Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Business Administration (Entrepreneurship) in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2014 / The primary objective of this study was to analyse the challenges in operating micro-enterprises faced by African foreign entrepreneurs in Cape Town. The rationale behind the study is the fact that foreign entrepreneurs are faced with different challenges in operating micro-enterprises; some of these challenges are detrimental to the enterprises and lead some entrepreneurs to stop doing business. South African entrepreneurs and African foreign entrepreneurs share similar challenges to some extent. However, African foreign entrepreneurs are faced with challenges such as xenophobia and problems obtaining capital from banks, which increases the stressors on these entrepreneurs. The literature review is divided into two sections, namely: Small-, medium- and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) and immigrant entrepreneurship. Convenience sampling (which falls under non-probability sampling) was employed; resulting in sample of 93 respondents. The study used mixed methods, where data were collected by conducting semi-structured personal interviews and from self-administered questionnaires. The study was limited to the Cape Town central business district (CBD) and surrounding suburbs that host a high number of African foreign entrepreneurs, including Bellville, Mowbray, Woodstock, Salt River and Wynberg. The findings show that though xenophobia is not a frequent challenge to African foreign entrepreneurs in Cape Town, it is detrimental to their enterprises. Lack of knowledge of local languages also appears to be a problem, making it difficult for African foreign entrepreneurs to converse with local customers. These immigrant-owned micro-enterprises are also affected by sales fluctuations. Competition is a constraint as there are many businesses of the same nature servicing the same market. Obtaining start-up and growth funding is not easy, especially for micro-enterprises owned by African foreign entrepreneurs, as it is extremely difficult to obtain funding from banks and financial institutions. Hence, these entrepreneurs use their own capital or capital from family and friends. Obtaining a business location is also a challenge; it can take as long as 10 years or more to secure a good business premises. High rent and crime are also obstacles to the enterprises. The recommendations of the study are based on the research objectives aimed at answering the research questions. Recommendations are directed to government departments dealing with African immigrant entrepreneurs and immigrant entrepreneurs themselves.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. / The reason for conducting this research was to evaluate the impact of information technology in the tourism industry, focusing mainly on tourism intermediaries, which include selected travel agencies and tour operators in Cape Town, and their awareness levels of the negative and positive impacts, as well as disintermediation that occurs owing to information technology developments. The research methodology for this thesis comprised a literature search and an empirical survey, which evaluated the impacts of information technology on tourism intermediaries in Cape Town. This research sought to establish whether disintermediation has occurred amongst travel agents and tour operators, whilst recognising strategies, which these tourism intermediaries can use to ensure survival in the competitive tourism industry. Relevant sources were referred to in the literature search. A number of appropriate normative measures were taken from the literature, followed by an empirical survey where randomly selected tourism intermediaries in Cape Town, namely small, medium to large companies were chosen to participate in the research questionnaire. The questionnaire responses were captured by the registered CPUT statistician in the form of frequency distribution analyses, and these were statistically analysed by the researcher and the registered statistician. The interpretations and findings of the statistical analyses were presented in tables and charts and were explained individually according to the statements' similarities, differences and verifications, as per the research questionnaire. A number of recommendations emanated from the literature sources and empirical survey, followed by concluding remarks in the form of conclusions.

Esta dissertação trata das transformações ocorridas no município de Dom Pedrito, no Rio Grande do Sul, com foco na relação cidade-campo. Para tanto, foram levantadas as peculiaridades do local, desde a formação histórica e ocupação do território, quando a pecuária era a principal atividade desenvolvida no campo, até os dias atuais, quando o agronegócio assumiu a posição de destaque na produção agrícola. Além de dados populacionais e da produção municipal, organizados em séries históricas, a pesquisa aborda as transformações na paisagem do campo e da cidade. O campo é atualmente caracterizado pelas presenças das lavouras de arroz e soja, que assumem papel importante na paisagem e na economia do município. A cidade, outrora importante como suporte da produção pecuária, hoje se encontra descolada da produção do campo, estabelecida sob uma lógica verticalizante. As mudanças são identificadas como peculiaridades locais do processo de urbanização brasileira, que teve na modernização do campo um dos pilares. Identificamos assim um espaço que se encontra em transformação, no qual campo e cidade respondem a um tempo diferente. O campo, menos rugoso, é hoje dotado de novas formas realizadas sobre uma antiga estrutura, e a cidade encontra-se perdida em um anacronismo entre as antigas formas e os processos que se desencadearam no campo, exigindo novos objetos para a resposta do local às necessidades da produção agrícola moderna. As metamorfoses do espaço são analisadas tendo por base a questão da técnica predominante em cada período histórico, estabelecendo os processos espaciais de horizontalidades e verticalidades, que estão bem demarcados na realidade de ontem e hoje. A pesquisa conclui que atualmente o município de Dom Pedrito passa por uma reconfiguração territorial, conduzida pela modernização do campo, com impacto direto na cidade local. O espaço local responde assim ao período técnico-científico-informacional. O entendimento dos problemas e das possibilidades da cidade requer um esforço de análise que considere as técnicas remanescentes junto das novas, permitindo que a renovação seja entendida como potencialidade que incorpore a vida da cidade à produção de riqueza local. / This master’s dissertation addresses the changes which occurred in the town of Dom Pedrito, Rio Grande do Sul, and focuses on the town-countryside relationship. Therefore, we have brought up the peculiarities of this place, since its historical formation and occupation, when cattle breeding was the main activity in the countryside, until currently, when agribusiness has taken the leading position in agricultural production. Besides population and production data, the research addresses the changes in the landscape of the town and of the countryside. The countryside is currently characterized by the presence of rice and soybean production, which assume an important role in the local landscape and economy. The town, once important in supporting livestock production, is nowadays distant from field production, handed down vertically. The changes are seen as local peculiarities of the Brazilian urbanization process, which had one of its pillars in the modernization of agriculture. We identify a dynamic space, in which countryside and town respond to a different time. The countryside, with less roughness, nowadays has new shapes held on an old structure, and the town is lost in an anachronism between the old shapes and the processes that have taken place in the countryside, and required new objects so that the place can meet the needs of modern field production. The changes of space and time are analyzed based on the techniques used in each period, by establishing the spatial processes of horizontality and verticality, which are well marked in the past and present time. The research concludes that currently Dom Pedrito goes through a territorial reconfiguration, driven by the modernization of the countryside, with direct impact in the local town. The local space responds to the technical, scientific and informational period. To understand the problems and the possibilities of the town requires an analysis that takes into account the remaining and the new techniques to allow innovation to be understood as a power that places the town into the production of local wealth.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The purpose of this study is twofold. The first purpose is to identify Cape Town’s important destination attributes. Secondly one needs to examine how and to what extent Cape Town’s important destination attributes impact on international tourists’ decision on choosing Cape Town as their destination. A proposed model was formulated and it postulates that international tourists’ perception of Cape Town’s important attributes impacts on their decision making in three ways: (1) directly; (2) it impacts on Cape Town’s overall image, and in turn, influences their decision; (3) it also impacts on the international tourists’ overall satisfaction with their trip to Cape Town, and in turn, influences their own or their peripheral people’s future decision on destination selection. Ten of Cape Town’s important destination attributes were identified based on a triangulation approach prior to the research. A structured questionnaire was used to examine how and to what extent these important attributes impact on international tourists’ decision, along with the aforementioned “three ways’ influences”. Three hundred and fifty (350) international tourists, awaiting their departure in the boarding area of the Cape Town International Airport were selected as the sample. The valid data collected was computed by means of the SPSS to test the hypotheses, which were formulated according to the “three ways’ influences”. The results show that, while each of the ten Cape Town’s attributes was important for the destination-unrestricted international tourists to choose Cape Town as their destination, the ten Cape Town’s attributes were not serious concern in the destination-restricted international tourist’ decision on destination selection. The results also show that, the ten Cape Town’s attributes revealed different importance levels in influencing tourists’ destination decision making, formation of Cape Town’s overall image, and the tourists’ satisfaction level with their trip to Cape Town. Some attributes were more important than others. / South Africa

This study deals with the management of street traders to boost the local economy of King William‟s Town. The purpose of the study is to conduct the research on how street traders can be managed to boost the local economy of King William‟s Town. The intention is to research the challenges they have and how to improve them. To be able to conduct the study, the researcher deemed it necessary to study existing literature on Local Economic Development. The way street traders are managed presently has been investigated and analysed in order to develop recommendations for solving the challenges facing street trading in King William‟s Town. The researcher conducted interviews in the form of face-to-face discussions and scheduled interviews with street traders, municipal authorities, and the iQonce Small Business Association. The literature review and interviews enabled the researcher to develop recommendations to solve the challenges. These recommendations will be helpful to the King William‟s Town municipality. The findings of this study reveal that there are challenges in the manner in which street trading is managed in King William‟s Town. Some of the challenges are a lack of a LED policy, poor infrastructure, failure to implement decisions, lack of financial support for street traders, and underutilisation of the budget. The researcher has made some recommendations in terms of support and assistance for street traders, the formulation of a LED policy, and plans and systems needed to be put in place for the management of street trading in King William‟s Town. The researcher summarises the study by claiming that if the proposed recommendations can be thoroughly implemented, there will be some improvement in the manner in which the street traders are managed.

