Research Articles (Social Work)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/50

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Applying the entitlement approach to understand food security dynamics in South Africa
(Nan Yang Academy of Sciences Pte. Ltd, 2026) Masuku, Mfundo Mandla; Mthembu, Zinhle; Sithole, Mbongeni Shadrack
This paper applies Amartya Sen’s entitlement approach as a lens for analysing food security within the South African democratic context. Based on multiple disciplinary perspectives and an entitlement approach as a lens, the paper examines how the country’s political and economic structures influence individuals’ capability to access food and secure entitlements in a post-apartheid society. A systematic literature review was conducted across six electronic databases to locate peer-reviewed English-language literature published between 1981 and 2022. Despite South Africa’s political and economic developments, individuals in households continue to struggle to meet their basic needs. This limitation, particularly the lack of access to quality food, is mainly attributed to persistent unequal distribution and control over services, assets and resources. The paper argues that South Africa’s neoliberal democratic orientation often reduces food insecurity to an individual peril rather than a social phenomenon, which subsequently overlooks the broader structural and social dimensions. The paper concludes that a state has a role to address the food insecurity challenge by implementing context-specific, micro-level interventions that enhance individuals’ access to food as a social right. The paper advocates for an inclusive approach in designing and implementing interventions intended to enhance food security at the household level.
Biographic and Institutional Entanglements: Reframing Differences through a Diffraction Lens
(Unisa Press, 2025) September, Uwarren; Sithole, Mbongeni; Agherdien, Najma
Despite the inability of the higher education sector to address colonial apartheid, relegating the associated indigenous cultures and traditions to a submissive space, the fight for a more legitimate and transformed higher education system continues. The study examines how biography and institutional context deepen how co-authors engage pragmatically in a collective project and secondly theorises “thinking differently about difference”. Through a triadic lens of reflection, diffraction, and decoloniality, we address the research question: How can an understanding of each other’s lived experiences and institutional contexts guide us towards engaging differently with one another and with differences? We employed autobiographical narrative inquiry as the most appropriate methodology. Our argument is that collaborative constructions of “self” unfolding through time and across space must centre difference as a driver of transformation in a collaborative partnership and scholarship. We offer a number of guidelines and questions for collective reflection and reflective practice that can be adapted for various social work and educational settings. The study concludes that by engaging with difference differently, and through deepened individual/contextual awareness, socially just co-authorship and cross-institutional partnerships could be nurtured.
Biographic and institutional entanglements: reframing differences through a diffraction lens
(Unisa Press, 2026) September, Uwarren; Sithole, Mbongeni; Agherdien, Najma
Despite the inability of the higher education sector to address colonial apartheid, relegating the associated indigenous cultures and traditions to a submissive space, the fight for a more legitimate and transformed higher education system continues. The study examines how biography and institutional context deepen how co-authors engage pragmatically in a collective project and secondly theorises “thinking differently about difference”. Through a triadic lens of reflection, diffraction, and decoloniality, we address the research question: How can an understanding of each other’s lived experiences and institutional contexts guide us towards engaging differently with one another and with differences? We employed autobiographical narrative inquiry as the most appropriate methodology. Our argument is that collaborative constructions of “self” unfolding through time and across space must centre difference as a driver of transformation in a collaborative partnership and scholarship. We offer a number of guidelines and questions for collective reflection and reflective practice that can be adapted for various social work and educational settings. The study concludes that by engaging with difference differently, and through deepened individual/contextual awareness, socially just co-authorship and cross-institutional partnerships could be nurtured.
Supporting children and their families in Gauteng public schools: the roles of school social workers
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025) Sithole, Mbongeni Shadrack; Khumalo, Gift; Ngcobo, Nolwazi
School social work practice in the South African context is a growing field; however, there is limited research regarding the roles and responsibilities of school social workers, particularly in the Gauteng province. This province is unique in that school social workers are employed by multiple institutions, including individual schools and the education and social development departments. This study aimed to explore and describe the roles and responsibilities of school social workers in the Gauteng province, recognizing them as critical specialists in addressing learners’ psychosocial needs within school settings. An explorative qualitative design was used in this study. Data were collected from 22 purposively selected participants, comprising school social workers, supervisors, and provincial managers of school social work programs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, and thematic analysis was employed to identify themes. The findings revealed context-specific roles of school social workers, including the creation of conducive teaching and learning environments, advocacy for social justice and child protection, conducting interviews and psychosocial assessments, providing counseling and trauma debriefing, conducting home visits and offering family services, removing abused learners from harmful environments, including their respective homes, and providing parental skills training and support. As a conclusion, this study highlights the need for standardized national and provincial guidelines to formalize and support school social work practice. It is recommended that the identified roles be incorporated into future practice frameworks. Furthermore, it is suggested that a uniform assessment tool be developed to promote consistency and guide school social workers in the initial evaluation processes.
Social innovation, gendered resilience, and informal food traders in Windhoek, Namibia
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2026) Crush, Jonathan; Nickanor, Ndeyapo; Kazembe, Lawrence
Informal food trading is a cornerstone of urban livelihoods and food security in Namibia, yet traders operate under fragile conditions marked by limited capital, policy exclusion, and exposure to shocks such as COVID-19. Despite this vulnerability, traders exhibit resilience through everyday forms of social innovation. This study investigates how adaptive pricing, customer credit, and digital communication and e-payment practices function as pathways of resilience among 470 informal food traders in Windhoek, using Structural Equation Modelling to assess gender-differentiated determinants and outcomes. The analysis reveals that women’s adoption of adaptive pricing and digital tools is driven primarily by education and startup capital, while men’s innovation practices are shaped by vendor type and access to financing. Social innovations mediate the effects of these structural factors on enterprise growth, demonstrating that innovation acts as a critical mechanism linking resources and resilience. The study concludes that enhancing informal traders’ resilience requires policies that strengthen human and financial capital, improve digital inclusion, and recognize gendered differences in access to opportunity. It recommends targeted support for women’s entrepreneurial training, affordable credit, and digital infrastructure to transform the informal food sector into a more equitable and sustainable component of Namibia’s urban economy.
Social workers using sign language interpreters to ensure equitable services to the deaf community
(University of Stellenbosch, 2025) Koeras, Peter; Davids, Ronel
Despite the recognition of sign language in South Africa, individuals who are Deaf face significant barriers, leading to stigmatisation and marginalisation. Social workers must be critically conscious of this and provide the necessary services to address these inequalities. Not all social workers are proficient in South African Sign Language to provide equitable services to the Deaf community and require the assistance of South African Sign Language Interpreters during social work micro interventions. However, there is limited literature on the experiences of social workers using these interpreters during this intervention. Seven social workers were selected to participate in a qualitative study using explorative descriptive research designs to understand the experiences of social workers using South African Sign Language Interpreters during micro-interventions. Non-probability purposive sampling was used with semi-structured interviews for data collection. The thematic analysis revealed three key themes: social workers' feelings of helplessness, uncertainty, and emotional stress related to role clarity; challenges with inadequately trained SASL interpreters, interpretation accuracy, and rapport-building with clients; and enhancing services for individuals who are Deaf by incorporating culturally sensitive sign language training in higher education institutions to foster better relationships with SASL interpreters and clients.
Township economics: how the market structure of the informal economy impacts the recirculation of secondhand tires in South Africa
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2026) Schenck, Catherina Johanna Rinie; Theodore, Nik; Blaauw, Phillip Frederick
In the context of South Africa’s extraordinarily high unemployment rates, urban residents are increasingly fashioning livelihoods from the reclamation and recirculation of waste. Drawing on a survey of 458 unregistered tire dealerships operating in South African townships, this article examines the structure and operations of this segment of the informal economy. Our analysis addresses several underexplored aspects of informality, with a focus on market dynamics and interfirm competition within township economies. The article contributes to the literature on informal economies and recycling value chains by providing firm-level insights into the competitive pressures faced by unregistered tire dealerships, highlighting how market structures influence business outcomes. The study seeks to make three contributions to the literature on economic informality: it centers the microeconomics of the firm; adds to the understanding of evolving township economies; and examines the basis of interfirm competition and the geographies of informality. The research also highlights the dual nature of these microenterprises, which generate jobs and incomes but remain small-scale and survivalist, limiting their potential for growth and their broader economic impacts.
Family dynamics in a sample South African family: a systems theory analysis of cultural adaptation and contemporary challenges
(SAGE Publications Inc, 2025) Sikhakhane, Lynette M.; Roman, Nicolette V.
Family dynamics shape interactions and relationships within households, influencing mental health, academic achievement, and social adaptation across the lifespan. While extensive research has explored these dynamics in Western contexts, less is known about how South African families navigate cultural traditions alongside rapid societal changes. This study uses qualitative methods to explore urban South African family dynamics through the lens of Family Systems Theory. Data were gathered through focus group interviews conducted with seven diverse families (30 individuals) and semi-structured interviews with nine stakeholders. Thematic analysis identified five key themes: family structure, parental roles and support, power dynamics, family activities and bonding, and the impact of technology. Findings reveal that South African families function as interconnected emotional units, continuously adapting to evolving social landscapes while maintaining cultural values. The study sheds light on how families negotiate power, redefine parental roles, foster bonding through shared activities, and manage technological shifts across generations. These insights inform the development of culturally responsive family support strategies that acknowledge the systemic and dynamic nature of family life in South Africa.
Possibilities for unemployed youth in the green economy: an ecological social work perspective
(Unisa Press, 2025) Dykes, Glynnis Zena; Davids, Ronel S.; Carelse, Shernaaz; Human-Hendricks, Anja R.
This article considers the question: What are the existing guidelines for community-based strategies to empower youth to participate in a green economy? South African youth is a particularly vulnerable group due to sociopolitical and economic reasons including systemic marginalisation, high unemployment rates, insufficient opportunities, and environmental degradation that threaten their and future generations’ well-being. Currently, most South African youth are faced with high levels of early school dropout, unemployment, substance use and abuse, crime and violence, high-risk behaviours, and socioeconomic challenges that limit their development. This is true for youth in both urban and rural areas, who have been challenged by, among other factors, a long-standing lack of access to resources and support services that have resulted in self-destructive behaviours. Drawing a link between social and environmental justice, social work places value on the empowerment of marginalised youth, as well as on the importance of participatory environmental initiatives through collaborative action for sustainable change with youth as change agents. Social work practice guidelines to effectively facilitate youth participation in environmental initiatives are, however, lacking. This includes various skills and enterprise development programmes focused on schools, youth, and the community at large. Using a scoping review, evidence of existing international and local guidelines for a community-based strategy aimed at youth participation in the green economy are presented and recommendations made for ecological social work practice and education.
Investigating the earnings of migrant and local day labourers in Johannesburg, South Africa—a post-Covid-19 perspective
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2025) Blaauw, Derick ; Pretorius, Anmar ; Schenck, Catherina ; Meyer, Danie
The fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the already challenging conditions prevailing among the day labourers in South Africa. We investigated the labour market outcomes (especially income) of day labourers after the Covid-19 pandemic by focusing on day labourers, both local and foreign, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The methodology for our investigation was based on protocols used in other international and South African studies on various aspects pertaining to day labouring in the Global North and Global South. The fieldwork was carried out in the second half of 2021—completing 241 structured interviews. Regression results indicate that, in general, day labourers' experience and ability to negotiate their wages before accepting a job are the main determinants of their income. Site size matters more for migrants compared to locals, while performing a highly skilled job matters more for local South Africans. Since the bargaining position of workers in the informal economy continues to be eroded in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, day labourers may be especially affected, and their structural vulnerability may worsen—and even more so for the migrants.
