Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) is a strategy that was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to reduce the mortality and morbidity rate of children younger than 5 years and to improve the quality of life of these children. The reduction of child mortality and morbidity is one of the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs) as sub-Saharan Africa has a high child mortality and morbidity prevalence. The IMCI strategy has three components namely case management, the health system and the household and community component. This strategy was implemented internationally, including South Africa, where it is implemented within Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities. The implementation of the IMCI strategy was introduced to the PHC environment of South Africa and aims to enhance the equity, accessibility, affordability and availability of health care to all South African citizens, with the focus in this study on the child younger than 5 years. The North West province started training the professional nurses and implemented IMCI in 1998. The Dr. Kenneth Kaunda district (one of the districts in North West Province) and with specific focus on the Matlosana sub-district identified challenges in the implementation of the IMCI strategy by professional nurses. Challenges such as a lack of trained staff, the short time frame available for consultation amidst an already overburdened clinic and the physical infrastructure of the PHC facilities are such examples. The main aim of this research was to explore and gain insight and understanding in the challenges professional nurses working in PHC facilities face regarding the implementation of the IMCI strategy. A qualitative research design was used to conduct this study on daily work-life experiences of the professional nurses. Individual, semi-structured interviews were used as the method of data collection. The main question asked was: “What are the challenges faced by professional nurses in PHC facilities regarding the implementation of the IMCI strategy?” Data saturation was reached after 18 professional nurses were interviewed (N=18). Digitally voice recorded interviews were transcribed and content analysis was conducted. The findings of this research suggest that the professional nurses in the PHC facilities indeed experienced challenges regarding IMCI implementation. The main themes that emerged were challenges regarding the organisation and service delivery; challenges specific to the implementation of the IMCI strategy and also challenges external to the clinic that impacted directly on the IMCI strategy implementation. The findings were discussed with literature integration. From the research results and conclusions, the researcher compiled recommendations for nursing education, nursing research, and community health practice. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Cashew, Anacardium occidentale Linnaeus, is an economically important cash crop for more than 300,000 rural households in Tanzania. Its production is, however, severely constrained by infestation by sap-sucking insects such as Helopeltis anacardii Miller, H. Schoutedeni Reuter and Pseudotheraptus wayi Brown. The African weaver ant (AWA), Oecophylla longinoda Latreille, is an effective biocontrol agent of hemipteran pests in coconuts in Tanzania; but its efficacy for the control of sap-sucking insects, especially Helopeltis spp. and P. wayi, has not been investigated so far in cashew crops in Tanzania. Field trials were carried out at the Coast region of Tanzania to evaluate the effect of seasonality and abundance of AWA on Helopeltis spp. and P. wayi. Results showed that AWA abundance expressed, as number of leaf nests per tree, and colonization of trails on main branches varied significantly between cashew-seasons and off-seasons. There was a negative correlation between numbers of nests and pest damage. AWA-colonized cashew trees had the lowest shoot damaged by Helopeltis spp., 4.8 and 7.5% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, compared to 36 and 30% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, in uncolonized cashew trees. Similarly, nut damage by P.wayi was lowest in AWA-colonized trees with 2.4 and 6.2% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as compared to 26 and 21% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, in uncolonized trees. Interaction between AWA and dominant ant species, namely big-headed ant (BHA), Pheidole megacephala Fabricius, and common pugnacious ant (CPA), Anoplolepis custodiens Smith, was examined because of the implication that the dominant ant species may have on the efficacy of AWA in its control of sap-sucking pests of cashew. Abundance of AWA was significantly negatively correlated to BHA (r(39) = -0.30; P < 0.0001) and CPA (r(39) = -0.18; P = 0.01) at Bagamoyo in 2010. A similar trend was also observed at Mkuranga. The presence of these ant species may therefore hinder effectiveness of AWA to control sap-sucking pests in cashew in Tanzania. Therefore, suppression of these two inimical ant species should be emphasized for effective control of the sap-sucking pests in cashew fields. It was therefore also important to establish the abundance and diversity of ant species occurring in cashew agro-ecosystems. Results from pitfall traps revealed the diversity and abundance of ants in cashew agro-ecosystems: a total of 14001 ants were trapped belonging to six subfamilies, 18 genera and 32 species. The ant species diversity was high in the cashew fields at two of the four sites, namely Mkuranga A and Kibaha during both seasons. CPA was the most abundant ants in the pitfall traps. It is an important aspect that should be addressed for effective control of sap-sucking