Masters Degrees (School of Public Leadership)

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Acid mine drainage in the Gauteng province of South Africa : a phenomenological study on the degree of alignment between stakeholders concerning a sustainable solution to acid mine drainage
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12) Ewart, Timothy Ian; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ecosystems, and the very services and resources that they provide, are fundamental to our existence. Regardless, mankind shows scant regard for the biotic and abiotic components of the environment that serve as both sources and sinks for anthropocentric demands, practices and behaviours. Of these vital resources, perhaps the one that is most under threat is water which while crucial for growth and development around the globe, is rapidly becoming a scarce commodity. In South Africa - already a water-scarce country - this situation is further compounded by mining practices that are not only unsustainable, but also largely unregulated from an environmental perspective. Mining activities have resulted in the mass exposure of iron pyrite and heavy metals, both underground and on the surface. Upon exposure to weathering, the iron pyrite gives rise to sulphuric acid, which, in turn results in the mobilisation and concentration of toxic metals. Although this is a geological phenomenon, the increasing concentrations of toxic metals as a result of mining have exposed the Gauteng province to enormous environmental, social and economic risks. Concerning the risks, the research highlighted the following: - Although comprehensive research has been found relating to the physical attributes of acid mine drainage (AMD), very little is known of the health aspects associated with AMD. Of immediate concern is, the subsequent environmental and health implications stemming from the association between living organisms and heavy metals. - In the absence of such information, the credibility of current solutions is thus questionable. Of the solutions that have been proposed, most have been reductionist in approach and have only focused on dealing with the surface decant of contaminated water from predominately non-functioning mines. The health risks associated with radioactive and highly toxic waste have been down played or simply ignored (Albrecht, 2011). - The absence of a comprehensive solution also raises questions as to the assessment and decision-making process utilised to date by the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). - Both government and the private sector have allowed the AMD threat to amplify over the years. Their inaction has been facilitated by the poor enforcement of legislation and, clever manoeuvring by mining companies, in what can only be described as a mutually beneficial relationship between government and the mining industry. In stark contrast to the inaction of government and the private sector, environmental activists have been very vocal in calling for a solution to a number of the risks associated with AMD. This, together with the recent decant of AMD in the Western Basin, has culminated in a public outcry and prompted calls for a solution to the AMD threat. Government's response to this was a narrow and incomprehensive solution, which only served to further frustrate the different stakeholder groups. Where stakeholders have different themes as to the implications and thus solutions to the AMD threat on the Witwatersrand (as driven by the profiles of the different stakeholder groups), an appropriate solution will only be realised by adopting the following recommendations: - Government must show the necessary political will, to fully engage the threat of AMD and address their poor track record as regulator - their credibility has been skewed through their vested interests in the mining industry. - Having taken ownership of the AMD threat on the Witwatersrand, government must move to avert any immediate risks to human well-being. - Under governments' leadership, the capacity of all stakeholders must be addressed to facilitate a participatory trans-disciplinary review of the assessment mechanisms and facts, in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution(s) to the social and environmental impacts associated with mining activities - a solution that will ensure future environmental integrity, social development and economic growth.
Alternative sources of finance for sustainable development in South Africa with specific reference to carbon trading
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011-03) Du Preez, David H.; Brent, Alan C.; Fakier, Saliem; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The world has been engaged in a global ‘development project’ since the late 1940s. This process gained new momentum with the end of colonialism and the emergence of newly independent countries, all of them plagued with high levels of poverty. Traditional models of economic growth based on industrialization and import-substitution did not deliver the expected results to reduce poverty, especially in Africa. New ways of engaging with development emerged; in particular the basic needs approach in the 1970s and later the human development approach. Independently a new environmental movement surfaced in the 1960s, responding to the rallying call of global environmental destruction as a result of economic activities. For the first time a global language on the limitations nature presents to development emerged. The ‘movement’ received particular traction with the emergence of global climate disruption as the single largest global environmental issue. ‘Human needs’, represented by the anthropocentrists, and ‘environmental limitations’, represented by environmentalists were merged in an uncomfortable union to give birth to the notion of sustainable development. Yet, as a result of a large variety of perspectives, no agreement has been reached on what sustainable development means or should achieve. There is agreement though that developmental needs and environmental challenges are both urgent. An important unanswered question is how the world will pay for sustainable development interventions. Some interesting ideas on alternative sources of development finance has been around for a while, yet has not found practical application. Carbon finance, an innovative new source of funding, is an exception. This exploratory research was conducted by reviewing existing relevant literature using the inductive logic technique. It was initiated as a result of specific experiences leading the researcher to some general ‘truths’. The findings revealed that carbon markets, which are primarily focussed on reducing carbon emissions and which in itself makes a positive contribution to sustainability, has over the last few years successfully leveraged billions of dollars for investment in sustainable development projects globally. Some of these have the added advantage of co-benefits for the poor. Its role is set to expand as a source of development finance. South Africa has the potential to earn large amounts from carbon trading, assisting the country to move to a more sustainable development trajectory. The findings concluded that realising this potential will require a more focussed approach, especially from the South African Government.
