Research Report submitted to the University of the Witwatersrand, School of Governance in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Management in Public and Development Management (50% Research) / Since the development of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the year 2000 and Beyond (United Nations, 2010), youth and the associated development issues that affect and are effected by them have risen to prominence. In South Africa, 66% of the population are under the age of 34 (the cut-off age for youth), and 36% are between the ages of 15-34 years old, and there is a general perception and concern that current youth policy is failing (Maupa, 2013; NUMSA Bulletin basic, 2014; Setiloane, 2014; South African Broadcasting Corporation, 2011). From anecdotal evidence, personal experience as a youth development practitioner and brief analysis of the literature, there appears to be limited strategic and deliberate engagement of youth and youth-oriented CSOs in the youth policy formulation and implementation process. The purpose of this research is to explore the perceived and real barriers to the involvement of CSOs in youth policy implementation in South Africa. A policy implementation research lens is applied in a broad analysis of the National Youth Policy 2015-2020 and its implementation, exploration of the involvement of CSOs in the policy process and assessment of perceived and real barriers of involvement for CSOs. The research study was an attempt to address the identified knowledge gap regarding youth policy implementation in the South African context (O’Toole, 2000; Saetren, 2005) and the potential role of civil society in that policy process. To some extent, the data, findings and analysis discussed addressed the knowledge gap in that they described how the youth policy is being implemented; identified the key role players in the implementation, and the ways in which civil society may be involved. The research findings and analysis answered the research questions, revealing the barriers to civil society, the nature of youth and CSO engagement by government. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the policy implementation, youth engagement, and civil society involvement, providing clarity and recommendations that may enhance youth participation and civil society and state partnership in policy implementation. / MT2017

Research Report submitted in accordance with the requirements For the degree of Master of Management (MM) in the subject Public and Development Management at University of Witwatersrand MARCH 2015 / This study evaluated the management and implementation of the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme launched in July 1997 by the Department of Public Works (DoPW) in Mpumalanga Province. It explored the implementation challenges affecting the NYS over three year period. In order to respond to the above the research applied different qualitative data collection and analytical methods. The research found implementation challenges including, a lack of NYS Implementing structure in the responsible Department, poor planning and allocation of requisite financial resources leading to delayed payment of stipend for learners plus procurement challenges. Further, the study went on evaluate outcomes of the NYS in relation to both its objectives and to the specific objectives of the implementing agent i.e., DoPW in order to thereby draw lessons learnt and best practices for management and implementation of youth development programmes. The researcher concludes by observing that the NYS programme has great potential for employment creation and skill development for the intended beneficiaries. However, the NYS implementation requires intensive planning, resource allocation, training of implementing staff and timeous payments of beneficiaries as key success factors to the programme

The youth transition is not just a critical time for an individual but also to one’s family, the greater society and economy. The category “youth” in simple terms can be regarded as the transition in the life cycle from childhood and schooling into adulthood and work. Employment is one of the key factors that guide the youth transition into adulthood – from dependency upon family and community to greater independence and ability to secure one’s own livelihood. If a young person is unable to gain access into the labour market within the first 10 to 12 years, statistically, she will be less likely to have long-term employment throughout her lifetime. These are crucial years to providing mechanisms that actively engage youth in job preparation and employment opportunities. This research explores relevant youth-employment policy and its implementation in a South African local municipality of eThekwini. Research questions were developed to analyse the vertical and horizontal impact of policies at the local level and ask: What measures within national youth policies and strategies have been instituted to address barriers to youth employability in South Africa? Are national youth policies reaching the local level? What approaches have been taken to encourage youth employment at the local level, and