THE NEEDS OF UNEMPLOYED YOUTH ON THE WEST RAND
by
SARAH IMELDA MAPHARAMI MARIBE
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS
IN COMMUNITY WORK
IN THE
FACULTY OF ARTS
AT THE RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY
STUDY LEADER: DR C B FOUCHE
MAY 1996 ( )
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I ACKNOWLEDGE WITH THANKS, APPRECIATION AND ADMIRATION THE ASSISTANCE I RECEIVED' FROM THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR HAVING MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO COMPLETE MY STUDIES.
THE ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE HE GAVE ME THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR.
MY STUDY LEADER, DR FOUCHE, FOR HER PATIENCE, GUIDANCE AND MOTIVATION, NOT FORGETTING HER FRIENDLY ATTITUDE.
DR NEL AND ALL MY TUTORS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE THEY SHARED . WITH ME.
MY LATE MUM, DAD, BROTHER AND SISTERS, FOR HAVING GIVEN ME THEIR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT MY STUDY LIFE.
TO MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, MPULE MOILOA, MAGDA ERASMUS, 'MAPULE MACHE AND DOLLY MASELOANE FOR THEIR BOORS, STUDY MATERIAL, SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE. OPSOMMING
1. INLEIDING:
Die werkloosheid in Suid-Afrika is omvangryk en die behoefte bestaan dat die probleem op alle vlakke aangespreek behoort te word. Baie jongmense is onsuksesvol in hulle soeke na werk en wend hulle dan tot kriminele aktiwiteite om te oorleef.
Daar bestaan noue verband tussen misdaad en werkloosheid en dit wek kommer.
Oortredings begaan deur die jeugdige oortreder wissel van diefstal, roof en moord. Die toename in kriminele aktiwiteite deur die jeugdige word waargeneem. Misdaad het met 27% tussen die jare 1987 en 1992 toegeneem. Hiermee saam het geweld ook met 19% gestyg. (Glanz, 1993).
Die Departement van Statistiek bereken egter dat 95398 jeugdiges tussen die ouderdom van sewe en twintig jaar gedurende 1 Julie 1990 en 30 Junie 1991 by kriminele aktiwiteite betrokke was. Dit wil dus voorkom of 120 - 150 jeugidges vir elke 1000 by sulke aktiwiteite betrokke is.
Daar moet egter in gedagte gehou word dat nie alle oortredings aangemeld word en oortreders vervolg en gevonnis word nie. Dit wil dus voorkom of die statistiek beskikbaar slegs die punt van die ysberg reflekteer.
2. DOELSTELLING EN DOELWITTE: Die doel van hierdie studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die behoeftes van die werklose jeugdige aan die Wes-Rand, met die doel om sekere aanbevelings te maak om die werkloosheid-misdaad sirkel te verbreek.
3. DOELWITTE VIR DIE STUDIE:
Die volgende doelwitte is gestel om bogenoemde doelstellings te bereik:
a. Bepaal van behoeftes van die werklose jeugdige in die volgende gemeenskappe:
Mohlakeng Kagiso, en Bekkersdal
Identifisering van bestaande programme om die werklose jeugdige behulpsaam te wees.
Identifisering van leemtes in die diensleweringsproses aan die werklose jeugdige, asook die maak van sekere aanbevelings.
4. NAVORSINGSMETODOLOGIE:
'n Volledige literatuurstudie is gedoen ten opsigte van die onderwerp. Die doel was ook om deur middel van 'n vraelys die behoeftes van die werklose jeugdige in die gegewe gemeenskappe te identifiseer.
Organisasies wat betrokke is by programme, is geidentifiseer en daar is deur middel van 'n semi- gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule die nodige data ingesamel. (iv )
Die data is daarna geanaliseer en al drie die doelwitte is bereik. Daar is gebruik gemaak van kwalitatiewe navorsing asook paar kwantitatiewe data analiseringstegnieke vir hierdie studie.
NAVORSINGSRESULTATE EN BEVINDINGE:
Die meeste van die jeug wat betrek was by die studie, was kinders van enkelouers, of buite-egtelike kinders, of kinders wat deur hulle ouers verlaat of verwaarloos was.
Werkloosheid was in die meeste gevalle 'n kenmerk wat by die gesin teenwoordig was waaruit die jeugdige gekom het. Die jeug het hulle skoolopvoeding gestaak as gevolg van finansiele redes. Dit het gebeur voordat hulle die nodige kennis en lewensvaardighede bemeester het. Hulle was dan ook onsuksesvol in hulle soeke na werk en het dan betrokke geraak by kriminele aktiwiteite.
Die organisasies wat programme aanbied het sekere vereistes gestel waaraan die meeste jeugdiges nie kon voldoen nie. Die organisasies is buite die gemeenskappe gelee en die meeste jeugdiges was onbewus van hulle bestaan. Dit is ook kommerwekkend om to weet dat daar slegs twee organisasies bestaan, in hierdie omgewing, wat die probleem kan aanspreek.
AANBEVELINGS:
Dit word aanbeveel dat die maatskaplike werk diensorganisasies, bestaande fondse wat geallokeer is, met groter vrug aanwend. Die aanleer van lewensvaardighede moet deel wees van die program. Die programme moet inkomste kan genereer asook die skep van meer werksgeleenthede. (v)
Die maatskaplike werker moet as deel van 'n multidissiplinere span, asook die jeugdige en ouer, self- bestuurprogramme ontwikkel en implementeer.
7. SAMEVATTING:
Dit is dus waargeneem, vanuit die studie, dat die jeugdige oortreder 'n produk is van vroed skoolverlating en armoede. Indien die probleem nie aangespreek en moontlike oplossings verkry word nie, sal daar 'n toename wees in jeugdige misdadigers. Die maatskaplike werk beroep sal aktief betrokke moet raak in die aanspreek van die probleem. CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 1 1. THE GENERAL ORIENTATION 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 MOTIVATION FOR THE .STUDY 3 1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 4 1.4 TENTATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 5 1.5 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS 5 1.5.1 Community Work 6 1.5.2 Principles of Community Work . 6 1.5.3 Problem 7 1.5.4 Youth 7 1.5.5 Juvenile Delinquency 7 1.5.6 Crimes 8 1.5.7 Unemployment 9 1.5.8 The Unemployed 9 1.5.9 Programmes 9 1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 10 1.7 OVERVIEW 10 Chapter 1 10 Chapter 2 10 Chapter 3 10 Chapter 4 11 Chapter 5 11 CHAPTER 2 • 12 2. THE THEORETICAL FOUNDATION OF THE STUDY 12 2.1 INTRODUCTION 12 2.2 UNEMPLOYMENT 13 2.2.1 Extent of the Problem 15 2.2.2 Possible causes of unemployment . . . . 16 a. Lack of jobs- 17 b. Structure of society 17 c. Economic factors 17 d. Limited Supply of Skilled Labour . . . 18 e. Mental and Physical Disability . . . . 18 Factor Market Distortion 18 Process of Informalisation and Outsourcing to avoid Tax 18
2.2.3 The Effects of Unemployment 19 2.3 APPROACHES IN HANDLING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY . . 30 2.3.1 Community Work 32 2.3.2 Approaches or Strategies for handling Delinquency 35 2.4 CONCLUSION 37 CHAPTER 3 39 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 39 3.1 INTRODUCTION 39 3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 40 3.3 SAMPLING PROCEDURE 40 3.3.1 Population 40 3.3.2 Sampling Strategy 41 3.4 METHODS OF DATA GATHERING 43 3.4.1 Interview Schedule 43 3.4.2 Preparing for Interviews 45 3.5 DURATION OF THE PROJECT 47 3.6 CONCLUSION 47 CHAPTER 4 48 PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 48 4.1 INTRODUCTION 48 4.2 IDENTIFYING PARTICULARS OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS 48 4.2.1 Age of the Unemployed Juvenile Delinquents 49 4.2.2 Sex distribution of the unemployed Juvenile delinquents 49 4.2.3 Religious denominationof the families of The unemployed juvenile delinquents. . . 50 4.2.4 Occuupations of the unemployed juvenile Delinquents 50 4.2.5 Home language of the unemployed juvenile Delinquents 50
4.3 FAMILY COMPOSITION OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS 51 4.3.1 Parents 51 4.3.2 Siblings 51 4.4 REFERRAL OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT TO THE SOCIAL WORKER 54
4.5 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT SCHOOL ATTENDANCE . 55 4.6 STANDARD ATTENDED BY THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT AT THE TIME HE LEFT SCHOOL 55 4.7 REASONS GIVEN BY THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT FOR DECISION TO LEAVE SCHOOL 56 4.8 STEPS TAKEN BY THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND EMPLOYMENT 57 4.9 PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY RESPONDENTS IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT 57 4.10 ACTIVITIES OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS EVER SINCE THEY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT . 57 4.11 STEPS TAKEN BY THE FAMILY OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT IN HELPING HIM TOWARDS CORRECTING HIS BEHAVIOUR 57 4.12 FAMILY HISTORY OF SIBLINGS OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT 58
4.13 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT'S MEMBERSHIP TO ANY ORGANISATION IN THE COMMUNITY 59
4.14 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT'S ABUSE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL 59 4.15 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT'S SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. 59 4.16 IN THIS SECTION, DATA OBTAINED FROM IDENTIFIED INSTITUTIONS RUNNING PROGRAMMES USED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN THE WEST RAND. 60 4.16.1 Identifying details 60 a. Name of the institution 60 Entrance requirements 60 What type of programmes are offered by the institutions 60 4.16.2 Identifying details 62 a. Name of the institution 62 Entrance requirements 62 What type of programmes are offered by the institutions 62 4.16.3 Conclusion 63 4.17 SUMMARY 64 CHAPTER 5 65 5. INTERPRETATION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION • • 65 5.1 INTRODUCTION 65
1 r 5.2 INTERPRETATION OF DATA THAT WAS GATHERED FROM THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE THAT WAS USED IN ASSESSING THE NEEDS OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINGUENTS IN MOHLAKENG, KAGISO AND BEKKERSDAL 65 5.3 INTERPRETATION OF DATA GATHERED FROM IDENTIFIED INSTITUTIONS RUNNING PROGRAMMES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED YOUTH 67 5.4 CONCLUSION 67
5.5 RECOMMENDATION 67
BIBLIOGRAPHY 71 Pagel
CHAPTER 1
1. THE GENERAL ORIENTATION
1.1 Introduction:
In South Africa there are no jobs for a very wide range of people. The precise figure of unemployment is not available. Some academics, however, have estimated the total number of African unemployment at more than three million people. This number is increasing all the time.
