Poor sanitation and hygiene facilitate transmission of environmental diseases and pose a threat to the health of South African residents. This study focused on identifying sanitation needs from the perspective of informal community residents, addressing need related issues, and empowering Zulu and Xhosa women. The study used a multistep approach to identify and access communities of interest, reflexive critique during data collection from 300 heads of households, and a reiterative process to identify major themes. A process, which impacted 1,467 residents, was developed; it included culturally sensitive presentation styles and educational materials that facilitated understanding of sanitation concepts. Main sanitation themes were health knowledge and community role models. Educational sessions incorporated women. Using women as educators elevated their status and validated their community importance. Project participation added to the educational background of the Zulu and Xhosa women. It empowered them and provided an opportunity for them to articulate community needs.

Research has suggested a relationship between leadership style and job satisfaction. This paper examines this relationship in the context of a developing country, viz., South Africa. The objective of the paper is to assess the relationship between the two variables as well as the influence of biographical variables on leadership style and job satisfaction. The survey was based on the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. The results suggest a significant correlation between the three leadership styles, viz., transformational leadership, transactional leadership and laissez-faire leadership, and job satisfaction. There were no significant differences between the biographical variables and the three leadership styles.

Small businesses are vital for employment and job creation in South Africa. The implementation of sound cash management practices is essential to ensure the profitability and sustainability of any successful business. The purpose of this paper is to identify the cash management challenges faced by small businesses in a developing community. This research targeted small retail businesses in the Tongaat area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The research design for this paper was descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional. The data instrument was a questionnaire. These findings indicate a significant relationship between cash management knowledge and managing cash flow. The findings also indicate a correlation between profitability in the business and implementation of cash management practices as well as a correlation between the challenges of cash management practices and their ability to ensure profitability in their business. This paper recommends that businesses should implement cash management procedures to eliminate cash management difficulties.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the communication proficiency of the Cost and Management (CMA) students and to assess whether the studying of the subject,, "Communication Skills", is having any positive influence on students' skills development. The research design for this paper was descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional. The target population was 556 CMA students. A census survey was conducted. Findings, which were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics, indicate a significant correlation between skills in English proficiency and better grades in CMA. This paper recommends the implementation of a screening mechanism and the provision for the acquisition of communication skills for first-year university students. 485 2. The Importance of Language Fakeye & Yemi (2009: 490) reveal that the English language proficiency is a good indicator and contributes positively to academic achievement. Cheng's (2007: 588) study on the designing of curriculum at universities in the accounting discipline acknowledges the importance of English in the course syllabus. Rauchas, Rosman, Konidaris and Sanders (2006) believe that language courses studied at high school were better predictors of academic performance at the tertiary level.Language Proficiency: Tshothsho (2006: 1) mentions that many rural school students' language proficiency is affected by the lack of resources and that their teachers are not adequately trained to teach English. Matlala (2005: 39) reports that 90% of black students indicate that they have problems with the English language at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Eiselen and Geyser (2003: 118) investigated the issues between 'Achievers' and 'At Risk' students in an accounting class and presented evidence that the two groups differ in terms of language proficiency, with the 'Achievers' having better communication skills than the students 'At Risk'. If the medium of instruction at a university is English, then the proficiency in English becomes essential. Wong and Chia (1996: 183) provide empirical evidence that students who were more competent in the English language achieved a higher level of performance in the financial accounting course at a Hong Kong University. Consequently, language proficiency is an important communication tool. Decision Making and Problem Solving Abilities:A student of CMA has an ultimate goal of becoming a management accountant and a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).The task of a management accountant requires extensive decision-making and problem solving abilities. Slabbert and Gouws (2006: 342) indicate that language and communication play a crucial and integral part in knowledge creation, which is a source for decision making that produces an action to influence reality. The information that is acquired through relationships, meaning and language and perception gained from experience, mind-sets and values are interpreted through the thinking memory. Once the data has been interpreted and understood, a judgement can ...

The public sector reforms’ programme in Kenya, has witnessed five state-owned corporations being privatised, and several more, from hotels to banks, have been scheduled to be privatised. However, many of Kenya’s state-owned corporations are in considerable debt, which reduce their value in the process of privatisation. This study attempted to determine the extent and the theory suitable for explaining debt-financing within the state-owned corporations in Kenya from 2007 to 2011. The study applied both descriptive statistics and a hybrid of cross sectional and longitudinal quantitative surveys. The results observed some level of stability on the aggregate long-term debt ratios, with minimal use of stock market instruments, which implied the application of the agency theory.