Social Work / MA(SS)(MENTAL HEALTH)

Social Work / MA(SS)(MENTAL HEALTH)

M.Tech. (Architectural Technology) / This dissertation is rooted within the process of analysing and understanding the dynamics of the context, from which principles can be drawn. The project is founded with the aim to address the harsh edges between Kliptown informal settlement and Kliptown CBD, which are physically separated by railway tracks. This dissertation identifies the context as the ‘bank’ of design informants. Thus it forces the author to undergo a critical analysis of the context. The proposed site (Kliptown) forms a comprehensive layer of history, which has over time influenced both physical development and movement of the site. The project propose a physical intervention in a form of a bridge over the railway tracks in attempt to connect the two areas. The author engaged with the context to establish program for the architectural intervention. The education gap was established within the informal settlement, which was then used to establish the program for the intervention. The average shack size of 15 square meters is never enough for learners to do they school work after schooling hours, thus the proposed programme of the physical bridge forms part of the bridging concept. The program is more about bridging the educational gap within the context.

Summaries in English, Afrikaans, Tsonga and Zulu / This study was driven by an observation by the Chaplain’s office in the Soweto East Cluster and its satellites for the need of a practical theological coaching intervention between the SAPS management and officers on the ground. The coaching intervention mentioned above would be focused largely on the challenge of the mental anxiety caused by the nature of work carried out by the SAPS in relation to its intentions to make the nation a more safe and secure environment for the citizens of South Africa. Naturally, the men and women who staff the SAPS are as human as the rest of us and therefore their state of mental health must not be separated from the rest of the nation. While the intervention is seen as necessary, it is not a replacement of other highly specialised interventions within the SAPS; it must be considered as complementary in the context of a socio- scientifically informed Practical Theology. The Zenith of Its contribution is therefore an attempt to harness the spirituality of officers in concurrence with the psychological and emotional aspects of their work. The study proceeds from the assumption, ‘no work unit is an island,’ thus, it argues for a dynamic synthesis of a practical-theological and psychological interaction of resources in the context of a systems thinking framework. While there are no rigid patterns in the dynamic work of the SAPS, an informed coaching mechanism will provide an informed theoretical synthesis for a robust on-the-ground decision-making process when urgently called upon. This study contends that, this is a paradigm shift from the traditional patterns of top-down management that so often lead to crises situations. The Chaplain’s office is seen as a strategic partner in this initiative given its non-threatening placement within the SAPS systems of work in relation to highly specialised services. / Hierdie studie was gedryf deur n waarneming by die kapelaan se kantoor in die Soweto Oos area en die satelliet kantore vir 'n behoefte van n praktiese teologiese afrigters intervensie tussen die SAPS bestuur en offisiere op grond vlak. Die afrigters ingryping bo genome, sal grotendeels fokus op die uitdaging van geestelike angstigheid veroorsaak deur die omvang van die werk wat gedoen word deur SAPD in verwantskap met die bedoeling om vir die nasie n veilige en beskermde omgewing te skep vir all inwoners van Suid Afrika. Die mans en dames is natuurlik net menslik soos die res van ons en daarom kan hulle geestelike gesondheid nie geskei word van die res van die nasie nie. Terwyl die ingryping noodsaaklik is is dit nie 'n vervanging van ander hoogs gespesialiseerde intervensies in die SAPD nie. Dit moet beskou word as 'n bydraende faktor in die konteks van wetenskaplike praktiese teologie. Die impak van die bydra is dus 'n poging om die geestelike welstand van offisiere te beheer in samewerking met die psigologiese en emosionele aspekte van hulle werk. Die studie beweeg van uit die aanname dat geen werk 'n eiland is nie. Dit argumenteer dat dinamiese samewerking van praktiese en psigologiese interaksie van bronne in die konteks van 'n system denke raamwerk. Terwyl daar geen vasgelêde patrone is in die dinamiese werk van die SAPD nie, sal 'n ingeligte afrigters meganisme help om n ingeligte teoretiese sintese vir 'n ernstige grond vlak besluitnemings proses te hê wanneer dit gevra word. Hierdie studie gaan van die veronderstellings dat n paridigma skuif geneem word van die tradisionele patrone van bestuur van bo na onder wat meestal lei tot krieses bestuur. Die kapelaan se kantoor word gesien