OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Smit, Andre de V"

Browsing by Author "Smit, Andre de V"

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Open Access
An approach to programme evaluation in human services organisations : a case study
(1993) Meston, Andrew; Smit, Andre de V
This study examines the issue of programme evaluation and places it within the context of the Western Cape region of Operation Hunger. Data for this study was collected over a six month period of participant observation at Operation Hunger, during which time a programme evaluation model was developed and implemented. The focus of this study is not so much the evaluation model which was developed, but rather how the model developed from the theory of illuminative evaluation to the Operation Hunger Evaluation Model. In discussing and exploring this process several strands are developed. A central theme is that it is not possible to transpose theory and experience from one context to another without firstly understanding the historical specificity within which programme evaluation developed and secondly, understanding the historical context in which it is to be applied. A second strand identifies five possible evaluation approaches for use in the South African context and applies a model useful in choosing theoretical evaluation approaches for the purposes of application. A final aspect of this study indicates how the theory of the illuminative approach was interpreted and developed into the practice of the Operation Hunger Evaluation Model.
Open Access
An assessment of financial and management challenges faced by community advice offices in the Western Cape Province
(2013) Nyapisi, Thabiso; Smit, Andre de V
The period between 1960s ? 1980s saw emergence and proliferation of Community Advice Offices (CAOs) in South Africa as a response to the injustices of the apartheid regime. These small community-based organisations became crucial institutions within communities as they voiced out against discriminatory apartheid policies practised in marginalized communities at the time. So, CAOs continued to provide much-needed paralegal advice and information to members of the communities. Although the dawn of democratic South Africa presented the hope of benefits including that of access to human rights and legal assistance, the majority of South Africans still struggle to enjoy such social fruits. Thus, accessing some of those benefits has remained a challenge for the poor and those living in rural areas. Today, CAOs continue to provide paralegal assistance and information on social problems such as social grants, housing, debt, eviction, unemployment, domestic violence, pension, family matters, and labour-related matters, among others. This study was an empirical research that aimed to explore the financial and management challenges faced by CAOs in the Western Cape Province. This study employed a qualitative research approach and data was collected through conducting in-depth interviews with the directors of the CAOs ? as respondents. A purposive sampling technique was adopted and a sample of 20 organisations participated in this research. This research found that eighty per-cent (80%) of the research participants maintained that their organisations were not financially secure. The majority of the respondents indicated that government should 'come to the party' and financially support their organisations in a much more significant and sustainable way as they (75% of the respondents) felt that they were doing work for government. On the management side, only 45% of the respondents indicated that their Board of Directors were fully involved in the running of the organisations and most of CAOs failed to attract volunteers as they could not afford to give them stipends. The majority of the research participants felt that CAOs should be recognised and paralegals be included in the current Legal Practice Bill [B 20 - 2012] because failure to do so would leave the majority of South African citizens, living in poor communities, outside of access to the law.
Open Access
An assessment of job motivational factors of HIV/AIDS lay counsellors working for Western Cape NGOs
(2010) Olivier, Sean; Becker, Lily; Smit, Andre de V
The purpose of this research was to uncover determinants in the work of NGO lay counsellors in the Western Cape which both motivate and de-motivate. The methodology used was to administer questionnaires to these counsellors. Secondly, questionnaires were also administered to the project managers who co-ordinate the counsellors at each of the seven participating NGOs. In total 114 HIV/Aids counsellors completed the questionnaires.
Open Access
An assessment of the sustainability of substance abuse organisations in South Africa
(2011) Mawoyo, Tatenda; Smit, Andre de V
This research study sought to explore the sustainability of organisations in the field of substance abuse in South Africa. The rationale of this study was based on the premise that the number of substance abusers is increasing, therefore the organisations have to remain functional to deal with the increased demand of services. The study explored the financial position of organisations in the field, perceptions regarding policy and legislation, staff related effects of working in the field, factors that make organisations vulnerable to closure and sustainability threats.
