OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
The development of crime prevention strategies through traditional leaders at school in the OR Tambo District Municipality, South Africa
Enoch Zenzile
Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa.
Volume 16, Issue 07, Pg. 11-22, 2023
Abstract: Schools worldwide tend not to provide a conducive environment for all children to learn and realise their academic aspirations. Daily at school, children are exposed to various atrocities; some become perpetrators, whilst others are victimised. Educators are also not ideally protected as some are easy targets. This article explores the prospects of building partnerships between traditional leaders, police, and families in communities under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders for the prevention of crime and/or juvenile delinquency at school. This study is guided by the following research objectives: a) To extrapolate the partnership and strategies of crime prevention that are used in the areas under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders for crime prevention; b) To identify methods that are used by traditional leaders for the smooth running of the school with the onslaught of crime in the OR Tambo District Municipality; and c) To explore methods of traditional leaders on building relationships between schools and families in the quest of crime prevention at school level in areas of their jurisdiction. The study employed a qualitative research approach that used semi-structured interviews for data collection. In the study, there are 58 traditional leaders that served as participants from the following local municipalities, which fall under the OR Tambo District Municipality: KSD, Enyandeni, Port St Johns and Ingquza-Hill. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to identify participants. Results of the study reveal that although crime prevention in South Africa is subsumed in the police servies, traditional leaders play a viable role in preventing the manifestation of crime or juvenile delinquency in areas under their jurisdiction. Thus, the study is in a quest to advocate for the empowerment of traditional leaders, as they are exposed to the challenges of their communities daily. Their empowerment will strengthen as insulators of criminal behaviour in areas under their jurisdiction. Crime and juvenile delinquency need to be addressed at primary level by the family, before the child is exposed to the challenges that a street life will present. The school must take over from where the family has left off and traditional leaders need to strengthen the partnerships of different agencies in their communities on a zero-tolerance measure towards crime.
Keywords: Crime prevention, family, school, traditional leadership, violence.
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From Start-up to Sustainability: Building Resilient Micro-enterprises Through Business Development Services
Mary Ann S. Concepcion 1, Ahmed J. Ladjahon 2, Alfonso Ramil S. Bolante 3, Rociel E. Dinglasan 4, Theresa C. Antonio 5, Mohshin Habib 6, Christine Jubb 7
1 Social Responsibility and Performance Department, ASA Philippines Foundation, Philippines.
2 Finance, ASA Philippines Foundation, Philippines.
3 Office of the President, ASA Philippines Foundation, Philippines.
4 Medical Team, ASA Philippines Foundation, Philippines.
5 MIS Department, ASA Philippines Foundation. Philippines.
6 Laurentian University, Canada and Policy and ASA Philippines Foundation, Philippines.
7 Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
Volume 16, Issue 07, Pg. 23-50, 2023.
Abstract: In the last three decades, microfinance has gained considerable attention for its ability to address poverty, women empowerment and broader socio-economic development. However, several studies suggest that credit alone is not adequate in supporting the growth of micro and medium enterprises owned by microfinance clients. Consequently, a large number of MFIs have introduced Business Development Services (BDS) to enhance clients’ financial literacy and business management skills and promote the sustainability and growth of their businesses. This paper examines the impact of BDS on the socio-economic status of clients of ASA Philippines Foundation (ASA), a non-profit microfinance institution (MFI) with 1,694 branches and 2,185,548 borrowers in the Philippines, and on the sustainability and growth of clients’ businesses, including the impact of changes in the level of skills development among clients. Data were gathered using structured interviews of 307 BDS recipient clients where questions related to before and after receiving BDS and 375 non-BDS participants. Results showed that BDS clients and their businesses fared better than non-BDS clients, particularly in terms of growth in savings, sales, income, and sustainability, demonstrating the merit of using BDS to reach out to new non-BDS clients. The findings suggest that ASA should increase its BDS expenditure to improve the financial performance of clients’ businesses. The BDS interventions were well-received by clients and this study indicates that BDS can help ASA and other MFIs attain their vision of poverty alleviation.
Keywords: Business Development Services, Microfinance Institutions, MSME, Training
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Factors influencing, contributing and curtailing training effectiveness in the South African Police Service: Evidence from a strategic perspective
Lerato Mofokeng 1, Moitsadi Zitha 2, Mmabatho Portia Aphane 3, Jacob Tseko Mofokeng 4
1,4 Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Safety and Security Management,
2 Aubrey Matlakala Street, Soshanguve – K, Soshanguve, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa
2,3 University of South Africa, College of Law, School of Criminal Justice, Departments: Criminology and Security Science & Police Practice, Pretoria, South Africa.
Volume 16, Issue 07, Pg. 51-70, 2023.
Abstract: Police training plays a crucial role in the development of police officers. A specific department within a police force can increase its services to the community and decrease its vulnerabilities by implementing an improved training curriculum. And although police training is a complex, multifaceted topic, the training of police officers combines various educational components and is governed by organisational guidelines. Inadequate training, insufficient training hours, or doing the minimum required can open the door to liabilities and lead to interdepartmental problems such as low morale, ineffective and inefficient staff, which negatively impacts the department as whole, including its administrative staff. This study sought to provide an analysis on the training and development of the South African Police Service (SAPS), as conventional wisdom dictates that for effective service delivery to occur, there is need for the effective training and development of SAPS employees. Thus, the purpose of this study is threefold, it seeks to assess the a) effectiveness of the training and development initiatives utilised at the SAPS training centres; b) SAPS training environment regarding the conditions or the mediums of the training programme and; c) use of knowledge and skills in the work environment to propose recommendations for the implementation of effective training and development initiatives at the SAPS. A survey was conducted among 329 respondents from 13 police stations in the Johannesburg metro region using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared and distributed among the targeted respondents. The findings reveal that contextual factors namely effectiveness, the training environment, the trainer’s skills, and having adequate resources towards development, have positive impact on the training programmes conducted at the training centre. Furthermore, the findings highlighted that respondents were of the view that since the inception of new methods of training after the 1994 democratic elections, the SAPS has demonstrated progressive development towards responding to community matters. However, there are gaps in the training and development programmes such as a lack of resources, a blanket approach to training and training models which focus on current challenges and exclude future trends. To address these challenges within the SAPS and to ensure that there is effective training and development for organisational performance, there is a need to ensure that adequate resources are allocated for training and development. The training and development procedures within the SAPS need to include international standards, and the management at the Johannesburg Training Centre need to create an effective strategy that can be used to identify the needs and skills gap of employees and ensure that these are addressed through an agile and adaptable training and development strategy. This study provides critical input and contributes to the body of literature related to training in the SAPS.
Keywords: Competence, community, skills, performance, police, training
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