Globalisation has contributed to people migrating across national borders for different reasons, including economic hardships, political and social oppression, geographic and social factors (Triegaardt, 2009:1). Africans who seek refuge, asylum or an opportunity to improve their economic prospects and life within the borders of South Africa, face xenophobic attacks by black South African citizens, subjecting them to different forms and degrees of prejudice and discrimination (Adjai & Lazaridis, 2013:192). Rising inequality stifle economic growth, create poverty traps, wastes human potential and generate fertile ground for political and civil unrest, instability and heightened human insecurity (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs [UN DESA], 2013:22). The goal of the study was to explore the contribution of social workers in promoting socio-economic equalities for asylum seekers and refugees in Pretoria Central. The study utilised the qualitative research approach; it was exploratory and applied and made use of the instrumental case study design. The study adopted the non-probability sampling method, namely, purposive sampling to select eight social work participants from four Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) located in Pretoria Central. Data was collected by means of semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Findings show that the exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees starts with their struggle to secure documentation that give them access to jobs, education and other opportunities. Furthermore, in rendering services to asylum seekers and refugees, social workers mainly focus on material assistance, safe accommodation, statutory intervention and psycho-social support and lack a developmental approach with a focusing on integrated social and economic development. Findings also reveal that social workers collaborate with critical government departments and organisations, but not in a partnership that unites stakeholders to facilitate the promotion of socio-economic equalities for asylum seekers and refugees’ socio-economic rights. The study concludes that the focus on traditional remedial practice, poor networking, inadequate coordination of interventions between government and NGOs and lack of representation at the level of policy advocacy and policy making, contribute negatively to social workers’ efforts to promote socio-economic equalities for asylum seekers and refugees. The study recommends that social workers integrate a developmental approach in the provision of services, strengthen partnerships between governmental departments and NGOs and advocate for the socio-economic rights of asylum seekers and refugees. / Dissertation (MSW (Social Development and Policy))--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW (Social Development and Policy) / Unrestricted

In 1997 the democratic government of South Africa adopted the White Paper for Social Welfare (Republic of South Africa [RSA], 1997) which committed the country to a developmental approach to social welfare. The implementation of the developmental approach to social services is a shared responsibility of the state, non-governmental organisations and the private sector (Patel, 2015:93). Despite the ongoing studies relating to developmental social welfare service delivery, there is insufficient evidence of the shift made towards a developmental approach by government social workers employed by the Department of Social Development. The goal of the study was to explore social workers? perspectives on the shift towards the developmental approach in social service delivery in the Department of Social Development in the Mopani District, Limpopo. The study employed a qualitative research approach and a case study research design. The sample for the study was selected purposefully and included thirty-two (32) social workers and four (4) supervisors from four sub-districts in the Mopani District. Data was collected through one focus group interview with social workers and one-on-one interviews with supervisors in the four regions respectively. The research findings indicate that social workers have made a partial shift towards a developmental approach in service delivery. The shift is more evident in protection and prevention service delivery than in promoting socio-economic development. The shift is reflected in some strides towards a human rights-based approach; social and economic development; participation; partnerships; and efforts to link micro and macro practice. The findings further point out the barriers that hinder social workers from making significant progress towards the developmental approach. The overall conclusion of this research endeavour is that there is a need in the Department of Social Development for guidelines and capacity building of social workers and supervisors in the developmental approach. The study recommends guidelines to accelerate the progress of implementing the developmental approach in the Mopani District. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

