School of Social Sciences

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An implementation analysis of the special covid-19 social relief of distress (SRD) grant in KwaZulu-Natal (2020-2022).
(2023) Nkabinde, Mthobisi Mduduzi.; Manicom, Desiree Pushpeganday.
The implementation of policy or programme is a crucial step in public policymaking despite its complexity. Implementation can be regarded as policy in action or how policy is carried out. Moreover, the quality of its implementation determines the effectiveness and success of any policy. Essentially, there is a policy gap when policy expectations and perceived outcomes differ during the implementation process. The study, therefore, seeks to investigate the SRD programme implementation issues, including accessibility, the application process, payment processes, and the distributional impact faced by the Department of Social Development in delivering SRD grants in KwaZuluNatal. The study also focuses on beneficiaries’ experiences in accessing the relief fund and the experiences of implementing agents (Department of Social Development and SASSA) in delivering SRD grants in KwaZulu-Natal between May 2020-December 2022. A desktop qualitative approach to research is used to collect data in this study. Moreover, the study uses content analysis as a data collection method. The sample for this study is a selection of primary documents, including the Social Relief of Distress, Social Assistance Act (No 13 of 2004) and the South African Social Security Agency Act (No 9 of 2004). Moreover, secondary studies related to the topic and research questions will be selected, such as reports, online news articles, and academic journals. The study found that the emergence of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in South Africa in 2019, its corresponding impacts simultaneously posed a global health and socio-economic crisis. To curb the spread of Covid-19, South Africa implemented a five-tier lockdown strategy, with level 5 being the most drastic in terms of restrictions. The Covid-19 crisis and regulations restricting social mobility and interaction have led most governments worldwide to expand their social protection systems to provide relief to vulnerable individuals and household members. Notably, digital technology has become integral to many social security systems worldwide. The implementation of the SRD grant in South Africa faced numerous challenges, resulting in some beneficiaries being excluded. Issues included a lack of digital access and literacy, inefficiencies in cash payments by the Post Office, and difficulties for rural and peri-urban residents. Government databases with outdated information also caused some applications to be rejected without a chance for appeal. Those receiving bank deposits experienced withdrawal vi | Page fees and inconsistent payment schedules. Additionally, poor service delivery, bribery, and corruption were reported at Post office branches where grants were collected. It was established that public policy programs fail if there is a lack of direction and unclear goals. A consequence of these limitations is that most adopted policies include vague language and ambiguous, contradictory, or unfeasible policy goals. Furthermore, the goals of the newly gazetted regulations of the SRD grant are unrealistic, as hundreds of thousands of people receiving the grant were disqualified. The evidence further suggests how SASSA failed to update its outdated, limited databases and inadequate verification systems leading to an influx of applications from public servants.
Analysing conceptions of Zulu kinship system in present times and their influence on orphaned children’s education in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2021) Jonathan, Lorna.; Buthelezi, T.M.
The kinship care system is the preferred option, should it become necessary for a child to be removed from home and placed within a safe environment. It is the least restrictive and most family-like out-of-home placement. This study explored the lives of children in KwaZulu- Natal, who have been orphaned or are otherwise vulnerable, in relation to the Zulu kinship care system. Orphanhood has become widespread because of the HIV&AIDS pandemic, though there are also other contributing factors. The main purpose of the study was understanding how the children adapt to a life living with extended family because of being orphaned. The second purpose of the study aimed to find out why the children who have extended families are sent to live in an institution and how they understand both their family circumstances and their present context. The study design is a qualitative case study, designed with an interpretive paradigm. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems framework provided the lens for this study. This examines a child’s development within the complex “layers” of environment, each influencing a child’s development. The framework provided a way of approaching and analysing the data. There were 45 orphaned child participants, primarily girls, between the ages of 15 and 18, who were living with their caregivers, 25 of whom were also interviewed. The orphaned children were selected from three high schools in KwaDukuza area of KwaZulu- Natal; selection was undertaken on a systematic sampling basis. In addition, nine children were selected from a childcare facility in Durban, as well as a social worker from the same facility. The data collection strategies included focus group discussions with caregivers, individual interviews with participating teachers and a social worker as well as drawings and interpretation with children. Interviews with caregivers in a township revealed that the families themselves were poor and humble yet had been open to accepting yet another child to care for. The most significant finding is that the Zulu kinship system continues to operate but is under severe stress, and at times is not serving to protect children to the extent needed. The pattern of families intervening to protect and care for children in difficulties still continues, as indicated in the township settings; the caregivers report on their care as a labour of love that entails sacrifice. However, there is evidence from children that, while that is true of some situations, other placements are subject to abuse and exploitation. In many cases the care is inadequate simply because of the poverty of the family. The impact of poverty on schooling, and the degree of ostracism within schools, is a constant problem. In some families, the system has failed to the point that the only option for vulnerable and orphaned children is institutional care. Children in care report fully on the abuse and neglect that led to their placement, while most of those who had been placed with the extended family had enjoyed family life before the loss of parents. An additional finding was on the central role of mothers and on the frequent absence of fathers, before the loss of parents, as well as the major role played in the extended families by grandmothers. Significantly, despite the evidence of abuse and despite the evidence that institutional care was supportive and warm, children in care expressed a longing for family, even some children from families that had failed them completely. There is clearly, as recommended, a pressing need for ongoing visits by a social worker to orphaned children placed with extended families, given the extent of abuse revealed. In terms of further research, proposals are made to explore areas that would buttress the capacity of the kinship system in relation to social work and school, and to understand the possibilities for intervening before families lose their capacity for care.
The implementation of the foster child grant: a case study of the experiences of caregivers and implementers in the Umgungundlovu District.
(2023) Ngubane, Nokuthula Philile.; Manicom, Desiree Pushpeganday.
The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of foster parents. It also examined the experiences of foster care programme implementers. There has been an increase in the number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) who require care and protection, and while there is a wealth of literature and legislative frameworks that address their needs and care, little is known about the lived experiences of their primary caregivers. The study aimed to address this gap. Many studies on the implementation of foster care services have been conducted but the focus of these studies has been on interviewing social workers (as key participants). This study differs in that all key stakeholders were interviewed to gain a better understanding of the study phenomenon. Based on a case study approach, the findings show that foster parents, as the primary caregivers of OVC, face a variety of challenges including dealing with foster children who display behavioural issues, family and community interference with their foster care roles and responsibilities, and a lack of support from welfare agencies. The study’s findings also show that a key barrier to efficient and effective foster care implementation is a lack of administrative capacity while other barriers include political interference and a lack of senior management support. The significance of this study rests in its contribution to the body of knowledge on foster care services through the recommendations that follow: The study recommends, based on its findings, that a comprehensive needs assessment be carried out in foster families before a child is placed with them and that programmes and policies that are informed by the real-life circumstances of these families be explored. The needs assessment approach must include foster parents’ needs, and