M.Sc. / Doornfontein Gold Mine is the westernmost member of a group of mines in the West Wits Line, extending from Westonaria to Carletonville. A study of the sedimentology and gold distribution of the Middelvlei Reef was carried out with the aim to acquire an understanding of the processes responsible for the economic concentration of gold ...

D.Phil. / The restructuring of the South African Higher Education landscape in postapartheid era has been the scene of vast organisational change as numerous mergers between Higher Education Institutions have typified this transformation. One such a merger is the merger between the Technikon Witwatersrand, the Rand Afrikaans University and two campuses of Vista University (namely the East Rand and Soweto Campuses) into the University of Johannesburg. Announced on 31 May 2002 and intended to be effective as of 1 January 2005, this merger represents the birth of the largest residential university in South Africa and presents the opportunity of studying the effects of all-encompassing change on employees first hand. In terms of organisational change – with mergers representing a specific type of organisational change – it is apparent that the effect of change on staff members is not only a widely overlooked matter in practice, but also in organisational change literature (and in mergers and acquisitions literature in particular). This study explores the merger experiences of academic staff at the University of Johannesburg and also examines the role leadership has played in these experiences. Using an Interpretive, case study design, 40 academic staff members were interviewed. These research subjects were selected on a purposive basis from all faculties across all campuses. Using the Strauss and Corbin application of Grounded Theory, the collected data was analysed to construct the reality of academic staffs’ merger experiences and perceptions of the merger at the University of Johannesburg. In terms of the University of Johannesburg, findings indicate that institutional predisposition is a major contributor to shaping research subjects’ initial attitude toward the pending merger. Furthermore, the interim phase that the University found itself in directly after merger the date, was a cause of great discontent amongst academic staff and was seen as the greatest debilitating factor to the successful roll-out of the merger. The study indicates that academic staff relay their experiences and perceptions of the merger in three discernable time frames, or perspectives, each with its own unique dynamic. Collectively, these three perspectives constitute the Reflective Experience of Mergers (REM) theory, which examines how the merger experiences of academic staff shape their perceptions of and attitudes toward the merger over time. The REM-theory reiterates the temporal nature of change; it is a phenomenon that evolves over time in discernable stages. Furthermore the REM-theory also underscores the effect change has on the emotional and psychological well being of individuals over time. The REM-theory also highlights the important role leadership plays in a merger as, in the case of the University of Johannesburg, research subjects tended to be far more critical of deficiencies in leadership as opposed to deficiencies in management.

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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg, 2016. / The challenges facing humanity are presenting at an unprecedented scale and complexity. Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, ocean depletion, poverty, inequality, and failing health care and educational systems are among the problems that have come to be defined as "wicked" because of their spread and interconnectedness. At the same time, there has been an increasing realisation that multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary (MIT) research is critical to addressing these complex global challenges. This research identified some of the barriers and enablers to MIT research at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), based on interviews with researchers and research managers at the University who have been involved in conducting or facilitating MIT research. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / LG2017

