The main purpose of this study was to establish how effectively mediation was applied to advance learners‟ fundamental rights in English First Additional Language classrooms. The researcher did a literature study in Chapter Two to do research on the concept mediation. The researcher briefly looked at a variety of approaches to mediation before deciding to base her study on the twelve mediation principles of Feuerstein. The advantages gained by following a mediational approach while teaching learners could not be disputed. In Chapter Three, the researcher investigated which fundamental rights learners have at South African schools. A variety of legislation was studied before determining those Acts and the legislation applicable to learners‟ fundamental rights. The researcher then proceeded with her empirical design in which she discussed the quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection which were triangulated in order to make findings. The researcher ensured that both mediation and fundamental rights were tested in the questionnaires which were answered by educators and learners. Thereafter, three focus group interviews were held with the educators who had completed the questionnaires. Lastly, the researcher conducted six observations during English First Additional Language literature periods. In order to advance learners‟ fundamental rights while applying mediation during literature periods, the researcher developed a teaching and learning programme for poetry in Grade 11 English First Additional Language educators. Through the research it was found that educators neglect the application of mediation. This, unfortunately, results in detrimental effects concerning the advancement of learners‟ fundamental rights. / Thesis (PhD (Education Law))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

Tuberculosis is a health threat, globally, in Africa, South Africa as well as in the North West Province. Although a number of positive interventions have been implemented, like the introduction of direct observation treatment strategy, still tuberculosis remains a threat. This may be due to the fact that while interventions to fight tuberculosis have been formulated and implemented, the most important resource in the Department of Health, which are nurses. Nurses working in the tuberculosis programme who play a vital role in the implementation of the health strategy are left behind and not given the proper support that they need to ensure the implementation of the health strategy. Nurses need to receive physical, emotional and social support from management so that they can give quality care to their patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the support from management to nurses working in the tuberculosis programme in the primary health care facilities at the Matlosana sub-district so as to make recommendations to management with the aim of improving the nurses’ work life and consequently rendering quality care to the tuberculosis patients. The research was conducted in the Matlosana sub-district in the North West Province of South Africa. A qualitative research design was used to explore and describe the support by management to nurses working in the tuberculosis programme in the primary health care facilities. A purposive voluntary sampling method was used to select participants who met the set criteria. In depth Semi structured interviews were conducted. Data was captured on an audio recorder, and transcribed verbatim. The researcher and the co-coder analysed the data after data saturation was reached. A consensus was reached on the categories that emerged. The results showed that most facility managers lack knowledge about tuberculosis making it difficult for them to support nurses working in the tuberculosis programme. The lack of support resulted in the arousal of feelings such as frustration, feeling undermined, feeling unnoticed and unappreciated. It also resulted in resistant behaviours such as underperformance, loss of interest in their work, wanting to leave to where they will be supported and reluctance to take annual leave due to fear of piling work. However, few participants reported supportive experiences from both their facility managers and from the tuberculosis coordinator. Recommendations were made for the field of nursing education, community health nursing practice and nursing research with the aim of improving the nurses’ work life and consequently rendering quality care to the tuberculosis patients. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The high prevalence of sexual abuse suffered by women as children is well documented, both internationally and in South Africa. The life outcomes of women who had experienced childhood sexual abuse are generally reported as adverse, yet some of these survivors manage to overcome the abusive relationship and experience positive changes in themselves and their lives. Emerging trauma literature thus supports a philosophical shift from a pathogenic to a autogenic paradigm in which the focus is on positive and adaptive post trauma outcomes. Previous trauma models, which were based on a pathogenic model, are now shifting to a positive psychology trend by incorporating a salutary component, which includes a spiritual and existential dimension as well as an area of potential emerging growth. Information on the constructive coping behaviours, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being of women who had experienced childhood sexual abuse can lead to the formulation of guidelines with strategies for an intervention programme that can facilitate and enhance coping, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being in survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This research investigated the coping behaviours, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being of women who had experienced childhood sexual abuse. The research was carried out in South Africa in the greater Gauteng Province and surrounding areas, with women who had experienced sexual abuse in childhood. A mixed method research design was used in which: the first phase was quantitative research conducted with validated psychometric instruments measuring coping behaviour, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being. These instruments were the COPE (Coping Self-efficacy Scale), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Mental Health Continuum, Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale and the General Health Questionnaire. The second phase was of a qualitative nature, and explored the stories and experiences of women identified