The biogeography and community structure of the fishes of South African estuaries was investigated. In all, 109 systems were examined representing two broad types: temporarily closed and permanently open estuaries. Multivariate analyses of the fish communities identified three biogeographic regions. A cool-temperate region extended along the west and southwest coasts; a warmtemperate zone stretched along the south, southeast and east coasts and a subtropical region occurred along the east coast. The boundaries of these biogeographic regions were also delineated. The general physico-chemical characteristics of the estuaries within the three biogeographic regions also reflected regional differences in climate, rainfall and ocean conditions. Estuarine temperatures followed the trend for marine coastal waters, decreasing from subtropical estuaries toward cool-temperate systems. The low rainfall and runoff in the warm-temperate region together with high evaporation rates and strong seawater input resulted in higher salinities in these estuaries. These factors also accounted for the predominantly clearer waters in warm-temperate estuaries. The estuaries in the three biogeographic regions were also shown to contain somewhat distinctive fish assemblages. Temperature and salinity appeared to be the two main factors affecting the distribution and abundance of fishes in South African estuaries. Subtropical systems were characterised by fishes mostly of tropical origin as well as certain south coast endemic species. Warm-temperate estuaries were dominated by endemic taxa with some tropical species also present. The fish fauna of cooltemperate estuaries mostly comprised south coast endemic species with cosmopolitan and temperate taxa also present. Certain functional components of the ichthyofauna also exhibited slight differences between regions. Freshwater fishes were a major component of closed subtropical estuaries while estuarine resident species were more abundant in warm-temperate estuaries. Overall, estuarine-dependent marine species dominated the fish fauna of the estuaries in all biogeographic regions, signifying that South African estuaries perform a vital nursery function for this group of fishes. Slight differences were also apparent in the trophic structure of the fishes; these were related to environmental differences between regions. Zooplanktivores and fishes that feed on aquatic macrophytes/invertebrates assumed a relatively higher importance in warm-temperate systems. Overall, detritivores dominated the estuarine fish fauna in all regions, indicating that detritus forms the main energy source in South African estuaries.

M.B.A. / An investigation into the application of judicial case management in the South African civil court system to enhance quality and access to justice. Background The South African judicial system, and in particular, the lower Courts have been plagued by inefficiency and inadequate use of its resources. This, in turn, has lead to inordinate delays in the prosecution of both civil and criminal matters. This research will however focus on the civil prosecution of cases. Ultimately, the quality of service being provided to both internal and external customers is lacking and is evidenced by the slow pace of cases through the system. The civil justice system in South Africa is in need of an overhaul as the quality of the service provided by the courts has been questioned extensively. The focus of this research is to look at judicial case management as well as some of the current factors that may be responsible for the delays in the civil justice system and to propose judicial case management as a possible solution to enhance quality in the South African judicial system. Related to the concept of quality are productivity and efficiency and, by implication, these areas may also be improved. Accordingly, this study will assess the current situation in the South African civil justice system and investigate if judicial case management will assist in achieving quality and productivity. IV Objectives The overall objective of this study is to formulate recommendations to enhance quality and access the civil justice system. To reach the above aim, the following objectives are relavant: 1.3.1 Conduct interviews with members of the public and legal professionals involved in the civil justice system in South Africa to assess their perceptions of the system. 1.3.2 During the interviews, elicit recommendations on how the system may be improved with particular emphasis on judicial case management. 1.3.3 Conduct a literature review of relevant and available literature that investigates developments in the British, Canadian, Australian and part of the American legal system, respectively. 1.3.4 Describe and analyse the data collected. 1.3.5 Compare the data collected in the South African context with developments in international judicial systems. 1.3.6 Make recommendations with a view to improving quality in the South African civil justice system. Design and data collection A qualitative research paradigm will be used for this study. Primary data was collected using the semi-structured interview method and the in-depth interview methods, respectively, in order to determine the views among some legal professionals in the province of Gauteng as well as certain members of the public. Documentary secondary data was also used in this research project in addition to the primary data collection methods. Conclusions In summary, the conclusions can be drawn that: there are problems in the South African civil justice system that lead to increased costs, unnecessary delay and complexity of the system; the causes of the problems are related to a wide variety of issues that range from, inter alia, human resources, training, operational issues, jurisdiction of courts, the structure and functioning of the courts, pleadings and the rules of court; there is a need and a willingness for judicial case management, despite some opposition, but that nature and form thereof will have to be the subject of discussion. Recommendations Recommendations to improve the system range from improving statistical analyses; increasing the public participation process in law making; improving the sheriffs services and service of process; improving the management and administration of the courts; introducing alternative dispute resolution and possibly mandatory dispute resolution; addressing procedural issues and finally, introducing some form of judicial case management.

