An assessment of the challenges of police child protection unit in providing services to vulnerable children in Alice, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Mutyambizi, Clair
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Children -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Child welfare -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7764 , vital:30756
- Description: The study set out to assess the challenges that are faced by the South African Police child protection unit in providing services to vulnerable children in Alice, Eastern Cape Province. The study used the qualitative design. Data was collected using in-depth interviews in which twenty individual participants took part. The results indicate that the challenges of SAP child protection unit in providing services to vulnerable children in Alice, Eastern Cape Province are mainly financial based, emotionally stressful, labour related, and can be caused by parental oversight, legal constraints that begets lack of trust and also policing illegal child immigrants. These factors make the police child protection unit’s work challenging thereby hampering its effectiveness. It has therefore been recommended that the police child protection unit should be given the support due to them so as to make service delivery to vulnerable children in Alice effective. Also it has been recommended that children be educated that the police are there to enforce the law, assist and not to harm them.
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An assessment of the child support grant in South Africa : the case of Nkonkobe Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Kuboya, Patience
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child support--South Africa--Eastern Cape Child welfare--South Africa Child support--Government policy--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Development Studies
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15991 , vital:40577
- Description: The child support grant is an important tool which attempts to save lives and to reduce the negative effects of child poverty in South Africa. The importance of the child support grant comes in the middle of the growing concern over increased child poverty in the post-apartheid era therefore, this study was undertaken with the objective of assessing whether the child support grant is addressing the basic needs of the children particularly in the form of providing for health, education and adequate feeding; given that it is pooled to cover the needs of the household. The study adopted a qualitative approach based on field research. The results of the study indicated that the child support grant reduce child poverty in Nkonkobe Municipality. In addition, the results also revealed that there were also gaps that hinder the child support grant to reach its maximum in alleviating child poverty in the municipality. Firstly, the grant has become a means of family support that is used for meeting the needs of the whole family rather than being solely spent on the child as it is pooled to cover the expenses of the whole household. Secondly, the information about the successes in alleviating poverty through the grant in the municipality was not sufficiently documented. And lastly, there is lack of proper follow up from SASSA on how the grant was used by the caregivers. Therefore, the study has made recommendations which include capacity building, encouraging developmental projects, developing rural infrastructure and thorough monitoring.
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An assessment of the effect of HIV/AIDS policy in combating the spread of the disease within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Mnguni, Grace
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5185 , vital:29104
- Description: Due to its rapid spreading, AIDS has been declared a global epidemic. Especially sub-Saharan Africa has been the most affected by the epidemic. South Africa is no exception to the devastating impact of the epidemic. Over the past few years, HIV-prevention initiatives have been underway on a full scale in an effort to combat the destructive powers of the epidemic in the country. These initiatives appear to have adopted a health-belief approach in their strategies to decrease HIV-infections. This approach to HIV-prevention assumes that the desired behavior change, namely increasing safe sexual practices and decreasing high-risk HIV/AIDS behavior, can be achieved through rational decision-making based on knowledge of the disease and its consequences. The findings of the studies on sexual behavior and HIV/AIDS such as KAPB (knowledge, attitudes, practice and beliefs) studies appear to reaffirm the fact that knowledge alone is neither sufficient nor effective in bringing about the appropriate behavior change to combat HIV/AIDS. These studies point towards a high level of knowledge about AIDS in the general population, yet the ever increasing infection rate remains undeterred. The ANC came to power in 1994 after 10 years of National Party inaction with regard to AIDS. The National AIDS plan, endorsed by incoming minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was insufficiently informed by the institutional and social realities of South Africa. Like other policy blueprints of this period, it over-estimated the economic, and especially human, resources at the disposal of incoming government. Moreover, this avowedly multi-sect oral HIV/AIDS plan, designated a “presidential lead project”, was situated in a national department of health in the throes of transformation. Because health is in part a provincial prerogative, AIDS was vulnerable to further administrative obstruction in a second tier of bureaucracy from the previous regime. Competing claims on resources in the poorer provinces, the demands of administrative reconfiguration, and very uneven provincial capacity, further undermined implementations. The community of Duncan Village, in Buffalo City was selected because of the high HIV-prevalence in the District and because of the involvement of the Centers for Health Systems Research & Development in the proposed youth center in Duncan Village. Buffalo City is the third highest HIV-prevalence. The study intends to inform HIV-prevention