Research suggest that increasing employee commitment and satisfaction impacts on employee productivity and job performance, and has implications for job related behaviours such as absenteeism, turnover and tardiness. Moreover, literature also suggests that downsizing and cost-cutting negatively impacts on the satisfaction and commitment of employees and impacts on the effectiveness of organisations. The contention is that in order to reconcile the need to achieve high quality and organisational effectiveness in an environment of declining per capita resources and change, it will be necessary to secure a high level of commitment and satisfaction from all those employed in the higher education sector. This study sought to investigate the factors that produce commitment and satisfaction in academic and support staff respectively and to understand any important similarities and differences that may exist.

This study investigated access to and use of Information and Communication Technology by students at the University of the Western Cape. It examined how the issues of access and use play out at the microlevel of a historically disadvantaged institution in South Africa by investigating the institutional arrangements and practices of different computer laboratories.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Thus far, no youth intervention strategy has responded to the root causes of the HIV/AIDS crisis amongst young people through an approach that encompasses both a prevention and a future leadership strategy in one development model. This article tells the story of the development and pilot process of an adolescent peer education model, for which the author of this paper was the leader. The model is being proposed as a youth development strategy to positively impact community social norms by using young opinion leaders as the catalyst for change. The model was developed through an NGO, OIL Reach Out Adolescent Training (OIL), that specifically set out to pioneer, implement and evaluate best practice adolescent peer education in one cross-cultural community as a model for other communities in Africa. OIL set out basing its belief in the efficacy of peer education on behavioural theories, which support it as a strategy for behaviour change. At the heart of their peer education pilot was the belief that the message giver is the strongest message; people don’t change with information, they change when others around them change. Together with peer education theories, OIL applied a “futures-oriented” education approach in their curriculum development. OIL set out with a definition of peer education as being “the process whereby skilled facilitators assist a group of suitable young people to: educate their peers in a structured manner; informally role-model healthy behaviour; recognise youth in need of additional help and refer them for assistance; and advocate for resources and services for themselves and their peers”. (Deutsch, C. & Swartz. S 2003), OIL strategically selected a community at the tip of the Western Cape to pilot, made up of 4 diverse school communities and representing a microcosm of periurban South Africa as a whole. OIL was selected by the Western Cape Education Department as part of the provincial pilot programme. The core programme framework was designed together with community stakeholders and adolescent community representatives. Selection of Adolescent Peer Educators was through a combination of self-nomination and referrals from peers. The aim of this process was to yield a diverse group of teens from all the different sub-cultures who were leaders, chosen on their shared experience with learners and making up 10-15% of the class. Training content included a diverse values based curriculum that was designed to provide skills and information needed to tackle root issues facing young people and providing a sense of vision and purpose. Personal transformation of the peer educator was realized to be the critical factor in effective peer education.Over three years, a structured and long-term programme was put in place with programme standards and clear manageable outputs for peer educators. Once the pilot was drawing to completion in 2004, the author of this paper as representative of OIL at the time, together with representatives of the seven other implementing organisations involved in the pilot, were brought together to compile their learnings and document a proposed common model for implementation from 2005 into other communities. OIL’s model and uncompromising standards of peer education were recognized for future programmes to learn from and model. Challenges for future implementers include accessing financial sustainability, community buy and combatting HIV related attitudes / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weinig beskikbare voorkomingsprogramme is tans op die jeug en toekomstige leiers gerig. In ander lande in Suider-Arika word voorkomingsprogramme sterk op die jeug gevestig ten einde die visie van 'n Vigsvrye generasie in die toekoms te probeer verwesentlik. Hierdie studie is as 'n gevallestudie opgeskryf met sterk klem op 'n volwasse opvoedkundige model en jeugontwikkeling en 'n positiewe fokus op jong opinieleiers, as teikengroep. Die uitkomste van die program is sterk op voorkoming gerig. Die model is ontwikkel deur 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie (NGO), OIL (Reach Out Adolescent Training). Die studie beskryf die ontstaan, metodiek en implementering van OIL en beskryf sekere van die suksesse wat reeds daarmee bereik is. Die teoretiese basis van die OIL program word beskryf. Ook word die belangrikheid van deeglike voorafopleiding en die transformasie wat deur OIL bereik kan word, deeglik op skrif gestel. Die verdere verloop van die opleidingsprogram word uitgespel en voorstelle vir verdere navorsings- en ontwikkelingswerk word aan die hand gedoen.

Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. / Community participation is an important aspect of South African government policies that deal with integrated development planning and sustainable development. This report presents aspects of community participation in housing development in Site B Khayelitsha. The importance of community participation is acknowledged as it enhances the ability of the community members to demonstrate and use their own views to deal with specific issues and to address the needs and problems that emerge and prevail in their societies. Communities should be involved in the ‘selection, design, planning and implementation’ of projects that will have an effect on them and from which they are going to benefit; and continuous feedback to communities forms a fundamental part of any development activity. The research investigated the Khayelitsha community concerned about the lack of community participation in housing development. The literature covered the legislative framework, philosophy, core principles and values as well as the levels and method of community participation. Mixed method approach was followed in the form of questionnaire survey, followed by the interview. Based on the findings, specific recommendations are made with a view to assist the municipality to improve the level of community participation in the Khayelitsha community.

Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. / A socio-economic problem presently facing South Africa is the rate of youth unemployment, which is among the highest in the world. The South African Government has been involved in a number of initiatives, together with the advancement of a labour-intensive Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in order to reduce unemployment and poverty. The EPWP was initiated in 2004 with the aim to place the jobless into productive work in the public sector social services where these EPWP beneficiaries are provided with relevant training and transfer of appropriate skills. However, the EPWP only creates temporary work opportunities that have limited influence on the lives of the beneficiaries. The main objective of the study was to examine the performance of the Youth Work Project (YWP) as an EPWP in a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government in order to determine its sustainability of job creation. The secondary aims of the study were to explain the process of the YWP as implemented through the EPWP by a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government. A third objective was to examine whether the Public Works employment opportunities enhance subsequent employability of participants once they exit this programme. Fourthly, recommendations was forwarded as to how best the EPWP can be used as a tool for helping unemployed youth with a permanent work opportunity. The sample frame computed of thirteen (13) individuals, therefore purposive sampling was considered the most suitable technique to use in this study. The semistructured interviews were conducted with five (5) management officials responsible for the EPWP and unstructured questionnaires were administered to eight (8) available EPWP beneficiaries placed at a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government.

Thesis (MTech (Public Administration)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Organisations spend large sums of money on staff after they have been recruited in order to make them proficient in their jobs. It is therefore important to ensure that staff remain with the organisation for as long as possible, allowing the organisation to reap the benefit from its investment in the form of good performance by staff. Work performance can however, be affected negatively when labour turnover is high. This research project reflects on staff turnover amongst professional nurses, posing the question, “What can be done to alleviate high staff turnover?” A quantitative approach to research was followed within a Western Cape Metropolitan Municipality. The significance of the research is reflected in the recommendations made to the management of the municipality to address staff turnover in the specified category of employees.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration ))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, [2018]. / Diversity management was developed in the 1980s in response to demographic changes within the labour force and commercial competition in the US. This context establishes the fundamental point that organisations stand to profit from having a diversified workforce (Naik, 2012). However, the integration of immigrants within South African businesses is a process characterised by intense challenges. The reasons for this are unclear, as are the benefits of having a diverse workforce in the South African labour market. In order to explore and better understand the phenomenon, this study adopts a qualitative research approach and makes use of semi-structured interviews. Such a process is appropriate for gaining insight into complex issues concerning the research problem (East et al., 2010; Monette et al., 2014). According to several sources, immigrants face challenges linked to the degree of their language proficiency, educational level, lack of experience, ethnicity and country of origin. This notwithstanding, immigrants bring to organisations new ideas, a sustainable competitive edge, productivity and profits, and much more. This study provides an understanding of how the hospitality industry value immigrants and how they can accommodate them in their organisations. This will add to the existing body of knowledge and contribute to improvement in the quality of social relationships in organisations, bringing about returns on investment. The researcher adopted the ten ethical guidelines of Bryman and Bell (2007) in carrying out this study. Specifically, the participants’ consent was sought and they were informed that they could exit the project at will, and would not be subjected to any harm. The data collection process was also clearly explained (Bryman & Bell, 2007). The findings of this study were that not only immigrants find it difficult to find a job in the Western Cape Province: South Africans, the majority semi-skilled and under-qualified, are also trying to find a job in their own country. In short, South Africa is in a crisis of high unemployment, and there is an urgent need for more infrastructure to address this. But those who are most disadvantaged in this crisis are immigrants with formidable and remarkable qualifications. They have left their home countries with the sole desire to get work, to succeed, and to enjoy a good life in the host country. Unfortunately, certain destructive circumstances, such as discrimination, obstructive situations in the Department of Home Affairs, etc., prevent them from even obtaining a suitable job offer. At the end of their job search, some remain unemployed while others have to work in hazardous jobs, or in jobs not related to their qualifications, just to have an income. The study concluded that although workforce diversity has some inherent challenges, it has benefits for business organisations and so, should be supported by the government and business owners.