Re-conceptualizing trafficking-in-persons victimization using latent class analysis: Results from a community study in Cape Town, South Africa
(Elsevier, 2025) Bender, Annah K.; Rich, Edna G.; Roman, Nicolette V
The impact of human trafficking upon the lives and livelihoods of those subjected to exploitative and illegal labor and commercial sex practices includes violence and threats of violence, deleterious health and mental health sequelae, and social and economic marginalization. Global estimates of human trafficking's prevalence are elusive given that it is shrouded in secrecy and often affects subgroups with little voice of their own, such as migrants and child abuse victims. The difficulty of reaching a clandestine population is complicated by the lack of standardized definitions and culturally responsive assessments to identify victims and route them to appropriate care. This gap in knowledge persists on the African continent as elsewhere in the world. An interdisciplinary, international research team thus launched a study to estimate the prevalence of human trafficking using a computational algorithm in the Western Cape of South Africa. In this paper, we use latent class analysis to identify and empirically categorize 652 individuals at risk for human trafficking based on their response to two sets of indicators for human trafficking experiences. Our findings revealed three distinct subtypes ranging from very high risk of exploitation to relatively low risk. Experiences of violence, health and mental health concerns, and substance abuse were commonplace in this high-risk sample. A modified screening tool based on domains of trafficking identified by the inaugural Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum (PRIF) was most robust in identifying and classifying victims. We conclude by calling for a shift from a binary prosecutorial definition to a dimensional approach of identifying trafficking, guided by the understanding that such risks exist on a spectrum influenced by one's experience of human trafficking exploitation, and behavioral and social environment.
In this life one must live and not survive: understanding day labourers’ vulnerability through the lens of Max-Neef
(Unisa Press, 2025) Smith, Marquin Enrico; Schenck, Rinie; Blaauw, Derick
Day labouring is one of the most visible forms of precarious employment in South Africa as those involved earn low and uncertain levels of income, leaving many of them in a state of deprivation, poverty, and marginalisation. This article aims to contribute to the documentation and analysis of the precarious nature of informal employment and the vulnerabilities workers face in this uncertain work environment. A case study research design involving 66 (45 respondents from quantitative data collection and 21 participants from qualitative data collection) male day labourers from Mbekweni was used. The findings of this study were analysed using Max-Neef’s theory of the nine fundamental human needs. This study found that day labourers from Mbekweni receive little to no income, struggle with access to decent housing, face food insecurity, and often struggle with access to basic services. In addition, while all day labourers face various forms of poverty, only South African day labourers have access to social security benefits, while those who are foreign nationals do not.
Exploring on- and off-site waste management practices of informal dwellers in South Africa
(Routledge, 2025) Schenck, Catherina; Niyobuhungiro, Rissa; Fletcher, Lizelle
Household waste is a major contributor to environmental pollution and health issues. This article explores waste management practices at the household level in low-income informal housing areas in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The data collection consisted of a waste baseline assessment of household waste management and mapping and analysing illegal dumping spots in the immediate vicinity of the informal areas. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 29. None of the municipalities in the study provides outside bins to households in informal areas. Approximately eighty-four percent (83.8%) of households in the study area receive some form of refuse removal, but illegal dumping was found in all areas. The results show that weekly collection of waste is not sufficient due to the limited space available to informal dwellers. Engagement with communities is important to collaboratively co-design locally appropriate ways of managing waste.
