This study was undertaken to explore the barriers to the sustainability of the spaza shops in Atteridgeville (wards, 51, 62, 63, 68, 71 and 72) and to identify the support strategies necessary to assist these shops to grow into sustainable businesses. The study was motivated by the role and contributions of these stores in creating jobs for the majority of the previously disadvantaged people, particularly in the black township areas of South Africa. The study was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain data from 18 spaza shop owners. The findings from the research indicated the following barriers to be responsible for the failure of the spaza shops: lack of financial support, lack of business management skills, expensive transportation, limited trading space, crime, negative competition among spaza shop owners, and lack of cooperatives among spaza shop owners. The study recommends that spaza shop owners should ensure that they have enough savings before embarking on business and that they should also attend training in business management to equip themselves. Spaza shop owners also need to establish collaborative ventures among themselves to enable them to voice their concerns as a collective, rather than as individuals. Government, in partnership with private sector, should improve the effectiveness of its support strategies, for example by assisting spaza shops in forming cooperatives and facilitating training in business skills. It is also recommended that the government, through the Department of Trade and Industry, should continue to find out better ways to aid these stores financially. It is the researcher’s opinion that if these recommendations are followed, they could lead to the success of these stores. / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)

This study was undertaken to explore the barriers to the sustainability of the spaza shops in Atteridgeville (wards, 51, 62, 63, 68, 71 and 72) and to identify the support strategies necessary to assist these shops to grow into sustainable businesses. The study was motivated by the role and contributions of these stores in creating jobs for the majority of the previously disadvantaged people, particularly in the black township areas of South Africa. The study was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain data from 18 spaza shop owners. The findings from the research indicated the following barriers to be responsible for the failure of the spaza shops: lack of financial support, lack of business management skills, expensive transportation, limited trading space, crime, negative competition among spaza shop owners, and lack of cooperatives among spaza shop owners. The study recommends that spaza shop owners should ensure that they have enough savings before embarking on business and that they should also attend training in business management to equip themselves. Spaza shop owners also need to establish collaborative ventures among themselves to enable them to voice their concerns as a collective, rather than as individuals. Government, in partnership with private sector, should improve the effectiveness of its support strategies, for example by assisting spaza shops in forming cooperatives and facilitating training in business skills. It is also recommended that the government, through the Department of Trade and Industry, should continue to find out better ways to aid these stores financially. It is the researcher’s opinion that if these recommendations are followed, they could lead to the success of these stores. / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of community participation employed by the City of Tshwane in the implementation of the Indigent Exit Strategy (IES) as a poverty alleviation measure in Olievenhoutbosch. A total of twenty two respondents participated in the research. The first group was ten beneficiaries and the second was ten that was exited from the database. Lastly, two Social Workers coordinating the programme were interviewed as well. The research findings reflect that the IES was not sufficiently rolled out as outlined in the policy and strategy. Capacity building and skills development, assistance to emerging entrepreneurships and other forms of economic development support did not reach out to the broader community as outlined in the IES. The study recommends that: the Indigent Exit Strategy interventions should be made accessible to the registered indigent households so that they can clearly know what is expected of them. / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of community participation employed by the City of Tshwane in the implementation of the Indigent Exit Strategy (IES) as a poverty alleviation measure in Olievenhoutbosch. A total of twenty two respondents participated in the research. The first group was ten beneficiaries and the second was ten that was exited from the database. Lastly, two Social Workers coordinating the programme were interviewed as well. The research findings reflect that the IES was not sufficiently rolled out as outlined in the policy and strategy. Capacity building and skills development, assistance to emerging entrepreneurships and other forms of economic development support did not reach out to the broader community as outlined in the IES. The study recommends that: the Indigent Exit Strategy interventions should be made accessible to the registered indigent households so that they can clearly know what is expected of them. / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)

The roles of non-profit organisations in South Africa have evolved, leaving these organisations with an increased role to play in service delivery and community development. The purpose of the current research was to assess the effectiveness of non-profit organisations in the City of Tshwane to render services to communities by evaluating the Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Livelihood Programme for the period of 2015 to 2018. This research adopted a qualitative approach. Purposive sampling was used to identify participants in the study according to time in the programme and the number of years non-profit organisations have been receiving funding from government. Using semistructured interviews and document analysis, this study found that, despite the efforts of the Gauteng Department of Social Development to decentralise services, poverty levels in South African communities remain high. This study further found that, although national, provincial and local poverty alleviation or sustainable livelihood programmes have been established, these programmes have been insufficient in making an impact in job placements and poorly reflect poverty reduction challenging communities. While non-profit organisations still face a plethora of challenges with regard to limited funding, capacity challenges and a lack of meaningful training and support, these organisations have however shown to be effective in achieving poverty alleviation in terms of the Sustainable Livelihood Programme outcomes in addition to meeting the needs of the poor. This success has been achieved through the offering of skills development programmes to the youth, implementing government food security interventions, fostering entrepreneurship skills, and promoting access to information on social development opportunities in communities. This study recommends that, for government to see considerable results and a change in the fight against poverty alleviation, there is a need to establish one national and uniform poverty alleviation programme that could be implemented across all spheres of government. In addition, this study concluded that, in strengthening the usefulness of non-profit organisations, there is a need to extend the current role played by the NPO Directorate, not only where staff capacity is concerned but also to introduce a functional model for managing the funding of all NPOs in South Africa. / Public Administration and Management / M. Admin (Public Adminitration)