Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.P.D.) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

Bibliography: pages 112-113. / There are problems concerning citizen participation in projects especially in the NICRO-Vaal Service. This study reviews participation of community residents in establishing a Welfare Service for crime prevention and rehabilitation of offenders in the Vaal-Triangle Area. Participation is reviewed with special reference to the beneficiaries of the service. The study has al so reviewed the history of citizen participation, as well as the different models and modes of participation in projects. Participation in the NICRO-Vaal Service is divided into two categories. There is participation by community residents who are interested in the project because there has never been a service that was specifically concentrating on prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families and crime-prevention programmes in the area. These community residents have been receiving guidance from the National Council for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders. They formed a committee which is still administering NICRO Services in the area. The second category of participation, is participation by the beneficiaries of the service. Service beneficiaries have been attending all meetings where they were invited by the committee. They endorsed the committee's activities, but they have never been actively involved in NICRO Services. This became clear when the transport services that were organized for the families of prisoners, were administered at a loss. This is indicating that there is "limited" participation from the beneficiaries' si.de. They are still not active in NICRO Services in general. The hypothesis in this study is, "A Service that 1S established without the beneficiaries' involvement is consequently weakened". Both primary and secondary resources of information are used. The information pertaining to the history of the project was obtained from the records of the National Council for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NICRO) and the Minutes of the NICRO-Vaal Services Committee. Information from the beneficiaries of the service was obtained by administering an interview schedule to families of prisoners. The study's hypothesis has been confirmed. The study concludes by proposing an alternative model of participation. Human service organizers will benefit from the study's findings by learning different strategies and modes of starting a project.

Bibliography: pages 136-148. / The thesis attempts to address the dubious statement of conventional community development that the approach is neutral. The central question asked was 'Is community development a value neutral approach established to meet the needs of communities or does it have another function?' Arguing that no approach that deals with people and which was specifically formulated by persons in a definite ideological context can be neutral, the author then sets about proving that the community development approach is closely aligned to the conservative structural functionalist perspective. An analysis was made of the central tenets of the structural functionalist position and central themes of community development examined as to the basis of their assumptions. It became obvious that a very close correlation exists between the community development approach and the structural functionalist position. Once this had been established the broader ramifications of working within this theoretical position were explored. A number of observations were made in this regard. It was argued that community development could never achieve its goals while working within this framework as it failed to address the real structural problems in society. In supporting the existing social order, the emphasis is shifted away from society as a cause of problems and emphasis, incorrectly, placed on individual communities. Persons are thus expected to find solutions to problems they had no part in causing. Thus, within a South African context, a status quo is supported which propagates inequality, injustice and social deprivation. It was then argued that an alternate approach should be sought which addresses the fundamental social problems. A starting point for this approach could be an acceptance on the part of the community development approach of its inherent political nature and clarification as to how this effects the approach. It was suggested that in the South African context exponents should take their lead from the oppressed communities and their expression of need. One such pointer was the Freedom Charter which was drawn up in 1955 by a democratic grouping of the population. In order to give substance to the theoretical argument the arguments were focussed on a rural South African community where research was conducted.

Bibliography: pages 153-156. / The study investigates Kwa Mashu Family and Child Welfare Society, a welfare organization providing child welfare services to the community of Kwa Mashu. This organization interacts with other organizations that serve the interests of the child. The study investigates the Kwa Mashu Family and Child Welfare Society as it interacts with other organizations in the provision of Child Welfare Services. The study was motivated by the earnest desire of the organization to find out from the community of Kwa Mashu how the latter views the society in the midst of changing circumstances within the Township. The study is descriptive and exploratory, it explores and describes the child welfare field. It addresses the development of this field and demonstrates how the political priorities affected child welfare provision in South Africa. The study also gives a brief profile of Kwa Mashu Township in which the society operates. In the analysis of Kwa Mashu Family and Child Welfare Society special attention is given to the structure of the organization and the channels of communication within the organization and between the organization and the community. The study investigates the views and opinions of 50 community organizations operating within Kwa Mashu. The study discovered that these organizations had a variety of views about Kwa Mashu Family and Child Welfare Society. The major discovery was that although the community organizations are aware of Kwa Mashu Family and Child Welfare Society they are unaware of the services offered.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

This thesis is concerned with the contribution of practising planners, working in town or urban planning departments, to social wellbeing. It is concerned with what planners do, how they conceptualise the application of town or urban planning practice to social issues, and what they think about their role in achieving social outcomes in a place. The general question is initially addressed through an introductory story and then via a content analysis of recent regional strategic plans. This is followed by a review of town planning literature on social issues, particularly literature concerned with small areas such as villages and neighbourhoods and which treat urban areas as a series of villages or neighbourhoods. The work is further advanced by a discourse analysis of the use of the word community, as a noun and as an adjective, in a series of planning reports. Recent literature on community development, community consultation and sustainability principles is also reviewed for its contribution to the way in which planners address social issues. On the basis of findings from this work, five research propositions are developed. These are explored through a survey of practising planners. The research propositions are explored in a number of questions so as to search for consistency and establish the reliability of the results. The same questionnaire is also administered to a class of fourth year student planners as a control. Four of the five research propositions are demonstrated by the survey results. The results suggest that practising planners have a knowledge and skill shortfall in the area of applying planning practice to achieving social outcomes. However, the results also demonstrate that most planners think that community building is part of their role, they have a realistic appreciation of their skills and are open to new ideas and learning opportunities. The concluding section of the thesis makes a series of suggestions for responding to the shortfall and developing planners� knowledge and skills relevant to community building.