Formal learning contexts often present information to learners in an inert and highly abstract form, making it unlikely that learners would ever use this information in their every-day lives. Learners do, however, show a greater propensity for retaining information that is seen as having relevance in their lives. Constructivism is an educational paradigm that has gained popularity amongst educationists. The core tenet of this paradigm is that learners learn through interaction with their environment and that all knowledge construction is based on previous life experience. Information that is presented to learners in a contextualised form not only has a better chance of being retained in long-term memory, but also has a greater likelihood of being applied in relevant life situations. This publication deals with the research, design and delivery of important information concerning diseases that have a major impact in Southern Africa. Firstly, learners at the University of Natal, Durban were polled for their existing knowledge concerning four widespread diseases, namely HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and cancer. Aspects of these diseases where learners demonstrated a low level of awareness were defined as the primary learning objectives for an educational 3D- immersive microworld. Areas of knowledge concerning the transmission, symptomatic expression, biology and prevention of these diseases were generally not well represented in the learner sample. Hence, information regarding these aspects is presented to learners in a contextualised form within the microworld. Motivation for learners to play in this microworld is provided by a storyline that was researched and written for the portal. In addition, the model used in the storyline design was evaluated for its effectiveness as a tool to be used in the planning of future educational games. A model, the Puzzle Process model, was proposed to inform the design of puzzle interfaces for these types of interactive learning environments, and puzzle interfaces were designed for the virtual environment according to the model guidelines. The learning environment was tested as part of the formative evaluation with a small sample of learners. The testing process made use of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning environment as a possible learning tool. Comparison of pre- and post-gameplay questionnaires showed that learners gained a more indepth and richer understanding of the topics being dealt with in the portal. In particular, the puzzle objects situated in the environment stimulated learners to negotiate meanings for the puzzle interfaces and, in the process, encouraged learners to discuss the topic being dealt with. Results from this study also show that the longer learners discussed and negotiated a certain knowledge domain, the greater their increase in richness of information was for that knowledge domain after gameplay. These results highlight the importance of social dialogue in the knowledge construction process and suggest that environments like these have great potential based on their ability to encourage learners to talk to one another and their facilitators while negotiating mutually acceptable knowledge. The original Puzzle Process model, as well as the Game Achievement model and the Game Object model were modified to account for the need for social dialogue and content. These more comprehensive models are instrumental for use in future virtual world environment design. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu- Natal, Durban, 2004.

