The question of morality related to adolescents now seems to be a thorny issue which gets into those in authority in South Africa. So far, nobody denies that the moral fibre in live of people is deteriorating at all age levels. The adolescents are probably most vulnerable. Various research projects, obviously have been conducted in relation to morality, however, serious problems are still experienced with regard to the perception of morality by adolescents. Consequently, the aim of this research is to explore and describe how adolescents perceive morality, and to draw guidelines which will be used by educators to assist adolescents in their moral development. This research can therefore contribute in helping the adolescents acquire the knowledge of factors that affect their perception of morality. This will help them not to be a menace to society. An explorative, descriptive, contextual and qualitative design was followed to conduct this research. A purposive sample was used and the young people had to satisfy specific criteria pertaining to being adolescents. Focus group interviews were conducted. Adolescents between fourteen and eighteen years of age participated. After the interviews had been recorded on audiotape and were transcribed, Tech’s method of data analysis was followed to analyze the data and ensure that trustworthiness is maintained. The results brought the following themes to light: • Expression of adolescents’ perception of morality • Morality versus immorality • Crime • Parents identified as neglecting and abusive • Adolescents expressed concern that their parents’ perception of certain aspects of life is not acceptable. It is evident that the conduct of adolescents is determined their perceptions of morality. As a result it is hoped that if due acknowledgement is made that educators and parents need to give proper guidance to adolescents about moral principles, harmonious interaction will prevail in both the home and the school. / Prof. C.P.H Myburgh

International developments in the area of governance over the past few years have seen an increase in the powers and responsibilities of local authorities. These responsibilities have to a greater extent assumed a developmental dimension. In order for local government to fulfil its constitutional mandate, it has to ensure that services are effectively provided in its area of jurisdiction. They also have to ensure that they do this in as cost-effective a way as possible in order to reach as many beneficiaries as possible, i.e. there is a proportional relationship between the resources of a local authority and its ability to carry out its developmental responsibility. Local government has to manage this huge responsibility with a clear understanding that, increasingly, it is seen as constituting a distinct sphere of government rather than an extension of provincial and national governments. A further implication that local authorities have to grapple with is the problem of insufficient capacity to fulfil their developmental roles. Local authorities have also been assigned a pivotal role in the implementation of the development agenda outlined in the RDP. Local authorities are essential to realising the transformation of the socio-economic landscape of the country. To this end they must ensure the effective delivery of services to communities within their areas of jurisdiction. It is at this level that government is closest to the people; it is this sphere of government which affects their daily lives more directly than any other; and it is only in this sphere of government in South Africa where individual representatives are elected directly from defined geographic constituencies. The new constitutional dispensation offers very little diversion from the international trend referred to above. Councillors and officials within local authorities must find amongst themselves common ground to enable them to serve the long-term interest of communities. Capacity needs to be built in order for local authorities to be able to accomplish their developmental obligation. Councillors and officials need to find a way to develop a shared vision among all stakeholders within their area of jurisdiction. They need to facilitate the forging of relationships with communities, businesses, other spheres of government and the structures of civil society. An achievement of a common vision will enhance effective service delivery and sustainable development in the local authority’s area of jurisdiction. Stakeholder involvement is an essential ingredient for sustainable development. Funding capacity for local authorities remains a major problem in local government. Municipalities may in this regard consider engaging the private sector, i.e. to privatise certain functions in order to effectively provide some of the services. Effective communication and co-operation between councillors and officials is important to ensure the efficient implementation of the community vision and financial management or optimisation of scarce resources. Councillors must be able to work and communicate effectively with the officials who implement their policies and manage the public affairs of the community. Financial management for councillors is not merely accounting or audit practices. It is, in effect, fulfilling the public trust placed in local representatives by the electorate. This brings into the picture the very important aspect of capacity building which is required for local authorities to fulfil their mandate of effective service delivery to residents. Local authorities have to ensure that services are provided to the communities in the most effective way possible and that the benefits of resource optimisation are further reinvested in the interest of the residents. It is a solemn responsibility which, if not handled properly, can result in economic decline, political gridlock and even violent protest against a local authority. / Prof. C.J. Maritz

