Adoption of Integrated Development Approach in Land Reform projects could ensure the co-ordinated and equitable allocation of resources to meet the various needs of the community and improve the quality of the Land Reform projects. Racially based legislations were developed to take the land from black people. Land Reform aims at redressing the injustices of the past. Community developmental needs are diverse. Therefore Land Reform alone is inadequate to meet all the needs of the community. The integrated intervention of other stakeholders is required. The research explores the adaptation of Integrated Development Approach in Land Reform by obtaining the perceptions of the Mgai people regarding the future development needs of the Mgai Farm. Special focus was on tenure, socioeconomic and infrastructural issues. The Local Umzumbe and the Ugu District Municipalities have developed their Integrated Development Plans to ensure co-ordinated development and equitable allocation of resources. Mgai project is incorporated into their Integrated Development Plans. The research reveals that Mgai community live under communal tenure system in the surrounding tribal areas. It lacks skill and competencies for entering the formal job markets. There is no existing infrastructure in Mgai Farm. The community have needs infrastructure such as schools, clinics, and community halls. Land Reform in isolation cannot provide for community needs. It is noted that Land Reform is still implemented in a fragmented manner because the other stakeholders are involved in the project after the project have been approved. This poses a challenge into the sustainability of the project. Recommendations offered in this research provide opportunities for future research and ensuring that project are implemented. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

The aim of this study was to describe the plant communities within the eastern portion of the Mkuze Wetland, including only those systems that have a substantial input of water from the Mbazwane Stream, and to determine environmental factors that control distribution. The Mbazwane Wetland has a catchment of reworked sandy marine sediments, and its gradient is very shallow, such that water moving downstream through this system is free of suspended sediment and is clear. In addition, it has low conductivity suggesting a low solute load. A total of nine communities were identified in the study, based on the TWINSPAN cluster analysis. These are: Ficus trichopodalScleria angusta Swamp Forest Community; Rubus rigidus Disturbed Swamp Forest; Phragmites australis/Ficus trichopoda Precursor Swamp Forest; Typha capenis/Pycreus mundii/Leersia hexandra Marsh Community; Phragmites australis/Cladium mariscus/Ficus verruculosa Swamp Community; Cyperus papyrus Swamp Community; Echinochloa pyramidalis Floodplain Community; Ischaemum fasciculatum/Centella asiatica Floodplain Community; Paspalum distichum Floodplain Community. These communities can be divided into three broad groups, swamp forest, emergent herbaceous swamp/marsh and grassland floodplain communities. One of the main environmental variables influencing distribution was duration and depth of flooding, which separated the permanently flooded swamp and emergent swamp/marsh communities from the seasonally/ periodically inundated floodplain communities. Environmental variables that account for further division of the communities within these two groups, appear to be disturbances from fire and substratum differences related to sediment deposition from the Mkuze River, which enters the lower Mbazwane Wetland from the west. The permanently flooded swamp forest communities, are largely restricted to the northern parts of the study area, while the emergent swamp/ marsh communities, are restricted to the southern part of the study area. The swamp forest community is fringed to the west by an extremely high and steep dune, while the swamp/marsh communities are fringed to the west by much lower and more gently sloping dunes. It is suggested here that wildfires in conjunction with topography influence the distribution of these two groups of communities. An analysis of diurnal variation in temperature in the winter months (June - August) for winds (greater than l.0m/s) reveals that winds blowing from the west to north-west are associated with extremely high temperatures that persist during the day and well into the night. These are berg wind conditions that have been strongly linked to the desiccation of vegetation and promoting its susceptibility to burning in wildfires, and it is during these conditions that fires are most likely to occur in the study area. Swamp forest is situated in areas that are protected from direct exposure to these winds by the high, steep dune immediately to the west. These are thus likely to be naturally protected from fire. In contrast the herbaceous swamp/marsh communities are not protected from wind or fire by a similar topographic feature. Mature swamp forests were restricted to these 'berg wind shadow' areas, where there is complete protection from fire. Precursor and disturbed swamp forests occur where they are less protected and thus are infrequently exposed to fire. The distribution of the permanently flooded swamp/marsh communities in the areas exposed to fire appears to be related to the input of nutrients. The Cyperus papyrus Swamp Community was rooted in clay rich peat in the area around the Mkuze Delta that receives an input of clay from the Mkuze River during very high floods. In contrast, the Phragmites australis/Cladium mariscuslLeersia hexandra Swamp Community was rooted in peat with low ash content, as there is little or no input of clay from the Mkuze River, even during high floods. The seasonally/periodically- flooded communities included the Echinochloa pyramidalis Floodplain Community, the Ischaemum fasciculatum/Centella asiatica Floodplain Community and the Paspalum distichum Floodplain Community. The Echinochloa pyramidalis Floodplain Community was restricted to seasonally flooded areas receiving an input of clastic sediment from the Mkuze River during high floods, while the other floodplain communities occurred in areas receiving water from the relatively sediment free Mbazwane Stream. The distribution of these two communities appears to be influenced by the duration of inundation, with the lschaemum fasciculatum/Centella asiatica Floodplain Community being at higher elevation and therefore less frequently flooded than the Paspalum distichum Floodplain Community. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

Every time a good is produced, waste occurs as an unwanted by-product. Waste has become a real environmental issue across the world, contributing to the degradation of the environment and human health. As part of a local and international effort to lessen industrial pollution, a concept to reduce waste production at source was introduced to companies in the early 1990s. Pioneered in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK), this concept has been termed 'waste minimisation'. Waste minimisation is achieved by implementing changes to business practices and processes, such as improved housekeeping (e.g. prevention of spills), and changes to equipment that is less wasteful. It is often undertaken by a group of organisations, including for example service providers, manufacturing companies and regulators that join a waste minimisation club (WMC). This provides an opportunity in which training can be received by, waste minimisation assessments made on, and information and ideas about waste reduction at source exchanged by member companies. WMCs have been used successfully in Europe to achieve waste minimisation in industry and residential communities. This study aims to contribute to the development of a sustainable WMC model in South Africa. It analyses the WMC support structures in South Africa and compares them to support structures offered in the UK. This offers a point of reference from which the impact of South African support structures on WMCs in general, and the Pietermaritzburg Waste Minimisation Club (PWMC) in particular, can be established. The PWMC consists of small and medium companies across sectors, each with less than 200 employees and with an annual turnover less than 40 million rand. The club was initiated by the Pollution Research Group of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). It was the first of its kind in South Africa, having been facilitated on a small budget by staff and students from the UKZN. The study found that the self-help approach adopted by the PWMC was only partially successful. The PWMC was successful in terms of raising awareness of its members to waste minimisation issues. The study also found that member companies, both from the PWMC and WMCs generally, need to be shown in practical terms that 2 waste minimisation can result in financial savings before management buy-in can be attained. If more University manpower had been allocated, in the form of students for instance, to identify and orchestrate implementation of sustainable waste minimisation solutions, the PWMC member adoption rate of waste minimisation may have been raised. The small PWMC budget may have made this impossible, however. Lack of funding may also have prevented facilitators putting together a large support team, as has been done for a similar and more successful project in England. This demonstrates that self-help WMCs need an initial funding boost to be successful. This funding should be invested in gaining buy-in from company personnel rather than to drive the waste minimisation process on behalf of member companies. Driving waste minimisation on behalf of companies or 'hand-holding' leads to a passive acceptance of waste minimisation as is currently the case in South Africa, as well as 'shirking' as has been observed in the UK. Such a facilitated self-help approach can then lay the basis for WMCs, which use the support infrastructure established by their predecessors. Studies of WMCs in England and Wales based on a self-help approach showed that they achieved financial savings that are comparable to those in demonstration clubs. The promotion of such sustainable WMCs in South Africa needs to be performed by a central support agency such as the British Envirowise. Envirowise was seen to successfully promote waste minimisation among those it reached. However, it reached only a small percentage of overall industry. A successful South African agency therefore needs to promote itself effectively and nation-wide. A successful South African Envirowise organisation should also facilitate the creation of WMCs by leading a forum of industry, service providers, higher education and waste minimisation champions of proven worth, to create an action plan for WMC development for each province. Each province would then allocate funds for a waste minimisation champion who, in conjunction with the local development agency, would create a provincial action plan for the development of facilitated self-help WMCs. The local support and expertise recruited to form and manage WMCs would decrease costs and leverage income. This kind of support agency needs to be upheld by waste management legislation based on the concept of sustainable development, recognising the need for environmental protection alongside that of economic growth. To date no such legislation is in place in South Africa. It is hoped that the White Paper on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management, which endorses the principle of sustainable development alongside with the necessity to reduce waste at source, will form the basis for a successful South African WMC culture. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Coastal systems like lagoons and estuaries are faced with severe human developmental endeavours. In South Africa, more than 30% of the population lives along the 3000 kilometer coastline. The Durban bay is no exception especially with the existing Durban harbour taking up the natural expanse of the bay. The bay is burdened with a diversity of anthropogenic endeavours, from port operations to industrial activities, to storm water drainage outlets, through to various recreational ventures. These activities have over the years caused a reduction of the bay‘s mangrove forest, reduced the population of some biota and caused extinction of some indigenous species. Five areas were selected based on the specific activities and infrastructure that occurred there. Samples of water from these pre-selected sites were collected routinely and analysed for their water quality status. The overall water quality within the bay compared with the DWAF water quality guidelines for South Africa was identified as below stipulated standards. The dissolved oxygen contents as well as nutrients in the form of nitrogen content in its assorted forms are some of the most affected water quality indicators. The majority of the sub standard water quality levels, indicators which are critical to the proper functioning, growth and reproduction of biota within the ecosystems of the bay obtained could be linked directly or indirectly to the activities within the area of sampling. The resultant chemical and physical conditions in water quality created as a result of the ongoing activities within the bay are not suitable for proper feeding, growth and reproduction of ecosystems. This has caused many species within the bay to migrate or adapt to the adverse conditions and such situations are likely to worsen if stringent measures are not taken in the near future. It appears that the some species are exhibiting some degree of resilience and are at the moment surviving the relatively harsh conditions within the bay. The long term effect of the ever expanding anthropogenic disturbances on the ecosystems are unpredictable and it is therefore imperative that more stringent environmental management plans, programs and policies, legally binding, are formulated to serve as a check on all who benefit from the bay‘s resources. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

This research is an evaluation of labour-based methods and techniques that are used in rural road construction and maintenance. The study places emphasis on the Zibambele rural road maintenance programme in Umbumbulu, which is based on a lengthmen (male or female) system. The research is an attempt to determine how strategies such as Zibambele can be used for the social and economic upliftment of impoverished rural areas as well as contribute to adequate road access for rural communities to address the legacy of apartheid, with special reference to the empowerment of women-headed households. Rural road networks in South Africa are underdeveloped and characterised by its poor state, lack of maintenance and lack of provision, thereby having little impact on the lives of the rural poor Black population. It is evident in the study that development and maintenance of physical infrastructure are keys to rapid economic growth and poverty reduction. The study examined the impacts of labour-based rural road maintenance on accessibility and poverty alleviation in the Umbumbulu community through the use of quantitative methods (specifically a questionnaire survey) and qualitative methods (specifically focus group discussions, ranking exercises, mental mapping and venn/ chapatti diagrams). The_findings of the study indicated that the Zibambele poverty alleviation and rural road maintenance programme impacted positively on the livelihoods of many women-headed households by providing an income, facilitating skills development, and improving their social environment. It was also determined that through the introduction of new programmes such as Zibambele, the transport infrastructure within a community and the quality of life immediately improves, thus alleviating many affects of poverty / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Corporate social responsibility is increasingly becoming an important component of the business world. With growing scrutiny of commercial operations, businesses are increasingly being driven to satisfy the expectations of society in order to thrive. In essence, businesses adopting corporate social responsibility believe that by operating ethically and responsibly, they have a better opportunity of success. This thesis examines Lafarge Mining South Africa and its Ridgeview Quarry located in Durban, South Africa, in order to assess the contribution to social sustainability of corporate social responsibility practices in the resource extraction industry. Literature used for this research is compiled from concepts such as sustainable development, social sustainability, social justice, public participation, vulnerability and well-being and furthermore evaluates conventional arguments for corporate social responsibility. The methodology used for this research was based on a qualitative approach, where both secondary and primary data were used. The empirical materials needed for this research was collected through in-depth interviews conducted with stakeholders involved within the social upliftment programmes as well as discussions forums. Furthermore, purposive sampling was used for this study, as the study was concerned with individuals involved with the discussion forum and the social responsibility programmes. The thesis investigates the nature of public participation in the discussion forum with respect to social sustainability. With regards to the discussion forum, meetings were held intermittently, on an ad hoc basis, therefore affecting the degree to which total social sustainability was achieved in the decision-making process. However, it was found that when meetings were convened that the discussion forum was inclusive and in no way discouraged any form of participation from the community, hence contributing to some form of social sustainability. The research encompassed aspects of evaluation research, whereby summative evaluation and impact evaluation was used to summarise information and examine the outcomes of the two corporate social responsibility initiatives, namely; the education-related and the skills-related social upliftment programmes. The research evaluated these two programmes, in order to assess the degree to which social sustain ability was achieved. However these initiatives are a small part of the broader corporate social responsibility agenda. The key findings of the research were that social sustainability was very weak. Minimal difficulties were experienced by participants in the education-related social upliftment programme, where one of the challenges was to uplift learners from grassroots level (primary school level). However, with regards to the skills-related social upliftment programme, individuals participating in the project, experienced more difficulties than compared to those participating within the education-related social upliftment programme. Difficulties that arose with regards to the skills-related social upliftment programme were that Lafarge Mining South Africa reneged on certain material promises and showed no interest in monitoring how the programme was facilitated. Furthermore, participation in the programme did not secure any employment opportunities for the women. Thus corporate social responsibility has become a major focus of interest in society. Corporate social responsibility is not just a buzzword for businesses, it has developed into an invaluable tool for exploring ways to reduce and manage social and bio-physical costs, as well as provide many businesses with the opportunity to be successful. However, achieving corporate sustainability is not an easy task and is accompanied by a number of challenges / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Ecotourism has generated great interest from governments, tourism enterprises, tourists, conservation groups, the private sector and other stakeholders in the industry. A reason for this interest is the availability of pristine natural environments, especially in Africa. The need for more rigorous data on economic, environmental and social impacts of ecotourism development from different perspectives and stakeholders is central to unpacking key issues related to sustaining ecotourism in Africa that is both responsive to environmental as well as social and economic needs. There seems to be a need for a better understanding of ecotourism’s impacts, and how those impacts are affected by various developmental needs and management strategies. South Africa is a country which is closely linked with disputes resulting from land claims as a result of apartheid. Thus, this thesis attempts to unpack issues relating to the historical legacy, the proliferation of Private Game Parks in South Africa and related issues of privatised concentration of natural resources, access and affordability as well as potential social, economic and environmental impacts. Research was undertaken in two Private Parks in KwaZulu-Natal: Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park. A fundamental ingredient for stakeholder involvement is collaboration among key players. The specific stakeholders identified for this study were: visitors, local communities, tour operators, Park personnel, Park managers and the Private owner of both the private Parks. The research employed both qualitative (participatory approaches) and quantitative (questionnaires) techniques when collecting data. The study revealed that visitors to Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park listed important factors regarding their own efforts to promote ecotourism such as: conserving nature, limiting the over-utilisation of resources, being environmentally conscious, reducing water consumption, being litter conscious, spreading the conservation message via word of mouth and visiting more ecotourism destinations. There is a good level of interaction between the tour operating company (that carries out tours to Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park) and the community. This is attributed to visitors purchasing from cultural villages and the use of local tour guides. The local communities living near the private Parks indicated that no relationship exists between the community, management and staff of the respective private Parks. Participatory exercises (venn diagrams, mental mapping and problem ranking exercises) were conducted with focus groups. These focus group discussions established heterogeneity within the respective communities and emphasised the need for the involvement of all community members who best understand and have the greatest stake in social, economic and political issues linked to the Parks. According to the Park personnel at Ezulwini Private Park and Tala Private Park local communities were somewhat involved in the activities and decision-making of the private Parks. However, the Park owner of both the private Parks stated that the local communities were not involved in the activities and decision-making of the private Parks. To mitigate social, environmental and economic impacts it is imperative that all stakeholders are consulted as this will reduce conflict and enhance consensus. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Land degradation is a national concern that needs to be redressed and prevented by the government and its agencies as it has a significant impact on agricultural productivity and food security. The National Department of Agriculture is in the process of reforming the sustainable resource use policy to deal with the causes of land degradation and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources, particularly in poverty stricken areas. Prior to 1994, this policy was only applied in areas where commercial agriculture was practised. The researcher has explored the struggles encountered during the implementation of the sustainable resource use policy through a case study approach within the Enkumane region of KwaZulu-Natal. The research followed a cross-sectional approach drawing from methods such as typology techniques, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, which were employed at various stages in the policy process, from the levels of policy-makers to the intended beneficiaries. A literature review emphasized the importance of applying integrated and participatory approaches in implementing a public policy. The results highlighted significant differences of opinion concerning the implementation of the sustainable resource use policy within and between the different stages of the process from policy to implementation. This was partly attributed to the inadequacy in terms of clear roles, direction and guidelines, and also in terms of the institutionalisation of experience, knowledge and skills. It was recommended that a more co-ordinated and integrated effort is required to reform the policy. This calls for the establishment of mechanisms to ensure that people at all stages in the policy process are involved in a participatory manner, towards the continual improvement of the sustainable resource use policy. The significance of this study is twofold, firstly the financial burden of ineffective policies is unacceptable to our society. Secondly, the research has a potential to enhance the policy to implementation process, which may provide a platform for improving the sustainable resource use policy. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the application of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) human health risk assessment framework for quantifying the adverse human health effects of exposure to inhaled kerosene pollutants in the South African context. The study was based in the informal settlement of Cato Crest in Cato Manor, Durban. This dissertation includes a theoretical review of the environment/health Relationship, the US EPA health risk assessment approach, it's history, and the health effects of kerosene combustion products. Chapter three outlines the methodology for the study, detailing how time-activity pattern data and air quality results were collected from the community of Cato Crest. Chapter four presents the results of the health risk assessments conducted for nitrogen dioxide, benzene and toluene exposure - using both local and US EPA exposure values in the health risk assessments. A critical evaluation of the US EPA human health risk assessment framework in the South African context is provided in chapter five. The results of the study revealed that a 1-hour exposure to the nitrogen dioxide concentrations measured in Cato Crest would not present any adverse health effects. A 24-hour exposure to NO2 using US EPA default exposure values provided a slight possibility of adverse health effects being experienced in sensitive individuals in some houses. 24-Hour exposure to NO2 using local exposure values could result in both sensitive individuals and even some healthy individuals experiencing adverse health effects in all houses. Potential adverse health effects include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, broncho-constriction and increased airway resistance. Sensitive individuals include those with asthma or other respiratory diseases. Exposure to 24hour benzene concentrations (using US EPA default exposure values) is not likely to result in individuals experiencing adverse health effects. Exposure to the same benzene concentrations at local exposure times will cause potential adverse health effects in sensitive individuals. Sensitive individuals are those with respiratory ailments and blood diseases or disorders. Exposure to monitored toluene concentrations over a 24-hour period (using both US EPA default exposure values and local exposure values) is unlikely to result in adverse health effects being experienced by any individuals. The US EPA human health risk assessment framework is seen as applicable to South Africa where developed areas are concerned (as these areas are quite similar to North American populations). In areas of South Africa that are considered less developed or undeveloped, local conditions need to be substituted into health risk assessments where possible. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.