This master thesis attempts to contribute to the existing earnings management literature by examining whether tax avoidance incentives affect opportunistic accounting choices in distress conditions. To address this issue, it investigates 2668 companies in the quarters around breach of debt covenant spanning from 1996 to 2006. This allows to analyze two distress scenarios: first, whether the companies having the opportunity to minimize tax expenses and thus improve their financial stability, would deliberately switch from engaging in aggressive upwards real earnings management to tax considerations to mitigate the potential consequences of technical default; second, whether the companies facing increased lender's scrutiny after subsequent violation are compelled to switch by the creditor. The results indicate that tax considerations do not deter misreporting in the quarters around debt covenant violation. This thesis further provides evidence against the debt covenant hypothesis: the companies in the analyzed sample engaged in negative revenue manipulation in the quarters of new breach of debt covenant and in the quarters in which the firms remained in violation. In additional analysis, it was found that the above relationship is more prominent for the companies exhibiting poor financial performance.

Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning ))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / This study comprises a discursive analysis of the underlying assumptions, rhetorical devices and the latent agendas masked within: (i) the burgeoning international ICT, poverty and development literature; (ii) the policy agendas of the major players in international development; and (iii) the ICT, poverty and development discourse of the post-apartheid South African government. The aim of the study is to move beyond the current enthusiasm for derivative description and technological determinism, and to introduce a deeper, more balanced understanding of the relationship between ICT, poverty and development.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Conflicts and dysfunctionality in public schools is often the cause of poor school performance and learner outcomes. This often is a direct result of poor school governance. Studies have previously identified a number of factors affecting the standard of school governance. One of these is absence of an effective monitoring and evaluation system for school governance. The current approach of Whole School Evaluation, which incorporates the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS), unfortunately does not possess adequate tools for the measurement of school governance with view to identifying specific areas of failure. School governance failures are widespread and costly, but effective governance can provide significant benefits not just for the schools but also for the department, the community and the learners themselves. However, there are two challenges: moving beyond suggestive anecdotes to a systematic approach for measuring the governance of schools, and using the data and rigorous analysis to support schools and improve governance. The researcher has designed a measurement instrument to address this particular gap in the management of public schools. This takes the form of a balanced scorecard based on the Kaplan and Norton Model, but has been specifically developed for measuring the public, education and non-profit sector. A number of school governance performance areas based on regulatory frameworks such as the South African Schools Act (Act 84 of 1996) have been linked to specific indicators and measures. These performance areas related to key targets in order to ascertain the achievement of good school governance outcomes. A learning and developmental approach in the form of a peer review format using a clear and simple process has been developed to apply this measurement system. Through an evaluation study the normative model was applied and tested at selected special schools throughout the Education Management and Development Centres (EMDC) in the Western Cape to test the hypothesis that such a balanced scorecard effectively measures school governance while identifying actual areas of failure. It therefore enables School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to focus on these failures in order to improve school governance and therefore promote the schools’ overall performance. The outcomes of the study have been so impressive that the system can be further developed with stakeholder organisations utilising an online approach that can improve management and save time in view of the schools’ “time-on-task” focus. This is the national government term for time management in teaching and learning in schools. Participants at selected schools further indicated that, with effective orientation and training of SGBs and application teams, this instrument can produce good school and learner outcomes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Konflik en wanfunksionering in openbare skole is dikwels die oorsaak van swak skoolprestasie en leerder-uitkomste. Dit is dikwels ‘n direkte gevolg van swak skoolbestuur. Vorige studies het ‘n aantal faktore geïdentifiseer wat die standaard van skoolbestuur raak. Een van hulle is die afwesigheid van ‘n stelsel vir “doeltreffende monitering en evaluering” van skoolbestuur Die huidige benadering van Totale Skoolevaluering wat die Geïntegreerde Gehaltebeheerstelsel (IQMS) insluit, beskik ongelukkig nie oor voldoende meting van skoolbestuur met die oog op die uitkenning van spesifieke tekortkominge nie. Waar tekortkominge ten opsigte van skoolbestuur wydverspreid en duur is, is dit ook so dat doeltreffende bestuur beduidende voordele kan hê, nie alleenlik vir skole nie, maar ook vir die departement, die gemeenskap en die leerder as sulks. Daar is egter twee uitdagings wat gestel word: om verby voorgestelde wenke te beweeg na ‘n sistematiese benadering vir die meet van die bestuursaard van skole, en om van die data en nougesette analise gebruik te maak om skole te ondersteun en hulle bestuur ‘n helpende hand te bied. Die navorser het ‘n meetinstrument ontwerp om hierdie spesifieke gaping in die bestuur van openbare skole aan te spreek. Dit is in die vorm van ‘n gebalanseede telkaart, gebaseer op Kaplan en Norton (1996), maar wat spesifiek