An exploratory study on re-integration of formerly incarcerated youth offenders from Gugulethu, Western Cape

Ncube, Constance

An exploratory study on re-integration of formerly incarcerated youth offenders from Gugulethu, Western Cape

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Social Development

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

The overall aim of the study was to explore re-integration among formerly incarcerated youth offenders (FIYOs) in Gugulethu and hoped the findings of the study would contribute towards building knowledge in the research topic area. The study used a qualitative research design with a non-probability purposive snowball sampling being used for sampling. The study used a semi-structured interview schedule as a research tool for conducting in-depth interviews with the participants. The research participants were youth, males that were between the ages of 18 and 35 years. The findings showed that most of the research participants started their careers in crime at 14 years. During the interviews, participants mentioned that they started their involvement in crime due to unemployment, substance abuse and peer pressure. Furthermore, the study showed that all the participants expressed the desire to stop their involvement in crime mostly due to regretting their actions and severe prison experiences. The research participants also highlighted the difficulties they faced during their re-integration. Here, employment challenges, shame, labelling and feeling undeserving of received support were their greatest challenges during re-integration. However, although having faced challenges, participants also spoke about continued support from their families and communities. The participants also gave some recommendations, and they highlighted the importance of individualised programmes. The conclusions drawn from the study are that the participants faced various challenges during re-integration, however, the support they got from family and community members helped them with desistance from crime. Therefore, the recommendations included that there is a need for interventions that involve stakeholders such as youth themselves, parents, members of the community, the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Social Development who need to work together to ensure that there is successful re-integration which would eventually lead to reduced recidivism rates in communities such as Gugulethu.

Keywords

re-integration

youth offenders

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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