This thesis investigates the English language press and its coverage of protest struggles and backlash, border wars and related militarisation of society in the critical years of South African political change between 1976 and 1988. The widespread reputation of Natal liberalism has led researchers to debate the extent to which the independent Natal Witness was a politically oppositional paper and raises interesting questions about the construction ofliberalism itself as a political doctrine. I examine the Natal Witness as a case study - an English language newspaper based in the province that was then called Natal. In this study, I focus on key events related to violent political conflict to determine how this newspaper reported on the apartheid state's police response to protest, its military campaigns, perceived security threats to the nation, the issue of military conscription, and the increasingly violent provincial politics fought between the followers of the United Democratic front (UDF) and Inkatha. I describe the coverage of the Witness at length and show how various mediums (news articles, letters, and opinion pieces) and various sources conveyed events to its readership. I assess the content and its ambiguities to paint a complex and detailed picture of how discourses shifted with events and over time. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / INTRODUCTION Globally, the use of alternative therapies by the public as well as healthcare workers has been widely documented. In South Africa, no studies have been done on alternative therapies specifically related to nurses. The vast amount of media attention with regards to alternative therapies related to the positive and negative outcomes has sparked major interest in this topic. The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions of professional nurses at nine hospitals within the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, towards alternative therapies in a nursing context. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objectives of the study were to determine the professional nurses’ perceptions as well as knowledge of alternative therapies. The possible barriers in providing alternative therapies in nursing practice was also explored in order to make recommendations to guide professional nurses with regard to alternative therapies in patient care. METHODOLOGY A quantitative exploratory research approach underpinned this study. A survey questionnaire was used to obtain information from professional nurses who had consented to participate. The total population of professional nurses was 1218. A total of 616 questionnaires were distributed to participants at the nine participating hospitals. Three hundred and eighty six (386) questionnaires were returned, which resulted in a 63% response rate. FINDINGS It was evident from the data that professional nurses used various forms of alternative therapies. The results revealed that almost 69% (n=265) used prayer/spiritual healing, followed by 53.9% (n=207) who used nutritional supplements, whilst 51.9% (n=199) used music therapy. Participants rated their satisfaction on the information received regarding alternative therapies in nursing education as follows: prayer/spiritual healing 71.1% (n=271), nutritional supplements 71.7% (n=273), music therapy 57.9% (n=220), massage therapy 46.7% (n=216) and support groups 80.3% (n=306). About two thirds (n=272) felt that alternative therapies was beneficial rather than a threat to patient’s health. However, 60% (n=229) agreed that the use of alternative therapies that were not tested in a scientific manner should be discouraged. More than 80% (n=313) of the sample thought that health professionals should have the ability to advise patients in the clinical setting about the most commonly used alternative therapies. More than half of the sample (n=254) stated that they did encounter patients in the clinical setting who enquired about alternative therapies. Only 39.6% (n=153) stated that they felt confident to advise patients about alternative therapies, whilst 26.7% (n=103) stated that they were unable to do so. As the evidence base for the use of alternative therapies grows, so too does the demand increases for the integration of alternative therapies in nursing education. Nurses being the patient’s advocate need to be well versed regarding the use and safety aspects of alternative therapies. / M

The limited success of HIV-testing facilities in South Africa means that many people are not accessing necessary antiretroviral treatment services. This study investigates the practical implications of HIV exceptionalism inherent in Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). A semi-structured interview schedule was used to survey participants for their perspectives on barriers to HIV-testing uptake as well as the effects of exceptionalist practices at VCT clinics. Responses showed marked perceptions of gender differences in people's willingness to test and several important barriers including problems of access to services. Significantly, exceptionalism displayed in certain clinic procedures was thought to contribute to stigma, and attempts to normalise HIV practice in order to combat the effects of stigma were being informally implemented. Participants' views on routine opt-out testing were explored. The researcher recommended further investigation on how HIV testing and treatment policies can be normalised so as to reduce stigma and increase testing uptake. / Social Work / M.A. Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The limited success of HIV-testing facilities in South Africa means that many people are not accessing necessary antiretroviral treatment services. This study investigates the practical implications of HIV exceptionalism inherent in Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). A semi-structured interview schedule was used to survey participants for their perspectives on barriers to HIV-testing uptake as well as the effects of exceptionalist practices at VCT clinics. Responses showed marked perceptions of gender differences in people's willingness to test and several important barriers including problems of access to services. Significantly, exceptionalism displayed in certain clinic procedures was thought to contribute to stigma, and attempts to normalise HIV practice in order to combat the effects of stigma were being informally implemented. Participants' views on routine opt-out testing were explored. The researcher recommended further investigation on how HIV testing and treatment policies can be normalised so as to reduce stigma and increase testing uptake. / Social Work / M.A. Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The growing urban population in South Africa has challenged the government's ability to provide adequate housing for the urban poor. In order to respond to the challenges, the government embarked on the initiative of providing Low - Income Housing (L1H). There is, however, a growing concern that these L1H developments may not be sustainable due to a number of reasons, including issues relating to land use and sub- standard construction of houses. There is need to make these L1H areas more sustainable. This can be done by employing the concept of the sustainable city. The concept in recent times has been considered by many people as an ideal to which cities should aspire. The main thrust of this study is to evaluate the concept of the sustainable city in the context of L1H in Ambleton, a settlement constructed by the government to relocate people from illegal, informal settlements within the inner city especially those found adjacent to the industrial areas. The study focuses on the issues of land use in L1H. This focus on land use is underpinned by the fundamental views that land use contributes to urban sustainability. As a result, it is necessary to examine ways in which land is being used in L1H areas and see if the current land use in Ambleton contributes to sustainability. The study shows that some people are satisfied with the amount of open spaces around their houses. Many others, however, are not satisfied because they considered open spaces in .their yard inadequate. Furthermore, public open spaces are not properly managed because there are no services to manage it. In the same vein, people have to travel long distances to get to their places of work and town for economic and leisure activities. Similarly, the provision of waste services and medical services in the study area is grossly inadequate. The study argues on that basis that the above scenario is not in accordance with the concept of sustainable city and can not therefore contribute to, the sustainability of the area of study. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

This study explores the interconnectedness of drama, spirituality and healing among an established group of black gay males in the Pietermaritzburg area who agreed to work with me towards self-empowerment through drama. It examines, through a synthesis of educational drama methodology, community theatre methodology and drama therapy methodology, an appropriate and contextual way to use drama as a means of educating (educational drama methodology), conscientising (community theatre methodology) and therapy (drama therapy methodology) to some of the dis-ease reported by members of this group. Drama and therapy are closely interwoven (Moreno, 1970) and it is possible to create a dramatic context within which both individual and community development can be enhanced. Boal (1995) observes that our personal and corporate identities are ordered by a variety of oppressive social systems. Similarly, Graham (1992) argues that these social systems organise our psyches and our behaviours into patterns of domination and subordination. There are many theorists and practitioners in the field of drama (educational drama, community theatre and drama therapy) who have researched, implemented and published dramatic techniques and methodologies, some of which are taught at various institutions and implemented with various groups of people. However, according to my knowledge, there are no drama practitioners who have focussed on using the medium of drama to bring about social change in the lives of black gay males in the Pietermaritzburg area. It is against this background that I undertook this experiential study which is primarily aimed at assisting black gay males to move away from personal and social alienation towards individual and communal integration. This study is structured into two parts. Part I develops a theoretical overview of sexuality, spirituality and drama. It argues, in Chapter One that the Church has had a history of intolerance and judgement towards gays and continues to repress them from a traditional, negative stance on homosexuality. In Chapter Two, the issue of femininity and masculinity is examined, arguing that traditional patriarchal, and heterosexual masculinity [and femininity] is a socially constructed behaviour which is similar to the way in which gay masculinity [and femininity] is constructed. Chapter Three investigates the educational, conscientising and therapeutic origins of drama, with an aim of implementing some of these dramatic methodologies with the drama group. Part II concentrates on the application of the theory discussed in Part I to the practice of drama as an educational, conscientising and therapeutic means with a black gay drama group. It provides an analysis of the exercises and improvisations in practice; observations, evaluations and conclusions based on the drama practise with this particular group. Chapter Four provides a detailed summary of thirty black gay male's profiles in the Pietermaritzburg area. This portrait of black gay males provides one with a clearer contextual understanding of these gays, especially in the areas of culture, spirituality, identity and sexuality. Chapter Five provides a detailed outline of a sequence of exercises and improvisations for each of the nine sessions, which were tailored to engage the drama group in productive educational, conscientising and therapeutic activities. These activities may also have applicability to other groups of gays (i.e. Indians, Coloureds, Whites and multi-racial / multi-cultural groups), and/or black, and/or male persons in other localities. Chapters Five, Six and Seven, focus respectively on my experiences of planning, implementing and evaluating the drama workshops and the various drama methodologies that were introduced in Chapter Three and employed by the participants. These chapters, especially Chapter 6, focus specifically on the participants' evaluation of the actual workshops. In conclusion, this study argues that drama, if contextrialised, can offer a unique educational, conscientising and therapeutic potential among black gay males that I worked with in the Pietermaritzburg area. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

Submitted in fulfillment of the Masters degree in Technology: Community Health Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Background One of the major challenges for the Department of Health in South Africa today is inequity and the need to provide quality integrated health care for all its citizens. Primary Health Care (PHC) has been declared as the way to achieve this goal, through the District Health System. Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and the Essential Medicines List (EML) have been developed and are used at PHC clinics and hospitals. This study explored the use of STGs and the EML by professional nurses at PHC clinics in the UMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods A quantitative descriptive research design was used. Questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents at the PHC clinics. A retrospective review of facility registers kept by the respondents on the rational use of drugs was also carried out by the researcher. Results The findings of the study revealed that the respondents had a good understanding of the use of the STGs and the EML. There was no evidence of polypharmacy, and medications were prescribed according to guidelines. Areas that were suboptimal were related to prescription writing in writing of schedules and routes of medication as indicated in facility records. The results further showed that training on the use of the STGs and EML were inadequate, which implies the need for strengthening of training programmes.