what challenges exist in these approaches? The literature review, analysis of policy documents, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with government officials provide a guided yet flexible exploration of information within the context of local implementation of national and local policies for youth employment. Findings reveal an obvious gap between national youth programmes and their connection to municipality departments and programmes. The research process found that in spite of the lack of national services at a local level, the eThekwini Municipality has created its own youth policy and developed its own ways of providing youth services. While the research does unveil a lack of coordination concurrent to the local youth policy outcomes, it can be seen to be taking innovative steps of empowering individuals towards employment opportunities. The study concludes by acknowledging the recent changes in national strategies for youth. It questions whether these national changes will impact youth at the local level or just continue to provide policy that lacks implementation. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A major societal challenge in post-1994 South Africa is that of questionable public leadership and the scarcity of ethical and effective leadership. Coupled with this are high expectations from the public directed at government institutions, which need to respond to the basic needs of citizens, and private business institutions, which need to create and sustain economic activity in an often uncertain environment. These transitional challenges call for outstanding leadership in public and private institutions. However, one can make a justified and evidence-based argument that the state of leadership in South Africa, particularly in the public sector, is not living up to these expectations. Added to this challenge of poor leadership is a youthful population that faces numerous challenges. However, from the youth of today the leaders of tomorrow are to emerge. South Africa and Africa as a whole are experiencing a youth population boom; a phenomenon that has been classified as having the potential to either be a demographic dividend or a ticking time bomb. In order to promote the development of youths, the South African government has attempted to respond to the multiplicity of challenges facing the youth by instituting the National Youth Act; a National Youth policy; the National Youth Service and a National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). This research submits evidence that the effectiveness of these interventions has not been satisfactory and that they do not include the intentional development of emerging South African leaders. The question, therefore, arises as to whether intentional development of future emerging leaders should not be taking place on a greater scale and in such a manner so as to ensure an improved leadership landscape in the future. This question necessitates exploratory inquiry into the phenomenon of youth leadership development in South Africa and represents the central theme of this research. Non-governmental organizations and university-based institutions have created leadership development programmes that target an emerging leaders' cadre in South Africa. These programmes are structured in different ways, but all have a leadership curriculum with theoretical and practical elements in common. The goal of this research will be to conduct an exploratory analysis of this emerging South African youth leadership development practice and to provide a theoretical and programmatic perspective on it based on an analysis of two case studies. The research is divided into four sequential phases. The first phase consists of a theoretical review of the concepts of leadership and youth leadership development. The second phase analyzes the context and challenges of South Africa’s youth and youth leadership development. The third and fourth phases transpose the theoretical and contextual analysis with youth leadership development practice in South Africa. This is done by means of the analysis of two case studies and the responses gathered from a semi-structured questionnaire answered by a sample population of emerging South African leaders. The cases analyzed are the South Africa Washington International Programme, a non-governmental organization specialising in developing emerging South African leaders, and the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development of Stellenbosch University. The research showed that the concept of youth leadership development is theoretically underdeveloped, and limited information could be derived from the American literature on college student development. The research also indicated that the scale of youth leadership development in South Africa is relatively small. However, programmes developed and implemented by non-government organizations and tertiary-based institutions suggest an emerging practice of youth leadership development in the country. This emerging practice is not well researched in the South African context. In response, this study succeeds in highlighting a number of knowledge gaps that could address this lack. The research concludes with evidence that suggests that an investment in the professionalization of youth leadership development programmes will result in a future generation of ethical and effective South African leaders that will bring about positive transformational change in the Republic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Twyfelagtige openbare leierskap en die skaarsheid van etiese en effektiewe leierskap is ’n wesenlike maatskaplike uitdaging in post-1994 Suid-Afrika. Tesame met hierdie het die publiek hoë verwagtinge vanaf die regering, wat nodig het om te reageer op basiese behoeftes van landsburgers, en vanaf ’n sakesektor, wat ekonomiese aktiwiteite moet bewerkstellig in soms volatiele omstandighede. Hierdie oorgangsuitdagings vra vir uitstaande leierskap in openbare en private instellings. ’n Regverdige en bewys-gebaseerde argument kan gemaak word dat die toestand van leierskap in Suid-Afrika, veral in die openbare sektor, nie aan verwagtinge vir goeie leierskap voldoen nie. Bykomend tot hierdie uitdaging van swak leierskap is ’n jong bevolking wat talle uitdagings in die gesig staar. Die jeug van vandag is egter die groepering waaruit toekomstige leiers te voorskyn kom. Suid-Afrika en Afrika in geheel beleef ’n oplewing van jeug populasie en hierdie verskynsel word deur sommige geklassifiseer as ’n moontlike demografiese dividend of ’n tydbom met negatiewe implikasies vir sosio-ekonomiese stabiliteit. Ten einde die jeug te bevorder wend die Suid-Afrikaanse regering pogings aan om te reageer op die verskeidenheid van jeug uitdagings deur die instelling van die Nasionale Jeug Wet, Nasionale Jeug beleid, die Nasionale Jeugdiens en ’n Nasionale Jeugontwikkelingsagentskap. Hierdie navorsing lê bewyse dat die doeltreffendheid van hierdie intervensies nie bevredigend is nie en fokus nie op doelgerigte ontwikkeling van opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse leiers nie. Die vraag ontstaan dus of doelgerigte ontwikkeling van toekomstige opkomende leiers nie op ’n groter skaal en op so ’n wyse moet plaasvind om ’n beter leierskapslandskap in die toekoms te verseker nie? Hierdie vraag skep ’n geleentheid vir ’n verkennende ondersoek na die verskynsel van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika en verteenwoordig die sentrale tema van hierdie navorsing. ’n Beperkte aantal nie-regeringsorganisasies en universiteit-gebaseerde organisasies is geskep om jeugleierskapsontwikkeling programme te bestuur wat gemik is op die ontwikkeling van ’n opkomende leierskader in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie programme is gestruktureer in verskillende maniere, maar het elk ’n leierskapskurrikulum met teoretiese en praktiese elemente in gemeen. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om ’n verkennende analise te doen oor hierdie opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse jeugleierskapsontwikkeling praktyk en om ’n teoretiese en programmatiese perspektief hiervoor te verskaf, gebaseer op ’n ontleding van twee gevallestudies. Die navorsing is verdeel in vier opeenvolgende fases. Die eerste fase bestaan uit ’n teoretiese oorsig van die konsep van leierskap en jeugleierskapsontwikkeling. Die tweede fase ontleed die konteks en uitdagings van Suid-Afrika se jeug en jeugleierskapsontwikkeling. Die derde en vierde fases integreer die teoretiese en kontekstuele analise met jeugleierskapsontwikkeling praktyk in Suid-Afrika. Dit word gedoen deur middel van ontleding van twee gevallestudies en ontleding van terugvoer verkry deur ’n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys wat beantwoord is deur ’n steekproef bevolking van opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse leiers. Die gevalle ontleed is die Suid-Afrikaanse Washington Internasionale Program (SAWIP), ’n nie-regeringsorganisasie wat spesialiseer in die ontwikkeling van opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse leiers, en die Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Instituut vir Studente Leierskapsontwikkeling van die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Die navorsing het getoon dat die konsep van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling teoreties onderontwikkeld is met beperkte studies wat in die Amerikaanse literatuur oor studente-ontwikkeling gevind is. Die navorsing het ook aangedui dat die skaal van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika relatief klein is, hoewel programme wat ontwikkel en geïmplementeer word deur nie-regeringsorganisasies en tersiêr-gebaseerde instellings dui op ’n opkomende praktyk van die jeugleierskapsontwikkeling in die land. Hierdie opkomende praktyk is nie goed bestudeer in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks nie. In reaksie slaag die studie daarin om ’n aantal kennisgapings in hierdie verband te beklemtoon. Die navorsing sluit af met bewyse wat daarop dui dat ’n belegging in die professionalisering en formalisering van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling as ’n praktyk sal lei tot ’n toekomstige generasie van etiese en effektiewe Suid-Afrikaanse leiers wat positiewe transformasie in die Republiek teweeg sal bring.

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The changes in child and youth care policies over the last fifteen years have had profound consequences for the staff at Youth Care and Education Centres (hereafter referred to as YCECs). These changes included systemic changes, philosophical changes, and changes in the way services are rendered to children and youth in their care. It was thus expected of team members to not only change their behaviours but to also make mind shifts. The mandates were that they move from working in silos (educators, residential educators and support team) to working in teams; from rendering generic services to developing individualised plans for children and youth; from following a medical (deficit) approach in service delivery to following a strength based- and developmental approach. Whereas a punitive approach to discipline was followed in the past staff members now have to follow a restorative approach. In addition, the emphasis on children’s rights, in general, and the abolishment of corporal punishment, in particular, brought about changes in the nature of the adultchild relationship. It was required of the team members to learn to use alternatives to this form of punishment. The study explored how the members of the institutional level teams at the four YCECs in the Western Cape were experiencing the implementation of changed child and youth policies. A combined quantitative and qualitative research methodology was followed in obtaining the data from the residential educators, as well as the educators and the support team members comprising of psychologists, school social workers, occupational therapists, and school nurses. The points of departure were the organisational learning model and the phases of team development. Findings derived from the empirical study were that the difference between the way the participants embraced and implemented changed policies and legislation had much to do with the guidance that the principal and senior management provided for them. Where the principal set the tone and conveyed the message that the implementation of the policies were not negotiable and gave staff members the opportunity to thoroughly discuss these changes, they eventually shared the underlying principles of the changed policies. Where the principal provided direction, support and encouragement for the implementation of the changed policies the participants felt secure and empowered. Where this support was not present participants felt uncertain and to some extent let down. When a shared vision was articulated to them the participants were able to align their personal visions thereto, which further led to a greater understanding of their roles within the team. Where participants, however, were not clear on the shared vision they seemed to struggle with role division and status and power issues. When team members were left to their own devices a measure of personal mastery still took place due to the commitment of individuals but team learning was either limited or virtually nonexistent. Systems thinking remained a challenge due to the forming of subgroups within the YCEC and the limited or nonexistent services rendered by external social workers to the families of the children and youth. The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that provision must be made for frameworks for the implementation of changes in policy and guidelines for team processes. To ensure that new staff is informed about the policies that guide their services an orientation programme must be in place. Training for principals in effective introduction and implementation of change should also be provided. To ascertain what the staff complement should be to effectively implement changes in the policies, a work-study and a fast track pilot project should be conducted. From this, job descriptions should be developed that make provision for the incumbent’s role within the team. Consideration should also be given to the incentive system that currently only makes provision for individual performance and could hamper teamwork. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die veranderinge in kinder- en jeugsorgbeleide oor die laaste vyftien jaar het diepgaande gevolge ingehou vir personeel by Jeugsorg- en Onderwyssentrums (hierna verwys as JSOS). Hierdie veranderinge het sistemiese en filosofiese veranderings, asook verandering in die wyse waarop dienste gelewer word, aan kinders en jeug in hul sorg, meegebring. Dit word dus van die spanlede verwag om nie net hul gedrag nie, maar ook hul denkwyse te verander. Die mandate vervat in die beleide is dat personeel skuif van werk in silos (opvoeders, residensiële opvoeders en ondersteuningspan) na werk in spanne; van die lewer van generiese dienste tot die ontwikkeling van individuale planne vir kinders en jeug; van die volg van ‘n mediese benadering aangaande dienslewering tot ‘n sterkte-gebaseerde- en ontwikkelingsbenadering. Waar daar in die verlede ‘n strafgerigte benadering gevolg is moet daar nou beweeg word na ‘n helende benadering. Verder het die klem op kinderregte in die algemeen, en die afskaf van lyfstraf in besonder, veranderings meegebring in die aard van die volwasse-kind verhouding. Dit was verwag van die spanlede om te leer om alternatiewes tot die vorm van straf aan te leer. Die studie het ondersoek ingestel na hoe lede van die inrigtingsgebaseerde span by die vier JSOS in die Weskaap die implementering van veranderde kinder- en jeugbeleid ervaar. ‘n Gekombineerde kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiwe navorsing metodologie was gevolg in die insamel van data van die residensiële opvoeders, die opvoeders en die lede van die ondersteuningspan (sielkundiges, skool maatskaplike werkers, arbeidsterapeute en skool verpleegkundiges). Die vertrekpunt was the organisasieleer model en die fases van spanontwikkeling. Bevindings wat gemaak is uit die empiriese studie was dat die verskille tussen die wyse waarop die deelnemers die veranderde beleid aanvaar en implementeer het baie te doen gehad het met die mate van leiding wat die prinsipaal en senior bestuur vir hul gegee het. Waar die prinsipaal die toon aangegee het en die boodskap oorgedra het dat die implementering van die beleide nie onderhandelbaar was nie en personeellede die geleentheid gebied is om die veranderings deeglik te bespreek, het hul geleidelik ingekoop in die veranderde werkswyses. Waar die prinsipaal rigting en ondersteuning vir die implementering van die veranderde beleid gebied het, het die deelnemers veilig en bemagtig gevoel. Waar die ondersteuning egter ontbreek het, het die deelnemers onseker en, tot ’n mate, in die steek gelaat gevoel. Wanneer ‘n gedeelde visie oorgedra is aan hulle was die deelnemers in staat om hul persoonlike visies in lyn te bring daarmee. Dit het verder aanleiding gegee tot beter begrip vir hul rolle binne die span. Waar deelnemers egter nie duidelik was oor die gedeelde visie nie, het dit geblyk dat hulle probleme gehad het met rolverdeling, status en magaangeleenthede in die span. Wanneer spanlede oorgelaat is aan hul eie lot het ‘n mate van persoonlike bemeestering nog plaasgevind as gevolg van die persoonlike toewyding van individue, maar spanleer was óf beperk óf feitlik afwesig. Sisteem denke was steeds ‘n struikelblok as gevolg van die vorming van subgroepe binne die JSOS en die beperkte of afwesige dienslewering deur eksterne maatskaplike wekers aan gesinne van die kinders en jong mense. Die belangrikste aanbevelings, wat voortspruit uit die studie, dui aan dat voorsiening gemaak moet word vir raamwerke vir die implementering van beleidsveranderings en riglyne vir spanprosesse. Om te verseker dat nuwe personeel ingelig is omtrent die beleide wat hul dienslewering rig moet ‘n oriënteringsprogram in plek wees. Opleiding van prinsipale in die effektiewe bekendstelling en implementering van veranderings moet ook voorsien word. Om vas te stel wat die aanvulling vir personeel moet wees om die veranderings in die beleid te implementeer, behoort ‘n werkstudie en ‘n snel loodsprojek onderneem word. Hieruit kan pligstate opgestel word wat voorsiening maak vir die ampsdraer se rol in spanverband. Oorweging moet geskenk word aan die aansporingstelsel wat tans net voorsiening maak vir individuele werksverrigting en wat spanwerk kan strem.

Social Work / D.Phil. (Social Work)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the advent of democracy in South Africa, the government has prioritized youth development in the country. The strides made by government include setting up institutional arrangements, developing policies and implementing programmes targeting young people in the country. However, despite the efforts made to develop young people, the youth transition to adulthood is still extremely difficult, more especially for unemployed black females who reside in rural areas. Youth unemployment is the biggest problem affecting the youth in South Africa and globally, and the majority of the unemployed youth have been categorised as ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET). Being unemployed and also not being in education or training to prepare for future employment, limits future employability of the NEETs. The Department of Social Development and Special Programmes in the Eastern Cape Province implemented the Masupa-Tsela Youth Pioneers Programme (MYPP) to intervene in the high rate of youth unemployment in the Province. The programme in the Province was never evaluated and as a result there is no evidence of the success or failure of this youth programme. This study evaluates the implementation of the MYPP with a particular focus in Mhlontlo Local Municipality within O.R. Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. Mhlontlo Local Municipality is a rural municipality characterized by high youth unemployment, high youth poverty, low levels of education among youth and low literacy levels among adults. The purpose of the study was to explore and discover whether the intended outcomes of the MYPP were achieved and what the specific challenges of the youth were. Evaluation research is used in this study to explore the MYPP. Evaluation research assesses the conceptualization, implementation, and impact of development programmes and projects. The data collected during this study through focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, and document review, revealed that the programme mostly achieved its intended outcomes, although there are areas that need to be improved in the future implementation of the programme. However, the goals and outcomes of the MYPP were not adequate to address the size of the challenge. On the basis of the findings of this study the researcher recommends that youth development programmes should be implemented in the context of sustainable development and young people must be placed at the centre of that development as agents of change in their communities. The researcher also recommends outcomes based planning in the Department, up-scaling of the programme, regular evaluation of the design, implementation and results of a youth programme as well as improved participation of the youth in the programmes designed to improve their lives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regering het sedert die koms van demokrasie in Suid-Afrika jeugontwikkeling in die land geprioritiseer. Die vooruitgang wat gemaak is, sluit in die opstel van institusionele reëlings , die ontwikkeling van beleid en die implementering van programme wat gerig is tot jong mense in die land. Maar ten spyte van die pogings om jong mense te ontwikkel, vind die jeug die oorgang na volwassenheid nog steeds baie moeilik, veral vir werklose swart vroue wat in landelike gebiede woon . Werkloosheid onder jeug is die grootste probleem wat die jeug in Suid -Afrika en in die wêreld ondervind, en die meerderheid van die werklose jeug word gekategoriseer as "Nie in onderwys, beroep of opleiding nie' (NOBOe). Om werkloos te wees en ook nie in onderwys of opleiding om voor te berei vir toekomstige indiensneming nie, beperk toekomstige indiensneembaarheid van die NOBOe . Die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling en Spesiale Programme in die Oos-Kaap het die Masupa Tsela - Jeug Pioneers Programme (MJPP) geïmplementeer om in te gryp in die hoë werkloosheidskoers onder die jeug in die Provinsie. Die programme in die provinsie is nooit geëvalueer en as gevolg is daar geen bewyse van die sukses of mislukking van hierdie jeug programme nie. Hierdie studie evalueer die implementering van die MJPP met 'n spesifieke fokus op Mhlontlo Plaaslike Munisipaliteit in die Tambo -distriksmunisipaliteit in die Oos-Kaap. Mhlontlo Plaaslike Munisipaliteit is 'n landelike munisipaliteit wat gekenmerk word deur hoë werkloosheid onder die jeug, hoë jeug armoede, lae vlakke van onderwys onder die jeug en lae vlakke van geletterdheid onder volwassenes . Die doel van die studie was om te ondersoek en vas te stel of die beoogde uitkomste van die MYPP bereik is en wat die spesifieke uitdagings van die jeug was. Evaluering navorsing is in hierdie studie gebruik om die MJPP te verken. Evalueringsnavorsing evalueer die konseptualisering, implementering en die impak van die ontwikkeling van programme en projekte . Die data wat ingesamel is tydens hierdie studie deur middel van fokusgroepe, onderhoude, vraelyste , en dokument hersiening, het aan die lig gebring dat die programme meestal sy doel bereik het, maar daar is gebiede van die implementering van die programme wat in die toekoms verbeter sal moet word. Maar die doelwitte en uitkomste van die MYPP was nie voldoende om die grootte van die uitdaging aan te spreek nie. Op grond van die bevindinge van hierdie studie beveel die navorser uitkomsgebaseerse beplanning in die Departement voor, vergroting van die programme , gereëlde evaluering van die ontwerp, implementering en resultate van 'n jeug programme sowel as die verbeterde deelname van die jeug in die programme wat ontwerp word om hul lewens te verbeter.

Social Work / D.Phil. (Social Work)