Citizens in many provinces in South Africa have increasingly become more vocal about their unhappiness concerning service delivery in many departments of Government; their needs are not being met. Their violence and anger are usually aimed at emergency planners and government institutions, such as the police services, emergency medical services and fire services, therefore adding to various other challenges and difficulties these institution experience in carrying out their responsibilities (News Today, 2008). These institutions are also directly involved in the Disaster Risk Reduction process and play a key role in building a culture of safety and prevention within their communities by distributing knowledge and teaching skills (Twigg, 2004). Twigg (2004) argues that providing communities with information is the only way in which the scale, frequency, and complexity of disasters can be addressed. This should be done by following a multi–disciplinary approach that includes participatory development communication as a tool. The term participatory development communication refers to communication between parties where information transfer is de–emphasised and the process of dialogue between participants is favoured (Jacobson & Kolluri, 1999). This allows for solutions to problems to be identified in a collective fashion (Twigg, 2004; Jacobson & Kolluri, 1999). In light of the above the Maquassi Hills Fire Service’s relationship with the community has a major impact on the contribution the fire services make to building a culture of safety and also to what extent the community works towards building a culture of safety –– and thereby reducing disaster risk within the community. This study, consequently, aims to investigate the current relationship between the Maquassi Hills Fire Services and the community they serve, as well as the role of participatory development communication in this relationship. In order to do so this study explore various guidelines and principles set out by the literature in terms of participatory development communication and culture of safety to establish to what extent the Maquassi Hills Fire Services adhere to these principles and guidelines in their day–to–day functioning. This has been done by using a qualitative research design. Data collection methods appropriate to the qualitative research design were used to collect the necessary data. These methods included focus group discussions with members of the communities in the Maquassi Hills area and semi–structured interviews with the staff and management of the Maquassi Hills Fire Services. Guidelines and principles established in theory were used to describe and evaluate the current situation between the Maquassi Hills Fire Services and the surrounding communities to 5 whom they provide the service of fire fighting. The two main areas of theory addressed were that of Participatory Development Communication and that of a culture of safety as it presents in the Disaster Risk Reduction field. These were also the two main areas investigated in the empirical phase of the study. From the research it was found that in terms of Participatory Development Communication very little is being done by the fire services to establish dialogical communication. Thus creating opportunities for communities to communicate with the fire services by developing relevant communication channels is not being facilitated. However communities are eager to establish such an interactive relationship with the fire services. The data indicated that when the principles and guidelines for building a culture of safety are considered there exist various positive aspects. If these aspects are utilised and facilitated in the correct manner it may facilitate the process of building a culture of safety. It is therefore recommended that the fire services should start interacting with the communities in the Maquassi Hills area. Most of the issues experienced in the relationship between the fire services and the communities can to some extent be ascribed to the fact that the fire services do not reach out to the communities they serve. Interactions with the community should be based on the principles of participatory development communication which will ensure that dialogue is established and information is exchanged. Also very important in the Maquassi Hills area is supplying the communities with relevant, regular, correct and coherent fire safety information and skills. People in these communities need the necessary fire safety information to ensure their safety in terms of fire. By allowing people in these communities to participate in planning and implementing initiatives aimed at informing people, awareness campaigns and information sessions will be suited to the specific areas. This will mean that communities receive information relevant to their situation and circumstances and ultimately initiatives will be more effective, allowing the opportunity for a good culture of safety with regard to fire to be built. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Sport by skole is n verlengstuk tot die opvoeding van die kind, en in die meeste goed funksionerende openbare skole vind sportafrigting wel plaas. Sekere kommerwekkende gebeure rakende die onderwysers se regsaanspreeklikheid tydens die afrigting van sport het hierdie studie genoodsaak. Die klem van hierdie studie fokus op die sekuriteit en veiligheid van nopvoeder, veral tydens die afrigting van sport. In die studie is daar na opvoeders verwys in hulle rolle as sportafrigters, wedstrydbeamptes en administrateurs by skole. Hierdie navorsing val binne die vakgebied Onderwysreg en die opvoeders se sekuriteit en veiligheid word onder andere vanuit n gemeenregtelike perspektief bespreek. Om die studie geldig te maak, is al die rolspelers wat by sportafrigting by die skole betrokke is, by die studie ingesluit. Die Grondwet, onderwyswetgewing, beroepsveiligheid en –gesondheidswetgewing, tersaaklike regspraak en die gemene reg is as regsdeterminante ontleed. Daar is veral in die bespreking van die gemene reg gefokus op deliktuele aanspreeklikheid as regsdeterminant. In die studie is n kwalitatiewe ondersoek na opvoeders se persepsies gedoen. Daar is gefokus op deelnemers in die onderwys in n spesifieke geografiese area is, en die hele spektrum van rolspelers is betrek. Een prominente bevinding van die studie is dat opvoeders gretig is om meer inligting oor die regsaspekte rakende sportafrigting te bekom. Dit is vir die meeste deelnemers n onbekende veld en hulle is van mening dat indien hulle meer ingelig is, dit n groot bydrae sal lewer tot hulle eie veiligheid en sekuriteit, sowel as dié van leerders. Die sentrale tema van die studie is die sekuriteit en veiligheid van die opvoeders. Die deelnemers is daarvan oortuig dat daar in die opleiding van afrigters groter klem geplaas moet word op die uitbou van regskennis. Opvoeders het n passie vir die afrigting van sport en die klem is op die ontwikkeling van die leerder. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The physical and psychological security of the Foundation Phase educator is currently a cause for concern. This situation is problematic, in that well–qualified and experienced educators will leave the profession if their security is compromised. In addition, prospective students will be reluctant to enter the profession as Foundation Phase educators if there is a possibility of insecurity in their future workplace. The aim of this research is therefore to investigate and establish the factors, both employment related as well as learner related, that contribute to this phenomenon. This inquiry was done from an Education Law perspective to establish what protection these educators are entitled to in terms of labour and education legislation. Utilising a qualitative research design, a variety of findings and the related implications were established. The most important labour related findings are that, in spite of the well–developed legal framework in South African law, the rights of the educator are perceived to be of secondary importance compared to those of the learners and also that the constant changes, for example in education policies, lead to insecurity. In terms of learner and parent related findings, it is evident that the lack of learner discipline, which can be partly attributed to a lack of parental involvement, contributes to declining educator security. The workplace related findings reflect the teacher– learner ratio as being problematic. In addition, the lack of resources in some schools, as well as a classroom environment that is not conducive to effective teaching and the educators' workload all impact on educator insecurity. It is imperative that the recommendations made should be attended to, in order to minimize Foundation Phase educator insecurity. This must be done to the benefit of both the educators and the learners, who are entitled to quality education. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Citizens in many provinces in South Africa have increasingly become more vocal about their unhappiness concerning service delivery in many departments of Government; their needs are not being met. Their violence and anger are usually aimed at emergency planners and government institutions, such as the police services, emergency medical services and fire services, therefore adding to various other challenges and difficulties these institution experience in carrying out their responsibilities (News Today, 2008). These institutions are also directly involved in the Disaster Risk Reduction process and play a key role in building a culture of safety and prevention within their communities by distributing knowledge and teaching skills (Twigg, 2004). Twigg (2004) argues that providing communities with information is the only way in which the scale, frequency, and complexity of disasters can be addressed. This should be done by following a multi–disciplinary approach that includes participatory development communication as a tool. The term participatory development communication refers to communication between parties where information transfer is de–emphasised and the process of dialogue between participants is favoured (Jacobson & Kolluri, 1999). This allows for solutions to problems to be identified in a collective fashion (Twigg, 2004; Jacobson & Kolluri, 1999). In light of the above the Maquassi Hills Fire Service’s relationship with the community has a major impact on the contribution the fire services make to building a culture of safety and also to what extent the community works towards building a culture of safety –– and thereby reducing disaster risk within the community. This study, consequently, aims to investigate the current relationship between the Maquassi Hills Fire Services and the community they serve, as well as the role of participatory development communication in this relationship. In order to do so this study explore various guidelines and principles set out by the literature in terms of participatory development communication and culture of safety to establish to what extent the Maquassi Hills Fire Services adhere to these principles and guidelines in their day–to–day functioning. This has been done by using a qualitative research design. Data collection methods appropriate to the qualitative research design were used to collect the necessary data. These methods included focus group discussions with members of the communities in the Maquassi Hills area and semi–structured interviews with the staff and management of the Maquassi Hills Fire Services. Guidelines and principles established in theory were used to describe and evaluate the current situation between the Maquassi Hills Fire Services and the surrounding communities to 5 whom they provide the service of fire fighting. The two main areas of theory addressed were that of Participatory Development Communication and that of a culture of safety as it presents in the Disaster Risk Reduction field. These were also the two main areas investigated in the empirical phase of the study. From the research it was found that in terms of Participatory Development Communication very little is being done by the fire services to establish dialogical communication. Thus creating opportunities for communities to communicate with the fire services by developing relevant communication channels is not being facilitated. However communities are eager to establish such an interactive relationship with the fire services. The data indicated that when the principles and guidelines for building a culture of safety are considered there exist various positive aspects. If these aspects are utilised and facilitated in the correct manner it may facilitate the process of building a culture of safety. It is therefore recommended that the fire services should start interacting with the communities in the Maquassi Hills area. Most of the issues experienced in the relationship between the fire services and the communities can to some extent be ascribed to the fact that the fire services do not reach out to the communities they serve. Interactions with the community should be based on the principles of participatory development communication which will ensure that dialogue is established and information is exchanged. Also very important in the Maquassi Hills area is supplying the communities with relevant, regular, correct and coherent fire safety information and skills. People in these communities need the necessary fire safety information to ensure their safety in terms of fire. By allowing people in these communities to participate in planning and implementing initiatives aimed at informing people, awareness campaigns and information sessions will be suited to the specific areas. This will mean that communities receive information relevant to their situation and circumstances and ultimately initiatives will be more effective, allowing the opportunity for a good culture of safety with regard to fire to be built. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Sport by skole is n verlengstuk tot die opvoeding van die kind, en in die meeste goed funksionerende openbare skole vind sportafrigting wel plaas. Sekere kommerwekkende gebeure rakende die onderwysers se regsaanspreeklikheid tydens die afrigting van sport het hierdie studie genoodsaak. Die klem van hierdie studie fokus op die sekuriteit en veiligheid van nopvoeder, veral tydens die afrigting van sport. In die studie is daar na opvoeders verwys in hulle rolle as sportafrigters, wedstrydbeamptes en administrateurs by skole. Hierdie navorsing val binne die vakgebied Onderwysreg en die opvoeders se sekuriteit en veiligheid word onder andere vanuit n gemeenregtelike perspektief bespreek. Om die studie geldig te maak, is al die rolspelers wat by sportafrigting by die skole betrokke is, by die studie ingesluit. Die Grondwet, onderwyswetgewing, beroepsveiligheid en –gesondheidswetgewing, tersaaklike regspraak en die gemene reg is as regsdeterminante ontleed. Daar is veral in die bespreking van die gemene reg gefokus op deliktuele aanspreeklikheid as regsdeterminant. In die studie is n kwalitatiewe ondersoek na opvoeders se persepsies gedoen. Daar is gefokus op deelnemers in die onderwys in n spesifieke geografiese area is, en die hele spektrum van rolspelers is betrek. Een prominente bevinding van die studie is dat opvoeders gretig is om meer inligting oor die regsaspekte rakende sportafrigting te bekom. Dit is vir die meeste deelnemers n onbekende veld en hulle is van mening dat indien hulle meer ingelig is, dit n groot bydrae sal lewer tot hulle eie veiligheid en sekuriteit, sowel as dié van leerders. Die sentrale tema van die studie is die sekuriteit en veiligheid van die opvoeders. Die deelnemers is daarvan oortuig dat daar in die opleiding van afrigters groter klem geplaas moet word op die uitbou van regskennis. Opvoeders het n passie vir die afrigting van sport en die klem is op die ontwikkeling van die leerder. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The main goal of this study was to evaluate whether three dimensional musculoskeletal modelling (3D) is effective in assessing the safety and efficacy of resistance training equipment. The focus of the evaluation was on the biomechanical and anthropometric considerations of the end-user. 3D musculoskeletal modelling was used to evaluate four pieces of resistance training equipment, namely the seated biceps curl, abdominal crunch, seated row and chest press. Three anthropometric cases were created; these represented a traditional 5th percentile female as well as a 50th and 95th percentile male based on body mass index (BMI). Resistance on the training machines was set at fifty percent of the functional strength one repetition maximum (1RM), for each anthropometric case and piece of exercise equipment two repetitions were performed except for the abdominal crunch model during which four repetitions were simulated. Each piece of equipment presented unique challenges. In three of the four studies (seated biceps curl, seated row and chest press) the default model created by the modelling software was not adequate to solve the forward dynamics simulations and thus adjustments had to be made to the default model in order to complete the modelling process. 3D musculoskeletal modelling by means of LifeModelerTM software was able to identify some potential risk for musculoskeletal injury as well as highlight the discrepancies between the anthropometric cases, specifically the accommodation of the 5th percentile female and the machines’ engineered adjustability. 3D musculoskeletal modelling has the potential to indicate shortcomings in resistance training equipment design. Therefore it appears as if 3D musculoskeletal modelling can be used to evaluate resistance training equipment design however the limitations as indicated by this study must be taken into consideration especially when using default models.AFRIKAANS: Die doel van die studie was om die effektiwiteit van driedimensionele (3D) muskuloskeletale modellering te evalueer in terme van die tegniek se vermoë om die veiligheid en doeltreffendheid van weerstands oefenapparaat te evalueer. Die fokus van die evaluasie was op die biomeganiese en antropometriese oorwegings van die end-gebruiker. 3D muskuloskeletale modellering was gebruik in die evaluasie van vier weerstands oefenapparate genaamd die sittende biceps krul, abdominale krul, sittende roei en sittende borsstoot. Drie antropometriese gevalle is geskep, die het ‘n tradisionele 5e persentiel vrou, sowel as ‘n 50ste en 95ste persentiel man voorgestel en was gebasseer op liggaamsmassa indeks waardes. Die eksterne weerstand van die apparaat was bepaal teen vyftig persent van die funsionele krag een-repetisie- maksimum vir elk van die antropometriese gevalle en twee repetisies is uitgevoer behalwe vir die abdominale krul waartydens vier repetisies gesimuleer is. Elke apparaat het unieke uitdagings gestel. In drie van die vier studies (sittende biceps krul, sittende roei en sittende borsstoot) was die standaard model van die sagteware onvoldoende om die voorwaards dinamiese simulasie op te los en moes aanpassings aan die modelle gemaak word vir suksesvolle simulasies. Die modellerings proses met die Lifemodeler™ sagteware kon potensiële risiko vir muskuloskeletale besering sowel as verskille tussen die verskeie antropometriese gevalle uitwys. Dit was veral opvallend vir die akkomodasie van die 5e persentiel vrou asook betreffende die apparaat se vervaardigde verstelbaarheid. 3D muskuloskeletale modellering beskik oor die vermoë om voorstelle vir verbetering in die ontwerp van weerstands oefenapparaat uit te wys. Dit blyk dus dat 3D muskuloskeletale modellering beslis gebruik kan word vir die evaluasie van weerstands oefenapparaat ontwerp, die beperkings van die studie moet egter in gedagte gehou word, veral wanneer standaard modelle gebruik word. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

The aim of this study is to confirm whether illegal immigration to South Africa is being regarded as a threat to national security and to analyse the implications thereof. The dissertation presents three assumptions to be explored and tested, namely: <ul> <li>Illegal immigration poses a growing threat to South Africa’s national security. The latter is due to an increase in the number of illegal immigrants entering the country as well as their seemingly increasing involvement in especially violent crime.</li> <li>The South African government does not adequately acknowledge the threat potential of illegal immigration with regard to the country’s national security status and as such adequate measures are not being taken to curb the influx of illegal immigrants.</li> <li>Violent attacks on foreigners in South Africa have been seen as xenophobia, however, specific factors exist that contributed to these attacks.</li> </ul> The study is conducted and contextualised in terms of the theory of national security, more specifically as it applies to developing countries. It aims to analyse the security implications of illegal immigration for South Africa, with specific reference to the involvement of foreigners in crime in South Africa and also focus on the political implications, more especially the role of foreigners in fomenting political violence. The study accepts the notion that the phenomenon is multi-dimensional and that it cannot be divorced from its socio-economic implications. Reference is therefore made to the political, social, economic and crime dimensions. The dissertation also focuses on the official and public views on illegal immigration and analyse measures adopted by the South African government to address the issue. The study predominantly focuses on the period 1994 to 2008 in an effort to demonstrate the extent of the increase in the number of illegal immigrants to South Africa following the advent of the new dispensation. It further attempts to ascertain whether this increase could be linked to the rise in incidences of violent crime in South Africa during the period in question. AFRIKAANS : Die doel van die studie is om te bepaal of onwettige immigrasie na Suid Afrika toenemend beskou word as ‘n bedreiging vir nasionale veiligheid en, tweedens, om die implikasies daarvan te analiseer. Die studie stel drie aannames voor vir toetsing en verdere bespreking, naamlik: <ul> <li>Onwettige immigrasie bedreig Suid Afrika se nasionale veiligheid toenemend. Laasgenoemde stelling is gebaseer op die toename in die getal onwettige immigrante wat Suid Afrika binnekom, sowel as aan die betrokkenheid van onwettige immigrante in misdaad (veral geweldadige misdade) in Suid Afrika.</li> <li>Die Suid Afrikaanse regering beskou die potensiële bedreiging van onwettige immigrasie vir nasionale veiligheid nie met die nodige erns nie en gevolglik word die nodige maatrëels nie ingestel om die toenemende instroming van omwettige immigrante na Suid Afrika te bekamp nie.</li> <li>Geweld teenoor vreemdelinge in Suid Afrika word alom gesien as xenofobies van aard, alhoewel spesifieke faktore teenwoordig is wat bydra tot sulke aanvalle.</li></ul> Die studie is gebaseer op die teoretiese beginsels van nasionale veiligheid en meer spesifiek soos dit van toepassing is op ontwikkelende lande. Die studie poog om die veiligheidsimplikasies van onwettige immigrasie na Suid Afrika te analiseer, met spesifieke verwysing na die betrokkenheid van onwettige immigrante by misdaad in Suid Afrika. Daar word ook gefokus op die politieke gevolge, insluitend die opvatting dat vreemdelinge betrokke is by, of bydra tot politieke spanning in sekere gemeenskappe. Die studie aanvaar die beginsel dat onwettige immigrasie multi-dimensioneel is en dat dit onlosmaaklik verbonde is aan die sosio-ekonomiese impak daarvan. Gevolglik word verwys na die politieke, sosiale, ekonomiese en misdaad impak van onwettige immigrasie. Die studie fokus verder ook op die amptelike en nie-amptelike standpunte oor onwettige immigrasie en analiseer die maatrëels deur die Suid Afrikaanse regering ingestel ten einde die vraagstuk aan te spreek. Die studie fokus oorwegend op die periode 1994 tot 2008 ten einde die toename in die getal omwettige immigrante wat die land sedert 1994 binnegekom het, aan te dui. Verder poog die studie om vas te stel of daar ‘n verband bestaan tussen die toename in onwettige immigrante en ‘n toename in geweldadige misdaad in Suid Afrika in die periode onder bespreking. Copyright / Dissertation (MSS)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

It is important that organisations are aware of factors that might affect the levels of well-being of employees, as employees are instrumental to the achievement of organisational goals. Well-being of employees can be conceptualised in terms of burnout and engagement. Studies have shown that different factors contribute to the employee experience of burnout and engagement. These factors include job demands and resources and psychological conditions (psychological meaningfulness, psychological availability and psychological safety). Although various studies regarding burnout and engagement can be found in literature, three research gaps have been identified from the studies. First, a reliable and valid instrument is needed to measure job demands and resources in a specific organisation. Second, given the cost of some measures of burnout, inadequacies in conceptualisation of the burnout construct and the inadequate psychometric properties of others, an inexpensive measure is needed which can be used to measure burnout in a valid and reliable way. Third, no studies seem to be found which focus on the effects of job demands and resources on burnout and engagement via specific psychological conditions (i.e. psychological meaningfulness, availability and safety). The general objective of this research therefore was to investigate the well-being of employees in a South African agricultural research organisation. It focused on job demands, job resources, burnout, work engagement and psychological conditions. The objective of the first study was to investigate the job demands and resources of employees in a South African agricultural research organisation. The study specifically examined the validity and reliability of a scale adapted to measure job demands and resources of the employees and established the prevalent job demands and resources of the employees. Differences that may exist based on the employees‟ demographic variables were also investigated. The aim of the second study was to provide an overview of current burnout measures that are used in the literature. From the literature, gaps were identified and used to develop a new Burnout Scale for use with employees within a South African agricultural research organisation. The research then examined the construct validity, reliability, construct equivalence and item bias of the newly-developed Burnout Scale. The research also investigated whether any differences in burnout existed in relation to the employees‟ demographic variables. The third study investigated the relationships between specific job demands, job resources, psychological conditions, burnout, and work engagement by testing a structural model of burnout and engagement in a sample of employees within a South African agricultural research organisation. The research method for each of the three articles consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A non-probability availability sample of 443 agricultural employees was used. A cross-sectional design, with a survey as the data collection technique, was used. Measuring instruments that were utilised included an adapted Job Demands-Resources scale (AJDRS), a self-developed Burnout Scale (BS), a self-developed Work Engagement Scale (WES), an adapted Psychological Conditions Questionnaire (PCQ), and a biographical questionnaire. The statistical analyses were carried out with the help of the SPSS programme (IBM SPSS statistics, version 21) and MPLUS version 7.11 (Muthén, & Muthén 1998-2013). The statistical methods utilised in the three articles included descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, principal factor analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, MANOVA, ANOVA, differential item functioning (DIF), and structural equation modelling. Evidence was established for the factorial validity and reliability of the AJDRS. The results indicate that the job demands experienced by employees in an agricultural research organisation are: overload and job insecurity; while job resources were: organisational support, growth opportunities, control, rewards, and physical resources (equipment). It was furthermore found that there were differences in the perceived job demands and resources of employees. In addition, the BS was found to consist of three reliable factors, i.e. fatigue, emotional exhaustion/withdrawal, and cognitive weariness. The results also showed construct equivalence for the Burnout construct, and no item bias for the language groups examined. Age was found to affect the level of perceived burnout of the employees. Furthermore, job resources (growth opportunities, control, and organisational support) were found to be positively associated with engagement, while lack of resources and job demands (overload) are positively associated with burnout of employees. Psychological meaningfulness, safety and availability are positively associated with work engagement, and negatively associated with burnout. The psychological conditions of availability, safety, and meaningfulness mediated the relationship between job resources and work engagement, as well as between lack of job resources and burnout. Psychological availability and meaningfulness mediated the relationship between job demands and burnout; however, the mediation effect of psychological safety on the relationship between job demands and burnout could not be established. Recommendations are made for practice, as well as future research. / PhD (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

It is important that organisations are aware of factors that might affect the levels of well-being of employees, as employees are instrumental to the achievement of organisational goals. Well-being of employees can be conceptualised in terms of burnout and engagement. Studies have shown that different factors contribute to the employee experience of burnout and engagement. These factors include job demands and resources and psychological conditions (psychological meaningfulness, psychological availability and psychological safety). Although various studies regarding burnout and engagement can be found in literature, three research gaps have been identified from the studies. First, a reliable and valid instrument is needed to measure job demands and resources in a specific organisation. Second, given the cost of some measures of burnout, inadequacies in conceptualisation of the burnout construct and the inadequate psychometric properties of others, an inexpensive measure is needed which can be used to measure burnout in a valid and reliable way. Third, no studies seem to be found which focus on the effects of job demands and resources on burnout and engagement via specific psychological conditions (i.e. psychological meaningfulness, availability and safety). The general objective of this research therefore was to investigate the well-being of employees in a South African agricultural research organisation. It focused on job demands, job resources, burnout, work engagement and psychological conditions. The objective of the first study was to investigate the job demands and resources of employees in a South African agricultural research organisation. The study specifically examined the validity and reliability of a scale adapted to measure job demands and resources of the employees and established the prevalent job demands and resources of the employees. Differences that may exist based on the employees‟ demographic variables were also investigated. The aim of the second study was to provide an overview of current burnout measures that are used in the literature. From the literature, gaps were identified and used to develop a new Burnout Scale for use with employees within a South African agricultural research organisation. The research then examined the construct validity, reliability, construct equivalence and item bias of the newly-developed Burnout Scale. The research also investigated whether any differences in burnout existed in relation to the employees‟ demographic variables. The third study investigated the relationships between specific job demands, job resources, psychological conditions, burnout, and work engagement by testing a structural model of burnout and engagement in a sample of employees within a South African agricultural research organisation. The