South African government responses to the plight of street children: an analysis of policy development and implementation in Johannesburg

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.