Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / Our CBDs are developing continuously and urban sprawl is growing at a rapid rate. Without sufficient upgrades to infrastructure and public transport networks, how long will it take before the struggle of everyday commuting becomes near impossible and transport costs become too high for most South Africans? Simply moving back to the Cities and CBDs is not an option for the majority of our population because as these areas become denser, the price of property and rentals increase. We need a solution for our current situation, to regain the control of the road networks in and around these areas. The aim of this thesis is to propose an alternative, hybridised transport system. To reduce the reliance on privately owned, single passenger motor vehicles by encouraging the use of public, semiprivate and non-motorised forms of transport in order to alleviate traffic congestion from major CBDs, aid in social cohesion and promote a healthier lifestyle by making use of bicycles. The Sandton CBD will be the area of focus affected by the study with the site located on the fringe, at the intersection of William Nicol Drive and Republic Road. The proposal introduces a system which would couple onto existing urban design framework proposals as well as transport networks such as, the Rea Vaya (BRT), Gautrain (Train and Bus networks) and the privately owned mini-bus taxi and bus industry. Adjacent to the site is the Braamfontein Spruit cycle path which will aid in the process of gathering and promoting an interest in cycling as a means of everyday transport. The building put forward in this thesis will act as a knuckle and point of convergence where people will be able to utilise different means of transport. It will also serve as a new social and active lifestyle hub comprising of a gym (connected to a research centre), social and recreational spaces, retail facilities, transport information offices, mass parking and accommodation. / GR2017

South Africa does not currently have a strong bicycle culture, as most cycling is of a recreational nature. At the same time, inadequate and expensive transport, particularly for many rural individuals and groups, is one of the significant features of poverty in South Africa's rural areas. Many people do not have easy access to vital social and economic activities and opportunities. Because of transport limitations, attempts to promote bicycle transport, by establishing micro bicycle retail outlets in identified rural communities have been in place since the year 2000 in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Cycling is viewed as a relatively cheap and efficient means of transport, which has the potential to reduce the transport burden of groups and individuals designated under the term the 'rural poor'. This study is an exploratory qualitative investigation. Its main aim was to uncover and understand (through observation and interviews), the perceptions of identified rural groups and individuals about the potential of bicycle transport in improving rural travel of up to 20 kilometres. The study sought to identify factors influencing bicycle ownership and use, and whether or not this has become the prerogative of both male and female members of rural communities. The key issues which emerged from the collected data, point to the following: that household economic status; cultural prohibitions; self interests of key stake holders; lack of credit facilities and or subsidies, are the main obstacles for many rural inhabitants with interest in undertaking investment in bicycle transport resources. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2008. xiii, 135 leaves. / South Africa will host the Soccer World Cup in 2010. About 2.7 million local spectators and 400,000 visitors need to be transferred to and from the 10 host cities in 43 days. This is a huge challenge to the intercity bus transport industry, because the current transport system may not meet the demand for one of the world’s largest sporting event. The purpose of this study is to identify the current barriers to good service quality in the intercity bus transport industry. It focuses on the measurement of service quality and communication. In this research, the literature survey defined the service quality “gap” in this industry, identified the role of effective communication in the service delivery system, measured the variables affecting current service delivery using the SERVQUAL instrument, and prioritized the importance of the factors influencing service delivery in this industry. A questionnaire with 25 questions was designed to collect data. This study used convenience sampling to select 400 passengers as a sample, viz. 348 South Africans and 52 foreigners at the Durban bus station, since Durban is one of the ten host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The data was analysed using SPSS. The results of this research pointed to the importance of external communication in the industry. Specific recommendations are made to improve the productivity, reduce vacancy rate and maximize the benefits to this industry in 2010 and beyond.