A critical view of applying life cycle assessment on disposable diapers in a rural context
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2025) Chitaka, Takunda Y.; Schenck, Catherina; Nell, Charlotte
The environmental impacts of disposable diapers in comparison to reusable diapers have been a matter of interest within the life cycle assessment (LCA) community for many years. However, the majority of LCAs have been conducted in developed countries with well-developed waste management infrastructure. This study takes a critical view of the application of LCA to evaluate the environmental impacts of disposable diapers in rural areas. In the study area, the majority of diapers were openly dumped (43.8%), sent to unsanitary landfills (26.1%) or burned (18.6%). The production phase contributed the most to the majority of impact categories, excluding freshwater exotoxicity, marine exotoxicity and human carcinogenic toxicity. These impacts were instead dominated by end-of-life impacts and also had the highest relative significance when normalisation was conducted. The lack of and/or poor waste management has resulted in the end of life of diapers being a significant environmental risk. However, current life cycle impact methodologies are not able to fully cover the scope of impacts presented by mismanaged diaper waste. This study demonstrates the importance of geographical contexts when conducting diaper LCAs wherein, in some scenarios, it may be necessary to include impacts beyond the scope of a traditional LCA. significance: • This is the first LCA conducted on diapers in the rural context of Africa. • The majority of impacts were attributed to the production of disposable diapers. • The majority of disposable diapers were dumped or sent to unsanitary landfills.
Youths in gangs on the Cape Flats, South Africa: parents talk but who listens?
(Stellenbosch University, 2025) Dykes, Glynnis; Davids, Ronel Sanet; September, Uwarren
The appeal of gang membership to young people is an ongoing concern, especially for social workers serving affected communities. This article is part of a larger research study (2016-2018) by social work students. These are the findings of the 2017 study on the perceptions of parents or caregivers about the allure of gang membership to young people. A qualitative approach, utilising an exploratory research design, was employed. The necessary ethics approval from the institution was obtained for data collection. Individual interviews were conducted with 325 parents on the Cape Flats in the Western Cape. Six themes emerged from a thematic data analysis, such as socio-political causes and effects, the role of parents and family, as well as interventions and role players. Key findings show that parents do reflect on what happens in communities, but their opinions do not always count for interventions and policies. Policy and justice issues require considerable thought as they frame the world in which people live and are intended to ensure that the voices of those most affected are heard. Community participation and professional intervention should be a reflection of the role of marginalisation and powerlessness.
Informal tyre dealers in South Africa: an assessment of their contributions to a circular economy
(Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2024) Schenck, Catherina; Niyobuhungiro R; Blaauw D
Faced with extraordinarily high unemployment, the long-term unemployed in South Africa increasingly have been securing livelihoods outside of standard waged work. Many are establishing unregistered, micro-enterprises that provide low-cost goods and services to low-income households. This paper presents the results of an exploratory study of unregistered (informal) second-hand tyre dealers in three South African cities to better assess their role in urban economies. Interviews with informal tyre dealers were conducted to understand how their businesses are positioned along the waste tyre value chain, their prospects for generating employment, and their potential to contribute to product reuse and repurposing. By extending the useful lives of tyres, informal dealerships can be analysed through a circular economy framework that acknowledges their varied environmental, economic, and social benefits. Concerns, however, are raised about the unregulated sale of second-hand tyres, some of which are unsafe and pose risks for road users. This in turn gives rise to difficult trade-offs between on the one hand the economic and environmental benefits of informal tyre sales and road safety on the other.
Strengthening family connectedness in families with children with behavioural problems: key experts’ and practitioners’ experiences in the implementation of parenting programmes
(University of Stellenbosch, 2024) Danhouse, Merle Heather; Erasmus, Charlene J.
Parenting enhancement contributes to the development of positive child behaviour and strengthening of family connectedness. This qualitative study explores the experiences of 10 experts (social workers, child and youth care workers, and researchers) in the field of parenting through semi-structured interviews to strengthen family connectedness in families with children with behavioural problems (FCBPs). Using Tesch's qualitative analysis, three main themes emerged: (a) barriers to family connectedness, (b) parenting styles, and (c) parenting programmes in strengthening family connectedness. The findings of the study highlight the barriers experienced by experts and the lack of evidence-based parenting programmes in the strengthening of family connectedness in FCBPs in rural areas in South Africa. The study therefore recommends that practitioners in the field of parenting should receive specialised parenting training on how to strengthen family connectedness in FCBPs.
