M.Sc. (Botany) / Rhynchosia is a genus within the tribe Phaseoleae, a group of papilionoid legumes that are economically important both for human and animal consumption because of their high protein content. The genus is pantropically distributed and comprises ca. 230 species. South African species were last studied by Baker in 1923. He identified five sections based on their morphological structures. No molecular studies have been carried out on the species to support the taxonomic classification. A systematic study of the relationship within the species was undertaken using five markers; matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, rpl32-trnL and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) as well as morphological characters, to investigate phylogenetic relationships in the genus Rhynchosia. Results obtained from a combined analysis produced four clades, two of which (clade three and four) received strong support from Bayesian Inference analyses, two of which received low BI support and therefore referred to as groups. Sections Chrysoscias, Polytropia, Arcyphyllum and Cyanospermum are embedded within a paraphyletic type section Rhynchosia. The results further suggest that sections Polytropia and Chrysoscias, which possess a high density of glands on the leaves, are very closely related forming a clade with species from section Rhynchosia. The morphologically distinct species R. monophylla came out as sister to all four clades.

Electrophoresis (horizontal starch gel and PAGE) was used to study the genetic diversity and uniqueness of an endemic southern African domestic dog (Africanis) breed. The results were compared to those of three other populations/breeds: blood samples obtained from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA); indigenous Middle Eastern dog breed (the Saluqis) and hybrid (mongrel) dogs from the Jericho-area, near Brits (South Africa). Gene and phenotypic allele frequency and genetic differentiation were analysed at 21 protein coding loci. Nine polymorphic loci were identified (AK-1, -2, CK, PER, Hb, PA-1 to -3 and P-Tf). The average heterozygosity ranged from 0.106 to 0.159; the percentage of polymorphic loci were the least in the Saluqi (23.81%) and ranged to 33.33% in the Jericho breed; and the mean number of alleles per locus varied from 1.33 (Saluqi) to 1.43 (Jericho). Significant deviations (P<0.05) of allele frequencies from expected Hardy-Weinberg proportions occurred in loci AK-1, -2, Hb and P-Tf. These loci can serve as markers to define groups (i.e. only Africanis showed the presence of private alleles, CK*B and PA-2*C). The genetic distance values (D78) were between 0.001 and 0.026, with the smallest distance between Africanis and Saluqi, and the largest distance between Jericho and Africanis. This former, small D-value indicates a close genetic relationship between Africanis and Saluqis, supporting archaeological evidence that the endemic Africanis breed has indeed been introduced from the Middle East thousands of years ago, and not through western influences. These results are discussed with specific reference to genetic variation and differentiation that makes the endemic southern African domestic dog breed unique. / Prof. F.H. Van der Bank

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / In South Africa the total market value for complementary health products in 2003 was R1 ,928,661 ,375. Homoeopathy constituted 4% of this total, thus the market value was R61 million for 2003. According to Discovery Health, South Africa's largest healthcare medical scheme, in 2006 R12,59 million was spent on homoeopathic medication. Although Complementary and Alternative Medicines are used mainly by the higher socio economic groups, research into the development and strengthening of the use of homoeopathy across all markets is needed for the further growth of the profession. One of the most common and effective methods of obtaining market related data is through market research using the survey method. The South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) explored a non-racial measurement to describe the South African· market. The liVing Standards Measure (LSM) that is used measures social class, or living standard, regardless of race, income or education. In South Africa, there are 10 SAARF Universal LSM® groups (SU-LSM® groups). LSM group 1 being the lower "income groups" arid 10 being the highest. The aim of this study was to investigate the current perceptions of South African Advertising Research Foundation Universal Standards Measure® Groups 7 and 8 towards Homoeopathy in South Africa by looking specifically at their awareness of Homoeopathy, usage of the medicines, expected treatment outcomes and cost expectations. This study forms part of a 3 part study to establish the perceptions of the South African public towards homoeopathy using a survey in the form of a questionnaire. The sample group for this part of the study consisted of a total of 480 respondents completing interviews conducted across South Africa. Field workers employed by Research Surveys (Ply) Limited, a professional market research company, conducted the interviews under the supervision of the researcher. Participation in the study was voluntary and participants could withdraw at any time and for any reason. Respondents could remain anonymous, identifying data was only made available to the researcher to edit the surveys and complete the tests for honesty and reliability. The final results of the study were available to participants on request. Data was analysed using computerised cross-tabulation routines. Results were crosstabulated by age, language, monthly household income, personal monthly income, gender, race, area, life cycle, formal/informal dwelling (black sample) and by Living Standard Measures. Data for LSM Groups 7 and 8 were presented in the form of column graphs. Analyses of the results showed that the consumers in LSM Groups 7 and 8 view homoeopathy as fairly effective for certain conditions, that they would rather see a medical practitioner and are likely not to see a Homoeopath in the future. These perceptions do not seem to be related to perceived cost of treatment. It is also clear from the results that consumers in LSM Groups 7 and 8 are in the most part uncertain about homoeopathy with regard to awareness, usage and Homoeopathy as a product/service in general. The results of this research could be used to develop a consumer-based marketing strategy for homoeopathy specifically aimed at the upper income groups.

