Young people in rural areas bear the brunt of unemployment in South Africa. This is because many of them do not have access to the relevant opportunities and information needed to help them transition into adulthood roles and the labour market. The restricted access to opportunities poses as a threat to the successful transition and employability of these young people. This qualitative study explored perceptions of factors affecting employability among a select sample of youth that were not in education employment or training (NEET) from a rural community of Engcobo in the Eastern Cape Province. In-depth-individual interviews were conducted with 19 black African youth comprising of 8 males and 11 females between the ages 18 and 34 years. The research sought to explore the opinions of the youth to inform us of the factors they think influence their employability by adopting an Integrated Model of employability by McQuaid and Lindsey (2005). The study was important in order to gauge the voices of these youth regarding their employability. The researcher explored factors influencing the respondents' entry into employment, the factors useful to their gaining employment and personal experience of their unemployment status. The findings revealed that circumstances leading to youth's unemployment may differ, but the way in which youth experience unemployment remains the same whether young or old. The fact that young people experience unemployment the same shows that being NEET at one stage raises the likelihood of remaining in the NEET for a longer period. The respondents' unemployment status affected their behaviour and the way in which they saw themselves: as not contributing members to their families or society. The findings also revealed that rural young people are not employed mainly due to the scarcity of jobs in their local town. Their low levels of educational attainment and skills sets also played a role in this regard. Social networks play a major role in helping young people find information about employment; however this was restricted to a certain extent for rural youth as access to formal information systems is non-existent. The lack of formal information systems plays a major role in hindering the mobility of the youth, be it in education or finding employment. The factors identified were mostly as a result of personal circumstances that may have led them to leave school and external factors related to the labour market. The following recommendations were provided. Efforts to provide alternative educational and training opportunities to accommodate the lengthened transitions to adulthood of NEET youth from rural areas must be given priority. Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges can be used as a mechanism to achieve this. TVET Colleges must be responsive and cater for the needs of the communities and be more visible and accessible. Equally important is clarifying what options are available for young people in terms of technical, vocational education and training opportunities. As such TVET colleges have to find effective ways to share information with youth from rural areas about the programmes they offer and how to access these. Furthermore, relevant employment opportunities that are in line with the youth's needs and skills sets have to be considered. For instance the government could make agriculture and farming more popular amongst the youth in rural areas. This could be done by providing youth friendly services and information about the use of land. In addition to the use of social networks, formal information systems have to be introduced to rural areas to help facilitate job search. This could include information centres for young employment seekers and access to the internet to help expand their reach. Unemployment serves as a major form of exclusion for youth in society at large. This paper argues for a holistic approach that considers both structural barriers and young people's deficits to design interventions towards education, employment and training.

This study explored the perceptions and experiences of homeless people regarding welfare service provision by Khulisa Solutions, an NGO that provides services to homeless people in the Western Cape. To this end, using primarily a social development perspective, the study focused on five objectives: assessing the available services for homeless people related to shelter, food, employment and health services in general; exploring the perceptions and experiences of homeless persons in accessing welfare services at Khulisa; identifying the strengths and weaknesses of available services for the homeless as provided by Khulisa; examining if homeless people were aware of the services available to them, and assessing the overall challenges in service provision for the homeless. An exploratory qualitative methodology was used through the administration of 15 in depth face to face interviews using a semi-structured interview schedule. Purposive non-probability sampling selection was implemented focusing on homeless beneficiaries of Khulisa services and the Carpenters Shop an affiliate service provider to Khulisa. The findings of the study revealed that food services were the most accessible and reliable services to the homeless providing both stability and routine. Shelter services provided a physical and psychological haven as well as opportunities for employment and self-development. The access to shelter benefits was however, limited as the majority of participants found shelter services too expensive or that the shelters were structured to perpetuate the exclusion of homeless families. Participants showed extensive knowledge about where to access health care services which however did not translate into the frequent use of such services. Employment services were criticised for only providing temporary employment and not providing opportunities for skills development. Khulisa Solutions was highly commended for providing long term employment as well as involving beneficiaries in the growth of projects. Beneficiaries indicated a need for a similar emphasis and input on shelter service provision by Khulisa which was not their main focus of service delivery. Recommendations are made based on the findings of the study which are inclusive of solutions proposed by the participants.