initiatives about impediments to safe sex. Also, its aim is to decrease HIV-infections among the youth in the community. Towards informing the study the study aim and objectives, individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 confirmed HIV-positive males and females from various social strata in the community, and who assumedly HIV-negative. The focus group discussions were conducted with the aid of a semi-structured group -discussions schedule. The two forms of data collection served to complement each other and promoted the validity and quality of the data collected. The study design opted for was explorative in nature, as little is currently known about the community-specific obstacles to safe sex. All respondents were purposively sampled. The main findings of the study point towards the need for HIV/AIDS to be viewed in the light of the socio-cultural and socio-economic contexts of sexual behavior. Factors that were identified as influencing sexual behavior, and therefore HIV/AIDS, include the unbalanced power in gender-relations, socio-economic status and perceived self-efficacy, amongst others. Also, there is a need for detailed knowledge about the specific of HIV-prevention and transmission, as well as safe sexual practices. This will serve to address myths and misconceptions about three models of safe sex, namely condom use, sexual abstinence and mutual faithfulness. Overall, the research that HIV/AIDS is a socio-behavioral problem rooted in the sexual practices of individuals. Attempts to successfully change high-risk sexual behaviors should first identify factors that influence the progression of the disease in order to develop community-specific effective HIV-prevention initiatives. To a large extent, this study has identified those factors that influence and limit the options and opportunities that people in Buffalo City have when it comes to practice safe sex. In this community, there are factors that should be taken into account when HIV/AIDS -prevention initiatives are planned and implemented..
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An assessment of the effect of HIV/AIDS policy in combating the spread of the disease within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality: Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mnguni, Grace
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2956 , vital:28202
- Description: Due to its rapid spreading, AIDS has been declared a global epidemic. Especially sub-Saharan Africa has been the most affected by the epidemic. South Africa is no exception to the devastating impact of the epidemic. Over the past few years, HIV-prevention initiatives have been underway on a full scale in an effort to combat the destructive powers of the epidemic in the country. These initiatives appear to have adopted a health-belief approach in their strategies to decrease HIV-infections. This approach to HIV-prevention assumes that the desired behavior change, namely increasing safe sexual practices and decreasing high-risk HIV/AIDS behavior, can be achieved through rational decision-making based on knowledge of the disease and its consequences. The findings of the studies on sexual behavior and HIV/AIDS such as KAPB (knowledge, attitudes, practice and beliefs) studies appear to reaffirm the fact that knowledge alone is neither sufficient nor effective in bringing about the appropriate behavior change to combat HIV/AIDS. These studies point towards a high level of knowledge about AIDS in the general population, yet the ever increasing infection rate remains undeterred. The ANC came to power in 1994 after 10 years of National Party inaction with regard to AIDS. The National AIDS plan, endorsed by incoming minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was insufficiently informed by the institutional and social realities of South Africa. Like other policy blueprints of this period, it over-estimated the economic, and especially human, resources at the disposal of incoming government. Moreover, this avowedly multi-sect oral HIV/AIDS plan, designated a “presidential lead project”, was situated in a national department of health in the throes of transformation. Because health is in part a provincial prerogative, AIDS was vulnerable to further administrative obstruction in a second tier of bureaucracy from the previous regime. Competing claims on resources in the poorer provinces, the demands of administrative reconfiguration, and very uneven provincial capacity, further undermined implementations.
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An assessment of the effect of political and administrative leadership in ensuring sustainable service delivery in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Eastern Cape
- Authors: Muteyi,Thembisile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Politicians -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2990 , vital:28229
- Description: This study attempts to assess the level to which effective political and management leadership for contributes to sustainable services. Looking at the past performance of the municipality one can see that around the years of 2003 and 2004, the municipality achieved a financially unqualified report from the Auditor General with just two points raised. However, from that point on the municipality has been on a steady decline. The most decline was from the period 2006 - 2011. The decline in the performance of the municipality has been so rapid in the five year period mentioned above so much that the 2010/2011 Auditor General Report on the municipality ran up to eighty issues over fourteen pages. Noteworthy is the fact that the decline in service delivery and financial management confirmed by the performance decline marked by the Auditor General coincided with several changes at the senior political and management levels. For example under the period of decline, the Municipality operated without a permanent Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a period of more than four years. Also, during the period of decline the municipality had six municipal managers all in acting capacities and about four executive mayors in the same period. Regarding the issue of leadership in the municipality, the Auditor General made the following observation.
