Summary in Afrikaans and English / Although the rights of children in South Africa are being regulated by legislation, statistics prove that statutory services on behalf of children annually increase. Scientific accountable information regarding the child can be obtained by the assessment of the child. The purpose of this investigation was to identify the gaps in the existing assessment guidelines, as well as the needs of social workers regarding assessments. The sequential exploratory strategy was utilized, as quantitative data supported qualitative findings. The investigation showed that minimal assessment literature is available in South Africa and internationally, although assessment is the basis evidence of the social worker. The biggest gap in assessment guidelines is that assessment does not carry weight in the court. There is a need for social workers to be trained in relevant assessment skills based on a specific frame of reference. Gestalt therapy can provide a suitable theoretical frame of reference for assessment, and can serve as scientific foundation for social workers during the statutory process. A framework for an assessment guideline was thus proposed. / Ten spyte daarvan dat die regte van kinders in Suid-Afrika deur wette gereguleer word, bewys statistiek dat statutere dienste aan kinders jaarliks toeneem. Wetenskaplik verantwoordbare inligting ten opsigte van die kind kan bekom word deur die kind te assesseer. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om leemtes wat in bestaande assesseringsriglyne is vas te stel, asook die behoeftes wat by maatskaplike werkers ten opsigte van assessering bestaan. Die opeenvolgende verkennende strategie is tydens hierdie ondersoek gevolg, aangesien kwantitatiewe data gebruik is om die kwalitatiewe bevindings te ondersteun. Die ondersoek het getoon dat min literatuur ten opsigte van assessering in Suid-Afrika en internasionaal beskikbaar is, ten spyte daarvan dat assessering die basis van die getuienis van die maatskaplike werker vorm. Die grootste leemte wat in assesseringsriglyne ge'identifiseer is, is die feit dat assessering nie gewig in die hof dra nie. 'n Behoefte ten opsigte van opleiding in toepaslike assesseringsvaardighede vanuit 'n spesifieke teoretiese verwysingsraamwerk bestaan. Gestaltterapie kan 'n teoretiese verwysingsraamwerk vir assessering bied en kan dien as wetenskaplike fundering vir optrede van maatskaplike werkers tydens die statutere proses. 'n Raamwerk vir 'n assesseringsriglyn is voorgestel. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Education is since the inception of the world regarded as the formal process by which society conveys its accumulated knowledge, skills, customs and values from one generation to another. Today, education is a human right and the right to education and specifically the right to (a) basic education is acknowledged and emphasised worldwide. In South Africa, the right to a basic education is entrenched in the Constitution and is regarded as one of the most crucial constitutional rights, particularly because it promotes economical and social well-being. The protection of a child’s right to a basic education in terms of the South African Constitution together with the most important international instruments pertaining to education will be extensively discussed and the most important similarities and differences between, and challenges in the legal systems of South Africa, New Zealand and Namibia regarding a child’s right to (a) basic education will be addressed with due consideration of factors such as early childhood development and education, mother tongue education and HIV/AIDS which may affect a child’s right to (a) basic education. It is submitted that the success of any country, whether it is social, financial or economic success, depends on how its citizens are educated. Moreover, a good education system is crucial, not only for ensuring that its populace are well educated, but also for optimal human development and for the maintenance and preservation of socially responsive economic and political systems. Education is a life-long process and in order to give effect to the right to (a) basic education, the adoption and implementation of the recommendations made throughout this study are proposed. / Private Law / LL. D.