vir die meet van die openbare, onderwys- en nie-winsgewende sektor ontwikkel is. ‘n Aantal prestasies wat spesifiek met skoolbestuur te make het en op regulerende raamwerke soos die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet gerig is, is gekoppel aan spesifieke indikatore en maatreëls en met sleutel-teikens belyn met die oog op die bereiking van skooluitkomste. ‘n Leer- en ontwikkelingsbenadering in die vorm van ‘n portierhersieningsformaat, waar ‘n duidelike en eenvoudige proses gebruik is, is ontwikkel om hierdie metingstelsel toe te pas. ‘n Normatiewe model is deur middel van ‘n evalueringstudie toegepas en aan geselekteerde, spesiale skole regdeur die Onderwysbestuur en Ontwikkelingsentrums in Wes-Kaapland getoets met die doel om die hipotese te toets dat so ‘n gebalanseerde telkaart skoolbestuur doeltreffend meet en tegelykertyd ook tekortkominge identifiseer. Vervolgens stel dit Skoolbeheerliggame in staat om op hierdie tekortkominge te fokus ten einde skoolbestuur te verbeter en daarmee saam die skool se oorhoofse prestasie te bevorder. Die resultaat van die studie was so indrukwekkend dat die stelsel verder in samewerking met belanghebbende instansies ontwikkel kan word deur die gebruikmaking van ‘n aanlyn-benadering wat bestuur kan bevorder en tyd spaar, veral in die lig van skole se fokus op “tyd op ‘n taak.” Deelnemers by geselekteerde skole het aangedui dat dié instrument puik skool- en leerder-uitkomste sou kon lewer indien daar doelmatige oriëntasie en opleiding van Skoolbeheerliggame en toepassingspanne is.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The end of apartheid, April 1994 brought the dawn of a new era and the integration of the seven armed forces into the South Afiican National Defence Force. For the first time in the history of South Afiica, former enemies are not only colleagues, but work together to guard the sovereignty of the state and defend the country against foreign invasion. The eradication of discriminatory policies and practices established an environment conducive to the implementation of affirmative action and equal employment opportunities. It also instituted special training and development programmes to accommodate historically disadvantaged employees. The effectiveness of these programmes will determine the extent to which disadvantaged employees will contribute to increased productivity and the effectiveness of the South Afiican National Defence Force. Organisational transformation needs to be externally and internally visible. On 27 April 1994, the South Afiican National Defence Force started a process of change and some of the changes soon affected were m: • language policy, including the use of English as the official medium of communication; • appointing a Secretary of Defence as the accounting officer; • organisational culture, structure and design; and • uniform and rank insignia. This research (1994 to 2001), however, found that the South Afiican National Defence Force is still grappling with the challenge of being productive amist the impediments created by the integration of seven former enemy forces. In addition, the former South Afiican Defence Force entered into the amalgamation as two groups, one with a long history of military experience, the other allowed into the former force much later, still subject to various discriminatory constraints. The dissertation focuses on human resource variables to find solutions. Productivity is defined as the input of resources (material, capital, technological and human) and the output of greater qualitative and quantitative consumable goods and services. It improves the factors of production and benefits all stakeholders (government, entrepreneurs, management and employees). Increased productivity is achieved by a motivated workforce, whose competencies, abilities, skills and advanced technology are used to increase performance. However also, management needs to capitalise on employees' competencies, skills and abilities to optimally utilise them and appoint the most competent employees to the most appropriate positions. Management also needs to accept responsibility for achieving increased productivity and reaching organisational goals and objectives since they manage, command and control organisational resources. The South African National Defence Force can achieve increased productivity by the optimal utilisation of its resources. It now has sophisticated armament, equipment and technology. The South African National Defence Force however also needs competent and professional employees to maximise the use of existing armament, equipment and technology. The diverse workforce should be trained, developed, motivated and optimally utilised to increase their performance and enhance productivity. Professional leaders and managers are needed to manage the resources of the South African National Defence Force during the transformation period and the twenty-first century. Effective leadership results in effective human resource management, which is needed to manage, motivate, train and develop the diverse workforce to be effective, creative and productive, and to achieve increased performance and productivity. This will enable the South African National Defence Force to accomplish increased productivity and to exceed the military professionalism of the former South African Defence Force. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die einde van apartheid, April 1994 was die begin van 'n nuwe era en die integrasie van die sewe magte het gelei tot die totstandkoming van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag. Vir die eerste keer in die Suid-Afiikaanse geskiedenis is die voormalige vyande nie net kollegas nie, maar mede-beskermers van die soewereiniteit van die staat, en hulle beskerm die Republiek van Suid-Afrika teen enige vreemde inval of bedreiging teen die land. Die afskaffing van diskrimenerende beleid en gebruike het 'n omgewing geskep vir die implementering van regstellende aksie en gelyke werksgeleenthede. Dit het ook spesiale opleiding en ontwikkelingsprogramme ingestel om die histories benadeelde werkers te akkommodeer. Die effektiwiteit van hierdie programme sal bepaal tot watter mate die benadeelde werkers sal bydra tot verhoogde produktiwiteit en effektiwiteit van die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag. Die bewyse van organisatoriese transformasie moet ekstern en intern sigbaar wees. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag het reeds begin met die proses van verandering op 27 April 1994, en die veranderinge wat gou aangebring is, was in: • kommunikasietaal en die aanvaarding van Engels as voertaal; • die aanstel van 'n Sekretaris van Verdediging as rekenpligtige beampte; • organisatoriese kultuur en strukture; en • uniform en ranginsignia. Hierdie navorsing (1994 tot 2001) het egter gevind dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag steeds worstel met die uitdaging van produktiwiteit te midde van die hindernisse wat uit die integrasie van sewe voormalige vyandelike magte onstaan het. Daarbenewens het die voormalige Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag die samesmelting ingegaan as twee groepe, een met 'n lang geskiedenis van militere ondervinding, die ander veel later toegelaat tot die voormalige mag en steeds onderwerp aan verskeie diskriminerende beperkinge. Die proefskrif fokus op menslike hulpbron veranderlikes om oplossings te kry. Produktiwiteit word gedefinieer as die inset van hulpbronne (materiaal, kapitaal, tegnologie en menslik) en die uitset van beter kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe produkte en dienste. Produktiwiteit verbeter die faktore van produksie en bevoordeel alle rolspelers (die staat, bestuurders and werkers). Verhoogde produktiwiteit kan slegs verkry word deur 'n gemotiveerde werksmag, wat hul vaardighede en gevorderde tegnologie gebruik om uitset te verhoog. Om verhoogde produktiwiteit te bereik moet bestuurders kapitaliseer op werkers se vaardighede en hulle optimaal benut. As gevolg van die feit dat leiers en bestuurders organisatoriese bronne bestuur, beheer en kontroleer, aanvaar hulle ook verantwoordelikheid vir die behaling van verhoogde produktiwiteit en organisatoriese doelwitte. Die Suid-Afikaanse Nasionale Weermag kan verhoogde produktiwiteit bereik deur die optimale benutting van hulpbronne. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag beskik oor nuwe wapentuig, toerusting en tegnologie. Die Suid-Afikaanse Nasionale Weermag benodig egter ook professionele werkers om die huidige wapentuig en tegnologie ten volle te benut. Daarom moet die veelsydige werksmag opgelei, ontwikkel, gemotiveer en optimaal benut word sodat hulle produktiwiteit kan verhoog. Professionele leiers en bestuurders word daadwerklik benodig om die hulpbronne van die Suid-Afikaanse Nasionale Weermag gedurende die transformasieproses en die een-en-twintigste eeu te bestuur. Effektiewe leierskap het effektiewe menlike hulpbronstuur tot gevolg wat benodig word om 'n veelsydige werksmag te bestuur, motiveer en ontwikkel, sodat hulle effektief, kreaktief en produktief kan wees. Die veelsydige werksmag kan bydra tot verhoogde produktiwiteit en kan die militere professionalisme van die vorige Suid- Afiikaanse Weermag oortref.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: All the countries in the world at one or another stage undergo reform or transformation primarily for political reasons and/or to adapt to the challenges and demands placed on the national governments by their electorate or populace. The type of reforms, that is, centralised or decentralised which are implemented in turn is dependent on the political conditions that prevail in a country as well as its system of government. Any reforms which take place, whether in a developed or developing country, will have an impact on its political system as well as governmental structures which in turn will influence the intergovernmental relations in that country. Thus, any reforms implemented in a country with a centralised system of government will result in the weakening of the position of the national government in terms of power and functions. Conversely, reforms introduced in a country with a decentralised system of government will invariably strengthen the national government and weaken the lower levels of government in terms of legislation and executive power and functions. For the purpose of this dissertation, the following criteria have been identified for comparison in respect of the decentralised reforms which have been implemented in the selected developed and developing countries, namely: • political system; • local political structure; • local functions; and • local finance. The decentralised reforms which have taken place in the selected countries since the 1960's were evaluated individually in respect of the aforementioned criteria, whereupon a comparative evaluation was made between South Africa and the developing countries, namely, Botswana and Nigeria, as well as between South Africa and the selected developed countries, namely, Britain and the United States of America. The foregoing evaluations infer alia revealed that decentralisation was implemented in the selected countries in various degrees or forms, namely, deconcentration, delegation, devolution and privatisation, the latter form by way of contracting out and/or by local authorities playing an enabling or facilitating role in respect of the provision of facilities and services. Flowing from the evaluations, an integrated approach was followed to formulate an effective system of local government for South Africa with regard to the four criteria identified for the study, bearing in mind infer alia that South Africa is an advanced developing country, which in turn has an impact on the extent of the decentralised reforms which can practically be implemented. The macro organisational decentralised reform proposals regarding the political system in South Africa entail: • the separation of the legislative and the executive; • the granting of greater guaranteed autonomy to the provincial and local governments; and • the provision of local charters and listing of municipalities in the Constitution of 1996. Turning to the local political structure, a decentralised two tier structure is proposed for metropolitan areas, a three tier structure for non-metropolitan areas, that is, the districts as well as the establishment of land boards in tribal areas and the appointment of commissioners in the districts to facilitate development planning and to eo-ordinate the activities of the provincial and local government agencies. With regard to the third criteria identified for the study, various functions are proposed to either be devolved or delegated to the local sphere of government, the functions to be executed by the different tiers of local government within the context of the decentralisation, functions which should be eontracted out by local government and in respect of which functions private-public partnerships should be established with relevant bodies or organisations. Finally, additional sources of revenue are proposed for municipalities in both the metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, the increase in the rate of certain levies and taxes, the transfer of certain taxes between the tiers of local government, the introduction of a hybrid system of local government finance and for an integrated plan to be developed for the management of public finance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: AI die lande in die wêreld ondergaan op een of ander tydstip hervorming en transformasie hoofsaaklik vir politieke redes en/of om aan te pas by die vereistes en uitdagings wat op nationale regerings deur die bevolking of kiesers geplaas word. Die soort hervorming, dit wel sê, sentralisasie of desentralisasie wat geïmplementeer word, is op sy beurt afhanklik van die politieke toestande wat in 'n land heers, asook die land se stelsel van regering. Enige hervormings wat plaasvind, hetsy in 'n ontwikkelde of ontwikkelende land, sal 'n impak hê op sy politieke stelsel asook owerheidstrukture wat weer op sy beurt 'n invloed sal hê op die interowerheidsverhoudinge in daardie land. Derhalwe, enige hervorming wat in 'n land met 'n gesentraliseerde stelsel van regering geïmplementeer word, sal die posisie van die nasionale regering verswak in terme van magte en funksies. Daarenteen, sal enige hervormings wat in 'n land met 'n gedesentraliseerde stelsel van regering geïmplementeer word, die posisie van die nasionale regering in terme van wetgewende en uitvoerende magte en funksies, versterk en dié van die laer vlakke van regering verswak. Vir die doel van hierdie verhandeling, is die volgende kriteria geïdentifiseer vir vergelyking met betrekking tot die desentralisering hervormings wat geïmplementeer is in die geïdentifiseerde ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende lande, naamlik: • politieke stelsel; • plaaslike politieke struktuur; • plaaslike funksies; en • plaaslike finansies. Die desentralisering hervormings wat in die geïdentifiseerde lande sedert die 1960's plaasgevind het, is individueel ge-evalueer met betrekking tot bogenoemde kriteria, waarna 'n vergelykende evaluasie tussen Suid-Afrika en die geïdentifiseerde ontwikkelende lande, naamlik, Botswana en Nigerië, asook tussen Suid-Afrika en die geïdentifiseerde ontwikkelde lande, naamlik, Brittanje en die Verenigde State van Amerika, gemaak is. Die voorafgaande evaluasies het onder andere aan die lig gebring dat desentralisasie in die geïdentifiseerde lande in verskeie grade of vorms geïmplementeer was, naamlik, dekonsentrasie, delegasie, devolusie en privatisering, die laasgenoemde vorm deur middel van uitkontraktering en/of deur plaaslike owerhede wat 'n ondersteunende of fasiliterende rol speel met betrekking tot die voorsiening van geriewe en dienste. Voortspruitend uit die evaluasies, is 'n geïntegreerde benadering gevolg om 'n effektiewe stelsel van plaaslike regering vir Suid-Afrika te formuleer met verwysing na die vier kriteria wat vir die studie geïdentifiseer is, met inagneming inter alia van die feit dat Suid-Afrika 'n gevorderde ontwikkelende land is, wat op sy beurt 'n impak het op die omvang van die gedesentraliseerde hervorming wat prakties geïmplementeer kan word. Die makro-organisatoriese gedesentraliseerde hervormingsvoorstelle betreffende die politiese stelsel in Suid-Afrika behels: • die skeiding tussen die regsprekende en die uitvoerende magte; • die toekenning van groter gewaarborgde outonomie aan die provinsiale en plaaslike regerings; en • die voorsiening van selfbeskikkingshandveste en notering van munisipaliteite in die Grondwet van 1996. Met verwysing na die plaaslike politieke struktuur, word 'n gedesentraliseerde twee-vlak struktuur vir metropolitaanse gebiede voorgestel, en 'n drie-vlak struktuur vir nie metropolitaanse gebiede, dit wil sê vir distrikte sowel as die vestiging van landelike rade in stamgebiede en die aanstelling van kommissarisse in distrikte om ontwikkelingsbeplanning te fasiliteer en om die aktiwiteite van die provinsiale en plaaslike regeringsagentskappe te koordineer. Met verwysing na die derde kriteria wat vir die studie geïdentifiseer is, word verskeie funksies voorgestel wat op die plaaslike sfeer van regering afgewentel of gedelegeer kan word, funksies wat deur die verskillende vlakke van plaaslike regering binne die konteks van desentralisasie uitgevoer kan word, funksies wat deur die plaaslike regering uitgekontrakteer kan word en met verwysing na funksies waar privaat-publieke vennootskappe met betrokke liggame en organisasies gestig behoort te word. Ter afsluiting word addisionele bronne van inkomste vir munisipaliteite voorgestel in beide metropolitaanse en nie-metropolitaanse gebiede, die verhoging van die skaal van bepaalde heffings en belastings, die oordra van bepaalde belastings tussen die vlakke van plaaslike regering, die instelling van 'n gemengde stelsel van munisipale finansies en 'n geïntegreerde plan wat vir die bestuur van openbare finansies ontwikkel kan word.