A Study of Shelters for Street Children from an Organizational ...

this theory several factors form basis of organizational strategies: size; technology;
environment; coordination; adaptation; dependence; and the division of labour, each
factor being considered as a contingency variable. With these factors in place it is easy
to identify a structure of an organization and what concerns are of significance to
organization (shelter). All shelters' structural and/organizational concerns were service
delivery and intervention/reintegration programs, in that they considered care and
services to children their priority. However, structural design was also important, not
only for easy access to service delivery, but as a requirement for the registration of
shelters by government and as stipulated in the South African Children's Draft Bill
(2002:156) http://www.pmg.org.za: 24/1/2004. As a result, shelters were organized in
form that Hasenfeld, (1983) refers to as "a loosely coupled system".
5.2 Shelters Organisational Structures
5.2.1 Physical and/organisational Structures
It was the view of managers or directors that management structures should remain
simple with emphases on service delivery and implementation of intervention
programs. In this regard, most of the shelters wanted to avoid setting up bureaucratic
structures where much of the finances would be spent, rather than meeting the needs
of children. This perception was derived from the view that shelter's main objective was
the provision of service to the children. In this regard, shelters managers were
concerned with the following: first, easy accessibility by children and communication
infrastructure was viable; secondly, shelters were closely linked with other institutions
which back up their services, Le., schools, hospital or clinics, recreational facilities,
water and electricity. This was to ensure that they meet the legal, constitutional,
regulatory and legislative requirements of the government, that all shelters meet
minimum standards for the safety and well-being of the children as contained in the
South African Children's Draft Bill chapter 17 (2002: 155-156) and in the amended
regulations contained in the South African Government Gazette no 18770 (1998:14­
23). The legal requirements stipulate that all shelters provide a bed for each child, a
nutritious meal per day, separate toilets and bathing facilities for males and females, an
ablution facility per ten children, cooking facilities with an adult cook, clean water, a
physical structure approved by local authority to ensure enough lighting and ventilation.
Local authorities are vested with regulatory, legislative powers and authority within the
constitution of South Africa should make sure that all shelters and children's homes
comply with and maintain minimum standards. Within this view, registration of shelters
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