South Africa has adopted the international trend towards inclusive education. The result is an increasing number of learners with barriers to learning accommodated in mainstream schools. Alternative assessment programmes make provision to address the barriers to learning of these learners during formal assessments. Alternative assessment programmes are a good start to afford learners with barriers to learning a fair chance to impart their knowledge. However, the programmes are adult driven and, as the users of these programmes, we need to consider the learners’ views also. Knowledge of their experience will increase understanding of their needs, which in turn will help to refine the programmes and adjust the programmes to these needs. General aim of the study: to explore the lived experience of learners with barriers to learning, who participated in an alternative assessment programme in a mainstream high school in the Western Cape, in a qualitative way, through a phenomenological design. The phenomenological design provided a deeper understanding of the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme from the learners’ viewpoint. We held unstructured, individual interviews with the eight participants who consented to participate in the study. As requested, the participants made collages of their experiences of the alternative assessment programme in a group setting, prior to the interviews. Section B presents the findings of this qualitative study and relates the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme during test- and formal examination series. The findings highlight the importance of considering the opinions of learners with barriers, participating in an alternative assessment programme. / MSc (Master of Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

South Africa has adopted the international trend towards inclusive education. The result is an increasing number of learners with barriers to learning accommodated in mainstream schools. Alternative assessment programmes make provision to address the barriers to learning of these learners during formal assessments. Alternative assessment programmes are a good start to afford learners with barriers to learning a fair chance to impart their knowledge. However, the programmes are adult driven and, as the users of these programmes, we need to consider the learners’ views also. Knowledge of their experience will increase understanding of their needs, which in turn will help to refine the programmes and adjust the programmes to these needs. General aim of the study: to explore the lived experience of learners with barriers to learning, who participated in an alternative assessment programme in a mainstream high school in the Western Cape, in a qualitative way, through a phenomenological design. The phenomenological design provided a deeper understanding of the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme from the learners’ viewpoint. We held unstructured, individual interviews with the eight participants who consented to participate in the study. As requested, the participants made collages of their experiences of the alternative assessment programme in a group setting, prior to the interviews. Section B presents the findings of this qualitative study and relates the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme during test- and formal examination series. The findings highlight the importance of considering the opinions of learners with barriers, participating in an alternative assessment programme. / MSc (Master of Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Climate change, as well as the recent energy crisis in South Africa, has placed renewed emphasis on the need to consider alternative energy options for future developments. EIA can and should play an important role in ensuring that energy alternatives are considered in developmental decision making. The need to consider energy alternatives has already been highlighted as EIA good practice in various guidelines, as well as being explicitly required in relevant application forms. The purpose of this research was twofold. Firstly, to determine the extent to which energy alternatives were considered in EIAs for Metropolitan developments. Secondly, to identify the barriers towards improving the uptake and consideration of energy alternatives by environmental assessment practitioners, environmental authorities and developers. The results show that the consideration of energy alternatives is almost non-existent with very few cases of best practice. The barriers towards introduction of energy alternatives seem to be related to a lack of information and knowledge, institutional resistance to change, as well as general expediency. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The concern over depleting fossil fuel resources and increasing greenhouse gas emissions has prompted the research into alternative and renewable energy resources. Bioethanol is seen as a potential alternative to petroleum fuels and is mainly produced from sugar and starch containing crops such as sugar cane and maize. In South Africa the use of maize for ethanol production has been prohibited due to food security concerns; therefore, alternative feedstocks need to be investigated. Tropical sugar beet, a new variety of sugar beet, is a potential alternative as it is able to grow in tropical and subtropical climates using much less water than sugar cane. The main objective of this study was to determine the potential of using tropical sugar beet for ethanol production. The study focused on the effects of dilution ratio, pH, yeast concentration and the addition of a nitrogen supplement on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% and a glycerol yield of 0.08 g.g–1 was obtained when no additional water was added to the juice. The best dilution ratio was found to be 1:4 which gave a maximum ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% and a glycerol yield of 0.07 g.g–1. An ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% was achieved at a yeast concentration of 5 g.L–1 after four hours of fermentation. Nitrogen supplements such as urea, peptone, yeast extract and ammonium sulphate were added during fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement to fermentation had a positive effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% was achieved when urea was added to the fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement also decreased the amount of glycerol formed from 0.15 g.g –1 to 0.08 g.g–1. Ammonium sulphate was chosen as the preferred nitrogen source as it is a simple component that can enter the cell directly. A maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 88%, was achieved when 750 mg N.L–1 ammonium sulphate was added. Adjusting the pH prior to fermentation had no real effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved at all the pH values investigated. Therefore the natural pH of the juice, or pH values between 4 and 5.5, could be used. Adjusting the pH was done to merely reduce the risk of contamination. The optimal fermentation parameters were found to be pH 4, yeast concentration 5 g.L–1 and a ammonium sulphate concentration of 750 mg N.L–1. At these conditions, a maximum ethanol of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved. These results show that tropical sugar beet with a sugar content of approximately 21.8% (w.w–1) is a good feedstock for ethanol production in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Climate change, as well as the recent energy crisis in South Africa, has placed renewed emphasis on the need to consider alternative energy options for future developments. EIA can and should play an important role in ensuring that energy alternatives are considered in developmental decision making. The need to consider energy alternatives has already been highlighted as EIA good practice in various guidelines, as well as being explicitly required in relevant application forms. The purpose of this research was twofold. Firstly, to determine the extent to which energy alternatives were considered in EIAs for Metropolitan developments. Secondly, to identify the barriers towards improving the uptake and consideration of energy alternatives by environmental assessment practitioners, environmental authorities and developers. The results show that the consideration of energy alternatives is almost non-existent with very few cases of best practice. The barriers towards introduction of energy alternatives seem to be related to a lack of information and knowledge, institutional resistance to change, as well as general expediency. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The concern over depleting fossil fuel resources and increasing greenhouse gas emissions has prompted the research into alternative and renewable energy resources. Bioethanol is seen as a potential alternative to petroleum fuels and is mainly produced from sugar and starch containing crops such as sugar cane and maize. In South Africa the use of maize for ethanol production has been prohibited due to food security concerns; therefore, alternative feedstocks need to be investigated. Tropical sugar beet, a new variety of sugar beet, is a potential alternative as it is able to grow in tropical and subtropical climates using much less water than sugar cane. The main objective of this study was to determine the potential of using tropical sugar beet for ethanol production. The study focused on the effects of dilution ratio, pH, yeast concentration and the addition of a nitrogen supplement on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% and a glycerol yield of 0.08 g.g–1 was obtained when no additional water was added to the juice. The best dilution ratio was found to be 1:4 which gave a maximum ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% and a glycerol yield of 0.07 g.g–1. An ethanol yield of 0.48 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 94% was achieved at a yeast concentration of 5 g.L–1 after four hours of fermentation. Nitrogen supplements such as urea, peptone, yeast extract and ammonium sulphate were added during fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement to fermentation had a positive effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.47 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 92% was achieved when urea was added to the fermentation. The addition of a nitrogen supplement also decreased the amount of glycerol formed from 0.15 g.g –1 to 0.08 g.g–1. Ammonium sulphate was chosen as the preferred nitrogen source as it is a simple component that can enter the cell directly. A maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 which is a conversion efficiency of 88%, was achieved when 750 mg N.L–1 ammonium sulphate was added. Adjusting the pH prior to fermentation had no real effect on the ethanol yield. The maximum ethanol yield of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved at all the pH values investigated. Therefore the natural pH of the juice, or pH values between 4 and 5.5, could be used. Adjusting the pH was done to merely reduce the risk of contamination. The optimal fermentation parameters were found to be pH 4, yeast concentration 5 g.L–1 and a ammonium sulphate concentration of 750 mg N.L–1. At these conditions, a maximum ethanol of 0.45 g.g–1 was achieved. These results show that tropical sugar beet with a sugar content of approximately 21.8% (w.w–1) is a good feedstock for ethanol production in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