Designing implementation strategies for the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and allied and key populations' content in undergraduate nursing curricula in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: protocol for a multimethods research project
(JMIR Publications Inc., 2024) Nxumalo, Celenkosini Thembelenkosini; Luvuno, Zamasomi; Chiya, Wilbroda Hlolisile
Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and allied (LGBTQIA+) individuals encounter challenges with access and engagement with health services. Studies have reported that LGBTQIA+ individuals experience stigma, discrimination, and health workers' microaggression when accessing health care. Compelling evidence suggests that the LGBTQIA+ community faces disproportionate rates of HIV infection, mental health disorders, substance abuse, and other noncommunicable diseases. The South African national strategic plan for HIV or AIDS, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections, 2023-2028 recognizes the need for providing affirming LGBTQIA+ health care as part of the country's HIV or AIDS response strategy. However, current anecdotal evidence suggests paucity of LGBTQIA+ and key populations' health content in the undergraduate health science curricula in South Africa. Moreover, literature reveals a general lack of health worker training regarding the health needs of LGBTQIA+ persons and other key populations such as sex workers, people who inject drugs, and men who have sex with men. Objective: This study aimed to describe the design of a project that aims at facilitating the inclusion of health content related to the LGBTQIA+ community and other key populations in the undergraduate nursing curricula of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: A multimethods design encompassing collection of primary and secondary data using multiple qualitative designs and quantitative approaches will be used to generate evidence that will inform the co-design, testing, and scale-up of strategies to facilitate the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ and key populations content in the undergraduate nursing curricula in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
An exploration of community-based services and resources available to boost the capabilities of aids-orphaned adolescents and primary caregivers to achieve emotional and psychosocial wellbeing
(Scientific & Academic Publishing, 2023) Tsweleng, Petunia
Children and families affected by Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) often struggle to achieve their valuable goals due to experiences of stigma and discrimination, lack of socioeconomic support, and unattended grief among others. Research shows that, such experiences have been found to be associated with the mental health problems individuals affected by AIDS often suffers. The current study explored community-based services and resources available to assist AIDS-orphaned adolescents and primary caregivers to achieve emotional and psychosocial wellbeing.
A systematic review regarding caregiving relationships of adolescents orphaned by aids and primary caregivers
(Scientific & Academic Publishing, 2022) Tsweleng, Petunia
Statement of the Problem: Research and aid organisations report that children and adolescents orphaned due to HIV and AIDS are particularly vulnerable as they are often exposed to negative effects of both HIV and AIDS and orphanhood. Without much-needed parental love, care, and support, these children and adolescents are at risk of poor developmental outcomes. A cursory look at the available literature on AIDS-orphaned adolescents, and the quality of caregiving relationships with caregivers, shows that this is a relatively under-researched terrain. This article is a review of the literature on caregiving relationships of adolescents orphaned due to AIDS and their current primary caregivers. It aims to inform community programmes and policymakers by providing insight into the qualities of these relationships. Methodology: A comprehensive search of both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature was conducted through EBSCOhost, SpringLINK, PsycINFO, SAGE, PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, JSTOR, Wiley Online Library databases, and Google Scholar. The combination of keywords used for the search were: (caregiving relationships); (orphans OR AIDS orphaned children OR AIDS orphaned adolescents); (primary caregivers); and (quality caregiving); (orphans); (HIV and AIDS). The search took place between 24 January and 28 February 2022. Both qualitative and quantitative research studies published between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed. However, only qualitative studies were selected in the end -as they presented more profound findings concerning orphan-caregiver relationships.

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