Education in South Africa faces many challenges; among them is the betterment of teaching and learning in order to improve the performance in schools, particularly in township schools where the results of learners are still not up to the required standard. For schools to function effectively, the School Management Teams (Principal, Deputy Principal, HODs), need to understand the importance of the effective management of human resources. The proper and effective management of people cannot be neglected if the schools as organisations want to attain their goals. School Management Teams as managers of schools are accountable for the effective running of the schools and the task of proper management of human resources rest on their shoulders. In this study an investigation into human recource management in selected township schools in the Gert Sibande Region (Mpumalanga Province) was done. Central to the study is the School Management Team's (SMTs) understanding of the concepts management and leadership, human resource management and related aspects. An investigation was also done regarding the knowledge, skills and strategies needed to improve education in township schools. With regard to the proper training of SMTs, various recommendations are made to expose them to more rigorous training, especially in Human Resource Management as this is the cornerstones of effective school management. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

<p><font face="Helvetica"> <p align="left">The objectives of this study were:&nbsp / To review and understand flow and transport processes in unsaturated zones. In this study, particular emphasis is placed on understanding mechanisms that cause non-uniform (preferential) flow for two casestudies, namely the Cape Flats sandy environment and the Mpumalanga Highveld fractured rock environment.&nbsp / To evaluate the adequacy of models, in particular MACRO 5.0, in simulating flow and transport in the vadose zone, by making use of two case study sites (Cape Flats and Mpumalanga Highveld). Of particular importance is the evaluation of transfer coefficients to represent fluid and solute exchange between macropores and matrix.&nbsp / To run a sensitivity analysis with MACRO 5.0 in order determine which input model parameters are the most relevant in describing the effects of preferential flow in water and solute transport.</p> </font></p>

<p><font face="Helvetica"> <p align="left">The objectives of this study were:&nbsp / To review and understand flow and transport processes in unsaturated zones. In this study, particular emphasis is placed on understanding mechanisms that cause non-uniform (preferential) flow for two casestudies, namely the Cape Flats sandy environment and the Mpumalanga Highveld fractured rock environment.&nbsp / To evaluate the adequacy of models, in particular MACRO 5.0, in simulating flow and transport in the vadose zone, by making use of two case study sites (Cape Flats and Mpumalanga Highveld). Of particular importance is the evaluation of transfer coefficients to represent fluid and solute exchange between macropores and matrix.&nbsp / To run a sensitivity analysis with MACRO 5.0 in order determine which input model parameters are the most relevant in describing the effects of preferential flow in water and solute transport.</p> </font></p>

