Motivators of Construction Workers in the South African Construction Sites: A Case Study

Construction industry involves laborious and hazard work because of its demands it requires energetic and enthusiastic people and this are the attributes that in most cases young people poses. Construction industry stakeholder should shift their attention and prioritize the motivation of its workers since the industry has a way of cubing poverty and uplifting the county’s economy. This study used data from both primary and secondary sources a special focus on leadership and human resource management context. A survey was conducted with managers and employees regarding motivation on construction site were conducted at different parts of Gauteng. Furthermore, employees work because they obtain something that they need from work and that something obtained from work impacts morale, employee motivation, and the quality of life. Workforce motivation affects productivity. Because most of the activities are done under difficult conditions including harsh weather conditions, to make it attractive employees should be motivated to carry out different activities. Motivators should be in place to improve the chances of the industry’s competitiveness both locally and internationally

Management and implementation of youth development programmes in Mpumalanga province: an evaluation of the National Youth Service (NYS) programme implemented by the Department of Public Works

Research Report submitted in accordance with the requirements For the degree of Master of Management (MM) in the subject Public and Development Management at University of Witwatersrand MARCH 2015This study evaluated the management and implementation of the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme launched in July 1997 by the Department of Public Works (DoPW) in Mpumalanga Province. It explored the implementation challenges affecting the NYS over three year period. In order to respond to the above the research applied different qualitative data collection and analytical methods. The research found implementation challenges including, a lack of NYS Implementing structure in the responsible Department, poor planning and allocation of requisite financial resources leading to delayed payment of stipend for learners plus procurement challenges. Further, the study went on evaluate outcomes of the NYS in relation to both its objectives and to the specific objectives of the implementing agent i.e., DoPW in order to thereby draw lessons learnt and best practices for management and implementation of youth development programmes. The researcher concludes by observing that the NYS programme has great potential for employment creation and skill development for the intended beneficiaries. However, the NYS implementation requires intensive planning, resource allocation, training of implementing staff and timeous payments of beneficiaries as key success factors to the programm

Protamine nanocapsules as carriers for oral peptide delivery

The use of nanotechnologies to develop nanocarriers for oral insulin delivery is one of the strategies that has received significant attention. The basis for this development has been that nanocarriers can protect the peptides against the harsh gastric environment including enzymatic degradation, while controlling drug release and increasing their absorption in the small intestine. With a higher surface-to-volume ratio than that of conventional drug systems, nanocarriers can significantly increase their cellular contact with the intestinal epithelium, thereby offering more chances for the drug to get across this epithelium. The main aim of this work was to elucidate the potential of protamine nanocapsules as an effective oral drug delivery system for insulin (and other similar peptides). Nanocapsules consisting of an oily core and polymeric shell will be developed and characterized. Their stability in different simulated intestinal media with and without enzymes will be studied including their capacity to protect the loaded peptide from enzymatic degradation. Their toxicity and transport across Caco-2 cells will also be elucidated and thereafter their in vivo efficacy will be determined in rats

Community participation is a necessity for project success : a case study of rural water supply project in Jeppes Reefs, South Africa

In South Africa more than 12 million people do not have access to clean water and less than half of the rural population has a safe and accessible water supply. The study attempts to investigate the challenges that hinder participation of rural communities in the delivery of a clean water supply. The study looks at the definition of participation, the involvement of the community in decision making, and the role of the planner in the delivery of clean water with a specific focus on the Jeppes Reefs community as case study. The paper closes with recommendations for the future

Employment creation through public works programmes and projects in South Africa

Purpose/objectives: The aim of this article is to look at the experiences, problems and the potential contribution of employment creation programmes in alleviating the unemployment problem in other African countries through the construction of public infrastructure through the use of labour-intensive methods. The article then describes the problems and experiences that have been encountered in South Africa in relation to employment creation through the construction of public infrastructure. Problem investigated: In South Africa the levels of unemployment and poverty are extremely high and unemployment is one of South Africa's most pressing problems. At the same time there is a lack of capacity and skills at institutional, community and individual levels. Labour-intensive programmes generate more direct and indirect local employment opportunities and income by using locally available inputs (materials, simple tools and local labour) and thus creating a greater demand for local products and services than do high-technology programmes reliant on imported technology and equipment. Design/Methodology/Approach: Drawing on research on labour-intensive, public works programmes and projects, the paper is mainly a literature review. From a theoretical perspective supported by experience elsewhere in Africa, there are reasons for considering that properly formulated employment creation programmes based on the use of labour-intensive methods could be established to construct and maintain the required physical infrastructure, thus creating employment, skills and institutional capacities. The article closes with some recommendations for the future programmes success. Findings/Implications: The article attributes the failure of projects and programmes in South Africa to different factors which must be avoided in future in order for projects and programmes to be successful in South Africa. Investment in infrastructure has a huge potential to redress the high unemployment and poverty levels in South Africa and also to correct the skill shortages. Originality/Value: This article challenges the project-based approach and recommends a programme-based approach which is long-term as to address the problem of unemployment and skills shortages in South Africa. Conclusion: Public works programmes and projects in South Africa should change as the policy environment changes, from relief, emergency to a long-term structured employment-generation programme. The approach should link economic growth, employment and investment policies

A critical evaluation of pre- and post- 1994 large-scale development programmes in South africa with particular focus on employment creation

