M.A. / The aim of this study was to compare the effect of violence on the rendering of social work services in severely strife-torn areas with its effect in moderately strife-torn areas. The social workers in the Gauteng Department of Welfare and Population Development were divided into two groups according to the area in which they render services. 2. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES OF VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL WORK A broad theoretical outline followed which consisted of the definition of violence, the rendering of social work services and crime. Furthermore attention was given to theories of violence and different types of violence. Then a description of violence in South Africa was given, followed by a layout of the many factors contributing to violence in South Africa. This section concluded with a description of violence in the rendering of social work services nationally and internationally. RESEARCH DESIGN The research concentrated on a comparative study which was undertaken between social workers rendering services in severely strife-torn areas and those rendering services in moderately strife-torn areas with regard to the effect violence had upon them in the rendering of services to clients. RESEARCH RESULTS Six types of hypotheses were postulated beforehand and these were then compared with information that was received from respondents from the two identified areas. The results may be summarised briefly as follows: Social workers in both strife-torn areas were prevented from visiting clients; they were prevented from going to work; their vehicles were hijacked; their vehicles were stoned often; they were abducted; they had to run away or hide; their service offices were damaged; they were late for work; their service offices had to close at times; there were times they felt that their families were in danger; they didn't want to visit clients living in certain areas; violence caused them to postpone dealing with other social problems; their relationships with their clients were strained; their clients were prevented from keeping appointments; their clients were mildly injured (no hospitalisation); their clients were seriously injured or killed; the social workers had to take leave as a result of violence; some of them possess licensed firearms (11 out of 81 social workers); they can testify to incidents where people were killed or seriously injured; they felt negative about the effect violence had on their rendering of social work services; and they were positive about the proposed ways to handle violent situations. In addition, when comparing these two areas, clients known to social workers in severely strife-torn areas can testify to more incidents where they witnessed people being killed or seriously injured, than those in moderately strife-torn areas; clients themselves were also injured more in the former than in the latter areas; and the social workers in the former areas felt that their families were in greater danger than those of their counterparts in moderately strife-torn areas. But the other variables was found not to be statistically significant. 5. RECOMENDATIONS The respondents' reaction to the proposed ways to handle violent situations led to the prioritisation of the following fourteen ways in descending order of importance: two-way radios or cellular telephones in vehicles; replacement of "G" by "T" registration of vehicles; verbal telephone codes to request assistance; in-service training in order to handle violent situations; awareness of high-risk procedures, for example the removing of a child; reporting and recording incidents of violence; retreating and getting away if possible; obtaining discreet police assistance; using conventional alarm systems; the proximity of a "stand-by" person; paired home-visits; pre-arranged interview interruptions; carrying a service firearm; and supervised office interviews. The above-mentioned ways of handling violent situations were then included in four main categories to form part of a safety strategy for this specific organisation.

This dissertation examines the relationship between social structural factors and violent crime rates in Turkey. The relationship between social structural characteristics and violent crime is worth exploring in areas that have attracted little academic attention, such as violent crime in Turkey. In order to understand and prevent the occurrence of crime, researchers have long investigated possible factors related to crime. Examining how crime varies across different regions can help us to understand underlying reasons for violent crime, which is considered one of the enduring problems in society. The findings of this research, to some extent, support the assumptions of social disorganization theory regarding the distribution of violent crime. Both the findings of multivariate and bivariate analysis indicated that poverty, unemployment, and family disruptions may have a positive effect on the distribution of violent crime in the cities of Turkey. The analysis of the effects of the social structure variables through the mediating variables, such as religious institutions, libraries and voluntary associations on the number of violent crimes and violent criminals, to some extent, support the tenets of social disorganization theory. However, all mediating variables cannot mediate all the indirect effects of social structural covariates. In brief, none of their indirect impacts on the social structural variables on the outcome variable was significant via mediating variables.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Violent crime in South Africa in general and on the Cape Flats in particular, is a very complex phenomenon. This phenomenon has various historical, sociopolitical and economic roots. Furthermore, violent crime has a direct as well as indirect impact on the functioning of faith communities within societies. Congregations and churches do not function in isolation from the rest of society. Theology, and more specifically pastoral care, must be seriously concerned with the problems experienced by the community at large. A pastoral strategy should therefore move away from a spirituality that only focus on the impact of violence on individuals and families. Because violent crime is a systemic phenomenon, a socio-systemic approach should be followed, in which the impact of violent crime on faith communities should be analyzed in order to create a holistic model. In Chapter 1 we look at the reasons for violence. We focus on the appearance of crime, the relationship between aggression and crime. Different types of aggression as well as some underlying causes of aggression are discussed. In Chapter 2 we focus on crime as a national phenomenon. Certain historical roots of the current "culture of violence" are discussed. We also look at the impact of the political transition since 1990 on the socio-economic and moral situation in the country. In Chapter 3 we take a closer look at the situation on the Cape Flats. Particular attention is given to the issue of gangsterism, which in a certain sense has become synonymous with the Cape Peninsula. In Chapter 4 the trauma of violent crime on communities is the focus of discussion. Results of a victim survey in Cape Town are utilized. Violence against women and children enjoy special attention. The effect of violent crime on faith communities is highlighted. In the last chapter we try to put forward some guidelines for a theory of practice for the pastoral care of people living on the Cape Flats, using traditional-historic and current resources. We propose a holistic model with a systemic approach. We choose a theory of practice based upon an eco-hermeneutic model, which implies the following: The interpretation of the salvation of God to people (hermeneutic) within the reality (existence) of their daily lives (systemic). We indicate a few areas for long term, preventative building up and healing intervention and conclude with the results of this research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geweldsmisdaad in Suid-Afrika in die algemeen en op die Kaapse Vlakte in besonder, is 'n uiters komplekse fenomeen, waarvan die wortels gesoek moet word in verskeie historiese, sosio-politieke en ekonomiese oorsake. Hierdie geweldsmisdaad het In direkte en indirekte impak op die funksionering van geloofsgemeenskappe binne die samelewing. Gemeentes en kerke funksioneer nie in isolasie van die res van die samelewing nie en daarom behoort teologie en die pastoraat in besonder, erns te maak met die probleme waarmee die breer gemeenskap worstel. In Pastorale strategie behoort dus weg te beweeg van In spiritualiteit wat fokus bloot op die impak van geweld op individue en gesinne. Omdat geweldsmisaad In sistemiese verskynsel is, behoort In sosio-sistemiese benadering gevolg te word waarbinne die impak van geweldsmisdaad op geloofsgemeenskappe kontekstueel ontleed word ten einde In holistiese model te ontwerp. In Hoofstuk 1 word daar gekyk na oorsake van geweld. Ons kyk na die voorkoms van misdaad, die verband tussen aggressie en geweld. Verskillende tipes aggressie sowel as onderliggende oorsake vir aggressie word bespreek. In Hoofstuk 2 word daar gefokus op geweld as nasionale fenomeen. 8epaalde historiese wortels van die huidige "kultuur van geweld" word bespreek. Daar word veral gekyk na die impak van die politieke transisie sedert 1990 op die sosioekonomiese en morele toestand in die land. In Hoofstuk 3 word die situasie op die Kaapse Vlakte van nader beskou. Die verskynsel van bendegeweld wat in 'n sekere sin al so sinoniem met die Kaapse Skiereiland geword het, kry besondere aandag. In Hoofstuk 4 word die trauma van geweldsmisdaad op gemeenskappe bespreek. Resultate van 'n opname onder slagoffers van misdaad in Kaapstad word as uitgangspunt gebruik. Geweld teen vroue en kinders geniet spesiale aandag. Die effek hiervan op die funksionering van geloofsgemeenskappe word uitgelig. In die laaste hoofstuk word gepoog om vanuit die tradisioneel-historiese sowel as hedendaagse bronne tot ons beskikking riglyne vir 'n moontlike praktykteorie vir die pastorale begeleiding van lidmate binne hierdie gemeenskappe op die Kaapse Vlakte daar te stel. 'n Holistiese model wat sistemies te werk gaan, word voorgestel. Die keuse vir In praktykteorie gebou op In eko-hermeneutiese model word gemaak, wat neerkom op: Die vertolking van God se heil aan mense (hermeneuties) binne die totale werklikheid van hule daaglikse bestaan (ekosistemies). In Paar areas vir langtermyn, preventatiewe opbou en ehelende intervensie word voorgestel en die navorsingsbevindinge van hierdie studie word aangedui.