An Inkatha Institute, which has been collecting violence related information in the townships for the past few years, describe the typical South African youth situation as follows:
"This could be a young man in his mid or late teens who leaves school (often prematurely) only to find his vision of adulthood completely locked. He sees no direction for the future, not even a starting point. The unavailability of jobs is highest amongst the youth, as high as 80% in some communities. Youth have no opportunity and hope. Insecurity and frustration are enhanced by a strong sense of purposelessness as youth aimlessly kill time by idling about."
Those who try to find jobs, the report points out, spend long and fruitless hours outside the gates of factories. Page 2
The jobs that do become available often requires education which most youth lacks.
Companies do not want to spend money, training people. They want people that they can use straight away. There are a few or no jobs for school leavers.
The basic objective of education as socialising agency, taken from a paper presented at NATU Conference at Madadeni College of education on 15 June 1985 are:
To discover and translate the youths ability into skills and to unfold young peoples talent. To prepare young people to be capable of translating skills into concrete rewarding activities. To produce young women and men who are fully equipped and ready to face the outside world of work. To produce young professionals who are skilled and ready to pioneer and be readily available to give direction to the development of the South African nation. To produce a progressive youth with a curious, enquiring and challenging mind. To produce confident young people who are able to stand the test of times.
The young people who leave school misses a lot from education. They often hope to find a first foothold on a career only to meet the frustration of running into a wall of deepest recession.
Most of the young people who are unsuccessful in finding employment, start stealing and robbing people in the street to survive. Page 3
Youth unemployment, according to Janonkar (1987), is said to be responsible for an increase in crime and civil disorder.
The relationship between unemployment and crime rate is highly complex since unemployment relates to a wide range of other socio-economic factors such as inequality, poor education and the general state of economy. There are a large number of young people who drop out from school and consequently do not acquire the basic skills needed to compete successfully in the job market. Such young people need employment and training programmes.
Crime is a communal problem, and.-calls for communal solution. We cannot leave it to the police, or blame it on Apartheid, or human nature. (Willoughbly, 1996)
In the final analysis the means for crime prevention and control must be built into the fabric of community life. This can happen only if the community accepts its share of responsibility for having generated and perpetuated paths of socialisation that lead to sporadic criminal episode for some youth and careers in crime for others. The prime focus of delinquency prevention, control and treatment resides in the local community and the institutionalised services and agencies through which the community acts. Comparing communities, it is evident that capacity to act competently and effectively in this regard varies enormously. To a considerable extent the community itself must be seen as a victim of higher level public and private sector policies of neglect or exploitation. (Miller and Ohlin, 1985, p 11-12).
1.2 MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY Page 4
The problem of unemployment has reached chronic proportions in South Africa with major social and economic implications. It contributes to poverty and encourages some people to turn to crime to satisfy their basic needs. (Cawker and Whiteford, 1993, p 136)
Unemployment is one of the major concerns in South Africa and should be addressed at different levels. Young people who are unsuccessful in finding employment, often turn to criminal activities as a source of providing in basic survival needs. The relation between unemployment and crime is of great concern to practitioners, administrators and welfare planners.
Offences committed by juveniles in South Africa, cover a wide range from theft and robbery to murder and rape. A considerable increase in all these activities has also been experienced in recent years. The rate of property crimes, for example, increased by 27% between 1987 and 1992 and the rate of violent crimes increased by 19% during the same period (Glanz, 1993, p4). Specific statistics related to crime committed by juveniles are not available, but the Department of Statistics reported that 95 398 persons between the ages of seven and twenty, were convicted during the period 1 July 1990 to 30 June 1991. These figures convert to an annual rate of 11 per 1 000 of the population. As all crimes are not reported, all reported crimes not solved and all suspects not convicted, it is clear that the above statistics only represent the tip of the iceberg. It is estimated that juveniles' involvement in crime is probably in the region of 120 to 150 per 1 000 of the juvenile population. (Glanz & Schurink, 1993, p 4).
Given the above, the question asked by practitioners, is what is being done to address this problem and what can Page 5
still be done to prevent it. This is the major motivation for this study.
1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim of this study is to investigate the needs of unemployed youth on the West Rand and to make recommendations regarding appropriate actions to address these needs to brake the unemployment - crime cycle. The objectives to achieve this goal can be formulated as follows:
To assess the needs of unemployed youth in the
following communities on the We6i Rand: .
Mohlakeng Kagiso Bekkersdal
To identify existing programmes for the unemployed youth on the West Rand.
To identify gaps in services addressing youth's unemployment and to make recommendations in this regard.
1.4 TENTATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
After a thorough study of completed literature review on the topic, a survey will be conducted on the needs of a sample of unemployed youth in the identified communities by means of a survey research design so as to achieve the first objective. To achieve the second objective, organisations running programmes for the unemployed youth will be identified and information will be gathered through interviews. An analysis of the information gathered will Page 6
help in the achievement of the third objective. The research will, therefore, be mainly qualitative in nature, although a few quantitative data analysis techniques will be utilised.
1.5 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS
1.5.1 Community Work:
Community work is a method that focuses on the ways in which people's physical and organisational environment further or hinders their well-being and thereby promote the interaction of individuals and groups living in the same community. The objective of community work is to enhance the capacity of communities to promote social functioning by strengthening resources, service and opportunities to meet various life tasks, alleviate distress and realise aspirations and values. (Specht & Vickery, 1987, p 183).
1.5.2 Principles of Community Work:
The "article of faith" of the community worker, according to Ross (1969), include: "the essential dignity and ethical worth of the individual, the possession of each individual of potentialities and resources of managing his own life, the importance of freedom to express ones individuality, the great capacity for growth within all social beings, the right of the individual to those basic physical necessities (food, shelter and clothing) without which fulfilment of life is often blocked.
The need for the individual to struggle and strive to improve his own life and environment, the right of
Page 7
individuals to help in times of need and crisis, the importance of social organisation for which individuals feel responsible and which is responsive to individual feeling, this approach strife the individualistic ethic." (Spergel, 1969, p 9).
Delinquency may be considered the result of failure of various general systems of society and the community, namely the individual person, family, peer group, employment, recreation, social agency, courts, etc. It must therefore be seen as a problem not only of the individual and his family but of social organisation and social conditions in the dynamic interaction with one another in a particular place in time. (Spergel, 1969, p 38).
1.5.3 Problem:
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary a 'problem' is defined as something that has to be accomplished or answered or dealt with. In this study, the concept problem will specifically refer to the needs of unemployed juvenile delinquents that need to be dealt with.
1.5.4 Youth:
Youth is being defined as being young, adolescent, a period between childhood and adulthood, acording to this study a young person between 14 and 18 years of age, who is unemployed and displays behavioural problems.
1.5.5 Juvenile Delinquency: Page 8
This refers to the violation of a law by a juvenile. It includes those acts that would be a crime if committed by adults, such as car theft and burglary, and also those acts that are illegal only for boys or girls, such as buying alcoholic beverages. Many people use the term juvenile delinquency to include anything youngsters do that goes against the standards of society, regardless of whether this action is legal or illegal.
The legal age at which a person is considered to be a juvenile varies from place to place. In most countries it is under 17 years. Juvenile delinquency is regarded as a serious social problem in many countries. It has caused increasing public concern.
A youngster can be labelled a delinquent for breaking any one of a number of laws ranging from robbery to running away from home. (The: World Book of Encyclopaedia (TK) 1992,p 175-176).
1.5.6 Crime:
It is not easy to answer the question: "What is crime?" There is no complete satisfactory definition. Crime include many different values - moral, social and legal. Usually certain conduct is labelled 'criminal' by the government or ruling authority. What is regarded as a crime, however, will be influenced by the moral or social values of the particular authority in power. In democratic countries these values are usually based on what the majority of people regard as right or wrong.
1.5.7 Unemployment: Page 9
According to Standing (1981 p 563) the concept unemployment is hard to define, partly because it combines a condition (being without employment), a need (for work), an attitude (desire for work) and an activity (searching for work). Some question the applicability of the term if used to describe the position of someone satisfying the first criterion without satisfying one or more of the others. Hence the claim that many of the unemployed in both industrialised and low income countries, are in fact voluntarily unemployed. If so, the associated social distress would be overstated and unemployment would be downgraded as a policy concern.
Unemployment in South Africa has been measured in the recent past as lying between 4% to 52% depending on how and where measurement was made.
1.5.8 The Unemployed:
According to Prof. J L Sadie of the Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch, in accordance with some of the recommendations of the International Conference of Labour Statistics and the South African central statistical services the unemployed are defined as those members of the labour force or economically active population who do not have a job, either as employees or as self-employed persons, who are available for employment and/or seeking work for pay or profit. (Sadie, 1991, p 7)
It refers to a social situation, an inability to exchange labour for income because of economic and social forces beyond their control.
Page 10
Other people do not work because they do not wish to. Such people are termed 'idle'.
1.5.9 Programmes:
A programme, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a plan of what is intended to be done - any pre-arranged plan or course of proceedings.
1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
1.6.1 This study concentrates mainly on the three areas, that is Mohlakeng, Kagiso and Bekkersdal, excluding the greater Randfontein, Krugersdorp and Westonaria areas, and may, therefore, not be generalised to other areas, although the relevance thereof for other areas may be evaluated as valuable.