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An assessment of urban agriculture as a strategy for youth employment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) : the case of Kisenso/Kinshasa
- Authors: Mubiala, Wivin Luwakunu
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- Congo (Democratic Republic) Youth -- Employment -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14000 , vital:39759
- Description: In this study, urban agriculture was investigated as a strategy for youth employment and poverty alleviation in Kisenso / Kinshasa- DRC. The aim of the study was to identify the effect of urban agriculture on employment and job creation in the DRC. The specific objectives are to assess the sustainability of urban agriculture as an employment alternative for the youth in Kinshasa, to examine the extent of government support for the sector and evaluate the role urban agriculture plays in poverty reduction in the identified households. This study adopted a qualitative approach because of its strengths which facilitated a better understanding of the different data the study gathered. Indeed, by use of words such as why, when, how, and what, the study was able to explain many aspects that are not known on urban agriculture in Kinshasa. The quantitative approach has been used to present some results in the form of figures and graphs It was noted that income from urban agriculture is mainly used for needs such as: school fees (25percent), food (53percent), clothing (15percent), and health (7percent). Despite the fact that it does not satisfy all the needs of the workers, results from the study indicate that urban agriculture is making a contribution in the socio-economic development of Kisenso. It clearly appears that if the urban agriculture is funded and professionalised, it can significantly contribute towards creating jobs in Kinshasa. This study was focused only in Kisenso, meaning that more research should be conducted on the entire city of Kinshasa so that conclusions can be generalised on employment and poverty reduction. It will be interesting for the government to fund urban agriculture activity and make it profitable to the workers and the entire population of Kinshasa.
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An assessment on the implementation of the fire brigade services act 99 of 1987 : the case of Nkonkobe and Nxuba Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Ramothwala, ME
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Emergency management Fire prevention--Law and legislation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Public Administration
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16002 , vital:40581
- Description: The Fire Brigade Services Act is a piece of legislation that guides organizations responsible for the establishment, management and implementation of fire prevention, firefighting, rescue of victims, training of officers and other emergency related activities. In light of how important life is and how difficult it is to lose our loved ones, crops and animals etc. The purpose of this study was to conduct a research and do an assessment of the implementation of the Fire Brigade Services Act 99 of 1987 (The case of Nkonkobe and Nxuba Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province). The Fire Brigade Services Act operate in a specialised atmosphere. The complication of the interpretation of this legislation makes it difficult for the organizations to implement this piece of legislation successfully. This is exacerbated by the requirement of specialised equipment and machineries of which an exorbitant amount of money is required to procure, service and maintain those items. This propels the necessity of the organizations to plan, organise, direct, co-ordinate, control and evaluate proper management, effective and efficient implementation of this piece of legislation. The impact of the proper management, effective and efficient implementation of this act will be lifesaving. We all want to save our lives and fight for survival. The more we practice our skills and techniques to prevent, fight fires and rescue victims, the longer we can live. This study revealed that the implementation of Fire Brigade Services Act in the area of Nkonkobe and Nxuba situated at the Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province is dramatically poor, with the resultant loss of lives and property. The Amatole District Municipality and the two above mentioned municipalities should develop a strategy to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Fire Brigade Services Act as per the recommendation of this study. It should be noted that the organogram plays a major role in any organisation. It is a point of departure and once the organisation fails to create a proper structure, it is likely to be affect the performance of staff poorly.
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An evaluation of medicinal plants used in South Africa and Lesotho for uterotonic contractile purposes
- Authors: Smit, Inge
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Traditional medicine -- South Africa Traditional medicine -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15232 , vital:40256
- Description: Background One of the leading cause of maternal mortality globally is postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which mainly occur in developing countries. By identifying traditional medicinal plants that is used by Traditional birth attendants we can analysis the plants for cyclotides which contain uterotonic properties and a wide variety of other properties. The indigenous knowledge of traditional medicinal plants need to be preserved and scientifically proven to ensure future drug development and continued use of these plants. Cyclotides can be used as a backbone to develop novel drugs in that cyclotides are very stable proteins. Methods: Ten plants were identified that are commonly used to prevent or treat postpartum haemorrhage. The plant samples were collected, prepared and dried in South Africa. The plants were analysed in Austria. The plants underwent extraction of one gram of each plant was analysed using: Matrix-Assisted Laser desorption Ionization time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS); Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Analysis by High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results None of the ten plants analysed showed the presence of cyclotides. It is important to report negative results, because it informs the academic fraternity and could be entered in a global data base of results. The plants analysed is known to be used by Traditional Birth Attendants for the treatment or prevention of postpartum haemorrhage. Conclusion All the plants analysed are commonly used to prevent and treat PPH. The fact that no cyclotides were found do not dispute the practical use of these plants to prevent and treat PPH. There continue to be a gap in what uterotonic properties these plants contain and should be further investigated.
