Being part of the semi-arid, southern Kalahari, the Mier area has a complex and sensitive ecosystem, with a low carrying capacity. Factors, such as population growth, uneconomical farm units and restricted communal areas, have resulted in serious degradation of the natural resource base. Due to their strong agricultural history, the Mier community is generally still perceived as being agriculturally inclined, which easily leads to an overall main objective, namely "to stabilising the Mier community in their agricultural environment". Development and assistance initiatives mostly focus on the natural resource base. The majority of the Mier community, however, has undergone an evolutionary process which has changed their attitudes to agriculture. In order to determine the current role of agriculture, this study aims to identify the livelihood strategies of the Mier community in the dynamic sphere of conditions and trends, livelihood resources as well as institutional and organisational structures. The main socio-economic results are as follows: (a) forty-two percent of the total economically active age (EAA) group is unemployed, with the highest rate under EAA persons younger than 30, i.e. 58%; (b) households diversify in one or more of the following livelihood sustaining activities: (i) casual labour (49%), (ii) government allowances (50%), (iii) livestock agriculture (46%), (iv) permanent work (28%), (v) migrancy (33%), (vi) fruit/vegetable/pasture production for own consumption (28%), (vii) support through private transfers (21%), and (viii) small scale trading activities (11%); (c) households perceive the following as their most important livelihood strategies: government allowances for 43% of all households, permanent work for 21 %, casual labour for 16% and livestock for only 10% of all households. The following results from this study indicate that the role of agriculture is declining. (a) Fifty-four percent of the community do not own livestock. (b) Only 39% of people who are not full time involved in agriculture, are very interested in farming, 19% are fairly interested and 42% are not interested. Only 4% of the grade 10-12 pupils are very interested, 42% fairly interested and 54% not interested in agriculture. (c) None of the communal farmers regard their livestock as their main livelihood strategy. For them, livestock mainly playa supplementary role, supplying milk and sometimes meat. (d) For every 55 persons who perceive a lack of land as the major problem of the Mier area, 100 persons believe that it is rather a lack of employment opportunities. It is concluded that the image of the Mier community as being a farming community should change to a community looking urgently for alternative livelihood opportunities. Support through agricultural assistance would only benefit a limited part of the community and it would exclude many of the poorest households. / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar ( Plant Production))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the social development approach from the viewpoint of developing an understanding of the applicability thereof in a social work environment in a South African context. Based on the level of underdevelopment in the country, the social development process, which involves a dynamic multi-disciplinary approach with a strong emphasis on the positive outcomes of growth and empowerment, is thought to offer a wide range of possible fields of application. To provide clarity and gain insight into the dimensions and elements involved, different aspects of the South African and international scenarios provide a background for the arguments promoting the social development approach as a positive intervention for the helping professions. The purpose of this research is to broaden the field of knowledge for practitioners and organisations dealing with poverty and deprivation by providing an extension of options in practice models. The research report includes an investigation of the elements and concepts associated with social development, with particular emphasis on the role of women. Knowledge and understanding of these concepts will assist in widening the horizons of field workers and assist in deciding on appropriate responses when faced with the problems of South Africa and its apartheid legacy. Development in the South African context is examined with the focus on the main role players, namely government and the welfare sector. Recurring themes in development programmes that have been identified as elements for success are described by means of case examples from good international practice models. The applicability of many of these cases should serve as stimuli for instituting initiatives in local situations of need. The empirical research used the qualitative method to examine, by means of focus groups, the effects of the identified elements in five social development projects in the Western Cape. The focus groups were conducted with the aid of open-ended question guides. The findings and responses of the focus group respondents were analysed and discussed in relation to findings described in the literature by various authors. It is believed that the findings of this research can be utilised as practical guidelines for instituting and running social development projects by social workers, as well as practitioners from other fields, to address the problems of poverty and underdevelopment in the country by paying special attention to the role of women in such projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die maatskaplike ontwikkeling benadering met die oog daarop om 'n begrip te kry van die toepaslikheid daarvan in 'n maatskaplike werkomgewing in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Die toestand van onderontwikkeling in die land het tot gevolg dat die maatskaplike ontwikkelingsproses, wat 'n sterk multi-dissiplinêre benadering behels en positiewe gevolge van groei en bemagtiging beklemtoon, waarskynlik 'n wye veld van toepassingsgeleenthede bied. Ten einde duidelikheid en insig te kry oor die omvang van die veld en die beginsels wat ter sprake is, word die argumente wat die maatskaplike ontwikkeling benadering ondersteun teen die agtergrond van verskillende aspekte van Suid-Afrikaanse en internasionale toestande bespreek. Die doel van die navorsing is om die kennisveld van maatskaplike werk en organisasies wat te doen het met armoede en verwaarlosing te