research method for each of the three articles consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A non-probability availability sample of 443 agricultural employees was used. A cross-sectional design, with a survey as the data collection technique, was used. Measuring instruments that were utilised included an adapted Job Demands-Resources scale (AJDRS), a self-developed Burnout Scale (BS), a self-developed Work Engagement Scale (WES), an adapted Psychological Conditions Questionnaire (PCQ), and a biographical questionnaire. The statistical analyses were carried out with the help of the SPSS programme (IBM SPSS statistics, version 21) and MPLUS version 7.11 (Muthén, & Muthén 1998-2013). The statistical methods utilised in the three articles included descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, principal factor analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, MANOVA, ANOVA, differential item functioning (DIF), and structural equation modelling. Evidence was established for the factorial validity and reliability of the AJDRS. The results indicate that the job demands experienced by employees in an agricultural research organisation are: overload and job insecurity; while job resources were: organisational support, growth opportunities, control, rewards, and physical resources (equipment). It was furthermore found that there were differences in the perceived job demands and resources of employees. In addition, the BS was found to consist of three reliable factors, i.e. fatigue, emotional exhaustion/withdrawal, and cognitive weariness. The results also showed construct equivalence for the Burnout construct, and no item bias for the language groups examined. Age was found to affect the level of perceived burnout of the employees. Furthermore, job resources (growth opportunities, control, and organisational support) were found to be positively associated with engagement, while lack of resources and job demands (overload) are positively associated with burnout of employees. Psychological meaningfulness, safety and availability are positively associated with work engagement, and negatively associated with burnout. The psychological conditions of availability, safety, and meaningfulness mediated the relationship between job resources and work engagement, as well as between lack of job resources and burnout. Psychological availability and meaningfulness mediated the relationship between job demands and burnout; however, the mediation effect of psychological safety on the relationship between job demands and burnout could not be established. Recommendations are made for practice, as well as future research. / PhD (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

School rugby is one of the most popular sports within numerous South-African public schools. Each year competition gets tougher as a result of the increase in tournaments during school holidays and the nationwide promotion of interschool tournaments. Educators as coaches of school teams carry the responsibility to not only pursue competitiveness, but also care for the safety of the school rugby players. Between 2001 and 2010, 13 of 36 players that obtained spinal related injuries ended up as quadriplegic, according to data from the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players’ Fund. Statistics show that serious rugby related injuries amongst school rugby players have increased, thus compromising the safety of the rugby player. These statistics add to the central theme of this study, namely educator security. Educator-coaches’ security is greatly influenced by the safety of the school rugby player. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) proceeded to follow the example of other rugby playing countries by implementing a rugby safety program. BOKSMART was launched in 2009 in conjunction with the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players Fund. The rugby safety program is implemented for coaches to guide them with the latest methods regarding skills and techniques for the enhancement of safer rugby. During this study similar rugby programs will be analysed and discussed to determine the effect these programs has on educator-coach safety. To understand the effect more clearly, delictual liability is discussed which is connected to an introduction of the South African legal system. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, education legislation and other legislation with regards to the security of the educator-coaches’ and the safety of the school rugby player is discussed. A discussion regarding the application of the law of delict is also included. During the empirical research a qualitative research method is used to determine and interpret the perceptions of educator-coaches regarding their security. If an educator- coach is confronted with legal actions, it can have a negative effect on his worklife and career. Focus is placed on educator-coaches of high school teams, while principals and sport organisers also gave their input on the subject. Findings are presented based on an analysis of the data gathered. Two important findings stood out, namely that all educator-coaches are not well acquainted with the legal aspects regarding player safety and educator-coach’s security and secondly, that there is a need to gain more knowledge regarding delictual liability, as applied to rugby coaching. / Thesis (MEd (Education Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.