The aim of this study was to examine psychocultural factors that are related to unemployment amongst the black residents of Bethanie, which is a semi-rural village in the North West Province. The specific objectives were: <ul><li> to describe how values, belief systems and customs in the community where the study was done, are related to socio-economic development; this also involves changes in values, belief systems and customs due to the contact between the traditional African and Westem cultures; </li><li> to describe how socio-economic development is related to unemployment, and, accordingly, how values, belief systems and customs are related to unemployment; </li><li> to describe the role of the physical and. psychosocial environment with regard to socio¬economic development and unemployment.<br> </li></ul> A qualitative, ethnographic approach was used. This involved in-depth interviews with people with knowledge about the cultural, economic and social context in Bethanie, participant observation and psycholinguistic analyses. Bethanie is characterised by economic stagnation in spite of there being good potential for economic growth. Existing economic activities do not provide sufficient employment opportunities for the villagers, and they depend on the areas surrounding the village for employment. With regard to Hofstede's four value dimensions, it was found that individualism and collectivism are not opposite poles on a continuum, but are in a recursive relationship. Development that is exclusively based on either individualistic or collectivistic values is bound to fail. The value system in Bethanie is predominantly feminine by nature and this should form the basis for development; however, the actual implementation of development projects should be based on masculine values. Avoidance of uncertainty impedes new economic activities or expansion of current economic activities. In Bethanie there is a large power distance as well as inadequate linkages between the community and the power base that has decision-making power and control over resources that could be used for development. A non-linear experience of time, together with using time to maintain continuity rather than to create prosperity, inhibits social and economic development. Non-linear temporality restrains the implementation of developmental projects with a long-term future-orientation, an~ to be successful projects should render visible, short-term outcomes. Acculturation leads to diverse outcomes. Firstly, aspects of another culture can become assimilated with the indigenous culture, thereby creating new forms of cultural expression. Secondly, the new can be imposed on a community and replace existing customs. Thirdly, in parallelism both traditional and Western customs are followed. Socio-economic development can occur through all three these forms of change. However, irrespective of the way change occurs, during times of transition and uncertainty, and when the explanation for events is not evident, people may return to their culture. This could entail a positive redefinition of and identification with the values of the in-group, and efforts to regain control over one's own affairs. Some aspects of a culture are more susceptibje to change than others, and in addition sectors of the community are on different levels of development and acculturation. This must be accommodated in developmental initiatives. Value polymorphism can also lead to conflict and fragmentation of society. Structural unemployment, which results from a lack of job opportunities, must be distinguished from unemployment due to incomplete transition from an educational setting to an employment setting. Unemployment is also a social problem that requires immediate action to alleviate the poverty associated with unemployment. The type of unemployment determines the kinds of interventions that are necessary. Development can occur at either a sectional level (involving SUbgroups) or a communal level (involving the whole community). Development may be either evolutionary, or it could be revolutionary, or it could be based on direct interventions. systems and development must occur on a regional level and be linked with development in the larger context. If the larger context is accounted for, factors that influence and control local conditions, can be attended to. Developmental projects should have both an economic and social focus and be in synchrony with the community's level of development, local culture and leadership, facilitating and inhibiting factors in the physical environment, gender differentiation and the role of women in the community. Other factors that promote development include political stability and a sense of security; permeable boundaries between the setting and the external environment; adequate links between a setting and the power base; a focus on the functional development of people so that they can be employable and take charge of economic activities; exposure to middle-class values; dedifferentiation and greater involvement of the community in decision-making. / Thesis (DPhil (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

M.A. / Die gewilde media skep die persepsie dat arbeid in die Iandbousektor ten gunste van meganisasie afgeskaal word. Die navorsingsvraag wat hieruit voortgespruit het, is die volgende: wat is die invloed van omgewingsveranderlikes op die werkskeppingspotensiaal van die Iandbousektor? Meganisasie word nie hier gesien as die veranderlike wat direk aanleiding gee tot die afname van werkgeleenthede in die Iandbousektor nie, maar dat Iaasgenoemde eerder die gevoig van bepaalde omgewingsveranderlikes soos onder andere, onlangse arbeidswetgewing is. Arbeidswetgewing word hier dus gesien as die oorsaak van 'n verlaging in die werkskeppingspotensiaal van die Iandbousektor terwyl meganisasie gesien word as die metode waardeur die Iandbousektor in reaksie op die arbeidswetgewing poog om sy ekonomiese oorlewing te verseker. 'n Newe effek hiervan is noodwendig 'n verlaagde werkskeppingspotensiaal in dielandbousektor. Gedurende die regeringstermyn van die huidige regering, is daar abeids- en ander wetgewing op die Iandbousektor van toepassing gemaak wat die vraag Iaat ontstaan wat die impak van hierdie soort veranderinge in die taakomgewing van die Iandbou-organisasie op die werkskeppingspotensiaal van hierdie sektor gaan wees. 'n Hipotese-stelling is soos voig geformuleer: 'n verandering in die taakomgewing van 'n organisasie, in hierdie geval die Suid-Afrikaanse Landbousektor, gaan noodwendig tot gevoig he dat die organisasie veranderinge sal moet aanbring om te kan oorleef. Hierdie veranderinge word geantisipeer in die rigting van 'n verlaging van die werkskeppingspotensiaal van die betrokke organisasie, in hierdie geval die landbousektor, te wees. Verandering is in die arbeids- en ander wetgewing wat op die landbousektor van toepassing is, aangebring. Daar word ook na ander invloede, soos misdaad, grondhervorming en klimatologiese veranderinge gekyk, om te bepaal of al hierdie faktore gesamentlik aanleiding gee tot die verlaging in die werk-skeppingspotensiaal van die landbousektor.

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)