An assessment of heavy metal and pesticide pollution was conducted at a commercial airport in Pietermaritzburg, which is the base for a local crop spraying operation, as well as a small-scale aircraft maintenance centre. The study investigated the presence of heavy metals from the aircraft activities (tyre wear, emission and aircraft body attrition) along the edges of the runway. In addition, the study assessed the pollution of the soil in different parts of the airport (areas adjacent to the crop sprayer hangar and maintenance hangars drainage ditch) caused by organic chemicals (pesticides) originating from the washing and maintenance of the crop spraying aircrafts. A total of 37 samples were taken from the top soil (0-15 cm) adjacent to both sides of the runway, approximately 100 meters apart, for heavy metal assessment. Total metal concentrations were determined on a 1:1 HNO3 acid extract analysed using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy and the results compared with the baseline concentrations of heavy metals in the soils of South Africa. The average levels of the heavy metals in the soils were: Cd - 4.4, Co - 76, Cr - 142, Mn - 6580, Pb - 64 and Zn - 70 mg/kg. The Cd and Co concentrations of all samples and the Pb and Zn concentrations of 86% of the samples were above the South African guidelines for the maximum permissible contents of these metals (2 mg/kg Cd, 20 mg/kg Co, 6.6 mg/kg Pb, 46.5 mg/kg Zn) in soils. In addition, the concentration of Cr was significantly above these guidelines (80 mg/kg Cr ) in 51% of the samples. All the metals, except zinc, were highly correlated with one another indicating the source for these heavy metals is the same. In addition the concentration of these metals was high at sampling points adjacent to the runway where pronounced aircraft tyre wear marks were observed, suggesting that the aircraft activities are the sources of these heavy metals. A total of 13 samples were collected from areas adjacent to the crop sprayer hangar and the drainage ditch (at the maintenance hangars) in order to determine the qualitative presence of organic pollutants. The samples were prepared using soxhlet extraction. Cypermethrin, deltamethrin, azoxystrobin, fusillade and fluazifop-p-butyl as well as fuel oils Jet Al and Avgas were qualitatively determined using GC/MS. Only fusillade and fluazifop-p-butyl were detected, in some of the samples. No quantitative analysis of the organic chemicals was attempted due to time constraints. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

This qualitative study examined the links between female educator stress and the attitudes of female educators towards their careers. It used data sampled from individual interviews conducted with female educators from two government schools and one private school in the Pietermaritzburg area. This research project is a sociocultural exploration of female educators' experiences of stress and the impact that it has on the way that these educators view their jobs. The purpose of the research was to obtain a greater understanding of the psychological effect of stress experienced in various urban school settings by primary and high school female educators. The results of the study indicate that participants' perceptions supported the literature review on some of the short-term and long-term psychological effects of educator stress on educators' attitudes towards their career. More negative teaching experiences than either beneficial or neutral experiences were recounted by the participants. the socioeconomic context in which the schools were situated, as well as the large number of administrative duties and lack of parental support contributed to the continued experience of high levels of stress by educators in general and female educators in particular.

The basis of my study is the belief that governance of the local delivery of health could usefully include full and wide community representation and participation by the stakeholders and the larger community. The study was initially carried out in 2003 and now the same clinic has been targeted to carry out an update to see whether the perceptions have changed; if so why and if not what the status is. This study investigates the proposition that if communities do not participate in policy formulation processes, implementation is crippled. The case study is of free health-care policy in a small area of Pietermaritzburg, the Mpumuza area. This area is chosen because it has a local clinic that is being used by the local people to get free primary health care services, covered by the national policy. My interest in the study is influenced by the role I played as a public servant within the district Department of Health one and a half years ago. I dealt, on a daily basis, with service delivery (with a focus on facilitation of the process of service delivery). My interest is to know how the processes of policy development unfold in practice. The study will be examining what the different writers allude to in relation to policy formulation and implementation, the legislative framework pertaining to health policy, the actual case study and finally the conclusions drawn and recommendations, which are open for further exploration in other studies. The study looks at the impact of lack of involvement of the community members (who are at the receiving end) and the role of service providers (who for the purposes of this study will be confined to the nurses that offer the health services at the specific local clinic). Basically the study found that the subject of involving communities in policy formulation is a crucial one if the policy is to be successfully implemented and these are detailed later in the document. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.