M.Ed. (Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract.

M.Tech (Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Human Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Tourism is an extremely important sector in any economy of a country and is a package of combined services and goods. There are a variety of types of tourism, and tourism also has a variety of sectors and characteristics. Customer satisfaction is very important within any organisation, because it provides a variety of benefits. The Kano model and many theories assist in understanding customer satisfaction and the factors that better influence the satisfaction of the customers. To accurately measure the satisfaction of customers, there are a variety of guidelines to follow to develop a well-developed questionnaire. The main goal of this study was to determine customer satisfaction and the factors that contribute to customer satisfaction, based on a case study at a tourism establishment (accommodation establishment) in the Vaal Region. The objectives were to conduct a literature review to identify the factors that affect customer satisfaction at an accommodation establishment and develop a measuring instrument to determine customer satisfaction at an accommodation establishment. Furthermore, an empirical analysis was conducted to measure the level of performance of the identified factors at an accommodation establishment in the Vaal Region. Additionally, to determine the factors that contribute to the satisfaction of the customers at a specific accommodation establishment in the Vaal Region. Thereafter, determine the difference between the factors that are regarded as important contributors to customer satisfaction and the factors with which customers are satisfied with at an accommodation establishment. Moreover, determine the difference between customer satisfaction factors across trip-related and demographic variables at an accommodation establishment. Finally, recommendations were made regarding the empirical results and for future research. The research followed a case study approach using quantitative, exploratory and descriptive research to administer and test the questionnaire, and to evaluate the satisfaction of the customers. Furthermore, the study used a non-probability method, convenience sampling. The sample size of the study was 132 customers at the accommodation establishment and a questionnaire was used to measure the satisfaction of the customers. The results indicated that the majority of the respondents were totally satisfied with certain aspects at the accommodation establishment. In total 11 factors were identified that contribute to customer satisfaction, and a total of 10 factors were identified that influence the satisfaction level of the customers. There was a statistical significant correlation between the factors with which customers are satisfied with, the factors that the customers regard as important, other trip-related and demographic variables. It can be seen that the accommodation establishment must take into account the factors which influence customer satisfaction to obtain higher customer satisfaction by.

Dissertation (M. Tech. (Food Service Management, Dept. of Hospitality and Tourism)) -- Vaal University of Technology / Very poor families, mostly in developing parts of the world, consume a monotonous staple diet out of need and are least likely to eat healthy diets. This study focussed on how the low income households in the urbanised informal settlement of Eatonside used available income to buy plant staples (situation analysis), the share of the food budget Rand allocated to this (investigative survey), as well as the extent of influence of low income, food prices, and locality on the buying behaviour. The aspects of where, how much, when and how low-income households purchased were examined in order to determine the purchasing patterns for plant staples. From the households surveyed, most (62,2%) received an income of less than R500.00/month. Household size affected food purchasing and varied according to the type of household head. Total food budget expenditure by male-headed households was 83,1 percent, 58,1 percent by female-headed households and 27,9 percent by de facto headed households. The total average share/portion of the food budget allocated to purchasing of plant staples was reported as R64.63 ±(R8.04). While male-headed households spent 15 percent of the total share/portion/month allocated to purchasing of plant staples, female-headed households spent 23,1 percent and de facto-headed households spent 21,1 percent. Total average expenditure allocated to plant staples was 58,1 percent for maize meal, 23,2 percent for rice, 4,6 percent for mabella, 3,9 percent for sugar beans, 3,7 percent for samp, 2,5 percent for split peas and 4 percent on various other plant staples. Price and quantity (63,6%) were main purchasing indicators. Less plant staples were purchased when prices were high and more when prices were low. Normally when prices of other food products are high, people buy more staples to survive. Most frequent purchases for maize meal was 12,5 kg (65%) once a month (41,7%) at an average price of R32.80 per unit from spaza shops. Plant staples were mostly purchased once a month (80,2%) at supermarkets (47%) or spaza shops (42%). The urbanised low income households of Eatonside were poor, leading to the allocation of a major component of the budget to food (plant staples). Purchasing patterns, plant staples, low-income households, Eatonside informal settlement. / Central Research Committee of the Vaal University of Technology

M.Cur. / During the time as an infection control professional, there was close contact with patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). During this contact period many needs regarding health support were identified. Discrimination and the testing of patients for Human Immunodificiency virus anti·bodies (HIV) without their permission, were the main problem areas. The purpose of the study was to determine the nature and extent of comprehensive health care services for patients with AIDS. The research design is a contextual, exploring and descriptive study. This study was done in the Northern half of economic development area H where 16 health care services were identified. These include clinics, community hospitals, regional- and academic hospitals and the local authority clinic. Private hospitals were not included in the study. Criteria for the nature and extent of comprehensive health care services were based on literature studies. Data was collected by means of structured interviews with nursing professionals in the employ of identified services and patients making use of those services. The results of the research showed various needs in the nature and extent of the comprehensive health care services of the patients with AIDS In order to improve the health care services, recommendations were made and guidelines given to nursing professionals. Recommendations were also made regarding other aspects of the multi·disciplinary team approach. Based upon this study other topics were identified to enable the health care services to provide health care to the patient with AIDS.

M.Sc. / The evaluation of population exposure to air pollution is a fundamental reason for management and control of regional air quality. The purpose of this study was to determine the exposure of the local population to PM-10 emissions from sources within the Vaal Triangle using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The emission inventory compiled by van Nierop for the calendar year of 1992 (van Nierop, 1994) was used as input data for these calculations. The Industrial Source Complex Short Term Model (ISCST) was applied for dispersion calculations of annual PM-10 emissions. The ReGIS package was applied to determine the applicability of GIS as a management tool. Annual average PM-10 concentration contours were calculated for the different air pollution source groups within the Vaal Triangle. The combined source group resulted in the highest population exposure from annual average PM-10 concentrations. Population exposure from high- (> 200 m), medium- (10 to 200 m) and low- (< 10 m) elevation air pollution source groups were determined. The medium-elevation source group resulted in high population exposure followed by the low-elevation source group. The high-elevation source group had very low population exposure as a result. The population exposures from all the industrial sources within the Vaal Triangle were calculated and found to be very high. Annual average PM-10 concentrations from domestic fuel combustion sources were surprisingly low, resulting in low population exposure. ReGIS was found to be inadequate for the task and is not recommended for further use. Despite this, GIS was found to be a powerful decision-making tool and other GIS software packages should be explored for future research.

There are many challenges that are facing the world today. One of those challenges is HIV and AIDS. Thousands of people are infected as well as affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic in the world. In spite of many efforts that have been done to combat the disease, HIV and AIDS is still claiming lives and leave many without their loved ones. The study of the role and place of prayer for HIV and Aids sick patients in the Vaal Triangle churches is a very important research topic, since the results will not only benefit people in the Vaal Triangle only but all people who are affected as well as infected by the disease in other areas. Churches have been given a command from the Bible to pray for the sick. However there are many misconceptions about praying for the sick especially the HIV and AIDS patients. Some of these misconceptions arise because HIV and AIDS is medically declared as an incurable disease. The effectiveness of prayer on HIV and AIDS to others is therefore questionable. Unfortunately these questions and doubts make many some people doubt the power of prayer and its effectiveness for HIV and AIDS patients. People who pray for HIV and AIDS sick persons are faced with many questions. Some of them sometimes wonder if God will answer their prayers or whether the person being prayed for will be healed or not. Others think that HIV and AIDS disease is a punishment from God and praying for the infected will be a waste of time. Some even question God’s ability to cure this disease. It is because of such questions that many avoid praying for HIV and AIDS patients. Others simply avoid praying for HIV and AIDS patients because it might reflect on them by others as lack of faith. Jesus prayed for the sick and also told the church to pray and to ask of the Father. He prayed for the sick regardless of their kind of sicknesses and as well as the causes of those sickness. He accepted those who were outcasts of society and prayed for those whose sicknesses were considered a shame in public. The church has to pray for HIV and AIDS infected people. They are not to be controlled to pray by the results of prayer or the kind and the cause of the sickness. And, issues such as whether HIV and AIDS is a punishment from God or not. Just like Jesus, the church should pray for HIV and AIDS sick people without ceasing. / MA, Biblical Studies, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

M. Tech. Business Administration. / This study was conducted in order to identify and quantify factors that are responsible for the high rate of failure in SMMEs in the Vaal Triangle region. The study was based on a stratified random sample of size n=133. Stratified random sampling was used for collecting data by using a structured, pre-tested and validated questionnaire of study. Five strata were used (central, east, west, north and west) for conducting the study in the Vaal Triangle. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analyses were used in the study. The variables used for quantitative analysis were socioeconomic variables that were associated with the viability of SMMEs operating in the Vaal Triangle region of Gauteng Province.