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Oil is the quintessential resource in the modern industrial economy. It accounts for a third of world primary energy, fuels 95% of global transport systems, sustains a highly mechanised agribusiness and food distribution industry, and provides the feedstock for a staggering array of petrochemical products. Historically, global economic growth has been closely coupled with consumption of energy in general and oil in particular. Yet oil is a finite resource subject to depletion, which has profound implications for the long-term sustainability of industrial civilisation. This dissertation addresses a serious dearth of attention given to this vital subject within South African energy, economic and policy discourses. The overarching aims are to understand the implications of global oil depletion for socioeconomic welfare in South Africa and to propose viable strategies and policies for mitigating and adapting to potential negative impacts. A comparative evaluation of three fields of study found that neoclassical economics is limited by its monistic and reductionist approach and its failure to adequately incorporate energy into its key theoretical models, whereas ecological economics and the socioecological systems approach together provide an appropriate, holistic lens for analysing the role of energy in socioeconomic systems. In this view, energy is the master resource: it is a pre-requisite for economic activity and societal complexity. A review of the literature on global oil depletion finds that a peak and decline in world oil production appears imminent, while world oil exports most likely peaked in 2005. Moreover, the energy return on (energy) investment (EROI) for global oil production is on a declining trend. The world oil peak thus marks the end of the era of cheap and abundant oil. Increasing oil scarcity will likely be reflected in oil prices following a rising trend with heightened volatility. While there are many potential substitutes for oil, all have significant limitations, most have lower EROI than oil, and it may take decades to scale them up sufficiently. Many aspects of the South African socioeconomic system are either directly or indirectly dependent on petroleum fuels, while structural features of the economy and society render them vulnerable to external shocks. Historical evidence and empirical models suggest that oil price and supply shocks will have debilitating socioeconomic impacts. Under business-as-usual policies and behaviours, future oil scarcity will likely lead at best to a gradual contraction in the economy with rising unemployment and inflation, and at worst to systemic collapse of interconnected critical infrastructure systems. A comprehensive range of mitigation measures are proposed, including accelerated investments in renewable energy and electrified mass transport, agro-ecological farming, greening the economy, monetary system reform, and rationing schemes to protect the most vulnerable members of society. Together these measures can build resilience to shocks and gradually decouple economic activity from petroleum consumption. A successful societal transition from a fossil fuel based industrial regime to a sustainable socioeconomic regime requires purposive government intervention, the promotion of sustainability-oriented innovations in technology and institutions, and the political will to surmount obstacles such as powerful vested interests and socio-technical lock-in. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Olie is die kern-hulpmiddel in die moderne bedryfsgerigte ekonomie. Dit is verantwoordelik vir ’n derde van die wêreld se primêre energie, verskaf die aandrywing vir 95% van alle vervoerstelsels, onderhou ’n hoogs gemeganiseerde landboubedryf en voedselverspreidingsnywerheid, en voorsien die voerstof vir ’n verstommende reeks petrochemiese produkte. Histories beskou, is globale ekonomiese groei ten nouste gekoppel aan die verbruik van energie oor die algemeen en aan olie in die besonder. Tog is olie ’n beperkte hulpbron wat onderworpe is aan uitputting en lediging, en dit hou gevolglik onmeetlike implikasies vir die algemene langtermyn volhoubaarheid van nywerhede in. Dié verhandeling neem die ernstige gebrek aan aandag binne Suid-Afrikaanse diskoerse oor energie, ekonomie en beleidsrigtings wat betref hierdie lewensbelangrike onderwerp, in oënskou. Die oorkoepelende doelwitte is om die implikasies van globale olie-uitputting op sosio-ekonomiese welvaart in Suid-Afrika te begryp, en om lewensvatbare strategieë en beleidsrigtings voor te stel waarvolgens potensiële negatiewe invloede getemper en by aangepas kan word. ’n Vergelykende evaluering van drie studieterreine het bevind neoklassieke ekonomie is beperk weens sy monistiese en verlagingsbenadering en sy mislukking om energie doelmatig in te sluit by sy sleutel teoretiese modelle, terwyl die benaderings van die ekologiese ekonomie en die sosio-ekologiese stelsels saam ’n toepaslike holistiese lens bied vir die analisering van die rol van energie in sosio-ekonomiese stelsels. In dié opsig is energie die meester-hulpmiddel: dit is ’n voorvereiste vir ekonomiese bedrywigheid en gemeenskapsverbondenheid. ’n Oorsig van die literatuur oor globale olie-lediging toon dat ’n toppunt en daling in wêreldolieproduksie onvermydelik blyk te wees – globale olie-uitvoer het na alle waarskynlikheid sy toppunt in 2005 bereik. Voorts toon die energie-opbrengs op (energie) investering, ofte wel EROI, ten opsigte van wêreldolieproduksie ’n dalende tendens. Die wêreldolie-toppunt dui dus op die einde van die era van goedkoop en oorvloedige olie. Toenemende olieskaarste sal waarskynlik blyk uit oliepryse wat ’n stygende tendens volg gepaard met verskerpte veranderlikheid. Hoewel daar talle potensiële plaasvervangers vir olie bestaan, het almal beduidende beperkinge, die meeste se EROI is laer as olie s’n en dit kan dekades duur alvorens hulle genoegsaam opgegradeer sal kan word. Vele aspekte van die Suid-Afrikaanse sosio-ekonomiese stelsel is of direk of indirek afhanklik van petroleum-brandstowwe, terwyl strukturele kenmerke van die ekonomie en samelewing hulle kwesbaar vir eksterne skokke laat. Lesse uit die verlede en empiriese modelle dui daarop dat die olieprys en skokke rondom die voorsiening daarvan verlammende sosio-ekonomiese impakte en invloede tot gevolg sal hê. Onder ’n sake-soos-gewoonlik-beleid en optrede, sal toekomstige olieskaarste, optimisties beskou, waarskynlik aanleiding gee tot geleidelike inkrimping van die ekonomie met gepaardgaande stygende werkloosheid en inflasie – pessimisties beskou, kan dit die sistematiese ineenstorting van kritiesbelangrike en onderling verbonde infrastruktuurstelsels beteken. ’n Omvattende reeks verligtingsmaatreëls word voorgestel, insluitende versnelde investering in hernubare energie en geëlektrifiseerde massavervoer, agro-ekologiese landbou, vergroening van die ekonomie, monetêre stelselhervorming en rantsoeneringskemas om die mees kwesbare lede van die samelewing te beskerm. Saam kan dié maatreëls veerkragtigheid vestig teen skokke en ekonomiese bedrywigheid geleidelik van petroleumverbruik losmaak. ’n Geslaagde samelewingsoorgang van ’n fossielbrandstof-gebaseerde nywerheidsbestel na ’n volhoubare sosio-ekonomiese bestel vereis doelmatige regeringsintervensie, die bevordering van volhoubaar-georiënteerde innovasies in

