Social Work / Maatskaplike Werk (E-Journal)
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Empowerment: observations on mental health in sub-saharan Africa
No full textNever doub t that a small group of thoughtful , committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is th only thing that ever has (Margaret Mead , World Federation of Mental Health President 1956 -5 7) . This statement can only become a reality when people have confidence and believe in themselves.
This paper suggests that the social and economic history of the African continent has contributed to the disempowerment of its people. This has impacted on the field of mental health . It is essential that this process be reversed, and suggestions for a way forward are presented for consideration of the mental health workers of the region
The cross-cultural ravine: Why the bridge is necessary, and how to go about building it
No full textSouth African society may be seen as constituted of a diversity of cultures, and in that sense. South Africa could be characterised as being "multicultural", but it is not, however, a practitioner of multiculturalism - at least not in the theoretical sense of the term which encompasses the fonnulation of official policy and associated practices that are exclusively directed at making cultural diversity formally "constitutive of the nation" (McAllister 1996). We therefore have , in the phrase coined by McAllister a denominational multiculturalism - one that can only exist when the boundaries between the various societal groupings, whether they be along the lines of culture, race or religion, are not "formalised and institutionalised" by an officially ratified policy
A school-based intervention programme for refugee children
No full textSince the bord ers of South Africa opened Cape Town has seen an influx of people, including increasing numbers of children. The government offers refugees a safe haven and the right to work, but the load of direct services and assistance mostly falls onto NGO's such as the Trauma Centre. At the request of teachers a therapeutic activity group, to assist children in working through their traumatic experiences, was established at a school within one accommodation site for refugees. The programme consisted of eight 90 minutes sessions each focusing on a different theme. It was done alongside workshops with teachers to assist them in coping with refugee children. The programme was evaluated principally by observations during the group sessions and records of teachers pf the behaviour.al problems ·manifested by the children. These showed a general positive response : mostly in the areas .'of reduction of anxiety -symptoms and increased social confidence
The professional status· of social work
No full textAs the demands for accountability in the human services continue to grow, new opportunities for the social work profession will also bring new risks (Kurzman 1995: 1921). These risks will" result directly in a higher demand for professional conduct which, in turn, confirms that accountability in the profession demands continual personal and professional development (Van Zyl & Botha 1997:33). This tendency is consistent with the growing public demand for accountability from all professionals, including social workers (Encyclopedia of Social Work 1987:361).
 
Factors influencing child abuse and neglect behaviour by social workers in the 'Northern Province, South Africa
No full textRecent media reports (Sunday Times (Insight), 28 Feb. 1999:19; Sowetan , 29 Jan. 1997 :9; Sowetan, 2 Oct. 1997:5; Sowetan, 31 Oct. 1997:6 and Sowetan , 20 Oct. 1997:4) and police records reflect a disturbing increase in reports of abuse of children in South Africa. South African Police Services Child Protection Units and specialized individual officers (e .g. social workers in child welfare societies and government's welfare departments) dealt with 28 482 child abuse cases in 1995 (National Programme of Action 1997). During 1995-1996 officially reported cases of sexual crimes against children in South Africa demonstrated an increase inRape (38%), Sodomy (35%) , and Incest (15%) (Department of Welfare 1996/1997). Apart from abuse at home, at school, and in the neighbourhood, child abandonment, child labour and the commercial sexual exploitation of children are widespread problems . In the Northern Province 1807 children were abandoned, 806 sexually abused, 841 neglected and 1742 experienced other forms of abuse in 1996. Reported crimes against children increased by 11 , 7 % between 1993 and 1996 (ibid . ). However, some caution must be exercised in interpreting the statistics , as undoubtedly only a very small percentage of crimes against children reported has been reported. Underreporting and the lack of systematic research , record keeping and a central register make figures difficult to estimate
The South African Nationl Crime Prevention Strategy: Overview and contextual analysis
No full textThe article provides an overview of the main interventions proposed in the South African National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) as well as a discussion of the aims and principles of the strategy in the context of sociological/criminological theories of crime, philosophical theories of punishment, and patterns and strategies for controlling crime in Western societies. The main themes addressed are: crime and human rights, crime control vs. crime prevention, crime as security issue vs. crime as social issue, retributive justice vs. restorative justice, and communitybased crime prevention and crimina( justice