Abstract
M.A.
This study emanates from the concern by the researcher's supervisees that the communities they are servicing appear to be reluctant to participate in developmental projects. Communities serviced fall under the Eerstehoek District (specifically Greater Mpuluzi or Mayflower) and are predominantly rural, but have a basic infrastructure like schools. clinics and shops. It is estimated that 50% of the population is unemployed, resulting in poverty and a high rate cf crime. (This is obtained from the sample taken from Crime Registers for Mayflower Department of Safety and Security: 1996 and Intake register for Mayflower Social Services Branch Office: 1996) The researcher observes that 80% of the development projects - like disabled protective workshops. day-care centres for able and disabled children. and older persons' clubs — progress to implementation but are not functioning well. Only 20% of projects (mostly crèches) are functioning well. (Statistics on community work projects and community work register :1997). The problems regarding participation as cited by supervisees are as follows: o At the beginning of the community development process, consultation is done with the community regarding the identification of their probiems and needs
whether individually or at a meeting level. The community co-operates well and at the first meeting, the turnout is good, but participation begins to decrease later on. o Community members are also reluctant to take portfolios and serve in committees. Sometimes people are chosen to serve in a committee but do not attend meetings. It also happens that tasks are allocated to committee members and when they are expected to provide feedback at the next meeting, it is discovered that they did not perform their allocated tasks. Participation is usually minimal because the social worker will be expected to carry out most of the tasks to be performed by the committee. Short-term projects like functions or celebrations are better attended, but then participants have difficulty in contributing to the expenditure of such projects.
It can thus be concluded that; although community development projects are initiated to benefit the members themselves, there is however reluctance to participate actively.