Open Access
Barriers experienced by people with permanent locomotor disabilities: a case study in Lotus River
(2004) Futter, Merle; Smit, Andre de V; Louw, Lionel
People with physical disabilities are largely excluded from the mainstream of society by barriers that prevent their participation. This is particularly so in disadvantaged communities where the disabled are the poorest and most vulnerable of the population. The aims of this study were to determine and explore the nature and extent of the barriers confronting the disabled with permanent locomotor disabilities; improve their quality of life as well as that of their caregivers by providing them with wheelchairs, mobility aids, assistive devices and concrete ramps and pathways; and propose a model Integrated Intervention Programme that could be used in similar disadvantaged communities throughout South Africa. Includes bibliographical references (pages 300-341).
Open Access
A comparative global study of the impact that information and web technologies have on the sustainability and growth potential of nonprofit organisations in developed and developing countries
(2010) Kanithi, Naveen; Smit, Andre de V
This study aimed to explore the level and nature of information and web technology usage by nonprofit organisations (NPOs) around the globe and how these related to the operations, sustainability and future growth of these organisations.
Open Access
A comparative study of South African and Brazilian HIV and AIDS rates and policies
(2010) Noronha, Rafael; Smit, Andre de V
HIV and AIDS are still affecting many people in Brazil, South Africa and across the world, even though much has been done to mitigate against its further spread. Often Brazil and South Africa are compared to each other because of their economic position in the world and also because of their similar political histories. This research compares the Brazilian and the South African HIV and AIDS National Strategic prevention policies and it also aims to find out why the HIV and AIDS prevalence rates took significantly different patterns in the respective countries. The study includes a policy comparison and qualitative in-depth interviews with 14 organisation directors whose main focus is HIV prevention in Brazil and South Africa. The mains findings revealed that one of the main reasons for the different prevalence rate in both countries was because the civil society in Brazil played a major role in pressurizing the government to respond to the pandemic, while in South African the civil society did not play a major role. The Brazilian government thus started responding to HIV at least 9 years before the South African government did. Also, the Brazilian National HIV and AIDS prevention policy has an action plan for each goal, while the South African Policy does not have action plans for their goals. The Brazilian policy is also decentralized to municipal level, while the South African policy is decentralized only to Provincial level. Another finding was that in Brazil the NGO sector was directly involved in formulating the policy while in South Africa the NGO sector was not. In Brazil the respondents had a good knowledge and understanding of the policy, while in South Africa the respondents did not have a good knowledge of the policy. In Brazil NGOs have formed partnerships between themselves in order to deliver better services and to make their voices stronger when pressurising the government. Respondents in Brazil also knew what other organisations were doing. In South Africa organisations did not know what other organisations were doing and the NGOs did not have strong partnerships between themselves.
Open Access
Conditional donor funding and its implications on NGO autonomy in East Africa
(2015) Mugo, Immaculate Nyawira; Smit, Andre de V
The donor - recipient relationship has been the focus of numerous research projects. However, the conditions imposed by donors when giving funding to a recipient in relation to programmatic focus and the resultant ability of an organisation to remain autonomous have not been really addressed. This research therefore sought to address this very issue with regards to the conditions placed on donor funds and their effect on NGO autonomy. The research takes Gunder Frank’s dependency theory as its theoretical framework which suggests that the third world was actively underdeveloped and conditioned to be recipients rather than producers. The same logic was then applied to the NGO sector where these organisations are trapped in the receiving cycle with little, to no individual ability to fundraise to become self-sustaining. The research was qualitative in nature where the researcher administered a web based survey to NGOs in three countries in East Africa namely; Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. However, a qualitative aspect was also incorporated in the research as respondents were offered the opportunity within the survey tool to offer their individual opinion in a narrative form. Probability sampling was employed meaning that each organisation on the respective lists had an equal chance of being selected to participate in the survey, which ran from, December 2012 to June 2013. A total of 517 organisations were preselected to participate in the survey. The researcher received 74 complete responses which was a 14.31%rate thus deemed good for an electronic survey.
