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
Learners' experiences of school violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Hendricks, Eleanor Alvira
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: School violence -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Violence in children -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7841 , vital:30769
- Description: School-based violence amongst students in South Africa is a growing concern. Such violence is a great concern to all stakeholders involved in the school system. The more violence escalates; the more students are less likely to concentrate on their academic activities which then reduces their chances of success. There are weekly report broadcasts on the media on the death of students across the globe due school-based violence. School-based violence needs to be curbed and schools should be a safe environment where learning and teaching takes place not a battlefield where students live in fear of being the next victim. The aim of this study was to examine students’ experiences of school violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A qualitative approach and an exploratory research design were used in conducting this study as these approached allowed participants to share first hand experiences regarding the issue under investigation. A purposive sample was employed to select participants for the study. This technique allowed the researcher to select participants who displayed most of the characteristics of the larger population and who had sufficient knowledge on the issue under investigation. Forty participants were selected for the study as follows: 25 learners; 5 social Workers; 5 educators; and 5 members of the Representative Council of Learners from schools mostly affected by school-based violence. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews; focus group discussions with students, social workers and educators; and observations. Data was analysed thematically and supported by the relevant literature. The findings revealed that there are high levels of school-based violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, however, the whole-school approach as a measure of combatting school violence, has proved to work in some parts of the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal provinces. Also, retributive forms of punishment show more positive results against corrective /corporal punishment. It is, therefore, recommended that the state should employ school and place social workers in schools in order to assist in addressing social issues within the school system. Stamping out inequalities among students will ultimately decrease school violence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Hendricks, Eleanor Alvira
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: School violence -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Violence in children -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7841 , vital:30769
- Description: School-based violence amongst students in South Africa is a growing concern. Such violence is a great concern to all stakeholders involved in the school system. The more violence escalates; the more students are less likely to concentrate on their academic activities which then reduces their chances of success. There are weekly report broadcasts on the media on the death of students across the globe due school-based violence. School-based violence needs to be curbed and schools should be a safe environment where learning and teaching takes place not a battlefield where students live in fear of being the next victim. The aim of this study was to examine students’ experiences of school violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A qualitative approach and an exploratory research design were used in conducting this study as these approached allowed participants to share first hand experiences regarding the issue under investigation. A purposive sample was employed to select participants for the study. This technique allowed the researcher to select participants who displayed most of the characteristics of the larger population and who had sufficient knowledge on the issue under investigation. Forty participants were selected for the study as follows: 25 learners; 5 social Workers; 5 educators; and 5 members of the Representative Council of Learners from schools mostly affected by school-based violence. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews; focus group discussions with students, social workers and educators; and observations. Data was analysed thematically and supported by the relevant literature. The findings revealed that there are high levels of school-based violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, however, the whole-school approach as a measure of combatting school violence, has proved to work in some parts of the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal provinces. Also, retributive forms of punishment show more positive results against corrective /corporal punishment. It is, therefore, recommended that the state should employ school and place social workers in schools in order to assist in addressing social issues within the school system. Stamping out inequalities among students will ultimately decrease school violence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Psychosocial effects of court verdicts on children as rape victims : a case study of Queenstown area, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Lupuwana, Vuyokazi Phumza Pearl
- Authors: Lupuwana, Vuyokazi Phumza Pearl
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rape victims -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rape victims -- Services for -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Victims of crimes -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9821 , vital:35015
- Description: The motivation for this study originated from the problem of children who are being neglected after they have given evidence in the court of law. The researcher also noticed that when children were giving evidence, some were still showing signs of trauma and were crying throughout the proceedings. The researcher became aware that most of the children were never referred to social service professionals for counselling and after care services. The goal of the research was to explore the psycho-social effects of court verdicts on children as rape victims. The aim of the study was to determine the effects, challenges, emotional development and consequences, experience and reactions of rape and sexually assaulted child victims after the court verdict has been adjudicated. This was a case study of the Queenstown Area, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The purpose was to identify gaps as there are minimal services rendered to rape victims after the court verdict has been adjudicated in the South African context so as to formulate strategies that can be framed in order to work effectively with the victims and their immediate families. In order to reach the research goal, the following objectives were presented: To examine the after-effects of rape to children as victims of rape. To investigate the challenges the victims of rape are facing in their communities. To investigate the impact of giving evidence in the court of law by children who are victims of rape. To examine the after-effects of court verdicts on children who are victims of rape. To establish the kind of support provided to children by social networks after they have given evidence in the court of law. To investigate the kind of support provided by social service as well as legal professionals to children as victims of rape. In order to meet the objectives of the