Browsing by Author "Matlwa, Ingrid Magatisa"

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    Trauma experiences of ex-combattees
    (2006) Matlwa, Ingrid Magatisa; Edwards, S.D.
    A number of ex-combattees in South Africa have been faced with several problems covering socio-economic to psychological difficulties since they returned to the country Many of them are apparently stressed, but the unemployed ones seem to be the most affected. They are found mainly in trauma clinics in South Africa. However, no study has been undertaken to determine their various specific problems. This is the first formal study which explores the ex-combattees. The intention of this research was to explore the experiences of ex-combattees in the Gauteng Province using a phenomenological approach. The violent conflicts of South Africa's liberation struggle left many ex-combattees with post-traumatic stress disorders. While various governmental and non-governmental organisations have offered trauma counselling and various other forms of support for ex-combattees. many have not re¬integrated into society Some live without dignity in situations of extreme poverty and social dislocation or become involved in violent crime as well as ongoing political and social instability in the communities where they reside. As pan of an ongoing trauma counselling programme, this research explicated narrations from e\-combattees with regard to their experiences and solutions to their problems in terms of a model, which included psycho-social support, skills development, economic empowerment, education, training, job placement and small business development. The unemployed ex-combattees feel sold out by their comrades, and some of them have lost trust in the government. Some of their families members do not believe that they were at equal levels with the ones who were placed in government posts and in the arm>. They have some suspicions that their unemployed ex-combattee family members contributed to the struggle in the same way as they explained. Some frictions have emerged between the ex-combattees and their families, as well as between ex-combattees and communities in which they live.