In South Africa, the levels of unemployment and poverty are extremely high and these are two of South Africa’s most pressing problems. Over the past 28 years several major programmes have been initiated in South Africa to counter unemployment and poverty. Between 1980 and 1994, the former government spent billions of Rands on large-scale development programmes with the stated objective of using labour-intensive methods during the provision of physical infrastructure, to create employment and alleviate poverty. However, this did not solve the unemployment problem. Since 1994 the African National Congress (ANC) government has implemented large-scale programmes with similar objectives to those before 1994. After an analysis of the theoretical premises and implementation of labour-intensive public works programmes in Africa, the thesis critically evaluated several pre - and post - 1994 large-scale development programmes in South Africa. Major conclusions are that very little sustainable employment was created and there was no long-term programme approach to address poverty alleviation. Furthermore, lessons that could have been learnt from pre – 1994 have not been applied in the post 1994 period. Shortcomings in programme planning and implementation of large-scale development programmes in South Africa still exist. Another major conclusion is that the pre-1994 lessons were not taken into considerations in the post-1994 programme planning and implementation. Based on the research, the author has derived a six phase Programme Management Framework for Development Programmes. This framework embodies a long-term programme management approach to the planning and implementation of large-scale, labour-intensive development programmes

Performance of mature entry and matriculation entry students focusing on the National Diploma in Building at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Developments in the teaching of the National Diploma in Building students should be geared towards meeting the needs of the construction industry in South Africa. These needs are usually in the form of skills and knowledge required to resolve thorny issues encountered in practice. The lack of capacity in the construction industry needs to be addressed from the basis of ensuring that the education system caters for both mature entry and matriculation entry students. The paper looks at a comparison in performance between mature entry and matriculation (just finish High School) entry students focusing on the National Diploma in Building students at the University of Johannesburg. The paper will make a comparison between those students who work first before enrolling for their first year National Diploma in Building and those who are directly from high school. Cooperative education involves training and systematically developing students through the acquisition of the requisite skills, attitudes, values and knowledge required to adequately perform in their chosen careers. The paper describes the problems and experiences that have been encountered by both mature and matriculation entry students in their three years of study which affects their performance. The paper will then look at the value of prior experience in enabling students to finish their National Diploma in Building within a three year period. The paper closes with some recommendations for the future

The sensitivity of bank credit risk indicators to macroeconomic variables

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management University of the Witwatersrand Business School In fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Finance and Investment Johannesburg, 2016This study uses a dynamic panel data method to examine the sensitivity of non-performing loans (NPLs) and bank capital buffer (BCB) to macroeconomic variables. This approach is motivated by the hypothesis that says macroeconomic variables have an effect on the bank’s balance sheet, and this effect varies across developed and emerging economies. The results show that NPLs are sensitive to GDP growth, interest rate, public debt, sovereign debt and unemployment in developed economies. However, NPLs are sensitive to GDP growth, exchange rate, interest rate, sovereign debt, unemployment and volume of imports in emerging economies. Public debt is not statistically significant in explaining the sensitivity of NPLs in emerging economies. Similarly, exchange rate and volume of imports have no significant influence on NPLs in developed economies. In relation to the BCB we find GDP growth, exchange rate, interest rate, sovereign debt, unemployment and volume of imports as significant macroeconomic variables driving the sensitivity of capital buffer in emerging economies. Conversely, interest rate, sovereign debt and unemployment are macroeconomic variables responsible for the sensitivity of the buffer in developed economies. GDP growth, exchange rate and volume of imports have no significant influence. Considering the liquidity risk imposed to the banks’ balance sheet by this set of macroeconomic variables. It seems plausible that their dynamics should be given attention when conceiving any policy mix to cope with credit expansion. Without such exercise, the goal of financial stability in the global banking system will be difficult to achieve.MT201

Exploring how a district teacher development centre supports teachers’ professional learning: a case study in Phumelela district.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The purpose of District Teacher Development Centres is the provision of teacher professional development. The DTDCs also aims to be a place where Professional learning communities should meet to enhance their professional learning for the improvement of their classroom practice. The centres should have resources and materials available to support teacher learning. The purpose of the study is to explore the extent to which a DTDC in a district in KwaZulu- Natal provides support to the teachers and to examine teachers’ perceptions of whether professional development they get from the centre contributes to their professional learning. My study uses the interpretive paradigm and a qualitative case study was adopted. I used observations, document analysis of attendance registers and quarterly reports and semistructured interviews as data generation methods. Ten participants were interviewed and five observations were made. I used purposive sampling for three centre personnel and convenience sampling for seven teachers. My study used Harland and Kinder’s typology of professional development outcomes as the conceptual framework. In analysing the data, I used thematic analysis and the conceptual framework. Findings revealed that many activities take place in the centre but the major activity that took place was workshops. The centre was mostly used as a meeting place for the teachers to get information on curriculum management and delivery. Moderation of school-based assessment also took place in the centre. Very few cluster meetings were mentioned by the participants as activities that take place at the centre. The centre was also used as the meeting venue for Education Department staff, community members and the Community Policing Forum, as well as an accommodation venue for matric learners during school holidays. The teachers’ perceptions of the centre’s support for their professional development showed they gained more administrative skills than the skills and knowledge that had an impact in their classroom practice. The findings also showed that the centre had no proper funding for its effective functionality in terms of acquiring resources. It did not have funds that were always available to finance urgent needs. The centre needed a proper security guard system, a receptionist, a Personal Assistant for the manager, as well as a science lab assistant. The centre needs to be supported by the Department of Basic Education so as provide proper professional development to teachers