Text in Afrikaans / Globally divorce is an increasing phenomenon. If not handled correctly it may be significantly destructive for the people involved. The new Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005 regards the best interests of the child paramount in all matters concerning the care, protection and well-being of a child. It underpins the importance of the full, or specific parental responsibilities of parents, the importance of a conciliatory and non-confrontational approach to the settlement of child-centred disputes. It also mandates that the child has the right to participate in an appropriate way in any matter concerning that child and that his views must be given due consideration. Further Act 38 of 2005, provides for parenting plans to be agreed upon determining the exercise of their respective responsibilities and rights. The goal of this research was to explore, develop and implement a process of family mediation with reference to Act 38 of 2005. Five families affected by divorce and their children were selected as case studies for qualitative research. Applied research was done within the context of intervention research and the first four phases of Rothman and Thomas’ Intervention Research model was used. Problems caused by divorce were identified and the goal was to address the best interests of the child by improving the co-parenting relationship, parent-child relationships and the quality of parenting. Information gathering and synthesis took place by using existing information sources, studying natural examples and identifying functional elements of successful models.An observational system was designed. It included the natural observing of the five case studies, specific procedural elements and intervention. The design criteria were applied to the preliminary intervention concept. / Social Work / D.Diac. (Spelterapie-Rigting)

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: All children should be regarded and treated with dignity. Children’s rights have been established in the international community as well as in South African society to address any violations of children’s rights and any detrimental influence this can have on them. The responsibility of ensuring that the rights of children are implemented, respected and protected in civil society lies primarily with the national government. Nevertheless, the struggle to realise children’s rights extends across all sectors and levels of society. As part of the theological task of developing a publicly orientated ministry that will address the social circumstances of children in South Africa in a just way, this study took as its point of departure the contribution that Practical Theology can make towards a systematic and critical interpretation of the cause of children and their welfare and rights. At the time that the study was launched there was limited comprehensive analysis of the subject of children in Practical Theology that devoted attention to a theological response to the promotion of children’s welfare and rights in South African society. Two lacunae in the theorising on children were identified in South African academic studies in Practical Theology: (i) a lack of focus on children and their rights, and (ii) a general absence of strategic perspectives on how the theological community can deal with the contextual realities of children in South African society. The primary aim of this study was to develop a theoretical framework in terms of which the contribution of Practical Theology could be conceptualised as a discourse and practice that could promote the cause of children and their welfare and rights. David Tracy’s three publics of theological involvement (the academy, the church and civil society) and Richard Osmer’s conceptualisation of the four modes of practical theological interpretation (empiricaldescriptive, interpretive, normative and pragmatic) were harnessed in an interdisciplinary way to develop a deeper understanding of the welfare of children and the importance of a practical theological approach to advancement of children’s welfare and rights. On the basis of Tracy’s and Osmer’s conceptual frameworks, a number of conditions were identified to promote the cause of children, child welfare and children’s rights in the discipline of Practical Theology in Schools of Theology and Religion. These conditions include a third public mode of practical theological interpretation being adopted, a culture of adultism being confronted and transformed, and children’s acts of faith becoming an integral part of the field of Practical Theology. On the basis of an empirical investigation among registered members of the Society for Practical Theology in South Africa, the study comes to the conclusion that the academic field of Practical Theology, in its interaction with communities and civil society, can make a unique contribution to the advancement of children’s rights. The fundamental contribution of the academic field of Practical Theology to the advancement of children’s rights in South Africa recide in focussing on the inclusion of the cause of children in theological interpretation; by implication this will entail actively countering the exclusion of children in theological discourse and praxis in the field of Practical Theology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alle kinders verdien om ooreenkomstig hul menswaardigheid beskou en hanteer te word. Kinderregte is deur die internasionale sowel as die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap as respons daargestel om sake wat kinders se menswaardigheid aantas en hulle nadelig beïnvloed teen te werk. Die verantwoordelikheid om seker te maak dat die regte van kinders in die burgerlike samelewing gerespekteer, beskerm en verwesenlik word, lê primêr by die nasionale regering. Nietemin strek die stryd om kinderregte te laat realiseer oor alle sektore en vlakke van die samelewing heen. As deel van die teologiese taak om ’n publiek georiënteerde bediening te ontwikkel wat reg sal laat geskied aan die sosiale omstandighede van kinders in Suid-Afrika, het hierdie studie die bydrae wat Praktiese Teologie tot ’n sistematiese en kritiese interpretasie van die saak van kinders en hul welsyn en regte kan maak as vertrekpunt geneem. Met die aanvang van die studie het beperkte omvattende akademiese analise oor die onderwerp van kinders in Praktiese Teologie en Teologie as sodanig bestaan waarin aandag gegee is aan ’n teologiese respons op die bevordering van kinders se welsyn en hul regte in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing. Twee gapings in die teoretisering oor kinders in die Suid- Afrikaanse akademie van Praktiese Teologie is geïdentifiseer: (i) ’n gebrek aan fokus op kinders en hul regte en (ii) grootlikse afwesigheid van strategiese perspektiewe oor hoe die teologiese gemeenskap die kontekstuele realiteite van kinders in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing kan hanteer. Die doel van hierdie studie was primêr om ’n teoretiese raamwerk te ontwikkel in terme waarvan die bydrae van Praktiese Teologie tot ’n diskoers en praktyk wat vir kinders en hul welsyn en regte bevorderlik is, gekonseptualiseer kon word. David Tracy se drie publieke van teologiese betrokkenheid (akademie, kerk en burgerlike samelewing) asook Richard Osmer se konseptualisering van die vier take waarvolgens prakties-teologiese interpretasie kan geskied (empiries-beskrywend, interpreterend, normatief en pragmaties) is ingespan om op ’n interdissiplinêre wyse verdiepte begrip vir die welsyn van kinders en die belang van ’n prakties-teologiese bydrae tot die promovering van kinders se welsyn en regte te ontwikkel. Daar is aan die hand van die konseptuele raamwerke van Tracy en Osmer bepaalde voorwaardes geïdentifiseer waaronder die saak van kinders, kinderwelsyn en kinderregte in die beoefening van Praktiese Teologie aan Skole van Teologie en Godsdiens bevorder kan word. Hierdie voorwaardes sluit in dat ’n derde publiek-modus van prakties-teologiese interpretasie aangeneem word, ’n kultuur van adultism gekonfronteer en getransformeer word en kinders se geloofshandelinge geïntegreerd deel van die studieveld van Praktiese Teologie uitmaak. Op grond van ’n empiriese ondersoek onder geregistreerde lede van die Werkgemeenskap vir Praktiese Teologie in Suid-Afrika het die studie tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die akademie van Praktiese Teologie in interaksie met gemeentes en die burgerlike samelewing ’n unieke bydrae tot die bevordering van kinderregte kan lewer. Die akademie van Praktiese Teologie se fundamentele bydrae tot die promovering van kinderregte in Suid-Afrika bestaan daarin om te fokus op die insluiting van die saak van kinders in teologiese interpretasie; by implikasie sal dit behels dat Praktiese Teologie kinders se uitsluiting in teologiese diskoers en praxis aktief teëwerk.