M.A. / In present-day society, solid waste can no longer be treated as a non-valuable resource. Municipal waste produced from residential and commercial sources has become an economic resource for the poor on landfill sites. Urban poor, rural-urban migrants and urban-urban migrants are the ultimate symbol of the informal economy on landfill sites. These migrants have identified waste as an economic resource to extract a livelihood. In their presence on landfill sites, South Africa has introduced waste management policies which endorse the notion of sustainable development. Sustainable development is the notion through which South Africa shapes and parallels its environmental directive to avoid destruction and depletion of natural resources. Sustainable development is a theoretical framework adopted by this study to evaluate the effect of legislation on informal waste salvagers and waste salvaging. Waste salvaging is often frowned upon and neglected by local municipal authorities who are constitutionally mandated to ensure preservation of natural resources. Amongst other things, local municipalities need to recreate economic opportunities and curb the unemployment rate. Furthermore, South African municipalities deliberated during the tabling of the Polokwane Declaration to reduce waste disposal by 50% in 2012 through waste recycling and waste minimisation. In the absence of employment opportunities, local municipalities in South Africa are continually faced with the dilemma of incorporating informal waste salvaging into their waste management directives. This study uses Weltevreden landfill site in Polokwane as a case study to evaluate the effects of legislation on informal waste salvaging. A waste management and sustainability framework towards career waste salvagers was developed as a paradigm to incorporate elements of sustainable livelihood approach. The framework allowed the study to comprehend the synergy and the discords that waste management directives in South Africa unravel on informal waste salvaging. Furthermore, this led to the procreation of a model to unlock the economic potential of waste in South African municipalities. The model recognises the elements of waste management directives such as National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No.107 of 1998) and National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008). Despite that, the model resonates on the promulgations made in the Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) on informal waste salvaging. This study intends to evaluate the extent to which contemporary waste management directives in South Africa support waste salvaging within the three pillars of sustainable development, namely economic, social and environmental. However, this research hypothesises that waste management directives in South Africa fail to support the three pillars of sustainable development. In light of the hypothesis, this research has identified waste salvagers, waste Thaba Makgafela Richard iii management officials and the public as instrumental respondents to evaluate perceptions and challenges linked to the informal waste economy. A desktop review of available regulatory instruments informed recommendations and the model procreated in this study. The key lessons are highlighted and followed in Chapter 7 which provides analytical conclusions and recommendations for all the chapters.

Thesis (M.Sc. ( Agricultural Economics)) --University of Limpopo, 2019 / The demand for animal products is projected to increase progressively due to extensive urbanization, rapid growth of human population and income dynamics. However, the evolution of food demand is strictly linked to the change in consumer preferences. Consumers around the world are progressively becoming more concerned and aware about food standards, quality and safety issues. The purpose of this study was to determine consumers’ preference regarding safe and quality beef and WTP for graded beef in Polokwane municipality. The research surveyed 150 consumers using a structured questionnaire to collect data on consumer characteristics and responses to different bid levels for graded beef. Analytical methods were descriptive statistics, Likert scales, contingent valuation method to evaluate respondents’ mean WTP for graded beef and logit model to determine the dependence of WTP on socioeconomic factors. Results showed that consumers prefer their beef tender, with less fat and bones and labelled with price, grade/class, size or quantity of the product and lastly quality inspection or certification indicator. Over half of the respondents (53%) were aware of grading or classification systems. The results further revealed that most respondents are willing to pay an increase of 16.04 % over the current price for beef. This could be an opportunity for investments in beef label industry. Consumer characteristics including age, income, gender and household size significantly influenced WTP for graded beef in Polokwane Municipality. Marketing strategies considered by beef product investors should target young, female and wealthier consumers. Grading with respect to quality attributes would make beef sales at differentiated prices possible. This will eventually enhance sales volume and returns for all stakeholders along the value chain / National Research Fund

Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography)) --University of Limpopo, 2019 / Climate change is one of the biggest threats confronting humanity in the 21st century. There has been an increase in global average temperatures by about 0.85°C between 1880 and 2012. In South Africa, mean annual temperatures have increased by at least 1.5 times the observed global average over the last 50 years. Climate change is thus already a measurable reality in the country where it is negatively impacting on water resources, biodiversity, ecosystems, health and food security. Subsistence farmers especially, are envisaged to be facing challenges from climate change due to their limited knowledge, assets and financial resources. Little, however, is known about the adaptation process involving subsistence farmers. This study thus sought to assess the effects of subsistence farmers’ knowledge and perceptions on climate change adaptation and the role played by assets in enhancing farmers’ adaptive capacity. To collect data, the study used quantitative and qualitative research approaches which consisted of a questionnaire survey as well as in-depth interviews. Data was collected from 148 households in Ward 24 of Polokwane Local Municipality. Survey results indicate that 58% of the farmers were engaged in crop farming only, 3% in livestock farming only and 39% in mixed farming. Generally, subsistence farmers had knowledge of climate change. Their knowledge and perceptions were in line with current scientific observations on climatic and environmental changes in the country. Even though some farmers were adapting to climate change, the majority were hindered from adaptation by lack of financial resources. Assets played a significant role in climate change adaptation as households possessing different assets were using these assets to enhance their adaptive capacity and reduce their vulnerability. The study concludes that farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate in the ward was primarily influenced by the knowledge and perceptions that the farmers had on climate change. Additionally, possession of household assets played a central role in the adaptation process. The more assets that a household possessed, the more adaptive and resilient to climate change that the household was likely to be. Given this conclusion, the study recommends deploying agricultural extension officers in the study area to provide more information on climate change regarding causes, effects and the range of adaptation strategies available. Improved farming approaches should be instituted to enhance farming output, which will enable farmers to buy assets that are central to the adaptation process. Poverty alleviation programmes should also be introduced to reduce poverty and enhance the subsistence farmers’ capacity to adapt and secure their livelihoods. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (MBA.) --University of Limpopo, 2019. / The study is carried out in order to evaluate the readiness of new car dealerships in Polokwane for the possible levying of carbon taxes. The study is set out to determine the level of understanding and knowledge of carbon taxes by the new car dealerships. With the continuous changing climate, the weather patterns have worsened and the resultant impacts seen through storms, hurricanes, droughts and floods, to name a few, around the globe. This has been as a result of the carbon emissions that has damaged the ozone layer. The ideology of the carbon instruments is that the emitters of carbon will divert to more environmentally friendly methods of running their operations. South Africa is one of the countries that has adopted to implement carbon taxes and the implementation began in 2010 within the motor vehicle industry. However, the motor vehicle industry does not seem to have prepared for the possible implementation of carbon taxes. With Polokwane being a developing city, the researcher aims to determine whether new car dealerships in the city of Polokwane were prepared for the implementation of the carbon taxes. The study was mainly qualitative and borrowed from quantitative methodology for data analysis. The total population amounted to 20 new car dealerships and a sample of 10 was selected for the purpose of the research. The evaluation of readiness was carried out by sampling of ten new car dealerships within Polokwane where a questionnaire was prepared and the participants requested to complete the questionnaire truthfully. The literature review considered prior research in relation to carbon emissions and carbon instruments. Some of the findings include identifying that there is still a gap in terms of knowledge and understanding of how carbon instruments work. However; if carbon instruments are correctly applied and implemented, provides for a good stimulation of economic growth. The laws and regulations around carbon tax still need to be refined to ensure that the desired outcomes are obtained.

Thesis(M.A. (Communication Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / This study explored the impact of organisational culture on integrated communication (IC) at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in Polokwane, South Africa. Martin and Niemann-Struweg (2015), argued that top management in organisations poorly understood IC. This study investigates if the same applies to the GCIS in Polokwane. The study adopted a qualitative approach and made use of individual interviews and content analysis in order to collect data, which was then analysed by means of thematic analysis. The study used both the General Systems Theory (Bertalanffy, 1968) and the Organising Theory (Weick, 1989) as its theoretical framework. The findings suggested that organisational culture at the GCIS was shaped by both employee behaviour and organisational activities. The study found that information sharing was poorly implemented by the GCIS, which meant that, information contained in organisational documents differed from the perceptions shared by the employees. Measures to improve both the sharing of information and the perception of this information have been provided in the recommendations / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis(MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Road traffic injuries negatively impact on the health and the development of the world’s population. The situation is not different in South Africa, particularly in Polokwane, Limpopo Province. In this area, over the past years there has been a steady annual increase of the number of fatalities in the national and provincial roads. This has necessitated the national department of transport to implement mitigating plans with the objective of promoting road safety. It is envisaged that if national road safety plan known as the National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) is clearly defined and effectively implemented, the road fatalities can drastically be reduced. The plan provides some focus areas to be looked at in a way to promote road safety and reduce road accidents. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the NREP, whether it is consistently implemented; and to identify the gaps that affect the implementation process, and to recommend the mitigating factors that will improve the implementation processes of the NREP. A mixed method research approach was used in conducting the study. The first phase entails the collection of quantitative data through structured questionnaires involving traffic officers and traffic managers; while a second phase entails qualitative data collected through focus group discussions that involved traffic officers. The results show the extent at which the traffic officers are involved in the implementation of the NREP. To note, the findings are generalised to the national traffic operations. The study focussed on only one geographical area, namely Limpopo province in South Africa, and not on road transport operations in other parts of the country. Future research should expand on the nationalisation of traffic law enforcement officers.

