Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The improvement of economic growth and development is a strategic priority for the South African government. It is important in all developing economies, but more so in South Africa due to the abnormally high levels of poverty, unemployment and income inequality. Substantive failure in addressing these circumstances may lead to social unrest in a democracy that is still in many respects in its infancy. AsgiSA is an initiative that was launched in 2006 as a further development on the first two developmental strategies followed post 1994, namely the Reconstruction and Development Programme and the Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy. This research study sets out to examine the background to AsgiSA, its binding constraints and challenges facing the initiative. In doing so, the report draws comparisons with two other successful developing economies, namely Chile and Malaysia. These countries were chosen because of the social, economic and political similarities they share with South Africa. The report examines the concept of binding constraints as espoused by AsgiSA and focuses specifically on the volatility and level of the rand, the skills constraint and the regulatory environment. The research shows that there is no compelling evidence that a particular level of the rand should be targeted. The volatility of the rand is however a constraint to economic growth as represented by export growth. The shortage of suitable skills in the labour force is found to be a significant constraint to economic growth and development. The origin of this skills constraint is found in a combination of the economic and political history. South Africa's economic and political development path did not promote a diversified and skilled labour force which is well placed to capitalise on the opportunities of global trade. The lack of educational advances after 1994 has not improved this dilemma, and in recent years immigration has exacerbated the problem. Together with the skills constraint, the current regulatory environment acts as a significant constraint to economic growth. The regulatory burden is increasing and it was found that the burden is disproportionately carried by medium and small enterprises. A comparison with the successes of Chile and Malaysia shows that government has a very important role in facilitating economic growth in developing countries. Market oriented policies aimed at regulatory reforn, liberalisation and integration with the world economy lead to superior economic growth and development. The ability to change and even abandon strategies which prove to be unsuccessful and laden with ideology is required. AsgiSA is found to be a sound approach to economic growth and development in South Africa. With the exception of the level of the rand, the constraints identified all have significant negative influences on the economy. The document has however not been followed up with enough concrete and practical plans to give effect to its objectives. To ensure AsgiSA reaches its objectives it will be necessary for the government to act with political will and administrative competence in implementing the reforms that address the binding constraints. It is doubtful if the current government possesses the will and competence to give effect to the measures that will make a success of Asgisa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bevordering van ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling is 'n strategiese prioriteit van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering. Belangrik vir alle ontwikkelende ekonomiee, is dit veral die geval in Suid-Afrika weens die hoe vlakke van werkloosheid, amnoede en inkomste ongelykhede. Wesenlike mislukking om hierdie probleme aan te spreek kan lei tot sosiale onrus in 'n demokrasie wat in vele opsigte in sy kinderskoene staan. AsgiSA is geloods in 2006 en is 'n uitbreiding van die eerste twee ekonomiese strategiee wat gevolg is na 1994, naamlik die Heropbou-en Ontwikkelingsprogram en die Groei-, Indiensneming- en Herverdelingstrategie. Hierdie studie het ten doel 'n ondersoek na die agtergrond van AsgiSA, die geidentifiseerde beperkings en die uitdagings van die inisiatief. Die studie tref vergelykings met twee suksesvolle ontwikkelende ekonomiee, naamlik Chile en Maleisie. Hierdie lande is gekies weens sosiale, ekonomiese en politieke ooreenkomste met Suid-Afrika. Die studie ondersoek die beginsel van bindende beperkings soos verval in AsgiSA en fokus op die vlak en wisselvalligheid van die rand, die gebrek aan vaardighede en die regulatoriese omgewing. Daar word bevind dat daar geen sterk bewyse is dat die vlak van die rand 'n langtermyn beperking op ekonomiese groei het nie. Die wisselvalligheid van die rand dien egter as 'n beperking op ekonorniese groei soos veral verteenwoordig deur groei in uitvoere. Die tekort aan geskikte vaardighede in die arbeidsmark is 'n wesenlike beperking tot ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling. Die ontstaan van hierdie beperking is te wyte aan die ekonomiese en politieke ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis van Suid-Afrika. Hierdie ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis het nie gelei tot 'n gediversifiseerde en vaardige arbeidsmark wat die geleenthede van internasionale handel kan benut nie. Die gebrek aan vordering in die kwaliteit van opvoedkunde na 1994 en die huidige tendens van geskoolde immigrasie vererger die probleem. Tesame met die vaardigheidstekort dien die huidige regulatoriese raamwerk as 'n wesenlike beperking op ekonomiese groei. Die regulatoriese raamwerk dien as 'n las wat veral op klein en medium besighede ernstige beperkings plaas. 'n Vergelyking met die sukses van Chile en Maleisie toon dat regerings in ontwikkelende ekonomiee 'n belangrike rol speel in ekonomiese ontwikkeling. Markgerigte beleid gemik op regulatoriese hervorming, liberalisering en integrasie met die wereldekonomie lei tot hoer ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling. Daar is ook getoon dat die vermoe om ideologiese beleid wat nie suksesvol is nie aan te pas of te laat vaar noodsaaklik vir sukses is. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat AsgiSA 'n goeie vertrekpunt tot ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling is. Met die uitsondering van die vlak van die rand het die geidentifiseerde beperkings 'n wesenlike negatiewe invloed op die ekonomie. AsgiSA word egter nie opgevolg met voldoende praktiese en konkrete planne om die doelwitte te behaal nie. Om te verseker dat die AsgiSA doelwitte behaal word is dit nodig dat die regering met politieke en administratiewe bedrewenheid hervormings deurvoer wat die beperkings aanspreek. Dit is te betwyfel of die huidige regering oor die politieke wil en bevoegdheid beskik om die nodige maatreels aan te gaan wat AsgiSA se sukses sal verseker.

Microfinance and microcredit are relatively new concepts in South Africa, yet the industry has experienced significant consolidation and growth. The industry appears to be progressing towards a sustainable growth phase. The aim of this paper is to study the problems experienced by the microfinance industry in South Africa, with regard to supply-side credit. Respondents ranked 26 challenges affecting the growth of MFIs in South Africa in order to establish the degree in which these issues affected their organisations. The top six issues impacting on the growth of the South African MFIs are: - High operational cost - Increased competition from commercial banks - Increased competition from MFIs - Legislation and regulatory framework - Fraud, There are solutions to most of these challenges. The industry can learn from a recommendation by Africa Diagnostic, which are: “The client must come first; groom leaders; and highlight transparency. All these recommendations are discussed at length.

<p>This research investigated experiences of the Saamwerk equity scheme as a framework to analyze the ways in which the scheme has achieved the objectives of land reform. It reviewed the role of this scheme in relation to the experiences and perceptions of beneficiaries about the extent to which this scheme has or has not improved their living conditions.</p>

Thesis submitted to the Wits Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctorate Degree in Entrepreneurship University of the Witwatersrand September 2016 / Many research findings have highlighted the importance of numerous sustainability factors needed for the growth and development of entrepreneurship. Sustainability factors such as finance, environmental stability, and good management practices determine the likely success of entrepreneurial activities. These factors are sometimes referred to as success factors and have been found to boost entrepreneurial activities as well as enhance the industrialisation process in many economies. Interestingly, entrepreneurship evolves across distinctive phases from conception to becoming a full-fledged enterprise, with sustainability factors determining the extent of success in each identifiable phase. This study was, therefore, designed to ascertain the most crucial sustainability factors necessary for navigating through entrepreneurship phases in two major emerging economies in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa. It was also designed to estimate the probability of successfully moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another, with a comparative analysis of the findings from these distinctly representative economies. Primary data was collected through administration of questionnaire to and in-depth interviews of selected respondents in the commercial capital cities of the two sample economies- Lagos and Johannesburg. STATA and Atlas Ti were used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis, respectively. The quantitative analysis was in two stages; stage one involved descriptive statistics while stage two involved inferential statistics. The results showed that relevant sustainability factors vary across entrepreneurship phases, and were peculiar to either economy. Further, some similarities exist in the sustainability factors relevant in identical phases in both economies. The results also confirmed that some factors are more crucial than others in some entrepreneurship phases. Furthermore, the probability estimates of moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another in both economies revealed the most volatile and least volatile phases in the entrepreneurship evolution. Based on the findings of this study, some policy suggestions are made, and areas for further research are identified. Financial and non-financial supports are also recommended for entrepreneurs in the volatile phases. Given the relative importance of the sustainability xii factors in each entrepreneurship phase and economy, the policy makers and other stakeholders would be aware of the core areas to channel necessary interventions. Many research findings have highlighted the importance of numerous sustainability factors needed for the growth and development of entrepreneurship. Sustainability factors such as finance, environmental stability, and good management practices determine the likely success of entrepreneurial activities. These factors are sometimes referred to as success factors and have been found to boost entrepreneurial activities as well as enhance the industrialisation process in many economies. Interestingly, entrepreneurship evolves across distinctive phases from conception to becoming a full-fledged enterprise, with sustainability factors determining the extent of success in each identifiable phase. This study was, therefore, designed to ascertain the most crucial sustainability factors necessary for navigating through entrepreneurship phases in two major emerging economies in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa. It was also designed to estimate the probability of successfully moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another, with a comparative analysis of the findings from these distinctly representative economies. Primary data was collected through administration of questionnaire to and in-depth interviews of selected respondents in the commercial capital cities of the two sample economies- Lagos and Johannesburg. STATA and Atlas Ti were used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis, respectively. The quantitative analysis was in two stages; stage one involved descriptive statistics while stage two involved inferential statistics. The results showed that relevant sustainability factors vary across entrepreneurship phases, and were peculiar to either economy. Further, some similarities exist in the sustainability factors relevant in identical phases in both economies. The results also confirmed that some factors are more crucial than others in some entrepreneurship phases. Furthermore, the probability estimates of moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another in both economies revealed the most volatile and least volatile phases in the entrepreneurship evolution. Based on the findings of this study, some policy suggestions are made, and areas for further research are identified. Financial and non-financial supports are also recommended for entrepreneurs in the volatile phases. Given the relative importance of the sustainability xii factors in each entrepreneurship phase and economy, the policy makers and other stakeholders would be aware of the core areas to channel necessary interventions. Many research findings have highlighted the importance of numerous sustainability factors needed for the growth and development of entrepreneurship. Sustainability factors such as finance, environmental stability, and good management practices determine the likely success of entrepreneurial activities. These factors are sometimes referred to as success factors and have been found to boost entrepreneurial activities as well as enhance the industrialisation process in many economies. Interestingly, entrepreneurship evolves across distinctive phases from conception to becoming a full-fledged enterprise, with sustainability factors determining the extent of success in each identifiable phase. This study was, therefore, designed to ascertain the most crucial sustainability factors necessary for navigating through entrepreneurship phases in two major emerging economies in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa. It was also designed to estimate the probability of successfully moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another, with a comparative analysis of the findings from these distinctly representative economies. Primary data was collected through administration of questionnaire to and in-depth interviews of selected respondents in the commercial capital cities of the two sample economies- Lagos and Johannesburg. STATA and Atlas Ti were used for the quantitative and qualitative analysis, respectively. The quantitative analysis was in two stages; stage one involved descriptive statistics while stage two involved inferential statistics. The results showed that relevant sustainability factors vary across entrepreneurship phases, and were peculiar to either economy. Further, some similarities exist in the sustainability factors relevant in identical phases in both economies. The results also confirmed that some factors are more crucial than others in some entrepreneurship phases. Furthermore, the probability estimates of moving from one entrepreneurship phase to another in both economies revealed the most volatile and least volatile phases in the entrepreneurship evolution. Based on the findings of this study, some policy suggestions are made, and areas for further research are identified. Financial and non-financial supports are also recommended for entrepreneurs in the volatile phases. Given the relative importance of the sustainability xii factors in each entrepreneurship phase and economy, the policy makers and other stakeholders would be aware of the core areas to channel necessary interventions. / GR2018

<p>This research investigated experiences of the Saamwerk equity scheme as a framework to analyze the ways in which the scheme has achieved the objectives of land reform. It reviewed the role of this scheme in relation to the experiences and perceptions of beneficiaries about the extent to which this scheme has or has not improved their living conditions.</p>

Text in Afrikaans / The growth and development of Randfontein is analysed within a spatial perspective. The theoretical point of departure is found in settlement geography and in the spatial economic approach. As continuous perspective, the PWV serves as major metroplitan region, of which Randfontein is a functional subsystem. Information has been obtained from businessmen, industrialists, the local authorities and the inhabitants of Randfontein. The economic sectors (mining, manufacturing and services) are analysed 1n terms of their contribution (or lack of) to the course of the economic realities in town. The behaviouristic approach provides a perspective 1n the sense that behavioral patterns are prominently analysed. A special technique of analyses is used to highlight the economic activities of Randfontein (with the graphic illustrations), by determining strong and weak factors. Problems that have been experienced in terms of the economic activities of Randfontein are identified and possibilities for the future are stipulated. / Educational Studies / M.A. (Geography)

Thesis (M.Com (Economics and Economic History))--Rhodes University, 2006.

Text in Afrikaans / The growth and development of Randfontein is analysed within a spatial perspective. The theoretical point of departure is found in settlement geography and in the spatial economic approach. As continuous perspective, the PWV serves as major metroplitan region, of which Randfontein is a functional subsystem. Information has been obtained from businessmen, industrialists, the local authorities and the inhabitants of Randfontein. The economic sectors (mining, manufacturing and services) are analysed 1n terms of their contribution (or lack of) to the course of the economic realities in town. The behaviouristic approach provides a perspective 1n the sense that behavioral patterns are prominently analysed. A special technique of analyses is used to highlight the economic activities of Randfontein (with the graphic illustrations), by determining strong and weak factors. Problems that have been experienced in terms of the economic activities of Randfontein are identified and possibilities for the future are stipulated. / Educational Studies / M.A. (Geography)

