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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
The City of Cape Town’s Department of Sport, Recreation and Amenities (DoSRA), together with
Monaco, has identified the area of Protea Park, within Atlantis, as an ideal place to develop a new
community development project that is focused on sports and recreation. Given the prevailing socioeconomic conditions in Atlantis there is a strong case in support of the need for such an initiative.
In order to ensure that the project effectively meets the most pressing needs of the community in Protea
Park, the City of Cape Town commissioned Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd to
conduct in-depth quantitative and qualitative research into the inherent socio-economic conditions and
social problems and needs within Protea Park, and at the same time assess the impact of existing
0community development initiatives in Atlantis. Ultimately, this information will be used to develop a
new sports and recreation initiative that effectively facilitates community development within Protea
Park. This report presents the preliminary findings that have emerged from the research process.
Methodology
The research study was undertaken using a multi-faceted research methodology. This approach
included a brief desktop research phase, together with a comprehensive stakeholder engagement
process that comprised a consultation workshop with key members of the community, a baseline
household survey of 260 households in Protea Park and five one-on-one interviews with key
stakeholders within the community development sphere in Atlantis.
In addition, telephone calls were made to representatives of a number of existing community
development organisations and initiatives operating within Atlantis to inform the development of a
database of existing community development organisations and initiatives operating in the area.
Community Consultation Workshop Report
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An initial community consultation workshop was facilitated by Mthente on 31 March 2011 with 23 key
members of the community in Atlantis. A number of findings emerged from the workshop discussions
related to the existing social problems and needs in Protea Park and Atlantis; existing community
development initiatives operating in Atlantis; proposals for new sports and recreation initiatives; and the
role that community members could play in such initiatives.
Existing social problems and needs in Atlantis and Protea Park
The workshop participants highlighted the following social problems that currently existing in Protea
Park and Atlantis:

The prevalence of drugs and drug abuse.

Widespread poverty and unemployment:

A lack of employment opportunities for the youth after they have left school.

A lack of development of sport for the youth within Atlantis.

The predominance of gangsters in Atlantis.

A lack of role models for the youth in the community.
In turn, the following social needs were emphasised by the workshop participants:

Economic development in terms of employment creation.

A higher education facility for the youth in Atlantis to further their education

Improvements to currently poor or non-existing sports infrastructure:

Increased priority in municipal accounts in the allocation of budgets for the development of
sport in school.

Training education for sports trainers.

Hospitals need to be upgraded (hospitals are in poor condition).

The present focus is heavily weighted towards soccer and rugby, but the development of other
sporting activities is currently hindered by a lack of support and development mechanisms.
These include: gymnastics, dance, a ramp for skateboarders and provision for cyclists.

A greater number of activities for children.
Turning to existing challenges to the development of sport in Atlantis the workshop participants pointed
to a lack of parental involvement in children’s sporting activities and the reality that sports
administrators are required to take responsibility for other people’s children. This prompted a number of
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suggestions related to the need to get parents involved in supporting their children’s sporting
endeavours.
Existing organisations and initiatives that could serve as potential
partners for the City of Cape Town’s sports and recreation
initiative
The workshop participants highlighted the following organisations as potential partners for the City of
Cape Town in the promotion of sports and recreation initiatives in Atlantis:

Schools within Protea Park.

Lovelife.

Churches.

Protea Park Clinic.
Proposals for sports and recreation initiatives to effectively
address social problems and needs in Protea Park
The workshop participants suggested a number of possible initiatives that could be introduced to
facilitate community development in Protea Park by addressing the existing social problems and needs
of the community. These included:

Establishing a sports academy.

Forming a sporting or coaching committee.

Constructing a sports complex.

Establishing a community vegetable garden.

Establishing a higher education facility or tertiary education institution within Atlantis.

Increasing opportunities for team sports.

Launching a sports summit.
Potential role for community
recreation initiatives
members
in
new
sports
and
Several participants emphasised the need for members of the community to take ownership of
community development initiatives within Atlantis. It was also argued that parents of children in Atlantis
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should take ownership of sport and recreation activities and initiatives, and implement and manage
them in conjunction with trainers, coaches and administrators.
Desktop Research
Socio-economic profile of Atlantis
Using information drawn from previous research studies conducted in Atlantis, the following
demographic and socio-economic economic profile was developed for Atlantis:
Population Demographics

The coloured population accounts for nearly three quarters of the total population in Atlantis.
There are also comparatively large shares of whites (nearly 16 percent) and black Africans (10
percent).

There are marginally more females than males in Atlantis.

Atlantis is home to a large youth population with nearly 40 percent under the age of 20, and
approximately 36 percent aged between 15 and 34 years.

Atlantis is home to a large potentially economically active population, with two-thirds aged
between 15 and 64 years.
Household Incomes

The majority of households in Atlantis are low income households, with approximately three
quarters earning no more than R76 800 annually.

Only small shares of households fall into higher income categories.
Employment

There is a high level of unemployment in Atlantis. Statistics from 2001 showed that nearly 31
percent of the economically active population was unemployed.

There is some evidence that unemployment in Atlantis has increased significantly since 2001.

Employment in Atlantis is heavily skewed in favour of lower skilled occupations.

Only a small proportion of those actively employed are employed in highly skilled occupations.
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Education

Levels of educational attainment are generally low in Atlantis.

Almost 8 percent of the population have no schooling whatsoever and less than 14 percent
have completed their schooling up to the end of Grade 12.

The share of the population that has attained some form of higher education qualification is
alarmingly low.
Socio-Economic Status Index

Atlantis has a high S.E.S Index of 46.2 and ranks among the worst 20 percent of suburbs with
respect to socio-economic status.

The S.E.S Index for Protea Park is even higher at 51.8.
Social problems and needs in Atlantis
The prevailing socio-economic conditions in Atlantis have been exacerbated by a variety of social
problems. The desktop research highlighted the following as the most prominent social problems and
needs in Atlantis:

Atlantis is plagued by widespread drug and alcohol abuse, particularly among its youth
population.

Drug and alcohol abuse has been cited as a contributory cause to other social problems such
as crime and child abuse.

There is a high level of crime and gangsterism in Atlantis.

The incidence of crime in Atlantis appears to be on the increase.

There is an alarmingly high prevalence of maltreatment and abuse of children in Atlantis,
including sexual abuse.

The community in Atlantis is affected by a comparatively high share of HIV/AIDS related
deaths.

Poor socio-economic circumstances as well as poverty and low levels of household income
have also contributed to the prevalence of these social problems.
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In turn, the following were highlighted through the desktop research process as key social and
community needs in Atlantis:

Residents have expressed safety concerns and dissatisfaction with the state of existing
community recreation facilities in Atlantis.

Residents believe that a youth centre is required to serve as a focal point for the youth in
Atlantis to participate in constructive activities.

There have also been calls for a rehabilitation centre to be established to assist individuals to
recover from drug addiction.

Community members have also called for a training centre to be established to address the
high rate of unemployment in Atlantis.

A 2008 HSRC study highlighted the need for more experienced social workers in Atlantis.
Baseline Household Survey in Protea Park
Demographic profile of survey respondents
The key demographic characteristics of the sample of 260 households included in the baseline
household survey conducted in Protea Park were as follows:
Age and gender of respondents

More than half (50.8 percent) of the sampled population were aged between 16 and 40 years.

Just 13.5 percent of the total sample was aged 60 years or older.

There were marginally more female respondents (50.4 percent) in comparison to males (49.6
percent) in the total sample.
Race profile of respondents

Almost all of the respondents (99.6 percent) were coloured.

There were only a small number of black respondents.
Employment status of respondents
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
More than one third of the total sample (36.9 percent) is currently engaged in full-time
employment.

This exceeded the equivalent share of respondents (30.8 percent) that are currently
unemployed.

The sample also included a relatively high share (13 percent) of retirees or pensioners.

Approximately one in five respondents is employed as a service worker or as shop or market
sales worker.

There are also relatively large shares of respondents employed as craft and related trades
workers (18.3 percent), technicians or associate professionals (13.9 percent) or plant and
machine operators or assemblers (10.4 percent).
Education levels

The highest level of education for nearly 45 percent of the total sample was between Grades 8
and 11.

Close to one third (31.9 percent) of the respondents had attained a matric (Grade 12)
education.

There was also a relatively large share (18 percent) that had only completed some or all of their
primary schooling.

The proportion of the respondents that had attained some form of higher education totaled just
5 percent.
Household incomes

A large share of respondents reported low incomes.

The share of higher income earning households was notably smaller.
Existing Social Problems and Needs in Protea Park
In terms of the existing social problems in Protea Park, the baseline household survey revealed the
following:

The most prominent social problems in Protea Park are:
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o Unemployment.
o Drug abuse.
o Alcohol abuse.
o Robbery and theft.
o Poverty.

Gangsterism, violent crime and inequality represent other prominent social problems.

Gangs do not have any influence on where nearly half of the respondents (47.3 percent) go
and what they do in Atlantis.

But the presence of gangs is either “influential” or “very influential” in determining where more
than one third of the respondents (37.6 percent) go and what they do.

The majority of respondents (81.9 percent) feel that alcohol abuse is most prevalent among
those aged between 16 and 25.

The majority of respondents (90.8 percent) believe that the extent of alcohol abuse among
males and females is broadly the same.

An overwhelming majority (95.8 percent) of respondents believe that drug abuse is most
prevalent among those aged between 16 and 25.

The majority of respondents (90 percent) believe that the extent of drug abuse among males
and females is essentially the same.
In turn, the following key findings emerged from the baseline household survey in terms of what is
required to address these social problems in Protea Park:

More than half of the respondents (54.2 percent) feel that economic development and
employment creation is needed.

The need for a youth centre was cited by the second largest number of respondents.

Other prominent needs were:
o Sports infrastructure and facilities.
o A training or skills development centre for community members.
o Sports development for the youth.

More than three quarters (77.7 percent) of the respondents feel that the introduction of sports
and recreation initiatives could serve to create jobs for the Protea Park community.

It was also relatively widely felt that sports and recreation initiatives could:
o Reduce inactivity by providing activities for individuals to participate in.
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o Develop the skills of community members.
o Increase community involvement or cohesion.
Existing community development organisations and initiatives in
Atlantis
In assessing the effectiveness of existing community development organisations and initiatives in
Atlantis, on balance, the survey respondents felt that the influence of existing community development
organisations and initiatives on community development has been limited. Furthermore, the bulk of the
survey respondents felt that the existing community development organisations and initiatives have not
been effective at all in addressing the social needs present in Atlantis.
In highlighting organisations that could potentially assist the City of Cape Town in the promotion of a
sports and recreation initiative, the following key findings emerged from the baseline household survey:

More than 70 percent of the respondents highlighted the role that existing schools in Protea
Park can play in promoting sports and recreation initiatives.

Approximately 60 percent of respondents also felt that churches in Protea Park could assist.

Smaller, but still significant numbers of respondents highlighted Lovelife (25.5 percent) and the
Protea Park Clinic (22.8 percent) as potential partners.

Approximately three quarters of the respondents suggested that the existing community
development organisations could assist through the provision of funding.

Other prominent areas where respondents felt they could assist included through the provision
of:
o Facilities and resources.
o Volunteers.
o Strategic input.
Possible Sports and Recreation Initiatives to Address Social
Problems in Protea Park
In terms of sports and recreation initiatives that would be most effective in facilitating community
development in Protea Park:
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
The most widespread suggestion – expressed by more than two thirds of the respondents –
was to establish a sports academy in Protea Park.

Other prominent suggestions included:
o Building a sporting complex.
o Establishing a sporting or coaching committee.
o Increasing the number of team sports in Protea Park.
Community Involvement in a Proposed Sports and Recreation
Initiative in Protea Park
Focusing on the level of desire among community members in Protea Park to become involves
personally in a new initiative, the baseline household survey revealed that:

More than half of the respondents (53.8 percent) are not willing to become involved personally
in some capacity in a new sports and recreation initiative.

Among those that would like to be involved, the most common ways would be through:
o Coaching.
o Encouraging others to participate in the initiative.
o Participating directly in the activities.
o Assisting with the management of funds.
o Assisting with planning, organisation or decision making.
o Assisting with the development of programmes and facilities.
o Providing financial support or sponsorship for the initiative.
More broadly, the following suggestions emerged from the baseline household survey related to
community involvement in a new sports and recreation initiative:

More than half (54.8 percent) of the respondents felt that community members could contribute
through volunteer participation in running the daily operations of the initiative.

Other prominent areas suggested by respondents where community members could contribute
were through:
o Encouraging individuals to become involved in the initiative.
o Providing funding for the initiative.
o Participation on a steering committee for the initiative.
o Assisting with the upkeep/maintenance of sports and recreation facilities.
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Stakeholder Interviews Report
Strengths and weaknesses of existing community development
initiatives
When asked to assess the strengths of existing community development initiatives and organisations
operating in Atlantis, the five stakeholders mostly framed their responses in terms of the positive
influence of the individuals working within these initiatives.
The five stakeholders also highlighted a number of perceived weaknesses in the current community
development efforts in Atlantis, including:

A lack of clarity in terms of their objectives and intended impact.

A tendency to seek to address all social problems at once.

Concentration in certain areas, with coverage not spread across Atlantis.

Failure to achieve a lasting legacy.
The five stakeholders also highlighted several social and community development problems and needs
that they believed were currently not addressed by the existing community development initiatives. The
most prominent issues were drug abuse and gangsterism. A failure to address a fundamental shortage
of facilities and equipment was also highlighted. Two stakeholders also expressed the view that the
existing community development organisations and initiatives have not been effective in terms of job
creation and addressing unemployment in Atlantis.
Proposals for new sports and recreation initiatives to address
social problems in Protea Park
The most prominent proposals provided by the stakeholders for new sports and recreation initiatives
that would be effective in addressing the prevailing social problems and needs in Protea Park were to:

Build a new multi-purpose sports facility or centre.

Establish a network of all existing sports clubs in Atlantis.

Develop a new initiative focused on crime prevention through sport.
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In terms of the potential role that community members could play in a new sports and recreation
initiative, the stakeholders listed the following:

Direct and active management and ownership of the initiative.

Volunteering.

The provision of support through local businesses.

Assistance in protecting new infrastructure and facilities from vandalism.

Supporting those that are involved in actual sports and recreation activities linked to the
initiatives.
Conclusion
There would appear to be significant scope for the introduction of a new sports and recreation initiative
in Protea Park. Among the surveyed residents, the majority believe that the existing community
development initiatives and organisations in operation within Atlantis have not been effective in
addressing the most prominent social problems and needs confronting the community. Moreover, many
community members expressed dissatisfaction at the availability and current state of community sports
and recreation facilities in Atlantis.
The findings from the research study provide direction as to what sort of sports and recreation initiative
could be implemented in Protea Park. At the most fundamental level, the presence of a youthful
population in Atlantis suggests that attention in the initiative should be given to addressing the social
problems and needs that are most acutely felt by the youth within Protea Park.
In practical terms, the primary proposals emerging from the community consultation workshop included
diverse initiatives ranging from those focused on constructing new physical infrastructure and facilities
such as establishing a sports academy, constructing a new sports complex or establishing a sports and
recreation information desk, to more administrative proposals such as the formation of an overarching
sporting committee, increasing opportunities for team sports, or launching a sports summit. Echoing
one of these recommendations, the most widespread suggestion put forward by the household survey
respondents was in favour of the establishment of a sports academy in Protea Park. This was followed
in order of prominence by the shares of respondents that proposed building a sporting complex,
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establishing a sporting or coaching committee and increasing the number of team sports available to
individuals in Protea Park.
Recommendations
The findings from the research study give rise to some initial recommendations that should be
considered when looking to define the precise nature and conceptualisation of a community
development project based on sport and recreational activities to be implemented in Protea Park.
Specifically, the City of Cape Town should take cognisance of the following general considerations:
 The initiative should include a job creation element.
 The initiative should focus on addressing the social problems and needs that are felt most
acutely by the youth in Protea Park.
 The initiative should ensure that the presence of gangs and the prevalence of crime do not
affect the participation of community members.
 The initiative should include a focus on getting parents actively involved in the sporting
activities of their children.
 The City of Cape Town should look to partner with existing community development
organisations and initiatives.
With these general considerations in mind, the City of Cape Town should give consideration to the
following proposals for specific sports and recreation initiatives to be implemented in Protea Park:
 Establish a multi-purpose sports facility in Protea Park.
 Establish a Sports Academy in Protea Park.
 Establish an overarching sports and recreation steering committee in Protea Park.
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ i
List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................ 4
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................. 5
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ 6
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1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 8
2. METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................................... 11
2.1 Desktop Research ............................................................................................................................. 12
2.2 Community Consultation Workshop .................................................................................................. 12
2.3 Baseline Household Survey in Protea Park ....................................................................................... 13
2.4 Stakeholder interviews and development database of community development organisations ........ 15
3. COMMUNITY CONSULTATION WORKSHOP REPORT........................................................................ 17
3.1 Existing social problems and needs in Atlantis and Protea Park ....................................................... 18
3.2 Existing community development initiatives operating in Atlantis ...................................................... 21
3.3 Existing organisations that could serve as potential partners for a new sports and recreation
initiative .......................................................................................................................................................
3.4 Proposals for sports and recreation initiatives to effectively address social problems and needs in
Protea Park ............................................................................................................................................. 22
3.5 Potential role for community members in new sports and recreation initiatives ................................. 24
4. DESKTOP RESEARCH........................................................................................................................... 26
4.1 A Socio-Economic Profile of Atlantis ................................................................................................. 27
4.2 Social Problems and Needs .............................................................................................................. 33
5. REPORT ON BASELINE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN PROTEA PARK ................................................... 39
5.1 Demographic Profile of Survey Respondents .................................................................................... 40
5.2 Existing Social Problems and Needs in Protea Park ......................................................................... 49
5.3 Existing Community Development Organisations and Initiatives in Atlantis ...................................... 59
5.4 Possible Sports and Recreation Initiatives to Address Social Problems in Protea Park .................... 66
5.5 Community Involvement in a Proposed Sports and Recreation Initiative in Protea Park ................... 70
6. STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS REPORT ............................................................................................... 73
6.1 Evaluating existing community development initiatives in Atlantis ..................................................... 74
6.2 Proposals for new sports and recreation initiatives to address social problems in Protea Park ........ 76
7. DATABASE OF EXISTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES .............................................. 80
8. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 99
9. RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 102
9.1 General considerations for a new sports and recreation initiative in Protea Park ............................ 103
9.2 Initial proposals for an actual sports and recreation initiative in Protea Park ................................... 106
APPENDIX I .............................................................................................................................................. 109
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References ................................................................................................................................................ 111
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List of Acronyms
CPF
Community Policing Forum
DoSRA
Department of Sport, Recreation and Amenities (City of Cape Town)
HSRC
Human Sciences Research Council
SAPS
South African Police Service
SPSS
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
UWC
University of the Western Cape
YMCA
Young Men’s Christian Association
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List of Tables
Table 1: Representatives of existing community development initiatives selected for in-depth one-onone interviews.............................................................................................................................................. 15
Table 2: Recommendations made by workshop participants to address social problems in Atlantis ........... 19
Table 3: Recommendations made by workshop participants to address challenges to the development
of sport in Atlantis ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Table 4: Existing community development organisations and initiatives in Atlantis identified by workshop
participants .................................................................................................................................................. 21
Table 5: Age distribution of Atlantis population, 2006 .................................................................................. 28
Table 6: Distribution of annual household incomes in Atlantis, 2006 ........................................................... 29
Table 7: Employment by occupation in Atlantis, 2001 ................................................................................. 31
Table 8: Dominant age grouping by gender................................................................................................. 42
Table 9: Respondents’ employment status by gender ................................................................................. 44
Table 10: Disaggregated results of respondents’ perceptions of what is needed to address social
problems in Protea Park across gender and age categories ....................................................................... 55
Table 11: Disaggregated results of respondents’ perceptions of what sports and recreation initiative in
Protea Park would be most effective in facilitating community development across gender and age
categories .................................................................................................................................................... 67
Table 12: Stakeholders’ recommendations for a new sports and recreation initiative in Atlantis ................. 76
Table 13: Community development organisations and initiatives operating in Atlantis ................................ 84
Table 14: Atlantis Project Consultation Workshop Participants ................................................................. 110
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Age profile of sampled respondents ............................................................................................. 41
Figure 2: Racial profile of respondents ........................................................................................................ 43
Figure 3: Employment status of survey respondents ................................................................................... 44
Figure 4: Respondents’ occupations............................................................................................................ 45
Figure 5: Highest level of education attained by respondents ..................................................................... 46
Figure 6: Survey respondents’ combined average monthly household incomes ......................................... 47
Figure 7: Existing social problems in Protea Park........................................................................................ 49
Figure 8: Extent to which gangs influence where people go and what they do in Protea Park .................... 51
Figure 9: Respondents’ perceptions of which age group abuses alcohol the most in Protea Park .............. 52
Figure 10: Respondents’ perceptions of which gender group abuses alcohol the most in Protea Park ....... 52
Figure 11: Respondents’ perceptions of which age group abuses alcohol the most in Protea Park ............ 53
Figure 12: Respondents’ perceptions of which gender group abuses drugs the most in Protea Park ......... 54
Figure 13: Respondents’ recommendations of what is needed to address the social problems present in
Protea Park.................................................................................................................................................. 55
Figure 14: Respondents’ perceptions of how sports and recreation initiatives can address social
problems in Protea Park .............................................................................................................................. 58
Figure 15: Respondents’ rating of the overall effectiveness of existing community development
initiatives and organisations in Atlantis ........................................................................................................ 60
Figure 16: Respondents’ perceptions as to how effectively Atlantis’ social needs have been address by
existing community development initiatives and organisations .................................................................... 61
Figure 17: Respondents’ proposals for organisations that can assist the City of Cape Town in promoting
sports and recreation initiatives in Atlantis ................................................................................................... 63
Figure 18: Respondents’ recommendations of how existing community development organisations can
assist in the promotion of sports and recreation initiatives ........................................................................... 64
Figure 19: Respondents’ perceptions of the most effective sports and recreation initiatives to facilitate
community development .............................................................................................................................. 66
Figure 20: Respondents’ willingness to participate in some way in a new sports and recreation initiative
in Protea Park .............................................................................................................................................. 70
Figure 21: Respondents’ suggestions of how community members can contribute to a new sports and
recreation initiative in Protea Park ............................................................................................................... 71
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1. INTRODUCTION
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Atlantis was established as a township in the 1970s in an attempt to draw people to the area through
the creation of employment opportunities in the clothing, textiles and motoring industries.1 More
recently, however, the closure of a number of factories in the area has led to a scarcity of job
opportunities, contributing to a gradual process of economic and social decay in the community – with
crime, drugs and unemployment being the principal problems.
Given the prevailing socio-economic conditions in Atlantis there is a strong case in support of the need
for a new community development project in the area. Furthermore, the predominance of youth within
the population of Atlantis, coupled with the myriad social problems confronting this sector of the
population, suggests that a sports and recreation initiative may be best suited to facilitate effective
community development in Atlantis. Moreover, the results of a previous community needs analysis
conducted through the Atlantis Transformation Research Project suggest that a sports and recreation
initiative could play a significant role in the process of transforming the socio-economic landscape in
Atlantis and addressing the social ills that currently beset the community.
With this in mind, the City of Cape Town’s Department of Sport, Recreation and Amenities (DoSRA),
together with Monaco, has identified the area of Protea Park, within Atlantis, as an ideal place to
develop a project of this nature. In order to ensure that the project effectively meets the most pressing
needs of the community in Protea Park, the City of Cape Town commissioned Mthente Research and
Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd to conduct in-depth quantitative and qualitative research into the inherent
socio-economic conditions and social problems and needs within Protea Park, and at the same time
assess the impact of existing community development initiatives in Atlantis and, ultimately, use the
information to develop a new sports and recreation initiative that effectively facilitates community
development within Protea Park.
This report presents the preliminary findings that have emerged from this research process. In
accordance with the terms of reference for the project, the research study has focused on the following
principal objectives:

To establish, through a situational analysis, the status of the Protea Park population, and to
undertake a reasoned assessment of the major socio-economic conditions present in Protea
Park.
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
To identify key community development initiatives that are currently underway in Atlantis (with a
specific focus on Protea Park), and provide a detailed identification of the initiatives in progress
and the organisations involved.

To investigate the social problems and needs in Protea Park from the perspective of residents
and identify in conjunction with the residents new proposals for developing community-based
sport and recreation initiatives.

To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of community development initiatives in progress,
identify needs and gaps in community development initiatives, and explore opportunities for
partnerships.

To analyse the research results in partnership with the DoSRA and develop a summary report
detailing these results.
Ultimately, the results emanating from the research study, and presenting in this preliminary report, will
be used to:

Establish a conceptual framework and formulate a project (narrative and budget formulation) to
support a community development process based on sport and recreational activities.

Establish the set of indicators necessary to monitor the effects of the abovementioned project
and to assess its impact (providing baseline values of these indicators).

Ensure the participation of local decision makers and their support through the research
process and project formulation.
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2. METHODOLOGY
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The research study was undertaken using a multi-faceted research methodology. This approach
included a brief desktop research phase, together with a comprehensive stakeholder engagement
process that comprised a consultation workshop with key members of the community, a baseline
household survey of 260 households in Protea Park and a small number of one-on-one interviews with
key stakeholders within the community development sphere in Atlantis. The details of each the
components of this methodological approach are summarised in the sub-sections below.
2.1 Desktop Research
In order to contextualise the research study, the research team began by undertaking a thorough
desktop review of policy documents, previous research and other relevant material in order to construct
a preliminary profile of demographic and socio-economic conditions in Atlantis, before documenting the
most prominent social problems and needs in the area. Where disaggregated information was
available, specific focus was placed on profiling the prevailing socio-economic conditions, social
problems and needs in Protea Park. In undertaking this desktop component of the research study, the
research team also drew on the findings contained in an earlier Recreation Study that Mthente recently
completed for the City of Cape Town.
The information gathered through the desktop research process was also used to inform the
development of a discussion guide for the community consultation workshop that formed the next
phase of the research methodology, as well as the development of a database of community
development initiatives in Atlantis. Furthermore, information obtained through the desktop research
informed the development of the baseline household survey questionnaire as well as the semistructured questionnaire used in a series of in-depth interviews with key community development
stakeholders in Atlantis.
2.2 Community Consultation Workshop
As the first component of the comprehensive stakeholder engagement process, an exploratory
consultation workshop was held with key community stakeholders at the Rebecca van Amsterdam Hall
in Protea Park, Atlantis on 31 March 2011. The workshop was attended by a total of 23 community
representatives, which included a councillor, representatives of various community development
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organisations and initiatives, and ordinary members of the Protea Park community (the names of the 23
workshop participants are provided in Appendix I).
The primary purpose of the workshop was to provide a platform for key members of the Atlantis and
Protea Park communities to discuss their experiences pertaining to sport and recreation within Protea
Park and Atlantis and highlight what role they believe sport and recreation can play in alleviating the
prevailing social problems and addressing the existing social needs in Protea Park and Atlantis. In this
way, the workshop was also served as a means to gain buy-in for the proposed project from key
stakeholders within the community. In turn, the information gathered during the course of the workshop
discussion was also issued to inform the development of the quantitative baseline household survey
questionnaire as well as the the discussion guide for the in-depth stakeholder interviews.
The workshop was facilitated by an experienced Mthente facilitator and the workshop proceedings were
transcribed and analysed thematically in accordance with best practice qualitative research techniques.
The key findings emerging from the workshop discussions were then compiled into a comprehensive
summarised consultation workshop report.
2.3 Baseline Household Survey in Protea Park
In order to canvas the views of residents in Protea Park regarding the existing social problems and
needs in their community and their preferences for a new sports and recreation initiative, a rigorous
methodological approach was adopted to undertake a baseline survey of 260 households in Protea
Park. At the outset, the initial development of a quantitative survey questionnaire was informed by input
gathered through the desktop research and consultation workshop phases of the study. In consultation
with the DoSRA, the questionnaire was refined and approved. Thereafter, the questionnaire was
translated into Afrikaans for use in the field.
Prior to undertaking the survey in full, piloting of the survey questionnaire was undertaken in order to
ensure that all of the questions were clear and easy to understand. In addition, Mthente’s fieldwork
team underwent intensive training in which the objectives of the study were explained and they were
provided with full orientation on the nuances of the survey questionnaire. The fieldworkers were also
provided with a letter of introduction from the DoSRA to provide to the respondents participating in the
survey.
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Thereafter, working within the boundary of Protea Park, Mthente’s fieldwork team administered the
questionnaire to 260 households through one-on-one interviews beginning on 8 April 2011 and
concluding on the evening of 9 April 2011. The sample size of 260 respondents allowed for a
confidence level of 95 percent for the sample and a margin of error of 5.49 percent. This means that if
the survey were to be repeated 100 times, 95 of these surveys would generate results that range within
5.49 percent of the average of the results achieved from all of the surveys.
In selecting the households to participate in the survey, starting points were randomly selected and two
household interviews were conducted in each street, with one interview conducted on either side of the
same street. In cases where it was not possible to follow this approach, the households were instead
selected based on a sampling interval. In turn, a Kish grid was then used to randomly select a
respondent from within each of the households selected to participate in the survey. i In accordance with
an agreement made with the DoSRA, the respondents were confined to individuals aged 16 years or
older.
In the case of each survey questionnaire, Mthente employed a rigorous and meticulous quality control
process involving two core elements with a view to ensuring that the highest possible quality of data
was collected. The first phase of quality control took place while the fieldwork team was still in the field.
In this regard, fieldworkers were required to quality control their completed survey questionnaires
immediately after successfully conducting an interview (adopting this approach, if data was missing, the
fieldworker(s) would be able to obtain the data while still within the area of Protea Park). Once all
successfully completed and quality controlled questionnaires has been submitted to the field supervisor
at the end of each day, the field supervisor quality controlled each and every questionnaire before
submitting them to Mthente’s quality control team based at the office. Here, Mthente’s quality control
team conducted a final check on all of the questionnaires submitted, before handing the survey
questionnaires to the data capturing unit.
Thereafter, only those questionnaires that had been approved through the quality control process were
sent for data capturing onto the Epidata interface. In order to ensure data validation, the approved
A Kish grid is a grid of random numbers that is used to randomly select a member of a household. It is used when
conducting a survey that requires a random probability sample, and where more than one person in the household may
quality to be a respondent.
i
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survey questionnaires captured onto Epidata were also subjected to quality control at the end of each
day. Once all survey questionnaires were captured onto the Epidata interface it was exported into
SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The data was then quality controlled and vetted –
preparing the dataset for analysis. In the vetting process, the dataset was formatted to mirror the survey
questionnaire (i.e. in the variable view of SPSS) and analysed accordingly.
2.4 Stakeholder interviews and development database
of community development organisations
In addition to the consultation workshop conducted with key community members in Altantis and Protea
Park, a handful of in-depth one-on-one telephonic interviews were conducted with individual
stakeholders. This process was designed to provide these stakeholders with a platform outside of the
consultation workshop to air their views and proposals for a new sports and recreation initiatives in
Protea Park. The stakeholders were drawn from a list provided by the City of Cape Town of
representatives of existing community development initiatives operating in Atlantis. In total, five
stakeholders were interviewed. The interviewed stakeholders are presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Representatives of existing community development initiatives selected for in-depth one-on-one interviews
Stakeholder Name
Position
Organisation
Mr Enver Wearley
Member
Cape Flats YMCA
Mr Peter Cookson
Vice President
Atlantis Football Association
Mr Rashaad Molligan
Member
Atlantis
Street
Sports
Development
Mrs Johanna Hendricks
CEO
West Coast Foundation
Mrs Jorina Joubert
Chairperson
Netball, Protea Park
The interviews with each of these stakeholders were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire
developed in conjunction with the City of Cape Town’s DoSRA. The proceedings from each of the
interviews were transcribed fully. Thereafter, the interview transcripts were coded and analysed
thematically.
In addition to the in-depth stakeholder interviews, telephone calls were made to representatives of a
number of existing community development organisations and initiatives operating within Atlantis. The
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input from these telephonic discussions formed the basis for the development of a database of existing
community development organisations and initiatives operating in Atlantis – complete with descriptions
of the initiatives, their intended beneficiaries, the size and reach of the initiatives, the location of the
initiatives, and contact details for key representatives of the initiatives.
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3. COMMUNITY
CONSULTATION
WORKSHOP REPORT
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This chapter presents the key outcomes of a community consultation workshop facilitated by Mthente
on 31 March 2011 from 19h00 to 20h30 at the Rebecca van Amsterdam Hall in Protea Park, Atlantis.
The purpose of the consultation workshop was to:

Establish existing problems and social needs in the Protea Park and Atlantis communities.

Identify existing community development initiatives operating within Atlantis.

Identify existing organisations within the community that could serve as potential partners and
assist to implement and sustain the sports and recreation project that is eventually proposed for
Protea Park.

Establish from community members what possible sports and recreation initiatives could be
used to effectively address social problems and needs in the community.

Establish what role the community members wish to play in the recommended initiatives.

Generate stakeholder buy-in for the project.
The feedback from the consultation workshop was also aimed at informing the development of the
survey questionnaire for the quantitative component of the project. The consultation workshop was
attended by 23 stakeholders with interest in the development of Atlantis in general and Protea Park in
particular (a list of stakeholders that participated in the workshop is provided in Appendix I). Ms. Lisle
Lombard (Recreation Officer for Atlantis) provided a brief introduction and welcome message to the
participants at the outset of the workshop. This was followed by brief message from Ms. Barbara Rass,
the Councillor of the area. After these formalities had been completed, the workshop began. The key
outcomes from the discussions that took place during the course of the workshop are outlined
thematically below.
3.1 Existing social problems and needs in Atlantis and
Protea Park
The workshop participants provided the following feedback when asked to identify the most prominent
social problems and needs facing the community of Atlantis:
Social Problems:
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





The prevalence of drugs and drug abuse.
Widespread poverty and unemployment:
o “People sit at home because they are not employed”.
A lack of employment opportunities for the youth after they have left school:
o There is a technical school, but because most parents cannot afford to pay transport
and tuition expenses, many children do not attain a tertiary qualification (they have to
travel 50km to the nearest tertiary institution to receive higher education).
o The youth end up working in the shops (working in shops is not looked upon favourably
within the community).
A lack of development of sport for the youth within Atlantis.
The predominance of gangsters in Atlantis.
A lack of role models for the youth in the community.
Social Needs:








Economic development in terms of employment creation.
A higher education facility for the youth in Atlantis to further their education:
o Costs are too high for them to travel to the University of Stellenbosch and the
University of the Western Cape (UWC) to attain higher education.
Improvements to currently poor or non-existing sports infrastructure:
o There is currently a lack of convenient sports grounds.
o There are currently no swimming pools at schools.
Increased priority in municipal accounts in the allocation of budgets for the development of
sport in school:
o There is currently a lack of sports facilities (such as fields) in schools.
Training education for sports trainers.
Hospitals need to be upgraded (hospitals are in poor condition).
The present focus is heavily weighted towards soccer and rugby, but the development of other
sporting activities is currently hindered by a lack of support and development mechanisms.
These include: gymnastics, dance, a ramp for skateboarders, provision for cyclists.
A greater number of activities for children:
o This is cited as a contributory factor in explaining why the existing sports fields are not
used effectively.
With these issues in mind, the workshop participants provided several recommendations with a view to
addressing the social problems highlighted above. Most of the recommendations focused on education
as well as sports development, and are summarised in Table 2.
Table 2: Recommendations made by workshop participants to address social problems in Atlantis
Social Problems
Lack of facilities for further
1.
education in Atlantis
Recommendation/Suggestion

Need for a higher education facility for the youth of
Atlantis to further their education (at a tertiary
level).
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Problems
2.
in
the
development of sport in
Atlantis

Too much focus on formal
3.




Talent development and support should also be
provided to gymnastics, dance, cycling and in the
provision of a ramp to skateboarders.

Provide activities for the youth which make use of
existing sporting fields.
sporting codes (such as
soccer and rugby)
4.
No activities for the youth
Training education (training for sport trainers).
More sporting facilities.
Academia accommodating various sporting codes –
with an emphasis on sport.
Establishing a sports academy (the sports academy
should speak to children as well as parents).
In discussions focused on the development of sport in Atlantis, the workshop participants actively linked
sport to the wider social context of the Atlantis community. In this respect, some of their responses
included the following:





Sport is about discipline, healthy growth and personal development.
Sport is holistic in looking at the community and its needs.
Sport creates a healthy community.
Sport establishes and upholds community values.
Sport promotes rules, discipline, punctuality, values and ethics.
Although the workshop participants were able to highlight the benefits of sport for the wider Atlantis
community, they also discussed some of the challenges that sports currently face, especially in terms of
participation. In recommending possible approaches to address these challenges, the workshop
participants suggested the following presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Recommendations made by workshop participants to address challenges to the development of sport in
Atlantis
Challenges
Lack of parental
1.
2.
involvement in children’s
sporting activities
Sports administrators are
Recommendation/Suggestion


Get the parents involved – develop a structured
approach on how to get parents involved.
The community of Atlantis also needs to take
ownership of the development of children in a
sporting sense.

Encourage parents to participate and support their
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required to take
responsibility for other
people’s children.
Getting parents involved in
3.
the sporting development of
their child/children.



children in sport.
Include parent orientation in sport development.
Get parents involved over weekends in sport
development activities.
Get parents into the health centre/clinics and inform
them, so they can become aware and have an idea
of the benefits of sport development for their
child/children.
3.2 Existing community development initiatives
operating in Atlantis
Moving away from prevailing social problems and needs, the workshop participants were then asked to
identify community development initiatives and organisations currently operating within Atlantis. The
most prominent initiatives identified by the workshop participants are outlined in Table 4.
Table 4: Existing community development organisations and initiatives in Atlantis identified by workshop
participants
Community Development Initiatives
Key Focus Area
Atlantis Golf Development
Youth Development
Street Committee of Protea Park
Youth Development
o Includes the Heathfield Street Soccer
Committee
Atlantis Volleyball Association
Youth Development
Atlantis Local Football Association
Youth Development
Atlantis Rugby Club
Youth Development
o Including the “Young Proteas”
Mother Earth Foundation
Youth Development
Child Protection Service
Child Care
Excel Generation
After School Programme
Vision Youth
Youth Development
Molo Songololo
Child Protection/Human Trafficking
Atlantis Netball
Youth Development (4 years to 10 years)
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Principals Forum
Youth Development
West Coast Community Foundation (a social Youth capacitating and providing jobs to
development organisation)
unemployed youths
o Affiliated with the Soccer Whizz
Programme
Early Childhood Development
Children
Atlantis Senior Citizens Association
Women
Optifit Health Walkers Club (Sports Science Women
Institute)
Community Policing Forum (CPF)
Community Protection
3.3 Existing organisations that could serve as potential
partners for a new sports and recreation initiative
In discussing sporting activities and initiatives within the community of Atlantis, the workshop
participants highlighted the following organisations that they believed could partner with the City of
Cape Town to promote sports and recreation initiatives in Atlantis:




Schools within Protea Park:
o Reygersdal Primary School.
o Protea Park Primary School.
o Protea High School.
o Kerria Primary School.
o Berzelia Primary School.
Lovelife – predominantly active in Witsand.
Churches –The Redeemed Pentecostal Church.
Protea Park Clinic – Serves the community of Protea Park.
3.4 Proposals for sports and recreation initiatives to
effectively address social problems and needs in
Protea Park
The workshop proceedings also included a discussion of possible initiatives that could be implemented
to address the aforementioned social problems and needs present in the Atlantis community. The
initiatives and the corresponding views aired by participants included the following:
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Initiative 1: Establish a sports academy






Training of sports trainers would serve as a precursor to the academy (ensure efficiently skilled
staff/personnel).
Provision should be made for sporting education through such an academy.
The academy should not be selective or exclusive, but accessible to everyone.
Administrators and sport trainers are central to the creation and maintenance of such an
academy.
The need for sporting role models from within Atlantis should be highlighted through the Sports
Academy.
An additional point raised during the discussion was that the community does not necessarily
need an academy, but that more sponsorship for sporting role models from within Atlantis is
necessary.
Initiative 2: Form a sporting/coaching committee



The formation of an umbrella sports organisation under a central committee would allow for the
consolidation and management of the various sporting clubs within Atlantis.
The establishment of a committee would eliminate the existing challenges of working in silos –
“We are all in our own corners”.
The Committee will also aid in boosting the existing level of networking between different
sporting clubs and organisations within Atlantis and among the various community
development organisations.
Initiative 3: Construct a sports complex


Construction of a sporting complex is already underway in Ward 33 in Atlantis.
Questions were raised as to whether community members are ready to take ownership of the
complex (many participants responded positively in this regard).
Initiative 4: Establish a community vegetable garden


Efforts should be made to get the whole community involved in the vegetable garden.
This would provide an activity for the community and, at the same time, serve as a source of
both sustenance and pride for the community.
Initiative 5: Establish a higher education facility/tertiary institution within Atlantis

Establish a higher education facility/tertiary institution for the youth of Atlantis to further their
education:
o Currently, to attain further education the youth have to travel outside of Atlantis and do
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
not necessarily have the financial support to do so.
o There is a prevailing feeling that “children have to be taken out of town to be
successful”.
The higher education facility should also be accommodating towards sports.
Initiative 6: Increase opportunities for team sports (as opposed to single,
individual, exclusive or selective sporting activities)



Team sports were mentioned in relation to mass participation programmes/initiatives, and it
was argued that participation in team sports can facilitate youth development.
It was also argued that the more children are involved in sports, the less time they spend on the
streets.
Consequently, it was argued that funding should be directed towards sports development at the
grassroots level.
Initiative 7: Establish a sports and recreation information desk



One view was that while many ideas for sports and recreation have been developed and
information on existing initiatives and activities is there, the information is not reaching
everyone.
Currently, information is only disseminated among a sub-set of the community (that is, those
who own a radio and listen to Radio Atlantis).
There is a need to disseminate information more widely through, for example, a dedicated
sports and recreation information desk.
Initiative 8: Launch a sports summit


It was suggested that a Sports Summit should be held in Atlantis for all sporting codes to attend
(both registered and unregistered).
Through the Sport Summit, sport can be used to not only develop, but uplift, the community of
Atlantis.
3.5 Potential role for community members in new
sports and recreation initiatives
Throughout the consultation workshop, several participants emphasised the need for members of the
community to take ownership of community development initiatives within Atlantis. This, according to
the workshop participants, is already happening in the case of some existing programmes.
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Similarly, referring specifically to the involvement of parents, it was argued that parents of children in
Atlantis should take ownership of sport and recreation activities and initiatives and implement and
manage them in conjunction with trainers, coaches and administrators.
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4. DESKTOP RESEARCH
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This chapter outlines the prevailing socio-economic profile and conditions in Atlantis, before
documenting the most prominent social problems and needs in the area. Where disaggregated
information has been available, specific focus has been placed on socio-economic conditions, social
problems and needs in Protea Park.
4.1 A Socio-Economic Profile of Atlantis
4.1.1 Population demographics
The total population in Atlantis was estimated at 67 499 in 2006,2 up marginally from the population of
64 548 reported in 2001 through the South African Census. Of this total, Avondale is the most populous
area in Atlantis with a population of 21 913 individuals.3 This is followed in order of magnitude in
population size by the Saxonsea (13 247), Mamre SP (7 272), Sherwood (6 889) and Robinvale (6 466)
areas.4 For its part, Protea Park ranks as the eighth largest area by population size, with a total
population of 1 354.5
In terms of the racial breakdown of the population, the coloured population is most prominent in
Atlantis, accounting for nearly three quarters (73.8 percent) of the total population. This is followed by
whites, who account for 15.8 percent of the total population, and black Africans, who make up 10
percent. In contrast, the Indian and Asian populations in Atlantis are very small, collectively accounting
for just 0.4 percent of the total population. In 2001, there were marginally more females than males in
Atlantis, with females accounting for 51.8 percent of the total population.6
A breakdown of the total population into various age categories (presented in the table below) reveals a
relatively youthful population and a large share of the population that is potentially economically active.
In 2006, marginally less than 40 percent of the population in Atlantis was under the age of 20. This
figure has declined by more than 3 percent since 2001 when 43.1 percent of the population was under
the age of 20.7 Approximately two-thirds of the total population fell into the potentially economically
active age group between 15 and 64 years. In contrast, just 4.5 percent of the population in 2006 was
aged 65 years or older. According to the Atlantis Transformation Research Project, the average age of
residents in Atlantis is 25.8 years, a figure more than three years lower than the average for the
Western Cape which stands at 28.7.8
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Table 5: Age distribution of Atlantis population, 2006
Age group
Share of total population (%)
0-4 years
9.4
5-9 years
9.6
10-14 years
9.9
15-19 years
9.7
20-24 years
8.6
25-29 years
9.2
30-34 years
8.9
35-39 years
8.3
40-44 years
7
45-49 years
5.3
50-54 years
4.1
55-59 years
3.1
60-64 years
2.4
65 years and older
4.5
Source: Space-Time Research, 2006
Afrikaans is the dominant language spoken in Atlantis, representing the first language of 86.2 percent
of the total population. English and IsiXhosa are also spoken relatively widely, by 5.2 percent and 7.5
percent of the population, respectively. In contrast, other languages such as Sesotho, Sestwana and
IsiZulu do not feature prominently, and are collectively spoken by less than 1 percent of the population
in Atlantis.
4.1.2 Household incomes
A research survey undertaken by Space-Time Research in 2006 attempted to quantify the levels of
household income within Atlantis. Based on the results of the survey, a breakdown of total annual
household incomes into various categories is presented in the table below.
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Table 6: Distribution of annual household incomes in Atlantis, 2006
Annual Household Income
Share of Total Population in Atlantis (%)
No income
7.1
R1 – R4 800
2.9
R4 801 – R9 600
12.3
R9 601 – R19 200
17.8
R19 201 – R38 400
22.6
R38 401 – R76 800
18.9
R76 801 – R153 600
11.3
R153 601 – R307 200
4.7
R307 201 – R614 400
1.3
R614 401 – R1 228 800
0.4
R1 228 801 – R2 457 600
0.4
R2 457 601 and more
0.3
Source: Space-Time Research, 2006
According to the 2006 study, 7.1 percent of households in Atlantis reported having no income
whatsoever.9 In addition, there are large concentrations of low income households in Atlantis. The
annual incomes of one third of all households in Atlantis total less than R19 201 per year, and
marginally more than 15 percent of households reported annual incomes of no more than R9 600. The
largest relative share of households (22.6 percent) fell into the annual income bracket between R19 201
and R38 400. In turn, there was also a large share of households reporting annual incomes ranging
between R38 401 and R76 000. Taken together, these figures suggest that the annual incomes of
marginally less than three quarters of the households in Atlantis range between R1 and R76 800. A
further 11.3 percent of households fell within the annual income bracket between R76 801 and R153
600.
In contrast, comparatively smaller shares of households reported annual incomes falling within the
higher income brackets. Indeed, according to the Space-Time Research study, just 7.1 percent of
households in Atlantis reported annual incomes exceeding R153 600; and most of these fell into the
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R153 601 – R307 200 category. The annual incomes of just 2.4 percent of households exceeded R307
200.
4.1.3 Employment
In 2001, the official employment rate in Atlantis stood at 46.6 percent.10 At that time, the corresponding
unemployment rate was marginally more than 20 percent,ii and a further 33.3 percent of the population
was classified as not economically active.11 When focusing exclusively on the economically active
population in Atlantis, 2001 Census statistics published by the City of Cape Town indicated that
approximately 69.2 percent of the economically active population was employed in that year. In
comparison, 30.8 percent of the economically active population in Atlantis was unemployed in 2001.
There is at least some evidence to suggest that the unemployment rate in Atlantis has increased
substantially since 2001. Indeed, while estimates vary significantly, one estimate placed the
unemployment rate in Atlantis and its surrounding informal settlements as high as 75 percent. 12 Other
estimates have suggested that unemployment rates range from 29 percent to 60 percent in different
areas of Atlantis.
The aforementioned research survey conducted by Space-Time Research in 2006 identified the most
prominent occupations among those that are employed in Atlantis. The study found that agricultural,
fishery and related labourers accounted for 10.5 percent of individuals actively employed in Atlantis.
Labourers involved in the mining, construction, manufacturing and transport sectors accounted for a
further 6.1 percent of this total. Elementary occupations in sales and services were also prominent
sources of employment, as well as office clerks, extraction and building trades workers and personal
and protective services workers.
Census statistics for 2001 provide a more detailed breakdown of employment by occupation in Atlantis.
This breakdown is presented in the table below. The table shows that in 2001 employment in Atlantis
was heavily skewed towards lower skilled occupations, with more than one quarter of individuals
employed in elementary occupations. Large shares of individuals were also employed as plant or
machine operators or in craft related trades. In comparison, only small proportions of individuals were
This figure is based on Statistics South Africa’s definition of an unemployed person as a person between the ages of 15
and 64 who did not have work, could not find work, has taken active steps to find employment and could start work in one
week, if offered work.
ii
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employed in highly skilled occupations such as legislators, senior officials, managers or professionals in
2001.
Table 7: Employment by occupation in Atlantis, 2001
Occupation
Share of Actively Employed (%)
Legislators/Senior officials/Managers
2.9
Professionals
2.2
Technicians/Associate professionals
8.1
Clerks
13.1
Services workers/Sales workers
8.2
Skilled agriculture and fishery workers
1.4
Craft related trades
18.1
Plant/Machine operators
19.8
Elementary occupation
26.3
Source: University of Stellenbosch, 2005
4.1.4 Education
In general, the levels of educational attainment among the population in Atlantis are low. According to
statistics supplied by Space-Time Research, just 13.6 percent of the town’s population has obtained a
Grade 12 certificate. Furthermore, the share of the population in Atlantis that has attained some form of
higher education qualification is alarmingly low. Indeed, a combined total of just 1.3 percent has
attained a bachelor’s degree, bachelor’s degree and diploma, or an honour’s, master’s or doctorate
degree. At the same time, the share of the population that has no schooling whatsoever is relatively
high at 7.8 percent.
4.1.5 Socio-Economic Status Index
The S.E.S index is a broad measure of socio-economic status in a particular suburb or area. It is a
composite measure calculated through a combination of a number of indicators related to household
income, unemployment, educational levels and skills in the labour force. The following specific
indicators are used by the City of Cape Town to measure the S.E.S index in a particular suburb or
area:13
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
Percentage of households earning less than R19 200 per annum.

Percentage of adults (over the age of 20) with a highest education level that is less than Grade
12.

Percentage of economically active population that is unemployed.

Percentage of the labour force employed in elementary or unskilled occupations.
Based on these dimensions, a higher score on the S.E.S index corresponds to a poorer socio-economic
status. The S.E.S Index calculated by the City of Cape Town for Atlantis is 46.2.14 Protea Park recorded
an even higher S.E.S Index score of 51.76. According to the City of Cape Town, this places Atlantis
within the worst 20 percent of suburbs ranked using the Index.15 Such a high score on the S.E.S Index
is symbolic of the poor socio-economic conditions currently present in Atlantis and, to an even greater
extent, Protea Park.
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SUMMARY
Population Demographics
 The coloured population accounts for nearly three quarters of the total population in
Atlantis. There are also comparatively large shares of whites (nearly 16 percent) and black
Africans (10 percent).
 There are marginally more females than males in Atlantis.
 Atlantis is home to a large youth population with nearly 40 percent under the age of 20, and
approximately 36 percent aged between 15 and 34 years.
 Atlantis is home to a large potentially economically active population, with two-thirds aged
between 15 and 64 years.
Household Incomes
 The majority of households in Atlantis are low income households, with approximately
three quarters earning no more than R76 800 annually.
 Only small shares of households fall into higher income categories.
Employment
 There is a high level of unemployment in Atlantis. Statistics from 2001 showed that nearly
31 percent of the economically active population was unemployed.
 There is some evidence that unemployment in Atlantis has increased significantly since
2001.
 Employment in Atlantis is heavily skewed in favour of lower skilled occupations.
 Only a small proportion of those actively employed are employed in highly skilled
occupations.
Education
 Levels of educational attainment are generally low in Atlantis.
 Almost 8 percent of the population have no schooling whatsoever and less than 14 percent
have completed their schooling up to the end of Grade 12.
 The share of the population that has attained some form of higher education qualification is
alarmingly low.
Socio-Economic Status Index
 Atlantis has a high S.E.S Index of 46.2 and ranks among the worst 20 percent of suburbs
with respect to socio-economic status.
 The S.E.S Index for Protea Park is even higher at 51.8.
4.2 Social Problems and Needs
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The prevailing socio-economic conditions in Atlantis have been exacerbated by a variety of social
problems linked to the economic and social decay that the town has experienced over the course of
recent decades. A number of social problems can be identified across Atlantis, several of which are
magnified within the Protea Park area. The most prominent social problems are discussed in the subsection below. Thereafter, a variety of needs for addressing these social problems are identified
through previous research studies.
4.2.5 Social problems in Atlantis
Drug and alcohol abuse
Atlantis is home to a large number of drug ‘hot spots’ and is a plagued by widespread drug and alcohol
abuse, particularly among its youth population. According to research conducted by the University of
Stellenbosch, more than 35 places within Atlantis have been identified as areas in which illegal drugs
are sold.16 Within Atlantis, Avondale and the Town Centre have been identified as particularly
problematic areas for drug abuse; both of which are within close proximity to Protea Park. Furthermore,
a cluster of other ‘hot spots’ for the sale of drugs have been identified on the periphery of Protea Park.
Worryingly, drug abuse is particularly problematic among teenagers of school-going age in Atlantis,
where the abuse of tik is widespread. Many of the teenage drug abusers in Atlantis are high school
dropouts who turn to drugs in the absence of any other activities to occupy their time.
Similarly, the prevalence of alcohol abuse has also been identified as a major problem in Atlantis. Both
alcohol abuse and the consumption of illegal drugs have been cited as contributory causes to other
social problems present in Atlantis such as high incidences of theft, violent crime, domestic violence
and child abuse.
Crime
Crime and the prevalence of gangsterism are widespread in Atlantis, with women and children amongst
those most affected by criminal activity in the community. Previous studies have shown that residents of
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Atlantis cite house breaking and theft as the most prevalent forms of crime affecting their
communities.17
Worryingly, the incidence of crime in Atlantis appears to be on the increase. Indeed, according to crime
statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the Atlantis precinct, the incidence of
a variety of different types of crime increased in the five-year period between 2005 and 2010.
Specifically, reported cases of burglary at non-residential premises increased by 88 percent from 84 in
2005 to 158 in 2010. Similarly, the equivalent figure for burglary at residential premises increased
marginally from 481 cases in 2005 to 498 cases in 2010. Over the same period, incidents of common
assault, common robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances all increased.
Child abuse
There is an alarmingly high prevalence of maltreatment and sexual abuse of children in Atlantis.
According to a research paper produced by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in the
twelve month period between January and December 2006 as many as 83 cases of child abuse were
reported to the Children’s Court. According to a study undertaken by Parker and Dawes in 2003,
reported cases of child abuse have been particularly high in Protea Park, which has accounted for as
many as one fifth of the cases; and are even higher in Avondale – which the study shows accounted for
the highest share of reported cases of abuse at 26 percent.18
The nature of child abuse in Atlantis ranges from cases of parents neglecting their children or not
supervising their children sufficiently to instances of sexual abuse. Furthermore, cases of children
suffering from malnutrition and being deprived of medical care due to neglect on the part of parents are
also common in Atlantis. The most commonly reported incidents of maltreatment of children in Atlantis
involve severe neglect or abuse in which children are raped, injured or even abandoned.
HIV/AIDS
The community in Atlantis is also adversely affected by a comparatively high prevalence rate of
HIV/AIDS. The areas of Robinvale, Protea Park and Avondale are particularly affected by the epidemic,
and boast comparatively high shares of HIV/AIDS related deaths relative to the total population of these
areas. While more recent figures are difficult to come by, figures for 2001 show that the share of
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HIV/AIDS related deaths as a percentage of the total population in each of these areas ranged from 3.2
percent to 9.6 percent.19
Factors contributing to the prevalence of social problems in Protea Park and Atlantis
A variety of reasons have been identified in previous research studies as contributory factors to the
plethora of social problems facing the community in Atlantis. With respect to the high incidence of crime
and gangsterism, in addition to the link between soaring levels of drug and alcohol abuse and criminal
activity in Atlantis, a lack of visible policing and vigilance in combating crime has been cited as a
contributory factor to the failure of efforts to address the prevailing high crime rates. In a study
conducted by the University of Stellenbosch, residents complained that the police in Atlantis were not
effective enough in terms of policing and bringing criminals to justice.20 The study showed that some
residents even went as far as to accuse the police of corruption in accepting pay offs from drug barons
in Atlantis.
An earlier study by Parker and Dawes in 2003 cited the abuse of alcohol as a critical factor in explaining
the alarming presence of child abuse in Atlantis. More broadly, poor socio-economic circumstances
including high levels of unemployment, poverty and relatively low income levels have also been
identified as contributory causes in the case of a number of the social ills affecting the broader Atlantis
community.
4.2.6 Social and community needs in Atlantis
A number of previous research studies have highlighted specific social needs that would benefit the
community of Atlantis and, in turn, address some of the social problems outlined above. These needs
relate primarily to facilities, physical infrastructure and activities.
In a research study conducted with community members of Atlantis by the University of Stellenbosch in
2005, a number of residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of the existing community
recreation facilities in Atlantis at the time. This dissatisfaction related to issues ranging from safety
concerns to the poor state of maintenance of existing facilities.21 This pointed to a dire need to upgrade
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existing recreational facilities and, at the same time, ensure that community members can make use of
the facilities without being concerned about their personal safety. Furthermore, the study also reported
that community members felt that the presence of recreational facilities was an effective way to combat
drug use among the youth population in Atlantis.
The same study also highlighted the belief among the residents of Atlantis that a youth centre was
desperately needed in the town. The residents felt that this should be prioritised as a means to provide
a focal point for the youth to participate in constructive activities after school or on weekends and,
thereby, remove the threat of drug abuse that is heightened by the high level of inactivity among the
youth population in Atlantis. At the same time, the study reported that a large share of community
members indicated that a rehabilitation centre was required to assist members of the community to
recover from drug addiction and, in the long term, address the high incidence of drug abuse in Atlantis.
Finally, the University of Stellenbosch’s study also highlighted the desire among community members
for a training centre to be established to address the high rate of unemployment in Atlantis. It was
proposed that the training centre could assist unemployed members of the community to locate
employment opportunities. Again, in the long term, it was felt that by working towards alleviating the
high rate of unemployment in Atlantis, the issue of drug abuse could be countered by addressing the
high level of economic inactivity among community members.
In addition to this wide variety of needs, an HSRC study on Children’s Courts in 2008 highlighted the
need for more experienced social workers in Atlantis. Linked to this, the study also revealed that the
existing social workers in the community were overwhelmed by the level of demand for social services
in Atlantis, pointing to the need for a greater number of social workers to operate in the community.
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SUMMARY
Social problems in Atlantis
 Atlantis is plagued by widespread drug and alcohol abuse, particularly among its youth
population.
 Drug and alcohol abuse has been cited as a contributory cause to other social problems
such as crime and child abuse.
 There is a high level of crime and gangsterism in Atlantis.
 The incidence of crime in Atlantis appears to be on the increase.
 There is an alarmingly high prevalence of maltreatment and abuse of children in Atlantis,
including sexual abuse.
 The community in Atlantis is affected by a comparatively high share of HIV/AIDS related
deaths.
 Poor socio-economic circumstances as well as poverty and low levels of household income
have also contributed to the prevalence of these social problems.
Social and community needs in Atlantis
 Residents have expressed safety concerns and dissatisfaction with the state of existing
community recreation facilities in Atlantis.
 Residents believe that a youth centre is required to serve as a focal point for the youth in
Atlantis to participate in constructive activities.
 There have also been calls for a rehabilitation centre to be established to assist
individuals to recover from drug addiction.
 Community members have also called for a training centre to be established to address
the high rate of unemployment in Atlantis.
 A 2008 HSRC study highlighted the need for more experienced social workers in
Atlantis.
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5. REPORT ON BASELINE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN
PROTEA PARK
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This chapter presents the findings from a baseline household survey conducted with 260 households in
Protea Park. The primary objectives of the baseline survey were to establish the existing social
problems and needs in Protea Park directly from the perspective of residents in the area, uncover these
residents’ opinions on how the prevailing problems and needs can be supported through sports and
recreation initiatives, and provide a platform for the residents of Protea Park to provide input into what
the City of Cape Town’s planned new community development project should look like in practice.
In this way, the information drawn from the baseline household survey provides crucial input obtained
directly from the residents of Protea Park that will assist the City of Cape Town’s DoSRA in developing
a new sports and recreation initiative that can serve to effectively facilitate community development in
Protea Park.
5.1 Demographic Profile of Survey Respondents
This sub-section outlines key demographic characteristics of the sample of 260 households included in
the baseline household survey conducted in Protea Park.
5.1.1 Age and gender of respondents
The distribution of the sample of Protea Park respondents across various closed aged categories is
presented in Figure 1.
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65 years and older
7.7%
60 years to 64 years
5.8%
Age Brackets
50 years to 59 years
15.0%
40 years to 49 years
20.8%
30 years to 39 years
16.2%
20 years to 29 years
27.7%
10 years to 19 years
6.9%
0 years to 9 years
0.0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 1: Age profile of sampled respondents [Source: Mthente, 2011]
It is important to reiterate that, based on the sampling criteria used for the survey all respondents that
were randomly selected to complete the survey had to be aged 16 years or older. Of those that
participated, the highest percentage of respondents – representing more than one quarter (27.7
percent) of the total sample – fell between the ages of 20 and 29 years. In turn, approximately one out
of every five respondents were aged between 40 and 49 years; followed by the group of respondents
aged between 30 and 39 years, which accounted for 16.2 percent of the total sample. Taken together,
these figures point to a relatively youthful sample of respondents, with more than half (50.8 percent) of
the sampled population between the ages of 16 and 40 years. This echoes the findings of the desktop
research phase and bodes well for the introduction of a sports and recreation initiative, which would
ultimately be accessed predominantly by the younger residents in Protea Park. At the other end of the
age spectrum, just 13.5 percent of the total sample was aged 60 years or older.
In terms of gender distribution, the sample was relatively evenly distributed between male and female
respondents. Indeed, there were only marginally more female respondents (50.4 percent) in
comparison to males (49.6 percent) in the total sample.
The distribution of the sample of respondents can also be disaggregated by both gender and age
categories. To this end, Table 8 highlights the most prevalent age groups present within the sample of
respondents in each gender category.
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Table 8: Dominant age grouping by gender
AGE BRACKETS
Male
Female
Total
0 to 9
yrs
10 to
19 yrs
20 to
29 yrs
30 to
39 yrs
40 to
49 yrs
50 to
59 yrs
60 to
64 yrs
0.0%
(0)
0.0%
(0)
0.0%
(0)
9.3%
(12)
4.6%
(6)
6.9%
(18)
24.8%
(32)
30.5%
(40)
27.7%
(72)
18.6%
(24)
13.7%
(18)
16.2%
(42)
17.8%
(23)
23.7%
(31)
20.8%
(54)
17.1%
(22)
13.0%
(17)
15.0%
(39)
4.7%
(6)
6.9%
(9)
5.8%
(15)
65 yrs
and
older
7.8%
(10)
7.6%
(10)
7.7%
(20)
Total
100.0%
(129)
100.0%
(131)
100.0%
(260)
Source: Mthente, 2011
Note: The numbers provided in parentheses below the percentage in each cell represent the actual number of respondents
falling into each age group.
Key:
Age group with highest relative percentage of males
Age group with highest relative percentage of females
The following can be drawn from the information presented in Table 8:

The highest relative share of males – representing one quarter of all male respondents – were
aged between 20 and 29 years. The next highest share of male respondents was between the
ages of 30 and 39 years.

The lowest percentage of male respondents was aged between 60 and 64 years.

The highest percentage of female respondents (30.5 percent) was also aged between 20 and
29 years. The next highest share of female respondents was between the ages of 40 and 49.

The lowest percentage of female respondents (4.6 percent) fell between the ages of 16 and 19.
5.1.2 Race profile of respondents
Figure 2 outlines the distribution of the sample of Protea Park residents that participated in the survey
across various race groups. Notably, almost all of the respondents (99.6 percent) were coloured, and
there was only a small number of black respondents – representing less than 0.5 percent of the total
sample. In turn, the sample comprised only very small numbers of white and Indian or Asian
respondents.
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Racial Categories
Coloured
99.6%
Black
0.4%
White
0.0%
Asian/Indian
0.0%
Other
0.0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 2: Racial profile of respondents [Source: Mthente, 2011]
5.1.3 Employment status of respondents
In order to get a sense of the extent of employment and unemployment in Protea Park, the survey
respondents were asked to indicate their current employment status. The aggregated findings from their
responses are presented in Figure 3.
Employed full-time
36.9%
Employment Categories
Unemployed
30.8%
Retired or Pensioner
12.7%
Employed part-time
6.2%
Home-maker or housewife
3.8%
Could not find work
3.5%
Scholar and student
3.1%
Unable to work due to illness
0.8%
Does not choose to work
0.8%
Self-employed
0.8%
Informally employed
0.4%
Other
0.4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Percentage of respondents
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Figure 3: Employment status of survey respondents [Source: Mthente, 2011]
The highest percentage of respondents – accounting for more than one third of the total sample (36.9
percent) indicated that they are currently engaged in full-time employment. This exceeded the
equivalent share of respondents (30.8 percent) that indicated that they are currently unemployed.
Nevertheless, at close to one third of the total sample, unemployment is still high among the sample of
Protea Park residents. In addition, when the numbers of respondents that are either unemployed,
unable to find work, unable to work due to illness or choose not to work are combined, the figures
suggest that 35.1 percent of the Protea Park respondents indicated that they are currently not
employed. The sample of respondents also included a relatively high share of retirees or pensioners,
representing nearly 13 percent of the 260 residents included in the survey.
Table 9 disaggregates the results presented above across males and females. The table shows that the
highest percentages of both male and female respondents are engaged in full-time employment, with a
greater proportion of males employed full-time in comparison to females. In the cases of both males
and females, the second highest numbers of respondents are unemployed, with a greater share of
males unemployed in comparison to females.
Table 9: Respondents’ employment status by gender
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Does not
Employed Employed
SelfInformally
Retired or
Unemployed
choose to
full-time part-time employed employed
Pensioner
work
Male
42.6%
4.7%
(55)
(6)
Female 31.3%
7.6%
(41)
(10)
Total 36.9%
6.2%
(96)
(16)
Source: Mthente, 2011
0.8%
(1)
0.8%
(1)
0.8%
(2)
0.0%
(0)
0.8%
(1)
0.4%
(1)
33.3%
(43)
28.2%
(37)
30.8%
(80)
13.2%
(17)
12.2%
(16)
12.7%
(33)
0.0%
(0)
1.5%
(2)
0.8%
(2)
Could
not find
work
Unable to
work due
to illness
Scholar
and
student
Homemaker/
Housewife
Total
2.3%
(3)
4.6%
(6)
3.5%
(9)
0.8%
(1)
0.8%
(1)
0.8%
(2)
2.3%
(3)
3.8%
5)
3.1%
(8)
0.0%
(0)
7.6%
(10)
4.6%
(12)
100.0%
(129)
100.0%
(131)
100.0%
(260)
Note: The numbers provided in parentheses below the percentage in each cell represent the actual number of respondents
falling into each age group.
Key:
Highest relative percentage of males
Highest relative percentage of females
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The respondents that indicated that they are currently employed in some capacity were also asked to
indicate their current occupation. Their aggregated responses are presented in Figure 4. The highest
percentage of respondents was employed as service workers or as shop or market sales workers, with
approximately one out of every five respondents (20.9 percent) employed in occupations of this nature.
There were also relatively large shares of respondents employed as craft and related trades workers
(18.3 percent), technicians or associate professionals (13.9 percent) or plant and machine operators or
assemblers (10.4 percent). In contrast, only small proportions of respondents were self-employed,
engaged in elementary occupations or as skilled agricultural or fishery workers. Occupations listed
under the ‘other’ category included consultant, nurse, police officer, pre-school teacher, process
controller and receptionist.
Service worker, shop or market sales worker
20.9%
Craft and related trades worker
18.3%
Employment position
Technician or associate professional
13.9%
Plant and machine operator or assembler
10.4%
Clerk
8.7%
Other
7.8%
Professional
7.8%
Senior official or manager
6.1%
Self-employed
2.6%
Elementary occupation
2.6%
Skilled agricultural or fishery worker
0.9%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 4: Respondents’ occupations [Source: Mthente, 2011]
5.1.4 Education levels
In order to provide insight into the prevailing levels of education among residents in Protea Park, the
survey respondents were asked to indicate the highest level of education that they had attained. Figure
5 compares the distribution of the sample of respondents in terms of education levels. The highest
percentage of respondents, accounting for nearly 45 percent of the total sample, reported their highest
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level of education as falling between Grades 8 and 11. In turn, close to one third (31.9 percent) of the
respondents had attained a matric (Grade 12) education. There was also a relatively large share of
respondents that had only completed some or all of their primary schooling, with 18 percent of
respondents either completing up to Grade 3 or between Grades 4 and 7. Somewhat more
encouragingly, only a very small proportion of the respondents (less than one percent) reported having
attained no education whatsoever. Less encouragingly, however, the proportion of the respondents that
had attained some form of higher education was notably small, with just 5 percent of the sample having
attained a post matric certificate or diploma, university degree or post graduate university degree.
Post Graduate University Degree
0.4%
University Degree
0.8%
Education Levels
Post Matric Certificate/Diploma
3.8%
Grade 12
31.9%
Grade 8 to Grade 11
44.2%
Grade 4 to Grade 7
13.8%
Completed up to Grade 3
4.2%
None
0.8%
0%
5%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 5: Highest level of education attained by respondents [Source: Mthente, 2011]
5.1.5 Household Incomes
The baseline household survey also sought to investigate the level of household income among Protea
Park residents. To this end, the survey respondents were asked to provide an estimate of the combined
monthly income for their household from all sources. The distribution of household incomes across the
sample is presented in Figure 6.
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More than R25000
0.0%
R20001-R25000
0.4%
Household Income Brackets
R15001-R20000
1.5%
R10001-R15000
8.5%
R5001-R10000
10.0%
R4001-R5000
6.2%
R3001-R4000
9.2%
R2001-R3000
17.3%
R1001-R2000
17.7%
Under R1000
3.8%
Zero
0.8%
Prefer not to answer
24.6%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 6: Survey respondents’ combined average monthly household incomes [Source: Mthente, 2011]
It is important to note that approximately one quarter (24.6 percent) of the respondents indicated that
they did not wish to answer the question. Nevertheless, among those that did provide an estimate of
their combined monthly household income, a large share of respondents reported low incomes.
Specifically, just less than 39 percent of the respondents reported combined monthly household
incomes that did not exceed R3 000. A further 15.4 percent of respondents reported monthly household
incomes that fell within the R3001 to R5 000 range. In contrast, there was a relatively large share of
respondents reporting comparatively higher household incomes, with the combined monthly household
incomes of 18.5 percent of the respondents falling between R5 001 and R15 000. The share of higher
income earning households was notably smaller, however, with just 1.9 percent of the respondents
reporting monthly household incomes that exceeded R15 000.
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SUMMARY: Demographic profile of survey respondents
Age and gender of respondents



More than half (50.8 percent) of the sampled population were aged between 16 and 40 years.
Just 13.5 percent of the total sample was aged 60 years or older.
There were marginally more female respondents (50.4 percent) in comparison to males (49.6
percent) in the total sample.
Race profile of respondents


Almost all of the respondents (99.6 percent) were coloured.
There were only a small number of black respondents.
Employment status of respondents





More than one third of the total sample (36.9 percent) is currently engaged in full-time
employment.
This exceeded the equivalent share of respondents (30.8 percent) that are currently
unemployed.
The sample also included a relatively high share (13 percent) of retirees or pensioners.
Approximately one in five respondents is employed as a service worker or as shop or market
sales worker.
There are also relatively large shares of respondents employed as craft and related trades
workers (18.3 percent), technicians or associate professionals (13.9 percent) or plant and
machine operators or assemblers (10.4 percent).
Education levels




The highest level of education for nearly 45 percent of the total sample was between Grades 8
and 11.
Close to one third (31.9 percent) of the respondents had attained a matric (Grade 12)
education.
There was also a relatively large share (18 percent) that had only completed some or all of their
primary schooling.
The proportion of the respondents that had attained some form of higher education totaled just
5 percent.
Household incomes


A large share of respondents reported low incomes.
The share of higher income earning households was notably smaller.
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5.2 Existing Social Problems and Needs in Protea Park
A key element of the City of Cape Town’s desire to introduce a new sports and recreation initiative in
Protea Park is to facilitate community development by addressing existing social problems and needs
through the initiative. Consequently, it is critically important to correctly identify the precise nature of
these social issues in order to provide insight into what sort of sports and recreation initiative is
required. To this end, the survey respondents were asked a series of questions related to their
perceptions of the prevailing social problems and needs in the Protea Park area.
5.2.1 Identifying social problems in Protea Park
Initially, the respondents were provided with a list of social problems and were asked to indicate
whether or not they were currently affecting their community. Their aggregated responses are
compared in Figure 7.
Xenophobia
16.9%
60.4%
Gangsterism
80.4%
18.8%
Unemployment
0.8%
98.5%
Drug abuse
1.2%
95.4%
Alcohol abuse
4.2%
94.2%
Sexual abuse
5.8%
57.7%
Child abuse
36.5%
54.9%
11.9%
78.1%
Inequality
20.0%
60.8%
26.9%
Poverty
0%
40%
1.2%
1.9%
13.5%
95.4%
20%
0.0%
12.3%
85.0%
3.5%
0.4%
7.7%
86.9%
Violent crime
0.4%
5.8%
37.7%
Robbery and theft
Other
22.7%
1.5%
1.2%
60%
80%
100%
Percentage of respondents
Yes
No
Don't know
Figure 7: Existing social problems in Protea Park [Source: Mthente, 2011]
Based on the share of responses received for each social problem, the percentages presented in
Figure 7 suggest that the most prominent social problems in Protea Park are unemployment, drug
abuse and alcohol abuse, followed by robbery and theft and poverty. Each of these problems was cited
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
49
as currently affecting their community by at least 85 percent of the respondents. There were also large
shares of respondents that cited gangsterism (80.4 percent), violent crime (78.1 percent) and inequality
(60.8 percent) as prominent social problems.
Interestingly, responses were more polarized with respect to the respondents’ perceptions on whether
sexual abuse and child abuse were currently affecting their community. Specifically, while in each case
more than half of the respondents indicated that these problems were affecting their community, there
were also comparatively large shares of respondents (36.5 percent and 37.7 percent, respectively) that
felt that these issues were not currently social problems in Protea Park. Notably, the share of
respondents (16.9 percent) that cited xenophobia as a prevailing social problem in Protea Park was
also comparatively small.
A small number of respondents also cited ‘other’ social problems in Protea Park, over and above those
discussed above. These social problems included a lack of housing, street gambling, taverns and too
few police officers.
In order to assess the possible influence of the presence of gangs in Protea Park on the success of a
new sports and recreation initiative, the respondents were then asked to indicate the extent to which
gangs influence where they go and what they do in Atlantis on a five point scale ranging from “no
influence at all” to “very influential”. Figure 8 shows that despite the fact that more than 80 percent of
the respondents cited gangsterism as a current social problem in Protea Park, nearly half of the
respondents (47.3 percent) indicated that gangs do not have any influence on where they go and what
they do in Atlantis. Nevertheless, this is by no means universal. Indeed, more than one third of the
respondents (37.6 percent) indicated that the presence of gangs is either “influential” or “very influential”
in determining where they go and what they do within Atlantis.
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Response Options
Very influential
13.8%
Influential
23.8%
Neutral
8.1%
Somewhat of an influence
6.9%
No influence at all
47.3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 8: Extent to which gangs influence where people go and what they do in Protea Park [Source: Mthente, 2011]
Turning to the problem of alcohol abuse, which was cited most widely alongside drug abuse as
prominent social problems affecting Protea Park, the survey also sought to establish whether alcohol
abuse was more acute among certain age groups or genders within the population of Protea Park.
Focusing initially on age groups, Figure 9 presents an aggregation of the respondents’ perceptions
related to which age group accounts for the bulk of alcohol abuse in Protea Park. Interestingly, the
majority of respondents (81.9 percent) felt that the cohort between 16 and 25 years of age accounts for
the largest share of alcohol abuse in Protea Park. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, only 1.5
percent of the respondents indicated that those 60 years or older are the most prevalent alcohol
abusers in Protea Park. These findings suggest that the youth in Protea Park are most vulnerable to
alcohol abuse.
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Response Options
Older than 60 years
1.5%
25 years to 59 years
16.5%
16 years to 25 years
81.9%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 9: Respondents’ perceptions of which age group abuses alcohol the most in Protea Park [Source: Mthente,
2011]
Similarly, the respondents were also asked to indicate whether they believed that alcohol abuse is more
prevalent among males or females. Notably, Figure 10 shows that the majority of respondents (90.8
percent) did not distinguish between genders, believing that the extent of alcohol abuse among males
and females within Protea Park is broadly the same. Interestingly, however, of the small shares of
respondents that did single out one of the genders, marginally more respondents felt that females (5
percent) in Protea Park abuse alcohol more than their male counterparts (3.8 percent).
Percentage of respondents
100%
90.8%
80%
60%
40%
20%
3.8%
5.0%
Male
Female
0.4%
0%
Both
Not sure
Response Options
Figure 10: Respondents’ perceptions of which gender group abuses alcohol the most in Protea Park [Source:
Mthente, 2011]
In addition, identical questions to the two discussed above were posed to the respondents within the
context of drug abuse. As was the case with the problem of alcohol abuse, Figure 11 shows that an
overwhelming majority (95.8 percent) of respondents believed that drug abuse is most prevalent among
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
52
those aged between 16 and 25 years. Again, these findings suggest that the youth in Protea Park are
most vulnerable to drug abuse.
Response Options
Older than 60 years
0.4%
25 years to 59 years
3.8%
16 years to 25 years
95.8%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 11: Respondents’ perceptions of which age group abuses alcohol the most in Protea Park [Source: Mthente,
2011]
Furthermore, Figure 12 shows that, in a similar manner to the problem of alcohol abuse, the majority of
respondents (90 percent) did not distinguish between genders, believing that the extent of drug abuse
among males and females within Protea Park is essentially the same. However, in contrast to the
findings on alcohol abuse, of the small shares of respondents that did single out one of the genders,
marginally more respondents felt that males (6.9 percent) in Protea Park abuse drugs more than their
female counterparts (1.5 percent).
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100%
90.0%
Percentage of respondents
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
6.9%
1.5%
1.5%
0%
Male
Female
Both
Not sure
Response Options
Figure 12: Respondents’ perceptions of which gender group abuses drugs the most in Protea Park [Source:
Mthente, 2011]
5.2.2 Suggested needs to address social problems within the
Protea Park community
Having identified the principal social problems besetting the community of Protea Park, the survey
respondents were then asked to specify what they believe is needed to address these problems. The
frequency with which various needs were cited by the sample of respondents is compared in Figure 13.
In line with the fact that unemployment was cited as a prevailing social problem in Protea Park by the
largest share of respondents, more than half of the respondents (54.2 percent) indicated that “economic
development and employment creation” is needed to address the social problems confronting the
community in Protea Park. In turn, the need for a youth centre was cited by the second largest number
of respondents. Other prominent needs cited by more than 30 percent of respondents were “sports
infrastructure and facilities” (35.4 percent), a “training or skills development centre for community
members” (30.8 percent) and “sports development for the youth” (30.4 percent). Further down the list of
the most prominent needs cited by the survey respondents, the need for “recreational activities,
facilities and infrastructure” to address the social problems in Protea Park was cited by marginally more
than one out of every five respondents.
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Economic development and employment creation
54.2%
Response Options
Youth centre
42.3%
Sports infrastructure and facilities
35.4%
Training or skills development centre for…
30.8%
Sports development for youth
30.4%
Higher education facilities
28.5%
Rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol abusers
28.5%
Recreational activities, facilities and infrastructure
21.9%
Infrastructure development
16.5%
Other
12.3%
More experienced social workers
8.5%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 13: Respondents’ recommendations of what is needed to address the social problems present in Protea
Park [Source: Mthente, 2011]
A relatively large percentage of respondents (12.3 percent) also cited ‘other’ ways in which the social
problems affecting the community within Protea Park should be addressed. These suggestions varied
widely, including the need for parks for children and a safe sports ground related to sports and
recreation. Other suggestions related broadly to effective political leadership, policing and other
measures to ensure the safety of the community.
It is also instructive to investigate how perceptions of what is needed to address the social problems
present in Protea Park varied depending on the gender and age profile of respondents. To this end,
Table 10 presents a comparison that disaggregates the results presented above across both males and
females and various closed age categories.
Table 10: Disaggregated results of respondents’ perceptions of what is needed to address social problems in
Protea Park across gender and age categories
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What is needed to address
the social problems present
in
the
Protea
Park
community?
M
F
0-9
yrs
10-19
yrs
20-29
yrs
30-39
yrs
40-49
yrs
50-59
yrs
60-64
yrs
Older
than
65
yrs
Economic development and
employment creation
57.4%
51.1%
0.0%
61.1%
59.7%
59.5%
44.4%
46.2%
53.3%
60.0%
24.0%
32.8%
0.0%
27.8%
31.9%
33.3%
27.8%
17.9%
33.3%
25.0%
31.8%
29.8%
0.0%
22.2%
36.1%
26.2%
37.0%
23.1%
26.7%
30.0%
17.1%
16.0%
0.0%
11.1%
15.3%
21.4%
20.4%
12.8%
26.7%
5.0%
39.5%
31.3%
0.0%
50.0%
27.8%
35.7%
40.7%
33.3%
46.7%
30.0%
Sports development for the
youth
30.2%
30.5%
0.0%
22.2%
30.6%
23.8%
37.0%
23.1%
46.7%
35.0%
Recreational
activities,
facilities and infrastructure
21.7%
22.1%
0.0%
11.1%
16.7%
19.0%
24.1%
30.8%
46.7%
15.0%
41.1%
43.5%
0.0%
38.9%
29.2%
52.4%
46.3%
43.6%
46.7%
55.0%
Rehabilitation centre for drug
and alcohol abusers
27.9%
29.0%
0.0%
33.3%
22.2%
21.4%
37.0%
35.9%
20.0%
30.0%
More experienced
workers
10.1%
6.9%
0.0%
11.1%
6.9%
7.1%
5.6%
20.5%
0.0%
5.0%
10.9%
13.7%
0.0%
5.6%
15.3%
9.5%
14.8%
12.8%
6.7%
10.0%
Higher education facilities
Training
and
skills
development
centre
for
community members
Infrastructure development
Sports infrastructure
facilities
and
Youth centre
social
Other
Source: Mthente, 2011
Key:
Higher percentage between males and females
Highest percentage among age categories
Comparing the responses provided by males and females, the following can be deduced based on the
results presented in Table 10:

Larger relative proportions of female respondents cited a youth centre (43.5 percent), higher
education facilities (32.8 percent), sports development for the youth (30.5 percent),
rehabilitation centres for drug and alcohol abusers (29 percent) and recreational activities,
facilities and infrastructure (22.1 percent) as pressing needs to address the social problems in
Protea Park.

In comparison, larger relative proportions of male respondents cited economic development
and employment creation (57.4 percent), sports infrastructure and facilities (39.5 percent), a
training and skills development centre for community members (31.8 percent), infrastructure
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
56
development (17.1 percent) and more experienced social workers (10.1 percent) as pressing
needs to address the social problems in Protea Park.
In turn, comparing the responses related to what is needed to address the social problems in Protea
Park provided across the various age categories, the following can be deduced:

The highest relative percentages of respondents citing economic development and
employment creation (61.1 percent) and sports infrastructure and facilities (50 percent) were
aged between 16 and 19 years.

The highest relative percentages of respondents citing higher education facilities (33.3 percent)
were between the ages of 30 and 39 and 60 and 64.

The highest relative percentages of respondents highlighting the need for a training and skills
development centre for community members and a rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol
abusers (both 37 percent) were aged between 40 and 49 years.

The highest relative percentage of respondents citing the need for more experienced social
workers in Protea Park was between 50 and 59 years of age.

The highest relative percentages of respondents citing the need for infrastructure development
(26.7 percent), sports development for the youth, and recreational activities, facilities and
infrastructure (both 46.7 percent) were aged between 60 and 64.

The highest relative percentage of respondents highlighting the need for a youth centre was
found in the group aged older than 65 years.
Focusing specifically on sports and recreation, the respondents were also asked to indicate how the
introduction of sports and recreation initiatives in Protea Park could assist in overcoming the social
problems present in the area. The responses to this question are compared in Figure 14.
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Response Options
Creating jobs for the community
77.7%
Reducing inactivity by providing sports and
recreation activities for individuals to participate in
37.3%
Developing the skills of community members
36.2%
Increasing community development involvement or
cohesion through supporting local information
sports and recreation activities
36.2%
Other
2.3%
0%
50%
100%
Percentage of respondentts
Figure 14: Respondents’ perceptions of how sports and recreation initiatives can address social problems in
Protea Park [Source: Mthente, 2011]
Notably, more than three quarters (77.7 percent) of the respondents felt that the introduction of sports
and recreation initiatives could serve to create jobs for the Protea Park community. Again, this finding
appears to be congruent with the earlier finding in which unemployment was cited most widely as a
social problem affecting the community. The second most widely cited way in which sports and
recreation initiatives could address social problems in Protea Park was through “reducing inactivity by
providing sports and recreation activities for individuals to participate in” – with more than 37 percent of
the respondents feeling that such an initiative could make a contribution in this regard. Similar shares of
respondents indicated that the introduction of sports and recreation initiatives in Protea Park could
address existing social problems through “developing the skills of community members” or by
“increasing community involvement or cohesion through supporting local sports and recreation
initiatives”. Among the ‘other’ ways cited by a small number respondents, the primary areas in which
these respondents felt that sports and recreation initiatives could address social problems in Protea
Park was through youth development and the creation of sports grounds and fields.
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SUMMARY: Existing social problems and needs in Protea Park
Social problems in Protea Park








The most prominent social problems in Protea Park are:
o Unemployment.
o Drug abuse.
o Alcohol abuse.
o Robbery and theft.
o Poverty.
Gangsterism, violent crime and inequality represent other prominent social problems.
Gangs do not have any influence on where nearly half of the respondents (47.3 percent) go
and what they do in Atlantis.
But the presence of gangs is either “influential” or “very influential” in determining where more
than one third of the respondents (37.6 percent) go and what they do.
The majority of respondents (81.9 percent) feel that alcohol abuse is most prevalent among
those aged between 16 and 25.
The majority of respondents (90.8 percent) believe that the extent of alcohol abuse among
males and females is broadly the same.
An overwhelming majority (95.8 percent) of respondents believe that drug abuse is most
prevalent among those aged between 16 and 25.
The majority of respondents (90 percent) believe that the extent of drug abuse among males
and females is essentially the same.
What is needed to address social problems in Protea Park





More than half of the respondents (54.2 percent) feel that economic development and
employment creation is needed.
The need for a youth centre was cited by the second largest number of respondents.
Other prominent needs were:
o Sports infrastructure and facilities.
o A training or skills development centre for community members.
o Sports development for the youth.
More than three quarters (77.7 percent) of the respondents feel that the introduction of sports
and recreation initiatives could serve to create jobs for the Protea Park community.
It was also relatively widely felt that sports and recreation initiatives could:
o Reduce inactivity by providing activities for individuals to participate in.
o Develop the skills of community members.
o Increase community involvement or cohesion.
5.3 Existing Community Development Organisations and
Initiatives in Atlantis
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5.3.1 The effectiveness of existing community development
organisations and initiatives in Atlantis
In looking to assess the effectiveness of the community development organisations and initiatives
already present in Atlantis, the survey respondents were asked to provide an overall rating of how
successful they felt the existing initiatives have been in promoting community development. As reflected
in Figure 15, the respondents were asked to provide their perceptions of this effectiveness along a
rating scale with five possible response options ranging from “not effective at all” to “very effective”.
Very Effective
4.2%
Response Options
Effective
11.5%
Average
30.4%
Somewhat effective
21.9%
Not effective at all
31.9%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 15: Respondents’ rating of the overall effectiveness of existing community development initiatives and
organisations in Atlantis [Source: Mthente, 2011]
On balance, the respondents felt that the extent to which the existing initiatives and organisations in
Atlantis have been effective in facilitating community development has been limited. Indeed, the highest
percentage of respondents (31.9 percent) described the existing initiatives as “not effective at all”. In
addition, large shares of respondents felt that the existing initiatives have either been “somewhat
effective” or “average”. In contrast, just 15.7 percent of the respondents were more complementary of
the existing community development initiatives and organisations, rating them as either “effective” or
“very effective” overall.
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Focusing on specific social needs present within Atlantis, the survey respondents were then asked to
indicate how effectively they felt the existing community development initiatives and organisations
operating in Atlantis had been in addressing these needs. Notably, Figure 16 shows that across the
board the bulk of the survey respondents felt that the existing community development organisations
and initiatives had not been effective at all in addressing the social needs present in Atlantis. Indeed,
more than half of the respondents felt that the initiatives and organisations already present in Atlantis
have not been effective at all in “providing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abusers” (58.5 percent);
“improving access to more experienced social workers (52.3 percent); “developing youth facilities” (52.3
percent); “creating jobs and boosting economic development” (51.5 percent); and “developing
recreational activities, facilities and infrastructure” (50.8 percent).
In turn, across the board, the shares of respondents that felt that the social problems present in Atlantis
had been addressed through the existing community development initiatives and organisations were
considerably smaller in comparison. In particular, very few respondents felt that the pressing social
needs in Atlantis had been “fully addressed” by the existing initiatives and organisations operating in
Atlantis.
Improving access to more experienced social…
Providing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abusers
52.3%
16.2%
58.5%
Developing youth facilities
15.8%
52.3%
Developing recreational activities, facilities and…
Developing sports
50.8%
45.8%
17.7%
16.5%
15.0%
13.5%
10.8%
15.0%
16.2%
Developing sports infrastructure
49.6%
16.9%
Infrastructure development
48.5%
17.7%
11.9%
48.8%
17.3%
12.7%
Training or skills development for community…
Improving access to higher education facilities
48.8%
Creating jobs and boosting economic development
51.5%
19.2%
17.7%
15.8%
15.4%
14.6%
0.4%
12.3% 0.0%
18.5%
17.7%
22.7%
18.5%
19.6%
16.2%
12.3%
15.0%
10.8%
15.0%
0.8%
0.0%
0.4%
0.4%
2.3%
5.0%
4.6%
5.0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Not addressed at all
Somewhat addressed
Percentage of respondents
Neutral
Figure 16: Respondents’ perceptions as to how effectively Atlantis’ social needs have been address by existing
community development initiatives and organisations [Source: Mthente, 2011]
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
61
5.3.2 Proposed organisations that can help to promote sports and
recreation initiatives
Despite the overall perceptions of the limited success that existing community development
organisations and initiatives have had in addressing social needs in Atlantis, there was at least some
indication from the respondents that certain organisations can assist the City of Cape Town to promote
sports and recreation initiatives in Protea Park. This is illustrated in Figure 17, which outlines the
organisations highlighted most frequently by respondents as ones which could potentially assist the City
of Cape Town in this regard.
Interestingly, marginally more than 70 percent of the respondents highlighted the role that existing
schools in Protea Park could play in this regard. Approximately 60 percent of respondents also felt that
churches in Protea Park could assist the City of Cape Town to promote sports and recreation initiatives
in Protea Park. Much smaller, but still significant numbers of respondents highlighted Lovelife (25.5
percent) and the Protea Park Clinic (22.8 percent) as potential partners to assist in the promotion of
sports and recreation initiatives in Protea Park.
The ‘other’ organisations listed by respondents as potential partners in the promotion of sports and
recreation initiatives included:

Factories.

The municipality.

Police services.

Political parties.

Shops (as sponsors).

The snooker club.

World Vision.
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
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Schools in Protea Park
70.7%
Response Options
Churches in Protea Park
60.6%
Lovelife
25.5%
Protea Park Clinic
22.8%
Existing street sports and recreation
groups in Atlantis or Protea Park
10.0%
Other
8.1%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 17: Respondents’ proposals for organisations that can assist the City of Cape Town in promoting sports and
recreation initiatives in Atlantis [Source: Mthente, 2011]
The survey questionnaire then probed the respondents further as to precisely how existing community
development organisations could assist the City of Cape Town in the promotion of sports and recreation
initiatives in Protea Park. In this regard, the most frequent suggestions made by respondents are
compared in Figure 18.
Provide funding
74.6%
Response Options
Provide facilities and resources
51.5%
Provide volunteers
45.8%
Provide strategic input
26.9%
Assist in implementation and management of
initiatives
13.1%
Other
2.3%
0%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Percentage of respondents
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Figure 18: Respondents’ recommendations of how existing community development organisations can assist in
the promotion of sports and recreation initiatives [Source: Mthente, 2011]
Approximately three quarters (74.6 percent) of the respondents suggested that the existing community
development organisations could assist through the provision of funding. In addition, further prominent
areas cited by respondents included assistance in the promotion of sports and recreation initiatives
through the provision of facilities and resources, volunteers or strategic input. In comparison, relatively
fewer respondents felt that these community development organisations could assist the City of Cape
Town in the implementation and management of sports and recreation initiatives. Of the small share of
respondents that cited ‘other’ areas, the most prominent related to assistance by means of sponsorship.
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
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SUMMARY: Existing community development organisations and initiatives in
Atlantis
Effectiveness of existing community development organisations and initiatives


On balance, respondents feel that the influence of existing community development
organisations and initiatives on community development has been limited.
The bulk of the survey respondents feel that the existing community development organisations
and initiatives have not been effective at all in addressing the social needs present in Atlantis.
Organisations that can assist in promoting a sports and recreation initiative





More than 70 percent of the respondents highlighted the role that existing schools in Protea
Park can play in promoting sports and recreation initiatives.
Approximately 60 percent of respondents also felt that churches in Protea Park could assist.
Smaller, but still significant numbers of respondents highlighted Lovelife (25.5 percent) and the
Protea Park Clinic (22.8 percent) as potential partners.
Approximately three quarters of the respondents suggested that the existing community
development organisations could assist through the provision of funding.
Other prominent areas where respondents felt they could assist included through the provision
of:
o Facilities and resources.
o Volunteers.
o Strategic input.
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5.4 Possible Sports and Recreation Initiatives to
Address Social Problems in Protea Park
Focusing more specifically on the nature of a proposed new sports and recreation initiative for Protea
Park, the respondents were asked to identify sports and recreation initiatives that they thought would be
most effective in facilitating community development in Protea Park. Figure 19 highlights the initiatives
that were cited most frequently by respondents, with the respondents given the opportunity to provide
multiple responses.
Establishing a Sports Academy
68.5%
Response Options
Building a Sport Complex
47.3%
Establishing a Higher Education Facility/Tertiary
Institution
27.7%
Establishing a Sporting/Coaching Committeee
24.6%
Increasing the number of Team Sports in Protea Park
23.1%
Establishing a Sports and Recreation Information Desk
21.9%
Establishing a Community Vegetable Garden
15.8%
Launching a Sports Summit
9.6%
Other
5.0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 19: Respondents’ perceptions of the most effective sports and recreation initiatives to facilitate community
development [Source: Mthente, 2011]
More than two thirds of the respondents (68.5 percent) felt that the establishment of a sports academy
in Protea Park would be most effective in facilitating community development. In addition, marginally
less than half of the respondents (47.3 percent) suggested that building a sporting complex would be
particularly effective in Protea Park. Other prominent proposals cited by more than 20 percent of
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respondents included establishing a higher education facility (27.7 percent), establishing a sporting or
coaching committee (24.6 percent), increasing the number of team sports in Protea Park (23.1 percent),
and establishing a sports and recreation desk (21.9 percent). A small share of respondents (5 percent)
proposed ‘other’ sports and recreation initiatives, which included building tennis or basketball facilities,
building sports fields, building recreational parks for children, and establishing a baseball club.
It is also possible to analyse the patterns related to the recommendations of specific sports and
recreation initiatives at a more disaggregated level across genders and various closed age categories.
These disaggregated results are presented in Table 11.
Table 11: Disaggregated results of respondents’ perceptions of what sports and recreation initiative in Protea Park
would be most effective in facilitating community development across gender and age categories
Which sports and recreation
initiative would be most
effective in facilitating
M
F
0-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-64
yrs
yrs
yrs
yrs
yrs
yrs
yrs
community development?
Establishing a Sports
65
yrs or
older
68.2%
68.7%
0.0%
66.7%
66.7%
69.0%
75.9%
56.4%
80.0%
70.0%
23.3%
26.0%
0.0%
33.3%
27.8%
16.7%
29.6%
20.5%
26.7%
15.0%
46.5%
48.1%
0.0%
44.4%
47.2%
40.5%
59.3%
38.5%
53.3%
45.0%
15.5%
16.0%
0.0%
16.7%
12.5%
19.0%
16.7%
15.4%
33.3%
5.0%
10.8%
29.8%
0.0%
22.2%
18.1%
26.2%
35.2%
38.5%
40.0%
20.0%
21.7%
24.4%
0.0%
27.8%
16.7%
19.0%
33.3%
30.8%
26.7%
5.0%
19.4%
24.4%
0.0%
33.3%
9.7%
28.6%
24.1%
25.6%
26.7%
25.0%
Launching a Sports Summit
12.4%
6.9%
0.0%
11.1%
11.1%
9.5%
7.4%
10.3%
0.0%
15.0%
Other
1.6%
6.1%
0.0%
0.0%
5.6%
4.8%
3.7%
7.7%
6.7%
5.0%
Academy
Establishing a
Sporting/Coaching Committee
Building a Sport Complex
Establishing a Community
Vegetable Garden
Establishing a Higher
Education Facility/Tertiary
Institution
Increase the number of Team
Sports in Protea Park (i.e.
mass participation)
Establishing a Sports and
Recreation Information Desk
Source: Mthente, 2011
Key:
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Higher percentage between males and females
Highest percentage among age categories
Comparing the aggregated responses from male and female respondents, it is clear from Table 11 that
with the exception of the proposal to launch a sports summit, a larger relative percentage of females
than males cited all of the remaining options as initiatives that would be most effective in facilitating
community development in Protea Park. The differences in the relative percentages of males versus
females were largest with respect to establishing a higher education facility and a sports and recreation
information desk, respectively.
Focusing on differences across the various closed age categories, the following can be deduced from
the percentages presented in Table 11:

Among the respondents aged between 16 and 39 years, which account for a significant share
of the total population in Protea Park, more than two thirds favoured the establishment of a
sports academy in Protea Park. Comparatively large shares of the respondents in these age
groups also felt that building a sports complex would be effective in facilitating community
development.

Of all the age categories, the highest relative percentage of respondents (80 percent)
favouring the establishment of a sports academy was found in the age group between 60 and
64 years.

One third (33.3 percent) of the respondents aged between 10 and 19 years (the highest
relative percentage among all the age categories) felt that establishing a sporting or coaching
committee would be the most effective initiative to facilitate community development.

Similarly, one third (33.3 percent) of the respondents between the ages of 10 and 19
favoured the establishment of a sports and recreation information desk.

The highest relative percentage of respondents (59.3 percent) that proposed building a sport
complex was aged between 40 and 49 years.

One third (33.3 percent) of the respondents aged between 40 and 49 years (the highest
relative percentage among all the age categories) suggested that increasing the number of
team sports in Protea Park would be effective in facilitating community development.

The proposal to launch a sports summit was cited by the largest relative percentage of
respondents (15 percent) aged 65 years or older.
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SUMMARY: Possible sports and recreation initiatives to address social problems
in Protea Park
Initiatives that would be most effective in facilitating community development


The most widespread suggestion – expressed by more than two thirds of the respondents –
was to establish a sports academy in Protea Park.
Other prominent suggestions included:
o Building a sporting complex.
o Establishing a sporting or coaching committee.
o Increasing the number of team sports in Protea Park.
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5.5 Community Involvement in a Proposed Sports and
Recreation Initiative in Protea Park
In many respects, the involvement of community members in a new sports and recreation initiative in
Protea Park will in all likelihood represent an important element of its overall success. With this firmly in
mind, the respondents were asked to indicate whether or not they would like to be involved in some
capacity in a new sports and recreation initiative in Protea Park. The aggregated responses are
compared in Figure 20, which shows that more than half of the respondents (53.8 percent) indicated
that they would not be willing themselves to become involved in a new sports and recreation initiative.
Nevertheless, the share of respondents that did express some willingness to be personally involved in a
new initiative is still relatively large at more than 46 percent.
Yes
46.2%
No
53.8%
Figure 20: Respondents’ willingness to participate in some way in a new sports and recreation initiative in Protea
Park [Source: Mthente, 2011]
Those that indicated a willingness to become involved in such an initiative were then asked to specify
precisely how they would like to do so. The most common responses in this regard included:

Coaching.

Encouraging others to participate in the initiative.

Participating directly in the activities.

Assisting with the management of funds.

Assisting with planning, organisation or decision making (perhaps through involvement on a
committee or council).
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
Assisting with the development of programmes and facilities.

Providing financial support or sponsorship for the initiative.
More broadly, both those respondents that indicated that would like to become involved personally in an
initiative of this nature as well as those that indicated that they did not wish to become involved, were
asked what they felt the members of the Protea Park community could do to contribute to a new sports
and recreation initiative in Protea Park. Figure 21 presents an aggregated depiction of their responses.
Response Options
Volunteer participation in running the daily
operations of the initiative
Encouraging individuals to participate in the
initiative
54.8%
39.4%
Providing funding for the initiative
39.4%
Participation on a steering committee for the
initiative
Assisting with the upkeeping/maintenance of
sports and recreation facilities
36.7%
31.3%
Managing sports and recreation initiatives
30.1%
Other
3.9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Percentage of respondents
Figure 21: Respondents’ suggestions of how community members can contribute to a new sports and recreation
initiative in Protea Park [Source: Mthente, 2011]
More than half (54.8 percent) of the respondents felt that community members could contribute through
“volunteer participation in running the daily operations of the initiative”. Other prominent areas in which
more than one third of the respondents felt that community members could contribute were by
“encouraging individuals to become involved in the initiative”, “providing funding for the initiative” or
through “participation on a steering committee for the initiative”. Furthermore, marginally more than 30
percent of the respondents felt that community members in Protea Park could contribute to a new
sports and recreation initiative by “assisting with the upkeep/maintenance of sports and recreation
facilities” and managing the initiatives themselves.
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SUMMARY: Community involvement in a proposed sports and recreation initiative
in Protea Park
Level of desire among community members to be involved personally in a new
initiative


More than half of the respondents (53.8 percent) are not willing to become involved personally
in some capacity in a new sports and recreation initiative.
Among those that would like to be involved, the most common ways would be through:
o Coaching.
o Encouraging others to participate in the initiative.
o Participating directly in the activities.
o Assisting with the management of funds.
o Assisting with planning, organisation or decision making.
o Assisting with the development of programmes and facilities.
o Providing financial support or sponsorship for the initiative.
Suggestions for community involvement in a new sports and recreation initiative


More than half (54.8 percent) of the respondents feel that community members could contribute
through volunteer participation in running the daily operations of the initiative.
Other prominent areas suggested by respondents where community members could contribute
are through:
o Encouraging individuals to become involved in the initiative.
o Providing funding for the initiative.
o Participation on a steering committee for the initiative.
o Assisting with the upkeep/maintenance of sports and recreation facilities.
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6. STAKEHOLDER
INTERVIEWS REPORT
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6.1
Evaluating existing community development
initiatives in Atlantis
As a starting point, each of the stakeholders was asked to offer their opinions on the effectiveness of
existing community development initiatives and organisations operating in Atlantis. This was framed
both in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing initiatives and organisations, as well as
the social problems and community development issues and needs that are not currently addressed
effectively through the presence of these incumbent organisations and initiatives.
6.1.1 Strengths and weaknesses of existing community
development initiatives in Atlantis
When asked to assess the strengths of existing community development initiatives and organisations
operating in Atlantis, the five stakeholders mostly framed their responses in terms of the positive
influence of the individuals working within these initiatives. In particular, three stakeholders pointed to
the presence of strong leaders involved in sport and “development people” working in Atlantis. One of
these stakeholders highlighted a strong commitment to community development through these
initiatives, particularly among young people in Atlantis. Maintaining the focus on youth development,
another stakeholder said that sporting initiatives are currently playing an important role in filling a void in
terms of youth development in Atlantis.
The five stakeholders also highlighted a number of perceived weaknesses in the current community
development efforts in Atlantis. At a fundamental level, one stakeholder argued that these initiatives
have generally tended to lack clarity in terms of their objectives and intended impact. Furthermore, this
same stakeholder suggested that the existing initiatives have often attempted to address all the social
problems present in Atlantis (including HIV/AIDS, gender inequality, drug and alcohol abuse and
gangsterism) at once, which tends to create confusion, particularly in terms of reach and target
objectives. Another stakeholder felt that the existing programmes and initiatives “are concentrated in
certain areas and not widespread across Atlantis”.22
At the same time, one stakeholder questioned the actual impact of these initiatives, bemoaning what he
felt was “too much talk and no action” on their part. This same stakeholders also expressed the view
that a fundamental weakness of the existing initiatives was that they did not boast any lasting legacy.
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Instead, he argued that programmes and initiatives were frequently introduced for finite periods
(particularly those focused on children) and then “disappeared”.
“There is a tendency of programmes being started and people being trained and kids taking part, but
then six months down the line these programmes disappear and the kids are left hanging.” 23
According to two other stakeholders, rather than suffering from inherent weaknesses, the impact of
these initiatives has been affected by more tangible external factors. For instance, one stakeholder
argued that many members of the community and existing sporting associations cannot afford the fees
charged for utilising existing sports and recreation facilities. Focusing on existing sporting initiatives,
another stakeholder bemoaned a lack of equipment for sporting codes and a shortage of sponsorship
as affecting the impact of these initiatives.
“We used to exercise twice a week at Protea Park sports field, but we can no longer afford to exercise
there, it’s R18 per hour.”24
“As a street soccer coordinator we struggle because we have to deal with makeshift poles and goals
and we also don’t have soccer balls.”25
6.1.2 Social and community development problems and needs
currently not addressed by existing community
development initiatives
The five stakeholders also highlighted several social problems or issues that they felt the existing
community development initiatives and organisations in Atlantis had not effectively, or fully, addressed.
The most prominent issues were drug abuse and gangsterism; with the former cited as a major problem
affecting youth development efforts. Four of the five stakeholders also argued that the existing
initiatives had failed to address a fundamental shortage of facilities and equipment, particularly for
supporting children’s activities. In particular, there was a common feeling that an accessible sports field
or facility for sports such as rugby, cricket and netball is still effectively absent in Atlantis. Linked to this,
one of the stakeholders felt that the existing initiatives do not effectively “keep children busy”.
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“…we have one rugby field that we use for all sports codes as well as a sports hall that is inaccessible
because of its location.”26
“Children want to do activities, but there are no facilities”27
Two stakeholders also expressed the view that the existing community development organisations and
initiatives have not been effective in terms of job creation and addressing unemployment in Atlantis.
Linked to this, one stakeholder felt that these initiatives have also not made a noticeable impact in
terms of skills development for members of the community in Atlantis.
6.2 Proposals for new sports and recreation initiatives
to address social problems in Protea Park
Having investigated the stakeholders’ perceptions related to the effectiveness of existing community
development initiatives in Atlantis, the interviews then sought to investigate these stakeholders’
proposals for new sports and recreation initiatives that would be designed to address the prevailing
social problems and needs in Protea Park. Three of the stakeholders suggested that a multi-purpose
sports facility or centre would be effective in achieving this objective. In this regards, some participants
highlighted the need for sports facilities linked to the sports or organisations that they represent.
Similarly, there was also a feeling that the development of a sports field or several fields for sports such
as rugby, soccer and netball is required. Another stakeholder put forward a proposal for the
development of a network of existing sports clubs in Atlantis. In turn, one stakeholder proposed the
reinvigoration of an initiative focused on crime prevention through sport.
Table 12 summarises some specific suggestions made by the stakeholders related to the proposed
nature of the abovementioned sports and recreation initiatives.
Table 12: Stakeholders’ recommendations for a new sports and recreation initiative in Atlantis
Recommended Sports and Recreation
Details
Initiative
Build a new multi-purpose sports facility or centre

Would provide central facilities for children
to practice and participate in sports.
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
Specific facilities that the centre would
house could include soccer, rugby and
cricket fields as well as netball courts.
Establish a network of all existing sports clubs in

Atlantis
Proposal already agreed in principle in a
meeting of different sporting codes held
recently in Atlantis.

Would provide a platform to concentrate
all resources (funding and infrastructure).

Would create an opportunity for the
development of partnerships between
different sports and recreation initiatives.

Would provide a central forum through
which sports clubs could provide the
government with information related to the
resources that they require.
Develop a new initiative focused on crime

prevention through sport
A previous initiative along these lines was
described by one stakeholder as “very
successful”.

The initiative would focus on getting
‘gangsters’ involved in activities such as
street soccer with a view to involving them
directly in a campaign against crime.
Focusing on the issue of the sustainability of any new initiative, one stakeholder suggested that it was
necessary to develop permanent programmes to ensure that these initiatives also create jobs in
addition to furthering other community development imperatives in Atlantis. This same stakeholder also
argued that it would be necessary to provide training to improve the skills capacity of community
members actively involved in the management of any such initiative. According to another stakeholder,
this sort of capacity building process could be facilitated through workshops run by expert facilitators
that are focused in areas such as fundraising, recruitment and leadership. More broadly, one
stakeholder felt that both new and existing initiatives should be brought under an overarching
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management structure in order to ensure that they move forward and continue to meet community
development objectives in Atlantis.
6.2.1 Potential role of community members in a new initiative
In addition to proposing specific initiatives, the five stakeholders were also asked to indicate how they
felt community members in Atlantis could become involved in such a sports and recreation initiative. In
response, the stakeholders listed the following potential avenues for community involvement:

Through direct and active management and ownership of the initiative.

By becoming involved as volunteers.

Through the provision of support from local businesses.

By protecting new infrastructure and facilities from vandalism.

Through supporting those that are involved in actual sports and recreation activities linked to
the initiatives.
6.2.2 Potential benefits of a new sports and recreation initiative
for the community of Protea Park
In turn, the five stakeholders were also asked to highlight any potential benefits that they felt a new
sports and recreation initiative could, and should, bring to the community of Protea Park. In this regard,
the most prominent benefits included:

Getting children (particularly young boys) “off the street” and preventing them from becoming
involved in drug abuse and “selling drugs for the drug dealers”.28

Facilitating community upliftment.

Eliminating gangsterism by providing alternative activities.

Facilitating a change in the lifestyle of community members towards living healthier lives.

Generating more effective and influential leadership within the community.
“They [sports and recreation initiatives] present an opportunity for converting negative behaviour such
as prostitution, gangsterism, substance abuse [into] positive behaviour through being involved in sport
and recreational activities.”29
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“The reason why these youngsters join gangs is because they are looking for a way to survive, but
as soon as they can be shown alternatives then they [can] change their ways.”30
6.2.3 Potential challenges that a new sports and recreation
initiative would need to overcome in Protea Park
Despite these potential benefits, the five stakeholders also highlighted a number of potential challenges
that any new sports and recreation initiative in Protea Park is likely to have to overcome in order to be
successful in facilitating community development. The most prominent of the perceived challenges –
highlighted by four of the five stakeholders – related to the persistence of gangsterism and gang-related
activity in Protea Park. In this respect, there was some concern that the presence of gangs in the area
may present an obstacle to getting members of the community involved in the initiative.
“…the young guys are caught up in gangsterism…you become a target if you want to change
and do good for the community”31
A couple of the stakeholders also expressed concern about political issues and divisions within the
community that may present a further challenge to attempts to unite the community of Protea Park
around the initiative. In addition, perhaps illustrating the possibility of divisions among community
members related to any proposed initiative, one stakeholder felt that the problem of unemployment in
Protea Park and the need for economic development is more pressing than the need to develop new
sports and recreation initiatives:
“Atlantis has seventy percent unemployment – it’s ridiculous! How can you develop sport and
recreation with this need for economic development?”32
It will be important to bear these potential challenges in mind in the project design stage as well as
when the project moves forward into the implementation phase.
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7. DATABASE OF EXISTING
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES
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The success and reach of any new sports and recreation initiative in Protea Park is likely to be
enhanced through the development of possible partnerships with community development
organisations and initiatives already operating in Atlantis or even in Protea Park itself. With this in mind,
through consultation with key stakeholders, ordinary members of the community in Protea Park, and
representatives of the initiatives and organisations themselves, Mthente has developed an initial
database of community development initiatives. This database is presented in Table 13.
It is clear from Table 13 that there are already a number of existing organisations and initiatives within
the arena of youth focused sports and recreation in Protea Park as well as more broadly in Atlantis.
This represents a potentially strong base from which to secure partners for a new sports and recreation
initiative, particularly if that initiative has some focus on the youth population in Protea Park. At the
same time, however, the opportunities in terms of general sports and recreation initiatives as potential
partners appear to be considerably more limited.
More specifically, from the list of existing organisations and initiatives presented in Table 13, it is
possible to highlight a selection of initiatives that are perhaps best suited to serve as potential partners
that the City of Cape Town can look to enlist to promote sports and recreation initiatives in Protea Park.
It is important to note, however, that ultimately the selection of the most appropriate organisations and
initiatives to serve as potential partners for the City of Cape Town should be driven by the precise
nature and conceptualisation of the sports and recreation project that is eventually developed.
Nevertheless, given the large proportion of youths among the population in Protea Park and, more
broadly, across Atlantis, coupled with the appeal of sports and recreation activities among youths, it is
recommended at this stage that the DoSRA should look to target the existing youth focused sports and
recreation initiatives as possible partners. In addition, given the widespread problem of drug and
alcohol abuse, which is disproportionately problematic among the youth population in Protea Park,
existing youth development initiatives that promote prevention and awareness of substance abuse as
well as life skills and healthy lifestyles for the youth are likely to present particularly effective partners.
With these considerations in mind, the SANCA Western Cape Youth Substance Abuse Prevention
and Awareness Programme would appear to represent a particularly effective potential project partner.
Their expertise in reaching children exposed to problems of drug abuse, coupled with their existing
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presence within Atlantis, would mean that a partnership would present an opportunity for synergies to
be created between new sports and recreation activities and substance abuse prevention and
counselling.
Focusing more broadly on the potential to pair life skills programmes with a new sports and recreation
initiative, the Cape Flats YMCA which provides opportunities for children in Protea Park and its
surrounding areas to play sports and fun games, and at the same time develop life skills, represents
another potentially significant project partner. The selection of such an initiative as a partner would also
tie in with the findings from the baseline household survey which revealed that many residents feel that
churches or religious organisations could serve as effective partners for the City of Cape Town in
promoting sports and recreation initiatives in Atlantis. With this in mind, attention should also be given
to potentially partnering with existing sporting initiatives such as the Redeem Pentecostal Church
Football.
Similarly, the baseline household survey also revealed that many residents in Protea Park favoured
partnerships with schools in promoting sports and recreation initiatives. In this regard, consideration
should be given to partnering with schools such as the Berzelia Primary School, Protea Park Primary
School and Protea High School in Protea Park. Moreover, the existing sporting clubs, initiatives,
associations and organisations that operate in Protea Park and are directed towards young children
and the youth, and which span a number of different sports codes, should be considered as potential
partners. These clubs, initiatives, associations and organisations include the following:

Atlantis Local Football Association.

Atlantis Netball.

Atlantis Street Soccer and Street Netball.

Atlantis Volleyball Club.

Protea Park United.

Protea Park Street Committee.

