Diversion Programmes and Empowerment: A Case Study of Young Offenders’ Experiences in the Buffalo City Metropolitan and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mangwiro, Vongai P
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social work with criminals Social work with juvenile delinquents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18031 , vital:42006
- Description: Crime amongst the young in South Africa has been high since the attainment of democracy in 1994. Diversion programmes were established through the National Framework Chid Justice Act of 2008, as part of a plethora of measures to curb the ever spiralling problem of crime amongst the youth. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the experiences of young offenders regarding their empowerment vis-à-vis diversion programmes in the Buffalo City Metropolitan and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province. Underpinned by the Empowerment and Social Control Theories, the study adopted a qualitative research paradigm and used focus group discussions and in-depth interviews amongst thirty-five young offenders and five social workers, who work as probation officers at NICRO, to collect data, which was analysed using thematic analysis. The major findings indicated that diversion programmes are effective in reducing the number of children who commit crimes in these two municipalities and in influencing their behavioural change, resulting in fewer chances of re-offending. The Life Skills Programme was identified as the most effective programme, in comparison to the other programmes, such as the Community pre-trial Service Programme, in changing the behaviour of the young offenders, as it helps them to discover themselves; learn respect for the self and others in the community; help with family and community reintegration; and helps them focus on who they want to be in the future. In spite of such positive attributes for the diversion programmes, the study observed that there are challenges being faced by the implementing organisation, NICRO. These include high caseloads; lack of support from the probation officers who refer young offenders; limited support from parents; paucity of financial resources; lack of transport; poor v coordination from the courts; and delays in the implementation of some accredited but not credited programmes. Overall, the study concluded that diversion programmes in the Buffalo city Metropolitan and Amathole district municipalities in the Eastern Cape suffer due to weak partnerships between different organisations and stakeholders that are supposed to complement the efforts of the judiciary. From the research findings above, it is recommended that the Child Justice System should promote a multi-sectored approach in order to restore and reunify all the stakeholders, working with children in conflict with the law. This adds more roles and responsibilities for the various stakeholders, such as the Department of Justice and Department of Social development. Furthermore, there is a need to increase the monitoring and evaluation of diversion programmes to advance accountability and improve effectiveness; and there is a need to enhance the efficiency of accrediting authorities to timeously accredit other diversion programmes that, so far, have not yet been accredited, but may be useful in empowering young offenders. Therefore, the study proposes an extension of the framework with additions of strategies to support diversion programmes at NICRO, through a stakeholder extension to the model allocating more roles and responsibilities for stakeholders in the Child Justice system, in order for diversion programmes to effectively achieve desired goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mangwiro, Vongai P
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social work with criminals Social work with juvenile delinquents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18031 , vital:42006
- Description: Crime amongst the young in South Africa has been high since the attainment of democracy in 1994. Diversion programmes were established through the National Framework Chid Justice Act of 2008, as part of a plethora of measures to curb the ever spiralling problem of crime amongst the youth. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the experiences of young offenders regarding their empowerment vis-à-vis diversion programmes in the Buffalo City Metropolitan and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province. Underpinned by the Empowerment and Social Control Theories, the study adopted a qualitative research paradigm and used focus group discussions and in-depth interviews amongst thirty-five young offenders and five social workers, who work as probation officers at NICRO, to collect data, which was analysed using thematic analysis. The major findings indicated that diversion programmes are effective in reducing the number of children who commit crimes in these two municipalities and in influencing their behavioural change, resulting in fewer chances of re-offending. The Life Skills Programme was identified as the most effective programme, in comparison to the other programmes, such as the Community pre-trial Service Programme, in changing the behaviour of the young offenders, as it helps them to discover themselves; learn respect for the self and others in the community; help with family and community reintegration; and helps them focus on who they want to be in the future. In spite of such positive attributes for the diversion programmes, the study observed that there are challenges being faced by the implementing organisation, NICRO. These include high caseloads; lack of support from the probation officers who refer young offenders; limited support from parents; paucity of financial resources; lack of transport; poor v coordination from the courts; and delays in the implementation of some accredited but not credited programmes. Overall, the study concluded that diversion programmes in the Buffalo city Metropolitan and Amathole district municipalities in the Eastern Cape suffer due to weak partnerships between different organisations and stakeholders that are supposed to complement the efforts of the judiciary. From the research findings above, it is recommended that the Child Justice System should promote a multi-sectored approach in order