This research focused on adventure tourism in KZN. The adventurer traveller is interested in remote pristine hotspots. A concern is that irresponsible behaviour on the adventurer’s part could lead to the destruction of the fragile natural environment, as well as negatively interfere with the local traditional cultural values. Adventure hotspots were identified by using the functionalities of a GIS. These findings were validated by tourism practitioners in KZN. The researcher also proposed a practical solution that could improve or enhance the behaviour of adventurers. Existing media were collated into information prompts. These information prompts were categorised in tables that could be linked to a mobile GIS environment. The researcher then examined the framework requirements for a mobile GIS. This resulted in a set of seven criteria that brought together the core essentials required for the conceptual framework of a mobile GIS device dedicated to the adventurer in KZN. / Geography / M.A. (Geography)

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Master's degree in Recreation and Tourism, in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2010. / The study was conducted with the view of investigating community participation and benefits from tourism activities and facilities at the Umvoti Municipality. Though the uMvoti people could be perceived as not understanding tourism a human activity and its related benefits, most of them do not seem to participate in any tourism development activities taking place in the area. In an attempt to investigate the research problem, the following research objectives were formulated: (a) To investigate the degree to which the community understands the importance of the concept of tourism. (b) To ascertain the adequacy of the provision of tourism activities and facilities in the study area. (c) To identify the tourism participation patterns of the local community in terms of tourism activities and facilities found in the study area. (d) To reveal the perceived tourism benefits that the local community is expecting to enjoy in the study area, (e) To assess the perceived management strategies or practices, that are been used by the tourism authorities to promote tourism development in the uMvoti municipal area. The research methodology used in an attempt to execute the objectives of the research study involved a stratified sample size of 128 respondents, who were distributed in the uMvoti Local Municipality as follows : sample consisting of Tourism & Municipal officials [13], Tourists [18], tour operators [20] and local communityl"??]. Data was collected by means of questionnaires, which were analysed using the statistical package for the social sciences [SPSS] computer programme, available at the Department of Recreation and Tourism, University of Zululand. The findings of the study essentially revealed that there exists a positive perception towards tourism in the study area. The community has also displayed a variety of expectations since tourism has not achieved any remarkable development in the study area. The findings were that tourism facilities and activities in the study area were inadequately provided and unsatisfactory: there was also minimal to fair participation practice in tourism activities and facilities, mainly influenced by social and education variables. The tourism management practice in the study area were found to be ineffective and inadequate for encouraging community beneficiation. It was further discovered that, notwithstanding that the local community was aware of tourism activities and facilities in the study area, there were tangle and adequate benefits for the community, since they were for a long time excluded from enjoying the rewards of tourism. The community members tend to be sceptical, where there are no identifiable and observable improvements in their lifestyle. The research study finally came up with recommendations that were based on the outcomes of study. The study recommended that there must be heavy investment in skills training and education of the community in uMvoti area.

Thesis (Masters. English) - University of Zululand, 2006. / The post 1994 era in South Africa has been characterized by rampant change. During this age of transition, almost every aspect of social life has seen new institutions and structures being put in place to redress the injustices and imbalances of the apartheid system. Education has not been an exception. The English Second Language (ESL) syllabus was changed in 1996 and replaced by the 'Interim Core Syllabus'. Since 1996, this interim syllabus has been in effect until 2006 in Grades 11 and 12. Practically, the Education Department of South Africa has relied on the ESL syllabus which was meant to be a temporary measure for eleven years. In the classes lower than Grades 11 and 12, Curriculum 2005 was put in place and was subsequently replaced by the Revised National Curriculum Statement. Again, the Revised National Curriculum Statement was replaced by the National Curriculum Statement. In short, until 2006 high schools, that is, Further Education and Training band, have relied on the interim syllabus and Grade 12 will continue doing so up to 2007. Prompted by the fact that the ESL syllabus had been interim for quite some time and the learners' performance was not satisfactory, the researcher engaged in this study. In 1999 and 2000, learners' performance in ESL in the Empangeni Region was not of the required standard. Eshowe district, which is the focus of this study, was no exception. Learners' poor performance in ESL during these years meant that the aims and objectives of the ESL Interim Core Syllabus for Standard 8,9 and 10 that was used by schools were not entirely realized. This research aimed at finding factors that were responsible for learners' not performing up to the required standard during the years referred to above and possibly in subsequent years. The point of departure for this study was syllabus design - specifically the Interim Core Syllabus of 1996. Admittedly, there may have been other factors that are social, political, affective, etc in nature. However, this study was concerned with factors more directly linked to the education system since syllabi used in schools to facilitate learner assessment are an education factor.

Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Sociology at the University of Zululand, 2003. / A study of impact of HIV/AIDS on rural community involves a whole range of factors. This investigation focused on youth's level of knowledge of HTV/AIDS, youth's informants and youth's attitudes towards HIV/AIDS sufferers. Literature review was conducted. This has revealed that the attitude within the community feeds on a plethora of explanations for caring of AIDS sufferers. Much research has focused on poverty. Most research recognize the importance of support groups and champion this idea to many communities. An empirical investigation was conducted. The findings reveal that many adolescents/youth understand a lot about HIV/AIDS. Furthermore youth is receptive to a wide spectrum of credible sources of information. The attitude of the community is generally positive towards HIV/AIDS sufferers. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for further research in this field.

Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in the History Department at the University of Zululand, 1998. / KwaNgema and neighbouring Driefontein were Black-owned freehold settlements in the Wakkerstroom district, Transvaal. Whereas KwaNgema had been granted officially to the community in 1904, Driefontein had been purchased in 1912. Because of their proximity to predominantly White areas, in 1965 both areas were declared by the National Party government as 'Blackspots'. Subsequently, in line with the government's homeland consolidation policy, the inhabitants of the two settlements were notified that they would be moved to the KaNgwane and KwaZulu Homelands. In terms of the Native Administration Act of 1927, the government could, at its pleasure, remove Black tribes from certain areas. But it was not until 1981 when plans to construct the Heyshope Dam were announced, that the government informed the two communities that their removal was a certainty. The new dam, to be built on the Assegai River, would flood parts of both settlements. Between 1981 and 1985, the residents of KwaNgema and Driefontein opposed resettlement on the following grounds: — They were historically and legally entitled to the land. — Relocation and the rebuilding of new homes would be a costly undertaking. — There was much uncertainty about their future security in the Homelands, in terms of landownership rights, employment, pensions, etc. — The KwaNgema people argued that the Act of 1927 did not apply to them, as they were not a tribe, but 'Umndeni' that operated on Western democratic lines. — Adjacent vacant land could be utilized for settling only those residents threatened by the dam. The government rejected all claims and counter-proposals made by the Blacks. Controversy characterised by state repression, leadership disputes and other problems ensued. The crisis was eventually resolved in August 1985 in favour of the KwaNgema and Driefontein communities. The government withdrew its resettlement plans. Only residents threatened by the dam were relocated to adjacent land. All residents retained their property rights. Factors contributing to this historic settlement were: — The unrelenting protest by the two communities arid their institution of legal action against the government. — The murder by the police of Saul Mkhize in April 1983. Mkhize was the Driefontein community leader who spearheaded the resistance. His unexpected death increased criticism of the government's forced removals policy nationally and internationally. — The refusal by Enos Mabuza, leader of KaNgwane, and Chief Buthelezi of KwaZulu to accommodate the two communities in their Homelands. — Increasing condemnation of the government's removals policy domestically and abroad. — The changing political climate in South Africa, resulting inter alia, in the review of the removals policy. The conclusion drawn from this study, is that the experience of KwaNgema and Driefontein was an outcome of a combination of forces -historical, ideological, legal, anthropological, social and economic. Another important highlight of this research is that land ownership is indeed a fundamental aspiration and right for all people which, if denied, may lead to conflict.