as coping constructively, manifesting posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being, by using semi-structured interviews. Lastly, the data obtained was used to formulate guidelines with specific strategies, which can be used by helping professionals in a group context to facilitate and enhance constructive coping, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being in survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The results of this research were as follows: prevalence of constructive coping, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being was determined, and indicated that 58% of participants manifested constructive coping, 60% manifested posttraumatic growth and 42% manifested psychological well-being. Semi-structured interviews conducted with the women scoring in the upper range of coping constructively, growing after the trauma and emerging psychologically well were transcribed and analysed by means of interpretative phenomenological analysis, and the following broad themes emerged: psycho-socio spiritual resources, the healing process and positive strengths. These themes and sub-themes produced data which could be used in the formulation of guidelines with strategies for an intervention programme aimed at enhancing and facilitating constructive coping, posttraumatic growth and psychological well-being thereby improving the therapeutic services available to childhood sexual abuse survivors. Finally the study was evaluated and conclusions and recommendations were made. / PhD, Psychology, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

Through this study, a strategy for the localisation and development of the South African nuclear industry was developed. As background, the Korean localisation experience was investigated, along with international recommendations regarding nuclear localisation, and South African governmental policies. This research was used as foundation for the formulation of a localisation strategy. The possibility of using localisation and nuclear industry development as a means to address governmental socio-economic development goals was investigated. From the literature investigation localisation principles were identified. The focus areas of the localisation strategy were subsequently based on these principles. The principles are:  Aggressive human resource development  Governmental leadership and support  International co-operation The localisation strategy addresses general localisation recommendations, needed human resource development, structure of the Nuclear Energy Project Implementation Organization (NEPIO), roles of the participants of the NEPIO, and finally the supply-chain development and technology transfer guidelines. It was assumed that three nuclear power plants, consisting of two reactors each would be constructed. For localisation to be successful, a fleet approach must be followed to ensure economy of scale, and local participation must be incrementally increased with each power plant. The localisation strategy was circulated to industry for validation, and changes were made, based on industry feedback. The needed human resource development amounts to the training of 4 012 labourers per year (see Table 1). The local participation for each consecutive power plant is 30%, 50%-55% and 75%-80%, respectively. It was found that 100% localisation is not feasible. The planned nuclear power programme is too small to justify the development of globally leading components such as ultra-heavy forgings. The structure of the NEPIO is shown in Figure 1. It was found that the localisation and nuclear industry development would serve as a vehicle to help achieve governmental socio-economic development programmes. It was finally concluded that South Africa has the potential for localisation, but obstacles such as a lack of governmental commitment, negative public perception, and lack of industry confidence will be detrimental to the localisation efforts. If these, and other obstacles are not urgently addressed, South Africa will miss out on a much needed development opportunity. / MIng (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Workplace bullying is recognised as a major psychosocial stressor in various professions and can have severe effects on health. Teachers are distinguished as an occupational group that is severely affected by this phenomenon. The general objectives of this research study were to firstly investigate teachers’ experiences of workplace bullying and its effects on health, and secondly, to develop a multi-level intervention programme that can be implemented to address workplace bullying and its effects on health in this context. This research study was conducted in two phases. The biopsychosocial model was applied as a theoretical foundation in the first phase. Participants were sampled by means of informative and educational articles that were placed online and in printed media. Selection criteria were applied to sample a group that was representative of victims of workplace bullying. Ultimately, twenty-seven teachers were included in this study. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was used to explore teachers’ experiences of workplace bullying and its effects on health. Data was specifically gathered by means of semi-structured interviews and personal documents. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and data was transcribed verbatim. Methods of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were applied to analyse and present the data. Findings were supported with verbatim quotes and a literature control. Teachers’ reports indicated that workplace bullying is mostly perpetrated by principals and that colleagues are often also involved in the process. Bullying behaviours were aimed at attacking the character, as well as the work of teachers. Organisational channels were often exploited to bully teachers. Certain behaviours were an infringement of teachers’ human and labour rights. Findings are also analogous to the theory and dynamics that is depicted by the biopsychosocial model. Escalating stress and trauma were reflected in teachers’ physical, psychological and social health. The experience of workplace bullying firstly impacted on their psychological health, which was also accompanied by various physical health problems. Major depressive episodes and/ or symptoms of depression were mostly reported. Some teachers also reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, complex-posttraumatic stress disorder, and panic attacks. Teachers’ ill-health experiences further negatively impacted on their social