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An Evaluation of the effectiveness of public libraries in providing information to school children :A Case study of the Queenstown public library , Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Ndlovu, Sheron
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Information services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Information resources -- South Africa --Eastern Cape Public libraries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6528 , vital:30484
- Description: This study took the form of an evaluative study of the effectiveness of public libraries as a means of providing information to school children, and was conducted at the Queenstown Public Library in the province of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The research endeavoured to evaluate the effectiveness of public libraries in the role which they play to provide information to school children, despite the widespread belief that the role of libraries is now being replaced by Information and Communication Technologies, or ICTs. This study is also significant for the factors which contribute towards school children being prevented from receiving the full range of benefits which libraries have to offer and the recommendations which it makes to improve the effectiveness of the role played by libraries in this respect. The study could also be of benefit to the staff of libraries, as it could serve to inform them with respect to what needs to be done in order to improve the ways in which libraries make information available to school children. In this respect the research could also provide valuable insights into the strategies which need to be developed and adopted in order to make public libraries more effective providers of various types and forms of information to school children. It is to be hoped that the study will also make a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge concerning public libraries as a means of providing information to school children. It is the fervent wish of this researcher to make a credible and articulate case for the great value which public libraries have for school children, despite the fact that general perceptions no longer accord libraries the value which they were once commonly held to possess.
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An evaluation of the integrated coordination role of the District Intergovernmental Forum in service delivery : a case of Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape (2010-2015)
- Authors: Ngxenge, Daphne Nomthandazo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Intergovernmental cooperation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Intergovernmental fiscal relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9079 , vital:34226
- Description: Intergovernmental relation is a prerequisite for effective performance of the contemporary governments. This research evaluates the roles and functions of intergovernmental forums towards enhancing the improvement of service delivery in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. The motive of the study was to identify the major inhibitors and the integrated remedial measures that can be suggested. In a bid to accomplish this, the entire research process was guided by the four critical research questions for the study entail the evaluation of: What are the edifiers of the roles and functions of intergovernmental forums in service delivery within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM)? What so far are the effects of intergovernmental forums on the performance of Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM)? Which are the inhibitors of the effectiveness of the roles or functions of intergovernmental forums in service delivery within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM)? Which hybrid model or recommendation can be suggested for improving the effectiveness of the roles or functions of intergovernmental forums in service delivery within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM)? The analysis of the qualitative data that was obtained from 25 sampled participants drawn from Alfred Nzo District Municipality revealed that the edifiers of the roles and functions of intergovernmental forums in service delivery within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM) are often linked to the legislations and regulations on intergovernmental relations, information system, and the policy on intergovernmental relations. In response to the question that probed what so far are the effects of intergovernmental forums on the performance of Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM), the participants revealed that the effects of the roles and functions performed by the intergovernmental relations and forums have so far been manifested in the improvement of resource optimisation and service delivery. However, further analysis of the interview findings indicated that as much as Alfred Nzo District municipality has been able to realise some of the positive impacts of intergovernmental relations and forums, there are also still challenges that limit the realisation of the full positive impacts of the implementation of the intergovernmental relation programmes. The thematic content analysis of the interview findings revealed that the major inhibitors of the effectiveness of the roles or functions of intergovernmental forums in service delivery within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM) are often linked to the three sets of challenges that include: operational challenges, financial challenges and policy issues. In response to the findings of this research, it is argued that the managers and directors at Alfred Nzo District Municipality must consider using the following strategies if they are to ensure that their established intergovernmental forums influence the successful implementation of joint projects and service delivery of the municipalities within the jurisdiction of intergovernmental relations: Practicalise the Legislative Provisions on Intergovernmental Relations by Developing a Vision and Mission that must be achieved through Intergovernmental Forums, Create a Structure and Framework of Intergovernmental Relation, Allocation of Sufficient Resources for the Implementation of the Joint Projects, and Evaluation of Joint Projects. Future studies can explore the roles of information system towards enhancing the effectiveness of intergovernmental relations.
