Studies in both children and adults indicate that waist circumference (WC), a measure of abdominal obesity is closely related to cardiovascular risk factors. The accurate identification of abdominally obese children in health screening programmes for early intervention is of importance. There are, however, concerns about using international definitions for screening purposes because in most instances these have been derived from Western populations and, therefore, may have limited usefulness to children in other parts of the world. When these cut–off points are used in developing countries, they ignore the fact that the growth patterns of children and burdens of disease vary between countries. Due to lack of population specific cut–off points for children in the developing world it may be tempting and convenient to use the same cut–off points as for children in developed countries, but such a practice runs the risk of exporting failure. Ideally, a screening tool should have both high sensitivity and specificity, and these are important considerations in choosing the definition for the detection of childhood abdominal obesity. High sensitivity is necessary to avoid failure of identifying obese children and high specificity of the screening tool ensures that non–obese children are not misclassified as obese, which may otherwise lead to unnecessary treatment and psychosocial implications of stigmatisation. Failure to identify the abdominally obese child may have more serious consequences than misclassification, since it results in an increase in adult morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis was to examine fat distribution patterns of black South African (SA) children in relation to health risk. The specific objectives were to: compare the body composition of black stunted and non–stunted children from two rural communities in South Africa; to describe and compare the age and sex specific WC percentile distribution for black SA children from different study populations and compare the WC percentile distribution with those for African–American (A–A) children and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of waist–to–height ratio (WHtR) as a marker for high blood pressure, a cardiovascular risk factor in SA children. Findings of this study demonstrated increased total adiposity in non–stunted children, but trends of increased central adiposity, measured as WHtR in stunted children. This warrants further investigation on this relationship among children older than 13 years in the African context where many children are stunted. The differences observed between the different data sets and between SA and A–A children suggest that nationally representative data should be used to develop age, sex and ethnic specific WC percentiles for this population. The results indicate clearly that the median WC of children from SA studies is smaller than those of A–A children, with a medium to large effect size for the difference. Results also suggest concern with respect to high WC values (> 80 cm) among some children. The recommended universal WHtR cut–off value of 0.5 for assessment of cardiovascular risk is not suitable for black SA children because it had low sensitivity in predicting high blood pressure. The absence of locally developed cut–off values for WC and WHtR for children warrants research due to the associations between being overweight and obese and disease outcomes. It is fundamental to detect risk at an early stage so that appropriate intervention can be initiated timeously. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Various scales have previously been developed to measure coping strategies (Taylor & Stanton, 2007; Devonport & Lane, 2006; Stapelberg, 1999) or self–efficacy (Carroll et al., 2005; Chen et al., 2001; Tipton & Worthington, 1984); and some of them have been validated in a South African context, but the validation of a coping self–efficacy scale as a single measurement has not been conducted in an African context. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate Chesney et al.’s 2006 Coping Self–Efficacy Scale (CSE) in an African context. A multicultural convenience sample of 2 214 South African adolescents and adults, including both male and female participants, participated in this study. Measuring instruments such as the Coping Self–Efficacy Scale (CSE) (Chesney, Neilands, Chambers, Taylor & Folkman, 2006), the Mental Health Continuum - Short Form for adults (MHC–SF) (Keyes et al., 2008), the New General Self–Efficacy Scale (NGSE) (Chen, Gully & Eden, 2001; 2004), the Fortitude Questionnaire (FORQ) (Pretorius, 1998), the Patient Health Questionnaire: Depression Symptoms (PHQ–9) (Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979) were used in this study. Criterion–related validity of the CSE was established. Construct validity was determined by conducting confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses as well as SEM on the CSE. Results indicated a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.87 and satisfactory inter–item correlations ranging from 0.19–0.21. Criterion–related validity was satisfactory. Confirmatory analysis indicated a good fit and exploratory factor analysis confirmed the three major factors similar to Chesney et al.’s (2006) findings. Construct validity was further supported by SEM analysis, which confirmed the three–factor structure. The CSE can be viewed as reliable and valid for use in further research in the African context. Future studies should validate this scale in various population groups, with translated versions of the scale and with randomly selected groups. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Introduction: The importance of brands and the competition between private and national brands in different food categories increased in recent years. According to literature, except for packaging and price, there is virtually no difference between the contents of food products in the majority of private and national brands. Private brands are usually cheaper than national brands. Previous research indicated consumers’ preferences for private and national brand food products to differ between various products and in different regions. Objective: The aim of this study was thus to determine the relationship between consumers’ brand preferences for different food products, in relation to their demographics and psychographics in a South African context. Setting: A mall intercept, interviewer administered questionnaire was used as a quantitative method in this study in Potchefstroom in a South African context. Consumers’ preferences for private and national brand food products in different product categories were explored, using preference, psychographics and demographical questions simultaneously. Results: Respondents in this study preferred to purchase national brands in all products categories except for cooking oil. Considering eight psychographic factors that were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, two factors could be associated with positive reactions, while neutral reactions were evident for six factors. Respondents being indecisive on the majority of factors could be due to the fact that national brands were preferred for most products by respondents in the present study. Conclusions: Although brand preference depended on demographics and psychographics in previous research, the present study did not find significant relationships with psychographics when different products were used. Although a combination of demographic factors (mainly gender, education level, home language and employment status) could be useful in determining brand preference when used with specific products, home language and education level seem to be the most important factors. Therefore, brand preference depended on specific demographics for each product, while psychographic factors did not play a significant role. This implied that brand preference research should be product and region specific using specific demographic variables. / Thesis (M. Consumer Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of educators regarding the training for the implementation of inclusive education in a Full Service school. A qualitative research design was chosen, using a case study. Three methods of gathering data were used, namely individual interviews, focus group interviews and observations. The study was conducted in a primary schools in the North West province that was converted into a fullservice school in 2008. The findings indicated that educators demonstrated misunderstanding of the Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support strategy. The misunderstanding can be ascribed to the kind of training educators received. The training lacked in–depth content and practical demonstration. Recommendations on the content and the dynamics of the training process are made. The overarching recommendation on the dynamics of the training indicated that the training should be revisited for improved methods of training. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Environmental Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

With great appreciation, I would like to accentuate the substantial contributions of the following people who made this project possible: To Dr. CMT Fourie (my supervisor), Prof. JM van Rooyen (my co–supervisor) and Prof. AE Schutte (my co–supervisor) whose gracious advise, patient guidance, commitment and support have enabled me to plan, analyse, interpret and write this project in a scientific manner. It has been an educational experience for me, thank you. To Mr. LS Wyldbore for the language editing of this dissertation. I thank all the participants, researchers, field workers and supporting staff of the PURE study. The financial assistance of the National Research Foundation (DAAD–NRF) towards this research is hereby acknowledged. A special thanks to my parents, sister, Albert, family and friends, thank you for the never–ending love, support, patience and understanding that you gave me throughout this project. Last, but not the least, a special thank to God for giving me the opportunity, talent, determination and endurance to complete this project. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

SMEs are important for a country's economy, since they provide benefits such as entrepreneurship, employment, exports and productivity to an economy. An economy that shows substantial growth is usually characterised by a strong and growing SME sector. South African SMEs need to grow to create jobs and benefit the South African economy. One way that SMEs can become strong and grow is through internationalisation. Firms are internationalising faster than ever before (because of advances in telecommunications and transportation) and internationalisation theories that can provide practical guidance to firms are more important today than in the past. The motivation of the study was to identify the areas that the South African government can develop in order to transform the economy into an emerging economy that can be on par with the BRIC countries. SMEs make up a large part of the BRICS economies and they grow through exports. In order to be on par with the BRIC countries, it is necessary to compare South African exporting and non–exporting SMEs with those in the BRIC countries. This will help to identify areas where South African SMEs' competitiveness can improve, especially in South–South trade. The competitiveness of SMEs involved in exporting also tends to improve. Therefore, if SMEs' competitiveness improves, it may be less risky for them to internationalise, which can lead to them being able to export more successfully, grow as a result of exporting and so contribute to employment. The primary objective of the study was to make a comparison between the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in South Africa and the BRICS countries. Data was obtained from the World Bank Enterprise surveys to conduct an empirical analysis on firms in the BRICS countries. The empirical analysis provided descriptive statistics on internationalising firms and SMEs in the BRICS countries. The descriptive statistics was used to make a comparison between the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in the BRICS countries (primary objective). South Africa has the highest percentage of exporting SMEs, followed by India, Brazil, Russia and China. China had the most exporting SMEs with an internationally recognised certification. The top managers of Chinese exporting SMEs are higher educated than those in India and South Africa. SMEs in Russia internationalise at by far the youngest age and thus are likely to follow the rapid international theories. South African SMEs had the highest average age, meaning that SMEs first are established in the domestic market before they internationalise through exports. Internationalisation has become an important strategy for firms that want to achieve further growth, but it is also very tough to survive in the international market. An interesting finding of this study was that the two obstacles South Africa had in the top 5 namely, crime, theft and disorder, and electricity were not a top 5 obstacle for any of the other BRIC countries. Another objective of the study was to empirically determine the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in South Africa. SMEs in South Africa are more likely to internationalise through exports if they are, amongst others, older (longer established in the domestic market), have a larger market share in the South African domestic market, have a top manager with experience and a higher education level (some university training minimum) and have less competitors in the South African domestic market. The comparison between the characteristics of internationalising SMEs of the BRICS countries provided several lessons for the South African government and exporting SMEs. The areas or aspects that the South African government need to develop in order to transform the economy into an emerging economy that can compete with the BRIC countries, include assisting SMEs in exporting at an earlier age, improving the education levels of top managers in SMEs, increasing the national market share of SMEs and lessening, or even eliminating, obstacles like crime, theft and disorder as well as electricity. These aspects, together with the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in South Africa, are vital to improve SME competitiveness. Therefore, if SMEs' competitiveness improves, then it may be less risky for them to internationalise, which can lead to them being able to export more successfully, grow as a result of exporting and so contribute to employment. / Thesis (M.Com. (International Trade))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The financial crisis that struck financial markets in 2008 was devastating for the global economy. The impact continues to be felt in the market - most recently in sovereign defaults. 1 There are many questions as to the origin of the crisis and how the same events may be prevented in the future. This dissertation explores two financial instruments: securitisation and credit default swaps (CDSs) and attempts to establish the role they played in the financial crisis. To fully understand the events that unfolded before and during the crisis, a sound theoretical understanding of these instruments is required. This understanding is important to discern the future of stable financial markets and to gain insight into some of the potential risks faced by financial markets. The South African perspective regarding securitisation, CDSs and the global financial crisis is an important field of study. The impact of the crisis on South Africa will be explored in this dissertation, as well as, the effect of the crisis on South Africa's securitisation market (which has proved healthy and robust over the first part of the new millennium despite the global slowdown of these instruments) and the CDS market. A key goal of this work is to establish whether or not CDSs have been used in South Africa to hedge the credit risk component of bonds linked to asset–backed securities (ABSs). This will provide an indication of the maturity of the South African credit risk transfer (CRT) market and how South Africa compares to more developed financial markets regarding complexity, regulation, sophistication and market sentiment. Through the exploration and understanding of these concepts, the efficacy of emerging economies to adapt to globalisation, and how welcome financial innovation has proved to be in emerging markets will be addressed. / Thesis (M.Com. (Risk management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Thesis (Ph.D.(Kerkgeskiedenis en Kerkreg))--Universiteit van Pretoria, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves i-xxviii).