The Financing Policy for Developmental Social Welfare Services in South Africa (1999:15), which is currently under revision, aims to address and eliminate the current imbalances in service delivery by promoting equitable distribution of finances, services and infrastructure for all people in need of social services. In order to achieve these aims, the Financing Policy for Developmental Social Welfare Services (hereafter referred to as the Financing Policy) proposes a shift in service delivery from a remedial approach towards a developmental focus by 2004. As a social worker working in communities with other social service providers at grass-roots level, the researcher found little evidence that transformation to developmental welfare services was indeed taking place. Service providers working in communities do not know how to transform their services. The aim of this research study was to evaluate the impact of the Financing Policy for Developmental Social Welfare Services on service delivery in the Nellmapius community in the Gauteng Province. This research study formed part of a team research where the impact of the Financing Policy was studied in three different communities in the Gauteng Province. The researcher utilized a combined research approach whereby the qualitative research approach was more dominant than the quantitative approach. The researcher utilized a personal administrated questionnaire (quantitative) with the service providers working in Nellmapius. Focus group discussions (qualitative) were conducted with service beneficiaries in Nellmapius. From the research findings derived out of the data analysis, the researcher was able to made valuable recommendations with regard to the improvement of service delivery at grass-roots level. The final recommendation of this study is to integrate the findings of this study with the findings of the other three studies (respectively in Tembisa and Atteridgeville). This integration could then be utilized as a policy analysis towards writing the new planned policies to address funding, transformation and monitoring of social welfare services in South Africa. / Dissertation (MSD (Social Development and Policy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

In 1994 the new democratic South Africa called for the shift in legislation and policies. Social welfare service delivery post-1994 has to be aligned with the principles and key themes of developmental social welfare heralded by the RDP (1994), the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, as well as the Copenhagen Commitments to Social Development (1995). In the social welfare sector, the White Paper for Social Welfare of 1997 was adopted as social welfare policy for South Africa. The White Paper for Social Welfare is embedded in a developmental approach and charted a new path for social welfare in the promotion of national social development. Developmental social welfare is a pro poor strategy which strives to promote a welfare system that facilitates the development of human capacity and self-reliance within a caring and enabling socio-economic environment. The goal of this study was to determine the progress of social welfare service delivery towards a developmental social welfare approach in the Vhembe district, Limpopo. A qualitative research approach was used for this study and the research design was an instrumental case study. The sample for the study was selected purposively and included 28 social workers and four supervisors from four sub-districts in the Vhembe district. Data was collected through four focus group interviews with social workers and one-on-one interviews with the supervisors. Research findings indicate that developmental social welfare service delivery in this district has progressed in terms of protective services to families and children. However, in terms of poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods, the social service sector still lags behind. The overall conclusion is that the progress of social welfare service delivery towards the developmental approach is slow and unsatisfactory. The recommendations of this study are captured in strategies that social workers could use to promote progress in developmental social welfare service delivery, strategies suggested for supervisors to promote progress in developmental social welfare service delivery, and lastly strategies on the creation of an enabling environment. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

The point of departure in this study was to find a logical structure to answer the research question. In order to do this, the central concept adequate was defined, clarified and linked to the research question while on the same score, concepts related to it were also defined and clarified. The objectives of the study and the conceptual instruments were combined and thereafter linked to HIV/AIDS as a real life phenomenon. The literature reviewed assisted in accessing sources relevant to the topic, in setting the theoretical framework for the study and selecting appropriate tools to measure and evaluate the adequacy of governmental health and welfare interventions. The theoretical framework of the study is informed by the idea that the Government has obligations in terms of a social contract with society. On this basis, a conceptual instrument was built, bearing in mind section 2 of the 1996 Constitution. The evaluation criteria used involves collection and sifting through information and data while on the same score, making judgements about the validity of information obtained and deriving inferences from such information. / Public Administration / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

The point of departure in this study was to find a logical structure to answer the research question. In order to do this, the central concept adequate was defined, clarified and linked to the research question while on the same score, concepts related to it were also defined and clarified. The objectives of the study and the conceptual instruments were combined and thereafter linked to HIV/AIDS as a real life phenomenon. The literature reviewed assisted in accessing sources relevant to the topic, in setting the theoretical framework for the study and selecting appropriate tools to measure and evaluate the adequacy of governmental health and welfare interventions. The theoretical framework of the study is informed by the idea that the Government has obligations in terms of a social contract with society. On this basis, a conceptual instrument was built, bearing in mind section 2 of the 1996 Constitution. The evaluation criteria used involves collection and sifting through information and data while on the same score, making judgements about the validity of information obtained and deriving inferences from such information. / Public Administration and Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)