Being treated like ‘waste’ during the ‘golden years’:  Practical-theological perspectives

The South African Government published the Older Persons Act no. 13 of 2006. The objectives of the Act are inter alia to maintain and promote the status, well-being, safety and security of older persons, to maintain and protect their rights and to combat abuse of older persons. This act is indispensable, as the elderly (people of 65 and older) form a growing segment of the South African population (4.767% in 1996 − 5.019% in 2011). They are in many regards extremely vulnerable, as they often face negative views regarding older people, experience discrimination, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Many atrocities are committed against them and one hears horror stories of older people who are abused and/or neglected by their own children and/or other people. One could almost say that these people, during their so-called ‘golden years’, are treated like ‘human waste’. I will investigate this phenomenon and attempt to interpret it within the South African context. I will then identify certain biblical guidelines to orientate one’s attitude towards old age and the elderly. To conclude, I will propose strategies to prevent elder abuse and restore human dignity to them.

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Sex with robots: A not-so-niche market for disabled and older persons

Paladyn Journal of Behavioral Robotics ◽

10.1515/pjbr-2020-0009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 228-232

Author(s):

Adamantios Koumpis ◽

Thomas Gees

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Older People ◽

Older Persons ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Deep Roots ◽

Value System ◽

Sex Robots ◽

Per Se ◽

Sex Toys

AbstractIn this article, we present our experiences from research into the healthy ageing and well-being of older people and we report on our personal opinions of robots that may help the elderly to have sex and to cope with isolation and loneliness. However, and while there is a growing industry for sex robots and other sex toys and gadgets, there is also a growing concern about the ethics of such an industry. As is the case with pornography, the concept of sex robots may be criticized, yet it has deep roots in human civilization, with erotic depictions that date back to the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages. So the need for an artefact that would offer sexually relevant functionality is not new at all. But what might be new and worrying is the potential for using artificial intelligence in sex robots in ways that might cause a repositioning of our entire value system. Such a threat is not related to the proliferation of sex robots per se but to the use of robots in general and in a variety of other fields of application.

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Pathways through homelessness: the perceptions of homeless children in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Journal of Children s Services ◽

10.1108/jcs-01-2018-0002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 141-160

Author(s):

Anna Wilshire Jones Bornman ◽

Carol Jean Mitchell

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Well Being ◽

South African Context ◽

Homeless Children ◽

The South ◽

Research Attention ◽

Content Type ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

African Context

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore children’s pathways through homelessness within the South African context, with particular attention paid to pathways out of homelessness. This study focusses on factors influencing children’s successful transitions out of homelessness. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative exploratory design was used, using interviews with nine children who had exited or were in the process of exiting homelessness. Interviews were conducted at a children’s shelter in Pietermaritzburg or in the children’s home environments. Interviews were analysed thematically. Findings An ecological framework was used to frame the factors influencing children’s pathways in, through and out of homelessness in the children’s narratives. These included institutions, relationships and intrapersonal strengths and resources. The study suggested that constructive relationships with shelter staff and parental figures, as well as intrapersonal strengths, were the most prominent factors in children successfully negotiating their way through their homelessness. The importance of a relationship with the paternal family within some African cultures was also a point of leverage. Research limitations/implications Implications for policy and practise include the need for systemic change, as well as greater support for shelters and shelter staff. The issue of rivalry in the shelter context and the role of the paternal family in the reintegration process require more research attention. The research is limited to homeless children in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Practical implications This study provided feedback to the shelter regarding their strategies for assisting homeless children off the streets. It further provided evidence for the importance of the work of the shelter, to strengthen advocacy efforts. This may be useful to others in similar circumstances. Social implications This study highlights the importance of macrosystemic interventions in the efforts to assist homeless children, while at the same time not ignoring the inter and intra, personal elements to enhancing their well-being. Originality/value This paper is singular in its exploration of factors influencing children’s successful transitions out of homelessness within the South African context.