1.6.2 The study restricted the worker to concentrate mainly on one racial group, excluding other racial groups in the area, which may influence the interpretation of the findings.
1.6.3 The case load of social workers from other welfare agencies were not taken into consideration.
1.7 OVERVIEW
The study is divided into the following chapters:
Chapter 1 The general orientation which includes: the introduction, motivation for the study, aims and objectives of the study, Page 11 tentative research methodology, definition of concepts, limitations of the study and an overview of the study.
Chapter 2 The theoretical foundation of the study, where the results of the literature review and case studies consulted, will be summarised.
Chapter 3 The Research Methodology of the study will be outlined.
Chapter 4 Presentation and analysis of the data gathered.
Chapter 5 Interpretations, conclusions and recommendations for the study will be dealt with. Page 12
CHAPTER 2
2. THE THEORETICAL FOUNDATION OF THE STUDY
2.1 INTRODUCTION
The meaning of work in the life of man differs from one individual to the other, depending on its significance, its purpose and the weight it carries.
It is conceptualised and analysed as a source of need- meeting. It gives an individual a sense of belonging to that part of society considered to be important, needed and valued.
Work allows an individual to enter the kind of environment where a place can be found in goal oriented interaction with others and mutual support in an interpersonal network.
Unemployment is therefore an inverse of employment.
Jahoda (1982) cites five non economic aspects of work of which the individual is deprived. Persons without a job have no access to the following categories of experiences:
Work in a paid job imposes a time structure on the day and the week. It affords a variety of social contacts beyond family interaction. It means participation in a collective purpose. It confers social identity and status and enforces regular activity.
Jahoda (1982) maintains that the unemployed person is not ashamed as much of being unemployed as of being poor. The Page 13
stigma of being unemployed is rooted in the poverty associated with joblessness.
The effect of unemployment on the family, the individual and the community has been studied in numerous research projects within various disciplines, and it has been found that:
"Unemployment has a multitude of negative effects and that the detrimental effect of unemployment is widespread." (Broman et al 1990, p 644)
Unemployment is a social problem, and social problems, as Worsley (1972 p 11) puts it, occur when some piece of social behaviour causes misery_and needs collective action to solve it.
In this chapter the student is going to focus on the literature regarding unemployment, delinquency and programme development.
2.2 UNEMPLOYMENT
According to Archer et al (1984 p 171) South Africa's labour force has grown faster than employment since the mid 1970's. It seems generally accepted that there are fewer wage jobs available annually than the number of school leavers and it is also accepted that the number of blacks without formal sector employment is high and rising, and that the problem is worse for women and rural dwellers. Furthermore, most observers would agree that low income groups in South Africa do not choose or cannot afford to "idle" in a sense of non-productive engagement, poverty is a widespread and integral feature in South Africa. Page 14
In conformity with some of the recommendations of the International Conference of Labour Statisticians and of the practice of the South African Central Statistical Service (CSS), according to Sadie, (1991, p 7):
"The unemployed are defined as those members of the labour force or economically active population, who do not have a job, either as employees or as self employed persons, who are available for employment and are seeking work for pay or profit."
An additional aspect of the definition is, how energetically the acquirement of employment should be pursued and at which level of remuneration the rejection of job offers could be considered to reflect voluntary non employment. The International Labour Statisticians circumvent this problem by recommending that the work seeking condition be replaced by a ,"desire to work" requirement.
Unemployment is not determined by simply deducting the number in registered (formal sector) employment from the size of the labour force. The difference includes, apart from the unemployed, also the unregistered self employed plus the members of the labour force employed by them in the informal sector, and those engaged in the migrant labour system and resting at home for extended periods of time in between rounds of employment.
As in less developed countries at large, unemployment and underemployment together, are to be considered the problem to be solved in South Africa. Page 15
Mupedziswa, 1992, lists unemployment as one of the major challenges facing the social work profession in Africa today.
To address what Ntebe (1994) refers to as a relevant and effective intervention role, Social Work will have to address poverty and unemployment issues. (Mupedziswa, 1992)
The researcher will now discuss the extent of unemployment in South Africa.
2.2.1 Extent of the Problem Unemployment is a worldwide problem. Globally it has been found that there are 500 million people who are unemployed. In 1990 the total labour force of South Africa numbered 13 420 000 persons. This included the TBVC countries. Of these 8 520 000 were fully employed in the formal sector,, which included commercial, agricultural and domestic service, leaving 4 900 000 (or 36,5%) to fend for themselves outside the modern sector of the economy. Of these latter 1 700 000 were involved on a full or part time basis. (CSS 20 March 1990.) Of the remaining 3 200 000 some 700 000 economically active Blacks may be considered non-employed but not unemployed, by virtue of their residing at home between bouts of paid employment as participants in the migrant labour system.
Therefore, the number to be considered formally unemployed in its First World connotation comes to 2 500 000 or 18,6% of the labour force. (Sadie, 1991, p 18)
On 11 August 1993, the South African Broadcasting Corporation's evening news, reported the following Page 16
statistics, i.e. 10 million people in South Africa live below the breadline and 6 million are unemployed. Sadie (1991) contends that it is conceivable that anything between 9 817 000 and 11 112 000 of the labour force could be unemployed by the year 2005.
The main macro-estimate of unemployment in South Africa clearly show both cyclical and a secularly rising upward trend, presenting a striking similarity with the United Kingdom. Presently, in 1995, the total unemployment statistics in South Africa, as given by the Central Statistical Services in Pretoria, is 4 656 076: Asians 69 995 Coloureds 34 841 Whites 159 922 Blacks 4 077 745
van Zyl Slabbert et al (1994) demonstrate that the problems facing the youth (i.e. people between 15 and 30 years of age, who constitute some 30% of the population) include economic stagnation. The current unemployment status of the youth involves 45% blacks, 40% coloureds, 29% Asians and 12% White youth. Sadie (1991) postulated that an optimistic scenario for South Africa by 2005 would involve 48,7% of the labour force being unemployed.
Possible causes of the high unemployment rate in South Africa will be discussed.
2.2.2 Possible causes of unemployment:
In South Africa, unemployment can be attributed to the following factors: Page 17
Lack of jobs: Briar (1988) takes a structural stance in arguing that most unemployment is due to insufficient jobs. Sadie (1991) concurs in that he identifies the unemployment, which can be ascribed to chronically inadequate demand for labour, as the most worrying and prevalent in South Africa. The economy is simply unable to generate enough jobs to absorb the labour force.
Snyman's (1993, p 19) research supports Sadie's position, i.e. lack of jobs was established in his study as the major contributing factor in poverty.
Structure of society: According to Zastrow (1993) structured disadvantage is exemplified by the situation of women and black people in ,a society being disadvantaged in a persistent manner.
Patel (1992) and van Aardt (1993) blame apartheid for the current high levels of poverty and unemployment.
Economic factors: Sadie (1991) argues that the economy is not developing and performing, given the impact of certain economic, political, labour and demographic factors. In short, malignant forces hostile to the growth and development of the economy exists. For example, militant trade unions, overpopulation, illegal immigrants, lack of investors confidence and the after effects of the world's anti-apartheid campaign against South Africa. Page 18
Limited Supply of Skilled Labour The labour force of South Africa is dominated by unskilled people whilst business in the formal economy face a shortage of skilled labour. The skill shortage contributes to the problem of low economic growth, which in turn retards the economy's potential to create employment. Most of our young people leave schools too soon for various reasons, hence do not have the skills required in the labour force.
Mental and Physical Disability Most people are unemployed - due to their mental and physical disability, and a lack of jobs/facilities to accommodate their specific disabiilty.
Factor Market Distortion Prominent amongst market ' distortion are overvalued exchange rate and really low interest rates due to government intersection in foreign exchange and capital markets, as well as high rates of inflation resulting from excessive increase in money supply. (Bell & Payachee, 1984.) If the value of money is low this gives rise to unemployment.
9. Process of Informalisation and Outsourcing to avoid Tax According to the Development Information Paper compiled by Erasmus, J (1994), the reason for the decline in employment in the PWV region include the process of 'informalisation' and'out-sourcing' adopted by some companies to avoid tax for employing labour. In addition, industrial Page 19
decentralisation occurred among labour intensive industries due to foreign competition and decentralisation concessions. The industrial mix of the PWV also played its part. More than one third of the manufacturing sector's output is generated by the metal, machinery and equipment sectors which are tied to the declining mining and military sector. Lastly, violence and political uncertainty played an important role.
Any factor which impacts negatively on the economies ability to provide jobs can safely be categorised as causation to-poverty. The effect of unemployment on individuals and the community will follow.
2.2.3 The Effects of Unemployment
a. The Effect of Unemployment on an Individual The positive connotation of work helps us to understand the implications of unemployment to individuals. To be unemployed in today's industrial society, is to be excluded from the mainstream of social life. In the absence of daily contact and companionship with fellow workers, the unemployed lives become increasingly empty, leading to a feeling of helplessness and inadequacy. Unemployment may even affect health, physically and psychologically, it may place a lot of strain on family members.
Asvall, 1987, p 99 found that:
"Unemployment is clearly implicated in the worsening of individual health and well being." Page 20
The unemployed are often socially isolated and stigmatised. Fineman (1983 p 112) found that the unemployed people consider their status as unemployed as a stigma.
"The stigma was based on the way they felt they were being handled by various agencies and groups in society: the feeling that they were treated as second class citizens, branded as inferior in some way or another."
NUrnherger 1990, p 10 states that:
"In modern western contexts, especially, persons are only considered to be worthy members of the community if they are seen to work for their living or make an active contribution to the overall welfare of the community. Those who do not, are considered to be social parasites, both in their own eyes and in the eyes of the public. To be considered a parasite implies contempt. The elderly, the destitute, the disabled, the bankrupt and also the jobless are not accorded full human dignity."