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An examination of the nexus between school management and governance : a case of selected schools in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Ntsimango, Ncedile Stewart Lungisa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: School management and organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape School boards -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Education and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1885 , vital:27573
- Description: School management and governance has become essential in improving quality of education in public schools (Caldwell, 2012). Furthermore, the existence of a well-established partnership between school governors and school managers is vital to ensure that students receive quality education. On this regard, the study sought to broaden an understanding the thin line between School Management Teams (SMT) and School Governing Bodies (SGB) which is frequently crossed by both parties while executing their roles and responsibilities. The population for the study was SGB members, SMT members and general staff members of public schools in the Eastern Cape Province. The study unit was Willowvale (KwaGcaleka kuGatyane) a circuit named after a great amaXhosa king Zwelidumile, King Zwelidumile Circuit. Purposive sampling method was used because collection of data required that respondents be familiar with the concepts of school management and school governance. A mixed method research methodology was used which include a combination of qualitative and quantitative research approaches. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and an interview guide was used to facilitate focus group interviews. Qualitative and quantitative data was analysed separately. Quantitative data analysis was done and presented as descriptive statistics, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) Pearson’s correlation and T-test. For the purpose of testing the reliability of the scales of questions included in the questionnaire, the Cronbach’s alpha was used. Qualitative data analysis was done through the researcher`s critical reasoning and analysis of focus group discussions of interviewees. The research found out that lack teamwork, transparency and ineffective leadership are the root cause of failure to recognise strategic and operational boundaries that exist between SGBs and SMTs. Also understanding of the distinction and overlaps between School governance and school management is important to ensure strong relationships, trust and respect between the SGBs and the SMTs. More so, the research observed lack of strategic and operational synergy between SGBs and SMTs. Consequently, the research recommends the importance of training and development to both SGBs and SMTs so that they understand their roles and responsibilities as stated in the SASA Act. SGBs and the SMTs should strive to forge strategic and operational synergy. Trust and respect must prevail from the SGB since they are the major stakeholders of the schools. Effective communication was seen as crucial to building partnerships and ensuring collaboration. Finally, the research recommends that research should be conducted regularly in order to keep track of the state of school management and governments in public schools.
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An exploration of offenders' experiences and social workers' perceptions of standardised anger management programme:|ba case study at St Albans Correctional Centre
- Authors: Van Rooyen, Yolande
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Social work with criminals Criminals -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6391 , vital:29602
- Description: The purpose of this research is to explore offenders’ experiences and social workers’ perceptions of the Standardised Anger Management Programme as facilitated by social workers at the Department of Correctional Services. The offender population in South Africa is diverse in terms of culture, language, religion, education and socio economic status. The Department of Correctional Services is committed to providing needs-based programmes for offenders to address their offending behaviour in ways that are appropriate for each. The research design was based on a case study. Thirteen offenders from St Albans Correctional Centre who had completed the Standardised Anger Management Programme, together with three social workers at the centre, participated in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the programme. Evaluations were conducted by means of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with the thirteen offenders, and a focus group discussion with the three social workers facilitating the programme. Together, these three methods yielded useful and insightful ideas on the areas where the programme’s challenges lie, and led to the formulation of several general and specific recommendations, which are presented in chapter five of this thesis. The thesis bases its critique of the programme on insights gained from the literature; expanding on all aspects of the ecological approach to the individual. A detailed presentation of the ecological approach is given in chapter three. The various individual, micro-, exo- and macrosystems that make up the totality of influences on a person’s life are reviewed, and are referred to again in chapter four, which presents the finding of the study. The findings and discussion thereof are, of course, presented in the context of the Department of Correctional Service’s legislative and legal framework, which takes its direction from the 2005 White Paper on Corrections. This White Paper firmly set the Department of Correctional Services on a path towards rehabilitative, rather than purely punitive, treatment of offenders. Its publication was followed soon after by the introduction of the Standardised Anger Management Programme which, as the name suggests, was an attempt to standardise all the hitherto piecemeal rehabilitative efforts of various centres around the country. The study found that facilitators and the participants of the Standardised Anger Management Programme had areas of commonality regarding their views on the programme. The findings suggest that while participants in the programme gained anger management skills, much needs to be done to revise and improve the programme, so that it better addresses the needs of the unique offender population of South Africa. Among many recommendations made in chapter five, the researcher recommends that social workers are adequately trained and equipped to present the programme. In addition, the issues of course content and cultural assumptions, offender motivation and centre officials’ attitudes also need to be addressed.
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An exploration of the use of the transformational leadership style in enhancing public service delivery : the case of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Dlamkile, Phumlani
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Leadership Organizational change Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MAdmin
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8245 , vital:32095
- Description: A clear vision and understanding of the leadership roles by the leaders of the municipality under study are questionable, the low rate of the public service delivery and the lack of accountability by municipality officials also rises some concerns. The aim of this research is therefore to establish a level of understanding of the transformational leadership style in enhancing public service delivery. The study used a qualitative research design that involves a desktop research. Data was collected through the review of available published or existing documents. Data analysis included using documents analysis which consist of the existing information reviewed from literature or document containing information about various municipalities issues, journals and books as well as reviewed of various data analysis done in relation to an exploration of the use of transformational leadership style in enhancing public service delivery with the aim of analysing the organisation structure of the municipality. The findings from previous literature revealed that there are constraints faced in delivering services. The study confirmed some of the municipal leaders’ lack skills, competencies and a lack of clear understand of transformational leadership style as well as training. The findings also identified the search for solutions to the hurdles or challenges faced by the municipal leadership both political and administrative in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality by providing an insight for further research regarding the institutional weakness and policy issues in this part of the world. The implications of the findings are that unless the challenges are resolved, municipalities will continue to experience poor service delivery, poor economic growth and development. Recommendations to overcome these are suggested.
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An exploratory study on lifestyle and its contribution to personal victimization among students at University of Fort Hare in Alice Campus
- Authors: Vaphi, Yanga Yandisa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bullying Criminal behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sci
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2436 , vital:27840
- Description: This study is based on student lifestyle and its contribution to personal victimization at University of Fort Hare in Alice campus. Social Science researchers such as Fisher, Sloan, Cullen, and Lu (1998) claim that there are many incidents of criminal victimization occurring on and off university campuses. The main purpose of this study is to find out whether there is any correlation between student lifestyle and personal victimization. There are many theories, concepts and available information regarding the issue of personal victimization among students, however, this notion is thriving, especially in higher institutions. The study examined the research objectives through lenses of theories such as lifestyle exposure theory, routine activities theory, rational choice theory which serve to elaborate more about the research topic. In this study data was collected using interviews and self-administered questionnaires for triangulation purposes. Some of the findings in this study were that there is vast majority of students who suffer from personal victimization on and off-campus due to students’ different lifestyles and lack of legal responsibility by the institution. First year females were found to be the majority of students who suffer from personal victimization due to their vulnerability in their residences. Based on these findings, recommendations such as tightening security measures around campus, educating students regarding victimization, and collaboration of the university with police officials were made.
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An investigation into instability in post- Gaddafi Libya, Mali and Nigeria: a comparative theoretical approach
- Authors: Chindoga, Melody
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Terrorism Insurgency Terrorism -- Government policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sci
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2667 , vital:27982
- Description: Since the ousting of Gaddafi from power in 2011, Libya, Mali and Nigeria have experienced high levels of instability. An investigation into the causes of instability is employed in the study to gain insights into the major cause of conflict in post-Gaddafi Libya, Mali and Nigeria. The study considered instability as a consequence of a combination of existing exogenous and endogenous factors which were examined according to various theoretical lenses. A comparative theoretical analysis was used so as to interpret and analyse data. The analysis was subjected to theoretical scrutiny according to four mainstream International Relations theories namely; realism, critical theory, constructivism and the “clash of civilizations” hypothesis, in order to determine whether they could effectively explain post-Gaddafi violence and instability. The research findings revealed that the distinction between internal and external variables is artificial and the various causes cannot be exclusively differentiated from one other. The research also identified constructivism as the best possible explanation of instability in the particular context under investigation, through its recognition of the significance of normative as well as material elements, and the emphasis placed on the role of identity and ideas in shaping political actions.