This study was undertaken to explore perceptions of domestic violence interventions among women using the services of MOSAIC in Cape Town. The study sought to obtain the women’s expectations of the services at MOSAIC, the perceived beneficial and non-beneficial aspects of the services at MOSAIC as well as the suggestions towards the improvement of services at MOSAIC. The findings of the study could facilitate prioritisation and implementation of services that meet the needs of the clients and the improvement of services at MOSAIC. In this qualitative study, face-to-face interviews were conducted among 30 clients of MOSAIC who had attended four or more counselling sessions. The female victims of domestic violence from heterosexual relationships were aged between 19 to 70 years. The participants were selected using a non-probability, purposive sampling method. Data was collected using an interview schedule and recorded with a digital voice recorder. The interviews were conducted at a private venue in Parkwood and MOSAIC’ssatellite offices at Phillipi and Mitchells Plain. Tesch, (1990) eight steps of data analysis were used for analysing data. The findings of the study indicated that receiving counselling was the women’s main expectation of MOSAIC services. Other expectations included receiving emotional support and improved safety in the aftermath of the abuse. The perceived helpful aspects of MOSAIC services included; the availability of the social workers to offer support, the therapeutic relationship between the social workers and the clients, providing clarity and guidance through decision making, improved wellbeing, improved social relations, improved empowerment, supportive counselling and meeting safety needs. The unhelpful aspects of the services at MOSAIC including inconsistent working hours and a poor counselling environment were raised by participants who received assistance from one of the satellite offices. The suggestions for improvement of services at MOSAIC included offering privacy during counselling, co-treatment of substance abuse and domestic violence as well as interventions for different client groups. Other suggestions included increased resources for DV interventions, increased awareness about services at MOSAIC and assisting DV victims to obtain employment. The final suggestions for disclosure of abuse and help-seeking were extended to women in abusive relationships.

The South African statistics for child abuse, neglect, and death is extreme by international measures (UNICEF, 2016). Concurrently, skilled Social Workers are in demand in South Africa but subject to complex social dynamics while working under immense pressure (DHET, 2018; Calitz, Roux, & Strydom, 2014). The purpose of this study was to explore Statutory Social Workers’ perceptions and experiences of their Child Protection Work. The objectives of this study was to gain insight into the role, responsibilities and experiences of Statutory Child Protection Social Workers in order to identify their perceived challenges and rewards within the profession and to make recommendations to improve Statutory Child Protection Work. The study used a qualitative research design. A purposive non-probability sampling method was used to select the 19 respondents in this study. All respondents were Statutory Child Protection Social Workers from Government and Non-Government Child Protection organisations. The data was collected using a semi-structured interview schedule to conduct one-on-one interviews. The interviews were analysed using Tesch’s (2013) approach and NVIVO 12 data analysis software. Overall, the study found that while respondents experience challenges in their profession, there are rewarding aspects in Social Work that motivate them to continue in the work. More specifically, the study has found that the main responsibilities and roles of Statutory Child Protection Social Workers are embedded in the context of Statutory Social Work. In this context, Social Workers’ Child protection interventions are mandated by Social Work and Child Protection legislation to respond to social problems. Main social issues reported by respondents are poor parenting, substance misuse, gangsterism, domestic violence, school dropouts, unemployment, and teen pregnancies. The study revealed the importance of effective collaborative work with the stakeholders of Child Protection Work. Most respondents reported that collaborative work in Child Protection Work can be more effective when there are clearly defined roles and responsibilities and good working relationships between collaborators. The study found that there are both extrinsic and intrinsic aspects of the work that are perceived as challenging and rewarding for respondents. The most challenging extrinsic experiences of Social Work perceived by respondents are poor working conditions, namely: concern for safety, lack of resources to do the work, high caseloads and dissatisfaction with the salary. The most challenging intrinsic experiences perceived by respondents are lack of recognition received from collaborators, the public and government. The most rewarding extrinsic experiences of Social Work perceived by respondents are; support received at work and good working relationships and support received from colleagues. Intrinsic aspects experienced as most rewarding by respondents are; achievements at work, recognition received for their work, motivation to do SW and remaining in SW, and experiencing a sense of personal and professional growth in their work. Based on the results of the study, recommendations can be made to inform Social Work Practice (workers and employers), Social Work Education and Training, Government, and future Social Work research. The study found that self-care is an important coping mechanism for the respondents to manage emotional exhaustion and the challenges of the work. Respondents’ recommendations to employers include their plea for better resources, effective supervision, support and acknowledgement. Recommendations that respondents had for improvement of statutory child protection service delivery is; improved working relationships with collaborators and clarification of roles and responsibilities of collaborators, and a need for forums and networking. Recommendations that respondents had for Social Work education and training institutions included better preparation for the work while studying at university. The main recommendations that respondents echoed to government are justice for victims of abuse and neglect, better working conditions for Statutory Child Protection Social Workers and the inclusion of Social Workers’ voices when Child Protection policy and legislation is developed.

The aim of this quantitative research project was to explore developmental and life-course theories explaining antisocial behaviour among 413 young adults in the Western Cape, South Africa. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data among 135 youth from lower income communities in Cape Town. A further 278 responses were collected from undergraduate students from the University of Cape Town. The questionnaire included 6 psychological assessment tools that measured childhood adversity, deviant and anti-social behaviours, cognitions, and attitudes as well as pro-social functioning. The responses to the scales were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25, in attempts to answer four key research questions. The four research questions were centred around exploring childhood adversity, anti/pro social behaviours, and five different developmental and life-course theories within a South African context. The results showed that deviant behaviours increased as adverse childhood experiences increased, with physical neglect, witnessing domestic violence, and household incarceration as particularly strong risk factors. The findings also showed that some of the key features of each of the five theories in question could generally be applied to South African youth. Furthermore, there was evidence in this study that adaptive coping was linked to more prosocial attitudes, albeit the correlations were not particularly strong. Finally, findings suggested some issues with the validity of the assessment scales for deviance, antisocial and prosocial functioning in the South African context. This highlights a need for more research into context-specific and culturally relevant assessment scales in South Africa.

Bibliography: leaves 102-107. / The primary purpose of this study is to assess the needs, services and problems that are faced by elderly people at the six different neighbourhoods that constitute the village of Dzanani, in the Limpopo Province. This dissertation also provides the reader with an overview account of the research design as well as the research techniques, which were utilized in the fieldwork to gather information. The study is mainly qualitative, descriptive and exploratory in nature.

This study explored perceptions of work-related wellbeing among oncology social workers based in the private healthcare sector and in independent hospices in the Western Cape. The study aimed to explore the participants' understanding of the concept of work-related wellbeing, the possible promoting and inhibiting factors to work-related wellbeing and recommendations that they identified as important for the promotion of work-related wellbeing in oncology social work. This study employed a qualitative approach and it made use of an exploratory research design. Eighteen participants were selected, and the researcher used snowball sampling. In depth, one-to-one interviews were conducted online via the ‘Zoom' platform and the researcher made use of a semi-structured interview schedule. Qualitative research methods were used to analyse the data gathered from the interviews. This study revealed the complex nature of oncology social work, which is perceived to be a rewarding and challenging field of work. The findings revealed that work-related wellbeing is a multi-faceted concept, which can be promoted in several ways. Findings also revealed the factors which promote or inhibit the work-related wellbeing of oncology social workers. These were discussed according to organisational, occupational, psychological, and social factors. Participants discussed several key strategies that could be used to promote work-related wellbeing in the oncology social work context, which may mitigate against the onset of work-related stress and burnout. The most prominent strategies to emerge consistently in the findings refer to workplace social support, self-awareness, and reflective practice as well as the importance of practising self-care. The ability to find meaning in oncology social work was another significant promoting factor as it allowed the participants to derive satisfaction, and meaning from their work, notwithstanding the many challenges they face through working with death and dying. Participants had several recommendations to offer other oncology social workers and oncology organisations to promote work-related wellbeing. These were: workplace social support; selfcare; regular opportunities for continued professional development and training; as well as the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. Further recommendations were made to oncology organisations on the ways in which workplace social support could be encouraged and how regular opportunities for professional development and training could be offered to oncology social workers. Recommendations for future research are also discussed.

An exploratory, qualitative approach was adopted for this study. It was carried out on a sample of thirteen individual respondents using face-to-face, in-depth interviews. This sample group comprised of four educators, one school governing board member, three Non-Governmental Organisation representatives and five key informants from schoollinked and/or government institutions. Furthermore, the focus groups were conducted (two groups at School A and one group at School B). Semi-structured interview schedules were designed for the individual in-depth interviews and for the focus groups. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used in this study since respondents who could provide rich information were targeted. The main findings of this study were: That most of the respondents felt that schools act as a microcosm of the immediate environment. All respondents had been exposed to various types and forms of school violence. That respondents felt that government departments have fragmented service delivery with regards to safety measures and programming in schools. That all the respondents valued the Community Schools Model (CSM) for its potential to address the South African educational context. That NGO respondents were clear that some adaptations were needed for a CSM to be viable in reducing school violence. Finally, that this model has the potential for having a ripple effect into the adjoining communities. The main recommendations are: That the Department of Education needs a more comprehensive and updated policy on school violence. That a preliminary proposal for a Community-School Model to Reduce Violence was suggested. That immediate action and further research is to be undertaken for the growing problem of school violence.

Includes bibliographical references. / This study explores the social dimensions of mining activities in Kakanda, a mining city in the province of Katanga in the DRC. It investigates the social dimensions of mining activities in terms of community access to and utilisation of health services, education, and job creation. This study utilised a qualitative research approach to assess the sustainability of the livelihoods of people living in Kakanda and neighbouring communities. A total of 21 community members participated in the study, including women, men, the unemployed and mineworkers, as well as key informants. Key informant interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) were used to explore experiences and views with regard to mining activities in Kakanda. This study was theoretically informed by social cohesion theory, social capital theory, as well as empowerment theory. Findings were drawn from the responses of the participants, and analysed with reference to literature that have discussed similar issues. It was found that although mining activities have created new social and cultural forms and interconnections within communities, yet poverty is not alleviated or reduced, and people’s livelihoods are not sustainable. Good health services, education and employment are not yet guaranteed to all community members, which constitute a major threat to human development and the security for people in Kakanda and the surrounding communities.

This research study explored the perceptions of a group of young men that participated in a prison post-release programme implemented by Young in Prison South Africa (YiPSA) based in Cape Town, South Africa, that used primarily arts-based methods to engage the participants. It aimed to explore their perceptions of whether or not participating in the programme affected their attitudes and behaviour, with a particular focus on factors that are associated with desistance. It also aimed to explore which aspects of the programme they considered to be the most significant in affecting their attitudes and behaviours. The research was conducted using an evaluative case study approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 respondents that had participated in the programme between 2013 and 2015, in order to gain an understanding of their perceptions about how their behaviour had changed and what aspects of the programme they thought were most influential in bringing about these changes. The research found that nearly all the respondents reported that their behaviour had shifted to become more empathetic, and their life skills had improved, most particularly their communication skills. They also reported a decrease in criminal activity and changes in their aspirations to more prosocial ambitions as well as improved self-esteem and a newfound purpose. They also reported that they had experienced a shift in their identities, which many scholars believe is necessary for desistance to be maintained. They attributed these changes to a combination of various factors. This included the sense of belonging that they felt while participating in the programme, which was nurtured by the supportive relationships with staff and the non-judgemental environment. They also referred to learning new skills and exposure to new experiences, which were linked to the creative projects that they completed while attending the programme. The findings of the research indicate that the creative methods that were utilized were an effective way of engaging the young people when they left prison, as they appealed to their interests and gave them opportunities to learn new skills as well as practice behaviours that are associated with desistance. Recommendations are made for the Department of Correctional Service as well as nongovernmental organisations and social service professionals who are working with this target group.