Background: In 1998 the Wits Faculty of Health Science began to offer a master’s programme in public health, through the School of Public Health, called the Master of Public Health. (MPH). The aim of the degree is to prepare “professionals to play leadership roles in the management, improvement and evaluation of health and the health care system” and to respond “to the needs of the people of South Africa and the African continent in their various living and working conditions”. Eight objectives have been set for the degree and these will be gone into in detail. Admission requirements to the programme are a bachelor’s degree of a minimum of four years duration in dentistry, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, etc. The programme can be offered on a full- or part-time basis. The following core modules are offered: Primary Health Care & Social Context of Health; Health Measurement I & II; Environmental & Occupational Health; Public Health Law & Health Systems Integration; Health Policy &Policy Analysis; Health Systems & Decentralization; Health Management Theory & Practice; Epidemiology; Health Care Financing etc. The primary motivation for this study was to determine the level of satisfaction of MPH graduates with the degree that they studied. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study design. It was a survey that entailed using a pretested interview schedule or questionnaire. The study population was all MPH graduates up until June 2007 (N = 80). The participants were contacted telephonically or by e-mail by the researcher. The initial idea was to interview the participants telephonically, but most preferred to have the prepared interview schedule e-mailed to them. A Pilot Study (using 8 students) was conducted before commencement of the actual study. The pilot study revealed that the study questionnaire, although long and cumbersome, was do-able. A sample of 70 graduates was used and of these, 60 responded i.e. response rate of 86%. The researcher e-mailed the interview schedule and the information sheet which explained what the study was about and also made it clear that even if they had initially agreed to participate, they could still opt out if they later changed their minds. The information sheet further explained that their participation would be kept strictly anonymous, only codes would be used. The data gathering sheet (questionnaire) is in two parts: Part One is the “Course Evaluation” and Part Two is the “Value of the Masters in Public Health to Your Career”. Under Part One the candidates gave their views on the following: the content of various courses or modules offered; the teaching methods applied by the School; academic quality; administrative support; and research report support. Questions in each of these subsections were such that a rating on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being excellent and 1 poor) had to be given and next to the score (rating) the candidate could also give a comment to explain the rating or how they felt about what was asked. At the end of each of the subsections are a number of open-ended questions that gave the candidate more scope for further written or verbal input. Similarly, Part Two has a rating on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being extremely valuable and 1 less valuable) in terms of the value the particular course or module mentioned in the career of the graduate. There is also a “comment” portion accompanying every question. And at the end of this part are six open-ended questions aimed at eliciting more qualitative information based on the experiences of graduates post graduation and specifically focusing on the working environment. One very important question in this section is: “Would you or have you recommended this masters programme to others”. There are only two possible answers to this question: “Yes” – which signifies satisfaction with the programme, and “No” – which signifies unhappiness with the programme. It is a very important question in gauging client satisfaction. Results: On a rating of 1 to 5 (1 being poor whilst 5 is excellent the top rated modules were rated as follows under course evaluation: (i) Primary Health Care & Social Context of Health: All respondents (60 i.e. 100%) rated this module and gave it a rating of 4.13 (83%) (ii) Health Policy and Policy Analysis: Although 40 (67%) out of 60 people responded to this question, they gave it a rating of 4.25 (85%) (iii) Project Management for Public Health Practitioners: It was given a 4.27 (85%) rating by 44 (73%) out of 60 participants. (iv) Management in Health and Health Services: This module was given a rating of 3.83 (77%) by 58 (97%) out of 60 participants and (v) Introduction to Management in Theory and Practice: It was rated at 3.82 (76%) by 32 (53%) of the 60 participants. The same top-rated above modules were rated as follows under “Value of the Masters in Public Health (MPH) to your career” i.e. Part II of the questionnaire. (i)Primary Health Care & Social Context of Health: 3.26 (65%) as rated by 46 (77%) out 60 participants. (ii) Health Policy and Policy Analysis: 3.96 (79%) by 46 (77%) respondents out of 60. (iii) Project Management for Public Health Practitioners: 3.26 (65%) as rated by 46 (77%) out 60 participants. (iv) Management in Health and Health Services: 3.96 (79%) by 54 (90%) out of 60 participants. Discussion: Various laudable written comments made by participants about each module have been captured and recorded. These will be seen later. (i) Primary Health Care & Social Context of Health: This module received a very high from all the participants of the research study. The concepts of Primary Health Care and Social Context of Health have clearly been taught and grasped. (ii) Health Policy and Policy Analysis: This was the track that most graduates followed. It helped graduates understand and be able to analyse various policy issues in their respective organizations. Emphasis has not only been laid on policy formulation but also on policy implementation. (iii) Project Management for Public Health Practitioners: This module scored a very high rating under course evaluation. There is a perception that some public health services could be run as projects in an endeavour to increase efficiency. (iv) Management in Health and Health Services: A number of the students who come from the public health sector to do MPH are in management positions already, although they may not have a formal management qualification. Those who are not in management positions are preparing themselves to go into management positions in future. This module is of great assistance in preparing them for careers in management. The study has revealed that 98% of participants have stated that they would or have recommended the Wits MPH to others. And 80% of the participants have also stated that there has been a positive change in their careers since acquiring the MPH qualification.

