South African cities were subjected to artificial, unnatural growth patterns brought about by apartheid planning that legitimated exclusionary practices in the city and which created and maintained racial, social and class differences between people. Post-apartheid South Africa has witnessed processes of urban fortification, barricading and the gating of urban space that are manifested in contemporary urban South Africa. This research showed that the privatisation of urban public space is not solely a post-apartheid phenomenon. Closure legislation has been, and still is, used by citizens to remove urban space from the public realm through its privatisation. Closures are largely citizen-driven, either individually or as a collective, and it is small public spaces that are privatised, hence the micro-privatisation of public space that could influence the immediate surroundings and erf-sized living space of individuals.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Xenophobic hostility is not an unfamiliar concept – it is practiced all over the world, also in South Africa. Defined by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) as a deep dislike of non-nationals by nationals of a recipient state, it constitutes a violation of the human rights of a targeted group, threatening the very principals upon which the young democracy is modelled on. What distinguishes xenophobia in South Africa from the rest of the world is its violent manifestation. In this country xenophobia is more than just an attitude, it is a violent practise, fuelled by racism, intolerance, ignorance and incapacity to deliver on developmental expectations. The 2008 xenophobic attacks in major centres in South Africa stunned the local and international communities, causing researchers to rush in search of answers. Just as the furore turned into complacency, on 17 November 2009, 3000 Zimbabwean citizens living in the rural community of De Doorns in the Western Cape were displaced as a result of xenophobic violence. Reasons for the attacks vary, with some blaming the contestation for scarce resources, others attribute it to the country’s violent past, inadequate service delivery and the influence of micro politics in townships. In assessing the reasons for the attacks the study claims that the third tier of government in terms of its Constitutional developmental mandate fails to properly engage with communities on their basic needs; that its inability to live up to post-apartheid expectations triggers frustration into violent xenophobic action. The De Doorns case offers valuable insight into the nature and scope of the phenomenon in rural areas, highlighting local government’s community participation efforts in exercising its developmental responsibility and dealing with the issue of xenophobia. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Xenofobie is nie ’n onbekende verskynsel nie, dit kom reg oor die wêreld, ook in Suid- Afrika voor. Gedefinieer deur die Suid Afrikaanse Menseregte Kommissie as ’n diep gesetelde afkeur aan vreemdelinge deur die inwoners van ’n gasheer land, verteenwoordig dit ’n skending van menseregte en hou dit ’n bedreiging vir die jong demokrasie in. Xenofobie in Suid-Afrika word gekenmerk deur die geweldadige aard daarvan. Hier verteenwoordig dit meer as ’n ingesteltheid, dit is ’n geweldadige uiting van gevoelens, aangespoor deur, rassisme, onverdraagsaamheid, onverskilligheid en die onvermoë om aan ontwikkelings-verwagtinge te voldoen. Die 2008 xenofobiese aanvalle in die stedelike gebiede van Suid-Afrika het die land en die wêreld diep geraak en ’n soeke na oplossings ontketen. Op 14 November 2009 word die gerustheid na die 2008 woede erg versteur toe 3 000 Zimbabwiërs in De Doorns in die Wes-Kaap deur xenofobiese geweld ontheem is. Redes wat aangevoer word wissel vanaf mededinging vir werksgeleenthede tot die land se geweldadige verlede, onvoldoende dienslewering en die invloed van mikro politiek in woonbuurte. Met die oorweging van redes vir die aanvalle maak die studie daarop aanspraak dat die derde vlak van regering in terme van sy Konstitusionele ontwikkelings-mandaad gefaal het om na behore met die gemeenskappe rondom hul behoeftes te skakel, dat die regering se onvermoë om aan die post-apartheid verwagtinge te voldoen frustrasie in xenofobiese geweld laat oorgaan het. Die De Doorns geval bied waardevolle insig in die aard en omvang van xenofobiese geweld in landelike gebiede en lê klem die plaaslike regering se hantering van openbare deelname in terme van sy ontwikkelings verpligtinge.