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Managing employee well-being: A qualitative study exploring job and personal resources of at-risk employees

SA Journal of Human Resource Management ◽

10.4102/sajhrm.v15i0.957 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Cecile Gauche ◽

Leon T. De Beer ◽

Lizelle Brink

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

South African ◽

Financial Services ◽

Well Being ◽

Job Resources ◽

Personal Resources ◽

South African Context ◽

The South ◽

African Context ◽

The Impact

Orientation: Job and personal resources influence the well-being of employees. Currently, limited information exists in literature surrounding the experience of these resources in employees identified as at-risk of burnout.Research purpose: To investigate the experience of job and personal resources from the perspectives of employees identified as at-risk of burnout.Motivation for the study: Empirical evidence on the integrative role and influence of job and personal resources on the well-being of employees in the South African context is currently limited. Attaining a better understanding of the manner in which at-risk employees experience resources can empower organisations to actively work towards creating an environment that allows for optimal employee well-being.Research design, approach and method: A phenomenological approach was taken to conduct the study in a South African-based financial services organisation. A combination of purposive and convenience sampling was used, and 26 employees agreed to participate. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and data analysis was performed through the use of thematic analysis.Main findings: Employees identified as at-risk of burnout acknowledged both job and personal resources as factors influencing their well-being. Participants in this study elaborated on received job resources as well as lacking job resources. Information was also shared by participants on personal resources through describing used personal resources as well as lacking personal resources.Practical/managerial implications: Knowledge gained from the study will contribute to empower organisations to better understand the impact of resources on the well-being of employees, and allow organisations to adapt workplace resources to ensure adequate and appropriate resources to facilitate optimal employee well-being.Contribution: This study contributes to the limited research available in the South African context regarding the experience of job and personal resources from the perspective of at-risk employees. The study may also enable organisations to create a workplace that is more supportive and empowering with appropriate resources to deliver on expected demands.

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Validation of the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire in a group of Black teachers: The SABPA study

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology ◽

10.4102/sajip.v39i1.1157 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mariette Vosloo ◽

Johan Potgieter ◽

Michael Temane ◽

Suria Ellis ◽

Tumi Khumalo

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Well Being ◽

Black Teachers ◽

South African Context ◽

The South ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychometric Instrument ◽

African Context ◽

Total Scale Score

Orientation: Recent literature has emphasised the important role that self-regulation plays in the mental health of individuals. The lack of a validated psychometric instrument to accurately measure self-regulation amongst Black South Africans however limits its potential impact within the challenging South African context.Research purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ) when used in a South African context, specifically focusing on Black South Africans.Motivation for the study: By commenting on the ability of the SSRQ to accurately capture the construct of self-regulation amongst Black educators, the current article serves to address and alleviate the lacunae in our understanding of self-regulation as a potentially protective factor.Research design, approach and method: The study was of a quantitative nature, and made use of a cross-sectional design and purposively selected study sample. Participants were urbanised Black teachers (N = 200) who completed the SSRQ and other measures of self-regulation and psychological well-being.Main findings: The reliability of the SSRQ total scale score proved satisfactory. Factor analysis produced five robust sub-constructs that were theoretically interpretable. Significant correlations between the SSRQ and other measures of self-regulation and psychological well-being also indicated good criterion-related validity.Practical/managerial implications: The availability of a reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of self-regulation in the South African context will enable both researchers and practitioners to better understand and utilise self-regulation in the enhancement of individual well-being.Contribution/value-add: The SSRQ’s ability to accurately measure self-regulation will contribute to our understanding of its role as preventive strength in the South African context. Refinement of item content will serve to further strengthen the SSRQ’s factor structure, and improve its validity for use within the Black South African population.

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The Assessment Of Intellectual Capital (Ic) In The South African Context – A Qualitative Approach

SA Journal of Human Resource Management ◽

10.4102/sajhrm.v1i1.4 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marius De Beer ◽