it must be ensured that foster parents, who play a critical part in raising foster children, are psychologically, spiritually, financially, and physically prepared to take on the duty. For effective implementation of the foster care programme, it is recommended that comprehensive research and expert consultation be conducted before policy development and that personnel training, the availability of necessary resources, and monitoring of policy implementation are essential in terms of the policy’s success. It is also recommended that a collaborative approach between bureaucrats and key policy programme implementing partners be established. This includes developing a clear legislative framework or policy document that includes all relevant stakeholders, their roles and responsibilities, and a clear application procedure. The implementing agencies must be provided with new and enhanced existing technologies to simplify the application, verification, and selection criteria processes for all involved in the foster programme implementation including, importantly, the recipients of the programme. Iqoqa Inhloso yalolu cwaningo wukuhlola izinto ababhekana nazo osingamzali. Lwaphinda lwahlola nezinto ezenzeka ngasohlangothini lwalabo abenza umsebenzi wohlelo lokwabiwa kwezinsiza zokunakekelwa kwezingane ezingenabazali. Lenyukile inani lezintandane nezingane ezingenabani ezidinga ukunakekelwa nokuvikelwa, ama-orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), futhi nakuba kunenqwaba yezincwadi nezinhlaka zezomthetho ezikhuluma ngezidingo zalezi zingane nokunakekelwa kwazo, kuncane kakhulu okwaziwayo ngezimo ababhekana nazo abanakekeli balezi zingane abangosingamzali. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuvala leso sikhala. Luningi ucwaningo olwenziwe olumayelana nokwabiwa kwezinsiza zokunakekela izingane ezinosingamzali kodwa lolo cwaningo lugxile ekuxoxeni ikakhulukazi nosonhlalakahle (njengababambiqhaza abasemqoka). Lolu cwaningo lwehluke ngokuthi kuxoxwe nabo bonke abathintekayo ukuze iqondakale kangcono le ndaba. Ucwaningo olunzulu olwenziwe lubonisa ukuthi osingamzali, okuyibona abanakekeli abahamba phambili bama-OVC, babhekene nezinselele ezihlukahlukene ezibandakanya ukukhulisa izingane okungezona ezabo ezinenkinga yesimilo, inselelo yokugxambukela kwabomndeni nomphakathi lapho befeza indima nemithwalo yabo yokunakekela ingane, nokungakutholi ukusekelwa okwanele okuvela ezinhlanganweni zezenhlalakahle. Okutholakala kulolu cwaningo kuveza nokuthi ingqinamba enkulu ekuhlinzekweni kosizo lokunakekelwa kwezintandane nezingane ezidinga usizo ngaphandle kwezihibe nangempumelelo, ukuntuleka kwabaqondisi, kanti ezinye izingqinamba zihlanganisa ukugxambukela kwabezepolitiki nokungatholakali kosizo lwabaphathi abaphezulu. Ukubaluleka kwalolu cwaningo kuncike egalelweni lwalo ekuthuthukiseni ulwazi oluphathelene nosizo lokunakekelwa kwezingane ezinosingamzali ngokulandelwa kwezincomo ezilandelayo: Ngenxa yalokho okutholakele, lolu cwaningo lutusa ukuba kwenziwe ukuhlolwa okubanzi kwezidingo zemindeni ezinakekela ingane ngaphambi kokuba ingane idluliselwe kulowo mndeni, nokuba kuzanywe izinhlelo nezinqubomgomo ezisekelwe ezimweni ezingokoqobo zokuphila kwale mindeni. Inqubo yokuhlaziya izidingo kumele ihlanganise izidingo zosingamzali, futhi kumele kwenziwe isiqiniseko sokuthi osingamzali abadlala indima ebucayi yokukhulisa izingane abazinakekelayo, bakuhlomele ngokwengqondo, ngokomoya, ngokwezimali nangokwesiqu ukufeza lo msebenzi. Ukuze uhlelo lokunakekelwa kwezingane ezinosingamzali lusebenze ngempumelelo, kutuswa ukuba kwenziwe ucwaningo olubanzi, nokuba kuxoxiswane nongoti abafanele ngaphambi kokuba kwenziwe izinqubomgomo. Kuqokonyiswa nokubaluleka kokuqeqeshwa kwabantu, ukutholakala kwezinto zosizo ezidingekayo nokulandelela ukuthi izinqubomgomo ziyafezwa ukuze kube nempumelelo. Kutuswa nokuba kusungulwe inqubo yokubambisana phakathi kweziphathimandla zikahulumeni nabathintekayo, ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukusebenza kwezinqubomgomo eziwumgogodla. Lokhu kuhlanganisa nokwenziwa kohlaka olucacile lokushaywa komthetho noma idokhumenti yenqubomgomo equkethe bonke ababambiqhaza abathintekayo, izindima zabo nemisebenzi yabo, nenqubo ecacile yokusebenza kwalolo hlaka. Abanomthwalo wokuqinisekisa ukuthi izinto ziyenzeka kumele bahlinzekwe ngezobuchwepheshe bakamuva nobuthuthukisiwe ukuze yenziwe lula inqubo yokufaka izicelo, ukuqinisekisa abafake izicelo nokukhethwa kwabantu abafanele kubo bonke abathintekayo ohlelweni lokunakekelwa kwezingane, kuhlanganise nalabo lolu hlelo olwenzelwe bona, okuyibona ababaluleke kakhulu.
The relationship between black tax, poverty, and educational levels: a case study in Mbizana Local Municipality=Ubudlelwano phakathi kwebhekelelamndeni, ubuhlwempu, namazinga emfundo: ucwaningonto lukaMasipala wasekhaya waseMbizana.
(2023) Ntakana, Unathi Mamsie.; Khan, Sultan.