Young Proteas Rugby Club.
Many of the organisations and initiatives highlighted above face their own challenges, and should the
City of Cape Town look to establish a partnership with one or more of these organisations in the
promotion of sports and recreation activities in Protea Park, attention would have to be given to
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addressing these challenges. For instance, in consultation with a representative from the Cape Flats
YMCA, it was revealed that the organisation is currently affected by a lack of facilities, and is forced to
hire out facilities such as community halls for its initiatives. Furthermore, it was also revealed that the
organisation currently suffers from a shortage of funding to provide food to the children that participate
in its initiatives.
Challenges related to facilities and funding are both present in the case of other initiatives as well. For
instance, a representative of Redeem Pentecostal Church Football, which participates in soccer
tournaments with other churches in Atlantis, highlighted a lack of indoor facilities as a major problem
affecting the initiative. The problem of a lack of facilities also extends to outdoor facilities, where
problems have been encountered with respect to gaining access to roads to use for street soccer. At
the same time, the representative of Redeem Pentecostal Church Football indicated that more funding
is required in order for them to upscale participation, and this needs to be complemented by increased
marketing and communication to boost interest; particularly in terms of extending participation to
individuals outside of the church community.
A shortage of equipment is also a problem in certain instances. For example, children participating, or
wishing to participate, in sports at Berzelia Primary School often to not have access to sports clothing or
equipment. In addition, many parents are unable to pay the travel costs required for their children to
attend specific sporting events. These challenges prompted a representative of the Berzelia Primary
School to suggest that they require sponsorship or funding for sporting equipment for children that are
keen to participate in the various sporting codes on offer at the school. At the same time, this
representative also indicated that there is a need for parents to become more involved in supporting
their children and their participation in sports and, where possible, providing them with sporting
equipment.
In discussions with a social worker within the Atlantis branch of SANCA Western Cape, funding was
identified as a major challenge affecting the organisation’s Youth Substance Abuse Prevention and
Awareness Programme in Atlantis. Specifically, many of the individuals that participate in the
programme are unemployed or come from single income households and, as a result, are unable to
pay for their participation in the programme. This means that SANCA is forced to subsidise the
provision of its services related to the programme and, in some cases, provide them free of charge.
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However, SANCA’s funding is limited, meaning that it cannot provide its services free of charge to
everyone, a reality that potentially limits the reach of the programme. This is particularly relevant with
respect to testing for substance abuse, with the organisation indicating that it does not have sufficient
funds to make its testing available to everyone free of charge.
More broadly, the representative of SANCA Western Cape also highlighted the current lack of
complementary activities available to programme participants during the time each week that they do
not spend participating in the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness Programme. In
effect, this means that many programme participants are simply not engaged in any meaningful
activities outside of their participation in the programme on a weekly basis, with especially few
alternatives available as far as sports and recreation activities are concerned. This suggests that a
sports and recreation initiative that provides alternative activities for youths could dovetail effectively in
partnership with SANCA’s Youth Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness Programme.
These examples provide an indication of the sort of assistance that the City of Cape Town could
provide – such as the provision of funding or the use of facilities – through partnerships with the existing
community development organisations and initiative highlighted above.
Table 13: Community development organisations and initiatives operating in Atlantis
Initiative
Atlantis
Golf
Developme
nt
GENERAL SPORTS AND RECREATION
Descriptio Target
Size and Location Contact
n
Beneficiari Reach
Person
es
Affiliated with
Western
Province
Golf, Atlantis
Gold
Development
boasts a
league team
that plays
competitive
golf and
recently
established a
school
All age groups:
- Children at
primary and
secondary
school.
- Adults
- Senior
citizens
Membership
base
extends to
160 primary
and
secondary
school
learners and
150 adults.
Atlantis
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
Harold Moses
Contact Details
082 417 5484
84
league golf
tournament
for the first
time ever in
Atlantis.
Initiative
YOUTH FOCUSED SPORTS AND RECREATION
Descriptio Target
Size and Location Contact
n
Beneficiari Reach
Person
es
Atlantis
Local
Football
Association
Association
of all soccer
teams in
Atlantis
Youth
Atlantis
Netball
Association
of netball
teams
Youth (children
aged between
4 and 10
years)
Cape Flats
YMCA
Provide
sports,
lifestyle skills
and fun
games for
children
Run street
soccer and
street netball
games in the
community
Youth and
community
members
Atlantis
Street
Soccer and
Street
Netball
Youth
Association
represents
17 teams
from the
Under 7 to
Under 19
and Premier
divisions.
Total
membership
base
extends to
approximatel
y 2 000
members,
approximatel
y 480 of
which are in
Protea Park.
In Protea
Park, the
association
represents
30 young
children that
belong to
three teams
Serves
approximatel
y 250
children
Based on
Robbinvale
Serve
approximatel
y 350 youths
representing
between 20
and 30
teams
Peter Cookson
Contact Details
021 400 1625
071 286 8684
Operates
across
Atlantis
Protea Park
Jorina Joubert
076 486 5165
Protea Park
and
surrounding
areas
Enver Wearley
076 555 0100
Across
Atlantis
Rashaad Molligan
084 540 6151
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
92
Pick ‘n Pay
Gym
Free gym
open to
everyone
that caters
for
weightlifting
and body
building
School
basketball
Youth
Serve
between 40
and 50
people each
evening
Protea Park
Mr Arendse
071 999 6541
Boys and girls
under the age
of 13
021 572 6696
Teenagers
Protea Park
Berzalia
Primary
School
Protea Park
Mr Sedeman
After school
and vacation
programme
John Meyer
021 572 0872
Prokids
Dance
Group
Dance group
and music
for children
Boys and girls
between the
ages of 9 and
13
Protea Park
Isadene Sassman
078 822 8231
Young
Proteas
Rugby Club
Rugby and
netball club
Young men
and women
under the age
of 25
Protea Park
Gert Heyns
082 692 8932
Protea Park
Street
Committee
Street
soccer,
netball,
basketball
and
modelling
Youth
Protea Park
Peter John Sauls
074 801 0339
Protea Park
United
Rugby,
soccer and
street soccer
Predominantly
children aged
between 12
and 19
Protea Park
Edwin Pretorius
073 740 9506
Redeem
Pentecostal
Church
Football
Participates
in soccer
tournaments
against other
churches
Protea Park
Ronel Meyer
021 904 5441
Atlantis
Volleyball
Club
Volleyball
club formed
in 2003
Youth within
the
congregation
between the
ages of 16 and
25
Children
between the
ages of 12 and
30 boys and
girls under
the age of
13
Serves
between 30
and 50
children
Serves 20
boys and
girls aged
between 9
and 13
Serves
approximatel
y 50 young
men and
women
under the
age of 25
Serves
approximatel
y 25 street
soccer
players and
25 netball
players
Serves
approximatel
y 48 children
aged
between 12
and 19
Serves
approximatel
y 80 youths
aged
between 16
and 25
Serves 20
boys and 15
girls
Berzelia
Primary
School
Basketball
The
Holiday
Programme
076 916 8936
Protea Park
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
Nathan Pretorius
073 568 0877
93
18
Protea Park
Primary
School
Initiative
SANCA
Western
Cape
Athletics,
netball,
rugby,
soccer,
volleyball
and chess
Primary school
learners
between the
ages of 12
and 18
Serve 800
children,
with 250
taking part
in sporting
initiatives
Protea Park
Elizabeth May
CHILD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Descriptio Target
Size and Location Contact
n
Beneficiari Reach
Person
es
Runs a
Youth
Substance
Abuse
Prevention
and
Awareness
Programme
that is
designed to
prevent
substance
abuse
among the
youth and
promote
alternative,
healthy
lifestyles.
The multifaceted
programme
is presented
in primary
and
secondary
schools to
children in
Grades
selected by
the
respective
school
principal and
educators.
The
programme
Primary and
secondary
school
learners in
underresources,
high-risk
communities
The Youth
Substance
Abuse
Prevention
and
Awareness
Programme
is offered to
approximatel
y 9 500
Grade 6 and
7 primary
school
learners as
well as
Grade 8, 9
and 10 high
school
learners
Atlantis,
Athlone,
Cape Town,
Gugulethu,
Hanover
Park,
Khayelitsha,
Manenburg,
Mitchells
Plain,
Phillipi,
Strandfontei
n,
Tygerberg
and Paarl
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
David Fourie
(Director,
Western Cape)
021 527 3283
Contact Details
021 572 7461
atlantis@sancawc.co.
za
94
Unyoma
Early
Childhood
Developme
nt
Initiative
West Coast
Foundation
comprises:
information
and
awareness
sessions; an
in-depth
Prevention
Programme;
assessment
of learners
with
substance
abuse
problems
and referral
for
counselling
or treatment;
holiday
programmes;
and trained
peer
counsellors
to assist with
ongoing
awareness
campaigns
and referral
of learners
with
problems.
Forum for
crèches
within the
community
and offer
early
childhood
development
support to
educators
and parents
Children aged
between 0 and
6 years
Educators and
parents
Between 15
and 20
affiliated
crèches
Reach more
than 800
children
when events
such as
International
Children’s
Day are
included
Atlantis
Christine Louise
021 573 7106
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UPLIFTMENT AND PROTECTION
Descriptio Target
Size and Location Contact
Contact Details
n
Beneficiari Reach
Person
es
Social
development
organisation
that provides
Focus on
community
development,
tourism and
Approximate
ly 500
beneficiaries
in Atlantis
Malmesbury
Johanna
Hendricks
082 387 1993
Serves the
greater
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
95
Community
Policing
Forum
(CPF)
Social
Developme
nt
Atlantis
small grants
ranging
between
R1000 and
R10 000 for
capacity
building and
equipment in
agriculture
Volunteer
organisation
that seeks to
encourage
communities
to work
together
against
violence and
conflict.
Services
include a
Drug and
Alcohol
programme
which seeks
to assist the
youth to
avoid drugs
and alcohol.
Offers a
variety of
programmes
including
early
childhood
development
, genderrelated
programmes,
poverty
alleviation
programmes,
substance
abuse
programmes,
and
HIV/AIDS
related
programmes
Senior
the
environment,
human
development
and youth
development
Atlantis area
Community
members in
Atlantis
Assist
approximatel
y 15 to 20
people each
day, and
have
approximatel
y 100 youths
involved in
the Drug
and Alcohol
programme
Community
members in
Atlantis
Open to
serve “the
entire
community”
Senior citizens
Serves more
Veronica Daniels
073 641 0050
Atlantis
Cornelia Finch
083 642 1289
Atlantis
Christine Louise
021 573 7106
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
96
Coordinatin
g Council
for the
Aged
Orion
Organisatio
n
Atlantis
Gender
Network
Molo
Songolo
citizens
forum
Provision of
home based
care for the
disabled
Run different
types of
programmes
for women
within the
Atlantis
community
Children’s
rights
advocacy
group that
protects
children
against child
labour,
exploitation
and
prostitution.
Also works
with children
that have
been abused
or are at risk
of abuse.
Also runs a
Victim
Empowerme
nt
Programme
(VEP) that
assists
affected
children and
their parents.
than 100
senior
citizens
Disabled
children and
adults in
Atlantis
Mostly women
but also men
Serves 500
children and
adults in
Atlantis
Serves
approximatel
y 500
women
Atlantis
Christine Louise
021 573 7106
Malmary
and Pella
Christine Louise
021 573 7106
Children
between the
ages of 6 and
18
Serves 30
people
through the
VEP and
works with a
further 1 000
children
Atlantis
Stephanie/Nicholi
ne
021 572 6595
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
97
8. CONCLUSION
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
99
According to the residents of Protea Park, the area is currently fraught with a number of significant
social problems. This research study shows that most prominent among these are widespread drug and
alcohol abuse, which appears to disproportionately affect the youth in the Protea Park population.
Widespread unemployment and poverty, together with crime and gangsterism also represent major
problems currently affecting the community.
Given this plethora of social ills and problems, members of the Protea Park community are
unsurprisingly vocal about what they believe to be the social needs that require priority attention in their
community. Many residents have expressed an urgent need for economic development in Protea Park
that facilitates employment creation. Indeed, more than three quarters of the baseline household survey
respondents felt that the introduction of a new sports and recreation initiative should assist in creating
jobs for the community. Encouragingly, the development of sport and sporting facilities, as well as
recreational activities for children, are also seen as priority needs for the community. There was also
relatively widespread feeling that the initiative should contribute towards skills development for
community members. This may suggest that a sports and recreation initiative that is able to combine
job creation with the introduction of new sports and recreation facilities and activities is likely to be most
effective in addressing the social problems and needs of the Protea Park community.
There would appear to be significant scope for the introduction of such an initiative. Among the
surveyed residents in Protea Park, the majority believe that the existing community development
initiatives and organisations in operation within Atlantis have not been effective in addressing the most
prominent social problems and needs confronting the community. Moreover, many community
members expressed dissatisfaction at the availability and current state of community sports and
recreation facilities in Atlantis. This suggests that there is a need to develop a new sports and
recreation initiative that more effectively facilitates community development in Protea Park.
Furthermore, the presence of a youthful population in Atlantis – a fact confirmed in the findings from
previous research studies as well as the demographic profile of respondents in the baseline household
survey in Protea Park – bodes well for the merits of introducing a sports and recreation initiative in
Protea Park. This also suggests that attention in the initiative should be given to addressing the social
problems and needs that are most acutely felt by the youth within Protea Park. The results of the
household survey suggest that drug and alcohol abuse are particularly prominent social ills in this
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
100
respect. Linked to this, the prevalence of gangsterism also represents a significant problem. According
to many community stakeholders, the presence of these problems is due, at the most fundamental
level, to a lack of alternatives and activities available to the youth to occupy their time. With this in mind,
a relatively large number of stakeholders felt that a new sports and recreation initiative should serve to
reduce such inactivity by providing activities for youths to participate in.
In practical terms, the findings from the research study provide direction as to what sort of sports and
recreation initiative could be implemented in Protea Park. In this respect, the primary proposals
emerging from the community consultation workshop included diverse initiatives ranging from those
focused on constructing new physical infrastructure and facilities such as establishing a sports
academy, constructing a new sports complex or establishing a sports and recreation information desk,
to more administrative proposals such as the formation of an overarching sporting committee,
increasing opportunities for team sports, or launching a sports summit. Echoing one of these
recommendations, the most widespread suggestion put forward by household survey respondents was
in favour of the establishment of a sports academy in Protea Park. This was followed in order of
prominence by the shares of respondents that proposed building a sporting complex, establishing a
sporting or coaching committee and increasing the number of team sports available to individuals in
Protea Park.
It is clear that the process of implementing a new sports and recreation initiative in Protea Park is
unlikely to occur without facing certain challenges. For instance, some key stakeholders have raised
concern that the persistence of gangsterism and gang-related activity in Protea Park may present an
obstacle to getting members of the community involved in the initiative. Furthermore, it has also been
argued that political divisions may present a further challenge to attempts to generate buy-in for the
initiative and unite the community of Protea Park around the initiative.
Nevertheless, the prospects for a successful initiative can be enhanced by generating widespread
community involvement in the initiative, as well as through the selection of effective partner
organisations and initiatives to assist in the promotion of the initiative.
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
101
9. RECOMMENDATIONS
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
102
The precise nature and conceptualisation of the community development project based on sport and
recreational activities to be implemented in Protea Park will only be finalised based on the outcomes of
a collaborative workshop involving members of the Mthente research team and the City of Cape Town’s
DoSRA. Nevertheless, the findings presented in this research report provide some direction in terms of
general recommendations and considerations that should be taken into account when ultimately
formulating the specific nature of the project. They also provide some insight into the possible form that
such an initiative should take in order to effectively address the social problems and needs of the
community in Protea Park.
In this respect, a series of initial recommendations and considerations are presented below.
9.1 General considerations for a new sports and
recreation initiative in Protea Park
The initiative should include a job creation element
Priority should be given to involving community members in Protea Park directly in the ownership,
management and operation of the initiative. This research study has shown that there is at least some
indication that certain members of the community would like to be involved directly in any such project.
This could occur by employing members of the community in positions related to the day-to-day
management and operation of the initiative. This could also extend to the provision of assistance in the
up-keep and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure utilised through the initiative. Alternatively,
community members could be employed as coaches, trainers or facilitators in carrying out the actual
sports and recreation activities of which the initiative is comprised.
In addition, while not constituting any form of wage employment, community members could be
encouraged to be involved in supporting the initiative through assisting the City of Cape Town to
generate support within the community for the initiative or by directly encouraging and recruiting
community members to participate in the initiative.
The initiative should focus on addressing the social problems and
needs that are felt most acutely by the youth in Protea Park
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
103
The research study has shown that substance abuse – specifically the abuse of drugs and alcohol – is
particularly widespread among the youth population in Protea Park. Gangsterism has also been
highlighted as a problem that disproportionately affects the youth population in the area. At the same
time, the community development organisations and initiatives currently in operation in Protea Park
have been criticised by community members for not effectively addressing these social ills. At least
some of this criticism has been based on a feeling that the existing organisations and initiatives have
tended to attempt to address a wide variety of social problems at once rather than focusing on a
selection of these problems.
Within this context, the sports and recreation should look to focus on addressing the problems related
to drug and alcohol abuse and gangsterism that currently plague the youth population in Protea Park. In
this way, specific targets and objectives for the sports and recreation initiative can be developed related
to each of these social problems. Furthermore, this should give some direction as to which existing
community organisations and initiatives should be selected as partners for the City of Cape Town to
promote sports and recreation activities in Protea Park.
The initiative should ensure that the presence of gangs and the
prevalence of crime do not affect the participation of community
members
While opinions were divided on the extent to which the prevalence of gangsterism in Protea Park
affects where residents go and what they do, the research study revealed a notable degree of concern
among community stakeholders that the presence of gangs could have an adverse effect on the
participation of community members in the eventual activities related to the proposed sports and
recreation initiative. Consequently, in order to ensure that the initiative is ultimately successful and
reaches as many community members as possible, it will be necessary to proactively implement
measures to ensure that the presence of gangs and the prevalence of crime do not affect community
members’ participation in the initiative.
One way in which this could be achieved is to actively encourage known members of gangs operating
within Protea Park to participate in the initiative. According to some community members, youths in
Protea Park resort to gangsterism as a result of a lack of alternative activities. This suggests that by
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
104
providing sports and recreation activities for these individuals to participate in, they can be provided
with an alternative to gangsterism.
The initiative should include a focus on getting parents actively
involved in the sporting activities of their children
One way in which widespread community buy-in, support and involvement for a new sports and
recreation initiative can be generated is by including a focus on measures to get parents involved in the
sporting activities of their children. This could, for example, be promoted through the following
measures that should be included to complement the selected sports and recreation initiative:

Include parent orientation in the new initiative.

Inform parents of both the health and personal development benefits that their children can
gain through participation in sports and recreation activities.

Encourage parents to participate in activities and support their children when they are playing
sport.
The City of Cape Town should look to partner with existing
community development organisations and initiatives
The development of effective partnerships with existing community development initiatives could
ultimately represent a crucial element of the success of any new sports and recreation initiative. The
research study has shown that it was most widely felt among residents that churches and schools can
serve as potentially effective partners in this regard. Here, schools such as the Berzelia Primary School,
Protea Park Primary School and Protea High School should be considered as possible partners,
together with existing sporting initiatives run by churches such as the Redeem Pentecostal Church
Football.
At the same time, the widespread problems of drug and alcohol abuse in Protea Park, particularly
among the area’s youth population, suggest that a partnership with an organisation focused on
addressing these issues could be particularly beneficial. In this regard, the SANCA Western Cape
Youth Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness Programme would appear to be a potentially
powerful partner in assisting the City of Cape Town in creating a direct link between efforts to promote
sports and recreation activities and addressing problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse in
Protea Park.
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
105
The final selection of partners should, however, be determined based on the precise nature of the
sports and recreation project that is ultimately developed.
9.2 Initial proposals for an actual sports and recreation
initiative in Protea Park
With these general considerations in mind, and based on the findings from the research study, the City
of Cape Town should give consideration to the following proposals for specific sports and recreation
initiatives to be implemented in Protea Park.
Proposal 1: Establish a multi-purpose sports facility in Protea Park
The research study has found that inactivity and a ‘lack of things to do’ are key factors contributing to
the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse as well as gangsterism in Protea Park, particularly among the
area’s youth population. At the same time, many stakeholders consulted during the course of the
research process have bemoaned a perceived lack of availability of, or in some cases access to, sports
and recreation facilities in the area.
These issues could both be addressed through the creation of a new, multi-purpose sports facility in
Protea Park that would be open to all members of the community to use free of charge. This facility
could house a multi-purpose sports field suitable for soccer, cricket and rugby matches as well as
netball and basketball courts. The facility could also be designed so as to ensure that spaces are
available for street soccer and cricket to be played within the confines of the facility. This would serve to
ensure that children can play these popular street sports within a safe environment that is removed
from the dangers of traffic and the perverse presence of gangsters and drug dealers that characterise
certain streets in Protea Park.
At the same time, the creation of a new facility could serve as a driver of job creation for the community
of Protea Park. For instance, priority could be given to employing local members of the community to
manage the day-to-day operations of the facility and assume responsibility for the up-keep and
maintenance of the facility including cleaning, repairs, maintenance work and preparation of the
grounds. Moreover, this would also help to achieve buy-in from the community for the project by
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
106
providing community members with a sense of ownership of the facility and a stake in its continued
sustainability.
Proposal 2: Establish a Sports Academy in Protea Park
Another potential initiative would involve the establishment of a sports academy within Protea Park. The
focus of such an academy could be on a number of different sporting codes, and provide an opportunity
for any youngsters living in Protea Park with a talent or keen interest in sports such as soccer, rugby,
cricket, netball and basketball, who would then be invited to attend the academy. At the academy,
these youngsters would be exposed to a structured and tailored programme of training in their specific
sports, with this training delivered by appropriately qualified sports trainers and coaches.
Again, the presence of such a sports academy could have job creation potential for community
members across Atlantis. For instance, the academy could give priority to the employment of suitably
qualified local sports trainers and coaches to train and coach the children that enrol in the academy
programmes. Furthermore, the sports academy could even run courses designed specifically to train
members of the Protea Park community to be sports trainers or coaches.
At the same time, such an initiative could even be introduced in conjunction with the proposed
development of a multi-purpose sports facility in Protea Park, with the possibility of the academy being
housed within the facility.
Proposal 3: Establish an overarching sports and recreation
steering committee in Protea Park
The aforementioned proposals would require a significant injection of funding in order to be viable,
particularly in the initial stages of implementation. If the availability of funds is more limited,
consideration could be given to establishing a community-run sports and recreation steering committee
that focuses on organising specific sports and recreation activities and events in Protea Park and
provides a formal forum for interaction between all existing sports clubs, associations and initiatives
operating in the area.
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
107
Such a steering committee would also allow for a consolidation of the management of the various
sporting clubs and associations currently operating within Protea Park. At the same time, this would
also go some way to addressing the any existing problems related to a lack of coordination and
interaction between the various clubs and associations by providing a formal mechanism to facilitate
networking between these different organisations.
At the same time, the steering committee could be tasked with the responsibility of running a dedicated
sports and recreation information desk from which community members could obtain direct access to
information on existing sports and recreation activities in the area as well as up-coming events. This
would address concerns raised by some community stakeholders that information on existing initiatives
and activities is not reaching many members of the community and is only disseminated to a small subset of the community that listens to Radio Atlantis.
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
108
APPENDIX I
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
109
The following community members participated in the Community Consultation workshop facilitated by
Mthente on 31 March 2011.
Table 14: Atlantis Project Consultation Workshop Participants
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Name & Surname
Veronica Daniels
Barbara Rass
Edwin Pretorius
Gert Heyns
Dan Berling
Enver Wearly
Rashaad Molligan
Leon Julius
Organization/Position
Community Policing Forum
Councillor for the area
None
Rugby Club
Rugby Club
Basketball
Street soccer
Street soccer
9. Melvin Praah
10. Johanna Hendricks
None
West Coast Foundation
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Street committee
Street committee
Golf
Reygersdal Primary
Protea Primary Park
Clinic
None
Atlantis volleyball
Street Committee
Pick n Pay Gym
None
None
Community Policing Forum
Arnodene Van Der Merwe
Peter John Sauls
Harold Moses
Danny Petersen
Mr. Losper
Mr. Dyson
Pastor Pickering
Nathan Pretorius
Isadene Sassman
Mr. Arendse
Nadia Brown
Yolanda Arries
Anglo Coetzee
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
110
References
City of Cape Town, 2006, ‘The Spatial Distribution of Socio-Economic Status, Services Levels and
Levels of Living in the City of Cape Town 2001 – To Highlight Suburbs in need’,
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/stats/CityReports/Documents/Households/Levels_of_Living_Report
_2610200613451_359.pdf [25 March 2011]
Parker and Dawes, 2003, ‘Child Sexual Abuse in Atlantis’, University of Cape Town
South African Older Persons Forum, 2010, ‘Atlantis: A Forgotten Town?’, Forum News, Volume 3,
Issue 4, http://www.saopf.org.za/NL/Vol%203%20Issue%204.pdf [1 April 2011]
Space-Time Research, 2006, ‘Atlantis’,
http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/pubs/reports_research?W?143867/9 [24 March 2011]
University of Stellenbosch Unit for Religion and Development Research, 2005, Atlantis Transformation
Research Project
Voice of the Cape, 2009, ‘Unemployment skyrockets in Atlantis’,
http://www.vocfm.co.za/index.php?&section=news&category=&=&article=47466 [22 July 2010]
© Mthente Research and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, April 2011
111
Endnotes
Voice of the Cape, 2009
Space-Time Research, 2006
3 University of Stellenbosch Unit for Religion and Development Research, 2005
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid.
9 Space-Time Research, 2006
10 University of Stellenbosch Unit for Religion and Development Research, 2005
11 Ibid.
12 South African Older Persons Forum, 2010
13 City of Cape Town, 2006
14 Ibid., p. 14
15 Ibid., p. 16
16 University of Stellenbosch Unit for Religion and Development Research, 2005
17 Ibid.
18 Parker and Dawes, 2003, ‘Child Sexual Abuse in Atlantis’, University of Cape Town
19 University of Stellenbosch Unit for Religion and Development Research, 2005, Atlantis Transformation Research Project
20 Ibid.
21 Ibid.
22 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
23 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
24 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
25 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
26 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 8 April 2011
27 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
28 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
29 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 8 April 2011
30 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
31 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
32 Anonymous stakeholder, Semi-structured interview, 11 April 2011
1
2
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112