Thesis (M.Ed.) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / This study is a “description” of a research carried out on the Moletjie Rural Women Club (MRWC) project at the Moletjie (Moshate) village in the Limpopo Province. Moletjie (Moshate) is a rural village found in the Capricorn District under the Polokwane Municipality and it is about twenty (20) kilometers west of the city of Polokwane. In the Polokwane Municipality there are projects for eradicating poverty, eradicating unemployment and for generating income. Some of the incomes generating projects in Polokwane Municipality are Moletjie Matlala Poultry, Thogwaneng People’s Bakery, Moletjie Rural Women Club, and Baitapishi Bricks Making. The researcher decided to do a research to find how the Moletjie Rural Women Club project sustains itself among the income generating projects in Limpopo Province. The findings of this study will contribute towards the realization of factors affecting the sustainability of projects. The following research questions were formulated for this study. Main question  How is the Moletjie Rural Women Club (MRWC) project able to sustain itself? Sub-questions  To what extent is the MRWC project sustainable?  Who are the main role players for the project to sustain itself?  Which are the factors that influence the project to sustain itself? To help the researcher in arriving at some answers to the above-mentioned research questions, he decided to undertake an exploratory and evaluative study. The intention of this study was to evaluate factors affecting the sustainability of income generating projects, particularly at the Moletjie area. The researcher checked the stages of project initiation, planning, execution, control and closing, and finally the researcher realized these stages contribute to the sustainability of projects. During investigation, the researcher realized that if all phases and stages of project implementation could be carried out successfully, then the project would be sustainable. Chapter 1, describes the introduction and background of the study. It outlines the geographical background of the MRWC project and the historical background of South Africa including the ownership of land, provision of health care, education and welfare services. The main aims and objectives of the study were given, as well as the main and sub-guest ions. Chapter 2, describes factors that could be affecting the sustainability of income generating projects in the Limpopo Province. After the preliminary visit and interview with the Moletjie Rural Women (MRWC) project, the following stages and phases that could affect the sustainability of projects were mentioned:  Initiation  Planning  Execution  Control  Closing Chapter 3, describes the instruments used in collecting data from various role players in different phases of data collection. In this chapter there is an explanation of how data was collected from different phases. I outline the importance of having a proposal when doing research work because that helped in research activities. Chapter 4, describes the setting of this study. The chapter outlines the place where the study was undertaken, as well as the description of the project, which is more about the results of my study. The findings started by observing the surrounding and the physical layout of the area where in the project is found. The findings were also based on document review and interviews with the project stakeholders. Factors that could affect the sustainability of projects in the Limpopo Province, specifically to projects in Moletjie area were indicated. The reports on the findings from observation and interview were given. Chapter 5, describes the conclusion and recommendations of this study. The factors that made the MRWC project to sustain itself among the income generating projects in Polokwane and around Moletjie area are mentioned. The recommendations for problems and factors that need to be considered for the sustainability of project were discussed. The recommendations for further research on issues that need to be considered for the sustainability of projects were given.

In view of the high levels of poverty in most under-developed and developing countries, poverty reduction has become an international phenomenon. South Africa (SA) is a country faced with the challenge of poverty as a result of the high rates of unemployment fifteen (15) years after the introduction of the new democratic dispensation. Poverty reduction has been placed at the centre of global development objectives to improve people‟s lives through expanding their choices, their freedom, and their dignity. Numerous countries have developed poverty-reduction strategies, which are over-arching macro-strategies implemented by different social and economic sectors in collaboration with the private sector. South Africa, however, does not have an over-arching poverty reduction strategy, which is the key national governmental priority, although many poverty-reduction programmes exist. The existing poverty reduction initiatives in South Africa, such as Income Generating Projects (IGPs), are either established by Government or the Civil Society structures with the aim to assist in changing the standard of living of poor people so that they can at least meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. This study focuses on the IGPs that operate in Atteridgeville, Tshwane, with the view to explore and describe the experiences of individuals who participate in these IGPs. A qualitative research approach was selected for the study and three IGPs were selected from the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) that affiliate to the Phelindaba Forum. This Forum coordinates social development activities in Atteridgeville, Saulsville and Mshengoville. The findings of the study indicated that although IGPs are established to benefit participants financially, there are other factors that motivate people to join and remain in the projects, such as moral support amongst members. Furthermore, some NGOs claim to facilitate IGPs, but in some instances, these IGPs are left to operate on their own without much needed assistance. The recommendation for future studies is that participants need to be engaged with in order to get a true reflection of how the IGPs operate. The assistance and support of NGOs are crucial for the sustainability of such projects. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

In view of the high levels of poverty in most under-developed and developing countries, poverty reduction has become an international phenomenon. South Africa (SA) is a country faced with the challenge of poverty as a result of the high rates of unemployment fifteen (15) years after the introduction of the new democratic dispensation. Poverty reduction has been placed at the centre of global development objectives to improve people‟s lives through expanding their choices, their freedom, and their dignity. Numerous countries have developed poverty-reduction strategies, which are over-arching macro-strategies implemented by different social and economic sectors in collaboration with the private sector. South Africa, however, does not have an over-arching poverty reduction strategy, which is the key national governmental priority, although many poverty-reduction programmes exist. The existing poverty reduction initiatives in South Africa, such as Income Generating Projects (IGPs), are either established by Government or the Civil Society structures with the aim to assist in changing the standard of living of poor people so that they can at least meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. This study focuses on the IGPs that operate in Atteridgeville, Tshwane, with the view to explore and describe the experiences of individuals who participate in these IGPs. A qualitative research approach was selected for the study and three IGPs were selected from the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) that affiliate to the Phelindaba Forum. This Forum coordinates social development activities in Atteridgeville, Saulsville and Mshengoville. The findings of the study indicated that although IGPs are established to benefit participants financially, there are other factors that motivate people to join and remain in the projects, such as moral support amongst members. Furthermore, some NGOs claim to facilitate IGPs, but in some instances, these IGPs are left to operate on their own without much needed assistance. The recommendation for future studies is that participants need to be engaged with in order to get a true reflection of how the IGPs operate. The assistance and support of NGOs are crucial for the sustainability of such projects. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))