The world has seen unparalleled pressure put on the public sector to improve the speed and quality of service delivery, whilst simultaneously employing measures to cut the costs. South Africa and the Eastern Cape have not been immune to this as there have been complaints and demonstrations from various national and provincial stakeholders demanding more and improved services. The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) in particular has employed the services of public entities in its quest to realise government’s socio-economic developmental objectives and ease some of the service delivery pressures. These agencies are unfortunately struggling to deliver and the Department is unable to play the oversight role it is legislatively mandated to carry out. The main reason for this seem to be the lack of the capacity to objectively track and measure the performance of these agencies. As they say “you cannot manage what you cannot measure”. This is despite the fact that there is a shareholders’ compact and many other measures in place to enable performance monitoring. Also, the public sector is known to have inherent and unique performance management challenges like broad and vague objectives which lead to too many measurements, a propensity to focus on the “easy to measure” but often irrelevant indicators at the expense of critical outcomes and a short-term orientation that is usually fuelled by political expediency. Against this background, this study sought to make use of a comprehensive and dynamic performance monitoring framework, namely the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), to explore its potential use in assisting government to monitor the performance of public agencies, in particular the Development Finance Institutions (DFI) in South Africa. The proposed framework helps government to focus on the performance drivers of future value, and what decisions and actions are necessary to achieve critical outcomes. The aim of the study therefore is to develop an adjusted BSC framework to monitor the activities of a public sector agency and thus demonstrate how a BSC framework could be used to monitor a public agency by the government department. The study is evaluative in nature and is divided into three sections. Section one is presented as an Evaluation Report. It sets the scene, discusses briefly the key theoretical concepts, outlines the research methods used and presents the findings followed by a discussion and recommendations. Section two delves into the literature in more detail, providing a more extensive review of the literature that informed the investigation, whilst section three provides a more extensive description of the research methodology employed in the study. To achieve the aims of the study, the research drew from the work of various authors in the field including that of Bigliardi, Dormio and Galati, 2011; Bititci, Garengo, Dörfler, and Nudurupati, 2012; Julyan, 2011; Kaplan and Norton, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2004 and 2006; Niven, 2003 and 2008 and Northcott and Taulapapa, 2012. Also, five BSC perspectives - including the programme specific “equity” perspective - were used to develop an interview schedule. These were used to formulate the key performance objectives and indicators, based on the stakeholder’s responses. These respondents have experience within the programme as administrators, beneficiaries and funders. The research employed purposive sampling with semi-structured in-depth interviews and document analysis as primary and secondary instruments for data collection. In essence, five officials from the agency, one from DEDEAT and two co-operatives participated in the research. The results indicate a general appreciation of and gravitation towards outcome based measures, even though the government culture of focusing on outputs is still prevalent. The results of the study indicated that, generally, a government - public agency BSC based performance monitoring framework would have the following features:  Customer objectives and programme mission as the main goal and this will provides clarity at all levels on who the customers are and what are their primary requirements.  Clear, visible and stringent financial controls as the agency is administering public resources.  Few carefully selected processes and systems that have a direct and positive impact on the customer objectives. Deliberate and consistent efforts to promote the participation of designated groups in the economy of the country.  Comprehensive indicators on capacity building as “mission based-organisations rely heavily on skills, dedication and alignment of staff”. Overall, the study concludes that the make-up of the BSC is beneficial to the public sector and in monitoring the public sector agencies for the following reasons:  It helps the agency to focus on customers and their needs.  It forces the agency to engage and communicate strategic intention with both internal and external stakeholders and thus synchronize competing stakeholder needs.  It forces the agency to limit the number of indicators and therefore select the few value adding measures that are aligned to customer outcomes.  Through its cause and effect relationship, the agency is compelled to align all the resources, activities and processes to the main goal of the entity. All these help to minimize the principal agent problem, as the use of the BSC can bring clarity on strategy and expectations, provided it is supported with regular communication.

This case-study establishes the influences of power-knowledge relationships on capacity-building for sustainability in the European Union Funded ‘Wild Coast Spatial Development Initiative Pilot Programme’ (EU Programme). It aims to capture the lessons learned for capacitybuilding to support nature-based tourism initiatives on the Wild Coast. The EU Programme aimed to achieve economic and social development of previously disadvantaged communities through nature-based tourism enterprises, and to develop capacity of local authorities and communities to support environmental management. The study discusses common trends in thematic categories emerging from the research data, and contextualises research findings in a broader development landscape. This study indicates that power-knowledge relations were reflected in the EU Programme’s development ideology by an exclusionary development approach, which lacked a participatory ethos. This exclusionary approach did not support an enabling environment for capacity-building. This development approach, guiding the programme conceptualization, design and implementation processes, resulted in a programme with unrealistic objectives, time-frames and resource allocations; a programme resisted by provincial and local government. The study provides a causal link between participation, programme relevance, programme ownership, commitment of stakeholders, effective management and capacity-building for sustainable programme implementation. The study argues that the underlying motivation for the exclusionary EU development ideology in the programme is driven by a risk management strategy. This approach allows the EU to hold power in the development process, whereas, an inclusionary participative development methodology would require a more in-depth negotiation with stakeholders, thereby requiring the EU to relinquish existing levels of power and control. This may increase the risk of an unexpected programme design outcome and associated exposure to financial risk. It may also have a significant financial effect on donor countries' consultancies and consultants currently driving the development industry. This study recommends an interactive-participative methodology for programme design and implementation, if an enabling environment for capacity-building is to be created. In addition, all programme stakeholders must share contractual accountability for programme outcomes. This requires a paradigm shift in the EU development ideology to an inclusionary methodology. However, this research suggests that the current EU development approach will not voluntarily change. I, therefore, argue that South Africa needs to develop a legislative framework that will guide donor-funded development programme methodology, to support an enabling environment for capacity-building.