MSc (Chemistry / Department of Chemistry / In this study, three sampling sites (Tshipise thermal spring, Mphephu thermal spring and Siloam borehole) in Limpopo Province South Africa were considered for an investigation into the mineral composition of their water and soil samples. Tshipise and Mphephu thermal springs are well developed and located within tourist resorts. On the other hand, Siloam is a borehole on the grounds of a private household. The water is used for various domestic purposes such as laundry, general cleaning of the household and bathing. Water and soil samples from the three sites were collected once per week every week in February 2018. The sampling bottles were spiked with 1M HNO3 before sampling to keep any metal ions present in the water samples in solution. The soil and water samples were analysed for their chemical composition using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) respectively. XRF analysis of the soil samples found many major oxides of which SiO2 made up 63.67%, 85.37% and 46.28% by mass of Tshipise, Mphephu and Siloam soil samples respectively. XRF analysis also showed the presence of dangerous levels of heavy metals such as As, Tl, Pb and V. The analysis of the water samples by ICP-MS found that Tshipise, Mphephu and Siloam mineral water were soft, soft-moderately hard and soft-hard respectively with regards to the water hardness scale according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Water Quality Association (WQA). Analysis of water samples also found the presence of As, Cd, Cr and V. Arsenic was found to occur at concentrations above the Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (10 μg L-1) for Tshipise, Mphephu and Siloam mineral water (13.63 μg L-1, 15.83 μg L-1 and 20.97 μg L-1 respectively). Water temperatures for the three sites ranged from 38°C (Siloam borehole) to 64°C (Tshipise thermal spring). The pH values were 7.25 (Siloam borehole), 7.40 (Mphephu thermal spring) and 8.67 (Tshipise thermal spring). Due to the presence of As, Tl, Pb, V, Cd and Cr, the mineral water from all three thermal springs is unsafe to consume as it would lead to serious negative health effects some of which are outlined in this study. / NRF

MENVSC / Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences / Many rural communities of South Africa are living without adequate water supplies mainly due to historical lack of infrastructure and effective water reticulation systems. Day to day challenges of accessing water from distant boreholes and rivers are a reality particularly for women and children in rural Limpopo. This study investigates the nature and extent of water supply problems and how communities are living without adequate water in three rural communities of Greater-Giyani Local Municipality in South Africa. The study area lies in a semi-arid region which regularly experiences climate extremes such as droughts and floods which can reduce the ability of the municipality to supply water. Primary data was collected through questionnaires, key informant interviews and field observations while population, climate and hydrological data are also analyzed. A mixed methods research design was employed using qualitative methods such as content analysis whilst quantitative methods were dominated by time series analysis techniques and online interactive climate platforms such as the Climate Engine. It was found that households, schools and clinics in the study area rely mainly on boreholes for water supply but sometimes rivers supply those living nearby. An incomplete and poor water reticulation system coupled with erratic and shortening summer rainfall seasons are some of the major causes of water shortages in the study area. In order to cope with inadequate water, community members and public institutions in the study area have drilled boreholes and the sustainability of groundwater in the area is not well established. During summer, most households and institutions practise rainwater harvesting while a few resort to purchasing water from vendors. Despite these challenges which are not well documented, it was concluded that most of the rural poor households and institutions in the study area are well adapted to cope with water scarcity in the short term, while being vulnerable in the long term due to population growth and climate change. The study recommends the need for government and municipalities to invest in water reticulation systems in the long term whilst providing water to affected rural communities through water tankers, drilling more boreholes and maintenance of existing ones. Lessons learnt from this study may be useful to other municipalities across South Africa that are grappling with challenges of water access and supply. / NRF

Bibliography: pages 184-207 / Digital records are either stored in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system or electronic content management (ECM), or managed without the benefit of either system. In many countries, public and private organisations have implemented ECM systems, some have implemented ERP systems and others generate digital records without the benefit of any controlled system. In most organisations such systems are not integrated resulting in duplication and fragmentation of records. The South African Water Utility company, Rand Water, has implemented both ERP and ECM systems. Investing in these systems as an organisation comes at a cost but it can add value when used optimally to improve the organisation’s productivity and efficiency. To achieve high productivity and efficiency, integration of an ERP system into an ECM system is a requirement but remains lacking. This qualitative study utilised the Actor Network Theory to explore the integration of ERP into ECM at the South African Water Utility company, Rand Water, with a view to developing a framework for integration of the systems. The study utilised a system analysis case design with fourteen interviews conducted at different levels in the organisation and diverse business units using ERP and ECM to perform their operational deliverables in line with the organisation’s business objectives. The interviews were augmented with data from document analysis of policies, specifications and functionalities of the systems to determine the feasibility of integration. The study established that the water utility company has implemented ERP systems (SAP) since 1994 and ECM system since 1991 (Papertrail and later IBM FileNet) with only information flow module integrated. The study suggested that to integrate ERP into ECM, human and non-human actors need to collaborate to ensure that the actor network being integrated is achieved. The study also presents a strategy discussion for integrating ERP into ECM. A further study on the transfer of digital records in ECM into archival custody is recommended. / Information Science / D. Phil. (Information Science)

This study is non-empirical and is based on the conceptualisations and theoretical foundations that gave rise to the global issue of sustainable development. It also traces the evolution and meaning of sustainable development in the South African socio-cultural context, and shows how the legacies of colonialism and apartheid contributed towards the national policy of sustainable development. This study explains the reasons for the presence (or lack) of sustainable development paradigms in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, as well as their implications for the future development of the country as a whole. There is also an analysis of the effects of the liberalisation of the water sector on the citizenry, and how this can disempower millions of poor South Africans. Finally, this study offers solutions for the lack of sustainable use of water in South Africa. Amongst the findings and conclusions are the deleterious effects of employment equity, cut-backs in municipal funding that resulted in the outsourcing of critical services such as water provision, and the deployment of party cadres to local councils. / Human Resources / M.A. (Development Studies)

This study is non-empirical and is based on the conceptualisations and theoretical foundations that gave rise to the global issue of sustainable development. It also traces the evolution and meaning of sustainable development in the South African socio-cultural context, and shows how the legacies of colonialism and apartheid contributed towards the national policy of sustainable development. This study explains the reasons for the presence (or lack) of sustainable development paradigms in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, as well as their implications for the future development of the country as a whole. There is also an analysis of the effects of the liberalisation of the water sector on the citizenry, and how this can disempower millions of poor South Africans. Finally, this study offers solutions for the lack of sustainable use of water in South Africa. Amongst the findings and conclusions are the deleterious effects of employment equity, cut-backs in municipal funding that resulted in the outsourcing of critical services such as water provision, and the deployment of party cadres to local councils. / Human Resources / M.A. (Development Studies)