Niirnberger 1990, p 10 sums up the effect of unemployment on the individual as follows:
wee in general unemployment causes unhappiness, loneliness, a sense of helplessness, self-contempt, restlessness, anxiety, anger, bad temper, depression, apathy, hopelessness, more psychological and biological diseases, alcoholism, higher divorce rates, higher suicide rates." Page 21
From the above quotations it can, therefore, be gathered that unemployment has got negative effects on an individual, physically, socially and emotionally, which leads to different types of behavioural problems such as juvenile delinquency, resulting from continuous unhappiness, a sense of helplessness, etc. b. Specific Effect of Unemployment on a Social Level Unemployment on a social level is often correlated with poverty, violence, crime, alcoholism, squatting, racial disharmony, the economic implications that unemployment has on the individual, it also applies to the economic implication on his social life.
The state economy is being affected, in the sense that the unemployed are not productive and does not pay tax. Secondly the state has to spend a lot of money on medical and welfare services to the unemployed.
Simkins 1981, p 41 found that the unemployed's household is affected when he says:
"I have found empirical confirmation that the main burden of supporting the unemployed falls onto households of which they are members."
Dr Alex Boraine, Acting Director of The Institute for Democratic Alternative in Clarion Call Inkatha Institute, Vol. 1 of 1990, sees unemployment as one of the important contributors to unrest in black residential areas, by stating that hand in hand with the spiralling Page 22
unemployment is the increasing number of matriculants coming on the job market, and could there by anything more frustrating after battling against all odds to stay at school than to find that there are no vacancies? Unemployment fans the flame of anger and resentment.
This leads to the discussion of unemployment and the position of the youth. c. Unemployment and the Position of the Youth Some valuable insight into the root causes of violence have been provided by the Inkatha Institute which has been collecting violence related information in townships for the past few years. A position paper prepared by the Institute Director, Mr Gavin Woods, give some revealing findings. Research found that more than 90% of all types of township violence are perpetrated by black youths between 15 and 24 years old and they found that the antisocial attitudes of black youths were directly linked to poverty. (Wood G, 1989, p 8 in Clarion Call Inkatha Institute, Vol. 1 of 1990.)
The negative social implication of a high youth unemployment rate is explained by NUrnberger (1990) as follows:
"At a time when the level of energy and enthusiasm is at its peak and one craves for action, when one has to prove one's worth in the grown up world, when one seeks to test ones ability and to develop one's gifts, hanging around with nothing to do destroys the morale of the youths, often for the rest Page 23
of their lives. They develop feelings of inferiority, futility and resentment. They will find an outlet for their overflowing energies in gang warfare or other mischief. They will resort to sex orgies and drugs to find fulfilment. To deny the young generation fulfilment in work is to destroy the future of the nation." Niirnberger, 1990, p 10-11
Wilson and Ramphela (1989, p 89-91) found that the frustration caused by unemployment is answerable to shebeens and alcoholism in black townships. Alcoholism frequently affects the unemployed to an extent that even when job opportunities arise, they'are no longer found employable.
Boredom, which is regarded as the curse of unemployment is a problem which appears to affect the younger unemployed to a greater extent than others. Research into leisure patterns of township youths suggest that the boredom experienced by unemployed school leavers is excessive. Youth unemployment according to Janonkar 1987, p 7 is said to be responsible for crime and disorder, which leads to juvenile delinquency. d. Juvenile Delinquency
There are different definitions as to what juvenile delinquency really means. These definitions differ according to the particular approach to the problem. If a problem is approached from a social point of view the Page 24 definition will have a much wider meaning that if it is viewed from the judicial point of view.
Viewed from the social standpoint, juvenile delinquency can include any form of juvenile misbehaviour which the dictionary for social work defines as "an action by a child or juvenile under the age of eighteen years which is in conflict with the norms of society", while the jurist view is solely as an offence which is committed by a child or juvenile in a particular age group against a law of the land.
Juvenile delinquency is a social problem, but as such it is not an isolated problem. It is closely linked to other social problems in the community, for example unemployment, poverty, broken homes, alcoholism, etc.
(i) Statement of the Problem According to a paper by Glanz and Schurink 1993, much has been said and written about young people in South Africa in recent years. Terms such as "the lost generation" and "youths in crisis" are bandied about while few concrete steps are taken to halt the increase in the number of young people who run away from home, who drop out of the formal education system, who get caught up in the world of drug and alcohol abuse and who fail to enter the world of work. There are tens of thousands of young people who, for a variety of reasons, do not make what is commonly accepted as a successful transition from childhood to adulthood. Page 25
Most misbehaviour exhibited during adolescence is minor and is little more than the manifestation of frustrations and problems associated with adolescence. During a self-report study conducted among 700 young urban blacks, Glanz (1990) found that 58% of the sample reported having committed at least one of the acts of delinquency in the check list put to them. The items varied in seriousness from failing to return extra change to attacking someone with the intention to seriously hurt or kill. This finding, which is in agreement with self-report , delinquency studies conducted elsewhere, indicated that a large proportion of young people commit what can be termed delinquent acts as part of the growing up process. The same study indicated, however, that a core of those questioned - 15% of males 'and 8% of females reported having committed in excess of 20 delinquent acts. It is this minority of young people who are in danger of becoming involved in an extended criminal career.
Many young people in South Africa are living in a time of crisis. They are facing problems arising from rapid political change, the declining state of the economy, and inadequate and ineffective education. Young people living in many of the residential areas (townships) located near large urban areas face particular problems experienced by few others in this country.
For some, these problems centre on aspects such as rapid urbanisation, westernisation, Page 26
the breakdown of the extended family and the poor functioning of the nucleus family. For others, the problems relate to the strong presence of street gangs, the widespread abuse of dependence-producing substances, the effect of a subculture of violence and poor bonds with family and other institutions in society. There are in addition overriding problems of functional illiteracy, school dropouts, the lack of marketable skills, unemployment, and teenage pregnancy. Many of the difficulties experienced by young people in this country are similar to the well-documented problems of the inner-city younq'people in the United States of America.
Unemployment, for example, does not only affect black youths in South Africa. A statement by L C Francis taken from the Weekly Gleamer, dated April 15, 1981, after the Brixton riots prove this:
"Brixton is one of them most depressed areas in the UK in terms of unemployment. The percentage of black youths out of employment is higher than the average compared with the European population anywhere else in the country."
e. Unemployment and Crime
According to a discussion with a crime reporter, Derek Rodney, South Africa is facing a total Page 27 onslaught by ruthless crime syndicates threatening to push the country over the brink into anarchy.
Policy analysts have identified organised crime with at least 278 major syndicates currently operating the country as one of the biggest threats to the government's ability to assert authority.
In reports released by the South African Police Service Centre for Analysis and Interpretation of Crime (CAICI), analysts say the price exacted by organised crime syndicates_ worldwide is very high.
Police say single major syndicates operate in terms of "tens of millions of Rands."
Nationally, syndicated crime involves money and goods worth billions of Rands.
Regional Commissioner of the S.A.D.F. in the West Rand, Lt General Sakkie Pretorius said that there was a 67% increase in house breaking on the West Rand during the first nine months of 1995 - 4 305 compared to 1612 during last year. During the same period there was a decrease of 89% in burglaries of businesses. The increases in other crimes during the period to 30 September 1995 were: murder 24,94% (firearms were used in most of the 581 murders), armed robberies at businesses 24% (303), rape 40%, car hijacking 11,5% (669), vehicle theft 3,2% (4 073) and other thefts 3,63% (16 985). Page 28
The possibility of a link between unemployment and crime is not a recent topic of interest. In 1940 Manheim examined the plausibility of such a link during the Depression years. He found that:
"The movement of crime correspond fairly accurately to the fluctuation of unemployment." Manheim, 1940, p 43
However, he counselled against relying on global measures of crime and unemployment, suggesting that the relationship could vary depending on other factors. He also noted the potential long term effects that unemployment could have:
"Long term unemployment may show its effect even many years after being brought to an end and it is capable of changing permanently the whole attitude of a family towards society." Manheim, 1940, p 41
f. Influence of Other Factors
Fleisher 1963, p 545 examined age related crime data and presented evidence to suggest that labour market conditions did have an effect on juvenile delinquency as well as on adult crime. He examined age related crime data and presented evidence:
".. to suggest that factors associated with entering the labour market can help explain the age distribution of juvenile delinquency." Fleischer, 1963, p 545 Page 29
The effect of high unemployment on those entering the labour market is especially noticeable in the case of property offence. Fleisher then goes on to show that unemployment and property crimes are positively correlated, regardless of age group. (1963, p 549.)
The outcome of Fleisher's study as a whole is the conclusion that:
"An examination of delinquency rates and other variables by age and through time suggest that the effect of unemployment on juvenile delinquency - is positive and significant." Fleisher, 1963, p 53
He ends by attempting to indicate the impact that high unemployment has on delinquency in human and economic terms. He estimates that a 100% increase in unemployment over a given period results in a 25% increase in the delinquency rate. If unemployment was to be reduced by half at any one time it would be accompanied by a decline in property crime of approximately 10%.
The offences committed by juveniles in South Africa covers a wide range. Unlike countries like Britain no effective provision is made to deal with such problems. The youth seems to be the most neglected group in our black communities. Page 30
2.3 APPROACHES IN HANDLING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
Student identifies three quotations that are relevant to this discussion:
"A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting, and when you are gone, attend to those things which you think are important. You may adopt all policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your cities, states and nations. He is going to move in and take.-over your churches, schools, universities and corporations. All your books are going to be judged, praised or condemned by him. The fate of humanity is in his hand. (Abraham Lincoln - Burgess, 1979, p120)
Andrew Rutherford 1986, p 11 on the other hand states:
"What the child can do for us later - or that it is cheaper to be good to the children now -.should not be our primary concern. Children should claim our attention because they engage our humanitarian feelings. A child must be loved and supported for what the child is now, not for what the child can become. Children are fellow humans and claim an equal place with other age groups because they are humans, not because they give some future return on investment." Page 31
Again he says,
"Crime is not a 'thing'! Crime is a concept applicable in certain social situations where it is possible and in the interest of one or several parties to apply it. We can create crime by creating a system that asks for the world. We can extinguish crime by creating the opposite kind of systems."
