The young people of South Africa hold the future of society in their hands. They will become the new leaders who will make or break South Africa's fledgling democracy. Of course, it is impossible to know how society will fare in the millennium; but knowledge of where the youth think their lives and their country are heading will provide some clues to what the future holds. The research for this book was inspired by the "Monitoring the future" project, a regular survey of young people's values and aspirations by the Institute of Social Research at the University of Michigan. Our research was informed by recent comprehensive inquiries on the youth conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Co-operative Research Programme on South African Youth and the research by the Joint Enrichment Programme and the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE). The present study also builds on more focused research on leisure, educational aspirations and quality of life conducted by researchers attached to the University of Natal's Quality of Life Research Unit. The evidence for the two large-scale inquiries and the quality of life studies was collected before South Africa's first open general elections. The material presented in this book is about young people who have experience of living under the new democracy. This report may be among the first to inform the newly formed National Youth Commission of young people's needs and aspirations. Urgently needed for planning and policy formation is a systematic programme of research into the evolving situation of South African youth under the new political dispensation. Until such time as the values and lifestyles of young people are monitored at regular intervals, ad hoc studies such as the one reported here may help to fill the gap. It is hoped that the views of young people expressed in this book will deepen our understanding of young people's expectations and aspirations for the future. My life in the New South Africa provides a snapshot of society two years after the first open general elections as seen through the lenses of the youth. The book, which was written by the young people themselves, documents contemporary everyday life and hopes and fears for the future as envisaged by the youth. The material was gathered through an innovative research project which aimed to learn how young people see themselves and their society two years into the new democracy. Over 900 of the youth gave descriptions of "my life in the New South Africa" in the first half of 1996 in response to a letter writing competition designed by the Quality of Life Research Unit at the University of Natal. The competition fits the currently fashionable genre of "participatory" research, in which subjects double as analysts of their life situation. Although a fairly recent addition to the South African research repertoire, the participatory method is not unfamiliar to quality of life researchers. For many years, students of quality of life have advocated that ordinary people and not the external experts are the best judges of what makes people's lives satisfactory or not. Working in this research tradition, the Quality of Life research team at the University of Natal took on the task of shaping a book around the issues addressed by the youth in their letters. The material produced by the letter writing competition was content-analysed by a team of experts and organised in a number of thematic chapters which cover many of the dominant concerns of contemporary youth. Essentially, the youth wrote the script and the researchers did the editing. The mood of the letters is overwhelmingly positive and inspiring for a new democracy intent on overcoming the shortcomings of the past. Energy, youthful optimism and good intentions radiate from the letters. There is no doubt that My life in the New South Africa will provide useful pointers for current policy formation. It is hoped that the contents of this book will also serve as benchmark information against which South African society will be able to measure itself in years to come. The majority of the young people who entered the competition fervently believe, or at least wish to believe, that their hopes for an ideal society in which all South Africans live in harmony will be realised. Their idealism is as refreshing and touching in its naivetέ as it is sobering. The youth who wrote to the Quality of Life research team, boldly outline the challenges that lie ahead for a new democracy. Time will tell if the hopes and fears of contemporary youth can be laid to rest and their dreams for the future fulfilled. South Africa owes it to the next generation that its young people not be disappointed.

Ph.D. (Economics) / In this thesis the primary research objective is to construct quality of life measures to measure and compare the quality of life across the Gauteng City-Region in South Africa, while considering the diversity of the population residing in the region. In addressing the primary research question we also investigate secondary research objectives, namely to validate a new instrument of quality of life, to determine the interrelationships between the dimensions of quality of life, to construct a composite index with fixed weighting to measure and compare the quality of life across different demographic and socio-economic groups, to measure and compare the quality of life within diverse municipalities, each with its own unique character, and to analyse the factors that influence the wellbeing of a unique group of people in Gauteng, namely refugees and asylum seekers. A validated measuring instrument of quality of life contributes to the construction of robust composite indices, which can give a good estimate of quality of life in a region. Furthermore, identifying the interrelationships between the dimensions of quality of life can assist in the formulation of integrated policies aimed at improving quality of life. The measurement and comparison of quality of life of different socio-economic groups and different municipal regions can contribute to identifying the groups and municipal areas with low levels of quality of life, as well as the dimensions of quality of life that are below average and should be attended to in order to increase quality of life in the region. Lastly, determining the factors that influence the wellbeing of urban refugees and asylum seekers can contribute to better understanding of this unique group of people. To address the primary and the secondary research aims various novel methodologies are utilised. The methodologies used include Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate an instrument of quality of life and determine the interrelationships between the quality of life dimensions; Nicoletti et al.’s method based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to build a fixed weighted composite index of quality of life; Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Value Efficiency Analysis (VEA) as weighting methodologies to construct composite indices with flexible weighting that considers the unique characteristics of the municipalities in the region; and cross-sectional regressions to analyse the determinants of the subjective wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers. In the analysis of the primary and the secondary research questions two data sets were used. In Chapter 2 to 4 a data set collected by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) on quality of life in the Gauteng City-Region (GCR) was used. In Chapter 5 we used a data set collected by the Forced Migration Studies Program (FMSP) on Migration in New African Cities. A key finding of Chapter 2 is that the indicator variables of the dimensions ‘housing and infrastructure, ‘social relationships’, ‘socio-economic status’, ‘health’, ‘governance’ and ‘safety’ were found to be good measures of the dimensions of quality of life. Positive relationships were found between all the dimensions of quality of life, with the exception of the relationship between ‘housing and infrastructure’ and ‘health’, which was found to be statistically insignificant. Using the newly constructed composite index, in Chapter 3 we found the quality of life among African, lower-income groups, females and older people to be lower than that of other socio-economic and demographic groups. In addition, we found that ‘housing and infrastructure’ contributes most to the variance in the data set of the group with lower levels of quality of life. Using the flexible weighted composite indices to measure the quality of life within the different municipal regions of the GCR in Chapter 4, we found that the municipalities with the highest levels of quality of life to be Johannesburg and Midvaal, with, overall, above-average scores on all the dimensions of quality of life. The municipalities with the lowest quality of life in the GCR are Nokeng, Westonaria, Madibeng, Matlosana and Merafong. In the municipalities with the lowest quality of life scores, for those municipalities in the Gauteng Province, the ‘housing and infrastructure’ dimension was below average, while for the municipalities outside the Gauteng Province’s borders, it was found that the ‘health’ dimension was below average. In all the municipalities with low levels of quality of life it was found that the income variable is relatively low, except in Nokeng, which has relatively high income levels. Chapter 5 analyses the determinants of the subjective wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers. It was found that additional factors to the standard determinants that explain the wellbeing of people in general should be added to the model to explain the wellbeing of urban refugees and asylum seekers.

Thesis (DTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007 / This thesis explores, inter alia, initiatives, proposals, directives, programmes and projects aimed at increasing quality of life for all population groups via rural and urban developments in the Western Cape province. The study traces the roots of philosophy in the social sciences, provides a philosophical basis for public management and development, before proceeding to a discussion of relevant legislative- and structural frameworks for development in the Western Cape province. These are followed by an exposition of rural and urban development programmes in the province, within the nodal areas selected for this study. In addition to the above aspects, the research report identifies and explains elements of model theory, discusses a number of applicable models, as well as presenting an adapted normative, input-output transformational systems model for change, with a feedback mechanism, in terms of which given dysfunctionalities can be transformed to higher degrees of functionality in order to achieve, maintain and enhance the general welfare of society with specific reference to current problematic rural and urban developmental issues. As part of the recommendations, a number of methods are suggested in the study whereby rural and urban development in the Western Cape province can be improved and which could be universally applicable, particularly in the rest of South Africa. The results of the research show the need for practising constitutionally-based political, legislative, executive and administrative accountability with a developmental approach by all relevant role players and participants in the policymaking and implementation processes. The raison de etre of the developmental approach is explained, supported by a number of recommendations aimed at bringing about a higher degree of development in the nodal areas selected for this study.

This study sought to investigate the purchasing determinants of food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat, in the Eastern Cape. The study comprised a pilot study and main study (n=459) making use of an adapted version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. It was found that food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat were high, with most households experiencing food insecurity conditions between three and ten times per month. Income level was found to have a significant effect on food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat. The availability of efficient transport and refrigeration was also found to significantly influence the experience of food insecurity conditions.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Good health is a major imperative for social, economic and personal development, thus an important dimension of quality of life. Quality of life, in turn, is significantly influenced by access to the goods and services provided by the State. Access to infrastructure and services such as water and sanitation, has direct effects on health. Thus, the delivery of health, water and sanitation services should ensure improved access to basic needs, enhance the health profile of poor communities and their access to employment opportunities. Safe clean water supplies and adequate sanitation services therefore are among the major determinants of health. Health-related services such as water and sanitation should ensure a certain average life expectancy and eliminate mass disease and ill health. Mindful of the fact that there are many factors that determine the quality of life, the aim of the study was to investigate the impact of health, water and sanitation services in improving the quality of life among poor communities. To do this, this study adopted a comparative qualitative analysis approach between poorly serviced and adequately serviced areas. Subsequent to the findings, this study espouses constructive suggestions and recommendations that could act as guidance to community development agencies' strategies in amelioration of the quality of life among poverty-stricken communities. The research was based on a narrow model of services (health, water and sanitation services) that have impact on improving the quality of life among poor communities. The empirical findings of this study indicate these services to be insufficient to draw conclusive findings in other aspects of the survey. The research was conducted in a sample of 573 households in 6 communities in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces in South Africa. The sample comprised 3 communities in the category classified as poorly serviced with health, water and sanitation services, and 3 communities that were regarded as adequately provided with these services. The data was gathered by means of structured questionnaires, administered by the researcher with the assistance of a trained field worker. Additional, the data was gathered by means of a semi-structured, open-ended interview with a Sister-in-Charge of a clinic in the rural villages. The interaction between variables on the improvement of the quality of life were explored by means of basic statistics, which made it possible to assess the effects of independent and dependent variables. The results of data analysis provided support for the proposition contained in the premise of the study that although the provision of health, safe clean water and adequate sanitation services lead to improvement in the standard of living, their impact alone does not incorporate all the attributes that enhance quality of life as suggested by mainstream schools of thought in the health sector. Poverty-related factors also have to be taken into account. As such, the findings of this study have shown that poverty, combined with poor public health conditions, inadequate nutrition, overcrowded poor quality housing, lack of accessible drinking water and sanitation, renders communities vulnerable to ill health. Given the poor socio-economic conditions prevalent in the communities under investigation, it was not surprising that tuberculosis was most prevalent in all areas. In line with the premise of this study, there were instances that povertyrelated factors such as income, housing and nutrition had significant influences with regard to improvement in the quality of life. It became evident therefore that in certain instances, health, water, and sanitation services alone are not sufficient to make conclusive findings. Thus, the impact of povertyrelated factors such as income, housing and nutrition necessitate expansion of factors that impact on the quality of life to include their influence. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Goeie gesondheid is 'n belangrike vereiste vir sosiale, ekonomiese en persoonlike ontwikkeling, en dus ook 'n wesenlike aspek van 'n goeie lewensgehalte. Toegang tot goedere en dienste wat deur die staat voorsien word, het ook 'n beduidende invloed op lewensgehalte. Boonop het die toegang tot infrastruktuur en dienste soos water en sanitasie 'n direkte invloed op gesondheid. Die lewering van gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste verseker dus die bevrediging van basiese behoeftes, onderwyl arm gemeenskappe se gesondheidsprofiel en daarmee saam hul toegang tot werksgeleenthede verbeter word. Toegang tot veilige en skoon waterbronne en voldoende sanitasiedienste is gevolglik van die belangrikste gesondheidsbepalers. Gesondheidsverwante dienste soos water en sanitasie verseker 'n sekere gemiddelde lewensverwagting, en verminder die moontlikheid van wydverspreide siektetoestande. Met inagneming van die feit dat lewensgehalte deur talle faktore beïnvloed kan word, was die doel van hierdie studie om ondersoek in te stel na die invloed van gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste op die verbetering van lewensgehalte in arm gemeenskappe. Gevolglik is 'n vergelykende analise tussen areas met swak dienslewering en areas met bevredigende dienslewering uitgevoer. Op grond van die bevindinge word sekere voorstelle en aanbevelings gemaak wat kan dien as riglyne vir ontwikkelingsagentskappe ter bevordering van die lewensgehalte in arm gemeenskappe. Die navorsing was gegrond op 'n beperkte model van dienste (gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste) wat die verbetering van lewensgehalte in arm gemeenskappe beïnvloed. Die empiriese bevindinge van die studie toon aan dat hierdie dienste onvoldoende is om as basis te dien vir beslissende uitsprake oor ander aspekte van die opname. Die studie het 'n steekproef van 573 huishoudings in 6 gemeenskappe in die provinsies van die Oos-Kaap en Wes-Kaap in Suid-Afrika ingesluit. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 3 gemeenskappe met swak gesondheids, water en sanitasiedienste, en 3 gemeenskappe waar sulke dienste op 'n bevredigende vlak voorsien word. 'n Gestruktureerde vraelys is gebruik om die navorsingsinligting in te samel, wat deur die navorser en 'n opgeleide veldwerker toegedien is. Bykomende inligting is bekom deur 'n semigestruktureerde onderhoud met die verpleeghoof van 'n kliniek in 'n landelike gemeenskap. Die invloed van die verskillende veranderlikes op lewensgehalte is deur middel van basiese statistiese analise geëvalueer. Die resultate van die data-analise verleen 'n mate van steun vir die premis van die studie dat hoewel die voorsiening van gesondheid, veilige, skoon water en voldoende sanitasie tot 'n beter lewenstandaard kan lei, die uitwerking daarvan as sodanig nie alle vereistes insluit vir 'n beter lewenstaard nie, soos voorgestaan deur hoofstroom denkskole in die gesondheidsektor. Faktore wat met armoede verband hou moet ook in ag geneem word. Die studie se bevindinge dui dus daarop dat armoede, tesame met swak openbare gesondheidstoestande, onvoldoende voeding, gebrekkige behuising en swak water- en sanitasiegeriewe gemeenskappe meer kwesbaar maak. Weens die swak sosio-ekonomiese toestande in die gemeenskappe in die steekproef, is gevind dat tuberkulose wydverspreid voorkom. Alhoewel die studie se hipotese met betrekking tot verskeie aspekte bevestig is, was daar ook gevalle waar armoede-verwante faktore soos inkomste, behuising en voeding 'n beduidende rol gespeel het. Dit het dus geblyk dat gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste nie in alle gevalle voldoende is om swak lewensgehalte te verklaar nie. Dus sal die faktore wat op lewens kwaliteit 'n impak maak, uitgebrei moet word om vir die invloed van armoede-verwante faktore soos inkomste, behuising en voeding voorsiening te maak.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The motivation for this research study was the lack of available literature on Jewish seniors and the social support systems which enabled independent living. The aim of this research study is to provide guidelines for social work intervention with Jewish seniors by gaining a better understanding of the social support systems which promote the quality of their lives and independent living. To this end, both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. The research design was a non-experimental design using a survey research strategy. The knowledge purpose of the research design was exploratory/descriptive. The literature study gives an overview of demographic trends with special emphasis on population ageing and its influence on social policy and legislation within the South African context. In addition to describing the quality of life indicators and well-being in the older person, the literature study seeks to identify and describe the function of social support systems from a systems theory approach. This small scale social survey used a simple random sample of 30 Jewish seniors who were aged 60 years and above. The response rate was 80%. All were members of a volunteer-based community centre, Cape Jewish Seniors Association, Milnerton. The research instrument was a face to face interview using both closed and open ended questions. All but one interview took place in the participants’ homes. The results of the survey showed that the majority of Jewish seniors have matriculated and were financially independent. Most owned their own homes and were satisfied with their living arrangements. The majority of seniors lived independently and did not want to live with their children. Business/financial reasons and traumatic events were reasons for moving from an area while family and downsizing were reasons for moving to an area (push/pull factors). Most aged in place. Women outnumbered men and change in marital status was linked to increasing age. The majority of the participants enjoyed a high degree of social contact with, family and friends. The primary and secondary support systems of Jewish seniors and types of social support, showed few disparities to findings in the literature study. Most seniors did not use formal support systems. Financial independence, involvement in community organisations and having good health were perceived as enabling older persons to live independently within the community. Being very active in organisations, ageing in place and ownership of property are determinants of a very good quality of life. Having a state pension, widowhood and advancing age are factors that have the most negative impact on the older person’s quality of life. In light of the above, it is recommended that social work interventions with older persons take cognisance of the following: social participation in civic organisations vs. social isolation; ageing in place vs. long distance migration; financial independence vs. state pension grant; the marital status and age of the older person. As there is limited data on Jewish seniors, it is recommended that a national social survey of the Jewish senior population is undertaken.

M.Tech. (Architectural Technology) / A persons' well-being is characterized as health, happiness, prosperity and as being in a good state of existence. The way in which we maintain our body, by eating the correct foods to exercising on a daily basis, is an important part of maintaining our well-being. Medical authorities regard South Africa a shaving one of the healthiest environments and climates in the world. South Africans get to enjoy sport and outdoor activities, fresh fruit and vegetable sand some of the planets cleanest air (Health issues in South Africa 2011: [sp]). This however is not the case for many South Africans living in poor overcrowded conditions with the lack of basic facilities. Within the medical field are large areas of controversy, particularly with HIV/ AIDS treatments between Traditional medicine and Bio-medicine. The dissertation will not focus on the study of one specific ailment and space related to health care. Instead an attempt is made to create a space where a multitude of medical functions can operate and share space in a symbiotic relationship. This would ultimately create a place of well-being and healing, where public health can be re-invent for a broader audience through mixed use facilities, social interaction and nature. The investigation area of the dissertation takes place in Yeoville and the function of the building will examine the notion of a Mixed Use Healthcare Centre. The architecture will look at the human scale and needs whilst Nature will deal with form and function. The Design intervention attempts to dissect the existing healthcare system and inject new and fresh responses to the ailing problems in the industry. There are currently large gaps in the public and private sectors of South Africa as well as the dialog between Traditional medicine and Bio-medical practices (Richter 2003: [sp]). The concept of the intervention is to provide a closed loop Healthcare system where the project becomes self sustaining within the Social conditions, Function of space and the Well-being of people This will be done by investigating the existing typologies of healthcare systems in South Africa and by combining both Traditional Medicine and Bio-Medicine. This could allow a better communication network to establish between the two disciplines and provide more information about heath and well being to the public. The intervention can become a framework for future health care establishments where a multitude of functions can operate under one roof providing affordable treatment and advice to...

D. Tech. Civil Engineering. Tshwane University of Technology, 2011.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Of all the strategies available to help eradicate poverty and enhance the quality of life of people living in marginalized communities, the provision of a formal retail centre would not stand out as a number one strategy. Nevertheless, the Nomzamo Business Centre was built as part of a local economic development initiative to help local businesses to develop. The primary goal of this study was to establish whether the residents of Nomzamo perceived the development of the centre as a contributing factor towards improving the quality of their lives. Although the retail sector is well represented in these marginalized communities, in the form of spazas and other informal businesses, these businesses desperately lack the bearings of formality. The Nomzamo Business Centre provides a formal business premises at affordable rates, for local business people and gives them the opportunity to develop skills through business training courses and the provision of information. As the study concludes, the residents of Nomzamo perceived the centre as an enhancement towards their quality of live, even though many of them still do not make use of the centre. Established shopping habits are hard to brake especially if the centre does not provide any real magnetism. The centre failed to attract an anchor tenant and although Eskom's presence at the centre does provide some form of attraction, the benefits have not yet spilled over to the other shops. At this stage the Nomzamo Business Centre cannot be deemed a success. The centre fails to compete with local informal businesses. What is needed in most of these communities however is a change in the local economic structure. Local economies in most cases are retail based, with no or little representation in sectors like manufacturing. Although the Nomzamo Business Centre will not contribute much towards a more balanced local economy, it does provide the foundation for future changes to take place. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Van al die strategieë beskikbaar om te help met die uitwissing van armoede en die verbetering in die kwaliteit van lewe van mense wat in marginale gemeenskappe bly, sal die voorsiening van 'n formele kleinhandelsentrum beslis nie as 'n nommer een strategie bekend staan nie. Nogtans is die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum, geleë tussen die Strand en Gordonsbaai, gebou as deel van 'n plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkelingsinisiatief om plaaslike besighede te help ontwikkel. Die primêre doel van die studie was om vas te stel of die inwoners van Nomzamo, die ontwikkeling van die sentrum as 'n bydraende faktor in die verbetering van hul lewenskwaliteit waarneem. Alhoewel die kleinhandelsektor goed verteenwoordig is in die marginale gemeenskappe, in die vorm van spaza-winkels en ander informele besighede, ontbreek die besighede aan die nodige formaliteit. Die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum bied 'n formele besigheidperseel teen bekostigbare tariewe vir plaaslike besighede en gee hulle die geleentheid om vaardighede te ontwikkel, deur kursusse in besigheidsopleiding en die voorsiening van informasie. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die inwoners van Nomzamo wel die sentrum as 'n verbetering in hul lewenskwaliteit waarneem, selfs al maak meeste van hulle steeds nie gebruik van die sentrum nie. Gevestigde inkopie gewoontes is moeilik om te verander, veral as die sentrum geen werklike aantrekking bied nie. Die sentrum het misluk in die poging om 'n anker huurder te lok en alhoewel Eskom se teenwoordigheid by die sentrum, 'n vorm van aantrekking bied, het die voordele van Eskom se teenwoordigheid nog nie na ander winkels oorgespoel nie. Op hierdie stadium kan die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum nie as 'n sukses verklaar word nie. Die sentrum misluk om met plaaslike informele besighede mee te ding. Wat egter benodig word in die gemeenskappe is 'n verandering in die plaaslike ekonomiese struktuur. Plaaslike ekonomieë is in meeste gevalle op kleinhandel gebaseer, met min of geen verteenwoordiging in sektore soos vervaardiging nie. Alhoewel die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum nie sal bydra tot 'n meer gebalanseerde plaaslike ekonomie nie, bied die sentrum 'n platform vir toekomstige veranderinge om op plaas te vind.

The study was premised on the truism that men have historically served in higher echelons of organizational management structures and women are under-represented. The principal objective was to explore the constraints faced by women in accessing higher leadership and senior management positions in public, private and non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe. This study adopted the triangulation method, that is, qualitative and quantitative approaches. These mixed research methods, were upgraded by the feminist research methodologies, thereby making a contribution in the field of research. The study found out that the constraints that mostly hinder women from accessing leadership and senior management positions in public, private and NGOs were cultural practices, which represent levels of power and control that in turn hinder reforms; and women's socialisation into feminised roles. The study also found out that in most organisations, most females work under male leadership, and this traditional organisational culture, needs to be deconstructed and reversed in order to achieve gender equality. The study recommended for a human centric and integrated organizational management strategy for public, private and NGOs in Zimbabwe. The adoption of a human centric and integrated management approach should aim at gender equity and reduce women's under-representation. A human centred organizational culture has to be practiced, that would create organisational ethos that guide organizational management. An integrated organizational management approach should integrate all systems and processes into one complete framework, enabling people to work as a single unit, unified by organizational goals, shared vision and common values. The system should depend on a balanced mix of the masculine and feminine attributes. The approach should put its weight towards adoption of measures to attract, advance and empower women so as to benefit from their qualifications, experience and talent in a highly competitive environment.