has concluded that in order not only to survive, but to maintain necessary profit margins, the traditional general interest women’s magazine is going to have to adapt its contents urgently and continuously to the needs of its readers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die voorkoms en samestelling van tydskrifte in die Suid-Afrikaanse verbruikersmark het radikaal verander gedurende die laaste twee dekades. Waar daar eers net ʼn tiental vrouetydskrifte was waaruit lesers kon kies, is winkelrakke nou tot boordensvol met glanspublikasies wat elke moontlike behoefte of begeerte van vroulike lesers aanspreek. Hierdie fragmentasie in die Suid-Afrikaanse vrouetydskrifmark het byna oornag gebeur en daar is geen twyfel dat die koms van “vrou-gerigte” nistydskrifte die landskap van Suid-Afrikaanse vrouetydskrifte heeltemal verander het nie. Die gevestigde “tradisionele” vrouetydskrif moes noukeurig kennis neem van hierdie wêreldwye tendens en moes verder ook verskeie ekonomiese, politieke en sosio-kulturele faktore wat die suksesvolle publikasie van vrouetydskrifte beïnvloed, in gedagte hou. Die doel van hierdie studie is om te kyk hoe die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van nistydskrifte wat op bepaalde “vrou-gerigte” onderwerpe soos huis, dekor, tuin, kos, gesondheid, leefstyl, handwerk en ouerskap fokus, die wêreld van die “tradisionele” Suid-Afrikaanse vrouetydskrifte geraak het. Die navorser poog om die vraag of die “tradisionele algemene belangstelling”- vrouetydskrif die vloedgolf nuwe “vrou-gerigte” nistydskrifte gaan oorleef, te beantwoord. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die “tradisionele” vrouetydskrif haar inhoud indringend en op ʼn voortdurende basis sal moet aanpas by die behoeftes van haar lesers, nie alleen ter wille van oorlewing nie, maar ten einde noodsaaklike winsmarges te kan handhaaf.

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994, many Afrikaans-speaking people were worried that their language might not survive, especially in a country where English became the accepted lingua franca. However, since 1999 a large number of Afrikaans magazines have entered the market. Publishers and marketers have realized the magazine-reading Afrikaans market is affluent and willing to use their spending power to read their language. Contrary to Afrikaans, the other indigenous languages have not proven themselves to be as marketable. Even though these languages are spoken by the biggest part of the South African population, they are mainly used in the speakers’ private spheres. In a country where most Afrikaans speaking people are bilingual and many South Africans are able to understand English, the question is: Why has Afrikaans not followed the same route as the other indigenous languages, and might it still go that way if its future is left to be determined by market influences? The focus of this study is on the origin and the development of the Afrikaans publishing market, with specific emphasis on magazines. Afrikaans’ position in the community and the economy of the Afrikaans magazine market will also be discussed. The study aims to answer the question: Is it still economically viable to publish in Afrikaans and what are the Afrikaans magazine publishing market’s prospects for the next five to ten years. The researcher comes to the conclusion that it is still very profitable to publish Afrikaans magazines. A publication’s success will be determined by whether it satisfies a need, whether it has a sound business model and whether advertisers are willing to use the publication as an advertising medium. It is up to magazines to convince advertisers to advertise in Afrikaans or to be willing to accept English ads. The less affluent Afrikaans-speaking market could be considered a future market for magazine publishers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kort ná Suid-Afrika se oorgang na demokrasie in 1994 het onder Afrikaanssprekendes kommer ontstaan dat hul taal sou verdwyn, veral toe Engels as die algemene gebruikstaal in die openbare sfeer na vore getree het. Die getal Afrikaanse tydskrifte op die Suid-Afrikaanse mark het egter sedert 1999 toegeneem. Uitgewers en bemarkers het besef die Afrikaanssprekende tydskrifmark is welvarend en Afrikaanssprekendes is bereid om hul koopkrag te gebruik om hul te taal te lees. In teenstelling met Afrikaans het die ander inheemse tale nie dieselfde bemarkbaarheid getoon nie. Hoewel die tale ’n aansienlike moedertaalbasis het, word dit grotendeels in die sprekers se private sfere gebruik. In ’n land waar die meeste Afrikaanssprekendes tweetalig is en ’n groot persentasie van die bevolking Engels magtig is, is die vraag waarom Afrikaans nie dieselfde roete gevolg het as die ander inheemse tale nie en of dit dalk nog daardie roete sal volg indien sy voortbestaan aan markkragte oorgelaat word. Die fokus van hierdie navorsing is op die Afrikaanse tydskrifbedryf – die ontwikkeling en groei van die Afrikaanse tydskrifmark en die ontstaan van nuwe Afrikaanse titels. Die fokus is dus terselfdertyd onvermydelik ook op Afrikaans se posisie in die samelewing. Laastens is die fokus op die ekonomie van die Afrikaanse tydskrifbedryf. Dit is steeds ’n sake-onderneming, en moet dus winsgewend wees. Die studie wil dus vasstel watter faktore ’n rol speel in die lewenskragtigheid van die Afrikaanse uitgewersbedryf. Die sentrale navorsingsvraag is: Is dit steeds ekonomies lewensvatbaar om in Afrikaans te publiseer, en wat is die Afrikaanse uitgewersmark se vooruitsigte vir die volgende vyf tot tien jaar? Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat dit tans baie voordelig is om in Afrikaans te publiseer. ’n Publikasie se oorlewing sal egter afhang van of dit ’n behoefte onder lesers bevredig, van ’n goeie sakemodel en veral die bereidwilligheid van adverteerders om die tydskrif as advertensiemedium te gebruik. Die onus rus op die tydskrifbedryf om óf die adverteerders te oortuig om Afrikaanse kopie te skep óf bereid te wees om ter wille van die ekonomiese oorlewing van die produk Engelse advertensies te aanvaar. Die studie bevind ook dat die minder welvarende Afrikaanssprekende bevolking as ’n toekomstige mark beskou kan word en tydskrifte kan daar moontlik na die sukses van koerante kyk.

The Senior Certificate (SC) examination, a focus of the research described in this thesis, has an important function in terms of the quality of the education system overall and also in terms of the contribution of education to the achievement of national goals. The SC examination functions i) as a measure of achievement at school ii) as an indicator of work readiness and iii) as an indicator of the potential to succeed in higher education. This thesis offers a critique of the SC examination in respect of its functions. The way in which learners' language related needs are constructed is crucial in discussing the SC examination's legitimacy since perceptions about the needs of learners are reflected in what is taught and assessed. Since the majority of candidates writing the SC exarnination do so using a language which is not their mother tongue, the research described in the thesis attempted to identify the way in which the English second language (ESL) SC examination papers construct learners' needs. Examination papers represent a particular domain of social practice and are constructed through discourse. In the context of the research described in this thesis, discourses are understood as sets of ideas which are shared by communities of people and which give rise to practices which then define and sustain those communities and, thus, the discourses themselves. Discourse is language insofar as it converges with power and positions people in the interests of power. The ideological nature of discourse necessitates a critical orientation to research which interrogates, challenges and critiques the status quo. To identify the discourses constructing ESL learners' needs I conducted a critical discourse analysis on a representative sarnple of ESL SC exarnination papers and also interviewed six ESL examiners to corroborate the findings of the analysis. This then allowed me to identify several dominant discourses constructing ESL learners' needs: meaning-related, literature-related and process-related. The first meaning-related discourse, 'Received Tradition' discourse, focuses on the rules of grammar and spelling. Rather than approaching language as a resource to enable learners to understand the ideas to which they are exposed, learners are being taught discrete 'skills' to equip them for higher education study and the workplace. It is argued that school-based language literacy practices are not generalizable to the workplace and to higher education. Another aspect of 'Received Tradition' discourse holds that the study of English literature is a medium for understanding life and that there is moral value in teaching English literature. Learners are therefore constructed as lacking these values and their needs as having to acquire them. 'Received Tradition' discourse also overlaps with a second meaning-related discourse, 'Autonomous Text' discourse, which holds that the text's meaning is explicit and that if the learners can manipulate the rules of English grammar, 'have' vocabulary and can spell, they can retrieve meanings from texts they encounter in a wide range of contexts and construct texts for themselves. It is argued that a lack of awareness that meaning is constructed through recourse to other contexts, texts and the learner's experience is disadvantaging ESL candidates. 'Language as an Instrument of Communication' discourse, the last meaning-related discourse identified, sees language as the vehicle used to convey ideas, thoughts, information and beliefs, which are viewed as having been constructed independently of language. It is assumed that the answers, which, according to 'Autonomous Text' discourse, are in the text, can be conveyed if the tools of language are used correctly. The first literature-related discourse identified is 'Literature Study Develops Language Proficiency'. It is argued this is a misperception since language is learned as part of situated practice and instruction must thus be embedded in meaningful communicative contexts involving situated practice. The second literature-related discourse identified, 'Literature Study is a Medium for Understanding Life', is connected to the 'Received Tradition' discourse referred to above which holds that there is moral value in teaching English literature. This research identifies the ideological implications of these discourses, arguing that values are culture-specific and learners from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds experience life differently from the way it is depicted in English literature. Process-related discourses, which are part of the processes of teaching and assessment, concern the inadequacy of the ESL learner and of the markers and therefore dictate what can and cannot be expected of ESL learners in the SC examination. The research showed how all of the above discourses work through the SC curriculum to impose the values and beliefs of particular dominant groups on the ESL learner. Because of the robust and invidious nature of discourses this is a cause for concern. Although it is difficult to set a school leaving examination which serves both workplace and academic functions, there is a need to move beyond traditional, hegemonic approaches to understanding language learning. This thesis offers an analysis which can be used to inform practice.

From Introduction: As the headmaster of a large co-educational High School in East London, I have to counsel Standard 7 pupils at the end of each year with regard to their subject choices for the Senior Secondary phase. In consultation with the teacher-psychologists and the Standard 7 teachers, one has to make decisions with regard to subjects which could have far-reaching effects on the pupil. Year after year the greatest discussion and most difficult decisions concern whether or not to continue with mathematics. At the end of the Standard 7 year, the pupil is faced with a choice of subjects, one of which is usually mathematics. Depending on the school, this choice is often wide and the average Standard 7 pupil can, in spite of careful counselling and advice, still be bewildered and confused. One of the best methods of objectively predicting pupil performance is through the use of various standardised tests. Although some norm-based tests exist, very few schools apply these tests to help predict mathematics performance in the Senior Secondary Course. To aid the pupil in deciding whether or not mathematics should be taken in Standards 8, 9 and 10 it would be extremely useful if there were some guide or predictor on which this decision could be based, as it is generally accepted amongst teachers that mathematics can be a stumbling block in the Cape Senior Certificate, particularly by the weaker candidate. If it could be shown that the Standard 7 year-end mathematics mark could be used to help predict whether :- •the pupil would be likely to pass or fail mathematics in the Cape Senior Certificate; •what symbol the pupil would obtain; a decision as to whether or not he should continue with the subject could be made at this stage, and, depending on his Standard 7 mark, what the likely consequences of this decision would be. In the United Kingdom in particular, the use of A-level examination results have been used as predictors in subsequent educational courses and this has been the subject of fairly extensive research during the 1970's. The extent to which O-level examination results are predictive of A-level achievement has, however, received very little attention. The situation in South Africa is very similar and very little, if any, work has been done in assessing the effectiveness of using school marks in the lower standards of high school to predict marks in the upper standards. It is difficult to suggest a reason for this as such work would be of inestimable value in providing information for use in the counselling and selection of subjects for pupils embarking on the Senior Secondary Course.

PUMPS mimics natural geothermal vents as a conceptual model designed for the remediation of acid mine water (AMW) in voids of abandoned gold mines of the Witwatersrand Basin in South Africa. In this system, a reaction chamber containing Desulfotomaculum kuznetsovii sulfate reducing bacteria will be set at the bottom of a 3-4 km deep mine that will be flooded. A geothermal system with at least one (1) doublet will be drilled from the bottom of the mine to the depth of 8km, where the temperatures are sufficient for geothermal energy harvesting. AMW, used as a geothermal fluid, will be pumped down the injection well and circulate through hot rock. The hot water is then used to generate electricity and then channelled into the reaction chamber to undergo bio-remediation. Following treatment, the water flows back into the mine voids where it will improve the quality of untreated AMW through dilution. Eventually, the mine will be flooded with clean water that can be stored underground and/or pumped up to surface for social and ecosystem services. Following an introduction and proof of concept for the PUMPS, the research builds further on the technical and economic evaluation of the PUMPS in order to assert its viability and sustainability. The technical viability includes testing the ability for Desulfotomaculum kuznetsovii to survive in high pressure condition; quantifying the amount of energy that can be drawn from the geothermal reservoir; determining the placement and scheme of the geothermal wells; and, finally, developing a robust economic model of the system. Experiments show that Desulfotomaculum Kuznetsovii can tolerate high pressure conditions in of at least 100bar at their ideal sulfate reducing temperature of 63°C. Geochemical modelling shows that AMW can be used effectively as a geothermal fluid for PUMPS. To achieve highest efficiency and minimal fluid loss, the geothermal wells should be placed along the SSE-NNW direction, based on the known stress field across the Witwatersrand Basin. With a flow rate of 30l/s the energy drawn from the geothermal reservoir is sufficient to drive PUMPS and the surplus energy is determined by the volume of AMW treated per day. All results indicate that the PUMPS is technically and economically viable. The economic model shows that the value and viability of the PUMPS is best reflected with a comprehensive inclusion of potential revenue (for example from chemical solution mining of deep seated gold) and financial/environmental incentives.