verbreed en die keuses van praktykmodelle uit te brei. Die navorsingsverslag sluit 'n ondersoek in van konsepte en elemente waarmee maatskaplike ontwikkeling geassosieer word, met die klem op die rol van vroue. Kennis en begrip van die toepassing van hierdie konsepte sal veldwerkers se horisonne verbreed en help met besluitneming oor gepaste diensleweringsmodelle wanneer met die probleme van Suid-Afrika en die gevolge van apartheid gekonfronteer word. Ontwikkeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word ondersoek met die klem op die hoof rolspelers in die veld, nl. die regering en die welsynsektor. Herhalende temas in internasionale ontwikkelingsprogramme as elemente van sukses is geïdentifiseer en word beskryf d.m.v. gevallestudies van internasionale goeie praktyke. Die toepaslikheid van baie van hierdie gevallestudies behoort as aanmoediging te dien vir inisiatiewe op plaaslike vlak. Vir die empiriese ondersoek, is gebruik gemaak van die kwalitatiewe metode om, d.m.v. fokusgroepe by vyf projekte in die Wes-Kaap, die effektiwiteit van die geïdentifiseerde elemente vir sukses te toets. Die fokusgroepe is gelei aan die hand van 'n oop vraelys. Die reaksies van die deelnemers aan die fokusgroep is verwerk en in die konteks van die literatuurstudie bespreek. Dit word aanvaar dat die bevindings van die navorsing deur maatskaplike werkers en ander dissiplines gebruik kan word as praktiese riglyne by die beplanning en loodsing van maatskaplike ontwikkeling projekte in die bekamping van armoede en onderontwikkeling, met spesiale aandag aan die rol van vroue.

Development is central to the existence of every society including demographic entities that constitute a community of people. Community development is a process designed to create conditions of economic and social progress for the entire community with its active participation and fullest possible reliance on the community development initiatives. The support of either individuals or organisations for the community to realise its full potential is essential, likewise is the role of development agencies in community development a good omen towards the advancement of human development. This research looks at a number of development initiatives presented by aid agencies aimed at improving community life, solving serious problems of quality life, social exclusion, and resources availability. The research explores the socio-economic impacts of development initiatives led by development agencies in local communities, a case study of a peri-urban community of Msunduza, Swaziland. The study was guided by five objectives: i) To evaluate the positive and negative impacts of development initiatives led by development agencies; ii) To establish to what extent the Msunduza community know community development initiatives and how they perceive them; iii) To analyse the sustainability of development initiatives/projects led by the development agencies; iv) To determine what the participatory principles of community development are in the area; v) To draw conclusions and make recommendations that will improve community development through organisational interventions.

M-Tech Tourism Management / Residents’ attitudes towards and opinions about tourism is important as they are the ones dealing directly or indirectly with tourists and the development of the industry. As one of the key stakeholders their support is needed to grow the industry in a sustainable manner. For South Africa as a developing country tourism is one of the focus areas of development. This growth is supported by a number of initiatives to create more (but also more sustainable) tourism destinations especially for small towns such as Parys (Free State; South Africa). The primary objective was to analyse the social effects of tourism and determine the factors influencing these effects on the local community of Parys, located in the province of the Free State. This was done by conducting an empirical study among residents in Parys. The questionnaire was developed based on similar research done in other communities. The questionnaires were captured in Microsoft Excel and analysed in the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v 23.0). From a negative point of view residents highlighted the increase in prices of goods and services due to tourism development. From a positive perspective residents felt that the development of tourism lead to more opportunities for people to have fun, more tourists visit the area and the image of Parys has improved. From the factor analysis for social effects the following factors were evident: Business and community effects, Negative social effects, Opportunities for residents, Environmental effects and Cost of living effects. The latter two factors were rated the highest and thus residents felt that tourism lead to an effect on the environment and an effect on their cost of living. This should be monitored so that residents remain positive and do not start to blame tourists for negativities happening in Parys. When analysing the image of Parys from the perspective of the residents the factor analyses revealed three factors namely Infra- and suprastructure, Nature and cultural attractions and Hospitality of which they felt the strongest about the first and the last factor. Clearly from the results these residents enjoy staying in Parys, do not consider tourists to be a threat and welcomes visitors to the area. The social effects of tourism development is, to a certain extent, influenced by gender, language, level of education, age and number of years living in Parys. Overall it can be concluded that residents are fairly happy with tourists visiting Parys and the development taking place due to tourism. They are aware of the negative impacts but the positive impacts currently outweigh the negative impacts. It is recommended to include residents in the development process or at least keep them aware of what is happening, why it is happening and what opportunities it might bring to them. The results of this study differ from that of others indicating that communities are unique and there are unique aspects influencing their opinions regarding the social effects of tourism. The researcher recommended that the private and public sectors of Parys should continue their current practices to uphold the positive attitudes but also consider options where residents can become more involved in the development of the industry.

M.A. (Development Studies) / This investigation was conducted in a transitional phase of South Africa's political dispensation. The emphasis on "transformation" in the new dispensation, promises to have far-reaching consequences for the development of people in communities. The achievement of the obj ectives of the community development approach, which is currently being used in South Africa as a development strategy, can lead to a better quality of life for people living in informal settlements (squatter communities) if communi ty development (as a development strategy) is applied succesfully. Against this background, a study was conducted in Finetown (see location map : annexture 1) on which this inquiry is especially focussing. In the second instance, Finetown serves as an example of an informal settlement, in the hope of general ising some of the findings and recommendations. Two readiness models for community development, in particular the model of Levi and Litwin (1986 : 31-35) as well as the model of Conyers and Raul (1990 : 127-138) is used as the study's starting point. The readiness indicators that could be identified from the literature study, was applied on two groups of respondents (namely the facilitators and the members of the Finetown communi ty). The findings of the literature study are thus compared to the investigation in Finetown to firstly, "place" Finetown on a readiness scale and, secondly, expand the available knowledge of a "readiness model" for community facilitating in such communities. This investigation is therefore based on a literature study,questionnaires, informal interviewing and observations in Finetown. These sources of data are used to compare the objectives of the community development strategy with the community's current perceptions of community development. The researcher comes to the conclusion that, allthough both the community facilitators and the community perceive the readiness indicators as relevant for the community's development, the former cherishes higher expectations about the indicators than the latter. The main objective of this study was thus to, firstly, identify indicators for community development and, secondly, test them in Finetown. Thirdly, additional indicators were identified for inclosure with the existing indicators. Hereby a contribution is hopefully made to the eventual development of a model which could be used to evaluate the level of readiness of communities for community development and through which a more effective use of scarce recources for development can be made

M.A. / A new welfare policy which introduced the developmental approach in the welfare system was implemented during 1997 in South Africa. The developmental approach encourages the introduction of social programs that contribute directly to economic development in the communities. Developmental social welfare implies a variety of role players in a system of social services which focus on social development. Social workers happen to be one of them. A developmental social welfare policy implies that social work should shift focus of attention to strategies that would contribute to social development. The extent of basic development needs in our country demands that social workers should clearly define their roles and outputs at this point in time so as to address these needs and outline their distinctive professional contribution in a social welfare system within socio-economic development. The focus of this people-driven, people-centred approach is on developing human capacity and self-reliance within an enabling environment. The community development process has a major contribution to make in realizing this objective. For community development to take place, people need to act collectively. People need to be organized in the community so that they can be able to function as a unit. Through community development, social workers unleash people's collective potential, build their capacity and help them to organize themselves around common concerns. However, social workers need to recognize the role played by economic factors in development initiatives. Realizing that the new developmental approach was just been introduced to social workers, this study seeks to explore and describe the attitude of social workers towards this paradigm shift.