In South Africa at present there is no specific body of legislation which governs the handling of juvenile offenders. Those dealing with young people in conflict with the law have to go through a number of Acts in order to find the few sections which deal with juvenile offenders, albeit inadequately. These Acts are Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, the Child care Act 74 of 1983 and the Correctional Service Act No 8 of 1950. For the most part, young people in conflict with the law are dealt with in much the same way as their adult counterparts.
In contrast to this approach, is what Rutherford (1986) calls the developmental approach. The developmental approach regards crime and other miserable behaviour by young people as a transient and integral part of growing up. Instead of exclusion, the approach seeks absorption and fortifies the development role of home and school. The four basic propositions underlying the development approach are:
The principal source of support and control for young people are in the home and school. When formal intervention is invoked this should, to the greatest possible extent, be focussed primarily on enhancing strength of home and school. Page 32 .
Only in the most exceptional case should formal intervention separate a young person from developmental institutions, and any period of separation should be kept to the minimum required for other purposes. Formal intervention, especially when using incarceration, is disruptive in two crucial senses. First, the normal growth and development of a young person are threatened, and second, the capacity for developmental institutions to be effective is weakened. (Rutherford, 1986, p 14-13.)
There are three methods used in social work to handle social problems such as juvenile delinquency, namely case work, group work and community work. Case work has been the most predominantly used method of approach. In the Provincial Administration, Gauteng Social Services, 80% of welfare services rendered uses the case work method. Group work and community work approaches are used to a limited degree. Recently, due to the increasing social problems, it has been discovered that the use of case work alone is not efficient. The emphasis is now on the use of community work which will now be discussed, as an approach to handle delinquency.
2.3.1 Community Work
Community work has meant many things to many people. For some people, as Twelvetrees (1982) states, it is not distinguishable from political action. For others, community work is seen as an agent of social control.
In South Africa, community work is seen, as was identified by the 1950 Young Husband Report, as one of social work's three methods, primarily aimed at helping Page 33 people within a local community to identify social needs, to consider the most effective ways of meeting those needs, and to set about doing so, in so far as their available resources permits.
In recent years, as Irving Spergel states, problem solving as the ground orientation to community organisation has found increasing recognition. Sieder describes practice as a direct problem solving service, ongoing human beings in the context of interaction of groups and individuals and involving organisation patterns of group life. Carter states that it is task or goal centred and is focussed as a solution of community problems or on the development of means to solve the problem rather than therapeUtically on individual needs. (Irving A Spergel, 1969, p 7.) Attention must be directed in practice to the expressive or solidarity needs of people.
(i) Reasons for the present interest in Community Work The increasing recognition by the government of the contributions made by volunteers. The reliance upon actual coverage by television and radio have affected community development. The researches of psychologists and sociologists have led to a stronger emphasis on the social basis of personality. Community programmes like adult education, youth programmes, etc. are becoming necessary for future unemployment.
Osci-Hwedie (1993), amongst many others, have persuasively argued the need for a community developmental approach for the problems of Africa. The present emphasis is on the social development. Page 34
The mission of the Gauteng Ministry of Welfare and Population Development is:
"To enable the delivery of equitable and sustainable social and community policies, services, programmes and benefits, in partnership with all stakeholders through a developmental approach, based on our core values, beliefs and guiding principles, to enhance the quality of life of the people in the Gauteng Province." (Quoted from the Strategic Management Plan : A Preliminary Document.)
(ii) Values and Beliefs: The following values and beliefs were adopted:
A dignified respect for human kind Integrity Transparency Social equity Share responsibility for their lives within the context of an enabling environment Appropriate and accessible service to the people of the province Confidentiality Trust and cohesiveness Improve capabilities and competencies in order to continuously improve the service to the people
(iii) Focus: Enabling individuals, families, groups and communities and organisations Unified purpose through team involvement, team spirit, team work and shared information in planning and implementing change Employee involvement is encouraged Page 35
Employee empowerment Individual and collective self reliance
These mission statements, principles, values and beliefs are in line with the Reconstruction and Development Programme.
2.3.2 Approaches or Strategies for handling Delinquency
Given all the discussions about the problem of juvenile delinquency in South Africa, one may ask what can be done to prevent it? Prevention of juvenile delinquency can no longer be the sole responsibility of the police, the courts and the penal system. Society as a whole, and the community in particular, should become more involved in advancing crime prevention.
'Criminal behaviour' will only change when the perpetrators themselves change their belief about themselves and the world. This can happen in an environment where the perpetrators experience love (the words of a spokesperson for the 'Build South Africa' programme. Trevor Huddleston describes youth behaviour in black townships as a symbol of a society which does not care.
The need of social education, according to Smith, M 1980, p 24, is based on two beliefs:
All members of society have a right to a full emotional, social and intellectual development. Society has an obligation to ensure that people get access to resources and opportunities that enable such development. Page 36
We have already seen the effect unemployment has on the increase of juvenile delinquency in our country. During the late 1970's and early 1980's the level of unemployment in the United Kingdom rose dramatically according to Crow et al 1989, p 69.
The main New Training Initiative was introduced at the beginning of the 1980's. This placed the emphasis on producing a better trained workforce, able to respond to the need of industry and commerce.
The New Training Initiative had three main components:
To develop occupational skill training to enable young people to acquire rebognised standards of skills appropriate to the jobs available. The second component was concerned with preparing school leavers for work and training. Its objective was to ensure that all those under 18 years had the opportunity of continuing in full time education, or entering training for a period of planned work experience combining work related training and education. The third component concerned adult training.
In South Africa, in March 1990, the Human Science Research Council was contracted to undertake research on juvenile delinquency. The main objective of the research was to develop a national strategy for the prevention of juvenile delinquency in South Africa. In order to do this the following research was undertaken.
i. A review of literature on delinquency, associated with juvenile delinquency, including theories and models developed and used by social scientists to explain this phenomenon. Page 37
An analysis of crime statistics in order to determine the extent of crime among the South African youth. A report on existing HSRC research on this topic, as well as research conducted by the broader South African Research Community. A review of existing crime prevention strategies reported in the literature. A critical overview of existing prevention programmes and activities of the formal (government and quasi-government) and informed non-government sector in South Africa. A fact finding study tour of the United States of America and England during which experts and practitioners in prevention of juvenile delinquency were consulted.
The research findings, as published, were that the various approaches to crime prevention that can be adopted determine whether intervention will take place at a primary, secondary or tertiary level. Primary prevention attempts to prevent the commission of crime before it takes places, whereas secondary prevention is aimed at individuals who are at risk of becoming involved in crime. Tertiary prevention focuses on those who have already committed offences. The most successful prevention programmes have one important factor in common, the maintenance of informal social control through bonding by an extended family system or cohesive structure in the community.
2.4 CONCLUSION
Over the recent years, unemployment and juvenile delinquency has been a topic of public concern. Due to the increasing criminal offences in the West Rand over the past years, there is an urgent, need for something to be done. Page 38 One has therefore to understand what the unemployed youth needs are, identify programmes that will enable recommendations to be made, so as to break the unemployment - crime cycle amongst the youth. Page 39
CHAPTER 3
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
There are many definitions and classifications of research methodology in the literature. In its broadest sense, a research method is a plan or design for the process of finding a solution to the research problem posed by social workers. (Grinnell, 1985 p 15)
Methodology, according to Rubin and Babbie, 1994, might be called: "The science of finding out...", a subfield of epistemology which is a science of knowing.
A research design, according to Grinnell (1993 p 99), is a blueprint or detailed plan for how a research study is to be conducted - operationalising variables so that they can be measured, selecting a sample of interest to study, collecting data to be used as a basis for making hypothesis and analysing the results.
The principle methods that are now employed by social researchers are, fieldwork, survey research, experimentation and non-reaction research. Each of these four methods or styles involves a different strategy for collecting data. (Brewer and Hunter, 1989 p 13)
A specific research design, sampling procedure, and method of data collection that have been used in this study will be discussed in the next sections. Page 40
3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN
The survey research design has been chosen for this study. This is a systematic way of obtaining answers from selected respondents who represent the population of interest, occasionally from an entire population. (Grinnell, 1993 p 262)
Survey research, studies phenomena by collecting data on numerous individuals in order to understand the group or population they represent. In this study data is collected from the unemployed juvenile delinquents from the West Rand areas of Mohlakeng, Bekkersdal and Kagiso, his parents or guardian.
Ideally, according to Grinnell (1993 p 154); data should be obtained from or about each and every person in a given set. The resulting data would then be descriptive of the entire set. In practice, however, it is rarely possible to obtain data about every single unit, such a process would be time consuming and too costly. The common practice, therefore, is to gather data from some units and to use this data to describe the entire set. This leads to the discussion of a sampling procedure.
3.3 SAMPLING PROCEDURE
According to Grinnell (1993 p 154), sampling is the selection of some units to represent the entire set from which the units were drawn. The total set of people is referred to as a population.
3.3.1 Population:
According to Seaburg in Grinnell (1985 p 133), a population is: Page 41 "The totality of persons, events, organisational units, case records, or other sampling units with which the research problem is concerned."
In this study the population consists of a total of 120 cases of unemployed juvenile delinquents comprising the case load of the social workers employed by the Department of Welfare and Population Development Provincial Administration, Gauteng, stationed at Randfontein and rendering services to Kagiso, Mohlakeng and Bekkersdal.