This study investigated the relationship between Black Tax, poverty, and educational levels at Mbizana Local municipality. The main assertion for this study is that black employed graduates are expected to pay back their family members and relatives for assisting them through higher education. These expectations may be spoken or unspoken. Employed black professionals fulfil these honour-bound commitments that are driven by different motives such as obligation, duty, Ubuntu, reciprocity, altruism, and sometimes coercion. They take care of their parents, pay siblings’ school fees, and ensure that all essential needs are taken care of in their homes; some go an extra mile of financially assisting their distant relatives. This sharing of one’s financial resources is generally termed Black Tax. This study employed the mixed methods approach which is infixed in the post-positivist worldview. The post-positivist worldview acknowledges that research is influenced by a researcher’s identity, and thus objectivity is pursued by admitting that there are biases that need to be addressed because complete objectivity is tainted by human errors and utilised instruments. The data was collected from 250 respondents using purposive sampling to potential Black Taxpayers of which 50 face-to-face interviews were undertaken. The data was then analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 on Windows 10. Data was presented in figures, tables, and charts. The findings of this study revealed that Black Tax fundamentally affects most black employees irrespective of their level of education or social class. Most black employed professionals are closely associated with unemployed and illiterate people which makes it extremely hard for them to focus on building generational wealth for their children. Black Taxpayers are encouraged to invest in financial literacy and actively involve their dependents in the process. Iqoqa Lolu cwaningo lwahlola ubudlelwano phakathi kokubhekelela abazali nomndeni (Black Tax), ubuhlwempu, kanye nezinga ngokwemfundo kuMasipala waseKhaya waseMbizana. Ukuqinisa okunqala kulolu cwaningo wukuthi abamnyama asebeqede ukufunda abasebenzayo balindeleke ukuba bondle imindeni yabo nezihlobo ngenxa yokubaxhasa kwabo ngesikhathi befunda ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Lokhu kwenziwa kushiwo noma kungashiwongo. Asebeqashiwe abamnyama bakwenza lokhu ngenxa yezizathu eziningi ezifana nokuzibophezela, ukuyibona ifanele ukwenziwa le nto, Ubuntu, ngokuvumelana, ukukhathalela umndeni kanti kwesinye isikhathi kuba yimpoqo. Banganakelela abazali, bakhokhele izingane zakwabo imali yesikole, futhi baqinisekise ukuthi zonke izidingongqangi ziyanakekelwa emakhaya akubo; abanye bayadlula kulokho basize nezihlobo ngemali. Lokhu kulekelela umndeni ngemali yakho sekwaphiwa igama lokuthi yiBlack Tax (ibhekelelamndeni). Lolu cwaningo lwasebenzisa indlelakwenza engxube egxile kuleyo ndlelakubuka eyipost-positivist. Indlelakubuka ipost-positivist igcizelela ukuthi kunethonya ocwaningweni ukuthi umuntu uwubani, kanti kulandelwa ukungachemi ngokuvuma ukuthi kukhona ukwenzelela okumele kuqashelwe ngoba ukungachemi kuphazanyiswa amaphutha okuba umuntu kanye nezinsiza ezisetshenziswayo. Imininingo yaqoqwa kubabambiqhaza abangama-250 kusetshenziswa ukuqoka ngokwenhloso yabakhokhintela abamnyama, kanti kwabangama-50 kwenziwa inhlayalwazi bukhoma. Imininingo yahlaziywa ngokusebenzisa insiza eyaziwa nge-IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 on Windows 10. Imininingo yethulwa ngokusebenzisa izithombezibalo, amathebula kanye namashadi. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo yakhombisa ukuthi iBlack Tax iyabathinta bonke abamnyama abasebenzayo kungakhathaleki izinga lemfundo yabo noma izinga abakulo ngokwempilo. Abamnyama abasebenzayo abayifundele imisebenzi bahlobene kakhulu nabangaqashiwe kanye nabangafundile kanti lokhu kwenza kube umqansa ukugxila ekwakheleni izingane zabo ingcebo yezizukulwane ngezizukulwane. Abakhokhi bentela abamnyama bayakhuthazwa ukuba batshale ekuthuthukiseni ulwazi kwezezimali futhi babandakanye nezingane zabo kule nqubo.

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