Midst contextual themes of new technologies and globalisation, South African organisations are challenged to attract, develop and retain suitable skills in a labour market that will continue to suffer shortages. The HR function of today is required to partner with organisations at a strategic level in response to this challenge. Successful organisations understand that transforming the HR function require regular in-depth analyses of its effectiveness. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an HR function operating in a public utility, against current trends in HR transition. Different evaluation methodologies are explored to develop a theoretical evaluation model for the effectiveness of a HR function. The results confirmed that the HR function is not effective in its role as strategic partner, and highlights significant differences in perception between the stakeholders and the HR function regarding its effectiveness. Recommendations were made on future transformation actions for the specific HR function. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om vas te stel of leerders in Graad R die nodige wiskundige vaardighede deur gestruktureerde spel bemeester het wat as grondslag vir verdere wiskunde-onderrig kan dien. In die literatuurstudie is die verskillende wiskunde konsepte in diepte ondersoek. Daar is ook gefokus op die oordra van wiskunde konsepte aan jong leerders. Verder is daar in die literatuurstudie ondersoek ingestel na die doel, waardes, tipes, ontwikkeling van spel asook spel in die moderne era. Vir die empiriese ondersoek is 103 Graad R-leerders van ses verskillende skole betrek. Daar is gebruik gemaak van ʼn ewekansige steekproef by die skole wat bereid was om aan die studie deel te neem. Die ondersoek het plaasgevind deur die gebruik van die positivistiese kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode. Daar is gebruik gemaak van vraelyste om te bepaal wat die bemeestering van wiskundige vaardighede by Graad R-leerders is. Gestruktureerde spel is as hulpmiddel gebruik vir die insameling van die navorsingsmateriaal. Die resultate is bekom deur die vraelyste statisties te verwerk. Daar is ook vraelyste aan die onderwysers gegee om meer agtergrond oor hulle onderrigmetodes asook die onderwysers se eie gevoel teenoor en kennis van wiskunde te bekom. Die navorsingsresultate bevestig dat die meerderheid van die Graad R-leerders oor ʼn goeie wiskundige grondslag beskik. Dus is daar deur die studie gevind dat dit belangrik is dat jong kinders baie moet speel om nuwe vaardighede aan te leer, maar ook die geleentheid moet hê om die vaardighede te beoefen. / The purpose of this research was to determine whether learners in Grade R mastered the necessary math skills through structured play that could serve as a basis for further mathematics training. In the literature various math concepts were studied in depth. The main focus was on the transfer of math concepts to young learners. The literature study further focussed on the purpose, values, and types of play, development of play and play in the modern era. An empirical study using random sampling was done using 103 Grade R learners from six different schools who were willing to participate in the study. The study was done using the positivism quantitative research methodology. Questionnaires were used to determine the mastery of mathematical skills by Grade R learners. Structured play was used as a tool to collect the research material. The results were obtained by processing the questionnaires statistically. Questionnaires were also completed by the teachers to confirm their background knowledge, teaching methods as well as to determine the teachers‟ own feelings towards and their knowledge of mathematics. The research results confirm that the majority of Grade R learners have obtained a good math foundation. The study also confirmed that it is important that young children need to play to learn new skills and must have the opportunity to practise the new skills. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2006 / This study is aimed at understanding the potential organisational performance management systems that could be used by municipalities and hence the topic "Selecting an appropriate organisational performance management system for South African municipalities" / M

D.Phil. (Education) / The study-group in this study focus on the education students of the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) from 1988-1990. All these students completed the diagnostic testing program of RAU as well as the practical course in didactics. The practical mark in didactics were used to distribute the students into three research sub-groups. This mark reflected the students' didactical skills in a simulated classroom situation. The diagnostic data which was utilised to compile a profile of the study-group consisted of tests for intelligence, aptitude, adaptation, personality and study habits, as well as relevant biographical data. The students' academic achievement in matric was determined by the M-score. The three sub-groups were determined by calculating the average of the groups' practical mark and cut-off points of half a standard deviation on either side of the average. This presupposed a less superior didactical group (Group A) versus a superior didactical group (Group B), utilized for statistical purposes. The calculations did not include the middle group. The entire discussion of the career process selection was based on Super's career choice model. This was done to determine the main contributory factors in selecting teaching as a career. A literature study was made of the teacher and teaching as a career, followed by a discussion of the Importance of the attributes of the excellent teacher, which included more than just good academic achievement. Teaching as a career was also discussed, emphasizing a temporary difference between the practical and theoretical aspects of t118 didactics course, in order to identify which specific attributes contributed to the success in the practical component of the course. A discussion based on literature was done to determine the various psychological tests and questionnaires which were utilized in this study, namely NSGT, SAT, 16-PF, PHSF, 19-FII, SSHAas well as supportive biographical data. The aim of this study was to determine certain psychological aspects which contributed to the success in the practical components of a course in didactics. A career choice is usually made during the late adolescence. In discussing a career choice model, Super (1990) explains various determinants which influence career choice including the geographical origin, personality and contributory aspects of an individual's personality...