Browsing by Author "Holtzhausen, Leon"

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    An exploration of ‘Gurans' phenomena: The face of Youth Violence in Khayelitsha Township
    (2022) Mguzulwa, Sisanda Millicent; Holtzhausen, Leon; Kubeka, Khosi
    Youth violence has been troubling the South African society ever since the country's transition to democracy in 1994. Although the problem has been a countrywide phenomenon, certain provinces and cities, predominantly black inhabited townships in the City of Cape Town, have been most afflicted by the new form of youth violence, code-named ‘Gurans'. Cases of Gurans-related violence first appeared in the City of Cape Town's townships around the year 2000 and have exponentially increased. Of these townships, Khayelitsha has been the most afflicted. While there has been significant scholarly attention to this new form of violence, little has been done to expose the finer grains of the factors that cause the problem. Moreso, little attention has been channelled towards documenting the perspectives and feelings of the perpetrators, victims, school children, community members, and educators working in those communities. Lack of such detailed investigations has derailed its eradication. As such, the aim of this study was to proffer new understandings on how youth-related violence have suddenly morphed into the new Gurans phenomenon and how this has affected the community of Khayelitsha in its entirety. This study therefore highlights the centrality of the theories of Social Identity and Violentisation to analysing and understanding violence among youths in contemporary South Africa. A qualitative research design was applied, involving eight focus group discussions with 106 affected youths, 10 interviews with crew members in Gurans, 5 educators from four different schools in Khayelitsha, and 5 community members of Khayelitsha township. This thesis documents Gurans as a new type of youth violence with specific focus on its meaning, causes, effects, as well as the issues and key players that have been involved in its sustenance. This study culminates in policy implications and initiatives that take on board how the violent youths, families, communities and government must conduct themselves to alleviate the problem. It is further suggested the most critical step necessary in the quest to eradicate the scourge of youth violence from communities is for the society to first understand the personal experiences of youth living in malignant communities, which encourages youth to become violent and to associate with violent groups. Such an approach will help to understand the underlying circumstances on why more youth are turning to violence, why they are devising new methods to mete such violence and as well as the broad effects of the violence.
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    An exploratory study on the perceptions and experiences the of adolescent males about gender-based violence in their families and communities
    (2025) Banzana, Mihlali; Holtzhausen, Leon
    Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global phenomenon that affects many women and children across all cultures, races, and socio-economic circumstances. This phenomenon also impacts survivors' physical and psychological wellbeing as a direct result of the abuse and as the body responds to the trauma. Understanding the context in which young males recognise and view GBV is important as it will refine the effectiveness of intervention programmes so that these youths' worldview can be shifted despite the fact that society often expects that males use violence as part of conflict management in social settings. Framed through the lens of the social constructionist view of gender and the ecological systems theory, the study is aimed at understanding how socialisation takes place in families and communities play a role in shaping young men's views and perceptions about GBV. The study sampled 16 young males aged between 18 and 25 years from various townships in Gqeberha. Using the qualitative exploratory approach, a semi-structured interview schedule was utilized, leading to the rich collection of data. All interviews were transcribed manually using Microsoft Office. During data analysis, 3 major themes emerged: contributing factors of gender-based violence in the household, the effects of gender-based violence on individuals, families and communities, and proposed intervention plans. Results indicated that young males realise that GBV is a form of cruelty against humanity. Factors impacting the perpetrator including violent socialisation, violent coaching by peers, the use of substances and their emotion regulation thereby impacting their personality traits. The results further indicated that communities have accepted violence as a part of their daily lives, and this has created a despondence in efforts to reducing violence. Proposed interventions included addressing gender inequality, the establishment of supportive social systems for both perpetrators and survivors, and community education to assist in maintaining the change.
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    Challenges And Perceptions Of Social Service Professionals On The Effectiveness Of Gender Based Violence Services And Programmes In Cape Town
    (2023) Nojilana, Somila; Holtzhausen, Leon
    Gender-based violence is an umbrella term which refers to harm that is inflicted on a victim by a perpetrator because of the victim's gender. It is a concern globally and in South Africa. Studies conducted in South Africa indicate that the country has the highest report of genderbased violence cases globally, the level of intimate femicide in South Africa is 5 times more than the global average. This research focuses on exploring the challenges experienced and the effectiveness of services and programmes offered to gender based violence victims from the perspective of social service professionals namely social workers and social auxiliary workers who play a pivotal role in service provision. Previous research fails to address challenges social services professionals encounter which prohibit them to provide quality services to clients. The research uses the informed experiences of social workers and social auxiliary workers who work as mediators between clients and external government resources. The aim of this qualitative, exploratory research was to understand how gender-based violence programmes and services can be improved by highlighting challenges which form barrier to ideal service provision. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was utilised to recruit and explore social service professionals from the NGO sector in Cape Town over 5 communities namely Hout Bay, Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Mooresburg and Paarl. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews and analysed by means of a thematic analysis.
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    Child disruptive behaviour problems, problem perception and help-seeking behaviour
    (2017) Stadler, Sophia; Holtzhausen, Leon
    Disruptive behaviour problems in early childhood are found to be associated with many negative long-term outcomes, such as antisocial behaviour, adolescent delinquency, and substance abuse (Kellam, Werthamer-Larsson & Dolan (1991), as cited in Butler, 2005:1). Even after adolescence this arises, for, as Vogel (2008:16) states the 'frequency of behavioural problems or challenging behaviour among the youth of today often predicts the size of our future prison population'. These findings clearly highlight the importance of early identification of behavioural problems, adequate preventative intervention (Butler, 2005:1) and the necessity for early intervention to prevent their continuity, since behaviour problems are found to worsen without treatment (Loeber, 1982, cited in Butler, 2005:1). The goal of this study is to gain an understanding of disruptive behaviour in primary school learners. To achieve this goal, the objectives of this are to explore the nature of child disruptive behaviour problems; to explore parents and teachers' problem perception of child disruptive behaviour; to explore the problem threshold of parents and teachers toward child disruptive behaviour; and to explore their help-seeking behaviour. The study's aim, therefore, is to better understand and gain more insight in child disruptive behaviour problems before a threshold is reached by parents and teachers and help is sought from social service professionals. The study uses an exploratory qualitative research design to gain insight into child disruptive behaviour problems, problem perceptions and help-seeking behaviour in the Southern Cape Karoo District in the Western Cape. Child disruptive behaviour patterns were analysed along a three-point continuum (from less severe - 'preventative'; to moderate - 'early intervention'; and most severe - 'statutory') based, on problem perceptions of parents, teachers and social service professionals. In addition, the present study examines parents and teachers' problem thresholds to identify help-seeking behaviour and sources. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants according to appropriation and availability. Parents and teachers were contacted to participate voluntarily in the research from schools in the area - Acacia Primary School, Baartmansfontein Primary School, Buffelsriver Private Primary School and Matjiesfontein Primary School. The social service professionals who participated consisted of social workers, social auxiliary workers and police officials from the Department of Social Development, Child Welfare SA and the South African Police Service. The study consisted of a broad range of child ages and parental ages. Parent participants also included biological and foster parents. Data was gathered by means of a semi-structured interview schedule administered during 24 individual interviews. The schedule is based on information obtained from the literature review relevant to the models and theories selected. Previous research done by Jessica Hankinson in 2009 in America on child psychopathology, parental problem perception, and help-seeking behaviours was used as a reference for creating the data collection tool, since she also focused on child behavioural problems and used similar models in the theories. This tool was created in such a way as to be relevant to the South African context. The findings confirmed the serious nature of child disruptive behaviour amongst primary school learners, including abusive behaviour, assault, bullying, fighting, swearing, theft, criminal involvement, substance abuse, truancy and school dropouts. The participants were found to be able to perceive their child's problem behaviour and to perceive themselves to be competent parents in dealing with disruptive behaviour. Child disruptive behaviour was found to have a significant effect on classroom learning. Despite legislation banning this, the participants still resort to punitive corrective measures. Stigma related to professional services and the privacy of the family are found to be very relevant in help-seeking efforts. This lead to the conclusion that child disruptive behaviour may become a normal and acceptable phenomenon, and thus leads to late reporting - and social services being contacted only as a last resort. The most important recommendation resulting from the study indicates that there is a need for prevention and early intervention services for child disruptive behaviour. This should address the escalation of the behaviour that later results in the need for statutory services. The study further indicates that various sectors (social workers, teachers, community structures and the departments) need to collaborate and form partnerships in order to enhance the early reporting of children in need and the accessibility and availability of services rendered in rural areas. This could enhance the early identification, reporting and service delivery in order to find problem resolutions.