Global climate change is expected to be accompanied by changes in the composition of plant functional types. Such changes are predicted to follow shifts in the percentage cover and abundance of grass species, following the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways. These two groups differ in a number of physiological, structural and biochemical aspects. It is important to measure these characteristic properties because they affect ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling. High spectral and spatial resolution remote sensing systems have been proven to offer data, which can be used to accurately detect, classify and map plant species. The major challenge, however, is that the spectral reflectance data obtained over many narrow contiguous channels (i.e. hyperspectral data) represent multiple classes that are often mixed for a limited training-sample size. This is commonly referred to as the Hughes phenomenon or “the curse of dimensionality”. In the context of hyperspectral data analysis, the Hughes phenomenon often introduces a high degree of multicollinearity, which is caused by the use of highly-correlated spectral predictors. Multicollinearity is a prominent problem in processing hyperspectral data for vegetation applications, due to similarities in the spectral reflectance properties of biophysical and biochemical attributes. This study explored an innovative method to solve the problems associated with spectral dimensionality and the related multicollinearity, by developing a user-defined inter-band correlation filter function to resample hyperspectral data. The proposed resampling technique convolves the spectral dependence information between a chosen band-centre and its shorter and longer wavelength neighbours. The utility of the new resampling technique was assessed for discriminating C3 (Festuca costata) and C4 (Themeda triandra and Rendlia altera) grasses and for predicting their nutrient content (nitrogen, protein, moisture, and fibre), using partial least squares and random forest regressions. In general, results obtained showed that the user-defined inter-band correlation filter technique can mitigate the problem of multicollinearity in both classification and regression analyses. Wavebands in the shortwave infrared region were found to be very important in regression and classification analyses, using field spectra-only datasets. Next, the analyses were up-scaled from field spectra to the new generation multispectral satellite, WorldView-2 imagery, which was acquired for the Cathedral Peak region of the Drakensberg Mountains. The results obtained, showed that the WV2 image data contain useful information for classifying the C3 and C4 grasses and for predicting variability in their nitrogen and fibre concentrations. This study makes a contribution by developing a user-defined inter-band correlation filter to resample hyperspectral data, and thereby mitigating the high dimensionality and multicollinearity problems, in remote sensing applications involving C3 and C4 grass species or communities. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are considered to be the engines of growth of any economy. In the light of recent economic events and the recession that is surging rapidly across the globe, more and more attention is being focused on SMME development and support. Whilst there are a number of organisations (both public and private) which provide support to SMMEs within the eThekwini Municipality Area (EMA), the overall impacts of these initiatives on SMME growth and development is minimal and there is a dearth of studies that critically examine business support services for SMMEs which the public and private sectors provided. One of the major reasons for this minimal impact is the lack of communication and coordination between various service providers which often results in fragmentation and duplication of services. This study analyses the support measures offered to SMMEs not only from the perspective of the SMMEs themselves but also examines the perspectives of service providers from both the public and private sectors. This study is also placed within a multi-disciplinary conceptual framework which includes the political economy approach, neoliberalism, the public-private-sector debate and empowerment theories with specific reference to the South African context. This study is unique in that it analyses SMME development and support within the EMA from various perspectives within a single study. The objectives of this study were to investigate the awareness and experiences of SMMEs with regards to their support and development and also to critically examine the attitudes and perceptions of service providers (both public and private) towards SMME development and support. In addition, this study sought to assess the capacity of both the private and public sectors to provide effective support and development to SMMEs. An additional objective of this study was to determine the value placed on support measures by determining SMMEs’ willingness to pay for services provided, but more importantly to determine the attitudes of the public and private sectors towards the payment for services offered. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted. In terms of the latter, quantitative surveys were conducted with 250 SMMEs who attended various fairs and conferences held across the EMA. Semi-structured interviews (qualitative approach) were conducted with representatives from the private and public sectors that provide support or services to the SMMEs in the EMA. In this regard, 53 representatives from the public sector and 50 from the private sector were interviewed. The analysis was undertaken thematically and, where relevant, findings pertaining to the different stakeholders interviewed were compared and discussed. Some of the key findings indicate that SMME respondents were more aware of local government and the services they provide than any other tier of government. Furthermore, SMME respondents within the study did not fully grasp the concept of Business Development Services (BDS) and the associated benefits for their business. SMMEs rely heavily on government to provide services free of charge. The main finding is that private sector service providers are better qualified, positioned and trained to provide BDS than the public sector whose main roles should be that of regulator, facilitator and promoter. Whilst government has been a strong proponent of SMME development and support since 1994, this study presents a strong case for the increased role of the private sector. In addition, this study also motivates that local government through their Municipalities can play a significant role in SMME development and support in partnership with the private sector. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

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 povertystricken 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 inte~ated 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.

Diatoms are a large and diverse group of algae which are distributed throughout the world in all types of aquatic systems and are one of the most important food resources in freshwater ecosystems. The need to sample diatoms arises from the necessity to know the history of the water quality. Diatom communities reflect the overall ecological integrity by integrating various stressors and as result provides a broad measure of their impacts. They are recognized as valuable organisms for bio assessment, due to their ease of identification, rapid life cycle and their visibility to the naked eye. Diatom communities provide interpretable indications of specific changes in the water quality Environmental gradients and assemblage composition in the Mnweni River catchment revealed that water chemistry, habitat structure, flow type and land use were the most important environmental factors for diatom assemblage composition in the Mnweni River. The results indicates that the diatom diversity and assemblage composition in the Mnweni River shows that changes in the water chemistry as well as organic pollution, but also indicate changes in the habitat character which is related to the water flow, river bank character and catchment land use. The diatom assemblages that were found at the sites are typical of clean or mildly enriched water conditions. The changing salinity in St. Lucia is the main physical factor that is driving the constant change in ecological conditions within the estuary. The changes in the diatom community structure in the estuarine system indicate the variable nature of the benthic communities under different salinity conditions. Contrary to the drought conditions that are being experienced, the diatom biomass did not show any significant changes or differences. This may be due to the rapid recovery ability that diatom communities exhibit in response to changes that are occurring in their environment. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Waterfront development has become a global phenomenon, identified by cities as an opportunity for urban renewal through the creation of a revitalised land-water interface and its associated economic benefits for the city at large. The Durban Point Development Company (DPDC) a Public-Private Partnership, recognised the potential for renewal of the Point Precinct in Durban and initiated the Point Development Framework Plan to implement regeneration of this inner city area. The Small Craft Harbour (SCH) is one of the components of the project. It aims to stimulate further financial investment in the city through the generation of an internationally competitive marina facility. As a national legal requirement, the SCH development is required to undergo a Scoping exercise which is the initial phase of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. During this phase the decision-making team is required to identify potentially detrimental environmental effects capture public comment and explore a number of viable options. It is therefore a crucial phase during which the issues and concerns are deliberated and the outcomes are used to generate a set of potential options for the site. However, the initial Scoping exercise was deemed inadequate in terms of meeting the broader objectives of the Point Development and as a result, was extended. This Extended Scoping Phase aimed to generate more suitable options and included an inc~eased network of specialists. The research focuses on the environmental politics of this particular phase of decision-making for the proposed SCH. A number of unique factors have contributed to an exceptionally conflictual and challenging decision-making process. Unlike other waterfront developments, Durban's SCH will be located adjacent to a prime piece of beach on Durban's Golden Mile. This introduces the complexities associated with the current user groups, namely a watersports fraternity as well as the general public. It is the unique location and the sheltered nature of the site which makes these activities possible. The proposals have thus been met with considerable resistance from these user groups whose current activities are threatened. For these reasons the social and ecological aspects of the project have been brought into stark focus and have been met with much resistance from the developers who have their own economic and financial imperatives. In the aim of applying discourse analysis as a framework to examine the environmental politics of the SCH decision-making process, the key actor, their respective discourses and the way in which they interacted was identified as well as the underlying power relations governing these (inter)actions. To provide the foundations for these objectives international theories relating to social order, governance, power and discourse were employed and their applicability to the South African development context was al 0 discussed. Castells (2000) networking logic Allen s (2003) conceptuali ations of power and Hajer and Wagenaar s (2003a) deliberative policy analysis formed the three core bodies of theory. The fourth was discourse analysis which functioned as a theory and as a methodology. Hajer s (1995 2003) approach to discour e analysis was employed to interpret the interactions between the different actors in the process using key concepts such as 'discourse coalitions and story-lines. Hajer's (1995 2003) 'argumentative approach' is also relevant as it allows for an evaluation of the continual repositioning of various individuals around certain issues through discour e. The key findings of the discour e analysis revealed that the decision-making around the SCH proposal was prone to the changing rules of the network and the subsequent shifting of the positions of the actors represented by the altered configuration of discourse coalitions. This reflects the fluid nature ofa network and the volatility of the power relations within. In response to this uncertainty, the actors adopted more deliberati e modes of engagement in line with Hajer and Wagenaar s (2003a) deliberative policy analysis and this facilitated collaboration amongst the team rather than resistance. Deliberation which is attuned to the continuous give and take in networks has thus proved successful in facilitating decision-making between conflicting interest groups. In South Africa where the overarching policy objective is democratic transformation the merits of deliberation become starkly apparent. Locally, by incorporating deliberative modes of operation into the policies and practice of the eThekwini Municipality Durban would benefit from the same levels of good governance practiced by some international policy communities. A discourse analysis of the Scoping Process of the proposed SCH has provided insight into the power relations and decision-making practices of the eThekwini Municipality as a whole serving to highlight the environmental politics which so often surrounds high-profile urban developments. International theories relating to effective governance have proved applicable to the South African developmental context and may serve to guide local and national decisionmaking processes. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

The Eastern Shores of Lake St Lucia forms part of the ecologically important Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, designated a World Heritage Site in 1999. The landscape is characterised by surface water, a high water table and numerous wetlands. Little is known about the distribution and temporal fluctuations of this surface water and its relationship to the wetlands. This study uses remote sensing to examine the relationship by mapping the extent of seasonal, ephemeral and permanent surface water on the Eastern Shores. Much of the surface water occurs in conjunction with emergent vegetation and is not easily mapped using hard classification methods. Neither a cluster analysis nor a maximum likelihood classification were able to map the subtle variations of the water-vegetation mix. Much more successful was the application of spectral mixture analysis using image endmembers of water, woody vegetation and non-woody vegetation. This technique was applied to seven Landsat Thematic Mapper images from 1991, 2001 and 2002. Steep slopes, forests and bare sand were masked out prior to classification. Maps of water extent were produced for each of the seven study dates. Mapping accuracy was verified against rainfall, with high correlations being obtained against rainfall accumulated over six months and longer. Long-term rainfall patterns were reflected in the surface water distribution, with inundation being more extensive when accumulated rainfall was high. Fire scars reduced the accuracy of the spectral mixture analysis but these scars could be identified from the thermal image bands. The largest open water body in the study area was Lake Bhangazi. Large extents of surface water were also found in the Mfabeni swamp and the wilderness area to the north where water concentrations of 90% were measured during wet periods. Surface water present near Brodies Crossing during wet periods was less evident when rainfall was lower. No inundation was recorded in the areas to the west and south-west of the Mfabeni swamp or in the southern parts of the study area. The techniques used in this study were developed into a water mapping protocol that uses image endmembers and spectral mixture analysis to measure water concentration. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

The fundamental benefit of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in South Africa is the integration of the concept of sustainability into plans and programmes. This provides the means to incorporate the environmental and social objectives of districts and regions into their policy, planning and investment decision-making processes. At present, there is limited legislative support for SEA in South Africa, and there is little incentive for municipalities to pursue SEAs. All municipalities in South Africa are however, required by the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000) to undertake an Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process to which SEA can add value, by providing a practical guide to integrating the concept of sustainability into the planning process. Furthermore, by integrating SEA with the IDP process, the ethos of sustainable development and the country's Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) policy and legislation can be effectively applied to local government development planning. The uMhlathuze Municipality embarked on an SEA linked to their IDP process in 2002. The City of uMhlathuze is unique in that it has a rapidly evolving industrial sector within a poor community base. Basic priorities include job creation and fostering a better quality of life, whilst allowing for further development in an already polluted environment. An attempt was made by the Municipality to integrate an SEA with the IDP process to allow for environmental and sustainability considerations to be reviewed against the prevailing environmental conditions. The CSIR was commissioned to undertake this study. In theory, SEA incorporated into the IDP process would ensure that the urban plan for the Municipality is along a sustainability trajectory. This study critically assesses SEA by reviewing its origins, logical connection to the IEM framework and, its application in South Africa. The study also critically evaluates the uMhlathuze Municipality's IDP reports, to determine whether there is value in SEAs integrated into the IDP process. The challenges faced and lessons learnt for the development of a common approach to the integration of SEA into the IDP process are highlighted. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu- Natal, Durban, 2005.

Township tourism is one of the recognised ways in the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) white paper to include communities that were previously excluded from tourism. However, township tourism is non existent in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. This mini dissertation is an attempt to identify the tourism potential of Sobantu township in Pietermaritzburg in an effort to encourage development and empower the local community. The primary aims are therefore to identify tourist attractions in the township, to explore people's perceptions about tourism development and to suggest ways to link Sobantu to the established tourist destinations in the greater Pietermaritzburg area. A purposive sample of 48 respondents participated in the study. The respondents were sampled from youth organisations in Sobantu, school teachers, Pietermaritzburg Tourism, Indlovu Regional Council, community members and key people in South African Police services. Semi-structured, in depth interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and site visits were utilised as data gathering techniques based on five leading questions designed by the researcher and modified through the first two interviews used as a pilot study. Tourist attractions are examined from an ideographic perspective and a thematic approach is used to analyse peoples' perceptions. A SWOT analysis is used to explore possible linkages and to provide a clear analysis of the critical issues that need to be addressed as they could promote or hinder sustainable tourism development in the area. Results showed that the historical background, the political history, old red bricked buildings and the cultural experiences are the main tourist attractions in the township. The community has positive attitudes towards tourism development in the area and their perceptions are compatible with the principles of sustainable tourism development and the DEAT document. To overcome the identified obstacles and realize sustainable tourism development, several recommendations are made. These include, extensive tourism awareness campaigns, education and training of tour guides from the community, proper community structures and an effective marketing strategy. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

There is an increased need for PP in making decisions that affects their livelihood and the environment surrounding them. Rwanda continues to strive to initiate programs and projects to ensure improved living conditions for the citizens. It is important and necessary to ensure that the interested and affected community member take an active role in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision making process. Without consultation and meaningful participation of interested and affected parties (IAP’s), there is a serious danger of conflict of interests during project implementation. Such conflict of interests so often contributes to project delays through litigations, loss of invested resources and environmental degradation. The need for meaningful public involvement in the EIA process has been recognized by the World Bank, and the European Union Governments, the United Nations, and many governments around the world. There is also a large amount of research literature that supports the concept of the EIA process. This study has 4 key objectives, namely; 1) Determine the requirements for, and barriers to effective PP in the EIA implementation process; 2) review three EIA practical case studies in Rwanda in order to investigate the effectiveness in ensuring PP in practice; 3) explore the views of Interested and Affected Parties (Environmental consultants, NGOs, REMA and community representatives) with regard to the effectiveness of PP in EIA processes in Rwanda; 4) To consider the future for meaningful PP in the EIA process in Rwanda. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a wide selection of literature on PP in the EIA process has been reviewed; document analysis, questionnaire interviews, and three case studies have been reviewed. The findings of this research reveal that, with specific reference to the cases studied, the current EIA implementation process in Rwanda is ineffective in ensuring meaningful public involvement. Some procedural challenges have been identified in the implementation process and these acts as a barrier to effective participation. They include: • inadequate follow-up of compliance, • absence of the PP guidelines, • late public involvement in the EIA process and • poor communication mechanisms. The following recommendations are made to enhance meaningful PP in the EIA process in Rwanda: • that there be a full exchange of information between developers and IAP’s involvement should be increased to ensure informed decision-making and meaningful input; • that there be early public involvement in the EIA Process to reduce manipulation and possible conflicts; • that PP guidelines should be established and formalized to ensure effective monitoring, enforcement and compliance. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.