M.Com. (Taxation) / The purpose of this study is to determine the desirability of the implementation of a system of self-assessment in South Africa. The current system has several shortcomings and self assessment might be an improvement. Several of the developed countries have already gone onto self-assessment systems. These countries include The United States of America, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom. A self-assessment system The Margo Commission recommended a self-assessment system in their report on the tax structure of South Africa. They motivated this recommendation as follows: "Under a system of self assessment, taxpayers would perform functions which are at present being discharged by assessors. With that responsibility shifted from assessor to taxpayer, Inland Revenue could confine it self to a selective audit of cases which would be much more productive in respect of revenue and manpower." (Margo Report, 1986:para 28.37) A self-assessment system is in short a system where the taxpayer computes his/her tax liability, completes the relevant forms and sends the payment together with the forms to the Revenue Authorities. The Revenue Authorities apply scientifically developed selection methods to select taxpayers to be audited. The Office of the Commissioner will then be able to concentrate his limited resources on revenue producing sectors and those sectors where the possibility of tax evasion are perceived to be the biggest. In this way more tax can thus be collected. The Margo Commissions' report appeared in 1986. With the obvious advantages of a self assessment system one tends to wonder why this system has not been implemented yet. Reasons why South Africa docs not have a self-assessment system The Department of Inland Revenue gives the following two reasons for the delay: The material number of discretions contained in the Income Tax Act; and The current computer system will have to be upgraded to handle a self-assessment system. A system that will be able to handle self-assessment will cost approximately R 16 million. It is true that discretions are a problem in a self-assessment environment, because of the uncertainty they create when the taxpayer do not know how the Commissioner will apply the discretion. This problem need not be overwhelming, as all the other countries under self assessment have discretions in their income tax acts. Discretions can never be removed completely. Other have to be found to create certainty, for example practice notes and binding directives. Several discretions have already been removed from the Income Tax Actwith the 1991/1992 and 1992/1993 budgets. By managing the remaining discretions effectively, self-assessment can be a very real possibility. There are several other problems in the way of implementing a self-assessment system, which might prove more difficult to overcome than discretions. Some of these are: • The high illiteracy rate; • A material percentage of the populations are living below the bread line and every available cent is spent on reconstruction and development; • It is only human to expect that there will be a resistance against change • The high cost of compliance. Research in Australia has shown that the cost of compliance for the taxpayer did not decrease and it might even have. increased (pope and Fayle,1991:44)

M.B.A. / Estimated to contribute between 15-20% of earnings for each of South Africa's biggest four banks, ABSA, Nedcor, Standard Bank and FNB mortgages are the biggest contributor to the banks' profits. The economic stability that followed the emerging market crisis buoyed the mortgage industry. This, and the growth of the 'previously disadvantaged' segment, with its historically low house ownership levels, has meant that the mortgage industry is the biggest and fastest growing industry in South Africa. The positive outlook of the South African mortgage industry created by the above factors has attracted new players into the industry at various levels of the value chain. The beginning of 1999 saw the launch of South African Home Loans (SAHL), a lender that focuses on low risk buyers. Latter in the same year various estate agents teamed up to form MortgageSA, now the biggest originator group in South Africa. SAHL by focusing on low risk clients was able to offer buyers very competitive rates thereby forcing the more established banks to give away significant discounts on new mortgages as a way of protecting their market share. The 'birth' of originators have had the same detrimental effect. The originators by obtaining exclusive rights to mortgage applications generated by the estate agents and latter 'selling' them to the banks have increased the banks' acquisition costs. In 2000 alone it was estimated that originators cost the banks an extra R24million. The overall effect of the increased acquisition costs and the rate discounting has been the decline of margins. The response of the banks to the declining margins has been to adopt a high volume, low margin strategy. This has forced the banks to focus on the control of distribution channels as a means of obtaining the required volumes. In South Africa mortgage origination is mostly controlled by the intermediary channels Le. estate agents and originators with relatively little business going through the direct channels Le. internet, branches, home loan consultants and call centres. Collectively intermediaries account for 75% of total originations and direct channels 25%. Whether or not this balance between intermediary and direct originations will be...

