Thesis (MPA (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Swartland Municipality is situated in the West Coast of the Western Cape Province as one of the thirty municipalities in the province. Swartland Municipality, like other municipalities, is faced with socio-economic challenges such as crime, unemployment and low levels of education. although the unemployment rate is not so high when compared with some of the municipalities in the province, Swartland amongst other challenges is faced with the problem of access to tertiary education. As a result the agricultural sector dominates as the main economic activity. As part of the effort to address some of its socio-economic challenges, Swartland Municipality’s Youth Development programme was established in partnership with Umsobomvu Youth Fund and named Youth Advisory Centre (YAC). It was established mainly to uplift the living conditions of youth in Swartland by assisting them with career guidance advice, CV writing, and to start own businesses. To achieve this two officials were employed, one as Career Guidance Advisor, and the other one as an Outreach Officer. These two officials had the same duties but the Outreach Officer was appointed mainly to bring services to Swartland areas which are far from where the Youth Advisory Centre is located. However, to ensure that the programme achieves its goals, programme evaluation has to be carried out. Programme evaluation assists in determining the programme’s shortcomings and the areas that need improvement. In this study programme evaluation has been carried out to determine if what is planned gets implemented, and the extent to which programme plans are achieved. In doing so, the researcher used the YAC’s plans, reports, Swartland Municipality annual reports and held semistructured interviews with two senior officials of Swartland Municipality who are involved in the YAC and with the two appointed YAC officials mentioned above. These data collection instruments provided the researcher with the information on what the YAC planned and what it achieved from July 2006 to April 2009. The researcher analysed this data and found that not all YAC plans and reports were available and some contradictions existed in targets between YAC plans, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Swartland Municipality and Umsobomvu, and Swartland Municipality’s Annual reports. Despite these findings, it was found that the YAC plans correspond with the YAC results reported; therefore the YAC has been implementing its plans. Although the YAC did not meet all of its targets, the difference between the planned outputs and achieve outputs was not big. On the basis of these findings, the researcher recommended that there should be an integrated planning process to set up YAC’s performance standards and the YAC has to improve its performance in most of its key outputs, especially in supporting the youth in business development and opportunities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Swartland Munisipaliteit is aan die Weskus van die Wes-Kaap Provinsie as een van die dertig munisipaliteite in die provinsie. Soos ander munisipaliteite, staar Swartland Munisipaliteit sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings soos misdaad, werkloosheid en lae vlakke van opvoeding in die gesig. Swartland staar, onder andere, die uitdaging van toegang tot tersiêre opvoeding in die gesig, alhoewel die werkloosheidsyfer nie so hoog is as dit met dié van ander munisipaliteite in die provinsie vergelyk word nie. Gebrek aan toegang tot tersiêre opvoeding veroorsaak dat die landbousektor oorheers as die hoof ekonomiese aktiwiteit wat die meeste van die mense in die Swartland gebied in diens neem. Swartland munisipaliteit se Jeugontwikkelingsprogram is in samewerking met die Umsobomvu Jeugfonds as deel van die inisiatief om van die sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings aan te spreek gestig en die Jeug Raadgewende Sentrum (JRS) het tot stand gekom. Dit is hoofsaaklike gestig om die lewensomstandighede van die jeug in Swartland te verbeter deur hulle by te staan met loopbaanvoorligting, die skryf van CV’s en om hul eie besighede op die been te bring. Twee beamptes is aangestel om hierdie doelwit te bereik, een as Loopbaan Voorligting Raadgewer en die ander as Uitreikbeampte. Hierdie twee beamptes het dieselfde pligte, maar die uitreikbeampte is hoofsaaklik aangestel om dienste wat ver vanaf die Jeug Raadgewende Sentrum geleë is, nader aan die Swartland areas te bring. ’n Evaluasie moet uitgevoer word om te verseker dat die program sy doelwitte bereik. Programevaluering het ten doel om die program se tekortkominge en die areas vir verbetering te bepaal. Programevaluasie is in hierdie studie uitgevoer om te bepaal of dit wat beplan is, geïmplementeer word, en in watter mate die program planne verwesenlik word. Die navorser het gebruik gemaak van JRS planne, verslae en Swartland Munisipaliteit se jaarverslae. Semi-gestruktureede onderhoude is met twee senior beamptes van die Swartland Munisipaliteit wat by die JRS betrokke is, en die bogenoemde aangestelde JRS beamptes gevoer. Hierdie data insameling instrumente het aan die navorser die inligting gegee oor wat die JRS beplan en wat dit vanaf July 2006 Tot April 2009 vermag het. Die navorser het hierdie data ontleed en gevind dat nie alle JRS planne en verslae beskikbaar was nie. Daar was ook teenstrydighede in doelwitte tussen JRS planne, die Oorenkoms Memorandum tussen Swartland Munisipaliteit en Umsobomvu en Swartland Munisipaliteit se Jaarverslae. Ten spyte van hierdie bevindings is daar bevind dat die JRS planne met die JRS resultate soos gerapporteer in die verslae ooreenstem, dus het die JRS hul planne geïmplementeer. Die JRS het egter nie al die doelwitte bereik nie, maar die verskil tussne die beplande en werklike uitsette was nie groot nie. In die lig van hierdie bevindings stel die navorser voor dat daar geïntegreerde beplanning moet wees om die JRS se prestasie standaarde op te trek, en die JRS moet hul prestasie in die meeste van die sleutel uitsette verbeter, veral in die ondersteuning van die jeug in besigheidsontwikkeling en geleenthede.

Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. / A socio-economic problem presently facing South Africa is the rate of youth unemployment, which is among the highest in the world. The South African Government has been involved in a number of initiatives, together with the advancement of a labour-intensive Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in order to reduce unemployment and poverty. The EPWP was initiated in 2004 with the aim to place the jobless into productive work in the public sector social services where these EPWP beneficiaries are provided with relevant training and transfer of appropriate skills. However, the EPWP only creates temporary work opportunities that have limited influence on the lives of the beneficiaries. The main objective of the study was to examine the performance of the Youth Work Project (YWP) as an EPWP in a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government in order to determine its sustainability of job creation. The secondary aims of the study were to explain the process of the YWP as implemented through the EPWP by a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government. A third objective was to examine whether the Public Works employment opportunities enhance subsequent employability of participants once they exit this programme. Fourthly, recommendations was forwarded as to how best the EPWP can be used as a tool for helping unemployed youth with a permanent work opportunity. The sample frame computed of thirteen (13) individuals, therefore purposive sampling was considered the most suitable technique to use in this study. The semistructured interviews were conducted with five (5) management officials responsible for the EPWP and unstructured questionnaires were administered to eight (8) available EPWP beneficiaries placed at a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government.

The plight faced by unemployed rural communities in South Africa and particularly the women folks of Winterveldt does not differ much from other rural areas globally in terms of poverty and the need for development. In the light of this problem, the study attempted to answer the main research question guiding it, namely, what is the role of Vocational Education and Training programmes for unemployed women in Winterveldt? Few, if any, studies in South Africa have investigated how unemployed women with little formal education engage in Vocational Education and Training programmes for purposes of employment creation, environmental awareness and cultural preservation. This thesis presents three streams of Vocational Education and Training programmes that were introduced in Winterveldt, Pretoria, namely, the embroidery, vegetable gardens and beadwork. Using a multi-focal theoretical framework consisting of empowerment, human capital, feminism, and critical pedagogy theories, the study investigates whether the programmes reduced women’s vulnerability to poverty in post-apartheid South Africa. To carry out the investigation, the study employed a multiple case study research design based on an interpretive paradigm. In addition, the researcher using individual and focus group interviews, observations and document analysis was able to acquire qualitative data. The data were collected from 17 unemployed women, seven from embroidery stream, five from vegetable garden section and five from beadwork division as well as three coordinators. All the interviewees were selected purposively because they were deemed information rich with regard to the programmes of their studies. Data were analysed manually through hand coding that led to the emergence of the research findings. The research findings were categorised into various ideas that were eventually used to form the themes to this study. The research findings revealed the followings:  That all human beings have the capacity to realise their potential in their own way;  That women with little or no formal learning, usually go unnoticed in any systematic way;  That despite being unnoticed, women have achieved success by using their own hands and available resources to create artefacts or produce crops to turn their impoverished situation around; and  That Vocational Education and Training programmes serve as a primary livelihood strategy for unemployed women who had no alternative means of employment. In conclusion, the research findings are a reminder of the true African spirit that says; Rutang bana ditaola, le se ye natšo badimong, broadly translated as teach insights into the secrets of life to the young ones; you are not to take them with you when you depart to the land of ancestors. Finally, this study proposes a partnership framework as a formation that could enhance the performance of the women participants in the area of Winterveldt. The idea is that by sharing their knowledge and expertise the unemployed women who participate in the various community-based Vocational Education and Training programmes can achieve far better results than when they work in silos. / Educational Studies / Ph. D. (Education)

Unemployment is a major issue in South Africa and if not properly addressed, will have devastating effects in the near future. The challenges facing the South African government is poverty, inequality and unemployment. When carefully examined, all these problems are interrelated. Studies have shown the causes of structural unemployment in South Africa, because despite the high statistical figures, unemployment is highly concentrated on specific racial groups and age cohorts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of youth unemployment in two selected townships. The motivation for the selection of the research participants for this research was because persons in the same age cohorts are likely to share many characteristics that might influence their labour market experiences and outcomes. A qualitative study was undertaken in two locations in 2016, using two research instruments namely; the In-Depth Interviews (IDI’s) and the Focus Group Discussion (FGD’s). In both locations selected for the study, four FGD’s were conducted with both males and females, each with 8 participants and the IDI’s had 10 per site, 5 for males and 5 for females respectively. The data was analysed using the Nvivo computer software. The findings revealed that where the participants have solid family support, the experience of living with unemployment is severe because their potential to contribute in society goes untapped. However, the experience of living with unemployment is cushioned by the support they receive in their families. However, in households where the participants lack family support life becomes difficult for the unemployed. On the other note, the family support also makes the research respondents not to be serious when looking for employment opportunities. It renders them redundant. Another finding concerns the social grant provided by government. Participants in households that receive social grants are shielded from abject poverty. Many participants reported that it is not easy to get into the EPWP while others are not interested in it at all. Finally, none of the research participants have participated in the EPWP programs before, with some being aware of their existence while others are not. The research has shown that young people will not take up any job opportunity that is available for them. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology)

Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

This doctoral thesis sets out to analyse the development of the unemployed movement in Sweden during the period 1920–34. The study is divided into two parts. The first is empirical and descriptive while the second is interpretive and explanatory, and seeks to examine why this phenomenon developed in the way it did. Mass unemployment in Sweden between the World Wars did not cause the same social tensions as in many other countries. This relative peace endured despite high and consistent unemployment and hard living conditions for the unemployed. These conditions served as sources for tensions present in the unemployed movement, and which some actors sought to take advantage of and even exacerbate. Andréasson argues that a major reason that society did not take a more radical turn in the period was that the reformist labour movement actively moderated these tensions. This was done by the Social Democratic Party (SAP) changing the environment of the unemployed organisations, for example by using local unemployment policy to polish off the rough edges of the national unemployment policy. More important was the crisis politics in the early 1930s that helped narrow the socio-economic gap between those who had and those who did not have a job. The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) neutralised the movement of the unemployed by introducing changes within the unemployed movement itself, involving a variety of strategies. After 1933, the LO and SAP dominated and were able to direct the activities of most of the organisations that existed. Gaining control over the unemployed was as important for the LO and SAP as being able to exert control over other forces that might threaten to weaken their long-term strategies and aims. There was a conviction within the unemployed movement that mass unemployment was largely a consequence of technological developments in production. This argument had roots dating back to the early stages of industrialism in England when Luddites had attacked production machinery. The coalition of organisations of unemployed workers in Sweden during the 1920s and 1930s did not seriously consider engaging in machine-breaking activities. The movement’s criticism of technology did not extend into the Swedish model which envisioned the development of machinery as a way to prevent rising unemployment. / QC 20100628

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration

This dissertation studies the social cost of pollution in Leitrirn, which is a township in the Vaal Triangle area. Policies and technologies that may be implemented to reduce pollution inc poor communities are also discussed. The study focuses on three areas namely pollution unemployment and poverty. Leitrim experiences a high rate of both unemployment and poverty. Residents in this area also experience high levels of pollution. Compared to Rathanda township which is more rural. Leitrim is worse off in terms of unemployment poverty and pollution. Unemployment is a major determinant of povert in Leitrim. The main component of a policy aimed at alleviating poverty in Leitrim should therefore focus on employment creation. Unemployment and poverty are defined and measured in this dissertation and the poor in Leitrim are profiled in terms of their gender qualification employment, unemployment and their spending methods. For measuring poverty the Household Subsistence Level (HSL) is used as poverty line to determine the headcount index and the poverty gap. Pollution is identified as one the factors which affect the wellbeing of the poor negatively. Reducing the k\el pollution will therefore also reduce the depth of poverty in poor communities. This dissertation focuses on the following types of pollution: land-based pollution (littering), dust pollution, noise pollution and air (indoor smoke pollution & air pollution from coal fire) pollution. Alternative technologies such as BM implemented in full scale can reduce the level of air pollution by more that 50 percent. It will also reduce the monthly household expenditure of poor households on coal by at least J.5 percent. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

South Africa, like international countries, has been experiencing an increase in the levels of poverty over the years. Poverty affects vulnerable groups of society more intensely and these groups include children, the old, disabled people and women, especially those who are single parents. This dissertation studies the role social grants have on the level of poverty in households of Sharpeville. This study focuses on two areas namely the theoretical background of poverty and social grants; and what the impact is of income from social grants. The South African government provides its citizens with eight different social grants to help those in need and/or vulnerable. From these social grants only six are investigated for the purpose of this study. These grants include the old age grant, child dependency grant, foster care grant, child support grant, disability grant and the war veteran grant. Poverty is defined as the inability to attain a minimal material standard of living by the World Bank. The different indicators used in this study to profile poor households in Sharpeville include the Household Subsistence Level (HSL) as the poverty line, the poverty gap ratio, the headcount index and the dependency ratio. This dissertation shows that poverty within the township has increased over the five years. And to do this the results from the data survey conducted in 2009 are compared to the results from Sekatane‘s 2004 data. The poverty gap ratio and the headcount index for the township in 2009 were estimated at 0.86 and 0.654 respectively. In the year 2004 the headcount index was estimated at 0.431 indicating a 22.3 percent increase in the number of people living in poverty. This means that an estimated 5 477 households in Sharpeville, in 2009, were regarded to be poor When government grants are excluded from the household‘s income within the township both the poverty gap ratio and the headcount index decrease to 0.93 and 0.705 respectively. This means that when government grants are excluded from households‘ income within Sharpeville, the depth of poverty within household‘s increases. The income from government grants might be regarded as minimal, however it assists in moving households further from the poverty line. This study recommends that activities within the informal sector should be encouraged as this will increase employment opportunities for those unemployed in the township. As the vast majority of the unemployed people have skills from trading/retail sector; employment creation should be focused in this sector. Lastly, the income threshold used in the means test equation to check affordability of social grant applicant should be decreased as people meeting the current criteria are already living in dire poverty. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

This dissertation studies the social cost of pollution in Leitrirn, which is a township in the Vaal Triangle area. Policies and technologies that may be implemented to reduce pollution inc poor communities are also discussed. The study focuses on three areas namely pollution unemployment and poverty. Leitrim experiences a high rate of both unemployment and poverty. Residents in this area also experience high levels of pollution. Compared to Rathanda township which is more rural. Leitrim is worse off in terms of unemployment poverty and pollution. Unemployment is a major determinant of povert in Leitrim. The main component of a policy aimed at alleviating poverty in Leitrim should therefore focus on employment creation. Unemployment and poverty are defined and measured in this dissertation and the poor in Leitrim are profiled in terms of their gender qualification employment, unemployment and their spending methods. For measuring poverty the Household Subsistence Level (HSL) is used as poverty line to determine the headcount index and the poverty gap. Pollution is identified as one the factors which affect the wellbeing of the poor negatively. Reducing the k\el pollution will therefore also reduce the depth of poverty in poor communities. This dissertation focuses on the following types of pollution: land-based pollution (littering), dust pollution, noise pollution and air (indoor smoke pollution & air pollution from coal fire) pollution. Alternative technologies such as BM implemented in full scale can reduce the level of air pollution by more that 50 percent. It will also reduce the monthly household expenditure of poor households on coal by at least J.5 percent. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.