Promoting Healthy Human Relationships in Post-Apartheid South Africa : Social Work and Social Development Perspectives

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. 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