M.Ed. / The task of this research report has been to map out the historical experience of the People's Education movement in South Africa from its inception in 1986 to its eventual national closure in March 1995. The People's Education movement under the banner of the NECC had been an endemic part of the education struggles experienced in South Africa, and had played a major role in informing the post-apartheid educational bureaucracy. Its historical role is therefore a significant and essential part of our educational experience. As Wolpe (1991: 77), has said, "the historical significance of People's Education lies in the fact that its conceptions not only challenged all previous conceptions of educational transformations in South Africa, but in so doing, placed on the agenda questions which must constitute the necessary point of departure for the formulation of new policies and strategies under new conditions". The first chapter of this dissertation has demonstrated that the concept of People's Education had been adopted by the oppressed peoples of South Africa in various forms from a very early stage and has therefore not been a new notion. The official launching of the People's Education movement encouraged extreme state repression but despite this, the movement managed to initiate the introduction up of alternative textbooks and the redirection the opposition movement towards a more reconstructive channel. The second chapter of this theses has attempted to trace the experience of the NECC between the years 1986-1990. It was found that the concept of People's Education captured the interests of academics who attempted to make sense of the movement by dissecting and analysing the various terms employed by People's Education. This theoretical analysis did not paralyse the movement in any way. Instead, it revitalised it and enhanced its value. As Carrim (1993) has stated, "Intellectual theorising has been an endemic part of the struggle nationally, as well as within the NECC, and at no time did it paralyse it, rather, it was enhanced and informed by these debates". Theory and practice always compliment each other. The intellectual scrutiny that the People's Education movement experienced was a natural stage in its growth. Without the necessary theoretical debates, many ideas in the People's Education movement would remain unworkable on a practical level. The final chapter of this paper has historisised the People's Education movement during the political transformative years of 1990-1995. It showed that during this time the official banner of People's Education, the NECC, played an instrumental role in the negotiating process and at the same time succeeded in extinguishing numerous crisis situations. Its decision to expand on a national level by incorporating affiliated educational organisations tended to complicate the smooth running of the organisation, and the eventual withdrawal of international

M.Comm. / Moderne organisasies ondervind hernude druk van interne en eksterne faktore en voortdurende verandering word genoodsaak. Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies vorm nou meer as ooit tevore deel van die globale wereld en moet sodoende ook meer buigsaam wees om internasionaal te kan meeding. In hierdie verhandeling word daar gekyk na moontlike nuwe organisasie vorme en die strewe na 'n sogenaamde "Lewende Organisasie" word beklemtoon. Daar is soveel aspekte wat reeds sigbaar is in die natuur en daar kan 'n spesifieke verwantskap getrek word na natuurlike verskynsels en organisasie-sisteme. Organisasies bestaan uit individue wat as 'n somtotaal 'n geweldige magdom kennis daarstel en ook sodoende gesien kan word as die DNA van organisasies. Die enkele belangrikste beskouing is dus om die paradigma te skuif oor die sienswyse van organisasies. Organisasies is nie meer masjiene nie, maar moet beskou word as "Iewende organismes" en dus "Lewende Organisasies". Met Suid-Afrika wat deel vorm van die wereld-mark, kan dit vereis dat organisasies meer sensitief sal moet wees vir omgewings-invloede en die aanpassing by verandering 'n sleutelrol kan speel. Die tyd is ryp vir Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies om deur te breek in internasionale markte. Hierdie verhandeling sal dus dien as 'n raamwerk om elemente te identifiseer wat krities kan wees vir toekomstige sukses asook die fondasie daarstel vir verdere navorsing in organisasie vorme.