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Low-income households in the Western Cape primarily use small electrical kettles to heat water for bathing and cleaning. This energy usage pattern is problematic in that; • It is based on unsustainable energy sources that cause environmental degradation, • Electricity is becoming more expensive in South Africa which strains the limited income of poorer households and • The national utility, Eskom, is struggling to meet the demand for electricity. If energy-intensive development paths are followed these problems will escalate further. Solar water heating offers a synergic (Max-Neef 1991), if partial, solution for the situation. By decoupling hot water usage from increased electricity usage, solar water heaters (SWHs) can reduce electricity demand and thus environmental degradation. The large quantities of hot water (relative to electrical kettles) that they provide also fulfil a developmental service by improving quality of life and personal health. The manufacturing and installation of solar water heaters could serve as a further catalyst for development by providing opportunities for economic development. Unfortunately the high capital cost of SWHs remains a barrier to the rollout of the technology in lower income groups. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the elimination of this barrier through providing insight into; the hot water requirements of low-income households, the potential electricity and carbon emission savings that solar water heaters present, and the cost drivers and job creation potential of the solar water heating value chain. The research hypothesis is that: Solar water heaters (SWHs) are a potential synergic satisfier to achieve sustainable development in low income communities by providing an improved energy service, reducing environmental degradation and creating employment opportunities. The high price of the technology makes intervention in the form of subsidies and/or regulation from the appropriate level(s) of government critical for the realisation of this potential. The methodology used to test the hypothesis is quantitative and qualitative in nature with data obtained through a survey of 90 low-income households in Stellenbosch, a behavioural study of two households wherein solar water heaters were installed and a value chain analysis of the SWH industry in the Western Cape. The key findings of the research include that, SWHs offer a real improvement in quality of life for low-income households and that they reduce electricity consumption relative to a level of development. The key barrier to cost reductions in the solar water heating industry is found to be the small size of the industry which leads to an inability to source material, especially copper, at competitive prices. It is proposed that government sponsored rollout programs could alleviate this barrier, leading to the development of a robust industry. Job creation potential is found to be relatively small but a suggested rollout programme for SWHs in the Western Cape shows that the benefits of the technology can be realised and several thousand jobs created in a fiscally prudent manner. The thesis is focuses on households from LSM categories 5-8 in the Western Cape Province. Stellenbosch Municipality is used as a specific case study area. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lae-inkomste huishoudings in die Wes-Kaap gebruik klein elektriese ketels as hul primêre water verhittingstoestel vir bad en skoonmaak aktiwiteite. Hierdie energie verbruik patroon is problematies in dat; • Dit gebaseer is op onvolhoubare energie bronne wat skadelik is vir die omgewing, • Elektrisiteit duurder word in suid afrika, en sodoende druk plaas op die beperkete inkomste van armer huishoudings en • Die nasionale elektrisiteitsdiensverskaffer, eskom, sukkel om te voldoen aan die vraag vir elektrisiteit. As energie-intensiewe ontwikkelings paaie gevolg word sal hierdie probleme verder vererger. Son water verhitting bied 'n sinergiese (Max-Neef 1991), dog gedeeltelike, oplossing vir die situasie. Deur warm water verbruik te ontkoppel van toenemende elektrisiteitsverbruik kan son water verwarmers (SWVs) die vraag na elektrisiteit en dus omgewingskade verminder. Die groot hoeveelhede warm water (relatief tot 'n elektriese ketel) wat die toestelle voorsien vervul ook 'n ontwikkelingsdiens deur verbeterde lewenskwaliteit en persoonlike gesondheid mee te bring. Die vervaardiging en installeering van SWVs kan dien as 'n verdere katalisator vir ontwikkeling deur geleenthede vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling te skep. Ongelukkig bly die hoë kapitaal koste van SWVs 'n struikelblok tot die verspreiding van die tegnologie in lae inkomste groepe. Die doelwit van hierdie tesis is om by te dra tot die verwydering van hierdie struikelblok deur insig te gee oor; die warm water benodigheid in lae-inkomste huishoudings, die potensiële elektrisiteit-en koolstofbesparings wat SWVs inhou, en die koste drywers en werkskepping potensiaal van die sonwaterverwarmer waarde ketting. Die navorsingshipotese is dat: Son water verwarmers 'n potensiële sinergiese bevrediger is vir die bereik van volhoubare ontwikkeling in lae-inkomse gemeenskappe deurdat dit 'n verbeterde energie diens voorsien, omgewingskade verminder en werksgeleenthede skep. Die hoë prys van die tegnologie verorsaak dat ingryping deur die toepaslike vlak(ke) van regering, deur middel van subsidies en/of regulasie, benodig word om die potensiaal daarvan te verwesenlik. Die metodologie wat gebruik word om die hipotese te toets is kwantitatief en kwalitatief van aard met data wat verkry word deur 'n opname onder 90 lae-inkomste huishoudings in Stellenbosch, 'n gedragstudie van twee huishoudings waarin SWVs geinstalleer is en 'n waardekettinganalise van die SWV industrie in die Wes-Kaap. Die sleutel gevolgtrekkings van die navorsing sluit in dat, sonwaterverwarmers 'n werklike verbetering in die kwaliteit van lewe van lae-inkomste huishoudings meebring en dat hulle elektrisiteitsverbruik relatief tot 'n vlak van ontwikkeling verminder. Die hoof struikelblok tot koste verminderings in die SWV industrie word gevind in die klein grootte