School of Accountancy

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This Department was known as the Department of Accounting until 27 June 2013.

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Browsing School of Accountancy by browse.metadata.advisor "Muller, Anneke (J. I.)"

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    Perceptions of stakeholders in a water stewardship initiative : Wolseley, South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Chihumbiri, Faith Kudzai; Muller, Anneke (J. I.); Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : In recent years, most development initiatives have been framed within the context of sustainable development. Project implementation has placed emphasis on a balanced integration of social and environmental objectives with economic development; drawing on the participation of people from different and diverse backgrounds to rally around implementing solutions to a common challenge. This approach also referred to as a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder participatory approach, seeks to give a broad set of stakeholders more of a say in decision-making and project implementation. It is recommended, and has been applied in addressing developmental challenges, beginning at an international level, cascading down to the national, regional and local levels. A literature study and case study approach were used in this study. The case study explored how the multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder participatory approach has been implemented in an initiative focused on alien vegetation clearing and water security in the Wolseley area in the Cape Winelands District Municipality in the Western Cape, South Africa. The case study was developed through engaging and capturing insights of various stakeholders involved in the initiative. A sample of these stakeholders was drawn from various stakeholder groups ranging from provincial and local government levels, the private sector, private contractors involved in clearing of alien vegetation and their employees as well as the local landowners in the Wolseley area. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was obtained through methods such as interviews, administering a questionnaire, discussions and observations, while secondary data was obtained through searching library databases and the internet for relevant government laws, policies and regulations, journals, organisational reports, brochures, and prior research carried out on the subjects of participation, sustainable development and water security. The feedback was collated into a coherent narrative of the initiative and the data was subjected to both quantitative and qualitative analysis to better understand the stakeholders’ perceptions and attitudes regarding participating in the initiative. Findings from the study showed that each of the stakeholders and stakeholder groups had different reasons for engaging in collective alien clearing of vegetation. Reasons ranged from delivering on institutional responsibilities for the government department and private sector institutions, support in realising regulatory requirements and reliance on water to support livelihood options for the land owners and a source of income and job creation for the contractors. The contractors’ employees appreciated the wages brought through having a job in the alien clearing process. However, the cumulative collective motivation was to manage and reduce the spread of alien vegetation in Wolseley, as well as contribute to an improved water security profile for the Upper Breede River Catchment. The study coincided with the period during which the Western Cape Province experienced a severe drought. To this end, the Western Cape Government identified water security as posing a major risk towards its effective delivery of services. Some key factors and principles that were identified as contributing towards the seemingly successful engagement in this initiative included converging to address a common challenge and the prospective benefits for each stakeholder, visible project impacts, clarity of purpose, effective communication and coordination as well as engagement and consultation with land owners in the catchment through the embedded Programme Coordinator. These factors and principles need to be taken into consideration to enhance the participatory approach in management of alien vegetation in the Upper Breede River Catchment Area. The study made recommendations on topics and key issues for further investigation to better understand factors and elements that influence perceptions and participation of stakeholders in environmental management initiatives with the intention to continuously improve the engagement process, contribute towards sustainable water security in strategic water source areas and broadly towards sustainable development. Wolseley Water Stewardship Initiative (WWSI) was the term used to refer to the collaborative action on clearing alien vegetation in Wolseley.