Exploring teachers’ experiences of teaching isiZulu as a first additional language in three multiracial schools in Isipingo.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This is a qualitative study, which purpose is to explore the experiences of teachers in teaching IsiZulu as a First additional language (FAL) in three multi-racial schools in Isipingo. This study was very significant because many years after democracy in South Africa, there seems to be a big gap between the teaching of isiZulu in many schools in Kwazulu-Natal and English Language. This study focused on three schools in Kwazulu-Natal because it is home to predominantly isiZulu speaking people. The study utilised a case study approach and interviews were used to collect data from the teachers individually and as a focus group. The participants were selected by the use of purposeful sampling. The findings from the data responded to the research questions, which were: 1. What are teachers’ experiences of teaching isiZulu as a first additional language in three multi-racial schools in Isipingo, Umlazi district? 2. What are the factors that influenced teachers’ experiences of teaching isiZulu as a first additional language in three multiracial schools in Isipingo, Umlazi district? The data analysis process used thematic analysis to captures the teachers’ perspectives of teachers on their experiences of teaching IsiZulu as a first additional language in the classroom. The study findings revealed that the general views of the teachers about teaching isiZulu were mostly positive and most of the teachers supported the use of African languages at the three multi-racial schools. However, teachers sometimes experienced challenges with code switching, lack of resources and the absence of support from the Department of Education and other stakeholders such as parents and corporate organisations. The study recommends that there should be adequate support of the full implementations of the language policy by the Department of Education in order to make the use of IsiZulu an important aspect of language teaching in schools across South Africa. The study concludes that IsiZulu should be promoted in schools.Phungula_Nombuso_Rittah_201

Artificial soil profile for vegetable production: a potential case of urban agriculture.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.A significantly large population of South Africa migrates from rural to urban areas, leaving opportunities for small-scale subsistence agriculture for a perceived better livelihood. Food insecurity and poverty seem to increase in the peri-urban areas because of poor opportunities for food production and the inescapable need for money to survive. The advantages of urban farming have been published in the literature for many years, but there are still opportunities to introduce innovative methods that are confirmed by scientific findings. This study aimed to determine the efficiency of portable bags and artificial soil profiles on year-round production of common vegetables in South Africa, namely, Swiss chard, lettuce, onion, beetroot, and green pepper. Artificial soil profiles were created in the bags using commonly found urban homestead common organic garden refuse (grass and wood) garden soil and collected rock, respectively. One vegetable, lettuce was used to represent fertilizer requirements and three recommendations (0, 50, and 100%) were applied. Measured crop growth parameters included plant height, leaf number, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content index, leaf area index, and photosynthetically active radiation. Soil moisture content, soil water potential, and soil temperature were also determined. Crop biomass yield and mineral content at harvest were also determined. The artificial environment was compared with soil plot environment (sandy loam soil with 110 mm depth) under rainfed conditions, with limited supplemental irrigation during dry periods. Results showed that vegetable production is possible all year round in both artificial and real profile conditions. The vegetable yield was reduced in non-soil artificial profiles, but the fertilizer application supported it all year round. Vegetable nutritional value, in terms of selected minerals, differed significantly between seasons and less between normal and artificial profiles, where even no fertilizer application produced yield all year round. The study concludes that disposable bags have a potential role for vegetable production in urban areas, where land area is limited. Potential food security benefits are linked more to nutrient access than quantity access. There is a need to test the findings of the study a different environmental and socio-economic conditions, to influence government policy. Keywords: artificial soil profile, fertilizer, season, temperature, vegetable nutrient content

Tourism Potential, Economic Impacts and Implications in Marginalised Areas in Ndwedwe Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

 Rural development is a focus of development initiatives in South Africa and the role of tourism in this regard is highlighted. Ndwedwe Local Municipality, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s poorest Municipalities, has a primary node (Ndwedwe Town) surrounded by rural areas that lack basic infrastructure and services. The Municipality has substantial cultural and agricultural assets and natural resources and its’ Integrated Development Plan recognises its tourism potential but focuses on development around Ndwedwe Town with agricultural development being the focus in peripheral areas. This study examines the tourism potential and economic impacts within marginalised rural areas outside Ndwedwe Town. Community perceptions on development opportunities and challenges in relation to tourism development are probed via a quantitative survey approach. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 164 randomly chosen households. The study unpacked the profile of respondents and households (relating these to how well individuals and households are positioned to benefit from tourism opportunities), current participation in tourism, skill levels and willingness to participate in tourism. Tourism potential in these areas is also discussed in the context of current infrastructure and services. The results reveal that while very few households currently participate in tourism-related activities, there was a desire to increase household participation. Limited tourism products (although potential exists in relation to natural resources available, cultural assets and agricultural activities), inadequate infrastructure and services (associated with challenging undulating topography) and limited marketing opportunities undermine the development of rural tourism in the area. Addressing these challenges and inadequacies can ensure viable and sustainable tourism development

