Evaluating selected enterprises for sustainable social development in South Africa :|ba case study of Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Kajiita, Robert Mutemi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social entrepreneurship Social responsibility of business Nonprofit organizations -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10829 , vital:35825
- Description: Globally, countries, institutions, and organizations are investing time, resources, and human capital on finding best solutions to address poverty, inequality and unemployment; and importantly on achieving sustainable development. This study sought to investigate how social enterprises in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) contribute to sustainable social development within the municipality and the country at large. The study endeavoured to answer the following research questions: what is the knowledge level among the selected stakeholders on social enterprise in BCMM? What is the scope, application, and sustainability of selected social enterprises in BCMM? What is the contribution of selected social enterprises in social development in BCMM? What are the bottlenecks associated with the application of social entrepreneurship in BCMM? These questions were answered through mixed methods approaches and techniques, where both qualitative and quantitative data was collected and analysed. The data was collected through in-depth interviews (key informant technique) and a min-survey which was administered to users of the social enterprises. Qualitative data was analysed thematically, while quantitative data was statistically analysed with help of SPSS software. The interpretation of the findings was premised on pragmatic and transformative paradigms. The study further used theoretical lenses such as empowerment theory, capability approach and positive theory of social enterprise to support and explain the findings. The main findings showed that: the selected stakeholders conceptualized social enterprises through the African lens of communal living; the social enterprises widely provided their services across a range of sectors and geographical locations; the social enterprises had direct and indirect contribution to socio-economic development in BCMM. This was specifically through provision of employment, training and skill development among others; the future of social enterprises in the country is bright as many sectors presented opportunities for social investment; and social enterprises face financial constraints, lack of skills in the sector, and competition from the mainstream market. The recommendations from this study address government entities, social services providers and practitioners, social enterprises, and researchers on pertinent endeavours to improve the growth and development of social enterprises. The study concludes that social enterprises are: vital vehicles of socio-economic development, more especially for the marginalized segment of the populations; tools for reducing inequality; platforms for innovations, community participation and conduits of empowerment interventions. Thus, social enterprises play dynamic role and presents potential for capable sustainable social development in the local communities and the South African community at large.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kajiita, Robert Mutemi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social entrepreneurship Social responsibility of business Nonprofit organizations -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10829 , vital:35825
- Description: Globally, countries, institutions, and organizations are investing time, resources, and human capital on finding best solutions to address poverty, inequality and unemployment; and importantly on achieving sustainable development. This study sought to investigate how social enterprises in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) contribute to sustainable social development within the municipality and the country at large. The study endeavoured to answer the following research questions: what is the knowledge level among the selected stakeholders on social enterprise in BCMM? What is the scope, application, and sustainability of selected social enterprises in BCMM? What is the contribution of selected social enterprises in social development in BCMM? What are the bottlenecks associated with the application of social entrepreneurship in BCMM? These questions were answered through mixed methods approaches and techniques, where both qualitative and quantitative data was collected and analysed. The data was collected through in-depth interviews (key informant technique) and a min-survey which was administered to users of the social enterprises. Qualitative data was analysed thematically, while quantitative data was statistically analysed with help of SPSS software. The interpretation of the findings was premised on pragmatic and transformative paradigms. The study further used theoretical lenses such as empowerment theory, capability approach and positive theory of social enterprise to support and explain the findings. The main findings showed that: the selected stakeholders conceptualized social enterprises through the African lens of communal living; the social enterprises widely provided their services across a range of sectors and geographical locations; the social enterprises had direct and indirect contribution to socio-economic development in BCMM. This was specifically through provision of employment, training and skill development among others; the future of social enterprises in the country is bright as many sectors presented opportunities for social investment; and social enterprises face financial constraints, lack of skills in the sector, and competition from the mainstream market. The recommendations from this study address government entities, social services providers and practitioners, social enterprises, and researchers on pertinent endeavours to improve the growth and development of social enterprises. The study concludes that social enterprises are: vital vehicles of socio-economic development, more especially for the marginalized segment of the populations; tools for reducing inequality; platforms for innovations, community participation and conduits of empowerment interventions. Thus, social enterprises play dynamic role and presents potential for capable sustainable social development in the local communities and the South African community at large.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Av evaluation of the contribution of shelters in offering psychological empowerment to survivors of abuse : a study of selected shelters in Pretoria
- Authors: Nyamutinga, Dudzai
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Women's shelters -- South Africa Abused women -- Services for -- South Africa Victims of family violence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9209 , vital:34305
- Description: This research explored the contribution made by shelters in the psychosocial empowerment of survivors of abuse in the contemporary South Africa. Abuse of women is increasing at an alarming rate and government is not able to handle the task single-handedly. The study utilized convergent mixed methods approach (Creswell, 2014) with qualitative and quantitative approaches used in tandem; but with the qualitative approach being more dominant, while quantitative approach was less dominant. For research designs, the qualitative approach used a case study design; while the quantitative method utilized a mini survey design. On the unit of analysis, 52 participants participated in the qualitative sample, with the following sample distribution: 30 participants (15 from each shelter) participated using in-depth interviews, 10 participants (5 from each shelter) constituted a focus group discussion with 12 participants (6 from each shelter) interviewed as key informants. The quantitative approach had a sample of 100 samples women who were victims of abuse complete a mini survey based on questionnaire interviews. The study identified many factors that prompted women to go and reside in shelters from physical abuse and sexual abuse usually perpetrated by women’s spouses taking the larger share. Other important drivers included economic and emotional abuse. This resonates with some of the tenets of the critical feminist theory that an offender’s victimization of another person is an expression of domination and control (Brownmiller and Russell, 1975 in Wilcox 2010). Furthermore, the United Nations recognizes that violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, contributing from male domination and discrimination over women. The study also established various psychosocial services provided to survivors of abuse. Such services were important in order to strengthen survivors’ coping capacities, raise their confidence and reinforce their decision-making processes pertaining to their lives. Some of these psychosocial services provided include provision of accommodation, nutritional meals, therapeutic counselling, basic counselling sessions, group work sessions, access to skills development programmes, assistance in maneuvering the judicial system, job placements, parenting skills, access to education and provision of preschool for their children and information and referrals. This study also managed to unearth and identify the various institutional and operational challenges that beset the running of the two selected shelters in Pretoria. Acutely, shelters suffer funding challenges, with funding either being inadequate or having to take so long before it is availed and, therefore, almost affecting the day to day operations of the shelters. These shelters were also challenged by donor regulations, inadequate infrastructure and a continuous increase of survivors and children in their care. Furthermore, the study identified the shelters’ effectiveness to raise survivors’ hope for the future; boost their confidence; improve their social functioning; provide emotional and practical support; offer them the requisite accommodation and meals; and also provided them with different kinds of skills that made them financially independent. The research recommended that a decentralization of shelters to rural areas across all provinces and the nation at large would go a long way in ensuring that all survivors will get the assistance they need. As the rural-urban migration takes its toll, the abuse of women also continues to increase. Funding is the key to the success of every project, and, therefore, the provision of enough and consistent funding and a sustainable plan to the shelters will ensure the smoothness of the provision of services and reduce staff burnout, reduce high staff turnover, and increase the stability of trained personnel. The study also recommends the government to consider subsidizing the salaries for the staff working in shelters so that their salaries would be on par with their colleagues in other organizations. Government should also facilitate the institution of shelters for survivors of abuse as some men feel that the issue of abuse focuses on females and therefore men shy away from accessing the services of the shelters.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nyamutinga, Dudzai
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Women's shelters -- South Africa Abused women -- Services for -- South Africa Victims of family violence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9209 , vital:34305
- Description: This research explored the contribution made by shelters in the psychosocial empowerment of survivors of abuse in the contemporary South Africa. Abuse of women is increasing at an alarming rate and government is not able to handle the task single-handedly. The study utilized convergent mixed methods approach (Creswell, 2014) with qualitative and quantitative approaches used in tandem; but with the qualitative approach being more dominant, while quantitative approach was less dominant. For research designs, the qualitative approach used a case study design; while the quantitative method utilized a mini survey design. On the unit of analysis, 52 participants participated in the qualitative sample, with the following sample distribution: 30 participants (15 from each shelter) participated using in-depth interviews, 10 participants (5 from each shelter) constituted a focus group discussion with 12 participants (6 from each shelter) interviewed as key informants. The quantitative approach had a sample of 100 samples women who were victims of abuse complete a mini survey based on questionnaire interviews. The study identified many factors that prompted women to go and reside in shelters from physical abuse and sexual abuse usually perpetrated by women’s spouses taking the larger share. Other important drivers included economic and emotional abuse. This resonates with some of the tenets of the critical feminist theory that an offender’s victimization of another person is an expression of domination and control (Brownmiller and Russell, 1975 in Wilcox 2010). Furthermore, the United Nations recognizes that violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, contributing from male domination and discrimination over women. The study also established various psychosocial services provided to survivors of abuse. Such services were important in order to strengthen survivors’ coping capacities, raise their confidence and reinforce their decision-making processes pertaining to their lives. Some of these psychosocial services provided include provision of accommodation, nutritional meals, therapeutic counselling, basic counselling sessions, group work sessions, access to skills development programmes, assistance in maneuvering the judicial system, job placements, parenting skills, access to education and provision of preschool for their children and information and referrals. This study also managed to unearth and identify the various institutional and operational challenges that beset the running of the two selected shelters in Pretoria. Acutely, shelters suffer funding challenges, with funding either being inadequate or having to take so long before it is availed and, therefore, almost affecting the day to day operations of the shelters. These shelters were also challenged by donor regulations, inadequate infrastructure and a continuous increase of survivors and children in their care. Furthermore, the study identified the shelters’ effectiveness to raise survivors’ hope for the future; boost their confidence; improve their social functioning; provide emotional and practical support; offer them the requisite accommodation and meals; and also provided them with different kinds of skills that made them financially independent. The research recommended that a decentralization of shelters to rural areas across all provinces and the nation at large would go a long way in ensuring that all survivors will get the assistance they need. As the rural-urban migration takes its toll, the abuse of women also continues to increase. Funding is the key to the success of every project, and, therefore, the provision of enough and consistent funding and a sustainable plan to the shelters will ensure the smoothness of the provision of services and reduce staff burnout, reduce high staff turnover, and increase the stability of trained personnel. The study also recommends the government to consider subsidizing the salaries for the staff working in shelters so that their salaries would be on par with their colleagues in other organizations. Government should also facilitate the institution of shelters for survivors of abuse as some men feel that the issue of abuse focuses on females and therefore men shy away from accessing the services of the shelters.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Evaluating the contributions of selected drug rehabilitation centres in Gauteng : towards ameliorating the drug problem in South Africa
- Authors: Makuyana, Abigail
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rehabilitation centers -- South Africa -- Gauteng Substance abuse -- Rehabilitation Addicts -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8876 , vital:33703
- Description: This study aimed at evaluating the contributions of two (2) selected rehabilitation centres to the goal of ameliorating the substance abuse problem in Gauteng. The study utilized a methodological triangulation approach for data collection, but with greater emphasis on qualitative methods. The study collected its qualitative data from four focus groups conducted with 32 participants and six key informants who were subjected to in-depth interviews. The quantitative aspect of the study made use of a mini-survey in which one hundred (100) questionnaires were distributed amongst the primary caregivers of recovering drug and substance abusers. The major findings of the study pointed out that rehabilitation centres were unequivocally contributing to the goal of ameliorating substance abuse in Gauteng and, by extension, South Africa. Among some of the outstanding contributions of the rehabilitation centres was the provision of a non-judgmental and supportive therapeutic environment for clients to recover. It was also observed that rehabilitation centres were acting as character reformatories for substance abusers, and, thus, aiding their easy reintegration back into their families, societies and work places. The study also found out that the selected rehabilitation centres were providing ample admission periods and competent counselling services for their clients to navigate their way to recovery. The study unearthed new trends in the substance abuse landscape of Gauteng. Firstly, it was established that more educated people were falling into substance abuse usage. Secondly, the drugs which were rendering users more amenable to rehabilitation were noted to be highly potent. The high potency was noted to be responsible for extreme difficulties in withdrawal and rehabilitation. This was, therefore, noted to accentuate the imperativeness of the role and contributions of rehabilitation centres in helping drug users to achieve recovery in an environment that was supportive, nurturing and safe. It is, therefore, on the basis of these fundamental findings that this study concluded that the contributions of rehabilitation centres were not only important in the fight against drug and substance abuse, but were also a necessary precondition in this endeavour. Conversely, it was established that the contributions of the rehabilitation centres were being thwarted by exorbitant and extortionate treatment fees charged by the rehabilitation centres. More so, rehabilitation centres faced the dire challenge of poor visibility due to the poor marketing of services, as well as their location in affluent or remote areas which are mainly accessible only through private transport. This means that some people, especially the rural and the urban poor, were not equitably benefiting from the services of the rehabilitation centres. The study observed that women, girls and children in general were largely excluded from benefiting from the services of the rehabilitation centres. The research closed off by recommending to rehabilitation centres that they ought to address administrative gaps such as embracing and practising social, linguistic, dietary and gender sensitivity in their programmes to ensure that they remain relevant to their clients while also reflecting the diversity in South Africa. Recommendations were also made to the government to intervene and moderate the pricing of substance abuse treatment services, by making them reflect the country’s socioeconomic inequalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Makuyana, Abigail
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rehabilitation centers -- South Africa -- Gauteng Substance abuse -- Rehabilitation Addicts -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8876 , vital:33703
- Description: This study aimed at evaluating the contributions of two (2) selected rehabilitation centres to the goal of ameliorating the substance abuse problem in Gauteng. The study utilized a methodological triangulation approach for data collection, but with greater emphasis on qualitative methods. The study collected its qualitative data from four focus groups conducted with 32 participants and six key informants who were subjected to in-depth interviews. The quantitative aspect of the study made use of a mini-survey in which one hundred (100) questionnaires were distributed amongst the primary caregivers of recovering drug and substance abusers. The major findings of the study pointed out that rehabilitation centres were unequivocally contributing to the goal of ameliorating substance abuse in Gauteng and, by extension, South Africa. Among some of the outstanding contributions of the rehabilitation centres was the provision of a non-judgmental and supportive therapeutic environment for clients to recover. It was also observed that rehabilitation centres were acting as character reformatories for substance abusers, and, thus, aiding their easy reintegration back into their families, societies and work places. The study also found out that the selected rehabilitation centres were providing ample admission periods and competent counselling services for their clients to navigate their way to recovery. The study unearthed new trends in the substance abuse landscape of Gauteng. Firstly, it was established that more educated people were falling into substance abuse usage. Secondly, the drugs which were rendering users more amenable to rehabilitation were noted to be highly potent. The high potency was noted to be responsible for extreme difficulties in withdrawal and rehabilitation. This was, therefore, noted to accentuate the imperativeness of the role and contributions of rehabilitation centres in helping drug users to achieve recovery in an environment that was supportive, nurturing and safe. It is, therefore, on the basis of these fundamental findings that this study concluded that the contributions of rehabilitation centres were not only important in the fight against drug and substance abuse, but were also a necessary precondition in this endeavour. Conversely, it was established that the contributions of the rehabilitation centres were being thwarted by exorbitant and extortionate treatment fees charged by the rehabilitation centres. More so, rehabilitation centres faced the dire challenge of poor visibility due to the poor marketing of services, as well as their location in affluent or remote areas which are mainly accessible only through private transport. This means that some people, especially the rural and the urban poor, were not equitably benefiting from the services of the rehabilitation centres. The study observed that women, girls and children in general were largely excluded from benefiting from the services of the rehabilitation centres. The research closed off by recommending to rehabilitation centres that they ought to address administrative gaps such as embracing and practising social, linguistic, dietary and gender sensitivity in their programmes to ensure that they remain relevant to their clients while also reflecting the diversity in South Africa. Recommendations were also made to the government to intervene and moderate the pricing of substance abuse treatment services, by making them reflect the country’s socioeconomic inequalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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