Theses (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / The purpose of the study was to examine the perceptions of senior managers on the upper limits policy for the remuneration of senior managers at Polokwane Municipality. In 2014 the Minister responsible for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in South Africa published a notice on the implementation of upper limits for the remuneration of senior managers across all municipalities in South Africa. The notice signified a new paradigm in the local government remuneration practice in the local government sphere. Local government remuneration in South Africa was characterised by lack of uniformity and negative public perceptions on the huge salaries that senior managers in local government earned. There are substantial variations in municipal salary structures and benefits, municipal managers’ salaries vary between R155 424 and R1, 3 million per year (National Treasury Local Government Budgets and Expenditure Review, 2001/02 – 2007/08). The South African media published stories articles on senior local government managers who earns more than the president of the republic. The public scrutiny on the remuneration in local government was compared to the standard of service delivery in their areas, and often there was no relationship between the remuneration of the senior managers and the performance of their municipalities. The implementation of the upper limits policy in 2014 meant that for the first time in the democratic South Africa, the remuneration of senior managers in local government was regulated. This meant a shift from a practice of senior manager’s negotiated remuneration to nationally regulated remuneration. The implementation of the Upper Limits policy had the potential of de-stabilising the local government sector in terms of senior manager’s recruitment, retention and availability of skills due to the low remuneration that the policy has introduced. v The research was conducted at Polokwane Municipality and the study sampled all senior managers of Polokwane Municipality. The researcher opted for a qualitative research approach and utilised semi-structured interview schedule to gather data. The research findings indicate that all senior managers (7) of Polokwane Municipality perceived the upper limits policy negatively and they were not in support of its implementation. The research indicated that the reasons for the negative perception was that the Upper Limits Policy was not properly introduced at Polokwane Municipality. The researcher recommends that Polokwane Municipality needs to formally introduce the Upper Limits Policy to senior managers. This needs to be done through conducting workshops on the policy.

Thesis (M.Med. (Family Medicine)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / Objectives: To assess adherence to Isoniazide Prevention Therapy (IPT) among HIV positive patients in Rethabile Community Health Centre in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. Methods: A cross-sectional study with qualitative and quantitative data collection methods was conducted among HIV positive patients in Rethabile Community Health Centre from January 2013 to December 2013. Consecutive sampling was used to select 90 participants. Adherence was assessed using patient self-rated adherence to IPT, and confirmed by urine tests for isoniazid metabolites. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Information was also obtained from health care works regarding the perception about reason for non- adherence to IPT. Data was analysed using STATA software and thematic analysis. Results: Self-rated adherence to IPT among the participant was 80% where as urine test was positive for Isoniazid metabolites in 73%. While 84% of participants reported that transportation was the main reason for non adherence, 70% also reported distance from the health care as their main reasons for non-adherence to IPT. However, health care providers reported that many patients do not adhere to treatment due to: Lack of money for transport, missed clinic appointment due to rain and fear of losing jobs, use of traditional medicine, wrong belief about IPT, medicine side effects and alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Self – rate adherence to IPT was suboptimal and appears over – estimated among study participants. Interventions to improve adherence to IPT must ensure easy access to healthcare facilities, address wrong perceptions and promote healthy social behaviours