Assessing the Impact of Diversion Programmes on Young Offenders in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Vongai P. Mangwiro ORCID iD, Pius T. Tanga ORCID iD & Gabriel A. Ekobi ORCID iD

Issue: Vol.5  No.16 Issue Article 22 pp.2960-2972
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202451622 | Published online 19th December, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Diversion programmes have been found to be effective mechanisms to reduce crime and change the behaviours of youth globally and in South Africa. However, studies done on diversion programmes have focused more on factors influencing crime, rates of recidivism and treatment of the offenders. This paper thus explored the impact of diversion programmes on young offenders in the Eastern Cape Province. The paper used a qualitative research approach, and 30 participants took part. An interview guide was employed to collect data from the participants and analysed thematically. Key themes identified are the types of diversion programmes and the different ways the diversion programmes influence the offenders. It was revealed that life skills, wilderness therapy and community pre-trial programmes were the types of diversion programmes offered to offenders. The programmes provided the opportunity for offenders to obtain decision-making skills and rational thinking which enabled them to manage their own lives. The study concluded that the programmes have helped empower and change the behaviours of the offenders for the better. However, the offenders were plagued with challenges such as the lack of money for transport and food which hindered empowerment. It is therefore recommended that the government and other stakeholders should ensure that parents and community members continue to support offenders as this could lead to a change of behaviour for the better. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of empowering and changing the behaviours of offenders.

Keywords: Diversion Programmes, Empowerment, Crimes, Skills, Young Offenders

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Vongai, P. Mangwiro is presently a social work lecturer in University of Zimbabwe. She holds a Phd in Social work, a Master’s Degree in social work and a social work honors degree all from the University Of Fort Hare, South Africa. Her research interests include, juvenile delinquency, green social work, mental health, gender issues, child welfare, HIV and AIDS. She has published book chapters and peer-reviewed articles.

Pius Tanga holds a PhD and is currently a full professor of Social Work at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa. His research interests are in household poverty dynamics, social protection, and social work education. Pius has published extensively, and he is a recipient of many research awards.

Gabriel Acha Ekobi is a postdoctoral fellow with the Department of Social Work and Social Development, University of Fort Hare, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Development Studies from the North West University, South Africa. He is a member of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa and the Memory Studies Association. His  research interests include food security, gender issues, informal economy, indigenous knowledge systems and social protection. He has published many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters

Mangwiro, Vongai P., Pius T. Tanga & Gabriel A. Ekobi. “Assessing the Impact of Diversion Programmes on Young Offenders in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.16 (2024):2960-2972. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202451622

© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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