to restore and reunify all the stakeholders, working with children in conflict with the law. This adds more roles and responsibilities for the various stakeholders, such as the Department of Justice and Department of Social development. Furthermore, there is a need to increase the monitoring and evaluation of diversion programmes to advance accountability and improve effectiveness; and there is a need to enhance the efficiency of accrediting authorities to timeously accredit other diversion programmes that, so far, have not yet been accredited, but may be useful in empowering young offenders. Therefore, the study proposes an extension of the framework with additions of strategies to support diversion programmes at NICRO, through a stakeholder extension to the model allocating more roles and responsibilities for stakeholders in the Child Justice system, in order for diversion programmes to effectively achieve desired goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The perceptions of Government Social Protection Programmes in mitigating the challenges faced by street children in Harare Metropolitan Province in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Gunhidzirai, Constance
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Poverty Alleviation Street children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17998 , vital:42002
- Description: This study was aimed at examining the perceptions of Government Social Protection Programmes in mitigating the challenges faced by street children in Harare Metropolitan Province in Zimbabwe. The study was based on the pragmatism paradigm that triangulated both quantitative and qualitative research methods of collecting data. A questionnaire survey was administered to 202 street children while 32 heads of households were involved in focus group discussions and four Social Workers took part in semi-structured interviews. Drawing from the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), Psychoanalysis Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (EST) that guided the study, the findings revealed that street children experienced economic, social, physical and psychological challenges that hindered their attainment of full growth and development. Findings further revealed that street children adopted various coping strategies to mitigate the challenges they encountered in the streets to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, not all Government Social Protection Programmes were effective in addressing the plights of street children. This was due to inadequate funds, corruption and discriminatory criteria for selection of beneficiaries. These impediments hindered the provision of comprehensive social welfare services to street children, which led street children to adopt various coping strategies to mitigate the challenges they encountered in their efforts to ensure sustainability. The study concludes that Government Social Protection Programmes (GSPPs) such as Basic Education Assistance Module, Child Adoption, Institutional Care, National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Free vii Treatment Order and Harmonized Cash Transfer are not entirely addressing the challenges facing street children in Harare Metropolitan Province. This is because of the criteria used to select street children, which systematically excludes them from benefitting, resulting in extended impoverishment and vulnerability. The study further recommends that the government of Zimbabwe provide productive safety nets and sponsor self-help projects to empower vulnerable households, and source out additional resources such as human resource and finance for Social Protection Programmes from Non-Government Organisations, private companies
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Gunhidzirai, Constance
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Poverty Alleviation Street children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17998 , vital:42002
- Description: This study was aimed at examining the perceptions of Government Social Protection Programmes in mitigating the challenges faced by street children in Harare Metropolitan Province in Zimbabwe. The study was based on the pragmatism paradigm that triangulated both quantitative and qualitative research methods of collecting data. A questionnaire survey was administered to 202 street children while 32 heads of households were involved in focus group discussions and four Social Workers took part in semi-structured interviews. Drawing from the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), Psychoanalysis Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (EST) that guided the study, the findings revealed that street children experienced economic, social, physical and psychological challenges that hindered their attainment of full growth and development. Findings further revealed that street children adopted various coping strategies to mitigate the challenges they encountered in the streets to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, not all Government Social Protection Programmes were effective in addressing the plights of street children. This was due to inadequate funds, corruption and discriminatory criteria for selection of beneficiaries. These impediments hindered the provision of comprehensive social welfare services to street children, which led street children to adopt various coping strategies to mitigate the challenges they encountered in their efforts to ensure sustainability. The study concludes that Government Social Protection Programmes (GSPPs) such as Basic Education Assistance Module, Child Adoption, Institutional Care, National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Free vii Treatment Order and Harmonized Cash Transfer are not entirely addressing the challenges facing street children in Harare Metropolitan Province. This is because of the criteria used to select street children, which systematically excludes them from benefitting, resulting in extended impoverishment and vulnerability. The study further recommends that the government of Zimbabwe provide productive safety nets and sponsor self-help projects to empower vulnerable households, and source out additional resources such as human resource and finance for Social Protection Programmes from Non-Government Organisations, private companies