This treatise investigates the role of Community DevelopmentWorkers, with reference to the Bitou Municipality. The treatise comprises five chapters. The concept of Community Development Programme is fairly new in South Africa; therefore, further research is needed on the subject. A literature review was done to establish the concept and the background of the CDWP. A questionnaire was developed in order to obtain primary data from a selected sample group. The data obtained from the questionnaire was statistically analysed and interpreted. The core findings from the analysed questionnaire indicated the following: (a) CDWs clearly understand their role and responsibility, but there is a need for roles and functions to be clearly defined, with detailed terms of reference, to ensure a common understanding with other stakeholders, e.g. Ward Committees, Councillors, Non-governmental organisations, Communitybased organisations, and members of the community. (b) living conditions in the wards improved following the introduction of the CDWP. (c) there is a good relationship between CDWs, Ward Committees and Ward Councillors, but there is also a perception that Ward Committees and Community Development Workers constantly clash or compete in the wards in which they serve. (d) CDWs should not be affiliated to the ruling or any political party. (e) CDWs are confused regarding who is responsible for their remuneration (the Municipality or the Provincial Department of Local Government).

M.A. / The modern day approach towards community development is to facilitate a community-driven and self-sustaining development process. Development is a process by which the members of a society increase their personal and institutional capacities, mobilise and manage resources, produce sustainable and justly distribute improvements in their quality of life consistent with their aspirations. The reasons why farm workers in commercial agricultural communities are becoming involved in their own development; what motivates them; and the capacities they need to remain involved; are some of the areas that this study addresses. This study focuses on the labour-extensive and labour-intensive farming communities in the Boland/Swartland regions of the Western Cape Province. A purposeful non-probability sample was taken from five labourextensive and five labour-intensive commercial farming communities within a fifty kilometre radius of Wellington. Focus groups as method were used to interview the specifically selected respondents. Qualitative data was collected according to a participatory research method and a visualization technique was utilized to record the data. Some of the important results of this study indicate that the commercial farmer has to take an interest as an important resource and partner in the development of the farm worker's communties. The farmworker's communities are seeking support from the new democratic structures, the Transitional Rural Councils, to assist them with their development efforts. The process of developing ownership and taking responsability for one's own development, needs to be strengthened by including the farmworkers in the decision-taking process on farms regarding community development through structures like farm-forums or farm-committees.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the extent of the relevance and success of the empowerment model in facilitating and promoting rural development in South Africa. The assumption was that through active participation communities are able to gain control over their lives and are empowered to promote development successfully. In undertaking this study, the researcher initially reviewed literature on rural development, and thereafter presented and discussed various development methodologies used for realising community development, participation and empowerment. Three case studies selected for an indepth study were distinguishable as follows: the first case that could be regarded as "finished and unsuccessful", the second one that could be classified as "finished and successful", and the third one that could be labelled as "new and ongoing" with respect to rural development projects in the respective communities. A comparative analysis of the three case studies was undertaken with the purpose of establishing the "success" and "failure" in the projects designed to enhance community development and participation. The study shows quite clearly that development projects do not operate in a vacuum but are components of national, social and economic development policies, strategies and programmes for which governments often bear some degree of final responsibility. The success of development projects depends to a large extent on a number of issues, of which community participation and empowerment are the most important. Unless the community actively identifies itself with the project or at the least is involved from day one, in the decisionmaking process of the proposed project, it will be very difficult, if not impossible to achieve the project's developmental objectives. On the basis of the empirical findings, it was revealed that the prerequisites for a successful community development project depend on: a) the encouragement of active involvement, community participation and empowerment of communities for the purpose of enabling them to meet their needs, problems and aspirations; b) the completion in full of the cycle