An analysis of waste minimisation initiatives in the City of Cape Town, South Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-12) Nkala, Zandile Carol; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mounting pressure on waste management has forced the City of Cape Town (CCT) to progressively move towards achieving an integrated waste management system (IWMS). This system presents a holistic approach of dealing with waste issues. The waste management hierarchy indicates that the ‘cradle-to-cradle’ approach of waste management is more ideal as compared to the traditional ‘cradle-to-grave’ approaches of waste management, example landfilling. However the challenges that have transpired in the rollout of waste minimisation initiatives highlight the need to continuously improve the system. This thesis investigates the municipal solid waste (MSW) minimisation programmes initiated by the CCT Solid Waste Management Department. A systems approach that combined both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was employed in the analysis. A material flow analysis (MFA) model was used to trace the flow of waste through the waste management system. The benefit of applying the MFA approach for waste management problems has been highlighted in literature in terms of identifying potential recycling, and other, waste-treatment technologies, and predicting the outcomes of waste treatment and disposal initiatives. The main objective of this study was to apply an adapted MFA method in order to determine the progress of the existing waste minimisation programmes and to also determine the opportunities to utilise biodegradable and other recyclable components of the waste streams; thereby improving the IWMS of the CCT. The MFA provided a conceptual understanding of the flow of waste materials in the CCT. The mass assessment of waste minimisation facilities, such as the Bellville compost plant and Athlone material recovery facility and refuse transfer station, unveiled that there is still a large amount of biodegradable and recyclable municipal solid waste that ends up in landfills regardless of the waste minimisation facilities available. However, it is still immature at this stage to conclude the success of the Think Twice campaign, since this is a fairly new initiative that relies on the response rate of the public. There are challenges associated with the recyclable waste recovery rates such as public awareness, proper advertising, operational problems that still need to be addressed. The MFA results also showed the final sinks of the different waste types that are sent through the different waste minimisation facilities run by the CCT. The current institutional arrangements and legislative environment have been greatly improved but there are still a number of challenges that need to be addressed. The largest, overall challenge is devising a practical plan of ‘closing the loop’ in order to develop a circular economy. The concept of ‘cradle-to-cradle’ seems to be premised on extended producer responsibility and other stringent control mechanisms, which are currently believed, will yield negative consequences in the South African context. A lot more work needs to be done to achieve a genuinely integrated and sustainable solid waste management system.
Assessment of City of Cape Town's energy efficiency programmes within its internal operations
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Mahomed, Sumaya; Musango, Josephine Kaviti; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : The global climate crisis requires urgent action beyond the current policy framework and commitments, as currently made by a number of countries through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Cities are known to be nodes of economic activity concentrating large populations and are carbon intensive due to the hive of activity within them. Cities contribute 75% of global carbon emissions. Cities therefore play an integral role in combating climate change. Local governments can lead by example through the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives within their own operations. The literature and case studies that were reviewed indicated that local government is implementing a number of energy efficiency programmes within their own operations. A gap remains in this area, as very few cities have made it “new business as usual” to drive and implement energy efficiency within their own operations. This study focuses on assessing the City of Cape Town’s energy efficiency programmes within its own operations, with specific focus on understanding the outcomes that have been achieved. This study develops a business model to aid in continuation of energy efficiency programmes within the City of Cape Town, beyond the guaranteed funding period of 2017. The research methodology comprises a number of methods, including: a literature review, direct observations, and fieldwork to gather energy data used to develop the business model. The results indicate that a well-developed energy management system is integral to ensuring energy and climate targets are monitored and reported. The results indicate that Traffic Signal department and Specialised Technical Services department have adopted the new energy efficient technology and have changed to a new business as usual. The Electricity Services Department requires amending their store stock items to the energy efficient technology. A total investment of one hundred and sixty million rand has been achieved up until 2015. This has resulted in a total cumulative savings of one hundred and ten million rand up until 2014. The business model developed allows departments to follow a standardised process in setting energy targets, implementing energy efficiency measures and tracking financial, environmental and energy savings.
Broadening the discourse on small-scale generation: an investigation into public opinion of embedded rooftop photovoltaic systems in Stellenbosch
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Morar, Geeta Sara Creecy; Brent, Alan C.; Kritzinger, Karin; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : This paper investigates and critically evaluates the effects of the emergent approach taken towards the uptake of distributed generation (DG) systems in South Africa. The study focuses on a case study conducted in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, on the uptake of small-scale embedded generation photovoltaic (SSEG PV) systems, and compares this with a literature review of strengths and weaknesses of the approaches towards the promotion DG that have emerged elsewhere in the world. The study includes a focus group conducted with ten participants (homeowners from Stellenbosch) to determine their opinions of the feed in tariff (FiT) scheme enabled by Stellenbosch municipality in the absence of national policy guidance. This scheme will ultimately allow them to connect their rooftop PV systems to the municipal network and sell excess electricity to the municipality. The findings of the case study and literature review are triangulated with theory on sustainable development, systems thinking and complexity in order to assess the extent to which the emergent South African approach is aligned with goals for sustainable development expressed in national development policy and by the United Nations Environment Programme. The results of the case study reveal that participants’ responses to the FiT scheme are more complex than originally thought, and can provide some insight into why the FiT scheme has been less successful in encouraging homeowners to invest in SSEG PV systems than expected; while the results of the literature review reveal that more holistic approaches to the promotion of DG systems are generally more successful than those that rely on the provision of limited financial incentives. Ultimately, the research shows that South Africa could benefit from a more holistic approach towards the design of strategies for the uptake of SSEG PV systems, and DG in general, if the country is truly dedicated to achieving goals for sustainable development. This study also and provides suggestions of what such an approach could look like. It is recommend that the Stellenbosch Municipality reconsider their R140 fixed monthly grid connection fee, if they are committed to discussions regarding the sustainable uptake of distributed generation (DG) or small-scale embedded generation (SSEG). A longer-term perspective is also required to consider how the benefits of increasing the uptake of these systems can be monitored and realised in real terms. Finally, it is recommend that future researchers continue to broaden the input from electricity consumers (and potential prosumers) and take on the task of generating knowledge on consumer need and opinion regarding the increased uptake of RE and SSEG, and of increasing the scope of such research to various race, gender and socio-economic groups to improve the promotion of equality in energy and electricity developments in Stellenbosch.