Thesis (LLM (Private Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis, the Communal Land Rights Act 11 0f 2004 is analysed in order to determine whether it can give effect to the constitutional mandate in terms of which it was promulgated, namely section 25(5), (6) and (9) of the Constitution. Land policy pertaining to land tenure reform is discussed to see how and to what extent it finds application in the Act. The time-consuming process pertaining to the registration of the community rules is investigated, and the implications where a community fails to adhere to this peremptory provision in the Act are explained. The thesis also analyses and discusses the functions of statutorily created institutions, like the land administration committee and the land rights boards, in the efficient management of land in rural areas. The aforementioned land administration committee is particularly problematic, since the Act provides that in cases where a recognised tribal authority exist, that institution “may” be considered as the land administration committee, subject to prescribed composition requirements as contained in the Act. The Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act will also be discussed since it intersects with the Communal Land Rights Act in this regard. The pending constitutional challenge which relates to this potentially problematic issue, will be discussed. The constitutional challenge of the Act by four communities’ is explored in order to indicate just how potentially problematic the institution of traditional leadership could be. vi This study also discusses and analyses the compromise contained in the Act, regarding the registration of the land title of a community and the registration of “new order rights” in the name of individuals. In this context the impact of this process on the efficacy on the current Deeds registration system is investigated. The Ministerial determination and its constitutional implications is yet another issue, examined in this study. All of these issues will have a negative impact on the implementation of the Communal Land Rights Act and especially on achieving tenure security. / AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die Wet op Kommunale Grondregte 11 van 2004 geanaliseer om te bepaal of dit inderdaad voldoen aan die grondwetlike mandaat soos voorsien in art 25(5), (6) en (9) van die Grondwet. Die beleid van toepassing op grondbeheerhervorming word bespreek om te bepaal tot watter mate dit wel in die Wet aanwending vind. Die tydrowende prosedure van die registrasie van gemeenskapsreëls word ondersoek, asook die implikasies indien ‘n gemeenskap nie aan die voorskriftelike bepaling voldoen nie. Die tesis bespreek en evalueer ook die funksies van die twee instellings wat statutêr geskep is, naamlik grond administrasie komitees en grondregte rade. Die twee instellings is geskep met die doel om van hulp te wees in die effektiewe administrasie van grond in die kommunale areas. Dit is veral die grond administrasie komitee wat problematies is, omdat die Wet op Kommunale Grondregte bepaal dat waar ‘n gemeenskap ‘n erkende tradisionele owerheid het, hierdie owerheid beskou sal word as die grond administrasie komitee van daardie spesifieke gemeenskap. In hierdie konteks is ‘n bespreking van die Wet op Tradisionele Leierskap en Regeringsraamwerk, noodsaaklik. Die betwiste grondwetlike kwessie wat tot op hede nog onbeslis is wat hiermee verband hou, sal ook bespreek word. ‘n Kort uiteensetting word gedoen van die vier gemeenskappe wat die Wet op grondwetlik gronde aanveg om presies te probeer aantoon hoe problematies die instelling van tradisionele leierskap is. Hierdie studie bespreek en analiseer verder ook die kompromis wat getref is tussen registrasie van die titelakte in die naam van ‘n gemeenskap en die viii registrasie van sogenaamde “nuwe orde regte” in die naam van individue. Die impak van hierdie magdom registrasies op die bestaande registrasiesisteem word ook oorweeg. Die grondwetlikheid van die ministeriële besluitnemingsbevoegdheid word breedvoerig bespreek in hierdie studie. Al hierdie genoemde kwessies mag nadelige impak hê op die implementering van die Wet op Kommunale Grondregte en spesifiek ook op grondbeheerhervorming.