There are many challenges that are facing the world today. One of those challenges is HIV and AIDS. Thousands of people are infected as well as affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic in the world. In spite of many efforts that have been done to combat the disease, HIV and AIDS is still claiming lives and leave many without their loved ones. The study of the role and place of prayer for HIV and Aids sick patients in the Vaal Triangle churches is a very important research topic, since the results will not only benefit people in the Vaal Triangle only but all people who are affected as well as infected by the disease in other areas. Churches have been given a command from the Bible to pray for the sick. However there are many misconceptions about praying for the sick especially the HIV and AIDS patients. Some of these misconceptions arise because HIV and AIDS is medically declared as an incurable disease. The effectiveness of prayer on HIV and AIDS to others is therefore questionable. Unfortunately these questions and doubts make many some people doubt the power of prayer and its effectiveness for HIV and AIDS patients. People who pray for HIV and AIDS sick persons are faced with many questions. Some of them sometimes wonder if God will answer their prayers or whether the person being prayed for will be healed or not. Others think that HIV and AIDS disease is a punishment from God and praying for the infected will be a waste of time. Some even question God’s ability to cure this disease. It is because of such questions that many avoid praying for HIV and AIDS patients. Others simply avoid praying for HIV and AIDS patients because it might reflect on them by others as lack of faith. Jesus prayed for the sick and also told the church to pray and to ask of the Father. He prayed for the sick regardless of their kind of sicknesses and as well as the causes of those sickness. He accepted those who were outcasts of society and prayed for those whose sicknesses were considered a shame in public. The church has to pray for HIV and AIDS infected people. They are not to be controlled to pray by the results of prayer or the kind and the cause of the sickness. And, issues such as whether HIV and AIDS is a punishment from God or not. Just like Jesus, the church should pray for HIV and AIDS sick people without ceasing. / MA, Biblical Studies, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of academic support program in the National Diploma Business Administration to determine. It is primarily a literature review but questionnaires were analyzed. Academic support programs at other tertiary institutions studied. There are also different types of academic support programs look. At the Vaal Triangle Technikon is the academic support program in Business Administration phased due to the need to students who exist for the course. Since type as a prerequisite to the course serves, many of them students from attending the course. It also happens that even students to are admitted on the basis of a typing or computer course to a training center or college is not able to cope...

The Vaal Triangle is renowned for its highly industrialised activities. With the addition of domestic fuel burning, vehicle exhaust, mining and agricultural activities, the Vaal Airshed has become highly polluted. The concerns of the elevated concentrations in the area were raised by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) when the Vaal Region was declared the first priority area on 21 April 2006. The basis for this declaration includes: areas that exceed or may exceed air quality standards, areas associated with significant air quality impacts and areas requiring specific air quality management actions to rectify the situation. The purpose of this study is to determine the Status Quo of the Vaal Airshed. The emissions inventory for the study area includes industrial operations, mining activities, domestic fuel burning and vehicle tailpipe emissions along major national and regional routes. Priority pollutants (i.e. sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and inhalable particulate matter) are assessed with the aid of the US Environmental Protection Agency approved CALPUFF modelling suite, a non-steady-state Lagrangian Gaussian puff dispersion model. From the dispersion simulations an air quality impact assessment is undertaken. The major findings of the air quality assessment indicate that particulate concentrations are elevated over most areas of the Vaal Airshed, particularly in residential areas where domestic coal burning occurs and areas neighbouring major industrial operations. Similarly, elevated sulphur dioxide concentrations occur over industrial and domestic coal burning areas. Elevated nitrogen dioxide concentrations have a regional impact over the Vaal Airshed. Priority areas are identified based on the predicted ambient air concentrations from the priority pollutants and exposure potential. Source contributions are investigated based on the extent of their emissions and basis of impacts. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / Unrestricted