Neil Barnes

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Intellectual Capital ◽

Qualitative Methodology ◽

Qualitative Approach ◽

South African Context ◽

Research Groups ◽

The South ◽

The Status ◽

African Context

The aim of the article is to report on an investigation into IC as portrayed by thought leaders and research groups, against a South African background. An attempt was made to clarify relevant terminology, develop a model and methodology for South African application, and assess the status of IC within the South Africa context through a qualitative methodology using Focus Groups. Results indicated that IC in South Africa is still in the infancy stage. However, models and methodologies developed in other continents could with changes be applied in the South African context. OpsommingDie doel van hierdie artikel is om verslag te doen oor die ondersoek na Intellektuele Kapitaal (IK) soos voorgestel deur vakkundiges en navorsingsgroepe, teen die agtergrond van die Suid Afrikaanse situasie. ’n Poging is aangewend om tersaaklike terminologie te verklaar, ’n model en metodologie vir Suid Afrikaanse aanwending te ontwikkel, en dit sowel as die status van IK in die Suid Afrikaanse omgewing te ondersoek deur middel van ’n kwalitatiewe metodologie, naamlik fokusgroepe. IK in Suid Afrika is steeds in die kinderskoene. Modelle en metodologieë ontwikkel in ander lande kan egter met aanpassings aangewend word vir aanwending in die Suid Afrikaanse omgewing.

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An Analysis of the Right of a Muslim Child Born Out of Wedlock to Inherit from His or Her Deceased Parent in terms of the Law of Succession: A South African Case Study

Obiter ◽

10.17159/obiter.v42i1.11060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 126-135

Author(s):

Muneer Abduroaf

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Islamic Law ◽

Legal Framework ◽

The South ◽

The Status ◽

African Context ◽

The Law ◽

The Right ◽

Law Of Succession

This article analyses the right of a Muslim child born out of wedlock to inherit from his or her deceased parent in terms of the law of succession within the South African context. The status of the child in the South African and Islamic law of intestate succession is first investigated. Thereafter, the status of the child in the South African and Islamic law of testate succession is discussed. The article further looks at the possibility of applying the Islamic law of succession provisions concerning a Muslim child born out of wedlock to the distribution of a deceased estate within the South African legal framework. The article concludes with an analysis of the findings and makes recommendations.

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Conceptualising the professional identity of industrial or organisational psychologists within the South African context

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology ◽

10.4102/sajip.v42i1.1379 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Llewellyn E. Van Zyl ◽

Elzabe Nel ◽

Marius W. Stander ◽

Sebastiaan Rothmann

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Professional Identity ◽

South African ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Well Being ◽

Study Data ◽

South African Context ◽

The South ◽

Managerial Implications ◽

African Context

Orientation: Lack in congruence amongst industrial and organisational psychologists (IOPs) as to the conceptualisation of its profession poses a significant risk as to the relevance, longevity and professional identity of the profession within the South African context.Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the professional identity of IOPs within the South African context. Specifically, the aim of this study was four-fold: (1) to develop a contemporary definition for IOP, (2) to investigate IOP roles, (3) to determine how the profession should be labelled and (4) to differentiate IOP from human resource management (HRM) from IOPs’ perspectives within South Africa.Motivation for the study: IOPs do not enjoy the same benefits in stature or status as other professions such as medicine, finances and engineering in the world of work. IOPs need to justify its relevance within organisational contexts as a globally shared understanding of ‘what it is’, ‘what it does’ and ‘what makes it different from other professions’, which is non-existent. In order to enhance its perceived relevance, clarity as to IOPs professional identity is needed.Research design, approach and method: A post-positivistic qualitative content analytic and descriptive research design was employed in this study. Data from practising industrial and organisational psychology (IOP) within South Africa (N = 151) were gathered through an electronic web-based survey and were analysed through thematic content analysis.Main findings: The results indicate that IOP in South Africa seeks to optimise the potential of individuals, groups, organisations and the community by implementing scientific processes to support both individual and organisational wellness and sustainability. ‘Work Psychology’ was considered a more fitting professional designation or label than industrial and/or organisational psychology. The industrial psychologist’s major roles related to the well-being and development of employees. A clear distinction between a more dynamic, pro-active approach of IOP compared to a more transactional approach of HRM was also evident. IOP within South Africa appears to have a community development function.Practical/managerial implications: The longevity, relevance and impact of IOP as a profession requires alignment amongst practitioners as to shared common professional identity.Contribution/value-add: This study provides a contemporary understanding of the roles, functions, labels and unique value proposition of industrial and organisational psychology within the South African context.

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