ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to sincerely thank, and express my appreciation to you for making the completion of this thesis successful:.:. Mother, father and brother, Ashwin- thank you for always being here for me, and for making my education a possibility. •:. Nancy Odendaal, my supervisor- thank you for your guidance and encouragement..:. Premie, Jayshri, Yeshmeta, Nitasha, and Vishanth- thank you for being the most wonderful friends that a girl could ask for..:. All of the respondents- who have so unselfishly lent me their time and provided me with valuable insights. •:. Claudette and Terrence- for providing me with a 'base ' during my fieldwork. •:. Buddy Govender- for kindly assisting me with maps for my study-area. •:. My colleagues at campus- just knowing that we have all been in the same boat together has helped to depths. •:. God- for being the most stable force in my life, and for constantl