The correlation between energy cost share, human and economic development : using time series data from Australasia, Europe, North America and the BRICS nations.
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12) Roberts, Ryan Keagan; Musango, Josephine Kaviti; Brent, Alan C.; Heun, Matthew; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Rising global temperatures and fossil fuel depletion have created urgency for a shift toward renewable energy. While the environmental benefits of this power source have been well documented, a blind eye cannot be turned on social and economic challenges facing many nations today. The overarching goal of this study is to investigate how a transition to an energy sector dominated by renewable energy systems would affect the other two pillars of sustainability, namely society and the economy. This is vital to understand in order to construct energy and environmental policies that can advance society in a sustainable manner. One of the changes that would occur during such a transition is a variation in energy prices. The energy costs share (ECS), a ratio of a region’s energy expenditure as a fraction of its gross domestic product (GDP), was identified a tool that could link the amount spent on energy in proportion to the size of a country’s economy. Nations from three regions of the world, namely Australasia, Europe and North America, were chosen for this analysis. It was also decided to include the BRICS nations to give a representation of developing economies, giving a total of fifteen countries. During the period of 1978-2010, the annual energy cost share of each country was compared to the year on year GDP change at different time lags. The three components of a nation’s HDI, namely income levels, health and education, were also compared to this metric. Pearson’s Correlation test were conducted in order to establish the relationship between these indices as well as any thresholds that may exist. In an attempt to identify any common traits that may explain the dynamics of energy costs, comparisons between each country were made, along with similar tests performed for each region. This study confirms that high energy costs have a negative effect on economic growth. The existence of an ECS threshold was found in many countries with very strong correlation coefficients being obtained for periods of high ECS. Throughout the study it was noticed that energy cost share had a very strong correlation to GNI per capita change, much stronger than the correlation between ECS and GDP change. The use of ECS may be good tool for stimulating economic growth, but more importantly it stimulates human development in the form of income levels. The findings from this study showed that each country has its own set of dynamics to energy cost share. Many influences can affect the dynamics of energy costs on a countries economic and human development. The effects may be localised to a specific region, however, there are many other factors that can play a vital role such as a country’s energy mix, economic situation and political history.
Diversifying South Africa's renewable energy mix through policy
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04) Valenti, Devan; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is one of the most energy-intensive economies in the world, with around 90 per cent of its electricity generated using coal as a primary resource. As such, the South African energy system remains on a highly unsustainable path, and the potential for long-term growth and prosperity of the economy is thwarted. The alternative to conventional energy, renewable energy, has unfortunately been relatively slow to take off in the South Africa market. This is disappointing considering the country’s wealth of natural resources required for renewable energy generation. The potential of renewable energy to contribute to the South African energy mix is thus significant. The transition to a green economy, and subsequently a more sustainable energy future, is therefore achievable and realistic. However, national policies aimed at promoting the deployment of renewable energy have been thwarted by inconsistencies, lack of coordination, and proved relatively ineffective at increasing the country’s renewable energy capacity to its full potential. The recent policy changes from a feed-in tariff to a competitive tender approach dented investor confidence in the South African renewable energy industry significantly. Nevertheless, renewable energy policy in South Africa is still in its infancy, and valuable lessons are still to be learnt and incorporated into future policies going forward. A critical analysis of the current policy identifies the need for amendment to the structure of the policy landscape. The current policy strongly favours larger, more established and mature renewable technologies, whilst completely neglecting smaller and less mature ones. This not only results in a highly undiversified renewable energy mix, which has considerable negatives in itself, but also reduces the ability of the policy to capture a host of significant opportunities and advantages associated with small-scale renewable energy projects. The importance of diversifying South Africa’s renewable energy mix was therefore ones of the principal stances of this study, and intervention that ensured diversification within the industry was therefore vital. This study fundamentally designs and proposes a revised policy system that makes use of both competitive tenders and feed-in tariffs within the policy framework. In essence, this would allow for greater diversification within the renewable energy industry. The competitive tender component should be used for larger, more established technologies and projects, while the feed-in tariff should be used to drastically stimulate investment in smaller technologies and projects. By making use of a dual-mechanism system, the benefits associated with small-scale renewable energy projects can be realized without any noteworthy opportunity costs foregone. These benefits include diversification of the renewable energy mix; stimulation of smaller technologies; increased job creation; and stabilisation of supply volatility. This study recommends that the current renewable energy policy in South Africa be reassessed for both its relevancy within the South African context as well as its ability to effectively promote the deployment of alternative energy technologies. In an ever-changing and globalising world, where exogenous influences on national policies are stronger than ever, it becomes necessary and of utmost importance that policies are evaluated constantly in order to ensure their effectiveness is at optimal level.
Energy infrastructure transition in urban informal households in South Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Appies, Ebenaezer; Musango, Josephine Kaviti; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
South Africa possesses an abundance of solar energy resources that can be used to provide various energy services. The multiple fuel use model is evident in urban informal households and the fuel types and energy carriers that are most commonly used by these households are electricity, paraffin, gas, and firewood, which causes environmental destruction, morbidity, and adverse socio-economic conditions, and stifle economic development. The financial expenditure on fuel and energy carriers is exorbitant, because the majority of people that live in informal households have low paying jobs or are unemployed. The study aims to enhance our understanding of the transformation of the energy infrastructure that urban informal households use for various energy services. The objectives of this study were to identify the fuel types and energy carriers that urban informal households commonly used for lighting, cooking, space heating, water heating and operating household appliances as well as to identify the roles of stakeholders that might increase the uptake of distributed renewable energy technology on a local level by urban informal households. This research provides consumption patterns that inform potential energy infrastructure transitions. The findings suggest that electricity, paraffin, wood fuel and gas are most commonly used for energy services in urban informal households. There is an awareness amongst most stakeholders about the benefits of distributed renewable energy technologies but the deployment and education campaigns around these technologies are disjointed. The regional innovative system approach to socio-technical transition could be used to deploy distributed renewable energy technologies to urban informal households in South Africa.
Exploiting renewable energy opportunities through integrated regional power systems: Analysis of institutional perspectives on barriers in Southern Africa
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Sichone, Elijah Chizamusoka; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Renewable energy resources are abundant, but the opportunities presented by such sources of energy for power generation have not been fully exploited, particularly using an integrated regional approach, due to a myriad of barriers. Although so much research points out and categorises the barriers to renewable energy development in general, it remains too generalised and fails to consider the institutional environments and contextual factors. Using institutional theory and informed by the theory of international trade cooperation in electricity, this study develops a conceptual framework for analysing and understanding the institutional perspectives that traverse the barriers to exploiting renewable energy opportunities in a regionally coordinated and integrated system. The findings of the study should provide stakeholders with insights on and direct more attention at institutional barriers contributing to the large gap between the current levels of the exploitation of renewable energy opportunities in the SADC region and the potentials that are technically feasible using the available renewable energy technologies. An extensive traditional literature analysis found that the institutional elements of legitimation, functions, administrative structures, processes and mechanisms, and culture and attitudes in the SADC region were generally inadequate for up-scaling and sustained development of renewable energy. The findings further indicate that institutional perspectives or conditions have a significant pervasive bearing on renewable energy barriers in general and exploiting such energy resources using integrated power systems and approaches in particular. This study provides strong support for addressing the institutional barriers and that all stakeholders should rethink the approach to scale-up harnessing of renewable energy by taking into account and paying greater attention to the institutional and contextual perspectives.
Exploring the idea of the creative class in an African city : a case study of ICT professionals in Nairobi
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Rosenberg, Lauren; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is an exploration of Richard Florida’s Creative Class theory within an African city context. The economic value of the Creative Class is that their work revolves around innovation, a quality seen as essential to ‘new economy’ urban growth. Quality of place (that which makes ‘New York, New York’) is said to attract the Creative Class to certain cities, as lifestyle amenities are valued as much as employment opportunities. Nairobi is an example of an African city currently attracting both Kenyan and expatriate Creative Class workers, particularly in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The research aimed to understand why this group chose to live in Nairobi and to describe Nairobi’s quality of place, with a particular focus on infrastructure disruption. Overall, the Western city is the reference point for Creative Class literature and quality of place is embedded within a framework of urbanisation through industrialisation - a period known as the first urbanisation wave. The fastest growing cities on the African continent (Nairobi included) are part of the second urbanisation wave, an urbanisation process spurred by a set of vastly different dynamics in which industrialisation is virtually inconsequential. Urbanisation through industrialisation induced concomitant investments into infrastructure and thus it is unsurprising that the Creative Class literature assumes that urban infrastructure is ‘always on’ – available at all times as an inherent attribute of place. The point of the study was not to draw modernist comparisons, but rather to emphasise that notions of quality of place are incomplete given the rise of technological innovation in urban Africa, where cities often suffer from disruption of basic infrastructure. Until more recently, African cities did not feature in the Creative Class literature; the predominantly rural focus of ICT diffusion in the literature is a contributing factor to the lack of information on the Creative Class in African cities. The case study revealed that Nairobi’s quality of place is fundamentally different to normative prescriptions given to urban planners and, in some instances, is highly frustrating and unattractive. Contrary to Florida’s theory, those interviewed were not leaving Nairobi in search of cities with higher quality of place attributes or better infrastructure provision – individuals were rooted to the city because of their work and the professional networks with which they were associated.
Fish-farming in South Africa : a study of the market environment and the suitable species
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04) Mahieu, Alain; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Emerging global trends towards sustainable development have placed emphasis on the need to create sustainable food value chains. Many food value chains are becoming weakened through their reliance on eco-systems that are deteriorating. Furthermore, while food systems are under threat, global food consumption is on the rise. The conundrum seems inescapable. Humanity’s food supply methods have moved on from hunter-gatherer characteristics apart from the exception of the fishing industry. The current generation may be the last to witness the wide-spread practice of fishing. Aquaculture, and in particular fish-farming, has begun to show much potential as a method of producing sustainable sources of protein. Whether this can be utilized in the South African context is a challenge that needs to be verified. This research, presented as two articles, explores the potential for the development of the fish-farming sector in South Africa, and recommends suitable species. Although there is some literature on how fish-farming may have a place in South Africa’s sustainability quest, it is scarce. This research aims to enhance the literature base on fish-farming in South Africa, as well as provide further evidence on what the true potential is for fish-farming in South Africa. This was done through a series of primary and secondary data collection methods that allow for a thorough analysis of fish-farming in South Africa and the species involved. The analysis revealed that the fish-farming sector and the cultivatable species in South Africa are met with an array of opportunities and challenges. Overcoming these challenges will open the doors to exploit the opportunities available.
Identifying the root causes of tensions arising from business adoption of sustainability
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04) Ambrosio, Natasja; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When business adopts sustainability, leaders, sustainability practitioners and employees experience tensions. Unless the root causes of such tensions are identified, understood and discussed, barriers that developed over time will significantly affect the rate of business transformation in building a sustainable future for both business and society at large. This thesis then aims to identify the root causes of tensions that arise in the process of sustainability adoption in business. The outcomes of the research highlight the process of organisational and systemic change required in business, and the need for organisational culture and values to align to the values of sustainability. The lack of adaptive leadership skills in business causes tension as a fundamental requirement of sustainability is transformation. Sustainability challenges the ethics of decisions made in business and thereby creates significant tension. Leaders and employees alike are faced with decisions that require careful consideration in order to ensure that the consequences of those decisions do not result in unintended consequences that impact negatively on society and the environment. Systemic complexity, where capitalism defines the rules within which businesses operate and are being measured, creates tension, as these rules often contradict the values of sustainability. Employees and leaders in business experience tension, as they have to face the dichotomy between values and profit imperatives. This results in an ethical dilemma for business. The current consumer culture, upon which retailers rely significantly for income, requires the extraction of raw materials and the use of energy, water, oil and chemicals for production purposes. This dependency is concerning, as price volatility as a result of the demand and supply fluctuations, affect the retailer price structures. If these resources were to be priced, based on the true cost to the environment, prices will increase, leaving retailers with no option but to increase sales prices. The scale and depth of change, as well as When business adopts sustainability, leaders, sustainability practitioners and employees experience tensions. Unless the root causes of such tensions are identified, understood and discussed, barriers that developed over time will significantly affect the rate of business transformation in building a sustainable future for both business and society at large. This thesis then aims to identify the root causes of tensions that arise in the process of sustainability adoption in business. The outcomes of the research highlight the process of organisational and systemic change required in business, and the need for organisational culture and values to align to the values of sustainability. The lack of adaptive leadership skills in business causes tension as a fundamental requirement of sustainability is transformation. Sustainability challenges the ethics of decisions made in business and thereby creates significant tension. Leaders and employees alike are faced with decisions that require careful consideration in order to ensure that the consequences of those decisions do not result in unintended consequences that impact negatively on society and the environment. Systemic complexity, where capitalism defines the rules within which businesses operate and are being measured, creates tension, as these rules often contradict the values of sustainability. Employees and leaders in business experience tension, as they have to face the dichotomy between values and profit imperatives. This results in an ethical dilemma for business. The current consumer culture, upon which retailers rely significantly for income, requires the extraction of raw materials and the use of energy, water, oil and chemicals for production purposes. This dependency is concerning, as price volatility as a result of the demand and supply fluctuations, affect the retailer price structures. If these resources were to be priced, based on the true cost to the environment, prices will increase, leaving retailers with no option but to increase sales prices. The scale and depth of change, as well asWhen business adopts sustainability, leaders, sustainability practitioners and employees experience tensions. Unless the root causes of such tensions are identified, understood and discussed, barriers that developed over time will significantly affect the rate of business transformation in building a sustainable future for both business and society at large. This thesis then aims to identify the root causes of tensions that arise in the process of sustainability adoption in business. The outcomes of the research highlight the process of organisational and systemic change required in business, and the need for organisational culture and values to align to the values of sustainability. The lack of adaptive leadership skills in business causes tension as a fundamental requirement of sustainability is transformation. Sustainability challenges the ethics of decisions made in business and thereby creates significant tension. Leaders and employees alike are faced with decisions that require careful consideration in order to ensure that the consequences of those decisions do not result in unintended consequences that impact negatively on society and the environment. Systemic complexity, where capitalism defines the rules within which businesses operate and are being measured, creates tension, as these rules often contradict the values of sustainability. Employees and leaders in business experience tension, as they have to face the dichotomy between values and profit imperatives. This results in an ethical dilemma for business. The current consumer culture, upon which retailers rely significantly for income, requires the extraction of raw materials and the use of energy, water, oil and chemicals for production purposes. This dependency is concerning, as price volatility as a result of the demand and supply fluctuations, affect the retailer price structures. If these resources were to be priced, based on the true cost to the environment, prices will increase, leaving retailers with no option but to increase sales prices. The scale and depth of change, as well as the uncertainties that exist within decisions that needs to be made, causes tensions for retailers. Other tensions that arise are the need for meaningful stakeholder engagement, transparency, and a common understanding of what sustainability aims to achieve. Meaningful conversations in business will help define new rules that can be applied to create long-term value for all in society. Employees are more committed to sustainability through intrinsic values as oppose to extrinsic values. Therefore, a values based approach to sustainability adoption will resonate with employees, thereby improving the effect of sustainability integration. Adaptive leaders who are prepared to interrogate current business models are required. This way, different models are developed, that delivers shared value and intergenerational equity to society and the environment.
Investigating the feasibility of a locally developed carbon-offsetting scheme : the case of the Drifters Desert Nature Reserve
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Gibson, Sean; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the context of both climate change and peak oil, it is clear that the tourism industry cannot continue with a business-as-usual approach. Unfettered fossil fuel use is no longer an option and novel approaches need to be explored in order to change the configuration of energy systems. Transport is particularly energy intense and consequently, since it involves travel, so is tourism. The Drifters Desert Nature Reserve (DDNR) is probably a net carbon sink. The property is large and has thousands of long lived trees and bushes: but this would be an ‘easy out’ in an industry which is has a reputation for evading tough questions. Are there affordable techniques that can be employed by the Reserve that will reduce its carbon footprint and enable it to move toward being entirely carbon neutral, without relying on sequestration? A willingness to pay (WTP) survey investigating if clients were prepared to pay a voluntary amount towards reducing the emissions of the DDNR, thereby offsetting some of their own emissions, was conducted; 121 questionnaires were completed. The results were extrapolated out to represent the WTP of the 1055 clients that visited the DDNR in the last year. It was found that 73% of all the clients who stay at the DDNR are willing to pay toward helping the DDNR change the way its systems are configured as a means to offset some of their own emissions debt in getting to the reserve. Lodge clients were prepared to pay almost double the amount clients staying at the campsite would consider. In both cases, WTP was around 10% of the value of the accommodation package chosen. The fossil fuel use and consequent carbon dioxide debt of the DDNR was calculated and emissions were found to be in the region of 30 tonnes per annum. As per the case in the greater Namibia, transport is responsible for the bulk of the carbon dioxide output, with energy provision in this off-grid reserve being a close second. Of four potential interventions considered, two were found to be financially viable, regardless of the WTP of clientele. It is speculated that WTP on a small scale is administratively laborious and the potential contribution of a voluntary offsetting payment was perhaps not high to justify the implementation of the scheme. It was however found that reconfiguring the energy systems would definitely be a worthwhile exercise. On corporate level where efficiencies of size amplify gains, Drifters, as a group of 14 lodges and an overland company, may well find that a transparent voluntary emissions reduction (VER) payment, ring-fenced, appropriately used, and properly implemented, is worthwhile. Ethically, however, injecting VER payments into a balance sheet is problematic, especially where the payback period of the technological interventions is short and the benefits derived are long term.
An investigation into the effectiveness of corporate sustainability programmes and initiatives in the agricultural sector : the case of British American Tobacco Zimbabwe
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Nyanyirai, Stanley; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years, a great deal of attention has been paid towards the notion of corporate sustainability, which has variously been defined as meaning the incorporation of social, environmental, economic, and cultural concerns into corporate strategy and bottom line. The preliminary investigation suggests that Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) are mainly worried about securing permission for commencing operations and not about the wellbeing of locals and their livelihoods. Further to this, one of the main reasons why efforts aimed at improving sustainability are not yielding significant and lasting results, is that solution seekers in business, science, government and the research community are still operating in the same old paradigm of using basically the same tools and adopting the same world view that threaten sustainability in the first. The key and clear research objectives of this study are:- to ascertain if there is a link between British American Tobacco Zimbabwe (BATZ) top management philosophy, corporate strategy and the company`s corporate sustainability programmes, initiatives and other efforts, and the various stakeholders, and, if so, how these are communicated to them; to establish the degree of integrating sustainable development practice and initiatives into the BATZ business model in order to have long term benefits for both the company and its various stakeholders - these are an integral part of the socio-ecological system, and will help the business understand the resilience of the system and where in the system they should operate; to establish the depth, scope and culture of sustainability in terms of the extent to which they inserted inside (embedded) the BATZ operations; and to ascertain the level of economic, social and environmental effects of BATZ`s corporate sustainability programmes and initiatives in the locality in which it operates. The research used focus group and key informant discussions, one-on-one interviews, and to a limited extent a semi-structured research questionnaire. Information was also accessed from company internal information management portals, and BATZ’s group sustainability and other reports. The conclusion was that renewable energy programmes at BATZ were driven by energy insecurity and scarcity. Currently BATZ is not recycling water used in cigarette manufacturing operations, waste recycling of cut-rag tobacco has been occurring, and BATZ will continue to provide agronomic support to small scale farmers under its Social Responsibility in Tobacco Programmes (SRTP) towards leaf sustainability. The Rocket Barn concept is one of the most innovative intermediate technological breakthroughs meant for improving wood fuel efficiency in tobacco curing. Socially BATZ has done some good works in addressing some of society’s key challenges. There have been benefits for key corporate stakeholders in having BATZ operating in Zimbabwe. The research will assist BATZ to fully understand the socio-ecological system in which it operates; a fundamental understanding to improve corporate sustainability, which will then require a shift in sustainability-oriented efforts.
An investigation into the financial impact of residential Rooftop PV on Stellenbosch Municipality
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Korsten, Nikkie; Sebitosi, Ben; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Worldwide, electricity utilities are recognising and responding to the threat that a large uptake of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar installations might have on their traditional business model, based on volumetric sales. Likewise, in South Africa there is a concern that the trend of households investing in rooftop PV might have significant impact on the business model of electricity delivery services by Eskom and local governments. Since South African municipalities are responsible for managing electricity distribution, they face similar challenges to traditional energy utilities across the world. Historically, South African municipalities served as local distributors of electricity and many municipalities relied on the revenue generated from electricity sales to cross-subsidise other services that were underfunded. If the number of rooftop PV installations continues to rise in South Africa, this might have a negative impact on the financial balance of South African municipalities. This research investigates the financial impact that increasing installations of gridconnected rooftop PV at a household level might have on local governments, using Stellenbosch Municipality as a case study. An extreme-case scenario approach is used to measure the financial impact. Assumed in this scenario is that the absolute maximum of installed embedded generated electricity, as set by NRS standard, will be channeled back to the grid by households. The NRS standard provides a guide as to how much maximum installed embedded generated electricity can be fed to the grid before an in-depth grid study needs to be conducted. The research looks specifically at the residential areas in Stellenbosch with high electricity use, determined by an examination of the electricity use in the different suburbs. Moreover, criteria are set to determine which households from these high electricity use suburbs may be regarded as potential investors in solar rooftop PV. If these criteria are applied, it means 541 households could (each) potentially connect a 3 kWp rooftop PV system. This leads to an annual reduction of approximately ZAR 1.3 million in the municipality’s expenditure for the electricity supply from Eskom. It also leads to a loss in income of ZAR 3.7 million by the municipality as a result of electricity sales reduction, resulting in a net loss of ZAR 2.4 million. The net loss would be equivalent to a 0.6% financial reduction on the total electricity revenue of ZAR 413.7 million for the municipal financial year 2013/2014. If the maximum grid capacity approach were practised, this would mean 2 255 households would be able to connect a 3 kWp solar system to the grid. This would result in a loss in income of ZAR 15.3 million and a saving of ZAR 5.5 million. The net loss would be ZAR 9.8 million, which would be equivalent to a 2.4% reduction on the total electricity revenue of ZAR 413.7 million for the municipal financial year 2013/2014.
Material flow analysis of wood fuel in small urban areas : the case of Tsumeb Namibia
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Mlunga, Lydia; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current ways in which the human population continues to utilise natural resources in order to satisfy their lifestyle remains unsustainable. One such activity is the use of biomass resources mainly for cooking, heating and boiling water which sustains an estimated 2.4 billion people living in developing countries. Biomass not only is the fourth largest energy source after coal, oil and natural gas, but it is currently the largest renewable energy option and yet it has received minimal attention especially from current energy debates in developing countries. Literature shows cases of cities that remain ‘uncertain’ of their development agendas (regarding energy). The uncertainty is a result of most cities relying heavily on fossil fuel which is in most cases imported which minimises the possibilities of cities to come up with sustainable energy projects. As cities continue to grow the supply of this unsustainable energy puts cities in an uncertain position regarding the future energy sources of their cities. There are cities that have now realised the importance of understanding the flow of wood fuels in order to put in measures that can help manage the resource better. Most of them use a GIS-based tool, Wood fuel Integrated Supply Demand Overview Mapping Model (WISDOM) which was developed to analyse the wood fuel supply and demand spatial patterns. Tsumeb is currently also moving in an ‘uncertain’ direction especially when it comes to the energy needs of the town characterised by high electricity tariffs, increased population leading to clearing of land, high unemployment rate and distorted priorities (of the municipality). The Material Flow Analysis (MFA) of wood fuels in Tsumeb is highly dominated by the informal sector. It remains unregulated and no attempt has been made to determine the household energy flow. This study is the first attempt to determine the flow of this very important household energy resource used more especially in winter. The survey revealed that firewood is used to prepare one to two meals a day especially in the townships where the households opt to consume one meal a day. Some consumers collect their own firewood and often have to purchase wood fuels to meet their individual needs. The wood fuel retailers that were surveyed in the study obtain their wood fuels from local commercial farmers and use charcoal produced both in Namibia and South African. The commercial farmers also form part of the informal sector as they supply some of the informal suppliers and consumers. Some informal suppliers resort to open forests located far from their homes, putting a lot of strain on the transport mechanisms. In order to ensure a sustainable supply of household energy in Tsumeb, It is inevitable that a new paradigm is needed in the current planning and development process of the town. Therefore for an effective implementation of policies aimed at developing wood fuels, local conditions as well as the local wood fuel flows must be understood, grassroots initiatives need to be built and community participation should be encouraged in order to get a collective approach to issues that concerns and threatens their livelihoods.
Natural building in South Africa : assessing the niche-regime relationship through a 'latent niche' mediation
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04) O'Rourke, Eamonn Christopher; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis I examine the natural building movement in South Africa in an attempt to determine the systemic influences that appear to confine it to a small market operating at the very edge of the mainstream building sector. I make use of the conceptual framework of the multi-level perspective to explore the interrelationships between natural building as a technological niche and the mainstream building sector as the dominant regime. I extend the concept of a technological niche by appending the term 'latent' to form the term 'latent technological niche', to describe a technology with sustainability credentials that fails to break into the mainstream market, despite achieving technological maturity and constant though minimal market share. The research objectives of this thesis are to: identify pathways for the natural building niche to move beyond its latent state; to determine how the translations of natural building practices to the building sector might occur; and how this might transform the building sector regime. I explore how action research involving knowledge sharing between multi-stakeholder, niche and regime actors might stimulate debate and subsequent action to overcome entry barriers; and serve as a catalyst to advance a latent technological niche beyond its confined market. I present an action research method, a 'latent technological mediation', of facilitated 1st and 2nd order social learning. This is used as a mechanism of tapping into the immediate knowledge of actors in the socio-technical regime. The purpose being to identify the external forces and internal processes of a latent technological niche. The status of a latent technological niche is assessed by comparing these processes in the context of external forces against seven processes, presented in this thesis. These seven processes are considered crucial for a technology to break into the mainstream market and are adapted from the internal processes of success, described in the literature on strategic niche management and the characteristics of a successful 'bounded socio-technical experiment' (BSTE) described in the conceptual work on BSTE's. The potential for natural building systems to enter the mainstream building sector, particularly in South Africa, is used as a case study to apply the latent technological mediation method. The findings of this research suggest that the mainstream building sector is undergoing a transition following the path of socio-techical transformation. The uncertainty introduced by the parallel system of informal settlement, which may drive transition along the more dramatic technological substitution or de-alignment and re-alignment transition pathways is briefly explored.
Solar roof tiles : towards a macro-economic model
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-03) Mokheseng, Motale Ben; Swilling, Mark; Brent, Alan C.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Management and Planning.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis examines whether a residential solar power system (comprising a solar photovoltaic [PV] system and a solar water heater [SWH]), a demand-side option, has a lower life-cycle cost than a coal-fired power plant, a supply-side option, or vice versa. It also investigates whether a million residential solar power systems could potentially replace a 4 800 MW coal-fired power plant in South Africa. The study also explores, should a million solar power systems be installed on residential units, what the total energy output, the equivalent in coal-fired generation capacity, and the comparative costs of the two power systems would be. The common belief is that solar PV technology is unviable for electricity production because it is too expensive compared to coal-based electricity. Statements such as these are made because the initial capital costs (procurement costs) are often used as the primary (and sometimes only) criterion for project, equipment or system selection based on a simple payback period. Due to life-cycle stages, often the real costs of the project or equipment are not reflected by the upfront capital costs. In this thesis, a methodology is developed to investigate the life-cycle cost effectiveness of a residential solar power system (comprising a 5 kW PV roof tile system and a 300 litre SWH) and a 4 800 MW coal-fired plant in order to choose the most cost effective alternative in terms of the project‟s functional unit (kWh). A 5 kW solar PV roof tile system and a 300 litre SWH system have been installed at Lynedoch Eco-village. The operational results from this experiment was used as a basis for developing a model for a million residential rooftops that will have a 5 kW PV roof tile system plus a 300 litre SWH system. The focus of the million rooftops model is operating costs over the lifetime of the solar power system, on the assumption that the capital costs will be financed from coal-fired generation capacity that will no longer be needed. The results of the study indicate that a residential solar power system is most cost effective over a 40-year life-cycle period in terms of the project‟s functional unit (kWh). The thesis also finds that a million residential solar power systems (comprising a 5 kW PV system and a 300 litre SWH) could potentially replace 40% of a 4 800 MW coal-fired generation capacity. In total, 2.3 million residential solar power systems are needed to replace a 4 800 MW coal-fired generation capacity. Emissions of 37 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year could be avoided if 2.3 million residential solar power systems were to be installed. However, the investment needed to install Lynedoch solar power systems (comprising a 5 kW PV roof tile system and a 300 litre SWH) on 2.3 million residential rooftops is fifteen times more than the investment needed to build a 4 800 MW coal-fired power plant. The investment needed to install 2.3 million Lomold residential solar power systems (comprising a 5 kW Lomold PV roof tile system and a 300 litre SWH) is six and half times more than the investment needed for a 4 800 MW coal-fired power plant. It was established during the study that if Lynedoch residential solar power systems were to be installed on the roofs of a million South African households, 152 308 jobs would be created in the manufacturing and installation supply chain. For the 2.3 million Lynedoch residential solar power systems needed to replace an entire 4 800 MW of coal-fired generation capacity, 340 690 jobs would be created in the manufacturing and installation supply chain. Installation of a million Lomold residential solar power systems would create 63 929 jobs in the supply chain. Installation of 2.3 million Lomold residential solar power systems would essentially create 147 298 jobs.
The South African agricultural innovation system – stakeholders, structure and process
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Nordwig, Katja; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Managment Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study makes a contribution to the research about the emergence and functioning of innovation systems in the agricultural sector in developing countries. It determines the current status quo of the South African Agricultural Innovation System and its limitations and shows possible solutions to overcome these. The agricultural sector in South Africa faces many challenges. Water scarcity, climate change and increasing resource pressure are just some of the obstacles, which need to be overcome. Agricultural activity is very diverse and ranges from highly efficient farming operations to food gardens and subsistence farming. Furthermore, the South Africa’s population will continue to grow, and food production will need to increase significantly. In order to meet these challenges and to ensure and improve food security, new solutions need to be found and innovations need to be implemented. This study explores the ability of the South African Agricultural Innovation System to support the emergence and implementation of innovative solutions and to enable long lasting change of the agricultural sector and the overall food system. The research used a variety of methodologies, such as literature review, qualitative interviews, social network analysis and content analysis. A first journal article seeks to portray the South African Agricultural Innovation System. Based on innovation system theory and its application in agriculture as well as qualitative interviews with various stakeholders, a social network analysis was performed and the results are presented in a visual form. The maturity of the innovation system and its ability to face and meet the existing challenges are discussed. The second journal article describes the ability of the South African agricultural sector to support a long-term transition towards more sustainability. The concepts of transition theory, the multilevel perspective and strategic niche management are presented and discussed. Limiting factors for a transition towards a more sustainable agricultural and food system in South Africa were identified during interviews with various parties involved in agricultural innovation. Potential solutions to overcome these limitations are described and reviewed.
Towards energy leapfrogging in sub-Saharan Africa : exploring strategic investment as a way to increase access to finance among mini-grid energy service companies
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Troost, Andre Pieter; Musango, Josephine Kaviti; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : The aim to extend national grids as an avenue for universal electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa failed extensively over the past few decades. The high cost of extending national grids coupled with low electricity demand and inability to pay in rural areas have resulted in 590 million people remaining without access to electricity, 80% of whom live in rural areas. Mini-grids powered by renewable energy are increasingly seen as viable alternatives by virtue of the technology’s lower cost, decentralised and flexible nature and provision of energy services that are on par with that of national grids. The technology especially shows promise in sub-Saharan Africa owing to the vast renewable energy potential in the region. However, a variety of challenges are keeping mini-grid energy service companies (ESCOs) from expanding towards commercial viability. As it stands, mini-grid projects in sub-Saharan Africa are not financially sustainable without the help of grants, which results in an unattractive risk-return profile from an investor’s point of view. This study argues that if the sector is to reach a point where debt and equity investors can generate a return, grants need to be complemented with additional funding to enable mini-grid ESCOs to scale up operations, expand their project portfolios and drive down costs. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to explore the potential of strategic investment as a way of attracting additional funding to mini-grid ESCOs. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with executive managers of mini-grid ESCOs that are operational in East- and Southern Africa and private sector companies that were identified to exhibit potential for investing strategically in mini-grid ESCOs. The results indicate that there is a need for strategic investments in mini-grid ESCOs. Electric utilities and independent power producers (IPPs) would be more likely to invest, given the closer proximity of mini-grids to their core business. The study contributes to the evolving best practices of viable mini-grid business models, by recommending that mini-grid ESCOs should build competencies in customer relationship management, rural distribution practices and the extrapolation of rural households’ uptake of electricity and electricity dependent products and services from consumption data to commercial applications. Indeed, the study shows that potential strategic investors attach value to these focus areas, with the implication that when mini-grid ESCOs can demonstrate these competencies successfully, the probability of successfully attracting strategic investment would increase. Considering these implications, the study offers a contribution to the development of pathways to attract investment to mini-grid ESCOs, the achievement of which will facilitate energy leapfrogging in the region.

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