Socio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorHoltzhausen, Leon
dc.contributor.advisorHoosain , Shanaaz
dc.contributor.authorChinyama, Maud
dc.date.accessioned2026-11-11T13:59:20Z
dc.date.available2026-11-11T13:59:20Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-11-10T12:52:13Z
dc.description.abstractSocio-economic challenges contribute hugely to unsuccessful offender rehabilitation, which leads to an increase in recidivism rates. The study has aimed to explore the socio-economic challenges causing ineffective offender rehabilitation in correctional settings, leading to an increase in recidivism in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The effects of unsuccessful offender rehabilitation was also explored. This qualitative study employed purposive sampling to select participants and conduct semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 12 participants working within criminal justice system organisations. A qualitative case study research design was used for this study. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that unemployment, corruption in correctional facilities, and understaffing in correctional facilities are the socio-economic factors affecting service delivery and leading to unsuccessful offender rehabilitation in correctional settings. Travel cost barriers to reintegration attendance, and lack of post-release housing and support were identified as challenges that hinder successful offender reintegration and increase recidivism. The study also revealed that the basic human rights of offenders as well as victims were violated due to a lack of victim-offender mediation and therapeutic services for victims. The study findings recommend that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) should provide pre-release reintegration support, basic needs support, and criminal record support for ex-offenders. The study also suggested that the DCS should partner with other stakeholders to improve the quality of prison programmes, monitor prison staff, and adhere to monitoring reports from the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), as well as provide funding support for reintegration agencies. It is recommended that policymakers should equally promote the rights of both the offenders and victims during the rehabilitation and reintegration process. It is recommended that future research use comparative studies to include other provinces to gain different perspectives and experiences. A mixed method on the topic is recommended to develop a comprehensive understanding of the topic. It is recommended that future studies should include government stakeholders to provide a more comprehensive understanding of systematic challenges and to complement the insights obtained from NGOs.
dc.identifier.apacitationChinyama, M. (2026). <i>Socio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43929en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChinyama, Maud. <i>"Socio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43929en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChinyama, M. 2026. Socio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43929en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Chinyama, Maud AB - Socio-economic challenges contribute hugely to unsuccessful offender rehabilitation, which leads to an increase in recidivism rates. The study has aimed to explore the socio-economic challenges causing ineffective offender rehabilitation in correctional settings, leading to an increase in recidivism in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The effects of unsuccessful offender rehabilitation was also explored. This qualitative study employed purposive sampling to select participants and conduct semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 12 participants working within criminal justice system organisations. A qualitative case study research design was used for this study. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that unemployment, corruption in correctional facilities, and understaffing in correctional facilities are the socio-economic factors affecting service delivery and leading to unsuccessful offender rehabilitation in correctional settings. Travel cost barriers to reintegration attendance, and lack of post-release housing and support were identified as challenges that hinder successful offender reintegration and increase recidivism. The study also revealed that the basic human rights of offenders as well as victims were violated due to a lack of victim-offender mediation and therapeutic services for victims. The study findings recommend that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) should provide pre-release reintegration support, basic needs support, and criminal record support for ex-offenders. The study also suggested that the DCS should partner with other stakeholders to improve the quality of prison programmes, monitor prison staff, and adhere to monitoring reports from the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), as well as provide funding support for reintegration agencies. It is recommended that policymakers should equally promote the rights of both the offenders and victims during the rehabilitation and reintegration process. It is recommended that future research use comparative studies to include other provinces to gain different perspectives and experiences. A mixed method on the topic is recommended to develop a comprehensive understanding of the topic. It is recommended that future studies should include government stakeholders to provide a more comprehensive understanding of systematic challenges and to complement the insights obtained from NGOs. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Ex-offender KW - Re-intergration KW - Rehabilitation KW - Service delivery KW - Criminal justice KW - Criminal justice professionals LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - Socio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa TI - Socio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43929 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43929
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChinyama M. Socio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43929en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Social Development
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectEx-offender
dc.subjectRe-intergration
dc.subjectRehabilitation
dc.subjectService delivery
dc.subjectCriminal justice
dc.subjectCriminal justice professionals
dc.titleSocio-Economic Challenges and the Impact of Unsuccessful Offender Rehabilitation on Recidivism: A Case Study in the Western Cape, South Africa
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMA
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