Giessen, Universiẗat, Diss., 2003.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--Giessen.

It seems that Architecture has a more profound and crucial influence on people’s daily lives than many other professions. In measuring its importance, one need only imagine the negative consequences of a badly designed building, space or any other architectural component in order to understand the significance of good design on people. Architecture deals with aspects of human life, and in order to be effective in fulfilling its purpose, it is duty bound to understand the psychology which drives human behaviour. The thoughts behind the concept of the project, which will be described further on, try to combine thinkers’ thoughts from different professions on which some Architectural concepts rely. In the proposed project, I will attempt to integrate the “Hierarchy of Needs” as described by Maslow, and to be assisted by the philosophy of the ”Everyday Life” as described by Lefebvre. In his famous “Hierarchy of Needs” pyramid, Abraham Harold Maslow, an American psychologist, tried to grade human needs into five levels of importance. The basic are physiological needs, then safety and security needs, to be followed by love and belonging needs, after which are found esteem needs and finally, the highest needs are for self-actualisation. According to Maslow, the higher one climbs in the pyramid, the better off one is. Without fulfilling the basic need, one can’t proceed further, to other needs. In light of this theory, I tried to examine the necessity of different functions and aspects in the project – as will be described further on. In the last few decades, Architects such as Deborah Berke, Steven Harris and others tried to apply Henri Lefebvres’ philosophy of the “Everyday Life” into the Architectural realm. Lefevbre, a French Philosopher, attempted during half a century (1920-1970) to define his ideas of everyday life and the nature of space, mainly in urban environments. “What is the goal? It is the transformation of life in its smallest, most everyday detail”. Lefebvre was very active and influential in the French urbanism in the 60’s and the 70’s, when he called for more centrality in the city, street life, residential participation and opportunities for spontaneity In order to meet the community’s everyday needs, the Architect’s goal is to be a professional interpreter of people’s needs into form and space. He does this first, by identifying and analysing the real needs second, by interpreting them into Architectural language and third, by implementing them. The township of Alexandra can be seen to be progressing along Maslow’s hierarchy. The physiological needs are cared for in the vast effort of establishing a new infrastructure. The highest needs of self-actualisation are, at that stage, not relevant for the majority of the community. The Art Centre then, would try to provide functions, which cater to the three - main needs according to Maslow’s pyramid. Transparent spaces encourage trust and a sense of security. Along with a gradual system of spaces – public-semi public-private, which defines the hierarchy among the functions, the need for safety and security, is fulfilled. As a gathering place for groups and varied activities, the need for love and belonging can be reached. Self-esteem needs can be fulfilled by the creation of art, the selling and presenting of one’s own products and receiving appreciation for one’s work. In terms of the “Everyday Life” philosophy, the Art Centre tries to create different types of closed and open spaces for its functions. It takes into consideration daily activities happening within the township, and creates similar but varied spaces as a platform for additional activities. A few principles of “Everyday Life” philosophy were at the base of the design. First, strengthening existing pedestrian movement instead of creating a new system. Second, catering to and improving domestic art activities instead of inventing new ones. Third, connecting and widening surrounding community spaces into the centre instead of creating unique and isolated spaces. Forth, using local materials instead of imported ones. To sum up, in this unique context of community, the ability to let people feel comfortable with the Architectural outcome, relies on the consideration of their daily known patterns of behaviour. The building and the space should not be the goal but the tool to carry out people’s activities, whether in private or in public. Through the design discourse, I will try to investigate the roll of the Community Centres – assisted by the Israeli nation wide concept – within a daily local fabric of the township. / Dissertation (MArch (prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

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Tourism has increasingly been viewed as an important means to challenge poverty, especially in developing countries. Since the beginning of democracy in South Africa, the ANC government has emphasised the importance of overcoming poverty, and identified tourism as an important intervention in pursuit of this objective. The study will assess “pro-poor” tourism initiatives in Alexandra Township since 1994, with particular focus on the arts and crafts at St Michaels Church and SA Jewel. It will investigate whether projects similar to bead craft, initiated at the same time with the same objectives have benefited the residents of Alexandra. Finally, the study will consider if tourism initiatives being implemented in Alexandra conform to ‘sustainable development’ objectives. The research report reviews the literature on Tourism Development domestically and Local Economic Development. Furthermore the report extends to literature reviews specifically in Sustainable Tourism and Pro-Poor Tourism, its definitions and its examples in the tourism industry. It examines the various arguments for tourism development and alleviating poverty through these initiatives. The research findings that follow provide my opinion and those of the different stakeholders involved in tourism in Alexandra and those who were affected by the initiatives in Alexandra.

M.Cur. / In 1995, the South African Department of Health described tuberculosis (TB) as South Africa's number one health problem. The Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy was thereafter implemented as a way of managing TB patients. One of its key elements is a network of trained treatment supporters who are able to support and observe TB patients swallow their treatment. In Alexandra Township a group of treatment supporters was trained in 1998 and another in 2002 but have subsequently I left the community based DOTS programme. ,..~ Why do treatment supporters leave the community based DOTS programme? What can be done to make treatment supporters stay on the community based DOTS programme? An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative contextual study was undertaken to determine the factors: • that interfere with the retention of treatment supporters within the community based DOTS programme in Alexandra Township; • that can facilitate the retention of treatment supporters on the community based DOTS programme; and • to formulate strategies that can be used to promote the retention of treatment supporters within the community based DOTS programme in Alexandra Township. Community nurses, treatment supporters and members of the Anti-TB Association were selected for the study. Focus group interviews were conducted with all three sample groups. The following questions comprised the focus group discussions with all respondents: • What do you think makes treatment supporters leave the community based DOTS programme in Alexandra Township?; and • What do you think should be done to make treatment supporters stay within the community based DOTS programme in Alexandra Towns hip? iii Under.,the following categories factors that interfere as well as factors that can facilitate the retention of treatment supporters were identified: • factors relating to the working relationship between community nurses and treatment supporters; • factors relating to the training of treatment supporters; • factors relating to the management of the community based DOTS programme in Alexandra township. I Data was analysed by using Kerlinger's (1986:477-483) method of content analysis. Strategies for the retention of treatment supporters within the community based DOTS programme in Alexandra Township were formulated. These were based on the study findings and the reviewed literature.

This thesis is concerned with the function of Alexandra House and the role it has played in the neighbourhood. Special attention has been devoted to the period from 1938, when the agency became a neighbourhood house, to April 1952. In the historical sketch emphasis is placed on programme, staff, and administration of the agency. The social and physical transitions within the neighbourhood are also considered, in relation to their influence on the role of Alexandra House. The material for the study was gained from annual and monthly reports, minutes of staff and Board of Directors' meetings, interviews with agency personnel, surveys made of the area, and other material secured through the co-operation of the agency and the Community Chest. The function of the agency and its services was analyzed on the basis of a series of criteria of neighbourhood-house operation. Comparison of the early non-professional staff with the present professional staff was possible, by analyzing the programmes of the two different periods. The thesis shows that social and economic changes within an area influence the attitudes and the needs of the people; an institution must change appropriately in order to meet the needs of the residents. The study also reveals the necessity of professional staff to perform a qualitative job. However, not only should a neighbourhood house programme evolve from the needs of the community, but the people within the community should assume more and more responsibility for their activities. A quality programme has evolved slowly with the aid of professionally-trained workers. Good leadership emphasizes quality rather than quantity; but it also illustrates that co-operation between all personnel is required for maximum efficiency, and that volunteers and students are able to contribute to the programme more effectively with proper supervision from professional staff. Looking at the future, the study reveals the need for a re-statement of this function, as the changes within the neighbourhood bring changes in the neighbours, and some drastic redevelopment possibilities loom for the district. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of the study was to investigate and examine the impact of the government housing subsidies in Alexandra, Gauteng, in terms of improving the socio-economic conditions of poor people. The ANC government promised to change the material conditions of people by among other things eliminating poverty when it ascended to power. Access to adequate housing is regarded as a fundamental right in terms of the prescripts of the South African constitution. By implication the government has a developmental duty to provide housing to eligible citizens. A policy decision by government in 1995 to provide housing subsidies to poor households, particularly those earning between R0-3500 rand provided a significant catalyst in the objective to improve the socio-economic conditions of poor people. That is why the study was conducted in the Alexandra Township, given the proximity of the area to affluent suburbs such as Sandton. This also provided a perfect case study to measure the effectiveness of the housing subsidy system and how the system has been managed to maximise the housing delivery impact in terms of outcomes. In terms of research findings, the expectation was that delivery of low cost housing using government subsidies should not have experienced problems on housing delivery backlogs and administrative blockages. The research results revealed that the failure to quickly improve the socio-economic conditions of poor people through providing adequate housing and creating a progressive environment to create and access job opportunities has exacerbated the state of poverty, which perpetuates dependency on state assistance. The research findings further showed that there is no conclusive evidence that many if not all beneficiaries were using their subsidised house as an asset in terms of leveraging it to improve their financial position; and that there is still a high level of dependency on government for assistance even on maintenance of these units, especially after taking ownership. This has exposed a grave lack of knowledge or information on the side of beneficiaries on how to utilise the house as an asset in order to be progressive as far as improving social and economic conditions. The overall research results demonstrated that vi the existing low cost housing funding model (in Gauteng) is not sustainable in terms of delivering subsidised housing units; and significantly improving the quality of life and standard of living of poor people. In terms of limitations, the study took to account that the new government needed enough time to translate policy into concrete implementable ideas as far as housing was concerned, hence the period of study was from 1995 to 2012. This study is important because its findings contribute knowledge in the field of Public Administration and housing literature; and also assists the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) to explore recommended solutions to improve the Housing Subsidy System. Most importantly, the study provides valuable data relating to the impact of government housing subsidies, including challenges on housing allocations and subsidies management. The study concludes with recommendations on what an effective government subsidy programme should look like. This provides an opportunity to review the entire government subsidy system, as recommended in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 vision. The government of the day needs to urgently review the existing grant and subsidy regime for housing with a view to ensuring diversity in product and finance options that allows for more household choice and greater spatial mix and flexibility. Moreover, government should ensure that state funding does not support the further provision of non-strategic housing investments in poorly located areas. / Public Administration / D.P.A.

The purpose of this study is to explore South African educators’ subjective experiences of school violence within their schools. Educators’ experiences as victims and perpetrators of school violence were examined to gain an understanding of the definitions, contributing factors, impacts and incidents of school violence. An interpretive qualitative research method was used and interviews were conducted with 12 educators selected from two government schools in the low-income community of Alexandra. Participants’ data was then analysed using a thematic content analysis. The findings suggest that current definitions of school violence are too narrow and require expansion so as to include all acts of school violence, victim-perpetrator relationships beyond the confines of the school. Violence in schools was found to increase educators’ dysfunctional coping mechanisms, absenteeism, attrition, burnout and to compromise teaching efficacy and the performance of school. Using Brofenbrenner’s Ecological Approach the principal conclusion of this study was that school violence is a result of the interplay between individual, familial, school, communal and societal factors.

ABSTRACT South Africa faces increasing levels of disaster risk. The country and citizens are exposed to a wide range of weather hazards, including drought, cyclones and severe storms that can trigger widespread hardship and devastation. The country’s extensive coastline and proximity to shipping routes present further numerous marine and coastal threats. Despite ongoing progress to extend essential services to poor urban and rural communities, large numbers of people live in conditions of chronic disaster vulnerability. They are located-in underserved, ecologically fragile or marginal areas, where they face recurrent natural and other threats that range from drought to repeated informal settlement fires. Several literature on Disaster Risk Management identifies a number of risk factors that people can be exposed to. These include: · Proximity/exposure: people who occupy or, for their livelihoods depend on areas of high hazard’s risk, · Capacities and resources: people who have limited means and capacity to mobilise them in order to increase their defences against hazard and · Disadvantaged or marginalized people: people who are vulnerable due to gender, race, ethnicity and class. The assessment and evaluation of risk to a range of hazards therefore becomes a necessity as it provides a sound basis for planning and for allocation of financial and other resources, as well as designing interventions and future mitigation activities. Valid and systematic information on disasters and their impacts has, however, not been widely available within local development programmes. More often, information pertaining to disaster risks is not available, and where it is, it is in fragmentary bits usually derived from different sources and stored in different formats. These data shortcomings have been to the obvious detriment of effective relief and mitigation, both at international, national and local municipal levels. Alexandra Township, located to the north of Johannesburg is facing a problem of a usable and comprehensive disaster data inventory. In this research report, an initial disaster inventory for Alexandra Township has been undertaken. Available data on disasters that have occurred in Alexandra Township for over the decade (1991-Aug 2005) are collected. These data are drawn from various sources including newspaper clippings, community- based records, data from the Red Cross, data from the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and others. The beginning of such an information gathering system is a basic requirement for a coherent disaster programme. While in no way as rigorous as the data capturing methods and systems as those adopted in LA RED, South America or in MANDISA (University of Cape Town), where the disaster capturing data systems are more advanced, this report begins to illustrate some of the preliminary results that can be used to begin to develop an effective data management system for Alexandra Township. Such data also should be able to determine the detection of trends, that can begin to inform a more systematic and rigorous identification of complex disaster risks in urban settings. Some of these preliminary trends are profiled in this report.