In a decentralised system of governance, checks and balances are important to prevent corruption and ensure the optimal performance of public service organisations. However, such regulations need to strike a careful balance between not being too simple and avoiding onerous, unnecessary complexity. Furthermore, the devolution of responsibility cannot occur in isolation – it must be accompanied by financial and operational support. Although South Africa has always had some form of a decentralised governing system, the Constitution of 1996 has formally entrenched this into the country's current public administration. Local government, now a sphere within itself, is thus responsible for bringing the Bill of Human Rights to life, acting increasingly as the implementation arm for national government's policies and initiatives. Following the passing of the Local Government Municipal Financial Management Act of 2003 (MFMA), South African municipalities are also required to comply with rigorous, annual auditing regulations. Intended to enforce sound financial governance and prevent abuse of devolved power, the influence of the audits is widely expected to positively impact other areas of municipal operations, ensuring well-run public organisations able to fulfil their service delivery mandate. Indeed, the general public uphold clean audit outcomes – a standard unique to South African municipal audits – as the only acceptable result and indication of effective local governance. However, this is not always the case. By examining the extent to which financial compliance, as represented by municipal audit outcomes, relates to local government service delivery performance, this thesis investigates whether the auditing regulations are appropriately designed to achieve their intended outcomes and asks how much of an impact sound financial management has upon municipal operations. The results suggest that, whilst there does appear to be a weak, positive relationship between clean audits and service delivery in some instances, on the whole the audit outcomes are not strongly related to municipal operational performance. The capacity of local governments to deliver services appears to be far more a function of their operational context - particularly the regional wealth levels, population density, political influence and available infrastructure - than financial compliance and audit outcomes. Given the costs of the current auditing system and difficulties faced by municipal employees in relation to the regulations, this thesis concludes with recommendations for its adaptation. These include amending its current one-size-fits-all design and moving away from a compliance focus towards performance, value-based auditing. In addition, local municipalities should be provided with greater amounts of operational support, as financial regulations alone – even when optimally designed – cannot be relied upon to keep the performance of South Africa's decentralised system of governance in check.

Zimbabwe has been experiencing an unprecedented increase in Non-performing loans (NPLs), since the adoption of the multi-currency regime in 2009. The NPL ratio which stood at 15.92% as at 31 December 2013, has attracted much attention considering its impact on banking sector stability and its effect on the real sector. The banking sector has since reduced its risk appetite, adopting conservative lending strategies, in response to the scourge, in an environment where industry is in need of funding thus causing second round effects. There has been conflicting views in literature on factors influencing the rise in NPLs. Shareholders and bank management have placed the blame of the increase in NPLs on the macroeconomic environment, while regulatory authorities and policy makers have attributed the levels to corporate governance weaknesses. This study sets out to ascertain the factors that have been instrumental in driving the level of non-performing loans in Zimbabwe and the extent to which each of these factors has contributed to this trend. The population of study was the Zimbabwean banking sector which comprised 21 banking institutions as at 31 December 2013. The factors that were investigated were: lending interest rates, shareholding structure, GDP growth, inflation rate, management efficiency, capital adequacy, loan tenure, size of the institution and the lagged NPLs. The study used statistical techniques, in particular panel data analysis for bank level data collected on a quarterly basis over a 5 year period beginning March 2009 and ending December 2013. The findings indicate that all the macroeconomic factors were not statistically significantly related to the rise of the NPLs. On the other hand bank specific factors with the exception of loan tenure and lending rates, were found to be significantly related to the rise in NPLs. Lagged NPLs were found to be more influential implying that the country is blight with credit indiscipline. Findings of this study, with the exception of size were found to be generally consistent with previous literature on determinants of NPLs. An interesting observation made was that bank size was found to be positively related to NPLs, contrary to literature, indicating that larger banks are not benefiting from diversification benefits. Based on the findings, the research recommends enhanced monitoring of banking institutions by the supervisory authority coupled with a collaborative NPL resolution options. Banking institutions are encouraged to tighten their credit risk management systems and practices.

South Africa's utility scale renewable energy industry began in earnest in November 2012. November 2012 saw the 1st round of utility scale renewable energy projects reaching financial close. These, renewable energy independent power producer, projects will be integrated into the national electricity grid and become part of South Africa's electricity generation mix. South Africa's renewable roll-out is set against a period of strong growth in the international renewable energy market particularly 2010 and 2011. The recent slowdowns in the market in Spain and Germany make South Africa highly attractive to foreign developers, financiers and suppliers. The path to reaching financial close for the first round of renewable energy project in South Africa was an uncertain one. South Africa switched from the more popular feed-in tariff (FiT) to a competitive bidding system in late 2010, causing delays and decreased confidence in the South African market. Within the new, competitive bidding programme there were complicated surety, economic development, financing and structuring requirements. These requirements reflect the myriad and sometimes unaligned goals of National Treasury, the Department of Energy (DoE), the Economic Development Department (EDD) and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). By the end of 2012, bids for the first two rounds of projects had been concluded, preferred bidders announced and financial close of round 1 achieved. This progress has raised questions. Were the goals of value for money and economic development attained? Are there additional areas where South Africa could improve the process to yield a more politically, socially or financially desirable result? Where is the job creation in these projects and what portions of the projects are localised? This research paper will consider the impact of the competitive bid on local manufacturing, specifically in the photovoltaic industry, and develop an understand where jobs are created along the value chain. This research paper will assess the competitiveness of locally manufactured photovoltaics? It will identify the portions of the value chain that yield high relative concentrations of jobs, and whether policy makers could design incentives and regulations that focus on the portion of the value chain which increases 'value for money' in South Africa?

Women make up more than half the population of South Africa. Despite the countries’ legislation and policies to promote the rights and social position of women, many remain unemployed and disempowered, face ongoing discrimination and are not able to access resources including educational opportunities. This dissertation reports on the outcomes of a study that was conducted with women to assess their ability to access employment opportunities after having completed a skills training program. In-depth, face-to-face interviews were undertaken with fifteen women who were purposively selected from different backgrounds of Cape Town who had participated in a skills training program to participate in the research. The research integrated a qualitative exploratory approach to explore various experiences of the participants to examine how their involvement with a job skills training programme enabled them to access employment. The research findings revealed that the job skills training programmes enabled most of the women to get employment, and as a result, be able to support themselves financially. Their sense of wellbeing improved, and they were able to access resources like housing. The study also found that policies such as the Employment Equality Act No. 55 of 1998 was well understood and implemented by organisations promoting women’s empowerment through skills training and they implemented the policy to improve the lives of women. However, the study also found existing challenges for women related to the implications of past discriminatory policies and cultural dimensions of family life, especially within black communities, by which women’s role were understood as having to be in the home. The research concludes with recommendations that include further education in communities as well as working spaces about women’s empowerment for both men and women, better enforcement of the rights of women by the state, and further research on how to address the challenges that women face in South Africa society as relates their empowerment.

There is limited knowledge about autism as a disability in Africa: thus far, most autism research studies have been limited to families in high-income western countries, resulting in a gap in research regarding studies from low-income countries. Despite their vulnerability, people with disabilities have been largely unnoticed as a goal of development work despite disability’s economic impact on families and communities, and the associated discrimination, stigmatisation and exclusion. Education has been identified as an essential building block of human and economic development, yet children with disabilities face unequal barriers in accessing educational services and schooling. Focusing on early intervention services is vital for the growth and development of children with disabilities, as early human development services and programmes for young children and families play a critical role in alleviating poverty and achieving social and economic equity. The aim of this study was to identify the major barriers to accessing early intervention services for autistic individuals in Cape Town and achieving well-being. I drew on Sen’s capability approach to inform my theoretical framework. I used an embedded mixed methods design, with a quantitative questionnaire playing a supportive secondary role in this qualitative study, which included in-depth interviews and some documentary research. The sample consisted of ten participants: five parents of autistic children, and five autistic adults. Qualitative data for this study was analysed using thematic analysis, informed by Miles and Huberman’s (1994) process of first and second-level coding. The quantitative data for descriptive statistics was recorded and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). This study brought six themes into focus, namely services, financial constraints, practitioners, home environment, stigma, and lack of support services. A variety of recommendations were highlighted by the participants, including an adaptation of services; developing better trained practitioners in autism-specific strategies; making increased parent-training and support services available; together with creating a better system to help support, monitor and guide families and autistic individuals in navigating the field of services.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 181-185).