The South African sugar industry is a large industry which relies on expensive capital equipment to harvest, transport and process sugarcane. An average of 23 million tons of sugarcane are annually supplied to 14 mills from over 2 000 large-scale commercial growers and 48 000 small-scale growers. Supply chain stakeholders can benefit if operations are successfully streamlined. Computer-based mathematical models have been used in other industries to improve supply chains, especially in forestry, and are expected to play an increasingly important role in future planning and management. Management of sugar supply chains has historically focussed on generating competitive individual supply chain components. However, inter-component optimisation generally disregards many important intra-component interactions. Hence, efficiency improvements may be significantly limited. Integrated supply chain modelling provides a suitable approach for addressing this problem. The aim of this project was to develop and demonstrate, in concept, an integrated supply chain model for the sugar industry. Such a model could be used to address various integrated planning and management problems throughout the supply chain. A review of existing integrated agri-supply chain models was conducted followed by the development of CAPCONN, an integrated sugar supply chain model framework, that incorporate all steps from field to mill back end. CAPCONN estimates sugarcane quality, mill recovery, capacity utilisation and production costs. Bottlenecks are highlighted and the model could contribute towards capacity manipulation for efficiency improvements under different harvesting scenarios. CAPCONN was demonstrated by analysing a number of scenarios in a mechanisation case study at Komati Mill where sugarcane is currently burned and manually cut. A total of twelve scenarios were compared, including variations in cropping system and time of year. The model framework predicted that a decrease in sugarcane quality and sugar recovery would occur under mechanical harvesting scenarios. Estimated production costs were also higher, even though the transport fleet was significantly reduced. A manually cut green (unburned) harvesting scenario showed a further decrease in sugarcane quality and sugar recovery. Mechanical harvesting during wet weather caused a substantial reduction in supply chain capacity and an increase in production costs. CAPCONN output trends compared favourably with measured and observed data, though the magnitude of the trends should be viewed with caution, since the CAPCONN framework is only a prototype. This shows that it may be a suitable diagnostic framework for analysing and investigating the sugarcane supply chain as a single entity. With further development to a model, the CAPCONN model framework could be used as a strategic planning tool although, one drawback is that a relatively large number of technical inputs are required to run the model. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

The South African sugar industry ranks eleventh in size out of 200 sugar-producing countries; and continuous advancement is essential to ensure that this industry remains competitive. The transfer system from field to mill, includes sugarcane being moved, loaded, transloaded and off-loaded and amounts to more than 25 % of the total production cost of sugarcane, hence small adjustments can have significant economic benefits. Payload variability is a current problem making the loading operation a leverage point for improvement. As a consequence of poor management and the under-utilisation of equipment, loading has been identified as an inefficient and costly operation. Studies have shown that technology and management can contribute to improved loading accuracy. This study aimed to evaluate loading characteristics in an attempt to develop guidelines for loading. Whole-stick loose sugarcane, which is loaded with grabloaders, is common practice in South Africa and this study aims to improve this loading system. This was achieved by reviewing transfer systems worldwide and synthesising the sugarcane characteristics that drive the designs and the management of equipment and systems within the transfer system. The sugarcane characteristics include the sugarcane bulk density, the length, the diameter and other variety characteristics e.g. the degree of lodging. Other factors, such as the preparation method for loading, the harvesting method and the topography, also have a marked influence on the efficiency of the transfer system. An assessment of typical South African loading practices was undertaken to establish beneficial practices and current operating rules. These factors included the way in which the sugarcane was presented prior to loading, as well as the techniques adopted for loading. The results were used to generate practical recommendations for the improvement of the loading component in order to make the transfer system more efficient. An efficient system comprises a balance of high quality operations with respect to safety, accurate loading, reduced cycle time, optimal fuel usage, reduced roadside losses, reduced sugarcane damage and increased off-loading efficiencies. An investigation into consignment characteristics was also carried out to identify the factors that need to be considered during the loading operation. These factors included the sugarcane bulk density, the degree of sugarcane alignment and the design characteristics of various vehicles. A set of practical guidelines were created from this study. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

1. Introduction and Context Oil as a source of energy is an undisputed reality of the age in which we live. The oil and petroleum industry is an essential and valuable part of the South African economy. It follows then that transportation in this industry is of crucial importance. Simply put, without the efficient transportation of the various crude and petroleum products, the energy requirements of the country could not be met. While there are various modes of transportation within South Africa servicing this industry, this study will concentrate on the carriage of crude oil and petroleum products by sea, and its handiing in the associated ports. The main objective will be to examine the pricing structure raised by the ports of South Africa against the oil industry for th'a transportation of the crude and petroleum products moving through the various ports. 1.1 Background During this researcher's tenure as a shipping agent on behalf of the oil majors in the ports of South Africa, the pori authorities' charges were dealt with on a regular basis. The inherent problems with the charges and the resulting conflicts created between the port authorities and the oil majors became quite familiar to the researcher during her years of working with the two parties. 1.2 Objectives of the Study This study will start by looking at the economic theory and principles of port pricing structures. Chapter Two will work toward outlining the optimal port pricing structure a port authority should adopt, in order to ensure it is working according to sound economic principles as well as meeting the various objectives of the stakeholders utilising the port's infrastructure, superstructure and services. Chapter will focus on the South African oil industry and the importance of crude oil and its petroleum derivates as an energy source. The industry will placed in larger context of SADC, the various role players will be identified and the modes of transport used for the carriage of crude and petroleum products will outlined. The chapter will close with a presentation of the product costing for the petrol price South African consumers' pay at the petrol pumps. Chapter Four presents an overview of the ports South Africa, their facilities, their management arrangements and their pricing structures. A brief. history of the ports will be followed by a discussion of the need a restructuring process and an outline the proposed privatisation process will be Following this, the current management structure related pricing tariffs will be detailed. Chapter Africa and will explore the relationship ben.veen of the ports of South oil industry. history of this relationship will be set out, followed by the current dynamics affecting it. The study will then move on to examine the oil industry infrastructure found in these ports in terms of ownership management of Port tariffs and the question of who actually pays what will be addressed. The that created and continue to create tensions between oil majors and the ports of South Africa will highlighted. The chapter will conclude by presenting an ideal pricing structure, which could work towards resolving some of these issues. Chapter Six will discuss two different international models based on energy demand and supply similar to South African situation. The port pricing structure of these models will then be compared to that of South African ports in order to present a best-working practice. The purpose of this is to bring in an international perspective for the ideal pricing structure presented with the conclusion in Chapter Seven. 1 Methodology of the study The researcher initially used interviews with the various bodies as a means of gathering information. These data were then verified against textual information sources. Statistical figures were gathered and correlated into formats, which could then verify -, or disprove -- different hypotheses put forward in the study. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2003.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Admin.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1991.

The broad objective of the study was to investigate the effect of post-slaughter handling in the distribution chain on red meat quality and safety. A survey was conducted among 300 consumers and 100 meat handlers in five different municipalities (Buffalo City, Nkonkobe, Ngqushwa, Lukhanje and Amahlathi) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa to investigate their perceptions on meat quality and safety, together with challenges faced by meat handlers during the distribution of meat from the abattoir to retailers. The microbiological profile and physico-chemical quality of red meat at different stages of the abattoir to retail outlets in the distribution chain were also determined. Swabs (n=216) and meat samples (n=450) were collected from beef, pork and mutton carcasses during the loading process of carcasses into trucks at the abattoir, when offloading carcasses at the supply points and during marketing. Physico-chemical qualities such as colour (L* - lightness, b* - redness and a* - yellowness) and meat pH measurements were taken at each point. To determine the microbiological profiles of the carcasses, four microbiological parameters were considered: Total bacteria count (general bacteria), coliform count (related to hygiene and indicator for pathogens), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative pathogen) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive pathogen). Two types of packaging (vacuum and overwrapping) were used to determine their effect on shelf-life and microbiological quality of red meat under the normal marketing conditions over a storage duration of 15 days. The results from the study showed low awareness of consumers about the pathogenic diseases which arise from meat. A strong significant association (p ˂ 0.05) between educational status and awareness on meat safety was observed. Most of the consumers perceived that quality goes beyond safety such that 35.6 percent of the respondents indicated that they did not have a problem with consuming spoiled meat, whilst the remaining 64.4 percent indicated that they would r eject spoiled meat. Although retailers indicated that they take meat safety into consideration in their shops, 92 percent of the retailers revealed that they do not perform microbial assessment of meat in their shops. A series of loading and off-loading, temperature fluctuations, environmental temperatures and ques during offloading were reported as the major challenges during transportation of carcasses from the abattoir to the supply points. The microbial counts were significantly (p<0.05) higher in samples from the commercial abattoir than in those from the communal abattoir. Escherichia coli was the predominant microbial contaminant in the samples from both abattoirs. When following the chain, total bacterial count (TBC), coliform count (CC) and the levels of E. coli contamination increased progressively between the loading and the off-loading points (5.1 to 7.9 log10 CFU/cm2; 5.0 to 5.6 log10 CFU/cm2 and 2.7 to 3.7 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively). The storage period, meat type, distance during transportation and temperature were found to have a significant impact on the microbial levels during the distribution of carcasses. Distribution stage had a significant effect (p<0.05) on some of the physico- chemical meat quality attributes and differences in the lightness (L*) and redness (a*) values between the loading, off-loading and display points were observed. Consumers perceived retailer class as one of the factors influencing meat quality, but according to the instrumental measurements retailer class did not have a significant effect on physico-chemical meat quality. However, distance and storage duration significantly (p<0.05) affected (L*) and (a*) values in the meat during distribution chain. Vacuum and overwrapping packaging significantly affected (p<0.05) the shelf life of meat. Therefore, it was concluded that post-slaughter handling during the distribution chain affects the physico- chemical, microbiological and shelf-life of meat.

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

Ph.D. (Economics) / It has been noticed several times in the past that, in comparison with the development of the country as a whole, the economic development of the Western Cape proceeds at a slower rate. In this respect transport is quoted as being one of the major bottle-necks. The aim of this study is to ascertain the influence of transport on the economic development of the Western Cape, as it is determined by the geographical position of this region and the influence of the availability, cost and quality of transport on the competitive position of the industrial and trade sectors of the Western Cape. The contribution which transport can make towards the creation of employment for the fast-growing population (mainly the Colored population) of the Western Cape, has been kept in mind throughout the study.