A tool for modernisation? The Boer concentration camps of the South African war 1900-1902

While not denying the tragedy of the high mortality of people in the concentration camps in the South African War of 1899–1902, this article suggests that, for Lord Milner and the British Colonial Office, the camps became a means of introducing the rural society of the Boers to the facilities of modern life. To some extent they became, in effect, part of Milner’s project for ‘civilising’ and assimilating the Boers into British colonial society. The high mortality rate was finally contained through the introduction of a modern public health system, including the use of statistics and the employment of qualified doctors and nurses. Young Boer women working in the camp hospitals as nurse aids were trained as ‘probationers’ and classes in infant and child care were offered to the Boer mothers. In addition, the need for adequate water supplies and effective sanitation meant that an infrastructure was established in the camps that familiarised the Boers with modern sanitary routines and left a legacy of more substantial services for the Transvaal and Orange Free State villages

An exploratory study of motives for foreign, young adult volunteers in South Africa.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.This study was undertaken as an explorative, qualitative study to explore the motives for foreign volunteers to volunteer at an NGO in South Africa. Increasing numbers of young adults and adolescent school leavers from developed countries are choosing to take a sabbatical year to engage in volunteer work in foreign, often developing countries. In South Africa, much of this work takes place in the Non-governmental sector, around environmental and humanitarian issues including HIV and AIDS. The incentives underlying this behaviour are of interest to try to understand what motivates altruistic, pro-social behaviour

Comparing the Historic and Current Biodiversity of Three Piedmont Lakes and the Implications of Lake Expansion Via Dam Replacement on Avian and Aquatic Organisms

Undergraduate Theoretical Proposa

A strategic leadership model for policy implementation

South Africa suffers from a doubtful history of its ability to implement policies successfully. The disastrous effect of this legacy is that the apparent lack of expertise and excellence may lead to a complete loss of the institutional memory in terms of effectiveness and client satisfaction. Responsible and competent leadership is needed by managers who understand the complexities of policy implementation. They must weed out outdated practices the public sector is burdened with and do all they can to attract and retain competent managers who are able to put public service delivery on the track of excellence again. In the final analysis, the quality and impact of policy implementation will be given determined expression to by committed and competent leaders and those they lead. In this article an effort will be made to present a model that will show that leadership and performance are influenced by the commitment and competencies of officials. The performances of people are stimulated by the ability of leaders to provide vision and direction and to influence, inspire and empower them to collectively achieve policy goals. Apart from the external impact (leadership) on their performance, successful implementation of policies also requires internally located driving forces, which, for purposes of this model include: • Commitment depends on a person’s self-confidence and motivation. Strong leadership by managers boosts the self-confidence of junior staff and peoples’ motivation is determined by their level of interest in their work and their enthusiasm. • Competencies of employees in South Africa are affected by skills development legislation as well as existing skills development practices. A survey was done among staff members of different provincial government departments and municipalities in the Free State and North-West province