Student Number : 9208006A - PhD thesis - School of Social Sciences - Faculty of Humanities / The term ‘ducktail’ was originally used to denote a hairstyle. In the Post World War Two period, ‘Ducktail’ became associated with a rebellious white youth gang subculture, which rose to prominence in the major urban centres throughout South Africa. Societal responses to the subculture’s identity resulted in the generation of a moral panic which demonised the movement branding it as – amongst other things – the ‘eendstert euwel’ [ducktail evil]. The major aim of this thesis is to account for the way in which members of the subculture constructed and practised their class, racial, ethnic, gendered and generational identities whilst highlighting how society responded to them. The relationship of conformity, conflict and control that emerged between the ducktails and more conventional members of society such as the authorities and academics is plotted. This relationship sets the context for the final part of the dissertation, which explores the moral guardians and rule creators that became involved in the designing of youth policies. Particular attention will be given to how the ‘problem of youth’ brought religion, working mothers, morality, the state of the nation and the preservation of white supremacy under question. In this process, the National Party government formulated policies to monitor, shape and construct an appropriate form of South African whiteness.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, 2016. / South African gold mines are associated with the generation of a lot of mine waste in the form of milled rock (tailings). Tailings contain the mineral pyrite which, when exposed to air and water, cause acid mine drainage (AMD). Due to the large environmental impact (footprint and scale) ofthe tailings storage facilities (TSFs) on soils and groundwater, there has been much research done in phytoremediation. Some plants, such as Eucalyptus, used in this method are able to control seepage by using their extensive roots but this may inadvertently extract some contaminants from the water and accumulate them in the above ground parts of the tree. Upon harvesting of these plants, there is the potential for them to be used as biofuel for the generation of bioenergy, and by industry or the public as timber/construction wood, firewood, charcoal, generation of electricity, etc. In this study, three species of Eucalyptus trees grown by the University of the Witwatersrand in three site-species trials on AMD were evaluated for their concentrations of elements in leaves, bark, branches/twigs and stem wood, in order to determine the safety of the biomass for fuel, and the potential for environmental pollution (dissemination of metals) that could be caused by combustion. The study focused on Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. grandis x camaldulensis hybrid and E. dunnii trees grown for eight years in three different trial sites, with one trial ("Mispah") situated at AngloGold Ashanti's Vaal River Mining Operations (VR, near Orkney - Klerksdorp) and two trial("Madala", "Red Soil") situated at the West Wits Mining Operations (WW, near Carletonville). The sites were typical of soils on the mine properties (WW Madala: Clovelly, WW Red Soil: Hutton, VR Mispah: Hutton and Mispah), and impacted by seepage from adjacent TSFs. Three entire above-ground trees were harvested per species (three trees per site, nine in total), weighed fresh and after drying. Samples of leaves, bark, twig/small branches, and main stem wood were analysed for their elemental contents; alongside a Certified Reference Material (CRM) (Orchard Leaves no. 1571); using Leco CNS analyser, Inductively Coupled PlasmaOptical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to determine the concentrations of major and trace elements such as Aluminium (AI), Barium (Ba), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Sodium (Na), Nickel (Ni), Phosphorus (P), Sulphur (S), Strontium (Sr), Titanium (Ti), Zinc (Zn), Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Arsenic (As), Gold (Au), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Uranium (U), carbon (C) and ash content. The CRM was used to validate the two analytical methods. There was variation in the concentrations of nutrients measured. There were no significant differences noted in the metallloids concentrations between all the Eucalyptus 11\ species studied (p>O.05). Variation between sites could not be determined as there were no replicates available to perform the comparison. The World Health Organisation (WHO) maximum permissible level (MPL) in plants for arsenic (As) is 1 mg/kg. The MPL was exceeded in all tissues of all three Eucalyptus species studied. Arsenic concentrations of 5.09, 4.36 and 5.48 mg/kg were found in the wood of E. camaldulensis, E. grandis x camaldulensis and E. dunnii respectively. A risk assessment performed found that there was no evidence that there will be adverse effects caused by supplying fuelwood from these contaminated Eucalyptus trees. Even though high arsenic concentrations were recorded in this study, if the wood is used as fertilizer in a vegetable bed, the transfer of the arsenic to the common vegetables is below the daily oral reference dose. The general trend in the concentration of metals and metalloids in different plant tissues was in the order of leaves > bark > branches/twigs > wood. The results of the biomass exposure assessment showed that the exposure through use of the ash as fertiliser was lower than the oral reference dose for Mn, Fe, Ba and As. The biomass risk assessment showed that the best-performing tree, in terms of wood production on AMO, was the E. camaldulensis. The risk of other metallioids was not evaluated as there was no good agreement between the results recorded with those certified of the CRM. It is suspected that the CRM used was old. / AC2016