Open Access
The contribution of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa to social development in South Africa and its potential role as a national partner in development
(2008) Mark, Delene Melissa; Smit, Andre de V
This research investigates the role of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa in social development in South Africa. The hypothesis states that the Church has been involved in social development since its inception and currently contributes significantly to social development in South Africa. Within the context of poverty and the challenges faced by South Africa in alleviating poverty today, the researcher will establish if the Anglican Church could be considered a potential partner in poverty alleviation in South Africa, together with the public and private sectors.
Open Access
Epilepsy: an exploratory study of the business sectors perceptions of employability
(2012) Kanhema, Joyce Chengetai; Smit, Andre de V
The research aimed to explore the perceptions of employers in employing people with epilepsy. The context of the topic of enquiry was that people with epilepsy often experienced difficulties in finding and maintaining regular employment and this had been recognised as an area with significant problems for people with epilepsy.
Open Access
Factors influencing the financial sustainability of the non-profit sector in South Africa
(2014) Harding, Joanne; Smit, Andre de V
This study explored the financial sustainability of NPOs within the South African context, post the 2008 economic crisis. The overall aim was to understand the factors which affect NPOs ability to financially sustain themselves. Trends of NPO income and expenditure were analysed and measures taken to address changes in the financial situation examined. The study explored different funding agencies and their role in supporting NPOs. Lastly, perceptions of governance, funding practice, and current situations in organisations were explored and recommendations made for the future. A quantitative methodology was adopted using the online survey tool Survey Gizmo. Secondary data in the form of financial statements were requested from NPOs. The Inyathelo data base of organisations made up the population of 469 organisations and responses were received from 101 organisations. This was a satisfactory 21,5% response rate. Data was analysed by calculating descriptive statistics. These were represented in a narrative and visually in the form of graphs and tables. Financial data was captured and analysed in order to corroborate the data. The research found that income to NPOs is not increasing to keep up with inflation. Demand for NPO services has increased due to the global economic crisis and as a result NPOs experience increasing pressure on their financial resources. NPOs are perceived to be critical to the well being of society but the sector is under pressure, with many showing a financial deficit. The sector is looking to government and corporates to help strengthen it, but are also wanting to become less dependent on external sources for their financial sustainability. NPOs are of the opinion that they need to find new strategies to ensure their sustainability. The following are key recommendations: NPOs must be creative about managing increased demand for their services;; NPOs should collaborate to advocate for changes in relationships with major financial contributors and work together to promote philanthropy in the country;; funders should adjust their funding models in order to strengthen the NPO sector while still focussing on the needs of beneficiaries.
Open Access
An investigation of the factors which motivate social workers in child welfare to remain in the same job for more than three years
(2011) Mugwagwa, Belinda; Smit, Andre de V
The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the perspectives of social workers in the child welfare field and to ascertain what motivates them to remain in their jobs for longer than three years, instead of pursuing less demanding and more lucrative career paths.
Open Access
An investigation of the impact of the 2008/2009 economic recession on NGO sustainability and functioning: A South African perspective across the Social Service, Health and Education sectors
(2011) Gebreselassie, Eyesus; Smit, Andre de V
The most recent economic recession severely challenged civil society organisations and the communities they served. A survey was conducted during 2010 to measure the impact of the 2008/2009 financial crisis on sustainability and functioning of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in South Africa and to determine how organisations reacted to this challenge.
Open Access
Levels of alcohol intoxication : an assessment of perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, practices and breath alcohol levels
(2012) Dunne, Rowan; Smit, Andre de V
Throughout the world drunk drivers are responsible for numerous accidents resulting in the injury or death of many drivers, passengers, cyclists, and/or pedestrians. South Africa experiences very high rates of injuries and deaths from road accidents. Young people, especially students and their peers, represent a high risk group because of their inexperience on the roads, and the exacerbation of this risk when alcohol limits are exceeded. In order to determine students’ and their peers’ perceptions and cognisance of their degree of intoxication, and to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices, survey data and measures of breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) were collected from 229 young adults over nine evenings at a single pub frequented by students and their peers in a South African university city.
Open Access
'n Ondersoek na die verskynsel van drostery vanaf Tenterden Plek van Veiligheid en Bewaring, met verwysing na maatskaplike werk perspektiewe in hierdie verband
(1990) Fitschen, Elizabeth; Moss-Morris, Val; Smit, Andre de V
Die navorser het gepoog om vas te stel of drosgedrag in assosiasie met sekere veranderlikes plaasvind, dus of daar tendense bestaan. Die veranderlikes van belang vir die maatskaplike werk professie het voorkeur gekry in die studie. Die doel hiervan was om aan te toon dat hierdie professie 'n rol kan speel ten opsigte van hierdie gedrag. Die studie is beperk tot een inrigting, naamlik 'n plek van veiligheid. Tendense oor 'n 10 jaar tydperk, 1980-1989, is bestudeer sodat moontlik ook die invloed van personeelaangeleenthede en verskille in die bestuur van die inrigting indentifiseer kan word. Die data is vanuit argiefrekords, soos die persoonlike leêrs, straf-, opname-, en drostersregister, verkry. Ongestruktureerde onderhoude met die personeel het addisionele inligting verskaf. Oor sekere van die data is gegewens van die totale drosterpopulasie oor 10 jaar ingewin (N=492). Ander gegewens is vanuit die beskikbare persoonlike lêers (nl=413) verkry. Nie alle lêers het die verlangde gegewens beskikbaar gehad nie, en vir sekere gegewens is data vir kleiner groepe drosters ingewin. Hierdie gegewens is getabuleer, en waar van toepassing, is van grafieke of histogramme gebruik gemaak. Uit die resultate kon die volgende afgelei word: die omvang van die probleem is wyd en regverdig navorsing. 'n Hӧer drossyfer word in die maande van Februarie, Maart en November gevind. Daar is nie 'n tendens om op sekere dae van die week meer as ander dae te dros nie. Die meeste drosters dros binne 'n kort tyd na opname, en dros dan slegs enkele male van korte duur. Meer seuns dros as dogters. Die meeste drosters val binne die ouderdomsgroep 14-16 jaar en hierdie groep is ook vir die hoogste aantal drosinsidente verantwoordelik. Die meerderheid drosters dros in groepe, en in die geselskap van 'n ervare droster wanneer hulle die eerste maal dros. Die meeste drosters het 'n geskiedenis van wegloop- of drosgedrag. Die I.K. van drosters is ietwat laer as die van die normale bevolking, en hulle is ook meestal skolasties vertraag. Die meeste drosters meld mees gereeld hulle ongelukkigheid by die veiligheidsplek as 'n rede vir dros. Daar word tydens drosinsidente meestal huiswaarts gedros. Uit die resultate kon dus afgelei word dat, hoewel drosters waarskynlik ook emosionele probleme het, omgewingsfaktore 'n rol speel by drostery. Die belangrike implikasie van die bevinding is dat drostery deur omgewingsmanipulasie verminder behoort te kan word, en dat die maatskaplike werk professie 'n belangrike rol in die opsig kan speel.
Open Access
An ordinary house on an ordinary street : a community-based alternative model for housing the aged in South Africa
(1987) Mercorio, Gaetano Anthony; Eckley, S C A; Smit, Andre de V
This study proposes an alternative model for housing and caring for the aged, without admitting them to the care of total institutions. Ordinary houses on ordinary streets are converted into neighbourhood old age homes in which a small number of elderly people live together. The home may be sponsored by any body, and, other than the cost of purchasing the house and furniture, it can be financially self-sufficient. The study seeks to examine the difficulty of defining old age, the phenomenon of ageing populations and discrimination against the aged. It provides a brief history of old age homes. Issues in the care of the elderly are discussed, including the role of the state and the individual, and categories of the aged and housing for these groups. Some major controversies in the field, notably the question of age-segregated or age-integrated housing, institutional versus community care and the dangers of moving the aged, are described. The study analyses the South African system of care for the elderly, and highlights the problem of the present focus on expensive institutional care. The suitability of this model of care is questioned and it is recommended that the small neighbourhood old age home model be introduced to broaden the existing continuum of care. The Abbeyfield Society of Great Britain, which pioneered this model of housing and caring for the elderly is described. The model is examined in detail. Finally, the study explores the work of the Catholic Welfare Bureau in Cape Town, which has implemented and adapted this model in South Africa. This agency's network of neighbourhood old age homes will be extended to include care for the frail aged, and the basis of its planning proposed for this phase is examined.
Open Access
The role of corporate social investment in supporting early childhood development in South Africa
(2013) Van Niekerk, Lauren-Jayne; Smit, Andre de V
This research study, The Role of Corporate Social Investment in Supporting Early Childhood Development in South Africa, explored the role of and the degree to which, corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives in South Africa support early childhood development (ECD). Trends of CSI expenditure in ECD over time were examined, as well as the motivations for investment in the ECD sector. A key intention of this study was to establish the benefits of corporate investment in the ECD sector, and to discover how the ECD sector can tap into more CSI funding in the future. This study adopted a quantitative methodology and made use of an online survey tool (SurveyGizmo) to gather information from both the CSI and ECD Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) sectors in South Africa. The sample populations consisted of CSI initiatives of 500 of South Africa's best managed companies from the TOPCO Media: Top500 publication, and 62 ECD NPOs in South Africa from a database developed by one of the leading ECD NPOs in South Africa, Centre for Early Childhood Development (Atmore, 2012).
Open Access
The social assistance needs of children with chronic health conditions : the application and comparison of two international instruments in the South African context
(2002) Berry, Lizette; Smit, Andre de V
Children with chronic health conditions in South Africa are a vulnerable group of children, whose additional needs resulting from their condition places financial strain on their caregivers and families. Poverty plays a significant role, and often exacerbates the situation for these children and their caregivers. They are a group of children who require additional assistance from the State - social assistance (a term used for financial aid in South Africa) is one form of support that can be extended to these children. The present social assistance provisioning for these children Iimited, and assessment processes and instruments are unsatisfactory. This study is an examination of the application of international social assistance assessment instruments to the South African context, namely the Australian Child Disability Assessment Tool and the United Kingdom's Disability Living Allowance Claim Form. The study purposed to make recommendations for the development of an appropriate South African social assistance assessment instrument. Secondly, it aimed to demonstrate through the application of these international tools that there are areas of need related to chronic health conditions that are presently not provided for by the current South African social assistance programme. The study design assumed the form of a descriptive, comparative study of existing international instruments. Non-probability sampling was employed, and the findings of the study are analysed via a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
Open Access
The state of fundraising within the nonprofit social service sector : a study to determine how and to what levels of success South African NPOs are managing and operating their fundraising functions
(2010) Kilbey, Brian; Smit, Andre de V
This study sought analyse the state of fundraising within the South African nonprofit social service sector at the end of the 2007/2008 financial year. The overall aim of the study was to evaluate the fundraising capacities of social service organisations, in order to ascertain whether organisations were proficient in their fundraising-related activities.
Open Access
A study of a relationship between leadership style and job satisfaction in five homes of the elderly in the Western Cape
(2002) Tsatsi, Joseph Nyakallo; Smit, Andre de V
This is a quantitative study that was done in ﬁve homes of the elderly in the Western Cape where 51 nurses and 9 head nurses were studied This study attempts to determine if there is a significant relationship between a head nurse's leadership style and job satisfaction of nurses she/he supervises. The instrument used to determine the leadership style of head nurses is the Least Preferred Co-worker (LPC) scale. This scale identified 3 head nurses as task motivated leaders and 6 as relationship motivated leaders. To measure job satisfaction the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) was used. This instrument provided total satisfaction scores of nurses and it also gave satisfaction scores of different aspects of their job. The results of the study showed the existence of the relationship between these two leadership styles and the job satisfaction of the nurses. The results also indicated similar ﬂuctuations patterns in the job satisfaction scores of nurses in both task and relationship motivated categories. On one hand nurses under task motivated leaders had higher overall job satisfaction scores than the nurses under relationship motivated leaders.