The transition, in 1994, in South Africa from an authoritarian ethno-nationalist Apartheid state where racial categories determined inclusion and exclusion to a liberal democratic state, raised the promise of greater inclusion within society. The post-Apartheid state formally abandoned racism and discrimination, at least in its legal sense. Paradoxically, in a context which enabled greater engagement with Africa, the new ‘Rainbow Nation’ with an emphasis on nation-building and emerging nationalism, led to manifestations of discrimination and exclusion of a different kind. An escalation in incidents of xenophobia within post-Apartheid South Africa has been fully documented. However, it could be argued, not all immigrants are subject to incidents of xenophobia. In the new South Africa, targeting the black African immigrant, in particular, has resulted in a new cycle of exclusion. As Nyamnjoh puts it these black African immigrants are associated with “the Heart of Darkness north of the Limpopo”. In contrast, foreign whites seem to be more acceptable in the new South Africa. Experiences of xenophobia and the concomitant exclusion and/or discrimination have been raced. African immigrants, however, are not a monolithic grouping. The dissertation argues that whilst all black African immigrants potentially experience xenophobia, socio-economic status may mitigate the extent and immediacy of this, as well as the ability to escape or avoid such experiences to some extent. AFRIKAANS : Die oorgang vanaf 'n outoritêre etno-nasionalistiese Apartheid-staat, waar rasse-kategorieë insluiting en uitsluiting bepaal het, na ’n liberale demokratiese staat in 1994, het die belofte van groter insluiting in die samelewing gehuldig. Die “post-Apartheid” staat het rassisme en diskriminasie ten minste op wetlike-vlak, formeel afgeskaf. In 'n konteks wat groter verbintenis met Afrika moontlik gemaak het, het die nuwe "Reëboog nasie" met die klem op nasiebou, nasionalisme ontketen. Paradoksaal het dit tot manifestasies van diskriminasie en uitsluiting van 'n ander aard gelei. 'n Toename in die voorvalle van xenofobie in “post-Apartheid” Suid-Afrika is ten volle gedokumenteer. Tog kan dit aangevoer word dat, nie alle immigrante onderworpe is aan voorvalle van xenofobie nie. In die nuwe Suid-Afrika is dit gerig op die swart Afrika-immigrant, in die besonder. Dit het tot 'n nuwe siklus van uitsluiting gelei. Soos Nyamnjoh dit stel word hierdie immigrante van Afrika met die "Heart of Darkness north of the Limpopo" geassosieer. In teenstelling blyk dit dat blankes van die buiteland meer aanvaarbaar in die nuwe Suid-Afrika beskou word. Ervarings van xenofobie en die gepaardgaande uitsluiting en/of diskriminasie is ras-gebonde. Immigrante van Afrika is egter nie 'n eenvormige groepering nie. Die verhandeling voer aan dat alhoewel alle swart immigrante van Afrika potensieel xenofobie ervaar, sosio-ekonomiese status, die omvang en die onmiddelikheid hiervan versag, sowel as die vermoë om van sulke ervaringe, tot 'n mate, te kan ontsnap of dit te kan vermy. Copyright / Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Sociology / unrestricted

Providing a presumptive identification of badly decomposed or skeletonized remains is the responsibility of a forensic anthropologist. An important component of identification is the estimation of a post-mortem interval (PMI) for the deceased. This information can: provide a window period for death, reduce the number of potential victims, exclude possible assailants and substantiate witness testimony. Due to a large number of open and relatively desolate fields in South Africa, human remains are frequently discovered in an advanced stage of decomposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of the method of Megyesi and associates (2005) in which Total Body Score (TBS) and Accumulated Degree-Days (ADD) were retrospectively applied to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI). To achieve this, a longitudinal examination of quantitative variables, TBS and ADD, was conducted over a period of 8 months. This period included both summer and winter seasons. Scatter plots between TBS and PMI, and TBS and ADD were used to illustrate patterns in decomposition. Patterns of decay differed in winter and summer, with winter exhibiting distinct inactivity. Using Loglinear Random-effects Maximum Likelihood Regression, the r2 values for ADD (0.6227) and PMI (0.5503) for combined seasons were less than r2 values for separated seasons (ADD 0.7652; PMI 0.7677). In contrast to other studies, seasonality influenced the ADD model and PMI. Linear regression formulae for ADD and PMI as well as 95% confidence interval charts for TBS for ADD were developed. These equations, along with data from a local weather station, can be used to estimate the PMI with relative accuracy. AFRIKAANS : Verskaffing van 'n vermoedelike identifikasie van erg ontbinde of skeletale oorskot is die verantwoordelikheid van ‘n forensiese antropoloog. ‘n Belangrike deel van identifikasie is die beraming van ‘n post-mortem interval (PMI) vir die oorledene. Hierdie inligting verskaf 'n venster tydperk van dood, verminder die aantal potensiële slagoffers, sluit moontlike aanvallers uit en ondersteun getuienis. As gevolg van 'n groot aantal relatief verlate en oop velde in Suid-Afrika, word menslike oorskot dikwels aangetref in ‘n gevorderde stadium van ontbinding. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die bruikbaarheid van die metode van Megyesi en medewerkers (2005) wat gebruik maak van Totale Liggaams Telling (TLT) en Opgehoopte Graad-Dae (OGD) om die postmortem interval (PMI) te skat, terugwerkend te evalueer. Hiervoor was 'n longitudinale studie van kwantitatiewe veranderlikes, TBS en ADD, oor ‘n tydperk van 8 maande gedoen. Hierdie tydperk sluit beide somer en winter in. Verspreidingsgrafieke tussen TBS en PMI, en TBS en ADD is gebruik om patrone in ontbinding te illustreer. Ontbindingspatrone het verskil tussen winter en somer met duidelike onaktiwiteit in die winter. Logliniêre Tweekansige-effek Maksimum Waarskynlikheid Regressie was gebruik om die r2 waardes van die gekombineerde en geskeide seisoene te bepaal. The r2 waardes vir die OGD (0.6227) en PMI (0.5503) vir gekombineer seisoene was minder as die r2 waardes vir seisoene apart (OGD 0.7652; PMI 0.7677). In teenstelling met ander studies, het seisoenaliteit die OGD model en PMI beinvloed. Lineêre regressie formules vir OGD en PMI sowel as 95% vertrouensinterval kaarte vir TLT vir OGD was saamgestel. Hierdie formules saam met data vanaf ‘n plaaslike weerstasie kan gebruik word om die PMI met relatiewe akkuraatheid te skat. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Anatomy / unrestricted