M.Sc. (Aquatic Health) / Wetlands play an extremely important role in the hydrological cycle as well as biodiversity. Until recently, however, wetlands in South Africa have been neglected both in terms of research and monitoring. The lack of knowledge is even greater for the inward draining wetlands, which is better known as pans. Pans are isolated aquatic systems, which are quite shallow and do not have an outlet. Pans receive water from precipitation and surface runoff, and lose water mainly through evaporation. Some pans can be ephemeral (dry up often) and other perennial (dry up only during drought). The little ecological knowledge available is mainly focused on these ephemeral pans. In this present study conducted in the Western Free-State province, study was only focused on the perennial pans in this area. Due to the fact that this province are one of the biggest areas for gold mining in the country, the pans suffer under the impacts, and this results in the alteration of community structures in and around the pan, simplifying food chains which can lead to the collapse of an ecosystem. The aim of the study was to assess the water quality, bioaccumulation of toxicants (metals and pesticides) in sediment and aquatic invertebrate community of perennial pans in the Western Free State Province, mainly because of the lack of literature on pans in these areas. Seventeen pans were selected for the study of which eight were classified as saline eutrophic and nine as alkaline dystrophic. Various physico-chemical and sediment characteristics were assessed in addition to the characterization of the aquatic invertebrate communities. It became clear that there is great difference in the physical-chemical characteristics of the selected pans. The difference in the trophic state was the most clear, with differences in water colour, nutrient concentration and vegetation growth, classifying pans as either saline eutrophic or alkaline dystrophic. These trophic states influence the distribution and richness of aquatic invertebrates in certain pans. Mining activity, urbanization, agricultural activities and sewage runoff into the pan, all affects the pans negatively, there is sighs of water quality degradation as well as changes in the community structure of invertebrates when compared to the reference pans.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Technology: Hospitality and Tourism, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / In South Africa, the tourism industry has been identified as one of the key drivers for economic development and transformation of the country. Although South Africa joined the world tourism stage since democracy, the country still contends with issues linked to apartheid, such as poverty, inequality and transformation. More specific and related to this study is the transformation of the tourism industry. In this regard, an overwhelming majority of tourism enterprises are still under the ownership of the White minority. With the post-apartheid transition, the national government recognized that the unequal ownership structure within the tourism sector (as with most of the other economic sectors) needed to be addressed through a programme of transformation. Hence, the transformation programme introduced to counter the current dominance of the economic sector was called Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), followed by Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE); the programme aimed at redressing inequalities that were linked to the legacy of apartheid. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather in-depth information from respondents, based on their accommodation establishment. The data collected from the responses were analysed using Microsoft Excel. This study revealed that the accommodation sector is struggling to keep up with the 2014 transformation target of thirty percent. Incidentally, transformation as noted by the National Department of Tourism, within the industry currently stands at less than 3 percent and will struggle to meet the amended target of thirty percent in respect of the transformation targets set for 2017. Although the government has introduced many initiatives to promote Black participation within the accommodation sector, transformation has remained stagnant and Black ownership of accommodation establishments is almost non-existent. The study results have found that there are no Black business that operate within the CBD of Clarens and that businesses that operate in Clarens even though wholly White-owned, are indeed compliant with the Tourism BEE charter in spite of the results noting that no transformation has taken place. This is due to the issue of automatic compliance afforded to businesses based on their annual turnover. / M

This exploratory and qualitative investigation is used as a research strategy to indicate a preventative policing style for public violence in the Eastern Free State. The research's integration of problem-solving methods may be used in instances where public violence is common and pre-empted. The study researched the policing of public expression against poor service delivery in a democratic South Africa after the adoption of a new Constitution. The Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment Model is applied by way of a service-oriented, preventative policing style involving the principles of the Community Policing Style. The dissertation argues that though the South African Police Service's handling of public violence in the Eastern Free State, was reminiscent of the former public violence of political oppression, it should gradually move away from the military approach to a preferred community policing style and include relevant role players in using a systematic and service-orientated preventative policing style to address public violence. / CRIMINOLOGY / MTECH: POLICING

This exploratory and qualitative investigation is used as a research strategy to indicate a preventative policing style for public violence in the Eastern Free State. The research's integration of problem-solving methods may be used in instances where public violence is common and pre-empted. The study researched the policing of public expression against poor service delivery in a democratic South Africa after the adoption of a new Constitution. The Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment Model is applied by way of a service-oriented, preventative policing style involving the principles of the Community Policing Style. The dissertation argues that though the South African Police Service's handling of public violence in the Eastern Free State, was reminiscent of the former public violence of political oppression, it should gradually move away from the military approach to a preferred community policing style and include relevant role players in using a systematic and service-orientated preventative policing style to address public violence. / CRIMINOLOGY / MTECH: POLICING

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the management skills of occupational therapy business unit managers on Assistant Director Level in the Public Health Sector (PHS) of the Free State (FS). For the purpose of this study, management skills referred to the occupational therapy business unit manager’s perception of the importance and competency experienced while doing their work within the Free State Department of Health. Occupational therapy form an integral part of the Free State Department of Health, which is a provincial public sector entity and solely responsible for health services to the majority of the population. An inquiry was initiated based on the researchers’ observation of occupational therapy business unit manager’s challenges regarding knowledge and skill when exposed to management. The investigation was conducted by making use of a questionnaire for the quantitative typical descriptive study design and semi-structured telephonic interviews for the qualitative study design. Electronic self-administrative questionnaires were distributed to all the occupational therapy business unit managers in the service of the Free State Department of Health. Ten (n=10) questionnaires, a hundred percent of employed occupational therapy business unit managers, were used for the analysis of quantitative data. Subsequently to this base-line data gathered, semi-structured telephonic interviews with open-ended questions were conducted among the target population. In conclusion the results of the study showed that the occupational therapy business unit managers in the PHS of the FS perceive a gap between their current and desired performance management skill levels. This was found to be in accordance with studies worldwide as clinicians promoted to a managerial post would prefer to utilize gained qualifications and experiences as managers within their specialty field.

No description available.

M.Ed. / The "hands off' kind of culture by South Africans towards the Environment is a serious concern. However it is encouraging to see that attempts are being made to improve the situation. The Environment and Environmental Education (EE) are receiving some attention in the formal education sector lately. The preservice (PRESET) sector of colleges of education was targeted by this study. This sector comprises teacher educators and teacher designates, it is on the basis of that, that their views were solicited in this attempt of making proposals for and EE curriculum framework for preservice teachers. These important stakeholders' views and expectations were used in making proposals for this Junior Primary Teachers Diploma (JPTD) EE curriculum framework. Essentially the content of such a curriculum framework should help in enviromnentalizing prospective teachers. The literature reviewed indicated that many countries of the world are engaged in the exercise of institutionalizing EE. This matter is receiving attention globally. Local and overseas initiatives have put EE in the forefront of educational discourse. Even though, there is still a lot of ground to be covered before EE can be viewed as having made significant impact in school systems. Indications are that, globally there is still a shortage of properly trained environmental educators. Colleges of Education in the Free State have to double efforts in addressing this problem_ Visits and interviews with Environmental studies lecturers at three (3) colleges of education in the Free State revealed disturbing inconsistencies. Great care was taken when proposals were made. The dictates and stipulations of outcomes based education (OBE) and curriculum 2005 were carefully considered. The proposals for JPTD EE curriculum framework were grounded on the latest trends in education. Flowing from that, this study views environmental educators as facilitators, not dispensers of knowledge. Learners should be enabled to construct knowledge by thinking and doing. Cross-curricular, interdisciplinary and integrated approach is viewed as critical in this study. Teaching and learning should be viewed from and environmental perspective. The success of the proposed EE curriculum framework for JPTD is dependent on colleges' preparedness to undergo fundamental changes. Management and lecturers have to facilitate this paradigm shift, so that permeation of subjects in the curriculum by EE can be implemented. This context compatible EE curriculum framework allows a large degree of flexibility for the colleges to determine how learners achieve specific and critical outcomes. Continuous assessment (CA) and assessment criteria, which take range statements and performance indicators into consideration, are acceptable. Lecturers' discretion is critical in this aspect; rigidity and prescriptions have been avoided. Recommendations by the following instances were carefully considered: Committee On Teacher Education (COTEP). Environmental Education Curriculum Initiative (EECI). Environmental Education Association of South-Africa (EEASA). South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). National Qualification Framework (NQF). Colleges of education in the Free State are faced with the challenge of im

The Mining industry in South Africa is viewed as the backbone of the country’s economy, while benefiting from this engine of economic development, its impact on the environment and health has been of a major concern to different stakeholders. The majority of people acknowledge the role of mining in the economy and the country. Others put more emphasis on public health and the environment. The aim of the study was then to assess the impact of environmental pollution and public health on the Sasolburg community from a developmental perspective. The present study can be described as a quantitative descriptive survey that uncovered serious levels of pollution in Sasolburg that had dire health consequences for people involved. The findings of the study indicate that residents live with the constant smell of a variety of chemical pollutants released both by normal production and by periodic incidents. They experience chronic respiratory symptoms, burning eyes, hearing deficiency and skin irritations. The study revealed that environmental pollution consequences affecting residents are inversely related to distance from the mines. The results obtained in this study are evidence that environmental pollution in the Sasolburg area is a definite risk to the health of people living within the surrounding area. Although indicating the need to carry out a comprehensive study, the results call for immediate action to prevent continued public over-exposure to environmental pollution.

Thesis (Ph.d.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2006 / The research investigates the use of the Communicative Learning Programmes in the English First Additional Language (EFAL) Senior phase classrooms in the Free State province. During the turn of the twentieth century, syllabi were tools that were designed and provided by the Department of Education to the schools. Recent changes in education in South Africa now expect educators to design these learning programmes. The Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) details steps that educators can follow in order to design the learning programmes for their learning areas. Outcomes-Based Education encompasses the eight learning areas in the Senior phase, namely Languages, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Social Science, Technology, Life Orientation, and Arts and Culture. The learning area that this study focuses on is Languages. EFAL is one of the languages that form the learning area of Languages. EFAL comprises six learning outcomes that have to be interpreted by the educators and achieved by the learners by linking teaching and learning with the accompanying assessment standards. Through the use of the communicative approach and co-operative strategies during group work, this study adds to the body of knowledge communicative learning programmes that Senior phase EFAL educators can use to assist and complement their current strategies.

HIV and AIDS related deaths have left numerous children heading households as the number of adults dying from this pandemic increased significantly. The goal of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences, challenges and coping resources of AIDS-orphans heading households in an urban area in Free State using a qualitative study. The research revealed that the level of suffering faced by these children began with their parents’ illness. This was further worsened by the death of the parents. These children are in most instances not absorbed by their extended families as the traditional safety nets are stretched to their limits. Children heading households were forced to take up adult responsibilities prematurely and as such encounter challenges on daily basis. The study concluded that the child headed families are a reality in South Africa and need lots of support from the government and local communities. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)