Thesis (MA (Public and Development Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Developmental local government places emphasis on the importance of partnerships between local government and various stakeholders such as community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and private sector organisations delivering services to communities. The focus of this thesis is on a service delivery improvement plan for Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay, Cape Town, a poor Black informal settlement alongside a well-established and affluent White suburb. There is severe lack of service delivery in that community and the study has sought to suggest a solution that would address the appalling situation in which the people of Imizamo Yethu live. It seeks to respond to the question: How can partnerships between civil society organisations, local government and the private sector improve service delivery in Imizamo Yethu? The main research objectives were to determine how local government, business and civil society organisations can deliver services; to establish whether there were any partnerships between local government, civil society and the private sector in Imizamo Yethu; to describe the activities of role players in Imizamo Yethu; to identify areas that require partnership between these role players; to generate information for future research that will enable the community of Imizamo Yethu to address their problems; and to make recommendations on how service provision could be improved by establishing partnerships between local government, civil society and the private sector. Service provision is a complex exercise that needs different skills and strategies. Local government alone cannot win the battle of service delivery. What is needed is the collaboration of different role players using their different and unique capabilities. Partnerships between local government, civil society organisations and the private sector can be an effective alternative model of service provision. The study therefore focuses on improving partnerships between local government, civil society and business in Imizamo Yethu. While many civil society organisations, business organisations and local government departments are involved in service delivery and development in Imizamo Yethu, these organisations operate in isolation from each other. This makes it virtually impossible for them to make a dent in service delivery challenges. Through partnerships, local government, civil society and the private sector could wszssork together to mitigate the situation in the particular community. Forums by means of which local government, civil society organisations and business can work together should therefore be formed. Such forums could assist in terms of devising a strategy to provide services, and disseminate information. The study examines the level of service delivery and partnerships in Imizamo Yethu. It was found that there is both lack of service delivery and lack of partnership between the local government, which is the City of Cape Town, civil society and the private sector. It is recommended that community service delivery be established, with dissemination of information by the City of Cape Town by means of a communication strategy aimed at informing the community about such service delivery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontwikkelingsgerigte plaaslike regering beklemtoon die belangrikheid van vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid en verskillende belanghebbers soos gemeenskapsgebaseerde organisasies, nie-regeringsorganisasies en organisasies in die private sektor wat dienste aan gemeenskappe lewer met die oog op ontwikkeling. Die tesis fokus op ‘n verbeterde diensleweringsplan vir Imizamo Yethu te Houtbaai, Kaapstad, ’n arm, informele Swart nedersetting aangrensend aan ‘n goed gevestigde en welgestelde wit voorstad. Die gemeenskap ondervind ’n ernstige gebrek aan dienslewering en die studie het gepoog om ’n oplossing aan die hand te doen om die haglike omstandighede waarin die inwoners van Imizamo Yethu bestaan, aan te spreek. Dit het probeer om die vraag met betrekking tot hoe vennootskappe tussen organisasies van die burgerlike samelewing, die regering en die private sektor dienslewering aan Imizamo Yethu kan verbeter. Die hoof navorsingsdoelwitte was om vas te stel hoe plaaslike regering en organisasies binne die sakelewe en burgerlike samelewing dienste kan lewer; om vas te stel of daar enige vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor in Imizamo Yethu bestaan; om die aktiwiteite van rolspelers in Imizamo Yethu te beskrywe; om areas waarbinne ’n vennootskap tussen sodanige rolspelers benodig word, te identifiseer; om inligting vir toekomstige navorsing wat die gemeenskap in Imizamo Yethu in staat sal stel om hul probleme aan te spreek, te genereer; en om voorstelle aan die hand te doen oor hoe dienslewering deur die daarstelling van vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike bestuur, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor verbeter kan word. Die lewering van dienste is ‘n ingewikkelde oefening wat verskillende vaardighede en strategieë verg. Die regering is nie in staat om die stryd om dienste te lewer, op sy eie te stry nie. Wat vereis word, is samewerking van die kant van verskillende rolspelers wat hul onderskeie en