Children’s literature in Africa: a study of immersion of human developmental values.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Texts and literature are used to ignite critical thought in people and to demonstrate what is of value in society. This research sought to explore and appraise some selected African children’s literature with a view to identifying the lessons and morals which are immersed in them for the development of African children. The objectives of the study were to: (1) investigate the reasons given by West and Southern African authors of African children’s literature (novels) for why they write for African children; (2) explore the content and message of the selected children’s literature; (3) determine the extent to which the content and message of the selected children’s literature fit or are consistent with the intended rationale for the writing of these books; (4) determine the extent to which authors of children’s books from West Africa share the same philosophy or rationale for writing with those from Southern Africa; (5) outline the African child growth and developmental values immersed in the selected children’s literature; and (6) examine the psycho-educational relevance of the selected African children’s books. The study adopted a text-based qualitative research methodology. This is a methodology which, according to Boote and Beile (2005), does not seek information from human participants but only from texts. The data for this research thus already existed inside the sampled texts. Children’s literature written in English from two geographical locations namely West Africa and Southern Africa constituted the source of the data for the research. The study revealed that the novels written by the sampled African authors have some major similarities regardless of their geographic location. At the same time, there are also some minor differences between them. The most prominent human-building virtue found in some of the texts investigated is the notion of the importance of family and community in successful child development in Africa. Most of the stories in the novels studied could be classified as cautionary stories which warn against lying, indulgence in mischievous behaviours and breaking of rules. The selected literature provides representations of Africans and real-life experiences of Africans such as poverty, which are current with relatable issues (Caser, 2017). The literature represents Africans as people with laws and ways of social interaction which include respect for elders and one another. They provide an image of African people from African perspectives. The selected children’s books are considered suitable for the English language education system and career development of African children. Implications of these findings were drawn from the research and some recommendations for policy and practice were proffered