A dissertation of limited scope submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Center for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, 1998. / This study has been designed to investigate the detrimental effects that may result from the minimal provision of recreation facilities for the youth in Umlazi The theme that has been addressed by the study is: "The constant growth of anti-social behaviour among the black youth in black townships is associated with the lack or neglect of provision, location and accessibility of recreation facilities and programmes in these townships'". The study, therefore, seeks to inform stake holders who provide youth recreation opportunities about the role that recreation participation plays in positively contributing to youth character building. More than one tool has been employed in the study for the collecting the data. These tools are questionnaires, interviews, field observation and available data. For soliciting the information about the youth's recreation participation and their opinions towards the provision of recreation facilities and programmes in Umlazi, questionnaires were used (n =226). Other methods mentioned above assisted the researcher in collecting data pertaining to the Umlazi youth total population, the number of provided recreation facilities, as well as the types of recreation programmes that are found in Umlazi. The collected data were manually analyzed using the available statistical methods of analyzing data. The operational hypotheses of the study are: (a) The inadequate provision of recreation facilities for the youth in the Umlazi township has a negative impact on their behaviour; and (b) The lack of recreation programmes for the youth ofUmlazi township leads to the youth neglecting the existing recreation facilities. The study has 6 chapters. The first four chapters of the study orientates the reader about the research, its rationale and significance; the theory behind research of this nature; the history, and the present state of affairs of the provision of recreation facilities and programmes in the study area; and the detailed discussion of the methods that the study has employed in the collection and analysis of data. In chapter five the actual analysis and interpretation of data is fully treated. The last chapter, chapter six an overall summary, a conclusion and recommendations of the study are presented. The broad findings of the research are the following: (a) The youth like to participate in multi-faceted recreation activities but the recreation facilities and programmes in Umlazi are unavailable; and (b) The provision of "new" recreation facilities for the youth in Umlazi must be accompanied by relevant recreation programmes. The availability of these recreation programmes will ensure the correct and constant usage of the recreation facilities. The recommendations that are presented by the study take into consideration the following: (a) For the provision of recreation facilities and programmes in Umlazi, a needs survey to be conducted among the youth is needed; (b) A recreation office manned by qualified and experienced staff to see to it that youth recreation programmes that are relevant to the needs of the youth are being conducted must be established in Umlazi or in the Durban South Central Local Council. (c) The location of recreation facilities and programmes must take into consideration accessibility to the clientele intended to be served; and (d) Private agencies as providers of recreation opportunities and facilities must be encouraged to invest in the recreation field in Umlazi. The study implies that the once neglected field of the youth recreation among the blacks must be re-addressed. In re-addressing this field thorough surveys need to be conducted about the clientele needs, and how these needs must be addressed using the basic economic principle of demand and supply. / Centre for Science Development in South Africa

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master's degree in Recreation and Tourism, in the Department of Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2011. / The South African tourism industry has largely been designated as the playing grounds for the previously advantaged communities [PACs] where they acquire many benefits, and not in favour of the previously disadvantaged communities [PDCs]. Various tourism-related government policies and strategies have been put in place so as to improve the status and access of the previously disadvantaged communities into the tourism industry. On the one hand, the tourism policies and strategies are viewed as reverse discrimination by some previously advantaged individuals [PAIs], while on the other hand, they are viewed as an outstanding opportunity and justice for many previously disadvantaged individuals [PDIs]. This is more specifically when the policy of skills development, among others, is designed to improve the living status and employment opportunities of the previously disadvantaged communities [PDCs]. This research study has the intention of investigation the status of tourism skills development practices for the previously disadvantaged communities around Richards Bay á Townships. The study also sought to establish whether there are any emerging opportunities of improving the lot of the black people within the areas where they stay. In other words, this study views the tourism policies and strategies as critical for establishing a demographic representation in the tourism industry. Furthermore, the study believes that in order for these policies and strategies to succeed they must adopt principles of skills development practice that are acceptable and well-regarded among the previously disadvantaged communities in the industry. The main objectives of this study seek to reveal the status of tourism skills development practices for the previously disadvantaged communities, in the study area. This goal may be achieved through objective such as: how stakeholders understand the importance of tourism skills development practices; respondents' access to the tourism skills development opportunities; how the Richards Bay tourism authorities facilitate tourism skills development; respondents' perceptions of the implementation of the tourism skills development policies and practices; and establishing whether there are any tourism skills development practice-benefits for the PDCs in the study area. The methodology of this study deals with the selection of the sample, instrument for data collection in 3 Richard Bay Townships and the analysis and interpretation of data. The form of research approach that was used in this research was the survey method. The face-to-face interviews were used where questionnaires were used to collect data from a sample of stakeholders in Townships. The sample size selected was 132 respondents which are not necessarily representatives of the entire population of Richards Bay and Townships. The sample size was categorised into the following stakeholders: tourism officials [15], service providers [20], and local community [97]. The sampling technique selected was the stratified random sampling techniques. In conclusion the study established that, on the whole, the respondents fully understood the meaning and importance of tourism skills development practices. The respondents also felt that the skills development opportunities were inaccessibility in the study area. The findings also indicated that the respondents felt that the provision of tourism skills development practices and policies in the area were not adequate. The respondents were seen to perceive the implementation of the tourism skills development policies and practices as not up to the required standard. Finally, the respondents felt that the tourism skills development practice-benefits were not adequate in the study area. The research study concludes by offering recommendations, which proposed that all the authorities ranging from tourism, labour, education and municipality must investment significantly in skills training and development practices. Finally, the community must be encouraged to learn more about the benefits of tourism.

Submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1999. / In essence The study revolved around the following: • The level of illiteracy of black Natal Parks Board employees. • . actors which contribute to the level of illiteracy of Natal Parks Board employees. • To determine in the light of the findings obtained, certain guidelines towards the route to be followed by illiterates and semi-illiterates, in attaining a state of literacy. The research was specifically directed at the problems confronting adult illiterates and semi-illiterates in their striving for literacy. Both the factors influencing educational progress and the best route to be taken to attain to literacy were studied. For the purpose of the empirical investigation a self-structured questionnaire was utilised. The respondents were selected at random from rural areas throughout KZN, from the learners from seven classes who have graduated from the basic Zulu, advanced Zulu and basic English classes and from people who are still awaiting incorporation into the adult literacy programme. A summary was presented and based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made: • Although there is already an ABET system and a bursary scheme currently operating in the NPB, it is nevertheless recommended that the NPB and other like-organisations should: reprioritise their goals from conservation of species to the development of staff, draw up clear education policies, identify current educational levels, all skills training courses should comply with the National Qualification Framework and that the individual's current knowledge, skills and experience should be recognised and certificated. • In order to fully update staff on educational and training possibilities in the NPB and other similar organisations it is recommended that employees should have a say in educational and skills training and courses should be regularly advertised throughout the organisation and education and training needs should be discussed with individual staff members. In a climate where the employer realises and accepts his obligations, the organisation's budget should reflect that education and skills training have a very high priority rating.

South African health systems are struggling to cope with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Home based care has become an invaluable resource that relieves overburdened and under-resourced hospitals. Home based carers provide basic nursing care and support to patients and their families, in the patient's home. Little is know about what motivates home based carers. Minimal research has been undertaken to investigate the expectations and experiences of these noble voluntary helpers. This study was conducted with a sample of home based carers at Community Outreach Centre, St Mary's, Mariannhill. Being field focused it used a qualitative research approach and participatory action research methodology. Focus group discussions were conducted with home based carers to explore their needs, motivations and expectations of Community Outreach Centre. The study enlightens us about issues related to home based care that directly affect them. Despite the painful realities of their lives, they appeared positive about serving as volunteer home based carers. / Social work / M.A. Social Science (Social Work)

no abstract available / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)