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    Developmental and life-course pathways for antisocial behaviour among young adults in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (2021) Campbell, Emma; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The aim of this quantitative research project was to explore developmental and life-course theories explaining antisocial behaviour among 413 young adults in the Western Cape, South Africa. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data among 135 youth from lower income communities in Cape Town. A further 278 responses were collected from undergraduate students from the University of Cape Town. The questionnaire included 6 psychological assessment tools that measured childhood adversity, deviant and anti-social behaviours, cognitions, and attitudes as well as pro-social functioning. The responses to the scales were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25, in attempts to answer four key research questions. The four research questions were centred around exploring childhood adversity, anti/pro social behaviours, and five different developmental and life-course theories within a South African context. The results showed that deviant behaviours increased as adverse childhood experiences increased, with physical neglect, witnessing domestic violence, and household incarceration as particularly strong risk factors. The findings also showed that some of the key features of each of the five theories in question could generally be applied to South African youth. Furthermore, there was evidence in this study that adaptive coping was linked to more prosocial attitudes, albeit the correlations were not particularly strong. Finally, findings suggested some issues with the validity of the assessment scales for deviance, antisocial and prosocial functioning in the South African context. This highlights a need for more research into context-specific and culturally relevant assessment scales in South Africa.
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    Doing “Life”: An Exploratory Study of the Experiences and Implications of Incarceration on Life-Serving Offenders
    (2022) Gweba, Ntombizanele; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The Department of Correctional Services in South Africa currently incarcerates more than 160,000 offenders, which is ranked ninth in the world and the highest in Africa. The number of life-serving offenders increased from 433 in 1995 to 13,847 in 2014. This constitutes a psycho-social burden on both offenders, their families and society as a whole. Despite this, very little scholarly research has been conducted on the lived experiences of life-sentenced offenders. This study seeks to address this by exploring the realities, experiences, and implications of serving a life sentence among offenders in the Department of Correctional Services. Using a representative voluntary sample of sixteen male life-serving offenders, a qualitative, exploratory approach using semistructured schedules for face-to-face interviews was conducted at Voorberg Correctional Centre in the Western Cape of South Africa. The findings reveal high levels of trauma and mental health challenges being faced daily by those sentenced to life imprisonment. Subsequently, high levels of hopelessness, helplessness, and fear were identified among participants. The study also identified the role of gangs in a correctional facility and overcrowding as a significant obstacle that life-serving offenders are confronted with and that impact their mental health. This study provides a comprehensive set of recommendations involving the cooperation and coordination of all criminal justice stakeholders. Additionally, there is a need for the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to prioritise the strengthening of human resources, including professionals, provide resources, increase vocational training opportunities for offenders and improve infrastructure within correctional centres. The study concludes that not enough is known about the challenges faced by life sentence offenders and considerably more research needs to be carried out.
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    Engagement/involvement of staff from public medical Institutions with pregnant women experiencing intimate partner violence - a systematic review of African & South African literature
    (2025) Adams, Faseegah; Artz, Lillian; Holtzhausen, Leon
    This study explores how staff at public health care institutions respond to intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by pregnant women living in South Africa and Africa. This study aimed to investigate what protocols/pathways staff at public health care institutions (PHCI) use to identify, screen, report, record and refer instances of IPV. The motivation for this study was to bring awareness of IPV during pregnancy. Since learning the high statistics of IPV during pregnancy, the researcher was prompted to investigate what PHCI are doing to identify, screen, report, record and refer cases of IPV. In addition, the researcher hopes that this research can facilitate policy development for staff at PHCI on how best to respond to pregnant women experiencing IPV. The methodology used in this study was a systematic literature review, that reviewed 14 qualitative journal articles. PICo was used to identify the study participants, the Cochrane systematic review methodology was used and the PRISMA flow diagram. Using thematic analysis, the researcher used Dey and Tesch to analyse the data. The findings indicate that there are no pathways/protocols for identifying, screening, reporting recording and refereeing instances of IPV in South Africa or Africa. There were also no direct policies or frameworks established at PHCI to manage intimate violence during pregnancy. The research identifies some of the main barriers/challenges to IPV enquiry which are lack of privacy at public health care institutions, training and awareness of IPV during pregnancy, staff agency, staff safety and cultural beliefs. These results contribute to the research regarding how PHCI in South Africa and Africa respond to IPV. Thus shifting focus away from the criminal justice system and more toward PHCI as IPV during pregnancy has grave health implications. This study provides new insights on how to build and improve protocol/pathways at PHCI. This study highlights the daily challenges that staff at PHCI face when enquiring about IPV. It concludes by discussing how The National Council on Gender-Based Violence Femicide can use information on the challenges/barriers to enquiry to achieve the goals and aims set out in The National Strategy Plan addressing gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa and Africa.
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    An evaluation of the effectiveness of the institutional mechanism to manage substance abuse in South Africa
    (2014) Whiting, Sean Allen; Holtzhausen, Leon
    This mixed method study of the effectiveness of the management of substance abuse in South Africa explored the way policies are formulated and implemented. A governance lens used coordination and public participation as indicators to measure the efficacy of the coordinating substance abuse structures (the Central Drug Authority, Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees) to implement the National Drug Master Plan 2006-2011. Coordinated governance, which include empowerment and resourcing of structures at the provincial and municipal levels will be helpful to provide necessary resources, expertise and skills to the "whole of society" for the implementation of future strategies.
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    Examining the level of Empathy of second-year Bachelors of Social Work Students at a South African University making use of the Empathy Assessment Index
    (2019) Louw, Alexander; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The aim of this study was to examine the level of empathy of second-year Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) students using the Empathy Assessment Index (EAI), and the findings were contextualised within the South African social work training policies. The Social Work Model of Empathy and the social cognitive neuroscientific definition of empathy the EAI was built on, forms the guiding theoretical frame for this study. It is often assumed that social work students have adequate levels of empathy and this research study was a first step in determining if this was correct. This has contributed to the discussion on social work education, specifically if more direct instruction or policy changes may be necessary concerning empathy in social work training. The researcher utilised a quantitative research methodology in conjunction with the Empathy Assessment Index in order to collect the data. Univariate descriptive data analysis was used in order to illustrate the findings in a logical and understandable format. The research was conducted using second-year BSW students (n=40) from a Western Cape University and the study found that the respondents had an overall high level of empathy. However, the component score for Emotional Regulation was fairly low. This, according to the literature, could prevent a person from accessing the full benefits of an empathic experience. It was recommended that universities consider implementing more direct methods to train and increase empathic ability. Furthermore, considering how new the study of empathy is to social work in South Africa, it was also recommended that further studies are required for better implementation of the construct, especially to determine what an optimal level of empathy is for a social work student
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    Examining the violentisation process and the likelihood of first time offenders becoming dangerous violent perpetrators, amongst offenders diverted from various courts in the Western Cape
    (2019) Ross, Ashleigh; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to test the Violentization process with a group of first time adult male offenders charged with Assault Common or Assault GBH diverted from various courts in the Western Cape. The results of the study were compared to that of a similar study conducted by Holtzhausen (2015) which was done on a group of male youths from two townships in the Western Cape. With regards to this study individual interviews were conducted with 50 adult male participants between the ages of 18 and 65 respectively who were charged with one of the above offences and who were found suitable for diversion. The findings revealed that there were slight differences which could be due to the fact that the results of the study done by Holtzhausen (2015) were done with individuals who had been in conflict with the law on more than one occasions and some participants had also been incarcerated, compared to the participants of this study who were first time offenders. Furthermore, the results indicated that the majority of participants showed medium exposure and thus shows that they have in fact completed at least one or more but not all of the stages of Athens (1989) theory of Violentization. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that this research and its research process and data collection tool be relooked in terms of its applicability to the South African context and further be used as an assessment tool and measurement instrument in intervention services provided to persons by social workers and probation officers in various settings, such as correctional centres, courts and NGO’s.
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    Exploring school dropout among males in the greater Cape Town area, South Africa
    (2016) Geldenhuys, Philip Rudolf; Holtzhausen, Leon; Stone, Susan
    The unofficial state of education in South Africa is announced annually by means of the Grade 12 results, also known as the National Senior Certificate. As a result, little attention is given to the more than half or at least 500 000 South African learners who drop out of the school system annually. Consequently, scholarly work dealing with topics relating to school dropout in South Africa is limited. This study moves the focus to a specific population group who are at risk of dropping out of school, namely male learners in poor communities. An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken to determine what the main factors are that are influencing school dropout among males in the greater Cape Town area of South Africa. The participants in this study included 49 key informants, including male school dropouts, teachers, school principals, representatives of the Western Cape Education Department, and parents of male school dropouts. Using in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions, it was possible to establish that male school dropout is influenced by an array of factors of which some can immediately precede departure from high school while others could have happened years earlier in primary school or even before. The thesis established in this dissertation is that most of the influences on male school dropout are primarily institutional. In other words, the underlying narrative emphasising male school dropouts as the main contributors to this outcome is misleading. Indeed, most of these influences are amplified by practices within the institutional context, especially the school. A localised theoretical framework for male school dropout in South Africa is constructed with the support of Rumberger and Lim' s (2008) conceptual framework and can be understood within the school dropout models of both Finn (1989) and Tinto (1975). Furthermore, the total absence of school dropout records and statistics on a school and local district level keeps role players unaccountable for this action. As a result, teachers, school principals and Western Cape Education Department representatives are either ignorant of or paralysed by the complexities and extent of school dropout among males. Therefore, this study aims to lay the foundation for further research to inform and empower the aforementioned role players to address this problem.