The evolution of an effective business rescue statutory regime in South Africa 1926 – 2021.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An embryonic concept of what is now referred to as “business rescue” was enacted as so-called “judicial management” in the then Union of South Africa by the Companies Act 46 of 1926. It had already become clear that companies were substantial drivers of the country’s economy and a vital source of employment. It was therefore highly desirable that companies with economic potential should not be wound up and liquidated if they encountered financial difficulties that could, potentially, be relatively quickly overcome with a return to solvency and viability. The legal process of an attempt to achieve the “rescue” of struggling but potentially viable companies raised many difficulties. How was to be determined whether a company in serious financial difficulty had the potential to return to solvency? What legal process was to be set in train in attempting to achieve that objective? Who was to have locus standi to initiate that process? How would a company’s admission to a statutory business rescue regime affect the legal rights of creditors who had claims against the company and whose own solvency might be imperilled if payment to them was deferred? Who would be in managerial control of the company whilst it attempted to regain solvency? How long would the attempt in this regard be allowed to last? The thesis traces how these and other issues emerged and how potential answers presented themselves and have been refined. The judicial management provisions of the Companies Act 1926 were the first substantial attempt to provide answers to such questions, but the initial legislation was sketchy, vague, and, in some respects, contradictory. Early reported judgments revealed difficulties, and weaknesses in the statutory process, and divisions of judicial opinion soon became apparent. After a lengthy debate, a modern business rescue regime was incorporated into the Companies Act 71 of 2008. The lessons learned from the shortcomings of judicial management and the positive and negative aspects of the business rescue regimes of other countries had been considered, and important contributions were made by an international advisory team. The thesis traces the development of South Africa’s business rescue regime from its beginnings in the Companies Act of 1926 to the present day and provides a critical review of the present law in this regard with suggestions for improvements and further refinement. IQOQA LOCWANINGO: Umqondo osemusha walokho manje osekubizwa ngokuthi i “business rescue” wawushaywe ngokuthi i “judicial managment” endaweni ngaleso sikhathi eyayibizwa ngokuthi i-Union of South Africa ngokoMthetho Wezinkampani 46 ka-1926. Kwase kusobala ukuthi izinkampani zingabashayeli abakhulu bomnotho wezwe kanye nomthombo obalulekile womsebenzi. Ngakho-ke kwakufiseleka kakhulu ukuthi izinkampani ezinamandla kwezomnotho kwakufanele zingaqedwa uma zihlangabezana nezinkinga zezimali ezazingase, zinqotshwe ngokushesha uma kuqhathaniswa nokubuyela ekukhokheni nasekusebenzeni. Inqubo yezomthetho yomzamo “wokuhlengwa” kwezinkampani ezazidonsa kanzima kodwa ezazingase zikwazi ukuphumelela yeza nobunzima obuningi. Imibuzo eyavelwa kwabe kungukuthi kwakuzonqunywa kanjani ukuthi inkampani esebunzimeni bezezimaliy yayinalo ithuba lokubuyela kwi-solvency? Iyiphi inqubo engokomthetho okwakumelwe imiswe ukuze kuzanywe ukufeza leyo njongo? Ubani owayezoba ne-locus standi ukuze aqale leyo nqubo? Ukwamukelwa kwenkampani ohlelweni olusemthethweni lokuhlenga ibhizinisi kwakungabathinta kanjani abanamalungelo asemthethweni futhi abakweletwayo izinkampani uma besengozini yokuthi inkokhelo yabo ihlehliswe? Ubani owayengaba sesikhundleni sokuphatha inkampanini ngenkathi izama ukuhlengwa? Kwakuzothatha isikhathi esingakanani ukuhlenga inkampani? I thesis ilandelela ukuthi lezi zinkinga zavela kanjani nokuthi izimpendulo ezingaba khona ziye zavela kanjani futhi zacwengwa kanjani. Izinhlinzeko zokuphatha kwezobulungiswa zoMthetho Wezinkampani 1926 kwaba umzamo wokuqala omkhulu wokunikeza izimpendulo kuleyomibuzo, kodwa umthetho wokuqala wabe ungacacile, futhi, ngandlela thize, uphikisana. Izahlulelo ezenziwa ngalesenesikhathi zaveza ubunzima, nobuthakathaka enqubweni yomthetho, nokwehlukana kwemibono yenkantolo kwasheshe kwabonakala. Ngemva kwenkulumo mpikiswano ende, uhlelo lwesimanje lokuhlenga ibhizinisi lwafakwa kuMthetho Wezinkampani 71 wezi-2008. Izifundo ezatholwa kumthetho we judicial management kanye nezici ezinhle nezimbi zemibuso yokuhlenga amabhizinisi kwamanye amazwe kwase kucatshangiwe, kanye negalelo elibalulekile lethimba labeluleki bamazwe ngamazwe. Le thesis ilandelela ukuthuthukiswa kombuso wokuhlenga amabhizinisi aseNingizimu Afrika kusukela ekuqaleni kwawo kuMthetho Wezinkampani ka- 1926 kuze kube namuhla futhi inikeza ukubukezwa okubalulekile komthetho wamanje mayelana kanye neziphakamiso zokwenziwa kwentuthuko kanye nokuthuthukiswa okucutshunguliwe.Abstract in English and Zulu

Globomycin: an interesting antimicrobial depsipeptide discovering new active analogues.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.In South Africa and other African countries infectious diseases are reported to be the main health problem and results into death. This is the reason why the pharmaceutical industry has tried to develop new antibiotics to fight these diseases. Medicinal chemists are now being challenged to fight these diseases as few drugs are available and micro-organisms have become resistant towards the available antibiotics. Gram-negative bacteria are one of those bacteria and it is difficult to inhibit it. Globomycin a “head-to-tail” cyclodepsipetide has grown interest in the pharmaceutical industry since it can specifically inhibit Gram-negative by its mode of action. Other Globomycin analogues synthesised have shown activity also against Gram-positive bacteria. In this regard new active Globomycin analogues are to be synthesised in this project to increase the activity of the antibiotic against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Since the lipidic chain of Globomycin is aliphatic and is important for its activity, in this project it is studied what will happen on the activity of the peptide if some changes are made on the aliphatic chain such as introducing a carbonyl or sulfonyl group on the lipidic chain. The analogues were synthesised using Fmoc SPPS strategy on 2-CTC-resin as the solid support, cyclised then purified using the SEMI-PREP HPLC. This was the first synthesis of Globomycin in solid phase where cyclization was achieved by lactamization reaction. In total four analogues were synthesised namely Fmoc-Globomycin, di-Hexyl-Globomycin, Hexanoic-Globomycin and Hexanesulfonyl-Globomycin. Antimicrobial activity studies then followed where both linear and cyclic Globomycin analogues were tested against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains. The results illustrated that only the cyclic di-Hexyl-Globomycin analogue was active against both bacteria strains. This demonstrated that the cyclic state of the compound is very important and also the aliphatic nature. The results also agree with the work done by the Kogen group that the L-allo-Thr and L-allo-Ile units are not very important

The effect of employee value proposition on normative commitment

Organisations continuously seek opportunities to be more productive through the human capital they employ. A firm offering of the employee value proposition (EVP) and understanding of employee commitment could enable organisations to have committed employees that enjoy their work and are oriented towards a growth trajectory. This study sought to examine the effect of the EVP on normative commitment in a parastatal organisation. A quantitative research approach was selected to explore the research objectives. The research instruments comprised of value attributes scale and normative commitment scale. The population sample consisted of employees (N=251). Convenience sampling was used within the context of the study. Descriptive statistics, Factory analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and Regression analysis were employed to interpret data collected and address the research objectives. A positive relationship between the variables was established. The three EVP factors (work, rewards, and opportunity) positively correlate with normative commitment. Recommendations are made to managers and HR Practitioners regarding the EVP and normative commitment of parastatal employees, which have the potential to employee commitment when implemented. The study provided insights on the factors, affecting EVP and normative commitment. The study also showed the relationship between the variables, enabling management, and HR practitioners to implement strategic interventions to influence employees' normative commitment and EVP experience

An evaluation of the water quality and toxicity of wastewater at selected car wash facilities in Tshwane, Gauteng

Car washing consumes large quantities of water and results in large amounts of wastewater effluent being generated, but has received little attention as a potential source of water pollution globally. The study investigated the water use, wastewater effluent quality and toxicity of selected carwashes in City of Tshwane. Ten carwashes in the City of Tshwane were purposively selected and analysis done on a variety of water quality aspects including microbiological, toxicity, BOD,COD, oil and grease, anionic surfactants, sulphates, phosphates and heavy metals. The results obtained show that oil and grease exceeded the WHO and National Water Act standards of 2.5mg/L in all sites except CW2 and Diesel range organics were significantly high in some sites (CW4, 7 & 8) at 60.5, 40 and 48.8mg/L. COD and BOD of the waste water exceeded the WHO standards of 30mg/L and 60mg/L in all sites except CW2. Bacteria contamination was very high in all wastewater samples and all samples exhibited (mild to high) toxicity to Vibrio fischeri and high toxicity to Daphnia pulex except CW2. These results suggest that wastewater from carwashes is high in some pollutants that may interfere with the receiving environment and municipal treatment systems and there is a need for responsible authorities to regulate the quality of effluent discharged into the environmentEnvironmental SciencesM.Sc. (Environmental Science

An assessment of the SADC conflict transformation capacity in the context of the recurring conflict in Lesotho 1998-2018: towards a conflict transformation model.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.With Lesotho as its case study, the aim of this dissertation is to assess the conflict transformation capacity of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) within the period 1998-2018. The study was guided by the following questions: Which dynamics have been at play in the recurrence of conflict in Lesotho? What strategic political and diplomatic efforts has the SADC implemented in its attempts to resolve the conflict? What have been the major constraints encountered by the sub-regional body in its attempts to resolve the conflict? What scholarly and policy recommendations can be proffered for a sustainable SADC sub-regional conflict transformation model? This study utilised a qualitative research approach. Data which was collected through semi structured interviews was analysed using content analysis. As its theoretic framework, this research used the conflict transformation theory which has a focus on transforming factors that tend to perpetuate conflicts and on establishing a culture of non-violence, empathy and mutual understanding in communities to give them the capacity to resolve conflicts in a manner that is effective and that guarantees sustainable and durable peace. Within the conflict transformation framework, Lederach’s pyramid places emphasis on inclusion of all levels of leadership in transformative efforts. The findings of the study are presented under relevant themes. The findings show that SADC has the capacity to transform conflicts from negative to positive and sustainable peace. However, SADC currently does not have a guiding model for its CT efforts. As such, the study recommends a conflict transformation framework centred on local ownership as opposed to an outsider mediation approach, and a multi-pronged approach towards assessing the dynamics of the conflict and in the CT process. The study holds that peace attained under such conditions would be an effective, durable and self-sustainable peace. The study contributes to the debates on the relevance and application of Conflict Transformation as a possible framework that SADC could use to address the myriad of issues in the Lesotho context

Review and analysis of organisational project management maturity of the South African government departments involved in Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects

Organisations are increasingly delivering their business through multiple complex programs and facing the challenge of building project management capability. An organisational Project Management Maturity Assessment is an effective method for establishing a baseline and provides an impetus for organisational change. The methodology allows for the setting of organisationally specific maturity goals, with the ability to implement improvements in a staged approach at a pace which is logical to that company. Over the past decade Project Management Maturity Models have become effective tools for benchmarking and driving improvements in organisational performance. This paper presents a case study in applying a project management maturity model to review, assess, and analyze the degree of organisational project management maturity of one of the national departments of the South African Government. This reflects the project management practices and capabilities of a national department of government. This model was a critical guide to setting targets for project management maturity and providing a clear path for organisational improvement. The focus of this paper is to not only to demonstrate the methodology and results of the assessment, but to also aim to report on the outcome of the study and make necessary recommendations for improvement. The attention of the research was focused on those departments which are involved in Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. For reasons of confidentiality this strategic department in this dissertation is referred to as “The Agency”. There is currently one similar study that was carried out by Rwelamila (2007), in one of the large infrastructure departments in South Africa. Rwelamila (2007) found that the department’s programme management system was very poor and at the lowest level of maturity (level 1 out of 5). However, since Rwelamila’s (2007) findings the researcher’s underlying proposition of this research is that the levels of maturity of these organisations have improved and climbed to level 2 of the Project Management maturity ladder, based on the reasons indicated in the following two paragraphs. The fact of the modern business landscape is that organisations are changing in fundamental ways within a short space of time and at a fast pace — structurally, operationally, culturally — in response to globalization, new technology, competition, and the world economy that is at a historic turning point. The researcher further considered the fact that organisations are under pressure to improve performance in order to continue to be successful in the global marketplace and therefore they strive on daily basis to improve on their projects or program delivery in order to attain competitive advantage and sustained growth. Therefore, in light of these factual considerations, the researcher deemed it appropriate to evaluate without delay the current levels of maturity in similar organisations to those evaluated by Rwelamila (2007). Effective organisational project management is a source of competitive advantage and as such places the levels of organisational project maturity at the nexus of the indicated fundamental shifts. Today, effective Organisational Project Management is top of mind as a competitive weapon and the most successful firms are innovating not only their offerings and business models, but changing their project management processes. To achieve dramatic performance gains, companies find that they must rethink, or transform, the way they manage their projects or programs. In order to achieve the study objectives two models were used, the first model being called “Organisational Project Management Maturity (OPM3)” and second being “Project Management Maturity Matrix Model” were used as a tools to assess the degree of The Agency’s project management maturity/competence and highlighted a recommended path for improvement of its overall effectiveness.OPM3 is an acronym for the Organisational Portfolio, Program, and Project Management Maturity Model- a standard developed under the stewardship of Project Management Institute. The purpose of the OPM3 model is to provide a way for organisations to understand organisational project management and to measure their maturity against a comprehensive and broad–based set of organisational project management Best Practices. OPM3 also helps organisations wishing to increase their organisational project management maturity to plan for improvement. An evaluation of the performance of The Agency and its projects/programs was carried out in relation to its scope of mandate in order to assess its PM competence and maturity. The assessment of the degree of organisational project management maturity of The Agency provided the basis to evaluate its success in achieving the best-in-class project management practices. The results of the assessment provided the opportunity to make recommendations designed to channel The Agency to a path that will continually improve and develop its competitive position and promote its business by projects. The researcher therefore considered it imperative to examine the degree of maturity of project management in the national department of a public sector based on the OPM3 and Project Management Maturity Matrix maturity models. The project management maturity model is a widely accepted concept in business. It shows different stages of the project management development in a corporation. It is worth mentioning that these systems and process do not guarantee success, they just increase the probability of success. The findings of this study indicate that The Agency is at Ad Hoc/Standardize phase (level 1) of maturity. The study is concluded with recommendations which could assist The Agency to plan for improvement and increase its degree of maturity against the Best Practices and capabilities identified in the OPM3 Standard.Graduate School of Business LeadershipM.B.L