South African government responses to the plight of street children: an analysis of policy development and implementation in Johannesburg
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Date
2010-03-04T11:09:24Z
Authors
Lefeh, Ngwenjah Rose
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The main aim of this study was to analyze South African government response to the
plight of street children. In order to achieve this aim, policies and legislation addressing
street children were examined through the lens of its formulation process and how they
are being implemented by the Gauteng Department of Social Development, the
Johannesburg City Council, South African Police Services, and street children NGOs
registered with the Department of Social Development. In order to ground the research on
knowledge foundation, a comprehensive review of literature was carried out. Findings
from data collected and documents reviewed, revealed that despite the adoption of a new
Act for children from the 1974 Child Care Act to the new 2005 Children’s Act and the
2006 Children’s Amendment Act, the target population concerned in this study still faces
difficulties being fully integrated in to the society as intended by the policies. Several
reasons have been attributed to this, but this study concludes that the weak collaboration
between NGOs and government departments and among stakeholders and the limited
resources for the implementation of the policies are the utmost.