Hunger currently plagues over one billion people around the world, leaving mainly women, children and rural communities in post-colonial developing countries unable to obtain their most basic need for nutrition. The fundamental human right to food is found to be a complex human right involving a combination of both positive and negative duties by states and international institutions in order for its guarantee. Hunger is not only remediable but is highly preventable. Main causal factors of hunger are outlined, with a focus on Thomas Pogge’s claim that coercive international institutions are largely responsible for world poverty. In this way, global institutions are responsible not to cause harm in their economic policies and unfair trade rules in order for individuals to obtain economic access to food and thus remedy their hunger.

The research attempts to establish how an identification parade should be conducted, for evidence derived from it to be admissible in court. To conduct effective investigation, it is important for investigators to be familiar with the concept “identification parade”, its purpose, the procedures to conduct it and its values. To achieve the goals and objectives of the practice of an identification parade, investigators must know how to conduct it, what the value of its evidence is, and how to use it as a technique to identify suspects. The direction, by implication, and clarification of the crime situation, is hardly possible without the determination of the identity of the perpetrator or suspect of a criminal act. The recognition of the identification parade as a form of evidence gathered is of the utmost importance. / Criminology / Thesis (M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation))

Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

For years social workers have been involved in the investigation of child abuse cases, which includes the sexual abuse of children. The forensic social worker primarily engages with the investigation of child sexual abuse allegations and their involvement begins when a criminal case of alleged child sexual abuse is registered with the police. The core function of forensic social workers is to objectively assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the judicial system during the investigation of crimes against children, which includes cases of alleged sexual abuse of babies. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the forensic social worker in cases of sexual abuse of babies in the Boland. A qualitative research procedure was followed and data was gathered through in-depth interviews with three state prosecutors working in regional courts in Worcester, Ceres and Paarl. In-depth interviews were also conducted with three SAPS forensic social workers in these areas. The results of the investigation were summarised according to certain themes. The results of the study indicate that the successful prosecution and conviction of offenders of the sexual abuse of babies are limited, because a baby is unable to deliver testimony. The crucial role of the qualified forensic social worker in the investigation of these cases was highlighted in the study. The participants found the thorough investigation of collateral sources and the interpretation of information gathered by forensic social workers of great value. As an expert witness the forensic social worker can therefore play a prominent role in the conviction of offenders of sexual abuse of babies. / Thesis (MA (SW (Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

For years social workers have been involved in the investigation of child abuse cases, which includes the sexual abuse of children. The forensic social worker primarily engages with the investigation of child sexual abuse allegations and their involvement begins when a criminal case of alleged child sexual abuse is registered with the police. The core function of forensic social workers is to objectively assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the judicial system during the investigation of crimes against children, which includes cases of alleged sexual abuse of babies. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the forensic social worker in cases of sexual abuse of babies in the Boland. A qualitative research procedure was followed and data was gathered through in-depth interviews with three state prosecutors working in regional courts in Worcester, Ceres and Paarl. In-depth interviews were also conducted with three SAPS forensic social workers in these areas. The results of the investigation were summarised according to certain themes. The results of the study indicate that the successful prosecution and conviction of offenders of the sexual abuse of babies are limited, because a baby is unable to deliver testimony. The crucial role of the qualified forensic social worker in the investigation of these cases was highlighted in the study. The participants found the thorough investigation of collateral sources and the interpretation of information gathered by forensic social workers of great value. As an expert witness the forensic social worker can therefore play a prominent role in the conviction of offenders of sexual abuse of babies. / Thesis (MA (SW (Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Background: The success achieved with the South-African Police Service’s generic Personnel Capacity-Building Programmes contributed to a 2003 decision by the National Commissioner that a similar type of intervention should be included in the basic training of SAPS recruits. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme. This programme is, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually and is presented on a bi-annual basis. A comprehensive study into the programme’s short-term and long-term effect and return on investment (ROI) was launched in 2004. This thesis will report on the results achieved with the measurement of the programme’s human relation and health maintenance components. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Self-Management Programme’s human relations and health maintenance modules on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS recruits, as well as the programme’s return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 520 recruits (400 for the experimental groups and 120 for the control groups) per module. This was supplemented by qualitative research in which 91 recruits participated in various focus groups. The modules and programme was also subjected to a structured and comprehensive return on investment analysis. Results: Through the triangulation of measurements it was ascertained that the human relations and health maintenance modules had a practical significant effect on the recruits’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour and empowered them on both a personal and a professional level. The ROI analysis also showed that the programme was of considerable financial benefit to the SAPS and should remain as an integral part of all new recruits’ training in the future. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Background: The success achieved with the South-African Police Service’s generic Personnel Capacity-Building Programmes contributed to a 2003 decision by the National Commissioner that a similar type of intervention should be included in the basic training of SAPS recruits. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme. This programme is, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually and is presented on a bi-annual basis. A comprehensive study into the programme’s short-term and long-term effect and return on investment (ROI) was launched in 2004. This thesis will report on the results achieved with the measurement of the programme’s human relation and health maintenance components. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Self-Management Programme’s human relations and health maintenance modules on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS recruits, as well as the programme’s return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 520 recruits (400 for the experimental groups and 120 for the control groups) per module. This was supplemented by qualitative research in which 91 recruits participated in various focus groups. The modules and programme was also subjected to a structured and comprehensive return on investment analysis. Results: Through the triangulation of measurements it was ascertained that the human relations and health maintenance modules had a practical significant effect on the recruits’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour and empowered them on both a personal and a professional level. The ROI analysis also showed that the programme was of considerable financial benefit to the SAPS and should remain as an integral part of all new recruits’ training in the future. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The research attempts to establish how an identification parade should be conducted, for evidence derived from it to be admissible in court. To conduct effective investigation, it is important for investigators to be familiar with the concept “identification parade”, its purpose, the procedures to conduct it and its values. To achieve the goals and objectives of the practice of an identification parade, investigators must know how to conduct it, what the value of its evidence is, and how to use it as a technique to identify suspects. The direction, by implication, and clarification of the crime situation, is hardly possible without the determination of the identity of the perpetrator or suspect of a criminal act. The recognition of the identification parade as a form of evidence gathered is of the utmost importance. / Criminology and Security Science / Thesis (M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation))

In the current study, SAPs of cationic monomer [2 - (Methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride have been prepared by free radical solution polymerisation with different crosslinkers. They were subjected to repeated cycles of swelling and de-swelling in DI water and NaCl solution. The conductivity of the swelling medium was measured and related to the swelling/de-swelling characteristics of the SAPs. The swelling capacity was also determined in saline solution. The swelling and de-swelling processes were described by first-order kinetics. The SAPs exhibited varied swelling capacity for crosslinkers of the same functionality as well as different functionality. The SAPs were used to adsorb, the dye Orange G at different initial concentrations of the dye. The equilibrium adsorption data followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The SAPs were also used to adsorb three other dyes, Congo red, Amido black and Alizarin cyanine green. They exhibited different adsorption capacity for different dyes. The adsorption phenomenon was found to follow first order kinetics. In the later part of the study, the co-monomers of [2 - (Methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride with zwitter-ionic monomers [2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide and [3-(Methacryloylamino)propyl]dimethyl(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide inner salt were prepared in turns at two different concentrations. The effect of the addition of the zwitter-ionic monomers and their concentration of the swelling capacity and dye adsorption capacity was studied. There was no effect on the swelling capacity of the polymers due to either the species of the zwitter-ionic monomer or their concentration. However, there was a reduction in soluble content of the polymers. The dye adsorption capacity decreased at the higher concentration of the zwitter-ionic monomer.

Rape is a serious highly prevalent crime committed every day around the world, and affects both men and women. Rape victims must report the incidence to the police, and often the police they report to are male law enforcement officers. Yet many people in South Africa, including male law enforcement officers, do not fully accept that males can be and are victims of rape. So far there has been significantly little research into the reporting of male rape. Thus a qualitative research study on the attitudes of male law enforcement officers towards male rape victims was conducted. Social constructionism was taken as a theoretical starting point to the formal literature. The formal literature itself deals with male rape, how it is perceived, understood and misunderstood by society at large and specifically, by male law enforcement officers. The myths and truths, as well as stigmas associated with male rape are also explored. The impact of gender issues such as gender identity, gender roles and gender stereotypes are explored in-depth as they contribute to attitudes held by male law enforcement officers. Six male law enforcement officers from a Johannesburg police station participated in this study. Every one of them had had a certain amount of experience in the SAPS dealing with rape and rape victims. The researcher identified themes dealing with male rape victims from the literature, and interviewed the participants according to these themes using a semi-structured and structured format. The interviews were coded and analysed in a manner that allowed the themes, which were informed by the literature, to surface from the interview data itself. This is consistent with the qualitative tradition of psychological research. It was found that, male law enforcement officers’ attitudes towards male rape victims influence the way they think about and perceive these victims. It is very likely that this influence has a negative impact on the psychological well being of the male rape victim. It was also found that many male rape victims do not report their victimisation to the police as they fear they will not be taken seriously, they will be laughed at or even ridiculed. The law enforcement officers confirm that the stigma and shame of male rape victims compound their experience, making it traumatic and nearly impossible for them to process. The researcher believes that a change in these attitudes can lead to a change in the way male rape victims are perceived and treated by law enforcement officers, as well as by society as a whole. Further study into the role of cultural beliefs concerning masculinity and gender roles in the South African context can contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of male rape, and can be integrated into the current intervention models used to treat these victims. / Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted