Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Rising crime rates among the youth in South Africa is a major problem. In the Western Cape
this concern is particularly urgent and is compounded by issues relating to gangsterism and
drugs. This study analyses why youth offenders, based at Lindelani become involved in crime
and how they subsequently see their future. The first part of the study reviews theories of
crime and deviance, such as the classical school of criminology, psychological, biological and
sociological explanations of crime. The usefulness of the criminological developmentalist
approach toward identifying risk factors statistically correlated to the perpetration of crime is
discussed. Common factors associated with crime in the South African context are identified
including family, peers, gang, drug, school, media and neighbourhood related factors as well
as the absence of spirituality. Thereafter the literature associated with the development of
aspirations, life goals and the concept of possible selves is explained. The relationship
between possible selves, aspirations and life goals are discussed and details regarding how
possible selves influence delinquency are presented. Following the theoretical analysis, the
problem of crime in South Africa with reference to the youths interviewed is outlined. The
strategies pursued by government to combat crime are discussed and the effective potential of
these approaches are evaluated. An overview of government’s policy toward youth in South
Africa is given followed by specific reference to the issues surrounding youth and crime in
the Western Cape, with explicit reference to the Cape Flats and gangs. This provides the
background to the Lindelani case study. An overview of the operations and challenges facing
Lindelani Place of Safety and the profile of offences typically committed by youth are given.
Hereafter the findings are presented. The findings are divided into two sections; the first
explores the life world of youth at Lindelani by discussing why youth in the Western Cape
perpetrate crime and identifies factors that are associated with their involvement. The findings
report on the influence of family and household structure, peers, neighbourhood environment,
gangs, drugs, school, media, perceived aptitude of youth offenders, role models and
spirituality. Section two presents the findings regarding the possible selves, life goals and
aspirations of the youth. The general aspirations, possible selves, family aspirations,
friendship, neighbourhood, spiritual, educational and occupational aspirations are explored.
The study thereby presents the voices of these young offenders.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2379 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Treptow, Reinhold |
| Contributors | Heinecken, L. P. T., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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