The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that contribute to the occurrence of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and street crime in Musina, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study also aims to identify intervention measures to address the impact of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and street life in Musina.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
- An overview
- Unaccompanied minors
- Streetism
- Problem statement
- Aim and objectives of the study
- Research questions
- Significance of the study
- Clarification of pertinent concepts
- Chapter division
- Conclusion
Children who run away from home and live on the street are called street children. The prevalence of unaccompanied minors and street children represents a serious challenge for South Africa.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
He looks deeply into the question of how work has become a big part of these children's lives.
Defining migration
Who are unaccompanied minors?
Most countries in Europe and North America are experiencing an increase in the flow of unaccompanied minors. Most of them apply for asylum when they arrive in the receiving country (Levinson, 2011; Zhang, 2010).
Defining streetism
Street children (those who work on the street to earn money but usually sleep at home). Street children (those who live and work on the streets without family support), (in Ansell, 2005).
Contributory factors to migration and streetism
- Child-headed households and abandoned children
- Orphans and other vulnerable children
- Agriculture
- Education
- Employment opportunities
- Poverty
- Divorce and parental neglect
The concept's relevance to the study is that the main respondents are unaccompanied migrant children living on the streets. Most of the children actually migrated to South Africa primarily to find greener pastures to take care of their families and themselves.
Children’s experiences on the street
Most children who run away from their homes or children's shelters often end up on the streets, as they rarely return home due to dysfunctional families or physical, mental and/or sexual abuse (Chinyakata, 2015). Eight children (61%) highlight the brutal and corrupt behavior of the police they encountered.
Working children
Boyden et al went on to say that “of this broad range of working children, it is the children working in the informal sector that are popularly regarded by the Western media as representing working children. This concept is of great importance for the study because work is one of the important daily activities in the life of street children.
Children’s rights
It is also one of the main factors or attractions that contribute to the phenomenon of unaccompanied and street children simply because work is rewarded with income that enhances their livelihood (Boyden et al., 1998). UNICEF's (2009) publication on “the state of the world's children” has a section providing a commentary on participation stating that “Participation is one of the guiding principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. ”, however, is viewed less seriously than the other vital principles of universality, the best interests of the child, survival and development.
Characteristics of Street children
When it comes to gender representation, the majority of street children are male (Lugalla & Mbwambo, 1999; Le Roux & Smith, 1998). Street children usually start living on the streets at an average age of nine to twelve.
Effects of unaccompanied minors and streetism
Street children earn their money through various criminal activities such as robbery, stealing, prostitution, drug abuse and car theft (Poro, 2010). The responses included; rude, aggressive, mean, insensitive, suspicious and afraid of street children because they think they are going to rob them.
Reasons for street children’s absence from shelters
The general public's perception is that street children are criminals and they are often subjected to hostile treatment by the authorities. Street children find ways to meet their daily needs due to very good organization.
Health care
Some of these street children depend on selling goods and begging at traffic lights for income. In addition to being exposed to HIV/AIDS (Lockhart, 2008; Magqibelo et al., 2016), street children are also exposed to other types of illnesses caused by the harsh environment in which they live.
Theoretical framework
- Push and pull theory
- The system schema model
- The household approach
This model is important for this study because of the role of royalty relations and non-migrants in the decision and in helping migrants to adapt to their new destination. However, the approach has been criticized for the difficulties of defining a household and making a general statement about it (Tanle, 2003).
Conclusion
33 According to this approach, the household is considered the "social arena where family members meet to make decisions regarding their well-being". Members of the household are collectively responsible for deciding who can go and who must stay.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
- Research design
- Research methodology
- Data collection methods
- Validity and reliability
- Validity
- Reliability
- Data analysis
- Location of the study
- Study population
- Sampling procedures
- Non-probability sampling
- Ethical considerations
- Informed consent
- Anonymity
- Confidentiality
- Voluntary participation
- Avoidance of harm
- Significance of the study
- Limitations of the study
- Conclusion
According to De Vos et al., (2013), study location refers to the geographical area in which the study was conducted. Purposive sampling which is also known as judgmental sampling is a sampling technique based entirely on the judgment of the researcher. The researcher had to explain to the respondents the purpose and objectives of the study and that their participation is voluntary.
To ensure that the respondents remain anonymous during data collection, the researcher did not use the real names of the respondents. The researcher tried to avoid this by assuring the respondents of the anonymity and confidentiality of the information they provided. It was also dangerous for the researcher to go to some of the dangerous spots like bridges or abandoned buildings to meet the respondents.
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
Biographical information
- Gender, age and nationality of primary respondents (Zimbabwean
- Gender, age, nationality and organisation/position/status of complimentary
The information was collected from ten Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets in Musina Town. In terms of gender, both men and women made up 50% of the total number of respondents, which was ten (five men and five women). 40% of the respondents were seventeen years old, 20% were 16 years old, another 20% were fifteen years old.
These are stakeholders who are concerned about the appearance of unaccompanied Zimbabwean street children in Musina. In terms of nationality, 75% of the respondents were South African and the remaining 25% were Zimbabwean nationals. Only 25% of the respondents were interviewed as residents of the city of Musina, and most of the 75% represented their organizations.
Data from Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets of Musina
- Theme 1: The prevalence of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean
- The prevalence of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors
- How they got to South Africa
- Why they chose to settle in Musina Town
- Theme 2: Factors contributing to the phenomenon of Zimbabwean
- Main contributory factors to the phenomenon of Zimbabwean
- Daily activities
- Theme 3: The effects of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied
- Challenges faced on the street
- Whether they have ever stayed in a shelter
- Preference of living on the streets than shelters
- Theme 4: Intervention strategies to address the challenges of the phenomenon
- Intervention strategies to curb the phenomenon of unaccompanied 09minors
All those interviewed stated that there were many Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets in Musina Town. In addition, respondent 3 provided an estimate of the number of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors staying on the streets in Musina Town. The interviewees went on to explain how the prevalence of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets is increasing in Musina Town.
All three were aware of the widespread phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets of Musina. Other respondents also agreed with the high prevalence of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets of Musina. This means that some Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets of Musina are working children.
Some Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors living on the streets of Musina have been abused by the police. As a result, such discrimination also contributes to the emergence of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and street crime in Musina.
Data collected form complimentary Respondents (organisations and residents)
- The effects of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and
- Intervention strategies to curb the problem of the phenomenon of
95 The respondents above stated that there is a high incidence of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town. Respondents further said that Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors were found on the streets in all twelve wards of Musina Town. From the extract above, it shows that the prevalence of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism is rapidly increasing on the streets of Musina Town.
The effects of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town streetism in Musina Town. All respondents were aware of the effects of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town. This makes it extremely difficult to find lasting and effective solutions to the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town.
Conclusion
OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY, FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 105
- Overview of the study
- Summary of the findings of the study
- Recommendations of the study
- Policy formulation
- Non-discriminatory access to shelters
- Border security
- Xenophobic tensions
- Future research
- Conclusion
Poor sustainability of shelters leads to shelter abandonment by Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors. Overcrowding in Musina town due to the influx of unaccompanied minors from Zimbabwe threatens the safety and security of the town. This also refers to deportation as an ineffective strategy to overcome reducing the phenomenon of unaccompanied Zimbabwean and street children in Musina.
109 strategies to tackle the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town. The study probed the factors contributing to the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town. Xenophobic tensions between Zimbabwe's unaccompanied minors and local residents are having a serious impact on the safety and security of the city.
A case study from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia‟. Street Outreach Workers Project: Audit and report on the reality of street people in the Cape Metropolitan Area. Unaccompanied Immigrant Children: A Growing Phenomenon With Few Easy Solutions, The Migration Policy Institute's Online Journal: Institute for Migration Policy. Home Truths: The phenomenon of residential care for children in an age of AIDS, The Children's Institute, University of Cape Town & the Center for the study of AIDS.
Gauteng Alliance for Street Children and Department of Social Development Gauteng Street Child Census: Findings of the Research Survey. Exploring mobility and migration in relation to rural-urban linkages; why gender and generation matter. Rural-urban migration of women from Wa district to Kumasi and Accra: A case study of the Kaya yei phenomenon.
APPENDICES
What are the main contributing factors to Zimbabwe's unaccompanied migration and streetism here in Musina Town. What strategies can be used to curb the problem of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town. What is the prevalence of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and streetism in Musina Town.
What are the effects of the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and street life in Musina. What strategies can be used to curb the phenomenon of Zimbabwean unaccompanied minors and street crime in Musina.