van die industrie wat lei tot die onvermoë om materiaal, veral koper, teen kompeterende pryse aan te koop. Dit word voorgestel dat regeringsondersteunde verspreidingsprogramme hierdie struikelblok kan verwyder en dat dit sal lei tot die ontwikkeling van 'n gesonde industrie. Werkskeppingspotensiaal word gevind om relatief klein te wees, maar 'n voorgestelde verspreidings program vir SWVs in die Wes-Kaap wys dat die voordele van SWVs gerealiseer kan word en etlike duisend werksgeleenthede geskep kan word op 'n finansieel verantwoordelike wyse. Die tesis fokus op huishoudings in die LSM kategorieë 5-8 in die Wes-Kaap provinsie. Stellenbosch munisipaliteit word gebruik as n spesifieke gevallestudie area. / Sponsored by the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is facing an energy crisis on two levels; the existing capacity to supply electricity is unable to support future growth in demand, and the electricity being produced comes mostly from coal-fired power stations with associated emission problems. The South African government has a target for renewable energy to service 23% of the country’s energy consumption by 2013. This could potentially be realised through achievement of another government target, the installation of one million Solar Water Heaters (SWHs). On a technical level, Solar Water Heaters (SWHs) represent a completely viable renewable energy alternative for South Africa. It is an established and proven technology which has the potential to have a big impact on the country’s electricity capacity problems. SWHs can be used in a variety of applications from industry to households. Most of the hot water in South African homes is heated by electric resistance heating in standard electric water heaters and there are no technical obstacles to replacing most of these with SWHs, thereby delivering a saving of up to 70% of the water heating energy bill. Water heating currently accounts for 40% of domestic electricity consumption within a residential sector that uses 20-30% of the national supply. At the macroscale, the roll out of SWH programmes is completely scalable. The benefits of SWH installation accrue to the consumer in the form of a financial saving in the long-term and to society in the form of reduced emissions. Awareness of the benefits is growing amongst the general public, commercial institutions and in government. Sales are starting to pick up due to, amongst other reasons, electricity price hikes and government subsidies for SWH installations offered through the national electricity supply company, Eskom. A national building regulation enforcing energy-efficient water heating in new buildings has been drafted and is expected to be in place by mid 2011. The rate of change from electric to solar water heaters remains disappointingly slow, however. The SWH industry in South Africa accounts for less than 10% of total hot water solutions sold. This study sought to establish the opportunities as well as possible barriers for the creation of SWH programmes within the insurance sector. Close to 50% of all standard electric water heaters installed in South Africa are procured and installed via the insurance industry due to the failure of units that have endured beyond the manufacturer’s guarantee period. This presents an opportunity for interventions that encourage policyholders to change to SWHs. Such interventions, if successful, would dramatically speed up the roll out of SWHs in South Africa. In addition the study sought to determine the barriers to the uptake of SWHs by policyholders in the case of the two insurance companies that currently have SWH programmes in operation. Data was collected through interviews with representatives in the insurance industry and a range of SWH industry stakeholders and consumers. The literature review focused on SWH policies and regulations and corporate and marketing theories. The material on transition in socio-technological systems proved especially useful in understanding the complex dynamics of the study topic. The conclusion drawn from the research is that the South African insurance industry has the capacity and opportunity to drive the penetration of SWH technology. The opportunity is, however not being exploited to anywhere near its potential. The entire system is geared towards providing a particular ‘business-as-usual’ solution. Analysis conducted in this study confirms that the system is in a “locked-in” state and extremely resistant to change. If the opportunity is to be acted on, to supplant the dominant technology for water heating installed by the insurance industry with what is currently a niche technology (SWHs), an external landscape shock is almost certainly needed. This shock to the system could be aided by interventions that target a change in the current system’s logic. The study provides some suggestions in this regard. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika staar ‘n energie krisis in die gesig. Aan die een kant is die bestaande elektrisiteitsvoorsiening nie genoeg om plek te maak vir die toekomstige vraag na elektrisiteit nie en aan die ander kant word meeste van Suid-Afrika se elektrisiteit opgewek deur steenkoolaangedrewe kragstasies met gevolglike probleme as gevolg van vrylating van kweekhuis-gasse. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het ‘n teiken vir hernubare energie om 23% op te maak van die land se totale energie verbruik teen 2013. Hierdie teiken sou potensieel bereik kon word deur die bereiking van ‘n ander van die land se teikens, naamlik die instalering van een miljoen sonverhitters. Op ‘n tegniese vlak verteenwoordig sonverhitters ‘n lewensvatbare hernubare energie alternatief vir Suid-Afrika. Dit is ‘n beproefde tegnologie wat die potensiaal het om ‘n groot impak te hê op die elektrisiteit kapasiteitsprobleme van die land. Sonverhitters kan ‘n verskeidenheid van warm water behoeftes bevredig, van groot industrieë tot tuisverbruik. Meeste warm water in Suid-Afrikaanse huise word verhit deur standaard elektriese geisers. Daar bestaan geen tegniese hindernisse om hierdie geisers deur sonverhitters te vervang en tot 70% van die water verhittings energie rekening te bespaar nie. Water verhitting maak tans 40% van die totale huishoudelike elektrisiteits verbruik op. Die huishoudelike verbruik is 20-30% van die nasionale verbruik en selfs hoer