Thesis (M.B.A. (Rhodes Investec Business School)) - Rhodes University, 2008. / "Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration" - T.p.

Thesis (M.B.A. (Investec Business School))--Rhodes University, 2006. / A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Business Administration.

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Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Tourism is one of the fastest growing global sectors, with current international tourist arrivals exceeding 935 million, and projected arrivals to exceed 1 billion by 2020. Community-based ecotourism has been suggested as a possible avenue for poverty eradication and local economic development in South Africa's remote rural regions, which are characterised by undeveloped infrastructure, poorly functioning schools and few economic opportunities. This is especially true of the Wild Coast region in the Eastern Cape Province, which is characterised by the contrasting elements of abundant natural resources eminently suitable for tourism development, and abject poverty. The central objective of this qualitative study is to evaluate the developmental impacts of the Bulungula Lodge and related initiatives, in order to assess the extent to which ecotourism can be used as a catalyst for local economic development. This includes the conservation practices employed by the enterprise, as well as its contribution towards conservation knowledge amongst community members. In addition, the study undertook to assess the extent to which the Bulungula Lodge and related initiatives has provided employment, and facilitated local participation in decision making and skills development in order to contribute towards sustainable livelihood outcomes. The findings indicate that Bulungula Lodge and related initiatives contribute positively to the local economy through job creation, skills development and local collaboration. However, Bulungula Lodge is faced with a number of factors which constrain the attainment of development goals, such as an inactive local and provincial government, low human and physical capital stocks and an inability to expand without threatening the sustainability of the natural resource base. In conclusion, the study provides numerous recommendations in order to increase the effectiveness of projects and employment within an environment devoid of government intervention. Among these are strategies for improving an understanding of conservation amongst community members, as well as strategies to improve adult education and the empowerment of women in the decision making process.

Background. As a result of the AIDS pandemic, many people areimmuno compromised andopportunistic fungal infections (OFIs) such as candidiasis are common. Despite the widespread use of medicinal plants in South Africa, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the use of such plants in the management of these infections. This study evaluates three South African medicinal plants (Arctotis arctotoides, Pittosporum viridiflorum, and Gasteria bicolor) traditionally used in the treatment of OFIs in HIV/AIDS patients, in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Materials and methods. A six-stage process of documentation, evaluation and analysis of results was conducted: (1) Selection of medicinal plants most frequently used in the treatment of OFIs through ethnomedical studies and the survey of specialised literature; (2) Collection and preparation of the extract of each plant; (3) Antifungal evaluation of the crude plant extracts. (4) Phytochemical and antioxidant evaluation of the active crude plant extracts; (5) Cytotoxicity evaluation of the bioactive extracts using the Chang liver cell line, and (6) Statistical analysis of the results. Ethnobotanical information was obtained through interviews with traditional healers and AIDS patients with the aid of semi-structured questionnaires, direct observations and by reviewing studies reported in the literature. Following the approval from the University of Fort Hare‘s Ethics Committee, 101 HIV/AIDS patients were recruited through convenience sampling into an anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire study. The agar diffusion and micro-dilution methods were used to determine the antifungal activities of the hexane, acetone and aqueous extracts of A. arctotoides, G. bicolor and P. viridiflorum against 10 opportunistic fungi.

The last few years have seen one of the most severe droughts in recent times in the southern African region, and news headlines are increasingly full of warnings about heavy storms, fires and floods. There is no doubt that extreme hydro-meteorological events, and their multiple and potentially disastrous impacts, are at the forefront of the public consciousness at the present time and are one of the key concerns regarding the impacts of climate change in the region. While the links between extreme climate events, disaster risk reduction (DRR - see Box 1) and climate change adaptation (CCA - see Box 2) are recognised in the South African Climate Change White Paper, this is not the case for the whole region. Furthermore, even if there is national recognition of the need to synergise these two spheres of endeavour, this does not always trickle down to effective policy, planning and implementation at the local level.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Technologiae in Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design 2006 / The primary objective of this research project was to determine whether search engine optimisation elements as specified in the Chambers model, affect real estate website visibility. In South Africa, real estate companies predominantly function as SMMEs and are therefore as vulnerable to failure as any other SMME in the country. In order for SMMEs to reduce the possibility of failure, they need to re-evaluate their use of the Internet, as it could assist in their survival. The traditional company structure is no longer sufficient to ensure market reward. The reality is that users are rapidly adapting to the technology available. The Internet is fast becoming a communication, commerce and marketing medium that is changing business globally. Real estate SMMEs are unable to adapt to e-commerce in its purest form, however, they can make effective use of e-marketing. Static websites are used for that specific purpose. A marketing strategy is imperative to the survival of a company, whereby the firm is able to create and maintain a competitive advantage in a cluttered marketplace. Regrettably, hosting a website on the Internet is not enough. Searchers tend not to view search results beyond the second page - 30 results at the most. It becomes evident that companies should ensure that their own website ranks as high as possible on the search engine result page. This in turn should sufficiently market the company. Search engine optimisation involves designing or modifying websites in order to improve search engine result page ranking. The elements as specified in the Chambers model are extensively elaborated on in the literature analysis. The methodology consisted of two stages - a questionnaire and empirical experiments. A quantitative research approach was adopted for both of these components. The primary objective of the questionnaire was to obtain search phrases from the public when searching for real estate online. The search phrases were then used in the experiments, testing the visibility of predetermined websites, which were based on a pre- post- test control group design methodology. In this instance, the before group consisted of five different websites from five different real estate companies which have been hosted on the Internet for a duration of no less than three months. The Chambers model was used in the development of five new optimised websites, one for each company. The new websites were hosted on the Internet for 27 days, in order to give search engines the opportunity to index them. The results documented were then compared in order to draw a conclusion. A total of 121 key search phrases were obtained. The results from the old and new websites were applied to a process which produced a combination of results known as the ‘quality factor’. The quality factor indicated either a visibility improvement or visibility deterioration with regard to the old and new company’s website. In addition to this, this author compared the optimised website which obtained the best visibility improvement with the website that obtained the highest deterioration in visibility. As a result, the elements specified in the Chambers model were re-evaluated whereby new elements that had not been specified in the original model were identified. Based on the new findings, this author developed a new search engine optimisation model as a secondary objective in this thesis.