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An investigation into the IGR practices in local government planning in the Eastern Cape: A case study of Amathole District Municipality
- Authors: Omoruyi, Uchenna Diamond
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Intergovernmental cooperation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape City planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7720 , vital:30712
- Description: The governance system in post-apartheid South Africa brought about the working together of the three spheres of government, namely, the National, Provincial and Local spheres in a principle of intergovernmental relations underpinned by a system of cooperative government. Cooperative governance is about intergovernmental integration and coordination which sees the three spheres of government working together and functioning in harmony to provide public services and meet the needs of communities effectively and comes together in the integrated development plan (IDP), the key strategic planning instrument at local government level. In developing the IDP’s, the Municipal systems Act requires cooperation between the different spheres of government with the IDP providing the basis for the alignment of policy, planning and budgeting processes across all spheres. The IDP is, therefore, very important to IGR as it is meant to coordinate the programs, plans and projects of national and provincial departments that are to be implemented at local government level. This research, therefore, investigates the IGR practices in local government planning in the Eastern Cape, focusing on the Amathole District Municipality. A qualitative research method was utilized in this study and data was acquired through secondary sources to achieve the aims and objectives of this study. Data that was gathered was analyzed using an analytical framework. The study revealed that although the Amathole District Municipality has IGR structures to coordinate the IDP development process and the involvement of these structures have brought some positive changes to the IDP process; however, there are challenges that are still crippling the process, thereby, leaving much to be desired. Consequently, recommendations based on the findings were offered.
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Assessing the effect of absenteeism in the Eastern Cape Department of Health
- Authors: Simon, Nobuzwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Absenteeism (Labor) , Public health personnel , Absenteeism (Labor) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2271 , vital:27736
- Description: The Department of Health is experiencing repeated negative press releases with the respect to the quality of service delivery in the Eastern Cape. The public sector is an entity that provides a unique service. This is made evident by the services provided such as provision of free health services for primary health care as well as free health services to children under six, disabled and senior citizens. The Eastern Cape Department of Health has developed service standards adopted in 2007 by the Eastern Cape Department of Health. This study aims to determine the casual effect of absenteeism and their relationship to poor service delivery. According to Makhubu (2006) many vacancies in the Eastern Cape Department of Health exist which result in service delivery problems. In terms of the second principle in the Batho Pele Principles the norms and standards which are service standards serves as a baseline where the Department of Public Service and Administration (2007) issued directive that the vacancy rate of any government department should range between ten and fifteen percent Makhubu (2006) further refers to the doctors/patient ratio as one is to three hundred patients (1:300), which is unhealthy and abnormal as the doctor/patient ration in terms of the Health Professional is one is to thirty (1:30). Such cases pose an opportunity to those employees who are within the service to absent themselves from such unhealthy situations and this behavior later result in the exodus (professional drainage) of employee. Schultz, Nel, Gerber, Hassbroek, Van Dyk and Werner (2001:582) define absenteeism as withdrawal of levels of productivity and collegial interaction for a given time to escape a perceived undesirable working environment. This behavior is disruptive to continuous organizational efficiency. Absenteeism is found in two forms that are avoidable and unavoidable. In the unavoidable forms of absenteeism, the situation in unplanned and is governed by external factors, thus it is beyond one’s control and has to be managed differently. Control of absenteeism can exercise by the immediate manager through the human resource section regarding the duration and terms of absence pertaining salary and terms of services.
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Assessing the impacts of social grants on beneficiaries in Buffalo City Municipality
- Authors: Dodo, Emmanuel Oluwafemi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Social security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Grants-in-aid -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2967 , vital:28206
- Description: The study was intended to assess the impact of social grants on beneficiaries with specific focus on Buffalo Municipality. The challenge of social injustice and inequality in the management and distribution of resources is challenge of any responsive government globally in providing social securities in different forms to secure the vulnerable and under privileged within the society. The South African government has introduced a comprehensive liberally inclusive social welfare scheme to address social injustice and economic inequality of excluded in the former apartheid government, which characterises the historic past of racial exclusive government of the majority black and the coloured. In other to assess the impact of grants in addressing inequality and social exclusiveness, the research was conducted using Desk Top Analytical approach and also explored ANOVA Two-ways and One-way, to test the degree of association and standard deviation to establish the contrast of effects based on spatial difference and social development of the urban, semi-urban and rural settlements which beneficiaries are living. Also, to establish whether or not the policy is achieving social cohesion, human development and transformation, which should be taken, place within the concept of social welfare. The theoretical frame work adopted is a multi-theoretical approach in dealing with the complexity around social welfare. The research is specifically looking for a theory of change in social grants administration in other to understand the impact and extent of the intervention in bringing about desired and motivated change as the scheme main priority of developmental social welfare in South Africa. Pearson correlation, Chi-square correlation and Tukey”s Post hoc Test are some of the instrument used in assessing the impact of grants on beneficiaries. The outcome of the study showed a highly significance p-value =.019, p<0.05 in spatial variance between Urban and Rural and the in between variance of .025, p<0.05 for Rural –Urban- Semi-urban (Fig.23 and Tab 8a). The study also, revealed an association between Child dependency and Sexual crime to be .009, p<0.01 (Fig 24 and Tab 6), Public violence in Rural area shows Post Hoc Test result of Mean= 2.6, SD= 2.07 for rural, Mean=1.40 SD= 1.52, for urban and a Mean=0.3, SD=0.54 for semi-urban in a descending order as it relate to social crime statistics (Fig.20). This implies that there are more frequent public violence in rural areas than that of the urban and semi-urban. The overall result shows a very strong correlation among all the variables of grants beneficiaries to be statistically relevant. This implies that the social grants intervention.