unieke vermoëns inspan. Vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid, organisasies binne die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor kan ’n effektiewe alternatiewe model vir dienslewering wees. Die studie is dus ook gerig op die verbetering van vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike samelewing en die sakelewe in Imizamo Yethu. Terwyl vele organisasies binne die burgerlike samelewing en sakelewe en plaaslike regeringsdepartemente reeds by dienslewering en ontwikkeling in Imizamo Yethu betrokke is, tree hierdie organisasies afsonderlik op. Hul geïsoleerdheid maak dit haas onmoontlik om die uitdagings verbonde aan dienslewering die hoof te bied. Vennootskap tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor kan egter samewerking bewerkstellig om omstandighede binne die besondere gemeenskap te verlig. Forums waarbinne samewerking tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike gemeenskap en die sakelewe moontlik is, behoort dus geskep te word. Sulke forums kan die ontwikkeling van ’n strategie vir dienslewering en die verspreiding van inligting aanhelp. Die studie het die vlak van dienslewering en vennootskap in Imizamo Yethu ondersoek. ’n Gebrek aan dienslewering sowel as aan vennootskap tussen die plaaslike owerheid, naamlik die Stad Kaapstad, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor is gevind. Die voorstel is dat die Stad Kaapstad dienslewering aan die gemeenskap instel, tesame met ‘n inligtingstrategie wat daarop gemik is om die gemeenskap oor sodanige dienslewering in te lig.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The community development workers’ programme (CDWP) is a strategic policy intervention by government to address challenges of service delivery to communities. The purpose of the CDWP is to facilitate the removal of obstacles in the course of providing services to communities. The CDWP is located in local government. Its purpose is often misunderstood by the stakeholders, because of the perception that the programme is meant to deliver services like provision of water, electricity and other social services. In essence, the CDWP is meant to facilitate communication between government and communities in order to ensure that services are delivered effectively and efficiently. Some of the challenges faced in the Makhado Local Municipality relate to the lack of infrastructure maintenance initiatives, including expansion plans that are well funded. Massive backlogs of infrastructure and services remain in the areas of water and sanitation, energy provision, housing, social security and others. If these problems relating to infrastructure and access to services are not adequately addressed, it will be impossible for the implementation of the CDWP to be successful. It is, therefore, critical that the government as a whole, and working with the private sector, should develop a comprehensive programme that mobilises society through both public and private initiatives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by community development workers (CDWs) in the implementation of the CDWP in Makhado Local Municipality. A qualitative research paradigm was adopted for the study. A literature review, focus groups and interviews were employed within the context of structured questions formulated in line with the framework of the study. The above were meant to facilitate a response to the research question of the study, which sought to find out what the challenges was faced by CDWs in the implementation of the CDWP in Makhado Local Municipality. One of the recommendations of the study is that the CDWP should be integrated with the Makhado Local Municipality plans and budget in order to ensure that it is sustainable and meets its stated objectives. Once this is achieved, it will be possible to confidently say that:  The introduction of CDWs is succeeding in addressing challenges of service delivery in the implementation of the CDWP  Challenges of CDWs in municipalities are being resolved through the effective implementation of the CDWP If the CDWP can be implemented fully in the Makhado Local Municipality, challenges of service delivery can be resolved over a reasonable period. It is, therefore, critical that the CDWP should remain an intergovernmental programme that fosters planning and partnership between the public, as beneficiary, and the government as service provider. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers Program (GOWP) is ‘n strategiese beleidsintervensie deur die regering om uitdagings met betrekking tot dienslewering aan gemeenskappe aan te spreek. Die doel van die GOWP is om hindernisse tot dienslewering aan gemeenskappe uit die weg te ruim, en die program is binne die plaaslike regering gesetel. Misverstand oor die doel daarvan kom dikwels onder belanghebbendes voor vanweë die veronderstelling dat die program bedoel is om dienste soos die voorsiening van water, elektrisiteit en ander maatskaplike dienste te lewer. In wese is die GOWP bedoel om kommunikasie tussen die regering en gemeenskappe te bewerkstellig om te verseker dat dienste doeltreffend en effektief gelewer word. Uitdagings vir die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado staan in verband met die gebrek aan inisiatiewe om infrastruktuur in stand te hou, insluitend goed befondste uitbreidingsplanne. ’n Massiewe agterstand van infrastruktuur en dienste bestaan steeds op die gebied van water en sanitasie, kragvoorsiening, behuising en sosiale sekerheid. Indien hierdie probleem met betrekking tot infrastruktuur en toegang tot dienste nie voldoende aangespreek word nie, sal die implementering van die GOWP geen sukses behaal nie. Dit is dus van uiterste belang dat die regering, in geheel, en met die samewerking van die private sektor, ‘n omvattende program ontwikkel wat die gemeenskap deur middel van openbare en private inisiatiewe mobiliseer. Die doel van die huidige studie was om die uitdagings waarvoor gemeenskapswerkers met die implementering van die gemeenskaps- ontwikkelingswerkers program in die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado te staan kom, te ondersoek. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsplan is vir die studie gebruik. ‘n Oorsig van die literatuur, fokusgroep en onderhoude is gebruik, met gestruktureerde vrae wat binne die raamwerk van die studie geformuleer is. Die vrae was bedoel om ‘n respons tot die navorsingsvraag oor die uitdagings wat deur die gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers met die implementering van die GOWP in Makhado ondervind word, te fasiliteer. Een van die aanbevelings van die studie is dat die GOWP by die planne en begroting van die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado geïntegreer moet word om die onderhoubaarheid van die program te verseker en dat die gestelde doelwitte bereik word. Wanneer dit geskied, sal dit moontlik wees om te sê dat:  Die instelling van die gemeenskapsontwikkerlingswerkers behaal sukses ten opsigte van die uitdagings van dienslewering binne die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers program.  Die uitdagings aan gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers in die munisipaliteite word deur die effektiewe implementering van die GOWP oorkom. Indien die GOWP ten volle in die Makhado Munisipaliteit geïmplementeer kan word, kan die probleem rondom dienslewering binne ‘n redelike tydperk opgelos word. Dit is dus belangrik dat ‘n onderneming soos die program vir die gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers behoue bly as ‘n inter-regeringsprojek wat die vennootskap tussen mense en die regering ondersteun.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis I analyse policies and strategies to reduce poverty through education, and the focus is on global and national policies and strategies and I conduct a small-scale investigation into policies and strategies that exist at a local level (local is the Cape Winelands District Municipality). Poverty is one of the core problems facing many South Africans, and by using critical theory as my research methodology I present a different way of thinking about poverty. Education, just like poverty, is a complex concept because education determines human thoughts and actions. The literature review indicates three ways to reduce poverty: job creation, education and skills development. The policy analysis indicates four ways to reduce poverty: empowering the poor, increasing the capabilities of the poor by using education, the challenge of deliberative democracy, and social justice. The interview respondents indicated that these seven ways may have a major influence on their impoverished circumstances. I argue that individuals need to reflect critically on their social well-being in order to transform their lives. Critical reflection by individuals is needed to transform not only themselves, but also their communities, and it is by transformation that individuals can bring change in their social communities in order to achieve social justice. A remaining need I identify is that the South African government need to focus on the goal to halve the number of poor people by 2015 (according to United Nations, Millennium Development Goals). I realise that the government still has much work to do in order to reach this important goal. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek verskeie beleide en strategieë vir armoede verligting op 'n globale, nasionale, en lokale konteks. Weens 'n gebrek aan beleide op lokale vlak onderneem ek 'n klein empiriese studie in die Kaapse Wynlande Distriks Munisipaliteit. Armoede bly een van die hoof uitdagings vir baie Suid-Afrikaners, en deur die gebruik van Kritiese Teorie as navorsings metodologie stel ek daar 'n ander manier om oor armoede te reflekteer. Die literatuur studie wys na drie maniere hoe om armoede te beveg: werkskepping, opvoeding, en die ontwikkeling van vaardighede. Die analiese van beleide dui op vier maniere: bemagtiging van armes, verbreding van vermoeëns duer die gebruik van onderwys, beraadslagende demokrasie, en sosiale geregtigheid. Die response van die onderhoude dui daarop dat hierdie sewe maniere 'n groot invloed kan het op die verbetering van armoedige omstandighede. Ek argumenteer dat persone krities moet reflekteer oor hul sosiale welstand sodat hul lewens kan transformeer. Kritiese refleksie is nodig nie net vir persoonlike transformasie nie, maar ook vir gemeenskappe sodat sosiale geregtigheid kan geskied. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering behoort steeds te strewe om die getal armes te halveer teen 2015, volgens die Verenigde State se Millenium Doelwitte. Ek besef die regering moet nog baie doen om hierdie belangrike mylpaal te bereik.

Many rural South African people depend on natural resources for their survival. Wetlands provide some of those natural resources. These are presently are under pressure due to high demand, overexploitation and poor land management. The history of South Africa has been characterised by exclusion of local communities in the process of decision-making and general management of natural resources. Participation of all stakeholders is crucial for successful sustainable natural resource management. Various South African departments are engaged in a number of strategies for promoting meaningful participation of local communities. The South African laws promoting protection and sustainable use of natural resources incorporate democratic principles that require high level of participation from resource users, local communities in particular. Most of the participation techniques used are focused on satisfying political mandates and do not respond to the social context of the resource users. The aim of the study was to review the participation of stakeholders in the project of promoting the sustainable use and protection of the Lake Fundudzi catchment. The idea was to probe stakeholder interests more carefully, and to research tensions that arise in the participation process, using qualitative methodologies. Through the use of questionnaires, observations and document analysis stakeholders’ interests were identified to assess their influence in the process of participation of local stakeholders. The review of stakeholders’ participation in the Lake Fundudzi Project showed that stakeholders’ interests are crucial for meaningful local community participation, communication and education influence. They enable meaningful participation and empowerment. A multi-stakeholders approach enables stakeholders to share roles and responsibilities and the participation process offers an opportunity for local stakeholders to participate democratically in the Project. Power relations affect stakeholder participation, capital dependant participatory initiatives are likely to be at risk, participatory processes are likely to promote the empowerment and knowledge exchange amongst stakeholders, the views of local stakeholders are not always considered by outside support organisation and multi-stakeholder participatory approaches enable the initiative/activity/project to achieve its objectives.

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study is to evaluate the housing process of Witzenberg Local Municipality and determine the involvement of the community and their perception regarding the whole process. The researcher is using a qualitative method to obtain the views, perspectives and feelings of the participants. For the purpose of the study is data collection limited to the sample population of people on the waiting list and those already in possession of low-cost house of the seven townships in the Witzenberg Local Municipality to. The researcher made use of questionnaires and interviews to collect data to make a profound finding and recommendation. In Witzenberg, 41% of households earn less than R30000 per annum (Witzenberg Local Municipality 2012: Online) which indicate that the Witzenberg Local Municipality has a high need for subsidized housing. The waiting list for low-cost housing in the Witzenberg Local Municipality currently stands at 6278 of which 1478 are a blocked housing project and a backlog of 4800 houses. The inhabitants of the Municipality received low-cost housing 8 years ago (Witzenberg Local Municipality 2012: Online). Witzenberg Local Municipality does has a housing problem, which stems from finance, affordability, insufficient land to erect housing projects, overcrowding, and quality of housing, staff shortage, unemployment, uncontrolled farm evictions and community involvement (Witzenberg Local Municipality 2007a:Online). Low-cost housing is in demand to address the challenges. Farm evictions, influx into the Witzenberg Local Municipality and forming of informal dwellings and increasing of squatter camps hold a serious threat to build sustainable, quality low-cost housing in the Witzenberg Local Municipality and with limit staff is in-flux control very hard to manage. Although the homeowners of the Witzenberg Local Municipality are happy to have received houses, they expressed much concern about the poor construction work, overall quality of the materials used as well as the housing process adopted by the Witzenberg Local Municipality. / Public Administration / M. Admin.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The upsurge in the number of public protests in most South African municipalities, including the City of Cape Town, continues unabated. While public protest is a democratic right, provided for in the Constitution (RSA 1996), the violent nature and persistence of protests at municipal level are a cause for concern. The associated violence often leads to the destruction of both public and private property, disruptions in economic activities, loss of lives and severe injuries to innocent victims. The prevalence of public protests continues despite the fact that the new democratic dispensation ushered in a paradigm geared for transforming local government from a racially-segregated institution into a democratic and autonomous sphere of government, with a broad developmental mandate. This new dispensation gave birth to the “invited spaces” of participation, which are aimed at providing scope for the public to influence, direct, control and own the development and decision-making processes. In order to determine factors that contribute to public protests in Khayelitsha the study adopted a qualitative research paradigm. Personal interviews, focus group discussion and participatory observation were some of the research methods used to collect primary data. The study indicates that lack of authentic and empowering public participation opportunities in the decision-making processes of the City of Cape Town alienates the public and leads to public disengagement from available municipal processes. It has been during this period of alienation that the public have been “inventing own spaces” of participation, in the form of public protests demanding that public voices be heard. The study also indicates that poverty, unemployment and glaring gaps of social inequality, reinforced by comparison to available examples in the neighbourhood, are root causes of public protests. The new public participation model that has been developed from this research should be adopted by South African municipalities as an essential public participation strategy. It empowers the public to negotiate a new “social contract” with the authorities primarily based on the public’s terms. It is only when authentic and empowering public participation is practised by municipalities that violent public protests can be minimised. Such authentic and empowering public participation provides latitude for the public to influence, direct, control and even own their “own” development and decision-making processes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toename in voorvalle van openbare protes in byna alle Suid-Afrikaanse munisipale gebiede, insluitend die van die Stad Kaapstad, duur onverpoosd voort. Terwyl openbare protes weliswaar ’n demokratiese reg is wat in die Grondwet (RSA 1996) verskans word, is die huidige ingeburgerde en gewelddadige aard daarvan rede tot ernstige kommer. Hierdie gewelddadigheid lei dikwels tot vernietiging van sowel openbare as private eiendom. Ook ekonomiese aktiwiteite word ontwrig; daar is lewensverlies en ernstige beserings aan onskuldige slagoffers . Die hoë voorkoms van openbare protes duur voort, ondanks die feit dat die nuwe demokratiese bestel ’n paradigmaskuif ten gunste van transformasie in die plaaslike regeringstelsel beteken het. Alles was in plek om weg te beweeg van rasgesegregeerde instellings na ’n demokratiese, outonome regeringsfeer met ’n breë, ontwikkelingsgedrewe mandaat. Hierdie nuwe bedeling het “genooide ruimtes” vir deelname geskep, wat geleentheid sou skep om invloed en rigtinggewende beheer te verkry oor daardie prosesse van besluitneming wat deelnemers se eie lewens raak. Om die faktore te bepaal wat tot openbare protes in Khayelitsha bydra, is ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsparadigma gekies. Persoonlike onderhoud, fokusgroepbespreking en deelnemende waarneming is van die navorsingsmetodes wat ingespan is om primêre data te versamel. Hierdie navorsingstudie het bevind dat, ondanks die “genooide ruimtes”, daar steeds ’n gebrek aan egte en bemagtigende openbare deelnemingsgeleenthede in die besluitnemingsproses van die Stad Kaapstad bestaan, en dat dit die publiek vervreem en daartoe lei dat burgers hul aan die beskikbare deelnemingsgeleenthede onttrek. Gedurende hierdie periode van vervreemding het die publiek van Khayelitsha hulle eie “geskepde ruimtes” ontwikkel. Dit was gegiet in die vorm van openbare protes, waar die stemme van die algemene publiek gehoor kon word. Die studie het ook aangedui dat armoede, werkloosheid en opvallende voorbeelde van sosiale ongelykheid (te vinde in die onmiddellike omgewing) aanleidende faktore vir protesaksie was. Die nuwe openbare deelnemingsmodel wat uit die navorsing ontwikkel is, kan aan alle Suid-Afrikaanse munisipaliteite ’n onontbeerlike geleentheid bied om ’n doeltreffende openbare deelnemingstrategie te ontwikkel. Dit bemagtig die publiek om ’n nuwe onderhandelde “maatskaplike kontrak” met die owerhede, hoofsaaklik op die publiek se terme, te sluit. Slegs wanneer die publiek aan egte, bemagtigende openbare deelname blootgestel word, sal daar sprake van ’n vertrouensverhouding met die owerhede wees en sal gewelddadige protesaksie tot die minimum beperk kan word. Sodanige egte en bemagtigende openbare deelname skep ruimte vir die publiek om hulle “eie” ontwikkeling te beïnvloed en mede-beheer te bekom oor die besluitnemingsprosesse wat daarmee gemoeid is.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Violence is considered a global mental health problem. The rate of violence in South Africa is amongst the highest in the world and much of this violence is disproportionately skewed towards the poorer and historically disadvantaged communities. Low-income communities continue to bear the brunt of historical legacies of violence which are perpetuated through current ongoing cycles of interpersonal and community violence. While much has been documented about trauma and resilience in environments where the violence or traumatic event has ceased, there is a dearth of literature conceptualising trauma and resilience in contexts where the violence persists. Furthermore, even fewer studies have captured how trauma and resilience are conceptualised from the perspectives of the voices who experience this violence daily. The social constructionist framework of this study aims to contribute to the knowledge of how trauma and resilience is constructed by those who experience ongoing violence, and whether resilience and healing does occur in an environment of continuous traumatic stress. The voices of the participants of the study provide an additional perspective from that of community-based counsellors. Their dual experience of living and working in a violent community gives a rich insight into the relationship between trauma and resilience. The study is located in Hanover Park, a low-income community, notorious for its high levels of community violence. The participants are community-based counsellors who volunteer at Organisation X, a community-based ecological intervention that has been developed in response to addressing the cyclical impacts of ongoing violence and continuous trauma. The research design is a purposive in-depth case study of eighteen counsellors, investigating the narratives of their lives within its real-life context. Follow-up focus groups held with the counsellors were guided by ideas and practices of narrative theory. The narratives were analysed using thematic content and experience-centred form analysis. Multi-level themes related to trauma and resilience were constructed by the participants. It was revealed that the trauma effects related to systemic ongoing violence are viewed as maladaptive features of negative resilience. At the same time positive resilience which promotes healing, empowerment and transformation is possible despite negative and violent environments. The perspectives of community counsellors which offer critically important insight into their experience of the context of violence, and the complex interconnecting of individual, interpersonal and social aspects of trauma and healing in disadvantaged communities, could also inform future evidence-based interventions, provide alternate paradigms within which mental health professionals could position themselves to engage in issues of social justice and psychosocial health. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geweld word wêreldwyd as 'n geestesgesondheidsprobleem beskou. Die voorkoms van geweld in Suid-Afrika, is tans een van die hoogstes in die wêreld en die meeste van hierdie geweld neig om veral die armer en histories benadeelde gemeenskappe negatief te raak. Gemeenskappe in die laer inkomstegroepe is dus die mense wat die spit afbyt, omdat hierdie historiese nalatenskap van geweld deur die huidige voortdurende kringloop van interpersoonlike en gemeenskapsgeweld voortleef. Alhoewel daar alreeds baie dokumentêre bewyse bestaan oor trauma en veerkragtigheid in omgewings waar geweld of traumatiese gebeure beëindig is, is daar 'n gebrek aan literatuur wat trauma en veerkragtigheid vasvang waar geweld die orde van die dag is. Daar is verder nog minder studies wat vaslê hoe trauma en veerkragtigheid uit die oogpunt van die betrokkenes wat geweld daagliks ervaar, gekonseptualiseer word. Die sosiale konstruksionisme raamwerk van hierdie studie beoog om 'n bydrae te lewer oor hoe , indien wel, trauma en genesing beleef word deur diegene wat voortdurende geweld ervaar in 'n omgewing waar aanhoudende traumatiese stres voorkom. Die deelnemers aan hierdie studie verskaf 'n addisionele perspektief van die van gemeenskapsberaders. Hul tweeledige ervaring van leef en werk in 'n gewelddadige gemeenskap verskaf 'n dieper insig in die verhouding tussen trauma en veerkragtigheid. Die buurt waar die studie gedoen is, is Hanover-park - 'n lae inkomste gemeenskap wat berug is vir hoe vlakke van gemeenskapsgeweld. Die deelnemers is beraders uit die gemeenskap wat vrywillige werk doen by Organisasie X - 'n gemeenskapsgebaseerde ekologiese intervensie wat ontwikkel is om die sikliese impak van voortdurende geweld en trauma te verminder. Die navorsingstudie is 'n doelgerigte diepgaande gevallestudie van agtien beraders wat hul lewensverhale binne die werklike konteks ondersoek. Die beraders het die opvolg fokus-groepe gelei deur idees en die narratiewe teorie in die praktyk toe te pas. Die vertellings is geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van die tematiese inhoud en 'n ervarings-gesentreerde analitiese formaat. Veelvlakkige temas wat verband hou met trauma en veerkragtigheid is deur die deelnemers saamgestel. Dit het aan die lig gebring dat die effek van trauma wat verband hou met voortdurende sistemiese geweld geag word as wanaangepaste kenmerke van negatiewe veerkragtigheid. Terselfdertyd is die positiewe veerkragtigheid wat genesing, bemagtiging en verandering evorder moontlik, ten spyte van negatiewe en gewelddadige omgewings. Die vooruitsigte van die gemeenskapsberaders wat belangrike en kritiese insig in hul ervarings binne geweldsverband bied, die ingewikkelde verbondenheid van die indiwiduele, interpersoonlike en sosiale aspekte van trauma en genesing in benadeelde gemeenskappe kan insiggewend wees vir toekomstige ingryping. Dit kan alternatiewe modelle voorsien waarvolgens beroepslui in die geestesgesondheidveld hulself kan inrig om kwessies van sosiale geregtigheid en psigo-sosiale gesondheids-toestande aan te spreek.