of the development methodology; c) the identification and handling of obstacles in the development cycle as the project unfolds to successful completion; d) the promotion of a facilitative role with regard to capacity building and skills transfer by development personnel; and e) the development of capacity for communities to take control over events influencing their lives (e.g. knowledge, skills, information, networks and support structures to mention a few). In conclusion, it is stressed that the development of people as individuals and as collective groups was central to community development. In doing so, a shift which placed heavy emphasis on resource management and service delivery to capacity building and skills transfer has to take place in order to promote development and social change, making communities progressively minded, desirous of improving their living conditions and capable of doing so through adopting a co-operative way of life for promoting group interests of the community as a whole. From the lessons learned in this study it was shown that the process of rural development can be promoted in a successful manner through the empowerment model which stresses community involvement and participation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsingsprojek was om vas te stel wat die omvang van toepaslikheid en sukses van die bemagtigingsmodel is, in die fasilitering en bevordering van plattelandse ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika. Die veronderstelling was dat deur aktiewe deelname gemeenskappe in staat sal wees om beheer oor hulle lewe te verkry, en bemagtig sal wees om ontwikkeling suksesvol te promoveer. Met die aanvang van die navorsing, het die navorser eerstens relevante literatuur oor die plattelandse ontwikkeling nagegaan en daarna is verskeie ontwikkelingsmetodes (nasionaal en internasionaal), wat gebruik word vir die realisering van gemeenskapsontwikkeling, betrokkenheid en bemagtiging, aangebied en bespreek. Die drie gevallestudies wat gekies is vir die indiepte ondersoek, word as volg onderskei: die eerste geval kan beskou word as "voltooid en onsuksesvol", die tweede een kan geklassifiseer word as "voltooid en suksesvol", en die derde een kan beskou word as "nuut en in proses" met verwysing na plattelandse ontwikkelingsprojekte in onderskeie gemeenskappe. 'n Vergelykende analise van bogenoemde gevallestudies is onderneem met die doelom die sukses en mislukking van projekte wat ontwerp is om die gemeenskapsontwikkeling en deelname vas te stel. Dit is gevind dat ontwikkelingsprojekte nie in 'n lugleegte geskied nie, maar komponente is van nasionale, sosiale en ekonomiese ontwikkelingsbeleid, strategiee en programme waarvoor die regering meestal 'n mate van finale verantwoordelikheid dra. Die sukses van ontwikkelingsprojekte hang tot 'n groot mate af van 'n aantal kwessies, waarvan gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid en bemagtiging waarskynlik die belangrikste is, tensy die gemeenskap aktief identifiseer met die projek, of ten minste betrokke is van die begin af in die besluitnemingsproses van die betrokke projek, sal dit baie moeilik indien nie onmoontlik, wees om die projek se ontwikkelingstellings te bereik. Die literatuuroorsig het getoon dat die gebruik van ingevoerde westerse norme, standaarde, ontwerpe, regulasies, ens. In die fasilitering van gemeenskapsontwikkeling, in die besonder in plattelandse gebiede, dikwels tot gevolg het dat die projek vervreemding by die plaaslike omgewing veroorsaak. Vir die sukses van die fasiliteringsproses, was vasgestel dat klem op die aanmoediging van, betrokkenheid en deelname by die gebruikers van 'n gevestigde fasiliteit, bekwaamheid oordra en die onderskraging van die projekte inisieer. Op grond van die empiriese bevindings is vasgestel dat vereistes vir 'n suksesvolle gemeenskapsontwikkelingsprojek afhang van: a) die aanmoediging van aktiewe betrokkenheid, gemeenskapsdeelname en bemagtiging van gemeenskappe ten einde hulle in staat te stelom hul behoeftes, probleme en aspirasies te volvoer; b) die voltooiing van die siklus van die ontwikelingsmetodologie; c) die identifisering en hantering van slaggate in die ontwikkelingsiklus soos die projek ontvou tot die suksesvolle voltooiing daarvan; d) die promovering van 'n raadgewende rol ten opsigte van die kapsiteit uitbouing en bemagtigingsoorplasing by die ontwikkelingspersoneel; en e) die ontwikkeling van kapasiteit vir gemeenskappe om beheer uit te oefen oor gebeure wat hul lewens beinvloed (bv. kennis, bemagtiging, inligtingnetwerke en ondersteuningstrukture, om maar 'n paar te noem). Ten slotte is beklemtoon dat sentraal tot gemeenskapsontwikkeling, die ontwikkeling van mense as individue en as kollektiewe groepe is. Daardeur vind 'n groot klemverskuiwing plaas vanaf hulpbronbestuur en dienslewering tot kapasiteituitbouing en bemagtigingsoorplasing. Dit moet plaasvind ten einde ontwikkeling en sosiale verandering te promoveer en gemeenskappe in 'n vooruitstrewende gesindheid te plaas, begeerte na verbeterde lewensomstandighede, en die vaardigheid om dit te doen deur aanvaarding van 'n gemeenskaplike lewenswyse, vir bevordering van die groepsbelange van die gemeenskap as 'n geheel. Wat uit hierdie studie geleer is, bevestig dat deur die bemagtigingsmodel wat gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid en deelname beklemtoon, landelike ontwikkeling wel ontwikkeling suksesvol kan promoveer.