and professional relationships. The school organisation is affected. The result is teachers with a lost passion for the profession, lowered work performance, increased absenteeism, and teachers’ intention to leave the profession. Findings finally indicated that certain personal and organisational characteristics facilitate and sustain workplace bullying. Relevant literature, field notes during the research process and findings in the first phase of this study guided the development of a multi-level intervention programme for the South African teaching profession. Strategic intervention activities were suggested to address some of the causes, as well as the physical, psychological and social health effects of workplace bullying. A strategic and methodological approach to multi-level intervention was also developed and proposed. Strategic intervention activities were ultimately suggested for the professional, social/ community, individual/ familial, dyadic, organisational, managerial, and work group level. / Thesis (PhD (Educational Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The way that inner city learners and their educators experience life varies to a great extent. A music programme relevant to the needs of learners can create better understanding between these groups. The success of such a programme depends on an effective teaching-learning approach. The action learning approach, developed by Reginald Revans and adapted for music by Thomas A. Regelski, was implemented in a once-off rap programme at an inner city school in Gauteng. The aim of the programme was the acquisition of practical musical skills by learners through participation in a real-life musical event. The programme was offered on the basis of six specific action learning principles. The action learning approaches of Revans and Regelski were adapted to suit local goals and circumstances. / Thesis (MMus (Musicology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Child Sexual Abuse is a serious and complex issue for South Africa, demonstrating one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. Scarcity of professional resources demands effective intervention through prevention programmes which largely rely on non-profit organisations as a last hope to decrease the excessively high rates of abuse. Due to lack of resources within the non-profit organisations, they largely rely on volunteers who are often from the late adolescent developmental stage to present these prevention programmes. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of emerging adult volunteers presenting a sensitive child sexual abuse prevention programme in schools in South Africa. The objectives were to gain further insight and understanding into the late adolescent developmental stage in regard to the participants’ views of presenting a child sexual abuse prevention programme and to identify what aspects of the programme should be altered, improved or continued to avoid risk and harm to these volunteers. The research approach was qualitative, with the use of case-study and phenomenological strategies that allowed for in-depth insight into how a small group of late adolescents made sense of their experiences and transformed these into subjective, conscious meanings. Criterion-based sampling was used to find the participants who had previously presented the child sexual abuse prevention programme. Data were collected by means of six semi-structured one-on-one interviews and six open-ended questionnaires with twelve participants between the ages of 18-22. Common themes, patterns, and regularities that recurred throughout the interviews and open-ended questionnaires were identified and the main themes that were evident formed the overall image reflective of the experiences of the volunteers. The findings suggest that the late adolescent stage may be a good age group for presenting this challenging and imperative task. To allow for the most positive impact and avoid harm it is, however, essential that non-experiences of late adolescents presenting a child sexual abuse prevention programme profit organisations provide adequate psychological and emotional support to the volunteers throughout the duration of the programme. The study shows that late adolescents, who felt they had received adequate psychological support, indicated an overall more beneficial and rewarding experience. Participants who felt they had not received sufficient support, reported feelings of helplessness and depressive thoughts, indicating emotional and possibly psychological harm. The study highlights the necessity for adequate support of the late adolescent volunteers presenting sensitive programmes in the future. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Early childhood development has a lifelong impact on the future of each human being. However, all South Africans do not have equal access to the same quality ECD opportunities and services. As a means to advance knowledge in this regard, this study explores parents' perceptions regarding early childhood development (ECD) and their involvement therein, particularly within the Langkloof farming communities. Furthermore, the objective is to formulate guidelines, which can be applied to promote parents‘ involvement in ECD at home and at the ECD partial care facility the children are enrolled at. For this reason an interpretive, descriptive research design was utilised as methodology, which enables the determination of practical applicability. The data for this study was gathered by means of five focus groups, consisting of not more than eight participants per group. Participants were sampled though a purposeful sampling strategy to ensure that the most informative participants were selected for the study. Gathered data were transcribed and analysed on the basis of the basic qualitative analysis process, incorporating the thematic analysis strategy. The findings of this study indicate that parents have a pertinent understanding of ECD and parental involvement in relation to existing literature on ECD. Participants‘ perceptions complement existing ECD-related literature, indicating that parental involvement in ECD includes a home-centred as well as a facility-centred approach. Participants made reference to their concerns and satisfactions with the ECD services that they are currently receiving. They furthermore made reference to the challenges that prohibit them from optimal parental involvement in the ECD of their children, both at home, as well as at the ECD partial care facilities their children are enrolled at. Participants made suggestions on how they could be