M.A. (Historical Studies) / 1939 - 1945 were important years in the history of South Africa, not only because of the country's participation in the Second World War, but also due to the fact that during those years the foundations of modern South Africa were laid. Against this background the demobilisation of the Union Defence Force "soldier took place, a process to which the soldier had to adapt psychologically, socially and economically. The demobilisation process also occurred in the context of social, economic and political changes. These changes had a significant influence on the soldiers' expectations of post-war South Africa. Their expectations were firstly based on the 'historical claim' to compensation and secondly, on the provisions and benefits contained in the "Soldiers' Charter" which was announced in 1944. The Directorate of Demobilisation was responsible for the 'smooth' and 'speedy' demobilisation of the soldiers, but the Directorate was not geared for such a comprehensive task. Delays in repatriation and discharge led to dissatisfaction. The benefits awarded to the ex-soldier to aid his re-establishment in civilian life, were generous. But, when considering the numerous post-war expenses facing the soldier, the benefits seemed insufficient. Generally the soldiers adapted successfully to post-war conditions in the Union.

M.Ing. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. (Marketing Management) / In recent years there has been renewed interest from academics and practitioners regarding the marketing concept and marketing orientation. With the emphasis that is placed on the importance of marketing orientation, one would expect the existence of a clear description of the concept, as well as many theories and measurement instruments, together with related empirical findings regarding the concept of marketing orientation. However, there are few valid theories or models of measurement to conceptualize and evaluate marketing orientation. The result is that any organisation wishing to implement a marketing orientation has no specific guidelines on what marketing orientation is and how to make it measurable. The purpose of this study is to develop a reliable, valid and generally acceptable multi-item measurement model for conceptualizing and evaluating the marketing orientation of an individual organisation. The measurement model was developed on the basis of the following two aspects: 1) A literature study of various secondary sources to provide a conceptual framework of marketing orientation. 2) An exploratory research study to generate and purify all the possible dimensions and variables of marketing orientation. The dimensions and variables were generated from the perspective of business management. The methods used to generate the dimensions and variables were an analysis of secondary sources, focus group interviews with experts in the field of marketing, and a questionnaire survey among managers of various profit-oriented organisations in the PWV area. In the exploratory study, 15 provisional dimensions and 304 variables of marketing orientation were generated. The variables represent the potential item pool for the composition of the measurement instrument. Although much insight and ideas were evident in the exploratory study, an attempt was made to summarize the information in the most important dimensions, which also have the most potential for stimulating further research.

M.B.A. / With South Africa's formal economy creating only a trickle of new jobs, the small business sector would seem the only opportunity for our legions of unemployment. Despite this need the South African financial system in which both bankers and government guarantee agencies, still shy away from the sector most in need of capital. Aspiring entrepreneurs without capital or a proven track record running a business can prove difficult, The greatest challenge facing small business in South Africa, whether in its initial stage or through its growth stage, is the difficulty of obtaining finance from the banks or other financial institutions. When George Smith started his business in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg in 1990, he entered into a partnership with his brother. They acquired a convenience store from Metcash Ltd., one of the biggest retail companies on the Johannesburg .Stock Exchange. Jazz Stores closed all its branches country wide due to major losses incurred (Smith, 1999). As young entrepreneurs they had a vision that a convenience store at a taxi rank could be profitable. Their biggest constraint was the lack of capital to finance the purchasing of the store, nevertheless the store was reopened soon after the purchase and the revamping was done in stages. Thanks to some of their friends and family who helped them financially...

M.Comm. / The overall goal of this study is to provide a medium-sized South African airline with the theoretical framework and necessary research and analyses, in developing an integrated marketing approach in a deregulated environment. The objectives of the study are : to analyse the macro and market variables that could impact on the marketing efforts of a medium-sized South African airline. to assess a medium-sized South African airline's marketing efforts (in response to external variables) using existing theories and the airline's own set objectives. to link the marketing efforts of a medium-sized South African airline to internal variables, to be able to provide a truly "integrated" analysis of all marketing activities. to provide broad guidelines for future marketing activities undertook by a medium-sized South African airline.

D.Phil. Geology) / This study presents detailed petrographic, mineral-chemical and geochemical characteristics ofmafic intrusions from three iron oremining areas - Thabazimbi, Sishen and Hotazel - in southern Africa In addition, as themafic intrusions at the Thabazimbi, Sishen and Hotazel mines occur in close spatial association with iron and manganese ore, this study addresses the aspect of whether these intrusions have a bearing on the localization of these ores. Precise geochronologic data of these previously undated mafic dykes and sills is presented to classify them into a regional context. particularly in considering whether these dykes and sills are part of known Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) in sonthem Africa. The Thabazimbi dykes are coarse grained dolerites while the sills are diabases. The dykes are younger than the sills. Composition wise, sills are dominantly basaltic andesites, while the dykes are dominantly hasaltic. Different to the sills, the dykes are characterized byrestriction of olivine, higher HFSE and LREE as well as less prominent negative Bu" anomaly. Geochemical and isotope chemical characteristics of the Thabazimhi dykes and sills are explained in terms of a combined partial melting, followed by fractional crystallization and crustal contamination with differentiation model. with the dykes showing greater crustal assimilation. The petrogenetic characteristics of the Sishen dolerite dykes in many ways resemble both the Colombia River Basalts and the typical Umkondo dolerites, and point to significant crustal contamination, typical of continental tholeiites. Geochemical characteristics of the Sishen dolerites is acconnted by the partial melting followed by fractional crystallization and crustal contamination, but unlike the Thabazimbi dykes and sills crustal assimilation is significant. At Hotazel, the petrographyand geochemistry of 'bostonites' bas been used to define their true composition while at the same time highlighting the presence of a -2 - 3 m thick iron ore unit associated with banded iron formation and manganese ore. Geochemically, the Hotazel 'bostonites' are "basaltic andesites' while textnra1ly, the Hotazel <bostonites' are essentially diabases. Regarding the iron ores that occurs in the Hotazel Formation at the base of the Pre-Mapedi nnconformity, they are composed of various forms of hematite with variable minor chlorite. quartz and carbonates. Iron ore genesis is attributed to supergene processes similar to those that have affected Sishentype iron ore below the Gamagara unconformity on the Maremane Dome. A U-Pb 2046.6±3.4 Ma age has been obtained for the crystallization of a Thabazimbi sill by dating titanite. This is interpreted to indicate that while the mafic/ultramafic component ofthe Bushveld Complex may have been emplaced over a short period, there was later magmatic activity at 2046 Ma, represented by the Thabazimbi sill and other late Bushveld Complex related intrusions such as the Uitkomst Complex at 2044 Ma. The 1044.3±7.5 Ma age obtained for the Sishen dolerites has resulted into two major interpretations. Firstly. the age is interpreted to be the minimum age for Umkondo LIP. The age shows that while large sections of the Umkondo LIP may have been emplaced within a short time interval, emplacement of end members ofthis LIP was in progress at least - 50 Ma later. Secondly. the age of these dolerites shows that they were emplaced subsequent to major iron ore genesis at Sishen. The new age. coupled with the limited extent ofthese intrusions shows that they played a no part in the origin ofthe bulk ofthe iron ore at the mine.

Dr. S. van Es Dr. B. Saunders

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract