This dissertation studies the socio-economic challenges and the survival mechanisms of female-headed households in Bophelong Township. The study focuses on three areas namely, female-headed households, their socio-economic challenges and survival strategies. The study followed a literature survey first, then an empirical study. The literature study was undertaken to provide a theoretical framework for the empirical work. The survey process was undertaken in two phases. In the first phase, a sample survey of the whole area of Bophelong was undertaken. This was the sample from which female-headed households were identified. In the second phase, a household survey on the female-headed households serving the purpose of this study was undertaken. The method used in the measure of poverty is the Household Subsistence Level (HSL). The HSL measures the minimum amount needed by a household to maintain subsistence. It takes account of the sex and ages of household members. According to the study outcome, poverty levels amongst female-headed households in Bophelong are high. About 77% of sampled female-headed households in Bophelong were poor. The poverty gap index in these households was 0.53; meaning that on average poor households needs 53% of their income to reach their poverty line. High unemployment rate has been found to be prevalent amongst female-headed households in Bophelong, where the rate of 65% was recorded. This high unemployment rate was possibly the cause of poverty in these households together with low educational qualifications among households members; only 2% were found to have a post graduate qualification. Female-headed households in Bophelong township are engaged in a daily struggling to survive. These households have devised various means for survival. These include the search for wild fruits in the nearby areas, immigration to another region and the benefit of school feeding schemes. When it comes to the sources of household income, government grants were found to play an important role in the sustenance of these households. The average household income was calculated at R1760 per month. The average dependency ratio, which measures the number of unemployed who depend on one income earner, was 5.5. Finally, the investigation recommends a more detailed and deeper study relating to the socio-economic challenges faced by the female-headed households. There is also a need to explore on their survival means so as to direct policy actions aimed at addressing socio-economic issues relating to female-headed households in general. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

This dissertation studies the socio-economic challenges and the survival mechanisms of female-headed households in Bophelong Township. The study focuses on three areas namely, female-headed households, their socio-economic challenges and survival strategies. The study followed a literature survey first, then an empirical study. The literature study was undertaken to provide a theoretical framework for the empirical work. The survey process was undertaken in two phases. In the first phase, a sample survey of the whole area of Bophelong was undertaken. This was the sample from which female-headed households were identified. In the second phase, a household survey on the female-headed households serving the purpose of this study was undertaken. The method used in the measure of poverty is the Household Subsistence Level (HSL). The HSL measures the minimum amount needed by a household to maintain subsistence. It takes account of the sex and ages of household members. According to the study outcome, poverty levels amongst female-headed households in Bophelong are high. About 77% of sampled female-headed households in Bophelong were poor. The poverty gap index in these households was 0.53; meaning that on average poor households needs 53% of their income to reach their poverty line. High unemployment rate has been found to be prevalent amongst female-headed households in Bophelong, where the rate of 65% was recorded. This high unemployment rate was possibly the cause of poverty in these households together with low educational qualifications among households members; only 2% were found to have a post graduate qualification. Female-headed households in Bophelong township are engaged in a daily struggling to survive. These households have devised various means for survival. These include the search for wild fruits in the nearby areas, immigration to another region and the benefit of school feeding schemes. When it comes to the sources of household income, government grants were found to play an important role in the sustenance of these households. The average household income was calculated at R1760 per month. The average dependency ratio, which measures the number of unemployed who depend on one income earner, was 5.5. Finally, the investigation recommends a more detailed and deeper study relating to the socio-economic challenges faced by the female-headed households. There is also a need to explore on their survival means so as to direct policy actions aimed at addressing socio-economic issues relating to female-headed households in general. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / The study was undertaken to examine the contribution of child support grant (CSG) towards alleviation of poverty in South Africa. This is necessary because CSG is meant to support children from poor background in order to improve their general wellbeing. The literature review undertaken in this study shows that CSG is contributing towards alleviation of poverty in Masodi village. The literature review further highlights that there are various challenges that disturbs the strategies of the government in delivering world class social assistance to the citizens of South Africa. Another finding are that there are barriers in the utilization of system that are used to pay CSG as it is outdated, and need to be updated. This challenge justifies why there are several corruption cases in the social pension system (SOCPEN). One of the findings of the study is that CSG plays a direct role in the life of beneficiaries in improving socio-economic conditions in their lives; children are able to attend school, improve on nutrition and access health services. The main recommendation of the study is that government should increase the amount of CSG; it should be extended to the age of 21 to enable the children to attend higher learning institutions. In order to assist children to overcome the challenges of poverty, accessing higher education would reduce dependency on the government in the long run, as they will acquire skills that will make them employable. / South African Social Security Agency

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

While establishing modus operandi information is an investigative technique that is used globally in the investigation of fraud, investigators of child support grant fraud in South Africa do not properly use this technique in their investigation. The study sought to examine the modus operandi used by civil servants in unduly accessing child support grand fraud. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with structured interviews and literature as data-collection methods. Two sample groups were used to gather data. The data was analysed using spiral method. The study found that modus operandi as a valuable investigation tool was not properly used and in other instances was never used in the investigations. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that modus operandi captured on the police and corporate database systems be used as reference for comparing modus operandi of known grants fraudsters. Training and skills be provided to public and corporate investigators on the use of modus operandi information in the investigation of social grants. To ensure that good practice is developed, a modus operandi guideline document should be crafted by the South African Police Services' detective division at National level and corporate investigators respectively, with a view to improve conviction rate. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

While establishing modus operandi information is an investigative technique that is used globally in the investigation of fraud, investigators of child support grant fraud in South Africa do not properly use this technique in their investigation. The study sought to examine the modus operandi used by civil servants in unduly accessing child support grand fraud. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with structured interviews and literature as data-collection methods. Two sample groups were used to gather data. The data was analysed using spiral method. The study found that modus operandi as a valuable investigation tool was not properly used and in other instances was never used in the investigations. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that modus operandi captured on the police and corporate database systems be used as reference for comparing modus operandi of known grants fraudsters. Training and skills be provided to public and corporate investigators on the use of modus operandi information in the investigation of social grants. To ensure that good practice is developed, a modus operandi guideline document should be crafted by the South African Police Services' detective division at National level and corporate investigators respectively, with a view to improve conviction rate. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

MSCPNT / Department of Nutrition / Objectives: The study objectives were to determine demographic and environmental factors that can affect nutritional status of children receiving CSG, to assess the nutritional knowledge of caregivers, to determine the proportion of CSG spent on food and to determine the nutritional quality of food bought from CSG. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive with an analytical component Subjects: PCG of children under the age of 5 receiving CSG in Mogalakwena Municipality. 189 caregiver-child pairs were interviewed, in their households. Methods: Data collected by the interviewer included demographic data, Use of CSG, nutritional knowledge and the HHFI and anthropometric measurements were done by a 3rd year Nutrition student. Results: About 36.5% of participants were in the age 26-35 years, 75.7% were unmarried, 84.1% were unemployed and 72% had no matric. Mean age for children studied was 2.84±1.33, 77.8% of participants stayed in a household of more than 5 people. In terms of types of housing, 56% had formal houses, 55% had access to pit latrines and 52.9% used communal taps to access water, 41.3% used electricity for energy while 23.3% used wood to stretch the availability of electricity. Mean CSG received was R386.22 ±R208.75. Majority of participants (56.1%) indicated that CSG supports the whole family and 64.6% of the families depended solely on CSG for survival, while 27% of families had elderly people receiving pension grant which was supplementing the CSG. The CSG was used for different items, majority of families used 94.2% of the money for food at a mean of R171.55±159.25, followed by toiletry (71.6%) at a mean R61.89±69.24, then clothing (68.9%) at a mean of R70.77±97.14. Stokvel was also mentioned as one of the items contributed for by CSG, 32.3% of participants used more than R50.00 for stokvel. Different food items were purchased using CSG, 80.5 % of the money was used to purchase starchy food, mealie meal being the highest commodity at 43.7%. Offal (35.8%) was the highest protein source purchased followed by poultry at 26.4% and soya soup at 20%. Potatoes (19.6%) were mentioned as the most purchased vegetable, followed by cabbage (14.8%). There was a 53.5% of prevalence of stunting, of this 19.6% of children were severely xiii stunted, 5.3% underweight, and 32.3% of wasting. There were 22.1 % of PCG who were overweight and 12.1% were obese. The PCG BMI was negatively associated with WAZ (r= -0.48, p=0.515). There was a positive association between PCG BMI and HAZ (r=0.103, p=0.158), however when caregivers BMI was correlated to BAZ the association was strongly negatively significant (r=0.206, p=0.004). Most PCG received nutrition education from relatives, 71.1% were never educated on nutrition, 57.9% of children were fed 3X/ day. Conclusion: It is apparent from the study that malnutrition, precisely stunting is still a problem in South Africa, however this does not disregard the impact that CSG has on the lives of the poor. It affords the families to access basic needs in the household such as food, toiletry, electricity and even stokvel. The role of nutritionists/ dieticians is paramount in helping mothers to choose healthier economic food for the children in order to curb the burden of malnutrition. / NRF

This dissertation was carried out to try to describe the role of socio-economic factors in the successful completion of schooling up to matriculation level (matric), among young mothers in the Soutpansberg East Circuit in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The researcher used the social capital theoretical framework. A questionnaire was administered to 128 young mothers, aged 18 and above, after a pilot survey had been carried out. The data was captured, exported and analysed The data was then exported to the latest model of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 where it was analysed. The research used independent T-test analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis. The independent T- test was used to determine if the views of young mothers differed by the number of children, form of support from father, school policy and presence of educators as counsellors. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to determine whether the views on the role of socioeconomic factors in the successful completion of matric among young mothers in the Soutpansberg East Circuit, Limpopo Province, South Africa differed by age, grade, type of family and who takes care of the child. The findings showed that there were several socioeconomic factors that assisted young mothers to complete matric, among them were, family supports, child support grants, intra-school environment and policies. They provided critical support to the young mother in different forms among others taking care of children while they were at school, financial support, encouragement. The study also found other that schools in the Soutpansberg East Circuit also provided a significant amount of support to young mothers. The study also found a general trend of absentee fatherhood in the caring of children. The study found out that there was a complicated interplay of different socioeconomic factors to the completion of matric among the young mothers. The researcher, therefore, concluded that socio-economic factors are critical for the successful completion of schooling up to matric level in the Soutpansberg East Circuit. The study found out the need for more empirical study in the role of socioeconomic factors to the complication of matric among young mothers. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology)