Declaration

University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg under the supervision of Professor Onisimo Mutanga from January 2007 to December 2009. I Phila Sibandze hereby declare that this thesis is my original work and that all work taken from other sources has been accurately reported and acknowledged. This thesis has not been in its entirely or in part been submitted at any academic institute for the purpose of acquiring a qualification. Phila Sibandze Date Prof. Onisimo Mutanga Dat