Inadequate resources have always been suspected to be the main cause of persistent poverty and underdevelopment in many developing countries. Water is one such resource that is not readily available to many in South Africa. South Africa is a water-scarce country; access to adequate water provisions requires expensive infrastructure which can only be provided by the Government for most of the population. It is not certain whether there is a direct link between access to water and development or poverty alleviation. This study evaluated the impact that state water provision has on development especially in rural communities. The study concluded that there is indeed potential for community development where there is improved access to water. Findings further revealed the nature of several other variables that have significant roles in the relationship between access to government provided water and development. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

Intimate Partner Violence continues to be a significant social problem in South Africa, requiring a systematised and effective response at multiple levels. The organisation at the centre of this research offers crisis intervention to victims of intimate partner violence, providing basic psychological support, legal information and referrals. The volunteer crisis interventionists are exposed to numerous in-depth accounts of violent and distressing victimisation, making them more vulnerable to vicarious traumatisation. Through this work, their prior assumptions about personal safety, the trustworthiness of other people, and basic justice in the world, are challenged. The challenge to these assumptions increases the likelihood of countertransference victim blaming responses, as it is often easier to hold the client responsible for the tragic event than for the support worker to transform their own assumptions about safety and justice. This victim blaming response is supported by the dominant patriarchal ideology which frequently seeks to maintain the systems of oppression, excusing the perpetrator and placing responsibility on the victim. It was therefore clear that in order to do this work effectively, volunteers needed to be trained to identify their countertransference reactions and emotional responses, as well as undergo a critical re-assessment of their ideas relating to intimate partner violence and victimisation. Using an Intervention Research paradigm, this research designed and developed a training programme based on transformative learning theory, moving away from traditional information models of training to a focus on emotional skills and critical self-insight. The phases of the intervention refined the intervention in order to ensure that the research objectives were met and that the programme could be easily replicated. The evaluation of each phase showed an increased capacity for critical insight, and evidence for a transformative shift in the trainees understanding and approach to intimate partner violence.

Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2004 / In South Africa, an estimated 15 million people - 38% of our population - do not have adequate sanitation. Every citizen has a constitutional right of access to basic services, which local government has the responsibility to provide. In reality such provision to people living in poverty is a daunting development challenge, exacerbated by growing unemployment and the spread of unplanned informal settlements. On the other hand, increased government investment in accelerating provision is a significant opportunity to link sanitation delivery to local economic development, as suggested in the recently revised Water Services Strategy document (DWAF, 2003). There is evidence that these two aspects of national policy can be brought together fruitfully. Community involvement, described as "a commitment to building on people's energy and creativity" (WSSCC, 2001) is consistently advocated by international, national and local government (DPLG, 2001) as essential to sanitation provision. There is broad agreement that a community-based approach is the cornerstone of sustainable service provision. This research focused on the context of urban poverty in informal settlements, taking community responses to sanitation delivery by local authorities into account. Prevailing approaches have had limited success in preventing health hazards, which relies on community-level actions to deal with poor use, inadequate maintenance and dysfunction of such sanitation services as are provided. Implicit in the principles underlying the involvement of communities are substantial community-based roles and functions that the research seeks to make explicit. Diverse local level capacities emerge as quite distinct opportunities for residents to become more actively involved in improving and sustaining their sanitation services.

M.Sc. (Psychology) / Increasing attention has over the past decade been directed at sexual abuse in the form of media exposure and the formation of specialised units for the protection of children's rights. In this manner the South African Police Service have, since the first Child Protection Unit was formed in 1986, established units country wide in an attempt to erradicate this phenomenon. An overwiew of the literature makes it apparent that there are lots of conflicting opinions pertaining to sexual molestation. Not only do researchers differ in their definitions of sexual molestation but also on the incidence, typology and ethiology thereof. Flowing from the diverse and far reaching consequences suffered by the victim coupled to the accompanied legal and ethical aspects, child molestation presents as an extremely complex phenomenon to fully address. The Child Protection Unit of the South African Police Service thus appears to be the most appropriate place for the handling of child molestation because of the law inforcement context thereof. The goal of the study was thus to identify the needs of this unit in an effort to help the unit achieve the highest possible standards of effectiveness. To realise this study a phenomenological investigative method was used in the form of a need assessment questionnaire which was sent to the Johannesburg and Pretoria units. Data was collected in the form of completed questionnaires and was evaluated and interpreted in a qualitative manner. Needs determined, amongst others, were for more extensive training in specialised areas as well as a need for the direct involvement of a social worker and a psychologist at the Child Protection Unit. The above mentioned needs in conjunction with other identified needs and criticism voiced by the respondents, formed the basis for the recommendations proposed at the end of this thesis.

M.A. (Social Work) / In South Africa no scientific research has been carried out on the functions of national councils for disabled persons from a management orientated point of view. This dissertation deals with the functions of the five national councils for disabled persons, namely the councils for the blind, the deaf, the mentally handicapped, the physically handicapped and persons suffering from epilepsy. More specifically, the objectives of the research which preceded the writing of the dissertation were the following: to explore the functions of the five national councils for disabled persons. to construe the functions of the five national councils for disabled persons as management functions. to use Zetterberg's conceptual framework for scientific theorizing in an analysis of the functions. to determine how the status, objectives and functions of the aforementioned national councils may be made more purposeful. A literature study was undertaken to determine to what extent organisational and management theories are relevant to the national councils.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor in Public Management, Durban Universit of Technology, 2017. / HIV-AIDS has infected more than 37 million individuals globally and has resulted in approximately 35 million HIV-AIDS related deaths globally since its discovery 35 years ago. HIV-AIDS remains a global and local health crisis as, despite innovative and accessible HIV-AIDS prevention efforts, the disease continues to spread. UNAIDS estimated over 2 milliion new HIV-AIDS infections with 700 000 of these infections occurring in young African women in 2015, revealing that the burden of HIV-AIDS is far from over (UNAIDS, 2016). As more individuals become infected with HIV-AIDS, more infected individuals are living longer, productive lives due to the international rollout and scale-up of life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy aimed at halting disease progression. In 16 years, the world has initiated over 16 million HIV-infected individuals onto ARV programmes across the world aimed at preserving first line drug effectiveness of treatment, less resistance and lower mortality and morbidity rates( UNAIDS, 2016). This number is set to double as countries across the globe take bold steps to provide ARV treatment for all, based on latest WHO guideline changes. The initiative of ARV roll out for all HIV-positive individuals globally, brings with it the challenges and complexities of infrastructure support, resource allocation, uninterrupted drug supply, global access and clinical training requirements for HIV-AIDS programmes across the globe. Quality management systems with monitoring and evaluation frameworks in particular play a pivotal role in planning, allocating and utilising resources for optimal health benefits.This research study reviews available data on the prevalence of quality management systems in HIV-AIDS healthcare and identifies gaps and smart practises towards recommendations for comprehensive global HIV-AIDS standards development. This research study aims to propose a conceptual monitoring and evaluation framework derived from quality management systems for management of HIV-AIDS private sector programmes that can be used in both public and private healthcare sectors through analysis of current conceptual frameworks in the HIV-AIDS healthcare and the HIV-AIDS programmes within the South African context of HIV-AIDS healthcare provision. / D

M.A. (Social Science) / The aim of this study was to gain specific and further knowledge of disability so that people living with disability can be empowered and barriers can be challenged and removed. This would enable the researcher to understand the different barriers of disability and how people with disability cope. Barriers of disability are still a problem affecting people worldwide. People with disability suffer environmental barriers, economic barriers, political barriers, educational barriers, social barriers, cultural barriers and sports barriers, which all have a significant impact on them. They suffer barriers on a daily basis. For people with disability to become central and more functional, there is a need to remove these barriers. The orientation to the study in Chapter 1 gives an introductory overview of the background to the study, the aims and objectives, research methods and design, limitations, operational definitions of concepts and division of the study. Chapter 2 outlines the literature review and theoretical explanation, which is tabled to give an understanding of the different types of barriers and how to rise above these challenges, l.e. labelling, stereotypes and stigmatisation. Research design and methodology in Chapter 3 describes the population and location of the study, the sampling methods applied and the manner in which data was collected and analysed, ethical consideration and limitations. Chapter 4 outlines and evaluates the data collected. Results and interpretations are provided. The presentation includes the participants' biographic barriers they experience, the consequences people with disability suffer and how they cope with them. Chapter 5 highlights the conclusions drawn, as well as recommendations for people with disability, their families, societies, future researchers and social work as a profession and policy.

The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the general and emotional development of a sample of South African children between the age of five and eight years in residential care. More specifically, the study aimed to explore and describe the general level of development of a sample of children in residential care; to explore and describe the development of a sample of children in residential care in six areas of development; and to describe the emotional wellbeing of children in residential care. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was applied as the participants were comprised of children between the ages of 5 and 8 years housed at the residential care facility. The sample consisted of 11 children. The multiple case study method was used to achieve the aim of the study, using both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data consisted of scores obtained from the administration of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales - Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). The qualitative data was obtained from the Human Figure Drawing (HFD), participants’ scholastic progress reports, case reports from the residential care facility and clinical observations during the assessment period. The data was analysed according to thematic analysis. The results highlighted the pervasiveness of delays in all domains of child development of children housed in residential care, specifically that of language, social and emotional development. An important finding of the study was that decrements in these domains of development underpinned delays in the other domains of development since they form the foundation of learning and relating to the world. The study served to emphasize the importance of consistent developmental assessment in order to ascertain whether these children present with developmental delays and, if so, to xv identify which areas of development are most affected. Information from the developmental assessments could assist in the early identification of developmental delays and allow for individually tailored interventions to overcome such delays.

There were different kinds of imbalances that were created by the past regime in which race and colour were determining factors in terms of access to state welfare. The State Maintance Grant was one of the state welfare interventions where African women did not even know how or where to access the grant. When the Child Support Grant was introduced in 1998 it gave hope to the vulnerable section of the society, the children. The CSG is one of the poverty alleviation programs introduced by the government to target the poverty stricken children of South Africa. This is a means tested program which not all children are to benefit but a certain portion of the society. There are special conditions attached to the grant which require to be fulfilled. These conditions require the child to be fed, clothed, immunized, school needs be paid, and have proper accommodation. This study made use of the Mdantsane Township which is 25 km away from East London city centre as a case study to determine whether the CSG has managed to achieve its objective of relieving poverty among children, given the conditions of poverty and unemployment in Mdantsane. The findings of this study indicate that the people of Mdantsane are still in poverty and the most affected sections remain the children. The respondents indicate that the people are unemployed as a result the CSG seems to be the source of livelihood in these households leaving the children at a disadvantage as the grant is intended for x their own needs. Therefore there is a need to investigate whether the CSG has any impact on the lives of these children. Also since Eastern Cape is known to be one of the poorest provinces, it is important to investigate whether the CSG has become the source of livelihood in some households.

The study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of social support mechanisms provided to HIV and AIDS orphans in Tembisa, Gauteng Province. An interview guide was designed and it guided the in-depth interviews with HIV and AIDS affected and infected orphans. In addition, a focus group was run with the social workers and the children‟s caregivers. Empirical findings gathered were based on the qualitative information from the participants. The findings indicated that social support systems were effective although there were various challenges facing their smooth running. Firstly social support provided to orphans is mainly provided by caregivers, social workers, schools and the government. Secondly for some, the support is not entirely enough to help them cope with life. The minority of the orphans indicated that they were not even aware that they were orphaned. The study therefore recommends that social workers and caregivers be trained on how to be effective social support systems for HIV and AIDS orphans. Furthermore psycho-social support groups need to be more informational and inclusive of HIV and AIDS orphans.