Bibliography: leaves 137-144. / The goal of the study is to evaluate the treatment programme of the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre. Overall the evaluation reflects a positive picture of the services offered by the Centre. The study commenced in January 2000. Respondent acquisition commenced on the 1st April 2000 and was completed 31st December 2000. All clients that were assessed during this period formed the study population. The sample was selected from the population using convenience sampling. Three follow-up interview schedules were conducted at six weeks, three months and six months post assessment. This study was explorative in nature and has shown the treatment programme offered by the CTDCC to be effective in terms of abstinence. Respondents favoured longer attendance in the treatment programme. The treatment option combination of individual therapy, motivational groups, and aromatherapy treatment sessions produced the highest rate of respondents who were abstinent at six months post assessment. The relationship between treatment and its effect on drug related criminal activity was briefly investigated. Also investigated were additional measures of treatment efficacy; and the relationship between treatment and shifts in the respondents employment status over the period of the study. Conclusions and recommendations affecting the treatment programme were made. The goal of the study, that is, to evaluate the treatment programme, was achieved satisfactorily.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-74). / During the crucial stage of their development, many children living in Hanover Park have to deal with numerous challenges that impact on their ability to discover and enhance their capabilities. This study aimed to explore the available after-school programmes and activities for Grade 7 learners living in Hanover Park. Furthermore, it assessed whether learners are aware of these available after-school programmes and activities and what hinders their participation.A qualitative research design was used for this study. Semi-structured interviews with key respondents were held to determine the available after-school programmes and activities in Hanover Park.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references. / This study explored the key socio-economic challenges facing youth refugees in the Western Cape. The study was carried out on a purposive sample of twelve youth refugees. In addition, six key informants from various institutions working with refugees in the Western Cape were also interviewed. The study adopted a qualitative exploratory approach using a semi structured interview schedule for face to face interviews with the participants.

Collaboration among Early Childhood Development Non-Profit Organisations (ECD NPOs) in South Africa is an unexplored area of research. Little is known about the ECD NPO sector, let alone the strategies they employ to remain viable, effective and efficient in the face of a declining resource base. Collaboration is one of these strategies and it is hoped that this qualitative research will make a contribution to the understanding of the state of collaboration among ECD NPOs in the Western Cape Province. The study explores how ECD NPOs and government participants understand collaboration in this sector, and investigates the factors that are considered before entering past and present collaboration initiatives. The study further explores the value of collaboration, and the factors enabling and those inhibiting collaboration among ECD NPOs in the Western Cape Province. Nineteen (19) face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with participants from sixteen (16) ECD NPOs and three (3) government departments. The study revealed that ECD NPO and government participants had a common understanding of collaboration. ECD NPOs considered various factors such as capacity, time/time frame, cost and benefit analysis, partner's track record and the need for service before engaging in collaborative initiatives, while government participants only considered capacity (human resources and expertise) and collaborating partner's track record before engaging. The study indicated that there were more benefits than challenges to collaboration among ECD NPOs. In addition, the study established that the factors enhancing collaboration among ECD NPOs in the Western Cape include shared or similar vision, good working relationships, networking, common knowledge and understanding of the ECD sector and an open mind approach. On the other hand, the factors inhibiting collaboration among ECD NPOs include shortage of resources, competitiveness, time constraints, organisational culture differences, fear of the unknown and geographical location. Participants spoke positively about their collaboration experiences and noted how this would be a strategy to pool resources and enhance their survival, effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery in the ECD NPO sector.