<p>In many countries, the scale of poverty, and the alarming number of children now being orphaned by HIV and AIDS, has increased the roles and responsibilities of grandparents as caregivers in their grandchildren's lives. Not only do grandparents have to care for their grandchildren on a daily basis but they also carry the burden of seeing them through school, possibly with the fear that they might not be able to see them achieve all their dreams. This study examined the complex issues surrounding school attendance for orphaned children in Mbekweni, a township in the Western Province, in South Africa. The study explored the relationship between the attitudes of orphaned learners and their caregivers towards education and schooling itself, uncovering the struggles and the strengths of caregivers and orphaned children that directly relate to success or faiolure in school.</p>

The Sandspruit River catchment, found within the heart of the Swartland region is infamous for wheat and wine production. Variable groundwater quality and low productivity is encountered within the folded and fractured Malmesbury Group aquifer, whilst the most productive and better quality groundwater is found within the Table Mountain Group sandstone. The Sandspruit catchment (a tributary of the Berg River) represents a drainage system, whereby saline groundwater with TDS up to 10870 mg/l, and EC up to 2140 mS/m has been documented. The catchment belongs to the winter rainfall region with precipitation seldom exceeding 400mm/yr, as such, groundwater recharge occurs predominantly from May to August. Recharge estimation using the catchment water-balance method, chloride mass balance method, and qualified guesses produced recharge rates between 8-70 mm/yr. To understand the origin, occurrence and dynamics of the saline groundwater, a coupled analysis of major ion hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H and ³H) data supported by conventional hydrogeological information has been undertaken. Research data were collected in three seasonal field sampling campaigns within the study catchment. These spatial and multi-temporal hydrochemical and environmental isotope data provided insight into the origin, mechanisms and spatial evolution of the groundwater salinity. These data also illustrate that the saline groundwater within the catchment can be attributed to the combined effects of evaporation, salt dissolution, and groundwater mixing. The geology together with the local and regional faults control the chemistry of the groundwater, whereby relatively fresh groundwater can be observed in certain direct recharge areas. The salinity of the groundwater tends to vary seasonally and evolves in the direction of groundwater flow. The stable isotope signatures further indicate two possible mechanisms of recharge; namely, (1) a slow diffuse type modern recharge through a relatively low permeability material as explained by heavy isotope signal and (2) a relatively quick recharge prior to evaporation from a distant high altitude source as explained by the relatively depleted isotopic signal and sub-modern to old tritium values. A conceptual hydrogeological model based on the hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and environmental isotope data was developed for the Sandspruit catchment. This model, together with statistical and groundwater quality analysis has lead to the development of a proposed local optimized monitoring scheme for the catchment. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

Planning administration in the Western Cape is at a critical juncture. It is faced with having to address planning issues and housing needs whilst at the same time demonstrating through its practices the promotion of environmentally sustainable development. This paper will discuss planning and environmental legislation and the impact that the application of the legislation has on development proposals. Current legislation addresses issues of spacial development in developed areas and new development proposals but lacks the ability to address issues within informal settlements. Although socio-economic factors are not currently considered when assessing the viability of applications, the courts seem to consider these factors. Since new housing settlements are often developed for the poor and industrial developments in close proximity to these areas have direct impact on these individuals, planning could only gain if these factors are taken into consideration.<br /> <br /> If planning administration in the Western Cape is to continue successfully and without endless litigation against the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning administrators will have to find a balance between promoting development and protecting the environment. To promote environmentally sustainable developments will require closer cooperation between the land use planning and environmental management components. The loopholes, which permit incremental development in the present legislation, have to be identified and addressed. Guidelines, which will standardize the conditions under which applications can be approved or refused, will have to be drafted to ensure decision-making that is consistent and defensible. If having a liquor store within an affluent environment is not considered desirable such applications should not be considered within lower income areas. The same should apply when dealing with applications to establish factories or industry which will have an impact on the living conditions of communities in close proximity. The MEC will have to ensure that all decision taken are within the legal framework and that such decisions benefit entire communities and protect the rights of the poorest communities as well as that of the wealthy and influential.<br /> <br /> Environmental legislation and the growing importance of environmental protection is also having an impact on the way in which new settlements are planned and on the rights of property owners. Although, we are responsible for the preservation of the environment for the next generation, socio-economic conditions, HIV and a myriad of other considerations may have to take precedence over environmental concerns.