supported to address their concerns and challenges in both home-centred and facility-centred approaches in order to enhance parental involvement in their community. In general findings suggest that parents have the skills and are aware of their rights and responsibilities with regard to ECD parental involvement. However, if their insights were to be additionally buttressed in particular ways, their children‘s development in the early years could be enhanced. Based on the findings therefore, this study recommends that governmental departments focus on determining the actual requirements of parents, based on their unique understanding of their circumstances and beliefs by means of practice-based research in less fortunate communities. Furthermore it is recommended that government departments, other role players involved in community-based ECD service delivery and farm owners should play a developmental, empowering and supportive role to assist parents to improve in respect of home-centred, as well as facility-centred parental involvement in ECD. In general the findings of this study therefore suggest that support services to parental involvement in ECD must be individualised based on research and theory and the requirements of parents and children in a specific context. / Thesis (MSW)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Tuberculosis is a health threat, globally, in Africa, South Africa as well as in the North West Province. Although a number of positive interventions have been implemented, like the introduction of direct observation treatment strategy, still tuberculosis remains a threat. This may be due to the fact that while interventions to fight tuberculosis have been formulated and implemented, the most important resource in the Department of Health, which are nurses. Nurses working in the tuberculosis programme who play a vital role in the implementation of the health strategy are left behind and not given the proper support that they need to ensure the implementation of the health strategy. Nurses need to receive physical, emotional and social support from management so that they can give quality care to their patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the support from management to nurses working in the tuberculosis programme in the primary health care facilities at the Matlosana sub-district so as to make recommendations to management with the aim of improving the nurses’ work life and consequently rendering quality care to the tuberculosis patients. The research was conducted in the Matlosana sub-district in the North West Province of South Africa. A qualitative research design was used to explore and describe the support by management to nurses working in the tuberculosis programme in the primary health care facilities. A purposive voluntary sampling method was used to select participants who met the set criteria. In depth Semi structured interviews were conducted. Data was captured on an audio recorder, and transcribed verbatim. The researcher and the co-coder analysed the data after data saturation was reached. A consensus was reached on the categories that emerged. The results showed that most facility managers lack knowledge about tuberculosis making it difficult for them to support nurses working in the tuberculosis programme. The lack of support resulted in the arousal of feelings such as frustration, feeling undermined, feeling unnoticed and unappreciated. It also resulted in resistant behaviours such as underperformance, loss of interest in their work, wanting to leave to where they will be supported and reluctance to take annual leave due to fear of piling work. However, few participants reported supportive experiences from both their facility managers and from the tuberculosis coordinator. Recommendations were made for the field of nursing education, community health nursing practice and nursing research with the aim of improving the nurses’ work life and consequently rendering quality care to the tuberculosis patients. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Through this study, a strategy for the localisation and development of the South African nuclear industry was developed. As background, the Korean localisation experience was investigated, along with international recommendations regarding nuclear localisation, and South African governmental policies. This research was used as foundation for the formulation of a localisation strategy. The possibility of using localisation and nuclear industry development as a means to address governmental socio-economic development goals was investigated. From the literature investigation localisation principles were identified. The focus areas of the localisation strategy were subsequently based on these principles. The principles are:  Aggressive human resource development  Governmental leadership and support  International co-operation The localisation strategy addresses general localisation recommendations, needed human resource development, structure of the Nuclear Energy Project Implementation Organization (NEPIO), roles of the participants of the NEPIO, and finally the supply-chain development and technology transfer guidelines. It was assumed that three nuclear power plants, consisting of two reactors each would be constructed. For localisation to be successful, a fleet approach must be followed to ensure economy of scale, and local participation must be incrementally increased with each power plant. The localisation strategy was circulated to industry for validation, and changes were made, based on industry feedback. The needed human resource development amounts to the training of 4 012 labourers per year (see Table 1). The local participation for each consecutive power plant is 30%, 50%-55% and 75%-80%, respectively. It was found that 100% localisation is not feasible. The planned nuclear power programme is too small to justify the development of globally leading components such as ultra-heavy forgings. The structure of the NEPIO is shown in Figure 1. It was found that the localisation and nuclear industry development would serve as a vehicle to help achieve governmental socio-economic development programmes. It was finally concluded that South Africa has the potential for localisation, but obstacles such as a lack of governmental commitment, negative public perception, and lack of industry confidence will be detrimental to the localisation efforts. If these, and other obstacles are not urgently addressed, South Africa will miss out on a much needed development opportunity. / MIng (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013