Degree of Master of Science by research only: A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Signed on September 10, 2015 in Johannesburg / The past few years have seen an increase in the number of first year students registering in the School of Computer Science at Wits University. These students come from different backgrounds both academically and socially. As do many other institutions, Wits University collects and stores vast amounts of data about the students they enrol and teach. However this data is not always used after being stored. The area of Educational Data Mining (EDM) focuses on using this stored data to find trends and patterns that could enhance the knowledge about the student’s behavior, their academic performance and the learning environment. This longitudinal study focuses on the application of EDM techniques to obtain a better understanding of some of the factors that influence the academic performance of first year computer science students at the University of the Witwatersrand. Knowledge obtained using these techniques could assist in increasing the number of students who complete their studies successfully and identifying students who are at risk of failing and ensuring that early intervention processes can be put into place. A modified version of the CRISP-DM (CRoss-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining) was used, with three data mining techniques, namely: Classification, Clustering and Association Rule Mining. Three algorithms were compared in the first two techniques while only one algorithm was used in the Association Rule Mining. For the classification technique, the three algorithms that were compared were the J48 Classifier, Decision Table and Na¨ıve Bayes algorithm. The clustering algorithms used included the Simple K-means, Expectation Maximization (EM) and the Farthest First algorithm. Finally, the Predictive Apriori algorithm was selected as the Association Rule Mining technique. Historical Computer Science I data, from 2006 to 2011, was used as the training data. This set of data was used to find relationships within the data that could assist with predictive modeling. For each of the selected techniques a model was created using the training data set. These models were incorporated in a tool, the Success or Failure Determiner (SOFD), that was created specifically as part of this research. Thereafter, the test data set was put through the SOFD tool in the testing phase. Test data sets usually contain a variable whose value is predicted using the models built during the training phase. The 2012 Computer Science I data instances were used during the testing phase. The investigations brought forth both expected and interesting results. A good relationship was found between academic performance in Computer Science and three of the factors investigated: Mathematics I, mid-year mark and the module perceived to be the most difficult in the course. The relationship between Mathematics and Computer Science was expected, However, the other two factors (mid-year mark and most difficult module) are new, and may need to be further investigated in other courses or in future studies. An interesting finding from the Mathematics investigation was the better relationship between Computer Science and Algebra rather than Calculus. Using these three factors to predict Computer Science performance could assist in improving throughput and retention rates by identifying students at risk of failing, before they write their final examinations. The Association Rule Mining technique assisted in identifying the selection of courses that could yield the best academic performance overall, in first year. This finding is important, since the information obtained could be used during the registration process to assist students in making the correct decisions when selecting the courses they would like to do. The overall results show that using data mining techniques and historical data collected atWits University about first year Computer Science (CS-1) students can assist in obtaining meaningful information and knowledge, from which a better unii derstanding of present and future generations of CS-1 students can be derived, and solutions found to some of the academic problems and challenges facing them. Additionally this can assist in obtaining a better understanding of the students and factors that influence their academic performance. This study can be extended to include more courses withinWits University and other higher educational institutions. Keywords. Educational Data Mining, CRISP-DM, Classification, Clustering, Association Rule Mining, J48 Classifier, Decision Table, Na¨ıve Bayes, Simple K-means, Expectation Maximization, Farthest First, Predictive Apriori

A dissertation submitted in the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, in the fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Political Studies. Johannesburg 1997. / In 1988 the Soweto People's Delegation and the councils of Soweto, Diepmeadow and Dobsonville began to negotiate an end to the rent boycott and the crisis in the provision of services. Discussions between civic bodies and local government officials - which eventually resulted in the Soweto accord - were increasingly infonned by the slogan 'one city, one tax base'. In the wake of the accord, other parties to similarly established negotiations commonly based their approach on the 'one city' slogan. As a result, local government negotiations and the institutional arrangements that followed were increasingly infonned by this notion. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / AC2017

This research explored trends in male body image amongst South African men aged 18 to 25 years. A questionnaire consisting of a demographic section, the Body Image Test, the Behaviours Checklist and the Eating Disorders Inventory was administered to 50 male students from the University of the Witwatersrand. Trends in body dissatisfaction, body enhancing behaviour and eating disorder symptoms were examined. Correlation analyses were used to infer relationships between these three variables. The results showed that the sample group on average view themselves as overly muscular and have a body image ideal that is less muscular than their perceived body image. This trend is contrary to trends reported in international studies and is thought to represent the cultural effects of using a South African population that is diverse in its composition as compared to an American or European samples that are more homogenous in nature. The results also showed that there were differences in body image trends between different racial groupings, although the results did indicate that across the racial groupings there was a similar societal body image ideal that represents a global trend towards a lean, muscular male body image. The results showed that the sample did not engage in body enhancing behaviours that are considered excessive or indicative of body image dissatisfaction. This was also reflected by the results on the Eating Disorders Inventory that showed considerably lower scores on the symptom scales when compared to a clinical eating disordered population and a non-clinical female comparison group. The results also showed that the sample had lower scores on the behavioural symptom scales yet higher scores on the attitudinal symptom scales. This indicates that the sample did not display any significant eating disorder behaviours yet did display personality traits that are correlated to eating disordered behaviour. There was no correlation between body dissatisfaction and body enhancing behaviour. There was a positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and the symptom scale of interpersonal distrust. A positive correlation also occurred between body enhancing behaviour and the symptom scales for perfection and drive for thinness. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.