In the last two decades, increasingly more research has been conducted on the process of participation as a children’s right both nationally and internationally. This includes research on children’s participation within the family environment as well as with children who are placed into alternative care. Children’s participation within the field of child protection continues to demonstrate challenges for both children and those adults working with children in this environment. A child and youth care centre forms part of the broader field of child protection and represents a bounded system of dynamics especially with regard to the process of children’s participation. There continues to be various barriers with regard to children’s participation in general but especially for children who have been found in need of care and protection. This is largely linked to the emphasis being put on the vulnerabilities and needs of children who have been placed into alternative care. The general aim of the study was to qualitatively, through a case study design, explore and describe the nature of participation as a children’s right in the context of a child and youth care centre in the Western Cape. The case study was utilised in order to gain more insight into the nature of participation as a children’s right, based on the perceptions of the children, child care workers, social workers and professionals within the system. Thirteen semi structured individual interviews were held with the child participations. Prior to the interviews, a session was held with the children to discuss the purpose of the research and to allow them to become more aware of the concept of children’s participation. The children were asked to create a collage of their perception of children’s participation as a right. Two separate focus groups were held for the adult participants; one for the child care workers and the other for the social workers and professionals. Based on the findings of this qualitative study about the nature of children’s participation as perceived by both children and adults in a child and youth care centre, the article in Section B aims at highlighting those critical elements needed for the realisation of children’s participation within a context of child protection. / MSW (Child Protection), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Background: Electricity tariffs charged by Eskom have sharply increased over the past three years, with a 25% annual increase approved by Nersa until April 2012. There is no indication on what to expect in the future with regard to electricity tariffs. Many South Africans are searching for ways to save on their monthly electricity bills by seeking out alternative water heating systems. Solar geysers became a popular investment option, but this might not be the best options available on the market. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the most financially viable investment option in order to reduce electricity cost when it comes to water heating systems for use in households. This is done by comparing the capital expenditure and operational cost needed with the financial benefits generated by the investment, taking into consideration the size of the household. Design and method: A literature study was done on the different alternative water heating systems in order to obtain a better understanding of how these systems operate and what savings they can generate. Different investment appraisals were identified and a literature review was performed in order to identify the most appropriate investment appraisals for the purpose of this study. It was found that the net present value, equivalent annual annuity, internal rate of return, modified internal rate of return, accounting rate of return, discounted payback period and the economic value added were the best investment appraisal methods to use for the purpose of this study. Findings and conclusion: It was found that the five investment options identified in the literature review would all, to some extent, be financially viable to implement within households with high as well as low volume hot water consumption. All the investment appraisals gave positive outcomes. The conclusion was made that a saving will be generated on the monthly electricity bill no matter what alternative water heating system were to be installed in the place of a conventional geyser. Recommendations: It is recommended that a household with low volume hot water consumption should install a time switch as this investment option renders the highest IRR, MIRR, ARR and discounted payback period. The second best investment option for a household with low volume hot water consumption is a heat pump and the third best option is a gas geyser. For a household with high volume hot water consumption, the best investment options is again a time switch, as this renders the best IRR, MIRR, ARR and discounted payback period. The second best investment option is a heat pump, with a gas geyser as the third best investment option. Value of the research: This study focuses on five alternative water heating systems for a household within South Africa in times where electricity charges sharply increase. The financial viability of each of the alternatives is determined through various investment appraisals and the best option can be identified by comparing the outcomes of the alternatives. Furthermore, each individual is able to determine the viability of the alternatives by using the Excel model attached to this study and by inputting his/her own variables, where applicable. Research limitation: Limited literature was available on the different alternative water heating systems. No indication could be found of the maintenance cost of the different water heating systems. Assumptions had to be made with regard to households, although no two households are the same. Areas for further research: The same study could be performed, but with the focus on small businesses and large organisations. Furthermore, a study could be performed to determine the appropriate discount rate for individuals as well as the maintenance cost for water heating systems. / Thesis (MCom (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

