This thesis explores variations in employment outcomes among youth living under similar structural conditions of poverty and unemployment in ghetto neighbourhoods. It challenges structuralist accounts that ignore the role of personal agency and hold that structures alone determine action. The critical realist framework offers a helpful understanding of social structures as both material and cultural since human agency, or action, is influenced by circumstances that are both materially objective and culturally subjective. By probing the interaction of agency and structure this research shows that individual agency is a response to cultural beliefs and competing cultural norms. The ensuing worldview informs decisions and actions of youth which, under different cultures and material family structures, either reproduce or transform their educational and employment prospects in ghetto neighbourhoods. Ten case studies are analysed from youth in Manenberg, Cape Town, a neighbourhood that was historically segregated through the apartheid system of forced removals and resettlement. In-depth interviews provide evidence from life histories, experiences of education institutions and of looking for work. Further information is gathered from interviews with secondary participants, apart from participant observation in family and community activities through an ethnographic approach. Findings reveal that the culture of disengaged parenting leaves youth exposed only to the influence of low education and employment expectations such that they despondently relinquish career aspirations by dropping out of school, remaining unemployed and underemployed as a result. By contrast, consistent mentoring from parents entails a culture that competes with the negative influence of gangs and enables resilience among youth to pursue tertiary education. Youth thereby transform, rather than reproduce, their position in the labour market as unemployed or underemployed unskilled manual workers. Similarly, social networks beyond the neighbourhood provide youth with job information, supportive resources, and cultural capital, which enable them to conceptualise ideas of professional careers. This transforms the historical and contemporary material structure of ghetto neighbourhoods with socially isolated networks that limit youth to low-skilled employment opportunities. Such networks do not support personal agency towards alternative employment and youth resort to cultural practices of gangsterism, irregular and informal work.

Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This mini-dissertation describes the research report carried out at Senwamokgope Township, Greater Letaba Municipality in Limpopo Province where a study was undertaken to investigate the effects of training offered in Expanded Public Works Programme projects on youth employability. The research is undertaken at a time in South Africa where job losses and retrenchment of employees are experienced in all sectors of government and the private sector. The South African government took a serious stance in their approach towards job creation by introducing trainings that are supposedly aimed at creating job opportunities for all citizens across the country with special attention to women and the youths. The aim of my study is to investigate whether the training offered during EPWP projects contribute to youth employability. As the researcher I therefore came up with the following questions;  What are the effects of training offered in the Expanded Public Works Programme on youth employability at Senwamokgope Township? To answer this question adequately I added sub questions. These are listed below;  How many youths according to gender are offered training?  What kind of training is been offered to youths in Expanded Public Works Programme?  How is the training contributing to employability of youths?  What are the characteristics of the youths participating in the Expanded Public Works Programme? ii This study seeks to answer the questions mentioned above. It is an attempt to determine the effects that are brought about by the intervention strategies that government engages its people in order to create work opportunities and jobs. If the effectiveness of the training can be seen it will subsequently serve the purpose of encouraging youth participation in other programmes. Data was collected through interviews. The training provider, 1 contractor, 8 youths and one official from Greater Letaba Municipality were interviewed. The data collected was then analyzed and a detailed report was drawn up with recommendations. The data was analysed using a data matrix and in conclusion the following findings were made.  All youths who went through the training are glad that they were trained .They have achieved skills which they did not have before the training.  The study has revealed that the municipality spends more money in wages on youths according to the labour force.  The effort by government through the municipality in EPWP has brought an increased number of youths in to the work environment and this has reduced the number of idle youths.  This initiative of the government has aroused confidence in the youth and they begin to aspire for greater things.  In the past years the Greater Letaba Municipality has been able to create jobs in Senwamokgope Township where youths benefitted in large numbers