An ethnographic case study was done in the rural community of Clarkson which lies at the foot of the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Rural communities gathered and developed local wisdom on the natural resources around them. The study shows that in the past, life in Clarkson was characterised by such shared wisdom, an abundance of natural resources, as well as strong community cohesion. With the advent of modern lifestyles community cohesion and practices were disrupted and today, people living in Clarkson are less dependent on each other and on local resources. This study suggests that some of the past wisdom, community knowledge, practices and skills that existed for ages in Clarkson, can still be useful today in the context of environmental sustainability. The incorporation of this knowledge into the new outcomes-based education curriculum in South Africa and the local school curriculum, is explored.

In this section of research, a new crime prevention model for residential neighbourhoods, namely the HONC - against crime model was developed. This model is based on the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles (CPTED). The first three elements of this model are intended to better the function of CPTED in neighbourhoods. The elements are as follows: H = Healthy lifestyle O = Online (Information technology) N = Nature C = CPTED The effectiveness of the elements in the prevention of crime was tested in two gated communities and one open neighbourhood, namely Woodlands Lifestyle Estate, Prairie Estate and Glossa Estate. All these neighbourhoods are situated in Garsfontein, a suburb of Pretoria, South Africa. Woodlands Lifestyle Estate was designed in accordance with these principles. This neighbourhood is situated next to a nature reserve called Moreletaspruit. The fence facing this reserve is a steel palisade to provide a view of the scenery. The other three fences are solid brick. This Estate has two entrances with formal access control. Woodlands has a specifically designed lifestyle centre which contains a gym, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts and an entertainment area. Pedestrian routs run from this centralised centre throughout the neighbourhood with water features and adequate lighting. Prairie Estate is also a gated community, fenced off with a brick wall and reachable through one entrance with formal access control. The architectural design of dwellings within this neighbourhood was left to the discretion of different developers. The only area for recreational activity within this neighbourhood is the fenced off club house and swimming pool. Glossa Estate is situated diagonally across Woodlands Lifestyle Estate, and is an open neighbourhood. It has three entrances with one guard patrolling the interior neighbourhood. This neighbourhood was designed with a park as a recreational area. The park was not in use and became overgrown, which created a crime problem, and it was therefore fenced off and the gate locked. Only the element of a healthy lifestyle could be proven as influential in the incidence of crime. The last three elements only served as guidelines and need to be tested in further research. / Criminology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

In this section of research, a new crime prevention model for residential neighbourhoods, namely the HONC - against crime model was developed. This model is based on the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles (CPTED). The first three elements of this model are intended to better the function of CPTED in neighbourhoods. The elements are as follows: H = Healthy lifestyle O = Online (Information technology) N = Nature C = CPTED The effectiveness of the elements in the prevention of crime was tested in two gated communities and one open neighbourhood, namely Woodlands Lifestyle Estate, Prairie Estate and Glossa Estate. All these neighbourhoods are situated in Garsfontein, a suburb of Pretoria, South Africa. Woodlands Lifestyle Estate was designed in accordance with these principles. This neighbourhood is situated next to a nature reserve called Moreletaspruit. The fence facing this reserve is a steel palisade to provide a view of the scenery. The other three fences are solid brick. This Estate has two entrances with formal access control. Woodlands has a specifically designed lifestyle centre which contains a gym, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts and an entertainment area. Pedestrian routs run from this centralised centre throughout the neighbourhood with water features and adequate lighting. Prairie Estate is also a gated community, fenced off with a brick wall and reachable through one entrance with formal access control. The architectural design of dwellings within this neighbourhood was left to the discretion of different developers. The only area for recreational activity within this neighbourhood is the fenced off club house and swimming pool. Glossa Estate is situated diagonally across Woodlands Lifestyle Estate, and is an open neighbourhood. It has three entrances with one guard patrolling the interior neighbourhood. This neighbourhood was designed with a park as a recreational area. The park was not in use and became overgrown, which created a crime problem, and it was therefore fenced off and the gate locked. Only the element of a healthy lifestyle could be proven as influential in the incidence of crime. The last three elements only served as guidelines and need to be tested in further research. / Criminology and Security Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

The escalating figures of unemployment and poverty in South Africa are posing a threat to the nuclear family. The deteriorating conditions in the home environment, particularly regarding material provision, has led to an increase in disadvantaged home environments. The investigation in this study focused mainly on the self-concepts of adolescents from disadvantaged home environments. The aim of the research was to see how the home environment influences the self-concept of an adolescent in disadvantaged areas. The literature study showed that factors such as unemployment, poverty, low socio-economic background, single parenthood, absent parents, parents' level of literacy and parenting styles were associated with disadvantaged home environments. With regard to the self-concept the researcher probed the physical, emotional, social, academic and general self-concepts. An empirical investigation was undertaken regarding grade 9 and 11 learners in Hebron in the North West Province. A structured questionnaire was developed focusing on home environment and self-concept. By using Pearson's correlation, ANOVA and Tukey's t-test, findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between home environment and the self-concept. The adolescent's emotional self-concept is affected by religion, supervision at home (parent or guardian) and the number of siblings in the family. Moreover, girls had a better social self-concept than boys. On the whole the physical, academic, social and general self-concepts were not affected by religion, number of siblings in the family and different kinds of supervision. With regard to the physical self-concept it was found that it differed with age. Therefore, the educators who facilitate Life Orientation in the General Education and Training (GET) band and Life Skills in the Further Education and Training (FET) band should assist children who come from disadvantaged home environments by applying intervention strategies suggested by the researcher in this study to foster positive self-concepts in adolescents. Positive self-concepts are key factors for successful learning, general behavioural patterns and high participation in school activities. Upgrading of educators is also recommended so that they are fully equipped to assist a learner who is from a deprived home environment. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education))

The escalating figures of unemployment and poverty in South Africa are posing a threat to the nuclear family. The deteriorating conditions in the home environment, particularly regarding material provision, has led to an increase in disadvantaged home environments. The investigation in this study focused mainly on the self-concepts of adolescents from disadvantaged home environments. The aim of the research was to see how the home environment influences the self-concept of an adolescent in disadvantaged areas. The literature study showed that factors such as unemployment, poverty, low socio-economic background, single parenthood, absent parents, parents' level of literacy and parenting styles were associated with disadvantaged home environments. With regard to the self-concept the researcher probed the physical, emotional, social, academic and general self-concepts. An empirical investigation was undertaken regarding grade 9 and 11 learners in Hebron in the North West Province. A structured questionnaire was developed focusing on home environment and self-concept. By using Pearson's correlation, ANOVA and Tukey's t-test, findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between home environment and the self-concept. The adolescent's emotional self-concept is affected by religion, supervision at home (parent or guardian) and the number of siblings in the family. Moreover, girls had a better social self-concept than boys. On the whole the physical, academic, social and general self-concepts were not affected by religion, number of siblings in the family and different kinds of supervision. With regard to the physical self-concept it was found that it differed with age. Therefore, the educators who facilitate Life Orientation in the General Education and Training (GET) band and Life Skills in the Further Education and Training (FET) band should assist children who come from disadvantaged home environments by applying intervention strategies suggested by the researcher in this study to foster positive self-concepts in adolescents. Positive self-concepts are key factors for successful learning, general behavioural patterns and high participation in school activities. Upgrading of educators is also recommended so that they are fully equipped to assist a learner who is from a deprived home environment. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education))