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Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614054552436736 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Rickerts, Caitlin |
| author2 | Borchardt, Stephanie Paula |
| author_browse | Borchardt, Stephanie Paula Rickerts, Caitlin |
| author_facet | Borchardt, Stephanie Paula Rickerts, Caitlin |
| author_sort | Rickerts, Caitlin |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135902 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:56.159Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135902 Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape Rickerts, Caitlin Borchardt, Stephanie Paula Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Rickerts, C. 2026. Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/c8bf9e21-4fcf-4343-8572-d2da6bc5f22d This thesis examines the intersection of Independent Power Producers’ (IPPs) contributions to local community development, with the development of children and school-going youth in the small town of Sutherland, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Sutherland, despite being a hub for scientific endeavours like the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and the Southern Africa Large Telescope (SALT), grapples with persistent structural constraints, notably poverty, which fuel pervasive social issues such as high rates of teenage pregnancy and school dropouts. The town has recently become a hub for renewable energy, hosting five REIPPPs. This research employed a qualitative case study design, recruiting participants through purposive and snowball sampling based on the criterion that all participants were 18 years or older. Observations took place around the town, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers from the high school, primary school, school governing body members, a healthcare representative, and IPP officials. Focus group discussions were also held with residents, including parents, teachers, and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Documents such as the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality (KHM), the Auditor-General of South Africa reports on the KHM, and the Independent Power Producer’s (IPP) Office documents were analysed as well. The inclusion of educators, IPP representatives, and community stakeholders enabled the triangulation of perspectives from actors closely involved in children’s upbringing and education. The research primarily focuses on education, as it is the main vehicle for IPP-mandated development aimed at children. This criterion also serves as the fundamental basis on which children develop their abilities, enabling them to lead lives they have reason to value. As such, my findings reveal that current development efforts are two-fold. In a context like this, where poverty prevails, development efforts such as donations to the school help address the current, visible challenges where learners do not have the necessary supplies to engage in meaningful learning. However, practical challenges, such as children not bringing donated supplies to school, parents wearing clothes meant for them, or technological challenges arising, suggest that real development has not occurred. Instead, these efforts can be understood as ‘band-aids’, providing temporary fixes without addressing the underlying structural issues. From this perspective, socio-economic development is driven by charismatic technologies and meantime projects to meet the IPPs scorecard requirements. This top-down approach thus leads to development that does not align with the local community's context. Additionally, the influx of construction workers living temporarily in the town not only increases inequality but also deepens young girls' vulnerability, as seen in the rise of transactional relationships between these men and the town's women. This study concludes that a significant disjuncture exists between prevailing development strategies and the community’s actual needs and challenges. It calls on Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and policymakers to critically reassess their approach, advocating for strategic, context-sensitive development and robust accountability frameworks to ensure that such initiatives promote genuine empowerment rather than entrench further marginalisation. Masters 2026-04-14T12:50:04Z 2026-04-14T12:50:04Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135902 en Stellenbosch University 197 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Rickerts, Caitlin Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape |
| title | Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape |
| title_full | Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape |
| title_short | Exploring Child and Youth Development: A Case Study of Development Projects Funded by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Sutherland, Northern Cape |
| title_sort | exploring child and youth development a case study of development projects funded by independent power producers ipps in sutherland northern cape |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135902 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rickertscaitlin exploringchildandyouthdevelopmentacasestudyofdevelopmentprojectsfundedbyindependentpowerproducersippsinsutherlandnortherncape |