Thesis (D. Phil.)--University of Stellenbosch, 1936. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming beskikbaar nie

<p>Social welfare services are essential for development of human capital and eradication of poverty in South Africa generally. Social welfare plays a pivotal role in enabling the impoverished and vulnerable communities and households to lead their lives through provision of care, social relief, stability and human resource development. Non-Governmental Organisations form an integral part of the welfare system through their formal and informal welfare and residential and non-residential welfare services. The role of the NGOs becomes imperative precisely because of their inherent empathy and proximity to the communities they serve. Government itself has been engaged in the process of transformation and the same challenges of transformation, governance, and effectiveness still profound the NGO sector. Notwithstanding the contribution of the NGOs in the welfare system, it is crucial to scrutinise the nature of their work and the rate of transformation to flourish in the democratic dispensation. To enhance the process of transformation in the NGO sector, government passed a plethora of policies and legislative requirements, inter alia, White Paper for Social Welfare 1997, Non-Profit Organisations Act of 1997. The intent of this research therefore, was to establish the significance of transformation and inherent issues of governance, effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery and sustainability of the nature of social welfare services rendered by the NGO sector in the Western Cape, particularly the Worcester district.</p>

<p>Social welfare services are essential for development of human capital and eradication of poverty in South Africa generally. Social welfare plays a pivotal role in enabling the impoverished and vulnerable communities and households to lead their lives through provision of care, social relief, stability and human resource development. Non-Governmental Organisations form an integral part of the welfare system through their formal and informal welfare and residential and non-residential welfare services. The role of the NGOs becomes imperative precisely because of their inherent empathy and proximity to the communities they serve. Government itself has been engaged in the process of transformation and the same challenges of transformation, governance, and effectiveness still profound the NGO sector. Notwithstanding the contribution of the NGOs in the welfare system, it is crucial to scrutinise the nature of their work and the rate of transformation to flourish in the democratic dispensation. To enhance the process of transformation in the NGO sector, government passed a plethora of policies and legislative requirements, inter alia, White Paper for Social Welfare 1997, Non-Profit Organisations Act of 1997. The intent of this research therefore, was to establish the significance of transformation and inherent issues of governance, effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery and sustainability of the nature of social welfare services rendered by the NGO sector in the Western Cape, particularly the Worcester district.</p>

The release of ex-president Nelson Mandela on 10 February 1990, introduced transformation in South Africa. The road to transformation, in a post apartheid era, placed pressure and demands on the social work profession and the professionals. Change was inevitable (Lesnik 1997:164) while the inequities and the disparities of the past had to be eliminated and replaced with transformed services. This study explores the transformational challenges experienced in contemporary social work practice at The Department of Social Development, Johannesburg, South Africa. A non-probability sample was selected (Babbie and Mouton 2004:166). A combination of the qualitative and the quantitative approaches, with more emphasis on the quantitative approach was utilized. Questionnaires were used for data collection and analysis was done according to the framework as described by Tesch in De Vos et al., (1998:343). The transformational challenges were identified and guidelines are drafted to assist in addressing the identified challenges. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

The Indigency Policy / Programme was introduced by the Tshwane Municipality in 2000 to alleviate poverty by assisting the poor with subsidized limited basic municipal services. The goal of this study was to explore the experiences and views of indigent older persons in Atteridgeville of the Indigency Policy / Programme of the Tshwane Municipality. Limited literature was available on the topic and hence the researcher undertook a qualitative study that was exploratory and descriptive in nature to explore this unknown area. The key recommendations were: There is a need for active involvement and availability of municipal social workers; continuous monitoring, education and evaluation by the municipality for the communities. It was recommended that the Municipality conduct a full scale research on indigents` experience and perceptions/ views of their Indigency Policy / Programme in Tshwane. / Social Work / M. A. (Mental Health)

The aim of this study was to determine how nurses manage the nutritional care of children under the age of five years at the primary healthcare level. A quantitative approach with an explorative descriptive design was used. A self-administered questionnaire and was used to collect data. The population was 34 professional nurses working in the child health sections of 16 clinics, all of whom were accessible, but one did not respond. Ten out of the target population were also observed using an observational checklist. Findings show lack of proper implementation of Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) guidelines and incorrect use of the Road-to-Health booklet. Secondly, the nurses at the child healthcare section had a high workload or had little experience in child care. The need for more emphasis on nutrition during IMCI training and the re-orientation of nurses on the optimal use of the Road-to-Health booklet were identified. / Master of Public Health (MPH) / Health Studies

Thesis (MTech (Public Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / The eradication of poverty is an important priority for the South African government. The Constitution makes provision for vulnerable households. Local government has to formulate policies to address the needs of the poor. Municipalities formulated and adopted Indigent Policies to ensure that poor households have access to essential basic services. This led the researcher to identify what challenges are related to the financial sustainability of the Indigent Policy in its implementation process in the City of Cape Town for the period 2003 to 2016. This study followed a qualitative research approach. Data was collected by conducting in-depth interviews. The selected participants had access to information relevant to the policy. The researcher respected the rights of participants by allowing them the freedom to withdraw at any stage of the research study, ensuring confidentiality, ensuring anonymity, ensuring fair treatment and protecting the participants from any harm and discomfort throughout the research study. The researcher holds that all the respondents are confident that the Indigent Policy is sustainable. However, should it become too expensive for the City of Cape Town, it could result in the budget being reprioritised. It is recommended that the City of Cape Town develops a beneficiary system for qualifying indigents to allow them to receive additional benefits from other facilities such as libraries, swimming pools and the MyCiTi bus services.

MAdmin / Department of Public and Development Administration / The main thrust of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Public Protector’s office in enhancing ethical conduct: The Case of Vhembe District Municipal Area. After the attainment of democracy in 1994, South Africa established the Public Protector’s office and other institutions to enhance ethical conduct within the public service. Despite the establishment of the Public Protector’s office, ethical challenges remained a big problem to achieve good governance and efficient service delivery to the masses of Vhembe. This study followed a mixed research methods and employed a descriptive case study design with explanatory features characterised by the sequential explanatory model strategy in which the collection and analysis of quantitative data was done, followed by the next phase of collecting and analysing qualitative data. Participants in this study were Public Protector’s officials, Mayors, Municipal Managers, Civic Organizations and the representatives of the private (tendering) companies found in Vhembe. The empirical data were collected through questionnaire and semi-structured interview schedule and analysed using SPSS and thematic (content) analysis. Data collection and analysis followed the objectives of the study as a framework. The major finding of the study is that the Public Protector’s office is not effective enough to enhance ethical conduct due to its inability and lack of constitutional powers to enforce adherence and compliance with its recommendations after conducting investigations. As a result, this renders the Public Protector’s office ineffective and unable to enhance ethical conduct effectively. The study therefore, recommends that the Public Protector’s office needs to be provided with sufficient resources as well as more constitutional powers to enable it to enforce implementation and compliance with its recommendations. / NRF

Thesis (M.Dev.(Planning and Development)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Mpumalanga Province has witnessed service delivery unrest and protests that destroyed the public infrastructure. There is thus an immediate need to conduct the study - to contribute to the body of knowledge, and to assist the concerned city under review. The service delivery challenges in the municipality are just a drop in the ocean, among the major problems in the sphere of the local government. Communities expect service delivery from their municipalities. Mpumalanga Province has witnessed unrest and protests, due to poor service delivery. The City of Mbombela is no exception. This study aims to examine the lack of service delivery to develop the communities in the Mbombela municipality due to shortage of capacity. The study assesses the strategies used in capacity building to improve service delivery. A qualitative research method is used to collect data. A sample of 15 respondents were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The finding shows that the Mbombela Municipality has been playing a vital role in the provision of basic services to the local communities. However, the municipality faces several challenges related to service delivery, especially insufficient funds, corruption and political interference. The finding also highlights that the municipality lacks proper capacity building strategies for enhancing service delivery. The study recommends that mitigation measures could address these capacity-building challenges. These include enhancing recruitment, spending money wisely, avoiding politics and implementing strategies. Key words: Capacity building, service delivery, Mbombela Local Municipality

Thesis(LLM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Ravaged by the socio-economic ills of poverty, income inequality and unemployment, South Africa entrenched the constitutional right to access social assistance for everyone unable to support themselves and their dependents under section 27(1)(c). The state is obliged to create a comprehensive social security system, to ensure that all who need social assistance access it. But not all poor and deserving people access social assistance. The study found that underlying the obligation to improve the quality of life for all is the fundamental normative commitment to access social assistance. In 2002, the Taylor Committee recommended, inter alia, that the state implements a Basic Income Grant (hereafter the ‘BIG’) as part of its comprehensive social security project. The study thus examines the legal feasibility of the BIG to provide social income support to eliminate widespread socio-economic ills, for all in South Africa. The study makes use of a desktop qualitative methodology garnered four-folded objectives. The relevant revelations were as follows: First, the study found that international and regional frameworks do not directly guarantee poor able-bodied working-age adults any social income support. Second, the study found that little jurisprudence interprets the right to social assistance, let alone a BIG. But a general body of socio-economic judgments developed over the years can aid in developing the right. Third, the study found that Covid-19 resurrected the over two-decade laments for a BIG, given the R350 Covid-19 SRD grants that were since provided. It was further found that there is reasonably sufficient capacity to roll out the BIG. Finally, the study included a comparative perspective and identified the Republic of Namibia, as the right comparator. The study found that South Africa can learn from the tremendous improvements in the quality of the lives of the people of Otjievero since the Namibian BIG Pilot Project. Also, the study found that there are numerous financing avenues for the BIG. Ultimately, the study recommended the gradual implementation of a BIG, starting with those aged 18 to 59 years.