GGH 3702/2022
Portfolio Questions
Sustainable Economic Development in
South Africa
GGH3702
Semester 1 – May/June 2022
Department of Geography
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Please note that there is no venue-based examination for this module
(GGH3702-2022-01), hence this portfolio is similar to your examination.
Take time to work on it and when complete, submit the complete
portfolio online as one document.
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General instructions:
1. This portfolio is made up of TWO compulsory questions.
2. You are advised to read and understand the questions, then decide on how you will
structure your answer to each question.
3. Answer all questions using an essay format.
4. Acknowledge all your sources as the first step to avoid plagiarism. Do not collude or
plagiarise, as this will lead to your work receiving very low or even no marks.
5. Compile a separate reference list for each essay.
6. Your essays should be typed, font size -12, font type –Arial/ New Times Roman.
7. Submit a complete portfolio on or before the due date (25 May 2022).
8. This portfolio is marked out of 100
GGH 3702/2022
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QUESTION 1 Links with Learning Unit 5 which was adapted from Chapter 3 of the National
Development Plan (NDP).
(Read the case study below and answer the questions)
“I am Sanelisiwe Kheswa, I completed my first degree in 2010 in the field of Geography and my
second major was in Tourism. Since completing my first degree I have never worked for a
period that is more than a year for any company, not because of my liking but it is has been the
nature of the contracts. I have applied for jobs which I thought I was qualified for and for some
which I was overqualified. I have done Geographic Information System (GIS) internship,
temporary teaching, data capturing for Stats SA, and babysitting for a friend. With the little
income made I completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) certificate and I am
currently completing an Honours Degree in Environmental Management with at the University of
South Africa. The results are still pending for three last modules.”
a) Do you think that Sanelisiwe has done enough to get herself out of unemployment?
Give reasons for your answer. Suggest other things which she could do to improve her
chances of getting permanent employment or a sustainable income. (15)
b) Considering the information from this case study, your own observation in your
community and literature search, do you agree with the statement that says ‘low
education contributes to poverty’? Support your answer with relevant literature. (20)
c) Critically, discuss practical solutions which can be put in place to avert the rising
unemployment rates in South Africa or in your country with specific focus on higher
learning institutions, local municipalities, and national governments. Your suggestions
should be supported by literature. (25)
General Guidelines for these essays:
Question (a) is opinion based
Questions (b) and (c)
– are literature-based essays.
-your essays (b & c) should have an introduction to inform the reader of the essence of the
essay and this should be one or two paragraphs.
-the main body of your essays (b & c) should be subdivided using headings and/or
subheadings. You should cite sources which you have consulted in every paragraph.
-there should also be a conclusion for your essays (b & c), summing up the important points you
have raised in your essay. This should be almost the same length as your introduction.
-reference list: you should compile a list of references (as the Harvard method) of all the
sources cited in the body of your essay. Each essay (b &c) should have its own reference list.
The reference lists must be in alphabetic order.
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Your essays combined should not exceed 2000 words.
QUESTION 2: Links with Learning Unit 6 which was adapted from Chapter 7 of the National
Development Plan (NDP)
“South Africa has an economic and political role to play in the region, continent and in the world
for sustainable economic development to be realised within her borders and outside her
borders.”
Discuss the economic and political roles which South Africa or your own country plays
at a regional, continental, and international level. Explain how the roles discussed in the
above section have influenced South Africa or your country in her attempt to achieve
sustainable economic development. (40)
General Guidelines for this essay:
-This is a literature-based essay.
-Your essay should have an introduction to inform the reader of the essence of the essay and
this should be one or two paragraphs.
-The main body of your essay should be subdivided using headings and/or subheadings. You
should cite sources which you have consulted in every paragraph.
-There should also be a conclusion for your essay, summing up the important points you have
raised in your essay. This should be almost the same length as your introduction.
-Reference list: you should compile a list of references (as per the Harvard method) of all the
sources cited in the body of your essay.
Your essay should not exceed 2000 words
©
2022