pests in cashew fields with AWA, since the correlation between AWA and CPA abundance was found to be negative. The effect of alternative fungicides to sulphur dust used for powdery mildew disease (PMD) on AWA was also investigated. No significant difference could be found in the effect ofthe different fungicides on the number of leaf nests and colonization of trails. In order to develop AWA as a component of cashew integrated sap-sucking insect management, strategies for their conservation during cashew off-seasonswas evaluated. The use of fish and hydramethylon (Amdro®) as baits increased the number of leaf nests and colonization trails of AWA over the control during off-season; however, the increase was significantly high when both fish and hydramethylon were used together. Fish and hydramethylon can therefore be used for conservation of AWA during off-season. It can therefore be concluded that AWA effectively controls sap-sucking pests on cashew and can be conserved during off-season using disposal waste such as fish intestines. Fungicides used for the control of PMD did not have detrimental effects on AWA abundance and can therefore be integrated as a component of cashew IPM. / PhD (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The loss of ecosystem resilience and rangeland (often referred to as veld in South Africa) productivity is a major problem in the semi-arid Savanna environments of southern Africa. The over-utilization of rangelands in the Molopo region of the North- West Province in South Africa has resulted in profound habitat transformations. A common regional indicator of rangeland degradation is the imbalance in the grasswoody ratio, characterized by a loss of grass cover and density with increased shrub or tree density. This can result in major reductions of rangeland productivity for the grazing animal, forcing land users to apply active or passive restoration actions to improve rangeland condition, control the thickening of woody species (bush thickening), mitigate economic losses and restoring the aesthetical value of the Savanna environment for ecotourism and game hunting aspects. This study formed part of the multinational EU-funded PRACTICE project (“Prevention and restoration actions to combat desertification: an integrated assessment”). The first aim of the study was to evaluate locally applied restoration actions using a participatory approach, followed by interviews with certain stakeholders that formed part of a multi-stakeholder platform (MSP) related to the livestock and game farming community in the Molopo. Participants of the MSP ranked indicators according to their relative importance regarding the restoration actions on an individual basis. The individual ranking results were combined with quantitative bio-physical and qualitative socio-economic measurements for each indicator in a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), whereby the alternative actions were ranked according to their relevancy and performance. The results were then shared with members of the MSP in order to stimulate discussion among the members and contribute to the social learning of the project outcome. The overall positive response and acceptance of results by members of the MSP changed the perceptions and objectives of the land users regarding rangeland management. This type of participatory assessment was therefore found to be very promising in helping to identify more sustainable actions to mitigate rangeland degradation in the Molopo Savanna region. There is, however, still an urgent need to create legal policy frameworks and institution-building, to support local-level implementation in all socio-ecological and economic settings, particularly in communal areas. The second aim was to evaluate the effect of two chemical bush control actions (chemical hand- (HC) and aeroplane control (AC)) as well as rotational grazing (RGM) on the Molopo Savanna vegetation. Results show that rangeland productivity, i.e. forage production and grazing capacity, was found to be negatively related to the woody phytomass in the savanna system studied. Bush thickening influenced grass species composition which was commonly associated with a decline in the abundance of sub-climax to climax grasses, respectively. All three actions (HC, AC & RGM) significantly reduced the woody phytomass and increased forage production and grazing capacity. Although AC resulted in the highest reduction of woody phytomass, the highest forage production and grazing capacity was found under RGM. The second highest grazing capacity was found in HC sites, which was due to a high abundance of perennial, palatable climax grass species. Results from this study also show that the patterns and compositions of grass species, grass functional groups (GFGs) and woody densities indicated by RGM and chemical HC, best resemble a productive and stable savanna system that provides important key resources to support both grazing and browsing herbivores. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In this day and age sustainability is gaining increasing importance seeing as this is of utmost importance to stakeholders. Yet, very few people are aware of the true meaning of sustainability. Stakeholders, also being the users of the annual report, need to be aware of the impact a company has on the environment and the society as well as their financial performance in order, among others, to make informed decisions regarding investments. For all financial years ending on or after 1 March 2010, all companies listed on the JSE have to report on sustainability (this is a JSE listing requirement). Yet, no statutory requirement for adherence to reporting standards relating to sustainability exists. This creates the risk that sustainability reports will omit negative impacts or be otherwise misleading, yet the company is still seen as adhering to listing and thus statutory requirements. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) developed their Sustainability Reporting Framework in order to serve as a benchmark for measuring sustainability. This Framework includes the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (including basic principles and standard disclosures that need to be included in the report), Sector Supplements (including sector specific issues) as well as the Technical Protocol (which guides the entity in defining the content of the report). This is currently the only formal guideline available and is widely used around the world. Given the importance of the mining industry in South Africa, this article considers the quality of integrated reporting of the South African mining industry. This is done by undertaking a quantitative, applied, descriptive methodology in order to answer the research questions. Thus compliance with the globally accepted GRI Sustainability Framework has been evaluated and analysed. Using a sample of 13 of the mining companies included in the JSE Top 40 companies, the results show that these companies use the GRI G3.1 Guidelines in producing their sustainability report and that adherence improves annually. Some companies, however, do not apply the Sector Supplements which was designed to include industry-specific impacts. / Thesis (MCom (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Milton Friedman’s theory of free market corporate responsibility, which states that the maximizing of profits is the only social responsibility a law-abiding business has, is clearly a concept of the past. A concept that is very relevant today, is the concept of sustainable development, which may be defined as development that meets the needs of the present world without forfeiting the ability of future generations to meet their personal needs. This concept recognises that stakeholders and shareholders require forward-looking information to attend to the economic, environmental and social aspects of a business’s activities. Previous research has indicted that the financial performance of a business alone isn’t the sole reason for its success. This demonstrates the change from a single-bottom-line management and reporting approach to a triple-bottom-line management and reporting approach. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) developed a Sustainability Reporting Framework that is generally considered the most widely used framework in terms of social responsibility reporting. In this research project, the unique set of business principles and values of co-operatives were analyzed and evaluated, and congruence were found between sustainable development and co-operative governance. Co-operatives in their diverse forms support the fullest participation in the economic and social development of people since they put people at the centre of their business and not capital. The primary objective of this study was to determine the extent to which the GRI guidelines, as a reporting framework, are feasible or applicable to cooperatives as a business model. In this research project, the abovementioned GRI guidelines are applied on a selected cooperative’s activities. The empirical case study, based on the agricultural co-operative Agri- Com, illustrated that the Level C Reporting Framework as per the GRI, can be used very successfully in the co-operative business model. In the case of Agri-Com, it was found that even though it is a co-operative, its primary management and reporting focus remained primarily on the financial aspects. It can therefore be recommended that in this instance, the guidelines per the Level C Reporting Framework, be considered as a method to better embrace the principles of the co-operative business model. / Thesis (MCom (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The survival rate and life expectancy of infants with complex health needs have increased overthe last decades, and this increases the number of families who have to care for such infants at home. These families seek support in the community setting, and supporting them has a positive impact on the well-being of both the parents and the infant. In South Africa the needs of these parents are not known, and this fact makes it difficult to adequately support them in the community. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the needs of parents of infants with complex health needs in the community setting. Two objectives were set to reach the aim mentioned above: 1) to critically appraise and synthesise the best available evidence on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs and 2) to explore and describe parents’ emic perspective on their support needs as parents of infants with complex health needs in a South African context. A sequential mixed method approach was utilised in two phases, here discussed in five chapters. In an attempt to meet objective one, the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs were determined by means of an integrative literature review from studies obtained through computerised searches of several electronic databases, supplemented by checking reference lists and consultation with experts. This was followed by individual face-to-face interviews with the stated parents in three different settings. The latter addressed the second objective of the study, namely to provide an emic perspective on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs in a South African context. The integrative literature review described five main themes on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs: need for information, need for parent-to-parent support, need for professional support, need for self-confidence in the care of the infant and need for social support. All of these themes were confirmed in the South African context through the interviews with parents. However, South African parents added an additional theme: the need for normality. The final chapter offers an evaluation of the study and discusses study limitations and recommendations for nursing practice, education and research. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) is a strategy that was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to reduce the mortality and morbidity rate of children younger than 5 years and to improve the quality of life of these children. The reduction of child mortality and morbidity is one of the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs) as sub-Saharan Africa has a high child mortality and morbidity prevalence. The IMCI strategy has three components namely case management, the health system and the household and community component. This strategy was implemented internationally, including South Africa, where it is implemented within Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities. The implementation of the IMCI strategy was introduced to the PHC environment of South Africa and aims to enhance the equity, accessibility, affordability and availability of health care to all South African citizens, with the focus in this study on the child younger than 5 years. The North West province started training the professional nurses and implemented IMCI in 1998. The Dr. Kenneth Kaunda district (one of the districts in North West Province) and with specific focus on the Matlosana sub-district identified challenges in the implementation of the IMCI strategy by professional nurses. Challenges such as a lack of trained staff, the short time frame available for consultation amidst an already overburdened clinic and the physical infrastructure of the PHC facilities are such examples. The main aim of this research was to explore and gain insight and understanding in the challenges professional nurses working in PHC facilities face regarding the implementation of the IMCI strategy. A qualitative research design was used to conduct this study on daily work-life experiences of the professional nurses. Individual, semi-structured interviews were used as the method of data collection. The main question asked was: “What are the challenges faced by professional nurses in PHC facilities regarding the implementation of the IMCI strategy?” Data saturation was reached after 18 professional nurses were interviewed (N=18). Digitally voice recorded interviews were transcribed and content analysis was conducted. The findings of this research suggest that the professional nurses in the PHC facilities indeed experienced challenges regarding IMCI implementation. The main themes that emerged were challenges regarding the organisation and service delivery; challenges specific to the implementation of the IMCI strategy and also challenges external to the clinic that impacted directly on the IMCI strategy implementation. The findings were discussed with literature integration. From the research results and conclusions, the researcher compiled recommendations for nursing education, nursing research, and community health practice. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Cashew, Anacardium occidentale Linnaeus, is an economically important cash crop for more than 300,000 rural households in Tanzania. Its production is, however, severely constrained by infestation by sap-sucking insects such as Helopeltis anacardii Miller, H. Schoutedeni Reuter and Pseudotheraptus wayi Brown. The African weaver ant (AWA), Oecophylla longinoda Latreille, is an effective biocontrol agent of hemipteran pests in coconuts in Tanzania; but its efficacy for the control of sap-sucking insects, especially Helopeltis spp. and P. wayi, has not been investigated so far in cashew crops in Tanzania. Field trials were carried out at the Coast region of Tanzania to evaluate the effect of seasonality and abundance of AWA on Helopeltis spp. and P. wayi. Results showed that AWA abundance expressed, as number of leaf nests per tree, and colonization of trails on main branches varied significantly between cashew-seasons and off-seasons. There was a negative correlation between numbers of nests and pest damage. AWA-colonized cashew trees had the lowest shoot damaged by Helopeltis spp., 4.8 and 7.5% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, compared to 36 and 30% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, in uncolonized cashew trees. Similarly, nut damage by P.wayi was lowest in AWA-colonized trees with 2.4 and 6.2% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as compared to 26 and 21% in 2010 and 2011, respectively, in uncolonized trees. Interaction between AWA and dominant ant species, namely big-headed ant (BHA), Pheidole megacephala Fabricius, and common pugnacious ant (CPA), Anoplolepis custodiens Smith, was examined because of the implication that the dominant ant species may have on the efficacy of AWA in its control of sap-sucking pests of cashew. Abundance of AWA was significantly negatively correlated to BHA (r(39) = -0.30; P < 0.0001) and CPA (r(39) = -0.18; P = 0.01) at Bagamoyo in 2010. A similar trend was also observed at Mkuranga. The presence of these ant species may therefore hinder effectiveness of AWA to control sap-sucking pests in cashew in Tanzania. Therefore, suppression of these two inimical ant species should be emphasized for effective control of the sap-sucking pests in cashew fields. It was therefore also important to establish the abundance and diversity of ant species occurring in cashew agro-ecosystems. Results from pitfall traps revealed the diversity and abundance of ants in cashew agro-ecosystems: a total of 14001 ants were trapped belonging to six subfamilies, 18 genera and 32 species. The ant species diversity was high in the cashew fields at two of the four sites, namely Mkuranga A and Kibaha during both seasons. CPA was the most abundant ants in the pitfall traps. It is an important aspect that should be addressed for effective control of sap-sucking pests in cashew fields with AWA, since the correlation between AWA and CPA abundance was found to be negative. The effect of alternative fungicides to sulphur dust used for powdery mildew disease (PMD) on AWA was also investigated. No significant difference could be found in the effect ofthe different fungicides on the number of leaf nests and colonization of trails. In order to develop AWA as a component of cashew integrated sap-sucking insect management, strategies for their conservation during cashew off-seasonswas evaluated. The use of fish and hydramethylon (Amdro®) as baits increased the number of leaf nests and colonization trails of AWA over the control during off-season; however, the increase was significantly high when both fish and hydramethylon were used together. Fish and hydramethylon can therefore be used for conservation of AWA during off-season. It can therefore be concluded that AWA effectively controls sap-sucking pests on cashew and can be conserved during off-season using disposal waste such as fish intestines. Fungicides used for the control of PMD did not have detrimental effects on AWA abundance and can therefore be integrated as a component of cashew IPM. / PhD (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

In order to address the growing waste concerns facing South Africa, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) published the National Waste Management Strategy in 2012. The ultimate aim of the strategy is to effect the realisation of the objectives of the National Environmental Management Waste Act (NEMWA). The NEMWA is a sector environmental law based on the waste management hierarchy and its provisions apply to waste management activities in all three government spheres amongst others. The NWMS provides for eight distinct goals with accompanying targets to be met by 2016. Some of these goals and targets speak directly to the solid waste management mandate of local government. Concerns about the capacity of municipalities to see the execution of this mandate however, raise questions about the likelihood of some NWMS goals and targets being met by 2016. The North West Province serves as a case in point where recent reports by the office of the Auditor General have highlighted significant non-compliance in local government with the provisions of the existing waste law and policy framework of South Africa. It appears form these reports that a number of performance gaps and capacity constraints exist as far as it concerns municipal solid waste management. Against this back ground the study questions the governance strategies necessary within the municipalities of the North West Province to: a) address the existing performance gaps and capacity constraints and b) progressively move towards meeting the NWMS goals and targets as far as it concerns solid waste management. The study will explore the objectives, goals and targets of the NWMS against the background of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and NEMWA, with a specific focus on solid waste management. The study will further review the documented performance gaps and capacity constraints as a far as it concerns solid waste management in municipalities in the North West province, specifically. / M. Environmental Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In order to address the growing waste concerns facing South Africa, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) published the National Waste Management Strategy in 2012. The ultimate aim of the strategy is to effect the realisation of the objectives of the National Environmental Management Waste Act (NEMWA). The NEMWA is a sector environmental law based on the waste management hierarchy and its provisions apply to waste management activities in all three government spheres amongst others. The NWMS provides for eight distinct goals with accompanying targets to be met by 2016. Some of these goals and targets speak directly to the solid waste management mandate of local government. Concerns about the capacity of municipalities to see the execution of this mandate however, raise questions about the likelihood of some NWMS goals and targets being met by 2016. The North West Province serves as a case in point where recent reports by the office of the Auditor General have highlighted significant non-compliance in local government with the provisions of the existing waste law and policy framework of South Africa. It appears form these reports that a number of performance gaps and capacity constraints exist as far as it concerns municipal solid waste management. Against this back ground the study questions the governance strategies necessary within the municipalities of the North West Province to: a) address the existing performance gaps and capacity constraints and b) progressively move towards meeting the NWMS goals and targets as far as it concerns solid waste management. The study will explore the objectives, goals and targets of the NWMS against the background of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and NEMWA, with a specific focus on solid waste management. The study will further review the documented performance gaps and capacity constraints as a far as it concerns solid waste management in municipalities in the North West province, specifically. / M. Environmental Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014