3.3.2 Sampling Strategy:
Sampling is one of the means by which the researcher:
"Transforms the research question into a feasible empirical study." Hinny, 1990, p 14
It allows the researcher to study only a subset of the units of interest and then generalise all these units with a specifiable degree of error. It offers benefits in terms of reducing the resources necessary to do a study; it also sometimes permits more intensive scrutiny by allowing a researcher to concentrate attention on fewer cases. (Henrick and Hickman, 1993 p 43)
In this study, because of limited time and cost, a sample of twenty youth was selected to represent the total population of 120. As stated by Huysamen 1994, it is usually not practically and economically feasible to involve all members in a research project. As a result, one has to rely on the data obtained from a sample of the population. Page 42 Social scientists employ two major types of samples, viz, probability and non-probability samples. Probability samples include simple random samples, stratified samples, systematic samples and multistage or elastic samples. Non-probability samples include convenience or availability samples, quota samples and purposive samples. (Hewer and Hunter, 1989, p 11).
For the purpose of this study the non-probability sample has been used because it is less complicated and more economical than probability samples. Further, as stated by Seaberg in Grinnell, 1988: "Non- probability samples are suited to exploratory studies where investigators are merely interested in obtaining as much unique data on a research questions."
Availability non-probability samples was chosen on the basis of the researchers knowledge of the case load of the social workers employed by the Department of Welfare and Population Development stationed at Randfontein.
The criteria of the population from which the sample was selected is as follows:
a youth such as defined in paragraph 1.5.4, that is, being young, adolescent, a period between childhood and adulthood should be unemployed must be a juvenile who is eighteen or under, who is in conflict with the norms of the society or who has committed an offence against the law of the society must not be attending school should be from Mohlakeng, Ragiso or Bekkersdal Page 43 For the achievement of the second objective, a specific sampling strategy was not used. Only two institutions were identified and were found to be relevant to this study as they are running programmes for the unemployed youth.
3.4 METHODS OF DATA GATHERING
After meeting the above criteria, a method for collection of data is selected. Survey research is the most popular research method in social work. It involves collecting data through asking people questions in different ways, for example through administered questionnaires or interviews.
A researcher can ask questions in writing (asking persons to fill in a self administered questionnaire) or by interviewing (personally or over the phone). In both these situations, the primary task is to figure out what questions to ask and how to ask them.
As face to face verbal contact is the most basic and the most common form of communication among humans, the interview as the method of collecting data, has been chosen for this study and an interview schedule was used for collection of data. (See Annexure A.)
3.4.1 Interview Schedule:
The interview schedule is the survey instrument used with both face to face and telephone interviews. However, interview schedules have certain features that distinguish them from other types of questionnaires, particularly those used in mailed surveys.
Interview schedules do not look like familiar questionnaire forms because they are designed to be Page 44 completed by the interviewer rather than the respondent. With self administered questionnaires, substantial design methods are necessary to ensure that respondents will be able to understand and complete all question on the forms. Because the interview schedules are seen only by the interviewer, design efforts can be directed to maximising the ease and accuracy of data recording, and subsequent coding. Instructions to respondents are also included in interview schedules, but because these are read, and if necessary explained by the interviewer, they can be more concise.
A particularly useful characteristic of interview schedules is that they can include prompts, reminders, and explanatory notes for interviewers. The schedule could include instructions for the interviewer on how to help clients who offer more that one answer, to select the most appropriate one. (Grinnell, 1993, p 269 - 270)
In face to face interviews the researcher or interviewer poses questions directly to each member of the study sample and immediately records responses.
The following advantages, according to Grinnell (1993 p 2661) lead the researcher to choose this option for gathering data:
survey respondents are usually more willing to participate when questions are posed directly by someone in their presence, so response rates to face to face interviews are relatively high respondents are less likely to give distracted or ill-considered answers to questions in the presence of persons who directly ask for their views Page 45 even the simplest question in an interview schedule may be confusing to some people, or in some circumstances, and an interviewer can explain the meaning of each question in a way that is impossible with self-administered written survey instruments face to face interviews also allow illusion of respondents who have various disabilities such as a lack of reading and writing skills, language barriers or visual or physical impairments within limits, the interview setting also avoids some of the rigid structures that must be imposed on the construction of questions and responses in a written instrument not only can the interviewer explain the questions in detail, but particularly if a tape recorders is used, detailed verbal answers that respondents would be unable or unwilling to put in writing, can be recorded face to face interviews can thus incorporate more open ended questions than is possible with mailed surveys the presence of the interviewer makes it possible to capture nuances of respondents that would otherwise be lost respondents have been found to be more likely to answer sensitive personal questions when they are posed by face to face interviewers rather than telephonic interviews one explanation is that face to face interviewers are better able to establish legitimacy by sending over letters, presenting their credentials and maintaining a professional demeanour.
3.4.2 Preparing for Interviews: Page 46 Before the interview takes place, the researcher must lay ground work by developing the interview schedule, hiring and training interviewers, obtaining respondents consent and making arrangements for the interview.
In this study, qualitative interviewing is conducted. This, according to Schurink and Schurink (1988, p 31), means repeated face to face encounters between researchers and informants (subjects) directed towards understanding informants perspectives on their lives, experiences or situations as expressed in their words. The in-depth interview is modelled after a conversation between equals, rather than a formal question and answer exchange. Far from being a robot like data collector, the interviewer or protocol, is the research tool. The role is not only obtaining answers, but learning what questions to ask.
The interview schedule in this study, consists of questions that enabled the researcher to assess the needs of the unemployed juvenile delinquents in the west Rand; identify existing programmes in the communities studied and to identify gaps in addressing the problem so as to make recommendations.
Two interview schedules were drawn. One was used for interviewing the unemployed juvenile delinquent, his parent or guardian. The other one was used in gathering information from identified organisations or institutions running programmes for the unemployed in the communities that are being studied. (See Appendix A and Appendix B.) A simple understandable language was used.
Most interview surveys require more than one interviewer, hence there is a need for hiring and Page 47 training interviewers. In this study, a small scale interview survey was undertaken by the researcher herself.
A letter requesting the respondent's co-operation was written. (See Appendix C). The respondents were assured that the information they will give will be kept confidential. A telephonic follow-up was made in order to find out if the researcher's request was accepted.
Telephonic appointments were made with the Project Managers of the two identified institutions. A form, consisting of five questions, was used in gathering the information from the managers.
3.5 DURATION OF THE PROJECT
Families of the unemployed juvenile delinquents were visited at their homes between November,1995 and January 1996. Identified institutions and organisations were also visited during this period. Each interview was given two hours.
3.6 CONCLUSION
The first step in research is to determine which individuals or groups or other social systems will be involved in the study, namely unemployed juvenile delinquents, their parents or guardians. This is a sample comprised of subjects. Once a sample is selected, it must be determined what information is required and when it is to be obtained. Different ways of obtaining this information has been described and made relevant to this study. The next chapter will be on the presentation and analysis of the data obtained. Page 48.
CHAPTER 4
4. PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1 INTRODUCTION
Craft and Askling (1985), define data as a set of numbers that represents categories or instances of variables. According to Schurink and Schurink quoted by Davids (1992) there is a continuous interplay between the analysis of data and other steps involved in qualitative research: the one cannot really be separated from the other. Data analysis is seen as a continuous process which lasts throughout the research process.
In this chapter the presentation and analysis of the data, which is to be systematically linked to the format of the interview schedule (attached Annexure A) that was used in the assessment of needs for the unemployed juvenile will be given. The format used to gather information from the identified institutions running programmes for the unemployed (attached as Annexure C) will follow afterwards.
4.2 IDENTIFYING PARTICULARS OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS: Page 49 4.2.1 Age of the Unemployed Juvenile Delinquents:
Table 4.1 Age distribution of the unemployed juvenile delinquents
Frequency
14 15 16 17 18 Age Distribution
From the above table it can be gathered that most of the twenty unemployed youth used in this study were fifteen years old. There was only one youth who was eighteen years old.
4.2.2 Sex distribution of the unemployed juvenile delinquents:
All the unemployed juvenile delinquents used in this study were boys.
4.2.3 Religious denomination of the families of the unemployed juvenile delinquents: Page 50
Table 4.2: Religious Denominations of respondents
Name of the Church: Frequency:
African Church 1 Anglican Church 2 Apostolic Church in Zion 2 Assemblies of God 1 Faith Mission 2 Holy Spirit Church 1 Lutheran Church 1 N G Church 1 St Emmanuel Church 3 Roman Catholic Church 1 St Phillips Church 1 Twelve Apostolic Church in Zion 2 Zion Christian Church 2
20
It is clear from the above that the respondents come from a vast number of different denominations.
4.2.4 Occupations of the unemployed juvenile delinquents:
As it was a criteria for the sample in this study, all the juvenile delinquents that were used were unemployed.
4.2.5 Home language of the unemployed juvenile delinquents Page 51 Table 4.3 : Language used by the Respondents
5
4
Frequency 3
2
1 Afrikaans Tswana S.Sotho Zulu Xhosa Language distribution
According to this table, the most unemployed juvenile delinquents were found amongst the Xhosa and Zulu speaking youths, followed by the Tswana and South Sotho, and then the Afrikaans speaking youths.
4.3 FAMILY COMPOSITION OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS
4.3.1 Parents:
Table 4.4: Parents of the unemployed juvenile delinquents and their occupation status MOTHER OCCUPATIONAL FATHER OCCUPATIONAL FREQUENCY STATUS STATUS 1 deceased 1 unemployed 1 2 employed 2 unemployed 2 3 unemployed 3 employed 1 4 employed 4 employed 4 5 deserted 5 deserted 2 6 deceased 6 employed 2 7 divorced 7 employed 1 8 deserted 8 employed 2 9 deserted 9 unemployed 2 10 deceased 10 deceased 2 11 unemployed 11 unemployed 1
20 Page 52 As can be seen from the above table, only four of the twenty unemployed juvenile delinquents used in this study are from families where both parents are employed, and five from families where one of the parents is employed. The others are all from families where both parents are either deceased, unemployed or have deserted.
Table 4.5: Marital Status of Parents
MARITAL STATUS FREQUENCY Married 6 Single (never married) 6 Deceased (both) 2 Widows and widowers 4 Divorced
Therefore the table shows that of the twenty unemployed juvenile delinquents, six come from families of married parents, six have got parents whc never married, two come from families where both parents are deceased, two have parents who have divorced and four live with one of the remaininc parents after the death of the other parent.
4.3.2 Siblings:
Table 4.6: Number and Age of Siblings
AGE CATEGORY BROTHERS SISTERS 0 - 5 1 5 6 - 10 1 4 11 - 15 10 7 16 - 20 27 3 21 - 25 7 2 26 - 30 0 2 31 - 35 1 3
47 26 Page 53 The total number of brothers of brothers of the unemployed juvenile delinquents that were used in this study were 47 and 26 sisters. Their age categories ranged from 3 to 35 years old.
Table 4.7: Occupational Status of Brothers of the . Unemployed Juvenile Delinquents
24 21 20 18 15 Frequency 12 11 9 6 2 1 1 1 I-1 r-1 r-1 F-1 Scholar Unemployed Employed Where- Imprisoned Stay Pre- abouts with School unknown rela- tives Occupational Status
As can be seen from the above table, twenty two of the brothers of the unemployed juvenile delinquents are still attending school, eleven are unemployed, five employed, two's whereabouts are unknown, one is imprisoned, one is of pre-school age and one is staying with relatives. Page 54 Table 4.8: Occupational Status of the Sisters of Unemployed Juvenile Delinquents
12 12
10
Frequency
fl Scholar Pre-school Unemployed Employed Occupational Status
From the above table it can be noted that twelve sisters of the unemployed juvenile delinquents are still attending school, five are of pre-school age, five are unemployed and four are employed.
4.4 Referral of the Unemployed Juvenile Delinquent to the Social Worker
Table 4.9: Distribution of Refferals of the Unemployed Juvenile - Delinquent to the Social Worker
WHO REFERRED THE JUVENILE AND'WHY FREQUENCY
Found guilty of theft, referred by prosecutor for pre-sentence report 7
Charged with theft, referred by prosecuter for pre-trial assessment 7
Reported by mother for truancy and uncontrollable behaviour 2
WHO REPORTED THE JUVENILE AND WHY FREQUENCY Page 55 Reported by grandmother for truancy and uncontrollable behaviour 1 Reported by both parents for uncon- trollable behaviour 1 Found guilty of murder and robbery and referred by the prosecuter for a pre- sentence report 1 Found (guilty of house breaking and referred by the prosecuter for a pre- sentence report 1
■■■ 20
It is clear from the above table that 75% of the unemployed youths were found guilty of either theft or house breaking, and were referred to the social worker either for a pre-trial assessment or a pre-sentence report.
4.5 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
None of the unemployed juvenile delinquents involved in this study attended school at the time of the survey, although all but one was under the age of 18 as indicated earlier.
4.6 STANDARD ATTENDED BY THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT AT THE TIME WHEN HE LEFT SCHOOL Table 4.10:
STANDARD FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE Standard 1 2 10% Standard 2 5 25% Standard 3 2 10% Standard 4 2 10% Standard 5 2 10% Standard 6 2 10% Standard 7 1 5% Standard 8 2 10% Never attended school 2 10% 20 TO%
Page 56 Therefore, seventy five percent of the twenty unemployed juvenile delinquents used in this study never attended school up to secondary school level.
4.7 REASONS GIVEN BY THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT FOR DECISION TO LEAVE SCHOOL
Table 4.11:
REASONS GIVEN HY THE JUVENILE FOR FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE LEAVING SCHOOL Could not go on with his studies due to finance 10 50% He did not want to repeat the class and be failed 1 5% Played truant and left school without reasons 4 20% Not happy about the treatment received from stepfather with lack
of support from mother 2 10% . Expelled as a result of truancy and misbehaviour 10% The youth had a dispute with the class teacher and then decided to leave school 1 5%
20 100%
It is clear from the above table that 50% of the twenty unemployed juvenile delinquents in this study left school for financial reasons.
4.8 STEPS TAKEN BY THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND EMPLOYMENT
Eleven of the unemployed juvenile delinquents involved in this study did contact the local shops, factories and the Page 57 Eleven of the unemployed juvenile delinquents involved in this study did contact the local shops, factories and the Department of Manpower to find employment, but were not successful. Nine of them never attempted to find employment.
4.9 PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY RESPONDENTS IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT
All the unemployed juvenile delinquents who attempted to find employment could not be employed as they did not have the skills required for the work they wanted.
4.10 ACTIVITIES OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS EVER SINCE THEY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT
One of the unemployed juvenile delinquents worked as a farm labourer for some time before he left to become a street kid. One joined friends and got himself involved in stealing and breaking into peoples houses. Eight idled about in town and street corners. Two sold apples at the taxi rank. One resorted to drugs. One resorted to gambling and pick-pocketing. One moved about begging for food and eating food out of dustbins. One resorted to being a streetkid, and the other one cleaned cars in parking areas. One worked as a garden boy. Two resorted to gambling for living. It is, therefore, clear that most of the unemployed juvenile delinquents resorted to different types of undesirable behaviour when they experienced problems in finding employment.
4.11 STEPS TAKEN BY THE FAMILY OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT IN HELPING HIM TOWARDS CORRECTING HIS BEHAVIOUR
Fifty percent of the families of the unemployed juvenile delinquents did not take any steps in helping them towards correcting their behaviour. In one instance nothing could be done as both parents were deceased. Attempts were made Page 58 by parents of four unemployed juveniles to punish them and force them back to school. One was punished and referred to the social worker for further assistance. One was referred by the grandmother to the psychiatrist for psychological assessment. One was changed to another school but continued playing truant. Parents of one juvenile could not be involved as their whereabout were unknown. One was sent to a boarding school but came back.
4.12 FAMILY HISTORY OF SIBLINGS OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT
Of the twenty unemployed juvenile delinquents involved in this study, eleven are the only ones who are unemployed. One has got a brother who is serving a prison sentence for theft. Two have brothers who are unemployed but who do not display behavioural problems.
Two have brothers who are unemployed and who do have behavioural problems.
One has a brother and a sister who are unemployed and who do not display behavioural problems. One has got an uncle who is unemployed but does not display behavioural problems.
One has got two brothers who are unemployed and who displays behavioural problems and both his parents are unemployed.
In conclusion, from the above, about 55% of the unemployed juveniles are from families where they are the only ones who are unemployed and 25% have members of the family who are also unemployed and who display behavioural problems of some kind. Page 59
4.13 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT'S MEMBERSHIP TO ANY ORGANISATION IN THE COMMUNITY
Of the twenty unemployed juvenile delinquents involved in this study, sixteen do not belong to any organisation in the community, two belong to a football club and two to a gang.
4.14 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT'S ABUSE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL
Twelve of the twenty unemployed juvenile delinquents involed in this study abuse alcohol and drugs, and eight of them do not abuse either.
4.15 THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT'S SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM
Table 4.12 : Frequency Distribution on Requirement for Dealing with the Problem
REQUIREMENT FOR HANDLING FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE THE PROBLEM Money 1 5% Parental support/guidance 2 10% Social work services/ counselling 4 20% Community work services/ skills 13 65%
It is clear from the above table that 65% of the youth involved in this study could be helped through skills training.
4.16 DATA OBTAINED FROM IDENTIFIED INSTITUTIONS RUNNING PROGRAMMES USED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN THE WEST RAND: Page 60 Of all organisations catering for youths in Mohlakeng, Bekkersdal and Kagiso, only two institutions were identified as being the only ones in the west Rand running programmes for the unemployed juveniles. The two institutions were visited on 8 January 1996 and each was given two hours for interviews. The discussion will be linked to the format that was used for gathering data.
4.16.1 Identifying details:
Name of the institution: Reef Training Centre.
Entrance requirements: A student must display a badic degree of literacy and an understanding of English, on assessment. All students are expected to contribute towards the cost of this training by paying a subsidised fee of 815,00 per day or R75,00 per week. Fees are paid in advance. Training manuals and stationery are included in the above fees.
What type of programmes are offered by the institutions: 1. Building Industry: brick and block laying (fifteen weeks) plastering (eleven weeks) tiling (two weeks) paving (one week) plumbing (nine weeks) trade test preparation (six weeks) glazing (nine weeks) maintenance handyman (fifteen weeks)
2. Electrical and automotive industry: electrical house wiring (nine weeks) domestic appliance repairs (five weeks) Page 61 petrol/diesel mechanic (six weeks) autobody repair (twenty weeks) basic auto electrician (six weeks) auto electrician advance (three times six weeks) trade test preparation (two to six weeks) arc welding (three weeks) gas welding and cutting (three weeks)
3. Educational development: one up business course (one week) literacy course (two weeks)
4. Others: motor mechanics carpentry auto electrician panel beating spray painting business skills d. How accessible is the institution to the community:
Students can be accommodated in the centre for the duration of their training period. Accommodation is limited to seventy students at a time. Students are required to make reservations before commencement of studies.
Accommodation includes three daily meals and the fees are:
R25,00 per day R125 per five days R175,00 per seven days Page 62 A private bus service is available to these students who are travelling home for R8,00 per day and R40,00 per week.
e. How is the effectiveness of the programme determined:
On completion of the course the students are often assisted to find employment according to the skills obtained, and a follow up on their progress is done.
4.16.2 Identifying details:
Name of the institution: Chamdor Taining Centre.
Entrance requirements: the student must be a South African citizen he must be unemployed he must have at least a standard 6 students are not expected to pay a fee an allowance of R40,00 per week is given to the student for travelling from home to the institution
c. What type of programmes are offered by the institution: bricklaying (three weeks) carpentry (three weeks) plumbing (three weeks) electrical contract ( 1 by 2 - three weeks) electric appliance repair (three to eight weeks) welding (eight weeks) boiler making (three weeks) gas welding (eight weeks) Page 63 petrol pump attendant combined with car washing (three weeks) basic motor repairs (three weeks) shop assistant (six weeks)
How accessible is the institution to the community: There is transport travelling from each of the three communities, arranged by the centre for students.
How is the effectiveness of the programme determined: Students are not always assisted to find employment and they do not follow up so as to ensure that the skills obtained are used profitably. Material is sometimes given to the student as a start up.
4.16.3 Conclusion:
As can be seen from the two institutions, criteria used for admission require that students must display a basic degree of literacy and an understanding of English, or should have at least Standard 6. A contribution towards the cost of their training is required by the Reef Training Centre. Students have to travel from their respective communities to the two centres, or have to pay for their accommodation at the Reef Training Centre. Both institutions provide training that leads to job placement or development of home industries.
4.17 SUMMARY
Most of the unemployed juvenile delinquents used in this study come from single parent families or from families Page 64 where both or either of the parents are deceased or have deserted. The majority of families used were found to consist of parents who were either unemployed, deserted or deceased. Most of the unemployed juveniles were, as a result, forced to leave school due to financial problems. The majority of them left school before they reached Standard 6.
As a result of this, a high percentage of the unemployed juveniles involved in this study do not qualify for admission to the two identified institutions. Page 65
CHAPTER 5
5. INTERPRETATION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to investigate the needs of unemployed youth in the West Rand, and to make recommendations regarding the appropriate action to be taken to address these needs in order to break the unemployment crime cycle. The objectives underlying these aims being:
To assess the needs of the unemployed youth in Mohlakeng, Kagiso and Bekkersdal. To identify the existing programmes. To identify the gaps in addressing this problem and to make recommendations in this regard.
In an attempt to achieve the first objective, literature was used to construct an interview schedule and interviews were conducted with the unemployed juvenile delinquents, their parents or guardians. In an attempt to achieve the second objective information was gathered through interviewing the Project Managers from each institution. All this data was presented in Chapter 4 and will be interpreted in the next session in an attempt to achieve the third objective.
5.2 INTERPRETATION OF DATA THAT WAS GATHERED FROM THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE THAT WAS USED IN ASSESSING THE NEEDS OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINGUENTS IN MOHLAKENG, KAGISO AND BEKKERSDAL: Page 66 In this study, unemployment can be interpreted as a recurring problem, as only 20% of the unemployed juvenile delinquents used for this study came from families where both their parents were employed. Of the remaining 80%, either or both parents are unemployed, deserted the home or is deceased.
The implication of unemployment for poverty was found to be obvious. Fifty percent of the unemployed juvenile delinquents in this study left school for financial reasons, and 80% left school before they reached,standard 6. Some of the parents could not react when their children left school, as they were financially unable to meet their educational requirements. As stated by Johnson and Swartz (1988), poverty is a serious 'social problem that contributes to the inability of individuals to meet their basic needs. Poverty and unemployment are considered by some authors as identical twins, when one is unemployed he will be poor.
From this study, as stated by Janonker (1987, p 7), it can be concluded that unemployment is responsible for crime and disorder which leads to juvenile delinquency. Seventy five percent of the unemployed juvenile delinquents used in this study were referred to the social workers after being found guilty of theft, house breaking and in other instances murder and robbery.
All of the unemployed juvenile delinquents included in this study were forced to leave school without any skills or trade. In order to break the unemployment crime cycle in the West Rand, the unemployed juvenile delinquent involved in this study needs money, parental guidance or support, social work services or counselling, community work services or skills. ■
Page 67. In order to look into this, different organisations in the studied community were contacted, and two institutions were identified as the ones running programmes for the unemployed youth in the West Rand.
5.3 INTERPRETATION OF DATA GATHERED FROM IDENTIFIED INSTITUTIONS RUNNING PROGRAMMES FOR THE UNEMPLOYED YOUTH
As discussed in Chapter 4, both institutions require that a student should be able to display a basic degree of literacy and an understanding of English, or at least have a Standard 6 certificate in order to qualify for admission into either of them. This implies that the student must be able to undertand the media through which presentations are given as well as the content of the presented matter.
Both institutions run skills training programmes that are aimed at preparing the youth for job opportunities and experiences as well as self-management programmes that prepare the youth for self-employment.
Both institutions are made accessible to the three communities in one way or the other. Transport arrangements have been made by both institutions to travel from the three communities to the institutions. The Reefs Training Centre has accommodation facilities for the students.
There are, however, gaps identified from the two institutions in addressing problems of the unemployed juvenile delinquents involved in this study, namely:
5.3.1 Most of the juveniles involved in this study do not qualify for admission to these institutions due to the fact that they left school before they reached Standard 6 and are not able to display a
Page 68 basic degree of literacy and an understanding of English.
5.3.2 Most of them were forced to leave school as a result of financial problems, hence will not be able to afford the fees required by the Reefs Training Centre.
5.3.3 Both institutions are outside the three communities used in this study, so most of the people do not know about them.
5.3.4 The two institutions are not enough to provide for the alarming increase of youth unemployement in the West Rand.
5.4 CONCLUSION
From this study, it can be concluded that most of the unemployed juvenile delinquents were forced to leave school as a result of poverty, caused by unemployment. None of these youths had acquired any form of trade or skills. Due to their lack of skills and work experience they experienced problems in finding employment. As a result of this, they started roaming about with nothing to do. This lead to their involvement in different types of criminal activities. Some got arrested and were referred to the social workers and some were referred by the parents. Unemployment can, therefore, be seen as a social problem which needs collective intervention.
Snyman 1993, p4 said that the creation of work is the best way of helping the already poor and of preventing or combating poverty on the macro level. Vosloo, 1991, on the other hand considers that entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises are the answer to unemployment and to revitalising the economy. Page 69 The economic and social upliftment in South Africa and the establishment of groups for youths is one way in which communities can be uplifted.
According to treasury approval TZ1/20 of 18 November 1992, the youth groups may qualify for financial support by submitting a social welfare programme.
According to the Reconstruction and Development Programme, 1994, p 73, high rates of youth unemployment requires special programmes. Programmes should not just be seen as a -job creation measure, but as youth development and capacity building.
Youth development must focus more generally on education and training and on enabling young people to realise their full potential and participate fully in their society.
5.6 RECOMMENDATION
With the present emphasis by the DepartMent of Population and Development, that Social Workers be involved in the Provincial Plan of Action for children in South Africa, it is recommended that Social Workers should make use of available resources and funds by starting skills training programmes for the unemployed juveniles in their respective communities. These programames should be directed to development of skills that will lead to income generation or job placement. With skills and a certificate it would not be difficult for the unemployed juvenile to find employment or to start his own business.
For preventative services, Social Workers should involve the youth, teachers, parents and the community in starting self management programmes, that will commit the youth to his school work as well as the programme for self Page 70 development. Arrangements could also be made with training institutions for holiday placement of students. Page 71
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INTERVIEW SCHEDULE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE
DELINQUENT/PARENT OR GUARDIAN
IDENTIFYING PARTICULARS OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE
DELINQUENT?
1.1 AGE
1.2 SEX
1.3 RELIGION
1.4 OCCUPATION
1.5 HOME LANGUAGE
FAMILY COMPOSITION OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT?
2.1 FATHER OCCUPATION
2.2 MOTHER OCCUPATION
2.3 BROTHERS & SISTERS OCCUPATION
2.4 OTHERS
MARITAL STATUS OF PARENTS?
WHO REFERRED THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT TO THE
SOCIAL WORKER AND FOR WHAT REASON?
5. DOES THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT ATTEND SCHOOL? PAGE 2
IN WHAT STANDARD WAS THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT
WHEN HE/SHE LEFT SCHOOL?
WHAT REASONS DID THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT GIVE
WHEN HE/SHE DECIDED TO LEAVE SCHOOL?
WHAT STEPS DID THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT TAKE IN
ATTEMPTING TO FIND EMPLOYMENT?
WHAT PROBLEMS DID THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DEUNQUENT
EXPERIENCED IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT? .
WHAT HAS THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT BEEN DOING
EVER SINCE HE/SHE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS IN FINDING
EMPLOYMENT?
WHAT STEPS DID THE FAMILY OF THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE
DELINQUENT TAKE IN HELPING HIM/HER TOWARDS CORRECTING HIS/HER
BEHAVIOUR?
IS THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT THE ONLY CHILD AT
HIS/HER HOME WHO IS UNEMPLOYED AND DISPLAYS BEHAVIOURAL
PROBLEMS?
DOES THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DEUNQUENT BELONG TO ANY
ORGANISATION IN THE COMMITTEE?
3/... PAGE 3
DOES THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE DELINQUENT ABUSE DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL?
WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, DO YOU THINK THE UNEMPLOYED JUVENILE
DELINQUENT NEEDS IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM? ANNEXURE B
LETTER TO PARENTS
Department of Welfare & Population Development PO Box 6518 Green Hills 1629
Tel: 692 - 3813
Dear Parent
I am a social worker employed by the Department of Welfare and Population Development, stationed at Randfontein. I am at present studying for a Post Graduate Degree at Rand Afrikaanse University. I am conducting a study on the needs of unemployed youth on the West Rand.
The caseload of social worker s employed by the Department of Welfare and Population Development has been used to identify respondents for this study. Your family has been selected, and you are therefore humbly requested to please participate in this study.
Your family's assistance and co-operation in this study will 'enable the researcher to investigate the needs of unemployed youths on the West Rand and to make recommendations regarding appropriate actions to address these needs in order to brake the unemployment - crime cycle. All that is expected of your is to answer questions that will be asked.
I wish to ensure your that the information requested in your interview will be treated confidentially by the researcher.
If you agree all the interviews will be conducted in your home within the next few days.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
a 4914 .1/ Lc SARAH MARIBE
GAOFFICEISARAH-MA ANNEXURE C
IDENTIFIED INSTITUTIONS RUNNING PROGRAMMES USED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN THE WEST RAND
IDENTIFYING DETAILS
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAMMES ARE OFFERED BY THE INSTITUTION?
HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THE INSTITUTION TO THE COMMUNITY?
HOW IS THE EFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAMMES DETERMINED?