This study uses the re-blocking policy adopted by the City of Cape Town to explore an alternative approach to the housing backlog crisis in South Africa. The two re-blocking projects examined in Mshini Wam and Kuku Town illustrate the benefits of re-blocking and the challenges that were overcome in both of these informal settlements. This study is descriptive in nature and explores the challenges that informal settlements present not only for their inhabitants, but also the impact these challenges have on the city itself. The re-blocking policy is explored as a potential approach to addressing these issues and how the in situ upgrading approach to informal settlements is an improved and sustainable approach for South Africa. Key findings suggest that the Re-blocking Policy can potentially address the challenges that informal settlements present and it could serve as a sustainable housing model for improving service delivery to informal settlements.

South Africa is a signatory to several agreements dealing with sustainable development. South Africa has also committed to meeting several Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). One of the biggest challenges facing South Africa, like many other countries, is to maintain a balance between the quest for economic growth and sustainable development. In pursuing economic success, it is often the case that insufficient time and effort are dedicated to determining whether the planned developments support sustainability principles. In some instances, developments may meet one or two sustainability principles whilst violating a number of others, potentially leading to undesirable social, economic or environmental consequences. Countries ought to ensure that projects they approve for development at local, provincial or national level are subjected to thorough scrutiny to ascertain that there is minimal violation of sustainable development principles. The development of the MyCiTi bus transport system in the City of Cape Town was assessed for its consideration of sustainable development principles during the implementation of the project. Several users and non-users of MyCiTi were interviewed regarding their experience and observation of MyCiTi’s development and roll-out relative to sustainable development principles. The results obtained are discussed in this study and the appropriate recommendations given.

The focus of this research was to investigate the lack of access to primary education in King William's Town district in Eastern Cape which is inhibiting rural community development. The aim of the study was to determine whether geographic location have effects on attendance of school, to perceive gender discrepancy in primary education, to investigate what cost as a factor that contributes to a child's access and attendance to a primary education and to make recommendations to improve the situation. The study followed a descriptive research method. Data was collected by studying relevant existing literature. Document analysis was used to analyse the data and recommendations for improvement were made. The findings revealed that the day to day attendance of learners is below what it should be, which lead to dropouts, non-compliance with legislation, inadequate monitoring and evaluation. There is a need to recruit Department officials with a particular level of education, knowledge, understanding and expertise to minimise the chances of failure. Recommendations are finally made to mitigate the problem situation

Performance management systems help align individual goals and objectives with those of the organisation. The system engages employees and thereby directs them toward achieving the strategic goals of the organisation. The purpose of this research study was to conduct an investigation at a manufacturing jeweller in the Western Cape to establish whether a performance management system would facilitate the achievement of the organisation’s strategic goals and objectives. Preliminary investigations showed that the organisation was using a performance appraisal process which was not effective in facilitating the organisation’s strategic objectives. Based on the initial investigation, this study was undertaken. To achieve the goals of this study, 33 employees of the organisation were presented with a questionnaire based on important key elements of performance management. Responses were received from 31 employees, of which one was from senior management, two from management, three from supervisory staff, and 25 from general staff members. Their responses to the questionnaire were analysed and evaluated and, based on the findings, recommendations were made. The results of the study showed that problems exist in the organisation which impede achievement of its strategic goals. A performance management system would assist the organisation in many of these areas to overcome the identified problems. The results of the study will enable the management of the organisation to design and implement a performance management system to facilitate the achievement of the organisation’s strategic goals.

The global working environment has altered dramatically over the last decade and in particular, the workforce has begun to consist of many diverse individuals. The world has become a global marketplace, with boundaries between countries becoming increasingly vague and permeable. Advances in technology and the advent of a global economy have brought people from different countries closer together. Globalisation has precipitated many challenges in modern organisations, and one of these challenges is workforce diversity. Workforces in organisations differ in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Globally, countries are faced with the spiralling challenge of skills shortages and there is an expanding competition for skilled workers, specifically for those who possess scarce skills. This leads to an expatriation of skills, creating a natural increase in workforce diversity that expands beyond local ethnicity and language. This affects all organisations, including academic institutions such as universities, universities of technology and public further education and training colleges. Given this challenge organisations, educational institutions and other entities are investigating ways to better deal or serve their constituents. Lovedale PFET College is a public further education and training college that provides skills to young South Africans, specifically vocational related skills. The main research problem of this study was to identify the recommended diversity management best practices that characterise effective organisations and determine the extent to which these practices are applied at Lovedale PFET College. In order to address the problem, a theoretical study was conducted which focused on identifying the recommended diversity management best practices. In addition, interviews were conducted with managers at Lovedale College to gain an understanding of their perspective on diversity management. Based on the combined main points gleaned from theory and the interviews, a questionnaire was developed and administered to both academic and support staff at Lovedale PFET College to obtain their perceptions of the diversity practices and outcomes at the college. The results of the survey revealed that Lovedale PFET College could improve on the implementation of best practices in diversity management. Specifically, attention could be given to diversity education and training, and diversity management policies and procedures.