The focus of this dissertation is to explore contextually relevant ideas through conversation around behaviour problems, specifically bullying, experienced in primary schools situated in the township of Mamelodi. The study explores the relationship around bullying between the members of the school staff involved with the children, the children identified as manifesting bullying behaviour, their families and any relevant community system or individuals as identified by the research participants themselves through conversation. It focuses on providing a description of experiences around bullying behaviour facing the participants by exploring their own perspectives and meanings around their situation and any possible solutions that they may offer. The focus is of an exploratory and descriptive nature to provide a basis for an intervention that is contextually relevant to this community by acknowledging these locally constructed discourses. An ecological approach within a postmodern social constructionist theoretical backdrop is chosen for this study. It is an approach that emphasises the importance of context and the social constructionist influence emphasises the importance of language. Three primary schools in the Mamelodi Township were approached to participate. One ecological case study from one of the three schools is used in the analysis to explore the aims of this research. Data was gathered through semi-structured open-ended interviews. Discourse analysis is used to construct the various discourses emerging from the conversations resulting from the interviews. Through the discourse analysis the various meanings, experience or understanding around bullying are constructed. The interaction of these various discourses and influence that they have on each other are also considered. The possible influence of background discourses of the wider community and society are included. These discourses are presented not as truths but as a plausible a construction of an ecology of bullying grounded in background and events. Using theses discourses some of the possible implications for a contextually and locally relevant intervention programme and further ideas for research are suggested. As the study focuses on contextual relevance, arguments around indigenous psychology, cross cultural research and the role of interpreters are also considered. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

Of those who need housing in South Africa, almost 69% earn less than R1500 a month that make the housing process a difficult and unaffordable task. These potential dwellers could be regarded as a vulnerable section of the dwelling community that needs support and guidance. Housing should be seen as a process that addresses man within his psychosocial context. The UP Mamelodi campus is situated in the middle of a fast growing housing node and should be involved in the housing process by means of a Housing Support Centre and continuous housing research. The intention of this study is to emphasize the interrelationship between housing, housing needs, human needs and housing support. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Architecture / unrestricted

In South Africa, where a large portion of the population lives in townships, more often than not, the therapist and client do not share a similar cultural context. Cultural knowledge is therefore pertinent to generating a complex and thorough interpretation of any psychological assessments. This study aims to explore possible cultural narratives evoked in the responses to the Thematic Apperception Test so that cross-cultural use of the test would be more effective in the Mamelodi township. The research is done from a narrative point of view, where lived experience is understood by organising it into structured narratives or stories that repeat throughout a person’s life. The pictures of the TAT were viewed as a context that could elicit such life narratives from respondents. TAT stories from five adolescent residents in Mamelodi were thematically analysed as a method of identifying common stories that could reflect the cultural narratives that young persons in Mamelodi draw from to make sense of their world. The results indicated common narratives concerning the following: the experience of violence and danger, the experience of close relationships, dealing with challenges, and the role that clothes play. These findings, and possible findings from similar future research, might aid psychologists towards a better understanding of the TAT in the township context. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Psychology / unrestricted

M.A. / The aim of this study was to examine how the members of Agape came to construct themselves as a healing community. An ecosystemic epistemology and social constructionism were used as a lens by which to view the events unfolding at Agape Healing Community and to illuminate how meanings, expressed through language and ritual, are negotiated and shared. Discourse analysis was used as an analytical tool to infer meaning from the participants’ speaking and to locate these discourses in the fabric that constitutes South African society.

A lack in infrastructure and skills, in an inherited Apartheid spatial legacy, leaves a critical opening for much needed added spatial value. By investigating and supporting existing networks and contributing to existing typologies, this dissertation speculates on educational resource infrastructure provision to marginalized communities in Pretoria, South Africa. It is a rethinking of our South African city landscapes and civic/pedagogical architectural offerings, manifesting a critical stance to foster a prosperous community that has the potential to thrive. Focusing a speculative knowledge exchange infrastructure intervention on already existing networks; this dissertation aims to resolve the potential of current typologies in urban planning, and the ability to foster a new teacher, pupil and community education infrastructure to empower local stakeholders to improve provided services. Building a prosperous future on top of past spatial inheritance. / Mini Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

Mamelodi still remains captive in the spatial legacy of Apartheid. With long travel times and virtually no employment opportunities in Mamelodi, the status quo is difficult for inhabitants to deal with. Economic theory suggests that industrial programmes employ the largest number of people, and are the most effective ways to grow the economy. Additionally, workers for industrial jobs rarely require intricate training or education, creating the ideal platform for entry level jobs. A theoretical investigation looked at the validity of functionalism for an industrial programme, but found it lacking. Critics charged functionalism with not considering all the functions a building serves unintentionally, which led to an additional layer of theory being added to the process. This was critical regionalism, selected for being contextually sensitive and appropriate whilst remaining grounded and practical about modernity. Precedents looked at the spaces Industries in Mamelodi used and the spaces international industries use, taking lessons from that. A site was chosen and analysed, and all the research was distilled into four drivers: Industry, Railway link, Level Change, and Modularity. This is quickly developed into a concept of creating an energy conduit, as a means to transfer the vigourous energy of Mamelodi to the outside world. And this finally led to a design. Located on a steep hillside, the design negotiates some steep conditions and staggers a bunch of separate buildings over the site. Breaking the monolith, these buildings also create intimate public spaces in-between, that become populated with the happenings of everyday life. Four chimney towers serve as beacons, and create small thermally comfortable spots in the public spaces. Shading devices extend indoor programs into the public realm, trying to blur the threshold between them. The building is adaptable, allowing materials to be re-used on a new location, and follows a strict grid and modular. This allows for the easy expansion and changing of spaces, as businesses should require. Further, pooling resources together allows the industries far greater access to services, systems and resources than they would be capable of acquiring on their own. And lastly, the central location with the railway and road links the industries not only with their employees but also to potential markets, allowing for greater profit and more sustainable economic empowerment. This dissertation shows a method for bringing economic empowerment to Mamelodi, using industrial programmes that share resources. It is possible to do this in a contextually sensitive way, without compromising on the quality of the spaces. / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

Mamelodi is a multi-cultural township located 20kms east of the Tshwane city centre. It is a vibrant and complex place, alive with opportunity, diversity, talent and creativity. It is also however, afflicted by many problems, especially those of a social and economic nature, like unemployment, poverty, poor living conditions, and so on. Mamelodi therefore, is a place where the implementation of appropriate design could make a real difference in the lives of its inhabitants. The University of Pretoria Mamelodi campus, due to its prime location and inherent qualities, has the opportunity to contribute significantly to the upliftment and transformation of the people around it, and to become a place of value and pride. It is however, missing this opportunity for a number of reasons: the isolation and segregation of the campus, its anonymity and lack of local identity, as well as the inaccessibility of the campus to local residents. One possible solution would be the full integration of the campus into the surrounding community, thereby enabling the empowerment of people on both a physical and psychological level. Both of these types of empowerment can be achieved through modifications to the University boundaries and the reworking of the open buffer zone into an area of common ground – a transition zone where the University and the community can come together and be of value to one another. There are two levels of value – quantitative, which can be achieved through the implementation of a cultivated landscape, and qualitative, which is made possible through the creation of a maieutic landscape. In order to achieve a continuous, integrated urban fabric, this study primarily investigates the creation of a large-scale framework design that considers the site in its entirety. The organising element in this regard was the existing storm water system which was also regarded as a missed opportunity. The study then progresses to a more detailed level in an area which was deemed to possess challenging and diverse options. The space chosen is located at the entrance to the UP Mamelodi campus library, in the transition zone between University and community, where it functions as a public square. Both the principles of integration and maieusis were applied here in a bid to create an empowering landscape that is immersed in its context, that is accessible, and that is therefore used and appreciated by many. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Architecture / unrestricted

M. Tech. Architecture (Professional) / The aim of this research is to design a trauma centre for abused women and children in the Mamelodi area, which will aid their recovery from extremely distressful and traumatic events. The current system focuses on the immediate effects of abuse and rape. Very few resources are avalable in terms of supporting the survivor's long term emotional and psychological wellbeing. The objectives of the proposed facility will focus on psychological and emotional care as well as addressing the lack of psychologigal facilities and spatial quality in healing spaces.

This dissertation investigates the role of architecture in the emergence of community identity with specific reference to the spontaneous surfacing and expansion of informal settlements within the South African context and the need for fundamental public service infrastructure provision. The aim is to understand and illustrate the significance of contextual infrastructure provision as catalyst in the emergence of social and cultural networks. In analysing the current innovative survival strategies induced by the community themselves, a theoretical premise will be established regarding the implications of an "African urbanist" approach to infrastructure and means of applying it in design. The current rate of urbanization within the South African context has resulted in several human settlements expanding organically, attempting to meet the increasing housing demands whilst neglecting the provision of platforms for various interwoven layers of urban fabric and public services. These platforms are integral in the shaping of cultural and community identity. The intent of the proposal is to provide an interface between the public and the built fabric that serves the needs of, as well as enhances the quotidian praxis within the Eastern Mamelodi precinct. The proposal intends to disclose an existing cultural language and identity by establishing physical loci that host and exhibit quotidian social practices unique to Mamelodi. Through theoretical and contextual enquiry the study provides an understanding of the role as well as the necessity of infrastructure architecture manifested into an appropriate solution which will facilitate the corroboration of a unique cultural identity. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

The Abstract is not available / Dissertation (MSc (Applied Science))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Town and Regional Planning / unrestricted