as a strategiese vennoot in hierdie initiatief siende dat dit nie intimiderend geplaas is binne die SAPS systeem van werk in verhouding met hoogs gespesialiseerde dienste. / Lolu cwaningo lwasungulwa emveni kokuthi ihovisi likaChaplain elikwisifunda sase Mpumalanga ne Soweto laqaphela ukuthi abasebenzi abangamaphoyisa badinga usizo ngokwesimo somqondo-nkolo kuwo wonke amazinga okusebenza. Lokhu kususwa yimiqondo-simo ababa kuyona njalo uma bebhekana nezinselelo zomsebenzi wabo ezibhekene nokuphephisa isizwe. Lolu sizo abaludingayo kumele lubhekane nokuthi nabo bangabantu njengabo bonke abantu. Loluhlelo alubukeli phansi ezinye izinhlelo ezikhona embuthweni wamaphoyisa kodwa luzama ukuncedisana nazo zonke ezinye izinhlelo ezihlose ukulekelela isimo mqondo sabasebenzi bokuvikela umphakathi. Lengxenye yohlelo ibheke kakhulu ekulungiseni isimo somqondo ngakwezomoya. Loluhlelo lukulungele ukubheka wonke amacala esimo mqondo ngokwesimo sempilo, isimo sokholo kanye nayo yonke eminye imixhantela ebukeka inomthelela ekulungiseni noma ekukhuliseni impilo-mqondo yamaphoyisa. Lobu budlelwano bubukeka buhlukile kunalobu obujwayelekile ngoba buvula amathuba okuthi amaphoyisa abe yingxenye yohlelo olungawasiza abe engaphoqelekile ukuba yingxenye yalolohlelo. Ngokuthi ihovisi likaChaplain alikhethi macala yingakho lobuhlobo bubukeka sengathi bungaba nemiphumela emihle kunezinye ezike zabakhona ngaphambilini. / Dyondzo leyi yi hlohloteriwe hi leswi nga lemukiwa hi hofisi ya Mufundhisi-Wa-Maphorisa eka muganga wa Soweto-Vuxa ni swiyenge leswi va tirhisanaka na swona, va vona ku pfumaleka ka nghenelo-mpfuneto wa vudzaberi lebyi nga ni dyondzo yo khomeka ya ntivo-vukwembu exikarhi ka vufambisi bya vukorhokeri bya xiphorisa bya Afrika-Dzonga ni maphorisa entirhweni. Vudzaberi lebyi hlayiweke laha henhla a byi ta va byo xiyisisa hi vuenti ntlhontlho wa ku karhateka ka miehleketo loku vangiwaka hi muxaka wa ntirho wa xiphorisa mayelana ni ku tiyimisela ka xona ku pfuneta ku vumba rixaka leri hlayisekeke, leri nga ni ntshamiseko. Hambi leswi vudzaberi lebyi byi nga bya nkoka, a byi fanelanga ku bakanyela e tlhelo ni ku teka ndhawu ya mimpfuneto yin'wana leyo hlawuleka leyi se yi nga ku tirheni exiphoriseni, kambe byi fanele ku voniwa tanihi ndlela yo seketela hi ku languta hi ku katsakanya dyondzo yo khomeka ya Ntivo-vukwembu leyi nga ni risima hi ku languta ntshamo wa vutomi lowu tiyisisiweke hi vumbhoni bya xisayense. Xikongomelo-nkulu xa mpfuneto lowu i ku ringeta ku tiyisa vutomi bya ximoya bya maphorisa hi ku tirhisana ni miehleketo na ku titwa ka vona entirhweni. Dyondzo leyi yi pfelela eka ku teka tanihi ntiyiso ntshaho lowu nge 'ku hava xiphemu xa ntirho lexo kotisa xihlala ku tiyimela xoxe', hi ndlela leyi, ntshaho lowu wu koxa leswaku ku va ni ku katsakanya swiyenge swo hambana hambana. Hambi leswi ku nga ri ki ni mikhuva yo nonohela ncinco exiphoriseni, ndlela ya vudzaberi lebyi fambisanaka ni vutivi yi ta tisa matirhelo ya vutlhari yo pfuneta ku teka swiboho leswi vupfeke loko ku va ni xilaveko xa sweswo. Dyondzo leyi yi ri xikolo-kolo leswi i ku cinca lokukulu ni ku dzuvula ku huma eka mikhuva ya xikhale ya muxaka wa vufambisi byo kombetela hi tintiho, swi nga swona leswi vangaka swiyimo swa mintlimbo ni nkelunkelu. Hofisi ya Mufundhisi-Wa-Maphorisa yi voniwa tanihi mukondleteri wa nkoka eka xipimanyeto lexi hi ku ya hi ndzima leyi boxiwaka hi hofisi leyi hi ku pfumala nxungeto eka matirhelo ya xiphorisa ya vukorhokeri byo hlawuleka ni bya risima. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning, Johannesburg 2016 / The spatial transformation project in post-Apartheid South Africa aims to change the alienating urban form that resulted from planning policies based on racial segregation. Johannesburg’s municipal government aims to capitalise on its investment on the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), through the principles of Transit Oriented Development (TOD), to catalyse densification and diversification of land uses along the Rea Vaya’s corridors. This research sought to discover whether these objectives are being realised in Diepkloof and Orlando East, Soweto. In order to answer the research question, the results of a qualitative survey of people residing around these stations were analysed in conjunction with GIS data and records of Town Planning applications for properties located around BRT stations. The following findings emerged: the rate of densification has intensified but remains constrained mainly because of restricted access to finance; land-uses have remained the same but with increased activity levels. All spatial development strategies in the study area need to be aligned to the principles of TOD. This research hopes to achieve two things. Firstly, enrich the scarce literature on spatial transformation through transit investments, particularly the BRT in South African Townships. Secondly, guide spatial planning policies in similar contexts across the country / XL2018

Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand / AC 2018

The broader aim of this study is to see how these challenges can be dealt with the objective of making public spaces that is meaningful to residents in socially complex and economically challenged areas. The study illuminates the challenges in designing a typology that is as open and volatile as public open space, and in particular the square, that is, conceived space. It also seeks to understand what form public open space and social spaces take on, and how they are used in ways that are peculiar to the township context. the research seeks to establish design concepts to develop WSSD through involvement of the community and being more responsive to its context, can become a meaningful space. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version]

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The changing structures of family and the increase in number of orphans are progressively becoming noticeable both nationally and internationally. A growing number of South African children are left without parents who can provide them with basic needs and emotional care and support. The influence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the lives of children and adolescents who have lost one or both parents because of it. Orphans living in child-headed households within underprivileged communities are amongst the most vulnerable children and there is a need to stimulate broad-based discussion, and heighten awareness of and sensitivity to their plight, special needs and rights. This study aims to explore and describe the lived psycho-educational experiences of Grade 7 child-headed orphans in a primary school in Soweto and the support programmes available. It also aims to stimulate interest amongst other role players within government, agencies and communities to assist in addressing the situation of these learners through effective intervention strategies. The researcher has made use of a qualitative, phenomenological case study research design. Data was gathered through individual interviews, focus group interviews and the written life essays/stories, analysed according to Tesch’s method of open coding. The findings of this research revealed that the Grade 7 child-headed orphans’ psychological experiences included anger, sadness, lack of trust and need for love, while their educational experiences included performance in class and transition to high school. They also indicated how they experienced support by School Based Support Team (SBST), teachers, peers, community and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs). The results of the study led to the formulation of recommendations which are intended to heighten awareness via the Department of Education (DoE) and stimulate interest amongst role players, such as school counsellors, educational psychologists and social workers, who are assisting these vulnerable children.

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / Education must be seen as dynamic, that is responding to the demands made on it by science, technology and society. According to Fay (1975: 19) natural science has provided men with a certain kind of knowledge by means of which they can control their natural environment by making it more hospitable and more productive. It is for this reason that technology and science are seen as exercising a great influence on our daily lives. Changes in the nature of high school population and the geometrically - increasing quantity of scientific knowledge are identified as causes leading to the changes in the high school Biology; curriculum (Falk, 1971: 21). The introduction of the new senior Biology syllabus to Soweto secondary schools should be seen as a reaction to changes in the nature of scientific knowledge. According to a report of a Workshop held by SCISA (Science Curriculum Initiative for South Africa) at Michael house, 11-12 January 1989, it was realized that the current syllabus, and syllabus development and implementation processes are "out of balance and in need of review, This implies that the current syllabus fails to meet the needs of the learner as well as those of society.

M.Comm. / The growth and development of the small. medium and microenterprise (SMME) sector is acknowledged by most interest groups and policy makers as being of critical importance to South Africa's ability to address the serious problems of unemployment. However research that has been conducted recently shows that the major factor that impedes the establishment and success of businesses is the lack of capital. which is ascribed to a lack of own funds and a lack of assets, especially fixed assets. which could serve as security-to obtain loans and bank overdrafts. Further. current levels of investments in SMMEs are inadequate for achieving the growth levels anticipated in the GEAR strategy. This problem is even more prevalent mainly in the areas of the previously disadvantaged. The purpose of this dissertation is therefore to identify the role of commercial banks in financing SMMEs in the Greater Soweto. This purpose stems from the fact that SMMEs have a major role to play in the South African economy in terms of employment creation. income generation and output growth. SMMEs are also often a vehicle through which the lowest-income people in our society gain access to economic opportunities at a time that distribution of income and wealth in South Africa is amongst the most unequal in the world. Commercial banks are profit-seeking and risk-averse institutions. They need to satisfy themselves in respect of the financial stability of the SMMEs that seek funds from them. To this effect, management procedures of the SMMEs that seek funds have to be acceptable and recognised by the commercial banks from which funds are sought. In light of this. practices of planning. organising, directing and controlling of the SMMEs are some of the key features over which SMMEs have control. It can also indicate their risk profiles to the commercial banks.Over and above the management procedures. SMMEs have to keep proper financial statements that clearly reveal the SMMEs' financial position. financial performances. growth plans and resources required to achieve those plans. This information is also important not only to commercial banks but also to other non-banking institutions that help SMMEs financially to evaluate their risk profiles. These other non-banking institutions could be less concerned about the risk profiles of the SMMEs but rather be more concerned about their development. The findings of this study reveal that while most SMMEs use the services of the commercial banks in one or other respect, they still have difficulty in obtaining finance. The main reason for the lack of finance is considered to be discrimination on the part of the commercial banks. However, other factors contribute to the difficulty in obtaining finance. These are a lack of understanding by banks and the fact that other than banks, there are not many other alternative sources of finance available to SMMEs in Soweto. The fact that most SM-MEs have had low pastnet profits and low owner's contribution is another reason. It is recommended that managements of the SMMEs improve their managerial skills on aspects of financing, financial information preparation, calculation of capital requirements and related matters. It is also recommended that commercial banks study the reasons offered by the respondents as to why they perceive them to be discriminatory in allocating funds to the previously disadvantaged SMMEs. It is therefore recommended that commercial banks seek to liminate this perception by means of a substantial public relations campaign that will bring together the commercial banks and the SMMEs concerned to discuss possible solutions to the problems at hand.