study, interviews were conducted to 30 victims of rape (both boys and girls) and data were analyzed according to the qualitative data – analysis procedures. The researcher also conducted literature review on core concepts (such as victims, rape and the legal perspectives of rape) pertaining to the topic under study in order to refer the findings of the study to literature. The researcher utilized the grounded theory research design. The research domain where the interviews took place was at the Queenstown Area under the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development magistrate jurisdiction (McBride, Lesseyton, Mlungisi Township, Komani Township, Molteno, Sterkstroom Dordrecht and Indwe). In this study, 30 Xhosa speaking children of different ages, gender, educational standards, socio-economic backgrounds as well as those who suffered different types of rape, as defined by the Sexual Related Matters Act 32 of 2007; they were all interviewed through use of a semi-structured interview schedule. The respondents were selected with the help of the Department of Justice and Constitutional development as well as South African Police Services (SAPS) based on their suitability to provide information rich data. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed according to the grounded theory analysis procedures. The following conclusions regarding the study were made: There is lack of implementation of Children’s Rights by professionals working with victims of rape. Children were never informed about the sentences imposed to the offenders. Focus group (professionals) participants acknowledged the fact that there is no compensation given to victims in a South African court of Law. Registering the offender is not benefitting the victim as the offender is sometimes appealing the judgement and sentencing. There are no adequate services rendered by social services professionals to rape victims, especially children. In most cases, they were never referred to any professionals for services following the rape incident. There are no aftercare services for children after giving evidence in the court of law. Children as victims of rape as well as their immediate families must be continuously referred to specialist to get therapeutic services. There is lack of forensic professionals working with children as victims of rape in Eastern Cape. Children as victims of rape are secondary victimized by relatives of the perpetrators after the sentence has been adjudicated. When there is no support provided by family members, victims are more likely to drop out of school. Members of the community lack information on the concept rape, and knowledge that everybody in South Africa can be raped.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lupuwana, Vuyokazi Phumza Pearl
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rape victims -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rape victims -- Services for -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Victims of crimes -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9821 , vital:35015
- Description: The motivation for this study originated from the problem of children who are being neglected after they have given evidence in the court of law. The researcher also noticed that when children were giving evidence, some were still showing signs of trauma and were crying throughout the proceedings. The researcher became aware that most of the children were never referred to social service professionals for counselling and after care services. The goal of the research was to explore the psycho-social effects of court verdicts on children as rape victims. The aim of the study was to determine the effects, challenges, emotional development and consequences, experience and reactions of rape and sexually assaulted child victims after the court verdict has been adjudicated. This was a case study of the Queenstown Area, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The purpose was to identify gaps as there are minimal services rendered to rape victims after the court verdict has been adjudicated in the South African context so as to formulate strategies that can be framed in order to work effectively with the victims and their immediate families. In order to reach the research goal, the following objectives were presented: To examine the after-effects of rape to children as victims of rape. To investigate the challenges the victims of rape are facing in their communities. To investigate the impact of giving evidence in the court of law by children who are victims of rape. To examine the after-effects of court verdicts on children who are victims of rape. To establish the kind of support provided to children by social networks after they have given evidence in the court of law. To investigate the kind of support provided by social service as well as legal professionals to children as victims of rape. In order to meet the objectives of the study, interviews were conducted to 30 victims of rape (both boys and girls) and data were analyzed according to the qualitative data – analysis procedures. The researcher also conducted literature review on core concepts (such as victims, rape and the legal perspectives of rape) pertaining to the topic under study in order to refer the findings of the study to literature. The researcher utilized the grounded theory research design. The research domain where the interviews took place was at the Queenstown Area under the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development magistrate jurisdiction (McBride, Lesseyton, Mlungisi Township, Komani Township, Molteno, Sterkstroom Dordrecht and Indwe). In this study, 30 Xhosa speaking children of different ages, gender, educational standards, socio-economic backgrounds as well as those who suffered different types of rape, as defined by the Sexual Related Matters Act 32 of 2007; they were all interviewed through use of a semi-structured interview schedule. The respondents were selected with the help of the Department of Justice and Constitutional development as well as South African Police Services (SAPS) based on their suitability to provide information rich data. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed according to the grounded theory analysis procedures. The following conclusions regarding the study were made: There is lack of implementation of Children’s Rights by professionals working with victims of rape. Children were never informed about the sentences imposed to the offenders. Focus group (professionals) participants acknowledged the fact that there is no compensation given to victims in a South African court of Law. Registering the offender is not benefitting the victim as the offender is sometimes appealing the judgement and sentencing. There are no adequate services rendered by social services professionals to rape victims, especially children. In most cases, they were never referred to any professionals for services following the rape incident. There are no aftercare services for children after giving evidence in the court of law. Children as victims of rape as well as their immediate families must be continuously referred to specialist to get therapeutic services. There is lack of forensic professionals working with children as victims of rape in Eastern Cape. Children as victims of rape are secondary victimized by relatives of the perpetrators after the sentence has been adjudicated. When there is no support provided by family members, victims are more likely to drop out of school. Members of the community lack information on the concept rape, and knowledge that everybody in South Africa can be raped.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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