No description available.

The current research was undertaken to assess if the prices in the South African capital market imply a risk free rate that is not equal to the theoretical risk free rate. The research was conducted by means of a literature review and desktop-research-based analysis of the market price based yield curve. The literature review was conducted to establish the importance of the risk free rate in the financial systems dynamics. The literature review highlighted that all the portfolio theories and performance-measure indicators have the risk free rate at the core of their methodology. This implies that the risk free rate is the most important concept that determines the market demand of different instruments. Next, a comparison has been drawn between the BESA published bond yield curve and a market-price-based yield curve developed by the researcher. The findings establish that the market price derived risk free rate is higher than the theoretical risk free rate. It was also found that the shape of the yield curve is different from the BESA projected yield curve, and that it is indicative of future problems in the South African capital market. The implications of investors‟ perceptions of the higher risk free rate are discussed and it is revealed that the foreign investors consider the country risk and the default risk associated with the South African government as higher than the BESA may perceive it to be. / Thesis (MCom (Risk Management))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

Almost two decades after the end of apartheid, the higher education system in South Africa remains marked by inequity at both staff and student levels. Current research in this area focuses on measuring inequity but does little to explain why and how it persists. This research explores gender and race equity in South African universities using three critical case studies of the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, the University of Pretoria, and the University of Cape Town. Using Dorothy Smith’s Institutional Ethnography, broadly conceived, this research examines the daily practices, processes and discourses that give rise to inequitable institutions. The case study of the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal revealed disjunctures between the push in commercialising universities, illustrated in the new managerialist approach and focus on research, on one hand, and the State’s goal to transform and redress, on the other. This tension was articulated in the incongruence between boss texts, such as the Employment Equity Act, and more local institutional texts that emphasised the employment of “productive” staff members. These competing national and institutional demands and pressures blunted the impact of equity policies and strategies. In the case study of the University of Pretoria, gender and racial inequity is maintained and reproduced through various practices and processes, some formal and others informal, both at institutional and individual levels. Students reproduced the racialism and racism that forms part of racial interaction in broader South African society. Despite having equity policies in place, there were significant enclaves of inequity, shown through the lack of female representation in some departments and in student politics, and importantly in the de facto segregation that continues in the student body. In the case study of the University of Cape Town, institutional structures and practices that both maintain and reproduce inequality were identified. In this instance, the formal arrangements and structures of the university were found to lead to the exclusion of and discrimination against certain groups of people. Examples of such institutional structures and processes include, but are not limited to: the concentration of power at middle management; the white-male domination in senior management; and the absence of an intersectional approach in equity policies and measures. Thus despite important progressive policies and ideals, the structural nature of the university served as one of the key obstacles to racial and gender equity. Together, the case studies carried out point to the objectified forms of consciousness and organisation that rely on and help create textual realities. The management of equity in South African institutions is characterised by disjunctures and competing interests and not necessarily by poor implementation, which has been suggested as the explanation by other researchers. The discourses of race, and gender that dominate South African society play an important role in informing how equity matters are managed and experienced at the local level. The local practices and realities of individual Universities should be understood as being framed and influenced by the ruling relations of higher education and the State.

This study addresses the absence of scientific knowledge of leadership behaviour among gays in the management echelon of the South African Department of Defence and provides some tangible knowledge in this regard. This valuable knowledge was obtained through an in-depth qualitative research design, namely a life story of one South African citizen, who is gay, male and white, and who held a senior management position in the Department of Defence (DOD) for a number of years. Themes and hypotheses from both the existing literature on homosexual behaviour and leadership generally, and on gay people employed as leaders by the military particularly, were compared with the rich, everyday experiences of this particular gay person on his leadership tasks in the local military world. This study provides insight into homophobia, and particularly into how it was managed by an authentic gay. The study also makes a modest contribution to the methodology of case studies and particularly the applicability of life stories in the organizational and leadership fields. Finally, I believe the study provides knowledge on homosexuality and leadership and the relation between these in the South African Department of Defence, and, in this way could offer valuable information in assisting with “examining” its Draft Policy on Non Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation. I am of the opinion that the insight into an authentic gay officer’s life provided by the method, could inform policy impacting on leaders, and particularly on gay officers, of the DOD. / Prof. W. J. Schurink

Afrikaans, the world's youngest language, is not known to many outside South Africa. Mahala, a novel in that language by a major writer, has been translated as an example of South African literary resources yet to be made accessible to English readers. Chapter One (the Foreword) contains historical notes on the Afrikaans language and on Barnard's biography, including his publications and literary awards. Chapter Two is a complete translation (currently the only one) of Chris Barnard' s Mahala. Analysis of and comment on Mahala are reserved for Chapter Three (the Afterword), wherein the structure of the novel is discussed, selected characteristics of the book compared with those of recognized English writers, and commentary upon translation supplied. The Bibliography contains reviews of Mahala, backgrounds of South African literature, the history of Afrikaans, aspects of translation, and dictionaries.

No description available.

M.A. (Fine Art) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Com. (Transport Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Tech. (Fine Art) / The Mobile City steel maquette, created by architects Lewis Levin, Paul Cawood and myself, an artist, was submitted for the 1998 Absa Bank Art Competition. My dissertation examines, through the design of a 2.5ton kinetic aluminium sculpture, three different but interrelated aspects of the work. Firstly, the practical realisation of the mobile; secondly, the gathering of research material and the maquettes; thirdly, the concept for the Mobile City sculpture. The dissertation explores the project's conceptual, collaborative and interdisciplinary nature from inception to completion. Through my investigation into corporate/art relationships I found no literature specific to corporate art projects from an artist's perspective. As an inside view of a specific public art project, this work is intended as an exploration as to how relationships between artists, corporate sponsors and professionals are mediated. It may be utilised by artists, educators and professionals. The work comprises text and a Companion CD-ROM (a Compact Disk attached to the dissertation), displaying artist's illustrations technical drawings and the methodology of structural engineers, mechanical engineers, architects, corporate officials, correspondence and contractual documents.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The study aims to identify the management competencies needed during the time of crisis at a university as perceived by the stakeholders. The study includes the top tier of management including the Executive Management of the University, as well as Deans of Faculties and Directors of Units, Centres, Divisions and Institutes. This research study explores the specific competencies emphasised in crises and uses the case of a university and its top management tier in the face of the #FeesMustFall onslaught. The researcher tests the perceptions and feelings of the university’s designated stakeholders (staff) with self-administered questionnaires to establish which competencies are present within management during a time of crisis. The reason for this study is to identify the management competencies at play during a time of crisis at a university and to establish university managements as crisis managers.