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Assessing the vulnerability of resource-poor households to disasters associated with climate variability using remote sensing and GIS techniques in the Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Chari, Martin Munashe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Forecasting Natural resources -- Remote sensing Droughts -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2425 , vital:27837
- Description: The main objective of the study was to assess the extent to which resource-poor households in selected villages of Nkonkobe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa are vulnerable to drought by using an improvised remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based mapping approach. The research methodology was comprised of 1) assessment of vulnerability levels and 2) the calculation of established drought assessment indices comprising the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) from wet-season Landsat images covering a period of 29 years from 1985 to 2014 in order to objectively determine the temporal recurrence of drought in Nkonkobe Local Municipality. Vulnerability of households to drought was determined by using a multi-step GIS-based mapping approach in which 3 components comprising exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity were simultaneously analysed and averaged to determine the magnitude of vulnerability. Thereafter, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to establish weighted contributions of these components to vulnerability. The weights applied to the AHP were obtained from the 2012 - 2017 Nkonkobe Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and perceptions that were solicited from key informants who were judged to be knowledgeable about the subject. A Kruskal-Wallis H test on demographic data for water access revealed that the demographic results are independent of choice of data acquired from different data providers (χ2(2) = 1.26, p = 0.533, with a mean ranked population scores of 7.4 for ECSECC, 6.8 for Quantec and 9.8 for StatsSA). Simple linear regression analysis revealed strong positive correlations between NDWI and NDVI ((r = 0.99609375, R2 = 1, for 1985), 1995 (r = 0.99609375, R2 = 1 for 1995), (r = 0.99609375, R2 = 1 for 2005) and (r = 0.99609375, R2 = 1 for 2014). The regression analysis proved that vegetation condition depends on surface water arising from rainfall. The results indicate that the whole of Nkonkobe Local Municipality is susceptible to drought with villages in south eastern part being most vulnerable to droughts due to high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity.
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Assessment of government spending austerity measures in on-site school support for curriculum delivery: a case of Idutywa Education District
- Authors: Lombo, Nomachule
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Government spending policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Financial crises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Debts, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2038 , vital:27600
- Description: The view of on-site school support for curriculum delivery is shared by most countries and its effects have been felt by schools. There is fear that the Austerity Measures will negate the outcomes of the action taken by the teams that visit the schools. The reviewed literature is more biased towards the Austerity Measures in the whole government sector rather than in a department or an institution like the Education District in Idutywa. Even though the effects of Austerity Measures have been researched all over the world based on a specific country, there is deficiency of such literature done in the institution like the department of Education Districts. The researcher intends contributing to the filling of this gap by this study. The researcher therefore carried out a focused study of the effect of Department’s Austerity Measures on on-site school curriculum support in Idutywa Education District. It is also imperative to know how the teachers are affected by these departmental Austerity Measures, hence the interviews were carried out with the school personnel in addition to the District Professional staff. The District is characterised by poor performance in both Annual National Assessment (ANA) and the final National Senior Certificate results. The findings revealed that the implementation of AM have contributed to, amongst other things, the following issues: The inadequate on-site school support for curriculum delivery; The shortage of resources that includes teachers and vehicles; and ultimately the learner underperformance The researcher expect that the recommendation made will be embraced and be factored through, during the planning process of the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education in order to improve learner performance.
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