In the last two decades, increasingly more research has been conducted on the process of participation as a children’s right both nationally and internationally. This includes research on children’s participation within the family environment as well as with children who are placed into alternative care. Children’s participation within the field of child protection continues to demonstrate challenges for both children and those adults working with children in this environment. A child and youth care centre forms part of the broader field of child protection and represents a bounded system of dynamics especially with regard to the process of children’s participation. There continues to be various barriers with regard to children’s participation in general but especially for children who have been found in need of care and protection. This is largely linked to the emphasis being put on the vulnerabilities and needs of children who have been placed into alternative care. The general aim of the study was to qualitatively, through a case study design, explore and describe the nature of participation as a children’s right in the context of a child and youth care centre in the Western Cape. The case study was utilised in order to gain more insight into the nature of participation as a children’s right, based on the perceptions of the children, child care workers, social workers and professionals within the system. Thirteen semi structured individual interviews were held with the child participations. Prior to the interviews, a session was held with the children to discuss the purpose of the research and to allow them to become more aware of the concept of children’s participation. The children were asked to create a collage of their perception of children’s participation as a right. Two separate focus groups were held for the adult participants; one for the child care workers and the other for the social workers and professionals. Based on the findings of this qualitative study about the nature of children’s participation as perceived by both children and adults in a child and youth care centre, the article in Section B aims at highlighting those critical elements needed for the realisation of children’s participation within a context of child protection. / MSW (Child Protection), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Background: Electricity tariffs charged by Eskom have sharply increased over the past three years, with a 25% annual increase approved by Nersa until April 2012. There is no indication on what to expect in the future with regard to electricity tariffs. Many South Africans are searching for ways to save on their monthly electricity bills by seeking out alternative water heating systems. Solar geysers became a popular investment option, but this might not be the best options available on the market. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the most financially viable investment option in order to reduce electricity cost when it comes to water heating systems for use in households. This is done by comparing the capital expenditure and operational cost needed with the financial benefits generated by the investment, taking into consideration the size of the household. Design and method: A literature study was done on the different alternative water heating systems in order to obtain a better understanding of how these systems operate and what savings they can generate. Different investment appraisals were identified and a literature review was performed in order to identify the most appropriate investment appraisals for the purpose of this study. It was found that the net present value, equivalent annual annuity, internal rate of return, modified internal rate of return, accounting rate of return, discounted payback period and the economic value added were the best investment appraisal methods to use for the purpose of this study. Findings and conclusion: It was found that the five investment options identified in the literature review would all, to some extent, be financially viable to implement within households with high as well as low volume hot water consumption. All the investment appraisals gave positive outcomes. The conclusion was made that a saving will be generated on the monthly electricity bill no matter what alternative water heating system were to be installed in the place of a conventional geyser. Recommendations: It is recommended that a household with low volume hot water consumption should install a time switch as this investment option renders the highest IRR, MIRR, ARR and discounted payback period. The second best investment option for a household with low volume hot water consumption is a heat pump and the third best option is a gas geyser. For a household with high volume hot water consumption, the best investment options is again a time switch, as this renders the best IRR, MIRR, ARR and discounted payback period. The second best investment option is a heat pump, with a gas geyser as the third best investment option. Value of the research: This study focuses on five alternative water heating systems for a household within South Africa in times where electricity charges sharply increase. The financial viability of each of the alternatives is determined through various investment appraisals and the best option can be identified by comparing the outcomes of the alternatives. Furthermore, each individual is able to determine the viability of the alternatives by using the Excel model attached to this study and by inputting his/her own variables, where applicable. Research limitation: Limited literature was available on the different alternative water heating systems. No indication could be found of the maintenance cost of the different water heating systems. Assumptions had to be made with regard to households, although no two households are the same. Areas for further research: The same study could be performed, but with the focus on small businesses and large organisations. Furthermore, a study could be performed to determine the appropriate discount rate for individuals as well as the maintenance cost for water heating systems. / Thesis (MCom (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012