Education in South Africa faces many challenges; among them is the betterment of teaching and learning in order to improve the performance in schools, particularly in township schools where the results of learners are still not up to the required standard. For schools to function effectively, the School Management Teams (Principal, Deputy Principal, HODs), need to understand the importance of the effective management of human resources. The proper and effective management of people cannot be neglected if the schools as organisations want to attain their goals. School Management Teams as managers of schools are accountable for the effective running of the schools and the task of proper management of human resources rest on their shoulders. In this study an investigation into human recource management in selected township schools in the Gert Sibande Region (Mpumalanga Province) was done. Central to the study is the School Management Team's (SMTs) understanding of the concepts management and leadership, human resource management and related aspects. An investigation was also done regarding the knowledge, skills and strategies needed to improve education in township schools. With regard to the proper training of SMTs, various recommendations are made to expose them to more rigorous training, especially in Human Resource Management as this is the cornerstones of effective school management. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Education in South Africa faces many challenges; among them is the betterment of teaching and learning in order to improve the performance in schools, particularly in township schools where the results of learners are still not up to the required standard. For schools to function effectively, the School Management Teams (Principal, Deputy Principal, HODs), need to understand the importance of the effective management of human resources. The proper and effective management of people cannot be neglected if the schools as organisations want to attain their goals. School Management Teams as managers of schools are accountable for the effective running of the schools and the task of proper management of human resources rest on their shoulders. In this study an investigation into human recource management in selected township schools in the Gert Sibande Region (Mpumalanga Province) was done. Central to the study is the School Management Team's (SMTs) understanding of the concepts management and leadership, human resource management and related aspects. An investigation was also done regarding the knowledge, skills and strategies needed to improve education in township schools. With regard to the proper training of SMTs, various recommendations are made to expose them to more rigorous training, especially in Human Resource Management as this is the cornerstones of effective school management. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Curriculum 2005 is an attempt by the South African government to create and implement a strategic plan to change the formal school curriculum. The new curriculum has 'integration' as one of its focal features. This study is an investigation of the use of' environment' as an integrating' organiser' in the senior phase of Curriculum 2005 in a selection of schools in the Mpumalanga province. While the Curriculum 2005 framework encourages curriculum integration, this is an area which might be neglected during implementation, because there is so little experience among teachers of working in an 'integrated' way. Environmental education is an approach to education which requires and facilitates curriculum integration. This study has the potential to contribute to our understanding of the integration of environmental learning across the new curriculum. Questionnaires and vignettes based on document analysis, follow-up interviews and classroom observations, involving a small group of teachers, were used in conducting the study. The investigation has revealed that participating teachers show a limited understanding of the constructs 'environment' and 'phase organiser'. Teachers do not take or introduce a critical perspective on the nature and causes of environmental issues. They treat the construct 'environment' and associated issues quite superficially when working with learners. Participating teachers generally misunderstood the concept 'phase organisers' and tended to interpret it in concepts associated with the curriculum framework they were used to. Curriculum 2005 also requires teachers to take on a more active curriculum development role. This study looked at four teachers' attempts to develop learning programme units, and at the way in which two teachers implement their curriculum plans focussing on 'environment', in the classroom. It was found that participating teachers do not always follow the same sequence or steps when developing a learning programme. Learning programme units were not considered in developmental sequence, they lacked some form of continuity and links between intended learning outcomes and teaching activities were also lacking. There was inadequate integration between learning areas. Furthermore, integration between knowledge, skills, values and attitudes was also not quite clear among the teachers, and they tended to deal with environmental knowledge in a rather limited way, focussing instead on the awareness and attitudes. These findings are of concern, and they are in keeping with the Curriculum 2005 Review Report, which highlighted the danger of inadequate focus on curriculum content. On overall teachers seem to be struggling with the whole notion of 'integration', even though environment as a phase organiser is meant to assist with curriculum integration. The thesis ends with recommendations on how teachers might be assisted to achieve meaningful curriculum integration, through using learning outcomes as well as content knowledge relevant to environmental learning.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of the Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) programme in South Africa, using Mpumalanga as focal area, with the view of developing guidelines to assist service providers in the implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP), Act 92 of 1996. The study was conducted in two phases. In phase 1, a qualitative, quantitative, contextual, explorative, descriptive and case study research design was utilised. The purpose was to explore and describe TOP service providers and facility managers’ knowledge regarding the CTOP Act, as well as their experiences and feelings regarding TOP provision, and the feelings and experiences of health care consumers utilising TOP services. Records of attendance regarding the utilisation of the services were also reviewed. Data was collected using unstructured and semi-structured interviews. Phase 2 of the study focused on the development of guidelines to assist in the translation of the CTOP Act to action at service level. The findings revealed that although the TOP programme was operating within the reproductive health for women initiative, TOP service providers and facility managers were not knowledgeable on other legislation that supports the CTOP Act to integrate its implementation. All the participants experienced emotional, physical and psychological discomfort in providing TOP services. Lack of support of the programme also posed a major challenge. These findings formed the basis for the development of the guidelines. / Health Studies / (D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies))

This thesis explores techniques which ultimately strive to optimize production systems in rangeland areas of southern Africa. By linking spatially significant, satellite derived data to practical measurements of vegetation structure, valuable insight has been derived on processes of ecosystem function, in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. A broad ecosystem response mechanism has been established from a conventional Normalized Differentiation Vegetation Index (NDVI). By responding to increases in production, which are driven by disturbance, this index has allowed quantitative systems theory in savanna to be tested and refined. Methods of biomass and production estimation which are specifically designed to reduce the cost and time involved with the more conventional method of destructive harvesting have been tested in the savanna at the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Results from these estimates relate well with data derived through destructive harvesting in structurally similar savanna. Moreover, by relating the above-ground woody production estimates to remere sensing indices, it was possible to demonstrate that the problem of extrapolation, universal to most biomass and production studies can be overcome. Since remote sensing encompasses an array of tools fundamental to rangeland inventory, monitoring and management, valuable spatially significant information pertaining to ecosystem structure and function has been provided for managers in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

The outlook for Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River does not look optimistic. Since the increase in capacity of the Loskop and Flag Boshielo Dams, the crocodile population was left with no basking or nesting sites and has declined over the past 30 years. Shortly after the Massingire Dam in Moçambique filled to full capacity an estimated 160 crocodiles died in the Olifants River Gorge, a couple of kilometres upstream from the dam. The Olifants River is acknowledged by many experts as one of the most polluted rivers in South Africa and acid mine drainage, industrial pollution and untreated sewage in the river are all contributing to the poor water quality of the river. Further, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry acknowledge that water demand already exceeds their capacity to supply and that the situation will worsen considerably in the near future. Aerial surveys of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River was carried out during December 2005 and November 2009. An average total population of 714 Nile crocodiles were counted and corrected to an estimated 1140 individual crocodiles to eliminate the effects of undercounting. The Kruger National Park and specifically the area of the Olifants River Gorge was found to be one of the preferred habitat areas for crocodiles in the Olifants River as was the Flag Boshielo Dam, the area between the Blyde River and the western boundary of the Kruger National Park and the Olifants River between the Loskop Dam and the Flag Boshielo Dam. Repeated nesting in areas such as the Kruger National Park, the Flag Boshielo Dam and the Olifants River between the Loskop Dam and the Flag Boshielo Dam confirmed that these areas are critically important to the nesting success of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River. The Elands River was confirmed as an important refuge area for Nile crocodiles in the Groblersdal-Flag Boshielo Dam area of the Olifants River. Surveys revealed an estimated total of only 15 crocodiles in the Loskop Dam and confirmed that no crocodiles in the large (2.1 - 4.0m TL) and very large size class (>4.0m TL) are currently present in the population. Blood biochemistry results indicate that the Olifants River Nile crocodile population probably suffers from chronic inflammation (especially in the Loskop Dam and Olifants River Gorge populations), infectious disease (particularly in the Loskop Dam population but all other sites also showed elevated values), possible inadequate diet and malnutrition (especially during the pansteatitis outbreak of August/September 2008) and are suffering serious immune problems in the Olifants River Gorge. A conservation and management plan is suggested which identifies threats to the continued existence of a viable Nile crocodile population in the Olifants River. Finally, it is suggested that the conservation status and risk of extinction of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River be upgraded to the Endangered category since it currently complies to the following criteria; EN A2abce; C2a(i) published in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1 (IUCN, 2001). / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Centre for Wildlife Management / unrestricted

Introduction An estimated 11.4% of South Africans are infected with HIV. As of 2007, 1.7 million people required antiretroviral therapy (ART) and only 460 000 were reported to be on ART. ART can improve the quality of life and socio-economic status for HIV positive patients. This study aimed at evaluating the role played by the different factors in influencing treatment adherence among HIV patients on ART. Methods The study was conducted on patients receiving out-patient ART in two district hospitals (one urban and the other rural) of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The study project was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the University of Pretoria as well as by the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Health. This was an analytical, cross-sectional study. The sample size for the study was 490 (245 per site). Facility-based patient appointment registers for the period June-August 2008 were used as the sampling frame. The respondents were selected through systematic random sampling. An interviewer directed standardised questionnaire was administered to the respondents after securing voluntary informed consent. Data were also extracted from the attendance registers in the two facilities. Adherence was measured using the Patient Medication Treatment Adherence Questionnaire. The Pearson chi-square test of association and binary logistic regression analysis were used for identifying significant predictors of non-adherence variables. Results Four hundred and twenty nine questionnaires of the 488 returned questionnaires were analysed. Sixty one questionnaires were disqualified due to incompleteness of data. The response rate was 99.7% in both study areas and participants reported adherence was 92.54%. The median age of the respondents was 36 (IQR, 13), gender distribution was 21.13% males and 78.87% females. The median duration of treatment (in months) with ART was 15 months (IQR, 18). Treatment adherence was higher in the urban than in the rural hospital. The variables that were significantly associated with non-adherence were ‘urban residence’ (OR 0.39 [0.2-0.8]); ‘lack of social support’ (OR 2.74 [1.3-5.7]); Discussion There were also some qualitative variables that had a bearing on quality of healthcare services that could explain differences between the rural and urban sites. Social support and urban residence demonstrated association with treatment adherence. Copyright / Dissertation (MMed)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) / Unrestricted