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Youth and Gang Violence in South Africa: An Intended or Unintended Outcome of Institutional Systems
- Ndhlovu, Gretchen Nokukhanya
- Authors: Ndhlovu, Gretchen Nokukhanya
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Gangs Juvenile delinquency Youth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18041 , vital:42009
- Description: The issue of youth and gang violence in South Africa is not just an issue of crime, neither is it an issue of a violent and lost generation. It is about the struggle to have a normal life, a struggle for inclusion in mainstream society. Gang violence is, therefore, a result of the way in which essential institutional systems operate in the country, it is a social ill caused by weak and skewed institutional systems, which manifest in unequal access to resources and rights and the African youth of South Africa have been hardest hit. The focus of this study was to explore the intricate link between gang violence and institutional systems. The study specifically sought to examine how four specific institutional systems (the availability and management of resources, organisation of work and production, distribution of rights and responsibilities and processes of governance) have intentionally or unintentionally contributed to the escalation of gang violence in the country. The theoretical frameworks adopted are the social exclusion theory and the unanticipated consequences of purposive social action theory. The study was conducted in the African townships of Bophelong in Gauteng and Nyanga in the Western Cape. It adopted an exploratory qualitative approach for its ability to offer the researcher a platform to explore the experiences of both the youth and informants in detail. Data was collected through focus group discussions and faceto-face interviews. Tesch’s (1990) method of data analysis was used because of its explorative nature suitable for capturing qualitative data. Findings show that the issue of youth and gang violence in marginalised African communities is a social problem perpetuated by institutional systems. It was learned that institutional role players have neither developed nor sustained systems for the creation or management of resources used by marginalised township (ekasi) people vii for development, growth, empowerment and recreation. From the findings, it was learned that while other people in the country are going through various development challenges, young African township (ekasi) people are going through a crisis. Consequently, gangs have stepped in to serve as role players, filling the role that government and civil society is supposed to fill. Findings also show that youth are excluded from the socio-economic activities of the country and are pushed into the illicit economy. Overall, it was found that the socio-economic context, which the African youth in Bophelong and Nyanga found themselves in, is dire, further pushing them into a life of crime in order to meet their needs as well as those of their families. It was found that the structurally violent institutional systems have consequently given birth to a violent society. Therefore, youth gangs are an outcome of these violent institutional systems. The study concludes that the issue of youth and gang violence is both an intended and unintended outcome of institutional systems. It established that the quality of life of young people is affected by processes concerning the management of resources, organisation of work and production, distribution of rights and responsibilities as well as processes of governance. The study recommends that due to the multifaceted and complex nature of youth and gangs in African townships like Bophelong and Nyanga, priority should be placed on basic human needs and realities. This entails poverty eradication, creating employment/production opportunities, equal distribution of rights, good governance as well as effective and efficient management of resources that youth need and use for development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ndhlovu, Gretchen Nokukhanya
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Gangs Juvenile delinquency Youth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18041 , vital:42009
- Description: The issue of youth and gang violence in South Africa is not just an issue of crime, neither is it an issue of a violent and lost generation. It is about the struggle to have a normal life, a struggle for inclusion in mainstream society. Gang violence is, therefore, a result of the way in which essential institutional systems operate in the country, it is a social ill caused by weak and skewed institutional systems, which manifest in unequal access to resources and rights and the African youth of South Africa have been hardest hit. The focus of this study was to explore the intricate link between gang violence and institutional systems. The study specifically sought to examine how four specific institutional systems (the availability and management of resources, organisation of work and production, distribution of rights and responsibilities and processes of governance) have intentionally or unintentionally contributed to the escalation of gang violence in the country. The theoretical frameworks adopted are the social exclusion theory and the unanticipated consequences of purposive social action theory. The study was conducted in the African townships of Bophelong in Gauteng and Nyanga in the Western Cape. It adopted an exploratory qualitative approach for its ability to offer the researcher a platform to explore the experiences of both the youth and informants in detail. Data was collected through focus group discussions and faceto-face interviews. Tesch’s (1990) method of data analysis was used because of its explorative nature suitable for capturing qualitative data. Findings show that the issue of youth and gang violence in marginalised African communities is a social problem perpetuated by institutional systems. It was learned that institutional role players have neither developed nor sustained systems for the creation or management of resources used by marginalised township (ekasi) people vii for development, growth, empowerment and recreation. From the findings, it was learned that while other people in the country are going through various development challenges, young African township (ekasi) people are going through a crisis. Consequently, gangs have stepped in to serve as role players, filling the role that government and civil society is supposed to fill. Findings also show that youth are excluded from the socio-economic activities of the country and are pushed into the illicit economy. Overall, it was found that the socio-economic context, which the African youth in Bophelong and Nyanga found themselves in, is dire, further pushing them into a life of crime in order to meet their needs as well as those of their families. It was found that the structurally violent institutional systems have consequently given birth to a violent society. Therefore, youth gangs are an outcome of these violent institutional systems. The study concludes that the issue of youth and gang violence is both an intended and unintended outcome of institutional systems. It established that the quality of life of young people is affected by processes concerning the management of resources, organisation of work and production, distribution of rights and responsibilities as well as processes of governance. The study recommends that due to the multifaceted and complex nature of youth and gangs in African townships like Bophelong and Nyanga, priority should be placed on basic human needs and realities. This entails poverty eradication, creating employment/production opportunities, equal distribution of rights, good governance as well as effective and efficient management of resources that youth need and use for development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Determinants of psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children in South-Western Nigeria
- Authors: Oyeleke, Isaac Ajiboye
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: vital:11767 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015356
- Description: Informal caregiving denotes care that is provided by a family member or friend rather than by a professional who is reimbursed for services. Assuming a caregiving role can be stressful and burdensome. The effects of caregiving on the caregiver's health are moderated by individual differences in resources and vulnerabilities, such as socioeconomic status, prior health status, and level of social support. This work describes the determinant of psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children in southwest of Nigeria. This study is guided theoretically by Ryff”s psychosocial well-being theory, The study adopted expo facto research design. Multistage samplings involving the use of random and purposive techniques were used to select 812 respondents who are informal caregivers. Social support questionnaire, Social support satisfaction level, Ryff’s psychological well-being scale were used. Findings indicated that social support predicted psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children. Social support and satisfaction level combine together have impact on psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children. More also, socio-economic factors such as occupation, educational level and income also predict psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers. Finally, marital status and gender also contribute to well-being of caregivers. It was therefore, recommended that social inclusion should be pursued with de-institutionalization of children with disability. Parents of children with disability should be encouraged to form support group and as well as encouraging fathers of children with disability to take an active part in ensuring their children with disability well-being. More also, there is need to empower informal caregivers through training and education. More importantly governments at the three levels ( Federal, State and local) should assist caregivers at ensuring their own and that of their children with disability well-being through improvement on various existing social welfare services in the country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Oyeleke, Isaac Ajiboye
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: vital:11767 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015356
- Description: Informal caregiving denotes care that is provided by a family member or friend rather than by a professional who is reimbursed for services. Assuming a caregiving role can be stressful and burdensome. The effects of caregiving on the caregiver's health are moderated by individual differences in resources and vulnerabilities, such as socioeconomic status, prior health status, and level of social support. This work describes the determinant of psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children in southwest of Nigeria. This study is guided theoretically by Ryff”s psychosocial well-being theory, The study adopted expo facto research design. Multistage samplings involving the use of random and purposive techniques were used to select 812 respondents who are informal caregivers. Social support questionnaire, Social support satisfaction level, Ryff’s psychological well-being scale were used. Findings indicated that social support predicted psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children. Social support and satisfaction level combine together have impact on psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers of physically challenged children. More also, socio-economic factors such as occupation, educational level and income also predict psycho-social well-being of informal caregivers. Finally, marital status and gender also contribute to well-being of caregivers. It was therefore, recommended that social inclusion should be pursued with de-institutionalization of children with disability. Parents of children with disability should be encouraged to form support group and as well as encouraging fathers of children with disability to take an active part in ensuring their children with disability well-being. More also, there is need to empower informal caregivers through training and education. More importantly governments at the three levels ( Federal, State and local) should assist caregivers at ensuring their own and that of their children with disability well-being through improvement on various existing social welfare services in the country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
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