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    Exploring the perceptions of service providers on the availability and effectiveness of sexual violence interventions, services and programmes in De Aar
    (2019) Alexander, Jacoline R M; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of service providers on the availability and effectiveness of sexual violence interventions, services and programmes in De Aar. Participants were selected based on the nature of service they rendered to survivors of sexual violence. A qualitative study was conducted, using non-probability purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Data was gathered through a semi-structured interview. The study found protection services, medical and psychological interventions to be easily accessible to all survivors of sexual violence. Additional services were also found to be available to survivors of sexual violence, depending on their needs. Participants were all of the opinion that the needs of survivors were being met in De Aar. The data found the perceptions of service providers on the effectiveness of their interventions to be influenced by their adherence to regulations and training received through their organisations, in addition to personal steps taken to develop professional skills. The attitude of service providers and the co-operation of service users were found to hinder the effectiveness and consistency of prescribed interventions. Gaps found to be inherent in all organisations were lack of human and physical resources such as vehicles. Stakeholders were found to be ineffective in their communication and co-operation between stakeholders was inadequate. Challenges found to hinder help-seeking were the perceptions of the community of the South African Police Service and sexual violence in general. The survivors themselves were also identified as a barrier to intervention, as they might accept, reject or discontinue intervention without warning. Considering the aim and objective of this study, it can be concluded that there are services in place for survivors of sexual violence in De Aar. Immediate services, such as post-rape medical and legal services, are easily accessible. Follow-up and aftercare service are determined by a social worker and most organisations are effective in the services they render, despite organisational challenges and limitations.
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    Exploring the risk factors associated with youth offending behavior in Cape Town
    (2013) Mohajana, Lintle; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The study explored the risk factors associated with youth offending behaviour in Cape Town, in order to suggest, from a social development point of view, preventive measures that address the risk factors from an outset. The sample that was used consisted of twenty reforming youth offenders (fifteen males and five females) at REALISTIC, a youth restorative centre in Cape Town. The study adopted a qualitative, exploratory approach, using a semi-structured interview schedule for face to face interviews. The sample was purposive and based on the selection of the administrators of the organisation. The results of the interviews, compared with relevant literature and theoretical framework, led to the findings of the study. The findings revealed that substance abuse, academic failure, anti-social peers, low socio-economic status in families and disorganized communities influence offending behaviour among the youth. Additionally, the absence of primary care givers and institutional failures on basic services delivery also exacerbate youth offending behaviour.
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    Exploring the role of competency assessments in forensic interviewing for child victims of sex offences between five to ten years old
    (2014) Campher, J; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The following research presents an exploration on the role that competency assessments and competency reports play in child sexual abuse cases. This research is informed by forensic social workers in practice within the Gauteng Province. The respondents work both within government organisations and non-government organisations. This research uses a mixed methodology approach to explore practices around competency assessments and competency reports. The respondents completed two forms of data collection namely a survey and were part of a focus group which was conducted by the researcher. The findings therefore presents both quantitative and qualitative data, and are discussed to further elaborate on practices within the Gauteng Province. Conclusions and recommendations were made by both the researcher and the respondents, which are supported by the findings of this research and existing literature in the field.
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    Living in Nyanga: an exploratory study on resilience among violence-affected male youth from a community in Cape Town
    (2023) Dikeni, Viwe; Holtzhausen, Leon
    Violence is prevalent in contemporary South Africa and is considered one of the country's primary challenges. There are many reasons for the skyrocketing levels of violence, all of which can be seen at the individual, familial, and societal levels. Not many studies have considered the resilience of people in violent communities, particularly young people. This study aims to understand the resiliency factors of the youth of Nyanga who are not involved in crime and violence. To achieve this, the objectives were to explore the perceptions of the youth of Nyanga regarding crime in their community, the impact it has on their lives, and their views on resiliency factors that have buffered them against crime and violence. This study uses an exploratory qualitative design to delve into the resilience of youth in violent communities and learn about the various crimes committed. It identifies factors that lead youths to a life of crime and asks what keeps their peers, who do not perpetrate crime and violence, from doing the same. Furthermore, this research looks into the policies and frameworks that impact the youth. A purposive, non-probability sampling technique was used to select the participants from two local youth organisations, the Nyanga Arts Development Centre and IkamvaYouth Nyanga. Qualitative data was gathered through individual semi- structured interviews and a thematic data analysis method was applied. To ensure the trustworthiness of the study, the relevant data verification was also done. The findings of this study confirm that there are many resilient youths in violent communities faced with adversities. The participants were able to engage in the topic thoroughly, sharing their experiences and practical advice that ensured they stayed away from violence. Interpersonal relationships with family and role models in the community were seen as buffers against violence for many of the participants in the study, as they indicated that these support structures gave them perspective and helped them cope with life challenges. The most important recommendation from the study is the need for resources for the community of Nyanga to help fund mentoring programmes for young boys, sporting initiatives to keep them occupied and teach them new skills, and visible community and police patrolling. Such positive inputs will help build and protect the youth and birth resilient youth who can distinguish between what is productive and beneficial to them and others in the community, and what is not. When aiming to understand the phenomenon of youth resilience in violent communities such as the Nyanga township, a holistic approach is of paramount importance when working with the youth. Publishing and addressing the findings and recommendations of this study will aid in promoting resilient and self-sufficient youth, which in turn helps curb the rate of violence in communities such as Nyanga.
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    The interplay between historical trauma, substance use disorders, appetitive aggression and the link with violent crime among young male adults in conflict with the law in South Africa
    (2023) Whiting, Sean; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The study investigated the interplay between trauma, substance use disorders (SUDs) and appetitive aggression and its links to violent crime among a cohort of 159 young male adults (aged 25 to 34) incarcerated at George Correctional Centre in the Garden Route District in the Western Cape Province. The context of why there are high rates of violent crime in South Africa relates to various correlates, including underlying structural factors – that provide the contextual basis of the study. The cycle of violence theory provides the conceptual and theoretical framework. This dissertation hypothesises that trauma, in the form of adverse childhood experiences and adverse adult experiences, is central to male victimisation, while SUDs and appetitive aggression serve to exacerbate young males' propensity to violent crime. The assumption is that male victimisation perpetuates the cycle of violent crime in South Africa – along with other correlates. This cross-sectional study is a quantitative examination of particular predictors that predispose young adults to violent crime in South Africa. The study utilised a semistructured Survey Questionnaire. Data was collected in a classroom set-up by the Researcher assisted by Correctional Services' staff officials. Psychological measurement scales previously tested for reliability and validity were used in the questionnaire instrument. These included: Scale for Historical Trauma exposure; Scale for SUD); and Scale for Appetitive Aggression. Data analysis proceeded using SPSS software, incorporating descriptive and inferential analysis. Pearson's correlations of bivariate predictor and outcome variables provided significance measures for hypothesis tests to answer questions 1 – 3. Multiple linear regression tests (t-tests) provided the data to answer the primary question of the study: Is there interplay between trauma, substance use disorders and appetitive aggression and violent crime? The main findings of the study are that ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and adverse adult experiences is central to male victimisation and violent crime and that SUD and appetitive aggression ‘makes a bad situation worse'. The primary limitation of the study was that the sample was too small to make significant relational findings of the multivariate variables. Recommendations include that similar, national v longitudinal studies be done with larger samples – to produce improved findings and to better understand male victimisation and violent crime offending as predictors of the cycle of violence in South Africa. The Significance of the study includes inter alia to add to the body of knowledge of a broader understanding of the correlates and the interplay of predictors that perpetuate the cycle of violent crime in South Africa.
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    Will the real social worker please stand up? Defining criminal justice social work
    (Academy of Science of South Africa, 2011) Holtzhausen, Leon
    The fundamental objective of this article is to urge a change in the conventional paradigms used to define the practice of social work in the field of criminal justice, and to set in motion a conversion to a unified paradigm of criminal justice social work. A unified paradigm is used here to refer to the multidimensional and multidisciplinary practice of social work in working with both those who offend and those who are victims of crime, in order to restore harm done and prevent further offending. This text is essentially nomenclatorial in nature, meaning, it deals with the naming and defining the specialisation of criminal justice social work as distinctly different from social work in general.