The promotion of sustainable development is an objective shared by African Union (AU) member states and the pursuance thereof is expressly mandated by the Constitutive Act of the African Union, 2000 and the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, 1992. Lack of access to modern energy sources, such as electricity and the heavy reliance on traditional biomass as primary energy source are factors contributing to the non-achievement of the promotion of sustainable development. These factors are collectively referred to as energy poverty. The African Continent as a whole has limited, and in some instances, lack access to modern energy sources while the majority of its population relies heavily on traditional biomass as primary energy source. Africa can accordingly be classified as an energy poor region–a situation which does not bode well for the promotion of sustainable development. Access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources is fundamental to socio-economic development. Mitigating the impacts of energy poverty and more specifically lack of access to modern energy sources on the sustainable development of Africa depends upon ensuring increased access to modern energy sources. The above-mentioned instruments furthermore contain provisions which link regional cooperation on the formulation of coordinated regional law and policy on areas/matters of common concern with the achievement of the objective of promoting sustainable development in Africa. One of the areas of common concerns listed is that of energy. Regional cooperation must accordingly be geared towards the effective development of the continent‘s energy and natural resources; promoting the development of new and renewable energy in the framework of the policy of diversification of sources of energy; and establishing an adequate mechanism of concerted action and coordination for the collective solution of the energy development problems within the AU. The formulation of coordinated energy law and policy should take place with reference to the specific sources of energy to be regulated. In this regard, the provisions of the Abuja Treaty and other sub-regional energy access initiatives list various sources of energy as forming part of a diversified AU energy mix – one of which is nuclear energy. In this study recommendations are made as to what should be embodied in a coordinated AU regional nuclear legal framework aimed at regulating increased access to nuclear energy capable of contributing towards the promotion of sustainable development. The recommendations are based on an examination of relevant international, regional and sub-regional legal instruments and other initiatives. / PhD (Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The history of the mining industry indicates a lack of understanding among the decision-makers of the impact the closure of mines has on the industry and the associated effects on the society and surrounding environment. The policies of the mining industry do make provision for a planned mine closure, but not for an unexpected closure. This detrimental aspect of closures in the mining industry is highlighted in the present study. The present study investigates how mineworkers’ dependency on their employment at a mine affects their ability to sustain their livelihoods. Vulnerable livelihoods leave the community at a greater risk to be affected by a disaster, than the livelihoods of a community that is resilient and has sustainable resources. Even though mineworkers are not considered as poor at the time of their employment, a mine closure could render them into a status called ‘transitional poverty’. This study also highlights that mineworkers who are skilled for mining operations only do not overcome the status of ‘transitional poverty’ and hence enter a phase called ‘chronic poverty’. This stage constitutes their inability to negotiate livelihood strategies and livelihood outcomes that could sustain a household. Thus humanitarian assistance would be needed from outside sources. Planning for unexpected mine closures should also be on the agenda of the mining industry due to the extreme consequences such an event holds for the mining community experiencing the event. In the case under investigation, the unexpected mine closures occurred in the Grootvlei mine in Springs and the Orkney mine owned by the Aurora Empowerment Systems Ltd. at the time of this study. These closures left the surrounding communities in need of food, shelter and clean water. The inhabitants gradually lost their livelihood assets. A contingency planning model is proposed at the end of this study to address the short-term and long-term consequences of an unexpected mine closure. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Securing access to affordable energy services is of central importance to our societies. To do this sustainably, energy systems design should be – amongst other things – environmentally compliant and reconcile with the integrated management of potentially limiting resources. This work considers the role for so-called 'Smart Grids' to improve the delivery of energy services. It deals with the integration of renewable energy technologies to mitigate climate change. It further demonstrates an approach to harmonise potentially conflicting energy, water and land-use strategies. Each presents particular challenges to energy systems analysis. Computer aided models can help identify energy systems that most effectively meet the multiple demands placed on them. As models constitute a simple abstraction of reality, it is important to ensure that those dynamics that considerably impact results are suitably integrated. In its three parts, this thesis extends long-term energy system models to consider improved integration between: (A) supply and demand through Smart Grids; (B) timeframes by incorporating short-term operating constraints into long-term models; and (C) resource systems by linking multiple modelling tools. In Part A, the thesis explores the potential of Smart Grids to accelerate and improve electrification efforts in developing countries. Further, a long-term energy system model is enhanced to investigate the Smart Grid benefits associated with a closer integration of supply, storage and demand-side options. In Part B, the same model is extended to integrate flexibility requirements. The benefits of this integration are illustrated on an Irish case study on high levels of wind power penetrations. In Part C, an energy model is calibrated to consider climate change scenarios and linkages with land-use and water models. This serves to assess the implications of introducing biofuels on the small island developing state of Mauritius. The thesis demonstrates that too weak integration between models and resource systems can produce significantly diverging results. The system configurations derived may consequently generate different – and potentially erroneous – policy and investment insights. / Säker och prisvärd tillgång till energitjänster är en central fråga för dagens samhällen. För att tillgodose samhällen med hållbara energitjänster bör energisystemen designas för att – bland annat – möta de miljömässiga kraven samt hantera potentiellt begränsade resurser. Den här avhandlingen undersöker de ”smarta” elnätens roll för bättre tillhandahållande av energitjänster. Avhandlingen behandlar integration av förnybar energiteknik för minskad klimatpåverkan samt demonstrerar ett tillvägagångssätt för att förena potentiellt motstridiga energi-, vatten- och markanvändningsstrategier. Dessa uppvisar särskilda utmaningar i energisystemanalyser. Datorstödda modeller kan användas för att identifiera energisystem som på effektivast sätt möter samhällets krav. Datorstödda modeller är, per definition, förenklingar av verkligheten och det är därför viktigt att säkerställa en korrekt representation av det verkliga systemets dynamik. Den här avhandlingen förstärker energisystemmodeller för långsiktsprognoser utifrån tre aspekter: förbättra integrationen av (A) tillgång och efterfrågan genom smarta elnät; (B) olika tidsaspekter genom att inkludera kortsiktiga operativa begränsningar; samt (C) resurssystem genom att sammanlänka olika modelleringsverktyg. I del A utforskades de smarta elnätens potential för att förbättra elektriska system i utvecklingsländer. En befintlig energisystemmodell förstärktes för att behandla smarta elnät och kan därmed fånga fördelarna förknippade med energilagring och energianvändning. I del B utvidgades en energisystemmodell för långsiktsprognoser med flexibilitet för kortsiktiga operativa begränsningar. En fallstudie fokuserad på ett vindkraftsdominerat irländskt elnät genomfördes för att demonstrera fördelarna av modellutvecklingen. I del C kalibrerades en energisystemmodell för att ta klimatscenarier i beaktande samt energisystemets kopplingar till markanvändning och vattenresurssystem. En fallstudie fokuserad på Mauritius energisystem genomfördes för att undersöka konsekvenserna av en potentiell introducering av biobränslen. Avhandlingen demonstrerar att undermålig integration av energimodeller och resurssystem kan leda till avsevärda avvikelser i resultaten. Slutsatser som dras utifrån dessa resultat kan därmed leda till vitt skilda – och potentiellt felaktiga – underlag för investeringar och energipolitiska rekommendationer. / <p>QC 20131118</p>

This dissertation analyzes the life of Czech traveler Čeněk Paclt (1813 - 1887), who was born in the town of Turnov. Čeněk Paclt belongs to the most famous Czech travelers. He is also the first Czech, who has provably traveled through all five inhabited continents and has left written evidence about his journeys. Fundamental part of this thesis is focusing on his life and describes his adventures, which he had come across on the five continents. The thesis is written in historical, and employs historical anthropology, which focuses on a single individual in the course of human events, as one of the main methodological approaches. Secondarily, this thesis elaborates Paclt's personality and his view on aboriginal cultures, which he encountered during his travels, and Paclt's relationship towards his hometown is also mentioned. Furthermore, the dissertation touches upon traveling background in Czech nation during 19th century.

The history of exploration is one of the great chapters in the history of mankind, which offers not only strong personal stories of desire and determination but is also related to the Great Powers policy. What stands in center of attention of this thesis is an institution established under the patronage of British king William IV, the aim of which was the promotion of geography and exploration of continents. The Royal Geographical Society has been among others distiguished in the support of expeditions which managed to map the sources of the Nile and contribute to a solution of one of the long term mysteries of the mankind.

Sino-African relations have recently become a hot topic. Chinese cooperation with the African continent is becoming more and more important not only in the field of politics but also within the economic relations. This thesis deals with two five-years long periods in the 60s and at the beginning of the 21st century. It analyses the dynamics of modern Sino-African relations in a variety of aspects.

Abstract in English, Zulu and Sepedi / The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of capital structure on the profitability of the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank). Both theoretical and empirical literature were reviewed in order to guide the empirical investigation of this study. In particular, the theories of financial intermediation, credit creation and fractional reserve formed the basis of this study. The capital structure theories that were examined included the pecking order theory, trade-off theory and Modigliani-Miller leverage irrelevance theory. In the literature, it was observed that profitable companies prefer using internal funds over debt or equity. To test the stated hypothesis that there is no relationship between capital structure and bank profitability, a quantitative research design with a case study approach was used, with the Land Bank as the unit of analysis. Using time series data for the period 1982 to 2015, multiple regression using the ordinary least squares method was applied to test the specified models. Preliminary data analysis was performed using trend analysis, descriptive statistics and Pearson bivariate correlation analysis. The study demonstrated that the relationship between capital structure and bank profitability was positive and statistically significant at a 95% confidence level when using only equity. However, inclusion of debt in the capital structure showed that capital structure, proxied by the debt-to-equity ratio, resulted in a negative relationship between capital structure and bank profitability, albeit statistically insignificant. It was concluded that the Land Bank requires an injection of equity to improve its performance. Alternative low-cost sources of funding to debt should be considered. The results of the study have policy implications for the Land Bank, regulators and potential investors. / Injongo yalolu cwaningo kwabe kuwukucubungula nokuthola umthelela wesimozimali sebhizinisi ekungeneni kwenzuzo eBhange Lokuthuthukiswa Komhlaba Nezolimo laseNingizimu Afrika (iBhange Lomhlaba). Kokubili, imibhalo yethiyori kanye nemibhalo esuselwe emaqinisweni abonakalayo naphathekayo, yabuyekezwa ukuze ihole futhi ilawule uphenyo olugxile emaqinisweni abonakalayo naphathekayo oluqondene nalolu cwaningo. Amathiyori ayisisekelo salolu cwaningo, ikakhulukazi, kwaba yi-financial intermediation, credit creation kanye ne-fractional reserve. Lawo mathiyori esimozimali sebhizinisi acutshungulwa abandakanya i-pecking order theory, trade-off theory kanye ne-Modigliani-Miller leverage irrelevance theory. Emibhalweni eyacutshungulwa, kwabonakala ukuthi izinkampani ezinenzuzo zincamela ukusebenzisa