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The changes in child and youth care policies over the last fifteen years have had profound consequences for the staff at Youth Care and Education Centres (hereafter referred to as YCECs). These changes included systemic changes, philosophical changes, and changes in the way services are rendered to children and youth in their care. It was thus expected of team members to not only change their behaviours but to also make mind shifts. The mandates were that they move from working in silos (educators, residential educators and support team) to working in teams; from rendering generic services to developing individualised plans for children and youth; from following a medical (deficit) approach in service delivery to following a strength based- and developmental approach. Whereas a punitive approach to discipline was followed in the past staff members now have to follow a restorative approach. In addition, the emphasis on children’s rights, in general, and the abolishment of corporal punishment, in particular, brought about changes in the nature of the adultchild relationship. It was required of the team members to learn to use alternatives to this form of punishment. The study explored how the members of the institutional level teams at the four YCECs in the Western Cape were experiencing the implementation of changed child and youth policies. A combined quantitative and qualitative research methodology was followed in obtaining the data from the residential educators, as well as the educators and the support team members comprising of psychologists, school social workers, occupational therapists, and school nurses. The points of departure were the organisational learning model and the phases of team development. Findings derived from the empirical study were that the difference between the way the participants embraced and implemented changed policies and legislation had much to do with the guidance that the principal and senior management provided for them. Where the principal set the tone and conveyed the message that the implementation of the policies were not negotiable and gave staff members the opportunity to thoroughly discuss these changes, they eventually shared the underlying principles of the changed policies. Where the principal provided direction, support and encouragement for the implementation of the changed policies the participants felt secure and empowered. Where this support was not present participants felt uncertain and to some extent let down. When a shared vision was articulated to them the participants were able to align their personal visions thereto, which further led to a greater understanding of their roles within the team. Where participants, however, were not clear on the shared vision they seemed to struggle with role division and status and power issues. When team members were left to their own devices a measure of personal mastery still took place due to the commitment of individuals but team learning was either limited or virtually nonexistent. Systems thinking remained a challenge due to the forming of subgroups within the YCEC and the limited or nonexistent services rendered by external social workers to the families of the children and youth. The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that provision must be made for frameworks for the implementation of changes in policy and guidelines for team processes. To ensure that new staff is informed about the policies that guide their services an orientation programme must be in place. Training for principals in effective introduction and implementation of change should also be provided. To ascertain what the staff complement should be to effectively implement changes in the policies, a work-study and a fast track pilot project should be conducted. From this, job descriptions should be developed that make provision for the incumbent’s role within the team. Consideration should also be given to the incentive system that currently only makes provision for individual performance and could hamper teamwork. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die veranderinge in kinder- en jeugsorgbeleide oor die laaste vyftien jaar het diepgaande gevolge ingehou vir personeel by Jeugsorg- en Onderwyssentrums (hierna verwys as JSOS). Hierdie veranderinge het sistemiese en filosofiese veranderings, asook verandering in die wyse waarop dienste gelewer word, aan kinders en jeug in hul sorg, meegebring. Dit word dus van die spanlede verwag om nie net hul gedrag nie, maar ook hul denkwyse te verander. Die mandate vervat in die beleide is dat personeel skuif van werk in silos (opvoeders, residensiële opvoeders en ondersteuningspan) na werk in spanne; van die lewer van generiese dienste tot die ontwikkeling van individuale planne vir kinders en jeug; van die volg van ‘n mediese benadering aangaande dienslewering tot ‘n sterkte-gebaseerde- en ontwikkelingsbenadering. Waar daar in die verlede ‘n strafgerigte benadering gevolg is moet daar nou beweeg word na ‘n helende benadering. Verder het die klem op kinderregte in die algemeen, en die afskaf van lyfstraf in besonder, veranderings meegebring in die aard van die volwasse-kind verhouding. Dit was verwag van die spanlede om te leer om alternatiewes tot die vorm van straf aan te leer. Die studie het ondersoek ingestel na hoe lede van die inrigtingsgebaseerde span by die vier JSOS in die Weskaap die implementering van veranderde kinder- en jeugbeleid ervaar. ‘n Gekombineerde kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiwe navorsing metodologie was gevolg in die insamel van data van die residensiële opvoeders, die opvoeders en die lede van die ondersteuningspan (sielkundiges, skool maatskaplike werkers, arbeidsterapeute en skool verpleegkundiges). Die vertrekpunt was the organisasieleer model en die fases van spanontwikkeling. Bevindings wat gemaak is uit die empiriese studie was dat die verskille tussen die wyse waarop die deelnemers die veranderde beleid aanvaar en implementeer het baie te doen gehad het met die mate van leiding wat die prinsipaal en senior bestuur vir hul gegee het. Waar die prinsipaal die toon aangegee het en die boodskap oorgedra het dat die implementering van die beleide nie onderhandelbaar was nie en personeellede die geleentheid gebied is om die veranderings deeglik te bespreek, het hul geleidelik ingekoop in die veranderde werkswyses. Waar die prinsipaal rigting en ondersteuning vir die implementering van die veranderde beleid gebied het, het die deelnemers veilig en bemagtig gevoel. Waar die ondersteuning egter ontbreek het, het die deelnemers onseker en, tot ’n mate, in die steek gelaat gevoel. Wanneer ‘n gedeelde visie oorgedra is aan hulle was die deelnemers in staat om hul persoonlike visies in lyn te bring daarmee. Dit het verder aanleiding gegee tot beter begrip vir hul rolle binne die span. Waar deelnemers egter nie duidelik was oor die gedeelde visie nie, het dit geblyk dat hulle probleme gehad het met rolverdeling, status en magaangeleenthede in die span. Wanneer spanlede oorgelaat is aan hul eie lot het ‘n mate van persoonlike bemeestering nog plaasgevind as gevolg van die persoonlike toewyding van individue, maar spanleer was óf beperk óf feitlik afwesig. Sisteem denke was steeds ‘n struikelblok as gevolg van die vorming van subgroepe binne die JSOS en die beperkte of afwesige dienslewering deur eksterne maatskaplike wekers aan gesinne van die kinders en jong mense. Die belangrikste aanbevelings, wat voortspruit uit die studie, dui aan dat voorsiening gemaak moet word vir raamwerke vir die implementering van beleidsveranderings en riglyne vir spanprosesse. Om te verseker dat nuwe personeel ingelig is omtrent die beleide wat hul dienslewering rig moet ‘n oriënteringsprogram in plek wees. Opleiding van prinsipale in die effektiewe bekendstelling en implementering van veranderings moet ook voorsien word. Om vas te stel wat die aanvulling vir personeel moet wees om die veranderings in die beleid te implementeer, behoort ‘n werkstudie en ‘n snel loodsprojek onderneem word. Hieruit kan pligstate opgestel word wat voorsiening maak vir die ampsdraer se rol in spanverband. Oorweging moet geskenk word aan die aansporingstelsel wat tans net voorsiening maak vir individuele werksverrigting en wat spanwerk kan strem.

Thesis (LLD (Private Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 1998. / 490 leaves double sided printed, preliminary pages and numbered pages 1-469. Includes bibliography. Digitised using a HP Scanjet 8250 Scanner to pdf format (OCR). / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis investigates the effect of the recognition of the rights of the child on the parent-child relationship in private law. Rights of the child seem, on the face of it, to undermine parental authority and family values. The impression is created that the state is abdicating its role as protector of the child in favour of unfettered freedom of the child. The delicate balance between individual freedom and family autonomy may in the result also be under threat. It was, therefore, necessary to extend the investigation to include the role of parents and that of the state. The study is divided into three parts. The first contains a theoretical analysis of the concept rights of the child. It is clear that the concept is a manifestation of fundamental human rights. The rights of the child are unique in nature and accommodate the changing phases of dependence and developing abilities of the child. Theoretical analysis negates the perception that the recognition of the rights of the child contributes to erosion of the family: the importance of the commitment of parents and of the state is apparent. The second part consists of a comprehensive review of the parent-child relationship in the South African private law, and an analysis of the public law dimension of the concept rights of the child. This part of the investigation demonstrates that parental authority is firmly rooted in legal history and that substantive private law does not recognise the child as bearer of rights within the context of the family. However, the Bill of Rights and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child unequivocally give public law status to the child as bearer of rights. The study shows that the private and public law status of a child cannot be isolated from one another and that adaptations will have to be made to implement the rights of the child. In the third part of the study an attempt is made to identify the kind of adaptation that must be made. The impact of the idea of the rights of the child upon the parent-child relationship in private law is investigated. Australian and Scottish law are examples of legal systems which endeavour to implement fully the concept of the rights of the child. Indigenous law places a high value on human dignity. The interaction between rights and duties in indigenous systems reflect values which are inherent in the idea of the rights of the child. The study shows that the impact of the rights of the child on the parent-child relationship is such that change and adaptation of private law is necessary. Change and adaptation are required at both theoretical and practical level. A number of obstacles which may inhibit the process of change are identified. Finally, the kind of change and adaptation required is illustrated by a number of practical examples of the impact ofchange on the parent-child relationship. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word in hierdie proefskrif gepoog om te bepaal wat die effek van die erkenning van kinderregte op die ouer-kind verhouding in die privaatreg is. Kinderregte skep op die oog af die persepsie dat ouerlike gesag en gesinswaardes onderrnyn word en dat die staat sy rol as beskerrner van 'n kind abdikeer ten gunste van onbeperkte vryhede aan 'n kind. Die delikate balans tussen individuele vryhede en gesinsoutonomie is in gedrang en op hierdie wyse word die rol van ouers en die staat ook by die ondersoek betrek. Die studie behels 'n drieledige ondersoek. In die eerste plek vind 'n teoretiese ontleding van die begrip kinderregte plaas. Hierdie ondersoek toon aan dat kinderregte 'n verskyningsvorrn van fundamentele menseregte is. Kinderregte het 'n eiesoortige aard en akkommodeer die wisselende fases van afhanklikheid en ontwikkelende verrnoens van 'n kind. Die betrokkenheid van ouers en die staat word beklemtoon en die teoretiese uitgangspunt besweer gevolglik negatiewe persepsies dat die erkenning van kinderregte tot gesinsverbrokkeling sal meewerk. Die tweede deel van die ondersoek bestaan uit 'n volledige uiteensetting van die ouerkind verhouding in die Suid-Afrikaanse privaatreg en 'n ontleding van die publiekregtelike dimensie van die begrip kinderregte. Hierdie deel van die ondersoek bewys dat ouerlike gesag regshistories sterk fundeer is en dat die substantiewe privaatreg nie die kind as draer van regte binne gesinsverband erken nie. Daarteenoor verleen die Handves van Regte en die Verenigde Nasies se Konvensie op die Regte van die kind 1989 'n duidelike publiekregtelike status aan die kind as draer van regte. Die ondersoek toon aan dat die privaatregtelike en publiekregtelike status van 'n kind nie van mekaar gelsoleer kan word nie en dat aanpassings sal moet plaasvind ten einde kinderregte te implementeer. Die tipe aanpassings wat gemaak sal moet word, vloei voort uit die derde element van hierdie studie. Hierdie deeI van die studie behels 'n toepassing van die idee van kinderregte op die ouer-kind verhouding in die privaatreg. 'n Regsvergelykende element word betrek en die Australiese en Skotse reg word as modelle van 'n regstelsel voorgehou wat poog om kinderregte tot sy volle konsekwensies te implementeer. Vir doeleindes van interne regsvergelyking word daar ook na die inheemse reg verwys. Die hoe premie wat laasgenoemde regstelsel op menswaardigheid plaas en die wisselwerking tussen regte en verpligtinge verteenwoordig waardes wat eie aan die idee van kinderregte is. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die effek van kinderregte op die ouer-kind verhouding van sodanige omvang is dat aanpassings in die privaatreg sal moet plaasvind. Veranderings in regsdenke en formele aanpassings word vereis en 'n aantal struikelblokke wat deel van hierdie proses is, word uitgelig. Sekere praktiese implikasies vir die ouer-kind verhouding word ook voorgehou ten einde te illustreer wat die aard van die aanpassings is wat vereis word.

Thesis (LLM)--Macquarie University. Division of Law. / Bibliography: leaves 192-208. / Introduction -- The perceived problems and the new reforms -- The framework for children's matters in Australia -- Families and functions - regulating the Australian family -- Reorganising the gender hierarchy -- Men's movements, misconceptions and misidentifying the real issues -- Problems with "shared parenting": an ideal or a (rebuttable) presumption? -- Mediation not litigation -- Conclusion -- Bibliography. / In this thesis, I critically appraise the latest reforms of the Australian family law system and assess the underlying philosophy of these measures. I specifically analyse the introduction of shared parenting and mandatory family dispute resolution. My starting point is that legislative changes alone cannot be used as a means of social change. Legal models cannot function correctly if they reflect an ideal rather than social reality, and in light of the current reforms, the Australian family law system risks such a fate. The system, which presumes that parents share parental responsibility upon separation (and therefore during the intact family), does not represent social truth. It appears to make an assumption that shared parenting is the societal practice, but I believe the law is really being used to impose such an ideal. If the reforms are to be successful, I argue that substantial social and economic structural change is required, in order to break down the dichotomy between men's and women's roles, which continue to define the male role as economic and public and the female responsibility as care-giving and private. This is particularly important if the Government is genuine about its aim to make parenting gender neutral in practice and not just in theory. / The thesis demonstrates that the reform measures are a response to the perceived rather than real problems identified in the family law system, and that they are largely issues raised under the influence of fathers' rights groups. The response of the Government to remedy the system is therefore flawed as it is based on misconceived notions about the family law system. It incorrectly identifies judicial discretion as a fundamental cause of the problems and tries to replace it with a more rules-based approach to determining children's matters. I suggest that the real problems can be found in the continuance of deeply entrenched customs and gendered role constructions, and the remedies lie in their overhaul. The social culture that makes the mother the primary caregiver and allocates to the father diminished parental responsibility from the time the child is born needs to be transformed. A suitable legal response to the current impasse would be to begin by educating the public about the way the system works and provide counselling to families on how to structure their united life well before they reach the breakdown point. Assisting families while they are still functional, as opposed to when they are dysfunctional, would arguably make a large difference in how the family law system is understood. Moreover, it would be able to facilitate ongoing communication for separating couples and, most importantly, thereby uphold the best interests of the child. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / 208 leaves

Text in Afrikaans / Globally divorce is an increasing phenomenon. If not handled correctly it may be significantly destructive for the people involved. The new Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005 regards the best interests of the child paramount in all matters concerning the care, protection and well-being of a child. It underpins the importance of the full, or specific parental responsibilities of parents, the importance of a conciliatory and non-confrontational approach to the settlement of child-centred disputes. It also mandates that the child has the right to participate in an appropriate way in any matter concerning that child and that his views must be given due consideration. Further Act 38 of 2005, provides for parenting plans to be agreed upon determining the exercise of their respective responsibilities and rights. The goal of this research was to explore, develop and implement a process of family mediation with reference to Act 38 of 2005. Five families affected by divorce and their children were selected as case studies for qualitative research. Applied research was done within the context of intervention research and the first four phases of Rothman and Thomas’ Intervention Research model was used. Problems caused by divorce were identified and the goal was to address the best interests of the child by improving the co-parenting relationship, parent-child relationships and the quality of parenting. Information gathering and synthesis took place by using existing information sources, studying natural examples and identifying functional elements of successful models.An observational system was designed. It included the natural observing of the five case studies, specific procedural elements and intervention. The design criteria were applied to the preliminary intervention concept. / Social Work / D.Diac. (Spelterapie-Rigting)

LL.M. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This thesis investigates current sentencing practices relating to the diverse, complex and emotionally laden phenomenon of child sexual abuse. It focuses on relevant legislative provisions, on case law and on an empirical study conducted amongst regional court magistrates. Trends, developments and problems are analysed and possible solutions to the main problems identified are investigated. The thesis concludes with proposed guidelines regarding the sentencing process in child sexual abuse cases. Such guidelines address general and specific principles, the use of victim impact statements, the increased recognition and use of behavioural science in the sentencing phase with regard to both the victim and the offender, and relevant aggravating and mitigating factors. The guidelines are an attempt to give some structure to the current haphazard approach adopted by the courts with regard to harm experienced by the victim. They are also aimed at assisting experts to provide more effective and reliable pre-sentence reports. Further, the thesis attempts to provide clarity concerning the factors that are considered to be aggravating or mitigating in the offence category, child sexual abuse, as well as with regard to the weight that should be attached to them. In addition, recommendations are made for the purpose of possible law reform and further research in relation to the regulation of judicial discretion through the introduction of formal sentencing guidelines, victim impact statements and the accommodation of behavioural science in the sentencing process pertaining to sexual offenders. This proposal is based on current South African sentencing practices as reflected in the consolidation of local judgments scattered over many years in different law reports and, to some extent, on English, Canadian, Australian and American sentencing practices as researched in this study.