Mini-thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Public Management in the Faculty of Business at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2013 / Gillis (2004:1) stated in her publication in Communication World that “employees are the lifeblood of an organisation.” Local governments, both in South Africa and abroad, are increasingly faced with the need to change for a number of reasons, one of which is to change so as to become more responsive and improve performance. As local government devises means to attain the objectives of performance management, how does it ensure that performance management objectives are mainstreamed within the organisation? Academic writers agree that staff resistances are counterproductive to the efforts made by any municipality to introduce performance management systems with the aim of bringing about effective and efficient service to its constituents. The key to avoiding staff resistances, which all organisations have to take account of, is communicating with employees. The writer suggests that this process is necessary and unavoidable, yet it is almost always ignored. The main aim of this study was to review the communication practices underpinning the Balance Scorecard (BSC) performance management system within the Cape Town Metropolitan Police Department (CTMPD). Tentative discussions with the metropolitan police department’s middle and low level managers indicated little understanding of how the BSC fits into the CTMPD’s accountability measures. At regular senior management meetings, called the Operational Management Forum (OMF), in 2011, the researcher learnt from operational directors and managers that they were not properly consulted with regard to the BSC system and that the implementation of the system was not adequately communicated. Managers claimed that only a short presentation was given in 2009 and it was then expected that middle managers would achieve the desired results and attain objectives towards which they had very little input. They have since become disillusioned and have resorted to focussing solely on ensuring that they spend their budgets with little understanding that there is more to the BSC than financial measurements. Thus the research questions were posed: why was performance management introduced within the CTMPD and what guidelines can be provided to improve how performance management is communicated to managers? A questionnaire was used to gain insight into this; it was administered to middle management within the CTMPD. The main findings of the research were that the respondents have an understanding of performance management. Another finding was that the majority of the respondents were not trained in the BSC performance management system. The researcher thus recommended that the safety and security training college be tasked to develop a training workshop, with the help of the support services manager. In addition, the researcher also recommended that the support services division ensures that candidates eligible for middle management positions be tested on their core communication skills and understanding of performance management principles prior to appointment.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor Technologiae in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / The study investigated tourism as a catalyst to local economic development of the Transkei Wild Coast. The Transkei Wild Coast is an area which stretches from the Kei River mouth south of East London, to Durban South Coast, with seven local municipalities located in the area. These local municipalities are Mquma, Mbhashe, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Port St Johns, Ngquza Hill and Mbizana. Infrastructure and partnership models were identified as key to the development and growth of the tourism industry in the Transkei Wild Coast. It was found that the status of infrastructure and partnerships is lacking and delivers little or no economic benefits and advances in the Transkei Wild Coast. Factors contributing to the poor performance of tourism-led local economic development by the local municipalities in the Transkei Wild Coast include poor roads, poor communication, lack of infrastructure, erratic electricity supply, and poor quality of water supply. Partnerships both at strategic and implementation levels lack commitment, role clarification and acceptable beneficiation metrics to all involved stakeholders. Infrastructure and partnerships are explained as basic and key necessities in developing a successful tourism industry in the Transkei Wild Coast. The study argues that local municipalities need support to grow the tourism industry to become a key contributor to the local economic development strategy. The Transkei Wild Coast has a wealth of natural resources, culture and history to offer tourists to this area. Local economic viability of the Transkei Wild Coast will improve, which inevitably will lead to an improved standard of living of the host communities. Growth of the tourism industry will lead to growth and development of related industries/businesses. The findings revealed that the majority of Transkei Wild Coast inhabitants support investment in the tourism industry. Prioritisation of tourism as a catalyst to local economic development in the Transkei Wild Coast will unlock other potential economic sectors in the area. For this to succeed, it is imperative that capital infrastructure is improved and credible and beneficial partnerships are created and maintained. Recommendations are proposed to fulfil the State-led mandate for socioeconomic development and advancement at local municipal level in South Africa generally and the Transkei Wild Coast in particular.

Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by the Type A strain of the influenza virus. The disease, which was first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide (World Health Organization, 2006a). The current outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1), which began in Southeast Asia in mid-2003, is the largest and most severe on record. Never before in the recorded history of this disease have so many countries been simultaneously affected. Since the last pandemic in 1968-1969, the risk of an influenza pandemic has not been considered greater than at the present time. The importance of intervention strategies had become increasingly evident throughout the world. The World Health Organization provides a generic outline for preparedness plans to assist countries in their preparations to respond to a possible avian influenza pandemic. These guidelines may be modified as the epidemiology of avian influenza evolves. The South African National Department of Health has developed national guidelines in the form of an avian influenza preparedness plan. These draft guidelines do not provide detailed Environmental Health work methods and - procedures for the effective surveillance and control of the disease. The general purpose of this study is to develop a standardised set of Environmental Health work methods and - procedures, which will contribute to the effective surveillance and control of avian influenza in the Eastern Cape province – South Africa. Within the context of the purpose of this study, a qualitative, explorative, descriptive, inductive and deductive research design will be used. The methods of data collection will be documentary research, telephonic as well as in-depth personal interviews. In this study, documentary research will be the primary method of data collection. With a qualitative approach, the researcher will be the human instrument for data analysis. The process of qualitative data analysis will be based on data reduction and interpretation; and will be conducted as an activity simultaneously with data collection, data interpretation and narrative reporting writing.