D.Litt. et Phil. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. (Labor Relations) / Jan Hiemstra of Barlow Rand, as quoted by Kate Jowell in 1989, had passed the following comment on the industrial council system in South Africa: "The Industrial Council system has survived the first post-Wiehahn decade. I don't think it will see out the second decade." The main purpose of this study was to explore the validity of the above comment and establish a future prognosis of the industrial council structure as a collective bargaining forum in South Africa's formal labour relations system. In the course of the study, which was primarily of a conceptual nature, other aspects of industrial councils were also addressed, such as their theoretical, legal and historical frameworks; with consideration of two operational examples; the presentation of views on contemporary issues affecting industrial councils; and recommendations for their future viability. The methodology adopted was that of the dissemination of literature on the subject, a self-completion survey questionnaire which was submitted to industrial councils and parties thereto, as well as certain authorities on the subject, supplemented by personal interviews. The respondents to the survey questionnaire concluded positively, with a few exceptions, that the industrial council system would survive the second post·Wiehahn decade, provided that individual industrial councils responded to the changing needs of society, and the industries and employer/employee populations that they serve. It was cautioned too that due to the relatively small sample obtained in the survey component of the study, the survey responses should be generalised with circumspection, although the results nonetheless brought forward important issues for consideration by industrial councils.

M.Ed. / The importance of teach1ng practice during the course of teacher education in order to further the career readiness of future teachers is generally acknowledged. Without such closely supervised experience the future teacher cannot be adequately prepared for the reality of teaching and such teacher education would therefore not be scientifically grounded in the reality of teaching. When current practices of student teaching practice are observed, certain questions as to its effectiveness must be raised. To ensure that the system functions effectively and succeeds in providing properly trained students for the profession, it is essential that ongoing research be undertaken to eliminate possible problems and to provide useful renewal. Teaching practice has the purpose of offering functional experience to the future teacher by exposing him to both the complexity and the reality of the on-the-job situation of the actual classroom and its school environment. Training institutions are seldom in an ideal position to bring students in direct contact with the reality of teaching or to undertake the extremely important aspect of imparting professionalism before the career is embarked upon. Should the school be referred to as a participant in the training of future teachers, it is with a vague reference to a group without specifying either the people or their tasks. This can result in responsibility for such training remaining nebulous. In the light of this', it is necessary to identify' specific individuals in the school situation, because during the teaching practice there is talk of some limited but clearly defined duties and responsibilities. Not only does the teacher who accepts a student for the teaching practice appear to be in the ideal position to provide direct guidance during the experience of the actual teaching situation, but he is also the logical person to provide continuous specific and individual help. Unfortunately the teacher is often unaware of the role he should assume during the teaching practice of the student. It may be that the nature of his involvement is underestimated or that the teachers find themselves ill- prepared because their function during teaching practice has been poorly defined. Seen against the background of these problems, the purpose of this study is to examine the role that teachers should assume during teaching practice, and to identify their specific functions as guide and co-trainer so that these may be clearly spelt out and effectively performed. In order to approach the formulated problem systematically, both local and overseas literature have been studied to reinforce the intersubjective validity of the study. In the light of information thus gleaned, three separate, structured questionnaires were designed to tentatively gauge the present teacher participation in teaching practice and to make recommendations. To ensure the validity and objectivity of the empirical investigation, lecturers involved in teaching practice, teachers who had previously accepted students for teaching practice and final-year student teachers were involved in this study. The empirical investigation, supported by the literature, reveals that teachers do not accept an apathetic attitude towards teaching practice but rather that their sometimes uninvolved attitude can be ascribed to the fact that they are unsure of the part they should play in order to fulfil the role of guide of the teacher-to-be during teaching practice. The link between training institutions and responsible. teachers should also be emphasized so that teachers may be made aware that their involvement in teaching practice is not just a transient responsibility, but rather the responsibility of a fellow-trainer. The investigation also indicates that the spectrum of experiences during teaching practice is so wide that it demands systematic procedures and carefully structured methods' so that the student-teacher may be introduced to the full reality of teaching in an orderly manner. Only thus can the potential value of student teaching practice be ensured.