This is the first book that examines healthy human relationships in post-apartheid South Africa. In contemporary South Africa, human relationships are under considerable threat. Despite the 1994 commitment to an inclusive and human-rights-based democracy, human relationships remain strained. Bearing in mind South Africa's tortuous and divisive past, this book brings to light many issues, prospects and challenges with regard to the promotion of healthy human relationships after apartheid ended.
Social work and social development perspectives are central to the issues that are raised in this volume. The profession of social work has always championed the centrality of human relationships, being less interested in the internal functioning of people and more interested in their interpersonal functioning within broader structures and forces, including social justice, building people's strengths and capabilities, anti-discrimination, diversity and empowerment.
This edited book is based on select papers presented at a social work conference in 2019 that was co-hosted by the Department of Social Development at the University of Cape Town and the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions. In the chapters, the contributors offer some solutions to the ubiquitous societal ills that emanate from either corrosive or broken human relationships:
Resurgent racism in post-apartheid South Africa and the need to promote healthy human relationships
Promoting healthy human relationships with sub-Saharan African immigrants and South Africans
Promoting family and human relationships in a traumatised society
Social policy, social welfare, social security and legislation in promoting healthy human relationships in post-apartheid South Africa
Social protection as a tool to promote healthy human relationships in South Africa
Promoting Healthy Human Relationships in Post-Apartheid South Africa is an essential resource for an international audience of scholars, policy-makers, and social work and social development practitioners, legislators and students
Author(s): Ndangwa Noyoo
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 226
City: Cham
Foreword
Contents
About the Editor
Contributors
Abbreviations
List of Boxes
List of Figures
List of Tables
Part I: Conceptual Overview
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Pre-Colonial Human Relationships and Social Welfare Systems
1.2 South Africa’s Historical Tangents
1.3 Contemporary Sociopolitical and Economic Trends
1.4 Conceptual and Theoretical Premises of This Book
1.5 Global Dimensions
1.6 Purpose of This Book
1.7 Chapters of This Book
1.8 Conclusion
References
Part II: Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 2: Resurgent Racism in Post-Apartheid South Africa and the Need to Promote Healthy Human Relationships
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Tracing and Unpacking Racism
2.3 A Comparative Analysis
2.4 Continuities with the Past
2.5 South Africa’s History of Racism
2.6 Counteracting Resurgent Racism and Building Healthy Human Relationships via Social Work
2.7 Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Gender and Healthy Human Relationships
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Critical Social Work
3.3 Working with Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
3.4 Building Healthy Human Relationships
3.5 Social Work Interventions
3.6 Implications for Social Work Practice
3.7 Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Sub-Saharan African Countries and the Promotion of Healthy Human Relationships
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Policy Context Pertaining to Asylum Seekers and Refugees in South Africa
4.3 The South African Constitution of 1996
4.4 The Refugee Act, 1998 (No. 130 of 1998)
4.5 Definition of Entitlements
4.6 The Immigration Act of 2002 and Its Amendments
4.7 Violence in South Africa and the Plight of Refugees and Asylum Seekers
4.8 Political Violence Among and Between Different Political Formations
4.9 Violent Attacks Against Refugees and Asylum Seekers in South Africa
4.10 The South African Government’s Response to Xenophobia/Afrophobia
4.11 The Call for Ubuntu Philosophy to Enhance Healthy Human Relationships
4.12 Social Capital and Healthy Human Relationship
4.13 Social Development and Healthy Human Relationships
4.14 Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Promoting Healthy Human Relationships with Sub-Saharan African Immigrants and South Africans
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Some Definitional Issues
5.3 Unpacking Human Relationships Between Locals and Sub-Saharan African Immigrants in Local Communities
5.4 Social Work’s Response to Promoting Healthy Human Relationships
5.5 Promoting Social Inclusion and Participation
5.6 Mental Health Interventions for Immigrants
5.7 Creating Cultural Awareness to Foster Acceptance
5.8 Conclusion
References
Part III: Individuals, Families, Groups, and Communities and Vulnerability
Chapter 6: Promoting Healthy Human Relationships for Children in Post-Apartheid South Africa
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Childhood in South Africa Under Apartheid
6.3 The Importance of Healthy Human Relationships for Children
6.4 Responsive, Nurturing Care for Healthy Development
6.5 Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship with Children
6.6 The Value of Good Communication in Building Healthy Relationships with Children
6.7 Challenges and Barriers to Healthy Human Relationships for Children
6.8 The Impact of Poor Relationships on Children
6.9 Improving the Quality of Caregiver–Child Relationships
6.10 Promoting Healthy Human Relationships in Diverse Cultures and Communities
6.11 Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: Promoting Healthy Human Relationships for Older Persons: A Social Development Perspective
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Theoretical Background
7.3 Older Persons in Context
7.4 The Way Forward
7.5 Considering Adequate Housing to Enhance Healthy Human Relationships for Older Persons
7.6 Collaborative Partnerships to Promote Healthy Relationships for Older Persons
7.7 Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Fostering Healthy Human Relationships with People with Disabilities in Post-Apartheid South Africa
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Historical Overview
8.3 Conceptualising Disability
8.4 Models Aimed at Improving Conditions for PWD and Relationships with Society
8.5 Social Model of Disability
8.6 Achievements and Challenges in the Post-apartheid Era
8.7 Way Forward in Fostering Continued Healthy Relationships for PWD
8.8 Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Promoting Family and Human Relationships in a Traumatised Society
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Defining the Concept of ‘Family’ and Family Well-Being
9.3 Functions of a Family
9.4 Social Africa’s Traumatic Past and the Impact on the Family
9.5 The Current Realities of South African Families and Society
9.6 Policies and Programmes Implemented by the South African Government to Strengthen Families
9.7 Strengthening Families in Traumatised Societies
9.8 The Social Worker’s Essential Contribution to Strengthening Families and Building Healthy Human Relationships
9.9 Conclusion
References
Chapter 10: Fostering Healthy Human Relationships at Community Level in Post-Apartheid South Africa
10.1 Introduction and Background
10.2 Defining and Conceptualising Community
10.3 Ubuntu and the Value Dimension of Relationship Building in Communities
10.4 Social Capital and Social Relations in Communities
10.5 Associations and Relationships in Communities
10.6 Forms of Local Associations and Relationships in Communities
10.7 Recommendations
10.8 Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: A Developmental Social Work Practice Framework for Promoting Healthy Human Relationships for and Amongst Youth in South Africa
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Theoretical Frameworks
11.3 The Ecosystem Theory
11.4 Restorative Justice
11.5 Values Underlying Developmental Social Work
11.6 Absent Biological Fathers
11.7 Youth Unemployment
11.8 Involvement with Gangs
11.9 Developmental Social Work
11.10 Multi-Modal Response to Promoting Healthy Human Relationships
11.11 Mode of Poverty-Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods Strategies
11.12 Mode of Family-Centred and Community-Based Strategies
11.13 Restorative Practices
11.14 Modes of Community Information, Social Policy and Advocacy
11.15 Conclusion
References
Part IV: Policy and Legislation
Chapter 12: Social Policy, Social Welfare, Social Security, and Legislation in Promoting Healthy Human Relationships in Post-Apartheid South Africa
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Policy and Legislative Transformation since 1994
12.3 Legislation
12.4 Conceptual Definitions
12.5 How Policy Instruments and Legislation Can Promote Healthy Human Relationships
12.5.1 Old Age Grant (Pension)
12.5.2 Child Support Grant (CSG)
12.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 13: Social Protection as a Tool to Promote Healthy Human Relationships in South Africa
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Characteristics of the South African Society Pre- and Post-1994
13.3 Policy Instruments
13.4 Freedom Charter (1955) and the RDP (1994)
13.5 State-Led Assistance
13.6 The Values of Democratic Social Inclusion and Social Protection System
13.7 Findings of the Inter-departmental Task Team (1999)
13.8 The Taylor Committee of Inquiry (2002)
13.9 Social Protection System Boosts Women’s Access to Food
13.10 Social Grants Enhance Relationships Within Households
13.11 Conclusion
References
Chapter 14: Developmental Social Work Practice and Social Welfare Perspectives in Building Healthy Human Relationships in South Africa
14.1 Introduction
14.2 South Africa’s Approach to Social Welfare
14.3 Decolonised and Indigenous Social Work Practice Systems in Building Healthy Human Relationships
14.4 Conclusion
References
Part V: Future Prospects for Promoting Healthy Human Relationships in South Africa
Chapter 15: Conclusion
References
Index