gedurende piek. Op die makro skaal is die uitrol van sonverhitters heeltemal skaleerbaar. Die voordele van die installering van sonverhitters val die verbruiker toe in die vorm van finansiele besparing oor die lang termyn en vir die samelewing as geheel in die vorm van emissie besparings. Bewustheid van die voordele is aan die groei by die algemene publiek, kommersiele instansies en by die regering. Verkope het begin optel as gevolg van onder andere die elektrisiteits prysverhoging en die staatssubsidies vir sonverhitters aangebied via die nasionale elektrisiteits toevoer maatskappy, Eskom. A nasionale bouregulasie wat enegie doeltreffende waterverhitting sal afdwing op nuwe geboue is reeds opgestel en dit word verwag dat hierdie regulasie in plek sal wees teen middel 2011. Die koers van verandering van elektriese water verhitters na sonkrag bly egter teleurstellend laag. Die sonverhittings industrie in Suid-Afrika maak minder as 10% van die totale water verhittings mark uit. Hierdie studie het beoog om die geleenthede sowel as die moontlike versperrings tot die skepping van sonverhittings programme in die versekerings bedryf uit te wys. Die versekerings bedryf koop en installeer ongeveeer 50% van alle standaard elektriese geisers in Suid-Afrika as gevolg van elektriese geisers wat breek na die vervaardiger se waarborg verval het . As gevolg hiervan bestaan daar ‘n geleentheid vir intervensies wat polishouers aanmoedig om te verander na sonverhitters. Sulke intervensies, indien suksesvol, het die potensiaal om die uitrol van sonverhitters in die land dramaties te versnel. Verder het hierdie studie beoog om die versperrings tot die opname van sonverhitters uit te wys by twee versekerings maatskappye in Suid-Afrika wat wel sonverhittings programme het. Data is versamel deur onderhoude met verteenwoordigers van die versekeringsbedryf en ‘n reeks sonverhitting industrie belanghebbendes en verbruikers. Die literatuurstudie het gefokus op sonverhittings beleid en regulasies en korporatiese en bemarkings teorie. ‘n Literatuurstudie in oorgang in sosio-tegnologiese sisteme was veral nuttig om die komplekse dinamika van die sisteem te verstaan. Die gevolgtrekking van hierdie studie is dat die Suid-Afrikaanse versekeringsbedryf wel die kapasiteit en geleentleid het om die penetrasie van sonverhittings tegnologie te dryf. Hierdie geleentheid word egter nie gebruik tot sy volle potensiaal nie. Die ganse sisteem is gerat om ‘n spesifieke tegnologie op ‘n sekere manier te verskaf. Analise in hierdie studie bevestig dat die sisteem in ‘n geslote staat is en daar is uiterste teenkanting tot verandering. Indien hierdie geleentheid om die dominate tegnologie vir waterverhitting geinstaleer deur die versekerings bedryf te verplaas met wat op die oomblik nog ‘n niche tegnologie is (sonverhitters), is ‘n eksterne landskap skok nodig. Hierdie skok tot die sisteem kan aangehelp word deur intervensies wat ‘n verandering in die huidige sisteem logika teiken. Hierdie studie bied ‘n paar voorstelle in hierdie verband.

Thesis (MPhil (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the past the policy for the provision of low-cost housing was not very effective because the context of development planning was characterised by fragmentation, segregation and isolation from the targeted communities. The reasons for this are that these development programmes were not participatory and that they contributed to dependency rather than empowerment of communities. Selected case studies have shown that without the involvement of the community in planning and decision-making low-income housing projects cannot meet the needs and demands of the community for improvement in an effective and efficient way. One of the basic principles of The Reconstruction and Development Programme is that development projects should be people-driven. The policy framework clearly states that delivery systems in housing will depend upon community participation. This current study sought to determine whether delivery systems in low-income housing projects have made this paradigm shift - that they are participatory and need-driven. The study is descriptive and issue-oriented limiting itself to understanding the process of low-income housing provision to newly-urbanised Africans in Mfuleni, a peri-urban settlement in the Cape-Metropole. Interviews were conducted with 100 respondents male or female heads of households, using a semi-structured questionaire. The study gave respondents an opportunity to share their experiences regarding the process of community participation in housing provision.

Thesis (MPhil (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is unique in that its globally significant biodiversity, which is under major threat, coexists with an apartheid history of dispossession that produced a starkly unequal land ownership pattern and widespread rural poverty. It is in this context that the post-apartheid government must fulfil constitutional and international obligations to safeguard environmental assets as well as undertake land reform benefiting the previously dispossessed. Consequently, there is a continuous challenge of reconciling complex and often conflicting relationships between poverty, inequitable access to resources, and the protection of biodiversity. Current efforts to conserve the Cape Floral Kingdom emphasise partnerships between private landowners and existing nature reserves to promote sustainable utilisation of biodiversity. This paper explores the potential impact of this approach on farm dwellers, and how changing land use may affect their land tenure rights and livelihoods. Primary research was undertaken in the Baviaanskloof, where this model is in an early stage of implementation. The paper identifies systemic and structural tensions in current attempts to reconcile biodiversity conservation and farm dwellers’ interests, and documents issues of process and principle that could become important in the future. In doing so, it highlights the influence of on-farm power relations and highly complex institutional arrangements in determining the real extent of participation by affected farm dwellers and the efficacy of social safeguard policies. Findings also caution against an over-reliance on ecotourism as the major occupation and argues instead for support to multiple livelihood strategies.