izimali zangaphakathi kunokusebenzisa isikweletu noma izabelokulingana (equity). Ngenhloso yokuhlola ihayiphothesisi ethuliwe yokuthi abukho ubudlelwano phakathi kwesimozimali sebhizinisi kanye nokungena kwenzuzo ebhange, kwasetshenziswa idizayini yocwaningo olukhwantithethivu ehambisana nendlela yokusebenzisa ucwaningo lwesigameko egxile ekuhlaziyweni kweBhange Lomhlaba. Ngokusebenzisa i-time series data yesikhathi esisukela kowe-1982 kuyofinyelela kowezi-2015, kwalandelwa i-multiple regression ngokusebenzisa i-ordinary least squares method ukuhlola amamodeli achaziwe. Uhlaziyo lwedatha olwandulelayo lwenziwa ngokusebenzisa uhlaziyo lwezimonkambiso (trend analysis), izibalomanani ezichazayo (descriptive statistics) kanye ne-Pearson bivariate correlation analysis. Ucwaningo lwabonisa ukuthi bukhona ubudlelwano obuphawulekayo phakathi kwesimozimali sebhizinisi kanye nokungena kwenzuzo ebhange futhi idatha yabonisa ukuthembakala okusezingeni elingama-95% uma kusetshenziswa izabelokulingana kuphela. Kodwa-ke ukufakwa kwesikweletu kwisimozimali sebhizinisi kwabonisa ukuthi isimozimali sebhizinisi, ngokusekelwa yizinga-silinganiso phakathi kwesikweletu nezabelokulinganisa, kwaholela ekutheni bungabi khona ubudlelwano obuphawulekayo phakathi kwesimozimali sebhizinisi kanye nokungena kwenzuzo ebhange, nakuba idatha mayelana nalokhu yabonisa ukungathembakali okuthile. Kwafinyelelwa esiphethweni sokuthi iBhange Lomhlaba lidinga ukuthi kufakwe izabelokulingana ngenhloso yokwenza ngcono ukusebenza kwalo. Kumele kwenziwe imizamo yokuthola eminye imithombo yezimali ehlukile futhi engambi eqolo. Imiphumela yocwaningo inemithelela ethile ephathelene nezinqubomgomo eqondene neBhange Lomhlaba, abalawuli kanye nalabo okungenzeka babe nesifiso sokutshala izimali. / Morero wa thutelo ye e be e le go laetša khuetšo ya matlotlo a kgwebo go bokgoni bja go hwetša dipoelo bja Panka ya Tlhabollo ya Naga le tša Temo ya Afrika Borwa (Land Bank). Dingwalo tša ditlhalošo tša diteori le tšeo dithutelo tša peleng di di hweditšeng di sekasekilwe go fa tlhahlo go dipoelo tša dinyakišišo tšeo di dirilwego peleng tša thutelo ye. Gabotsebotse, diteori tša mokgwa wa dipanka wa go tšea tšhelete ye e bolokilwego tša e adimiša, mokgwa wa dipanka wa go hlola dikadimo ka bontši le tsheketšo ya palophatlo ya tšhelete di bopile motheo wa thutelo ye. Diteori tša matlotlo a kgwebo tšeo di lekotšwego di akareditše teori ya mokgwa wa go kgetha methopo ya kadimo ya ditšhelete, teori ya go lekanyetša ditheko le ditefelokholego le teori ya Modigliani-Miller ya go re mokgwa wa go diriša tšhelete ye e adimilwego go bona dipoelo ga o ame boleng bja khamphani. Ka go dingwalo, go lemogilwe gore dikhamphani tše di ka hwetšago dipoelo di kgetha go diriša matlole a ka gare go ena le dikoloto goba bokaalo bjo bo šalago ka morago ga go ntšha dikoloto Go leka kakanyo ye e filwego ya gore ga go na tswalano gare ga matlotlo a kgwebo le bokgoni bja panka bja go hwetša dipoelo, tlhako ya nyakišišo ya go hwetša dikarabo go batho ka bontši ka mokgwatebelelo wa nyakišišo ye e dirilwego ka ga tiragalo e dirišitšwe, ka Land Bank bjalo ka yuniti ya tshekatsheko. Ka go diriša datha go ya ka tatelano ye e itšeng ya nako ya paka ya 1982 go iša go 2015, tlhahlobo ya tswalano gare ga mabaka a mabedi goba go feta ka go diriša mokgwa wa go fokotša palo ya disekwere e dirišitšwe go leka mehlala ye e šupilwego. Tshekatsheko ya datha ya mathomo e phethagaditšwe ka go diriša tshekatsheko ya taolelopele ya seo se tla diregago ka ditšhelete, mokgwa wa go sekaseka dipalopalo le tshekatsheko ya Pearson ya dipalo tše pedi go bona tswalano ya tšona. Thutelo e laeditše gore tswalano gare ga matlotlo a kgwebo le bokgoni bja panka go hwetša dipoelo go bile le ditlamorago tše botse le dipoelo tše di ka bago nnete ka kemo ya kgonthišo ya 95% ge go dirišwa fela bokaalo bjo bo šalago ka morago ga go ntšha dikoloto. Le ge go le bjalo, kakaretšo ya sekoloto ka go matlotlo a kgwebo go bontšhitše gore matlotlo a kgwebo, ao a laeditšwego ka tekanyo ya palomoka ya dikoloto go bokaalo bjo bo šalago ka morago ga go ntšha dikoloto, e hlotše tswalano ye e sa letelwago gare ga matlotlo a kgwebo le bokgoni bja panka go hwetša dipoelo, le ge e ka ba dipoelo tše di ka bago nnete. Go phethilwe ka go re Land Bank e nyaka koketšo ya bokaalo bjo bo šalago ka morago ga go ntšha dikoloto go kaonafatša tiro ye e swanetšwego go dirwa. Methopo ye mengwe ya tswala ya fase go dikoloto e swanetšwe go lebelelwa. Dipoelo tša thutelo di na le ditlamorago tša Molaotshepetšo wa Land Bank, balaodi le babeeletši ba ka moso. / Finance, Risk Management and Banking / M. Com. (Finance)

Die Erkenntnis, dass der Staat nicht die einzige Quelle von Recht ist, verbreitet sich zusehends auch in der Rechtswissenschaft. Die Vielfalt normativer Ordnungen wird gewöhnlich mit dem Begriff "Rechtspluralismus" beschrieben. In der Rechtspluralismusforschung besteht weitgehend Einigkeit darüber, dass normative Ordnungen nicht parallel nebeneinander und unabhängig voneinander koexistieren, sondern dass diese sich wechselseitig beeinflussen. Dieses Miteinander kann konfliktreich wie auch kooperativ sein, es kann zum Transfer von Normen und Vorstellungen, aber auch zu Widerstand und Abgrenzung kommen. Diese Arbeit leistet einen Beitrag zur interdisziplinären Rechtsforschung, indem sie Austauschprozesse zwischen verschiedenen normativen Ordnungen analysiert. Hierbei wird "Übersetzen" als maßgebliche Praxis des Rechtspluralismus verstanden und ein methodischer Zugang angeboten, um Austauschprozesse machtsensibel zu analysieren. Am Beispiel Ghanas wird untersucht, wie die Anerkennung von Recht nicht-staatlichen Ursprungs in der Rechtsprechung staatlicher Gerichte praktiziert wird. Ghana ist nicht nur durch eine Vielzahl verschiedener Gesellschaften, sondern auch durch die Koexistenz unterschiedlicher normativer Ordnungen geprägt. Neben dem zur Zeit des britischen Kolonialismus eingeführten Common Law werden zahlreiche lokale Gewohnheitsrechte vom Staat als Rechtsquelle anerkannt. Über den ghanaischen Kontext hinaus ergeben sich auch allgemeine Fragen zum Umgang mit gesellschaftlicher Vielfalt und den damit einhergehenden Konflikten. / Jurisprudence acknowledges more and more that the state is not the only source for legal norms. The diversity of normative orders is usually described with the term "legal pluralism". Scholarship on legal pluralism emphasizes that normative orders do not exist parallel and independently from each other, but that they influence each other mutually. The relationship can be conflictual but also cooperative, there can be transfers of norms and ideas, but also resistance and dissociation. This study contributes to inter-disciplinary jurisprudence by analysing transfer processes between normative orders. It understands "translation" as essential practice of legal pluralism and offers a methodological approach to analyse transfer processes sensitively to power. Using the example of Ghana the study explores how state courts practice the recognition of non-state law. Ghana is characterised not only by the coexistence not only of different cultures, but of different normative orders as well. Next to the common law which had been introduced by British colonialism there is a plurality of local customary laws that are officially recognised as law by the state. This situation raises questions beyond the Ghanaian context on how to deal with social diversity and the conflicts the come along with it.

Die vorliegende Dissertation beinhaltet eine detaillierte Analyse traditioneller und moderner Bioenergie, sowie deren möglicher Entwicklungspfade und Auswirkung auf Ernährungssicherheit im ländlichen Tansania. Die Arbeit bereichert die wissenschaftlichen Debatten mittels Aufzeigen von Optionen der nachhaltigen Produktion und Verbrauch von Bioenergie. Der Komplex wird in vier separaten und begutachteten Fachartikeln (drei publiziert, einer under review) bearbeitet. Alle Publikationen erzielen Aussagen für vier Einkommensgruppen auf lokaler Ebene. Für eine optimale Analyse ist die Arbeit thematisch in die Forschungsgebiete traditionelle und moderne Bioenergie unterteilt, die sich auch in den Kapiteln bzgl. des aktuellen Forschungsstandes sowie der Abfolge der Fachartikel widerspiegeln. Die erste Publikation beschäftigt sich mit traditionellem Bioenergiekonsum und der postulierten Einführung eines feuerholz-spezifischen, energetisch optimierten Kochers in dem Hauptuntersuchungsdorf Laela. Die Effekte einer Einführung von technologisch optimierten Holzkohlemeilern werden in der zweiten Publikation widergegeben. Nach diesem Fokus auf traditionelle Bioenergie analysiert der dritte Artikel die Effekte auf Nahrungsmittelsicherheit, die sich aus der angenommenen Verstromung von Pflanzenölen ergeben. Der vierte Artikel analysiert die Möglichkeiten einer erhöhten Palmölproduktion und leitet Ergebnisse für die tansanische Region Kigoma ab. Eine finale Empfehlung dieser Dissertation ist, dass die Verbreitung und Nutzung von verbesserten Kochern stark erhöht werden muss. Gleichzeitig sollten politischen Maßnahmen ergriffen werden, die Zugang und Verfügbarkeit von verlässlicher, erschwinglicher und nachhaltiger traditioneller wie moderner Bioenergie garantieren. Zudem muss die Etablierung einer effizienteren wie nachhaltigeren Holzkohle-Wertschöpfungskette vorangetrieben werden. Pflanzenölbasierte Elektrizitätsproduktion dagegen wirkt sich negativ auf die Ernährungssicherheit aus. / This PhD thesis provides a detailed analysis of the traditional and modern bioenergy situation as well as their development pathways and their respective influence on food security in case study villages in rural Tanzania. It adds to the current literature as it provides a profound understanding of how to enhance and sustain bioenergy production and consumption in terms of resource capacity and overall sustainability. For this, it comprises four peer-reviewed papers (3 published, one under review). All papers derive results for four income groups at local level. For an optimized analysis, the dissertation is thematically subdivided into the research areas of traditional and modern bioenergy which is displayed in the state of art research sections as well as the clustering of the papers. The first paper focuses on traditional bioenergy consumption and the potential introduction of a firewood-efficient stove in the major case-study village Laela. The effects of the introduction of more efficient kiln technology on resource consumption in the same village are mirrored in the second publication. After this focus on traditional bioenergy, the third paper investigates food security effects resulting out of the assumed use of vegetable oil for electrification purposes. The fourth paper analyses options for increased palm oil production and derives results for the Tanzanian region of Kigoma. The final recommendation of the thesis is that the prevalence and use of improved stoves needs to be increased substantially. Simultaneously, policy measures that foster the access to and availability of reliable, affordable and sustainable traditional as well as modern energy should be implemented. Furthermore, the establishment of a more efficient and sustainable charcoal value chain needs to be promoted. Vegetable oil based electrification, however, does not contribute towards food security.

The thesis deals with the Goal 8 of the Millennium Development Goals called "Develop a global partnership for development" and monitor its fulfilment in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The emphasis is laid on three important areas included in the Goal 8 and these are official development assistance, access of developing countries on markets of developed countries and external debt burden of developing states. The aim of the thesis is to capture present development in these areas by selected official indicators, which were set by United Nations, compare their current development with the initial year 1990 and on the basis of available data from past three years assess probable future progress in the mentioned areas. Final part of the thesis includes case study of selected Sub-Saharan countries, Ghana and Lesotho.