Name and surname:

Kgomotso Mataboge
Group: SJD1501-18-S2-115T
Subject: Social Dimensions of
justice
Portfolio exam
Unique Number: 827345
Date: 26/10/2018
Experiences with online learning
 Online classes have saved me money and time. It wasn’t easy at first because it’s
the first time I do online modules but I have learned a lot form other
student. Internet classes allow me to remain at home with my family and I save

money because I don’t have time to go to school because of work. I do not have
the interactions with the instructor and the classmates, but I can email my instructor
or my classmates at anytime. As an online student I have the opportunity to
connect with students and faculty from a variety of locations and backgrounds.

Group communication and discussions

Group discussions and discussions are a very important aspect of group
communication that’s what I have learned. In a group discussion I have learned
that an individual’s thought process is influenced by the views and opinions of the
other members. In a group discussion, each participant is free to speak his views,
speaking and listening it’s very important when you discuss in the group. In a group
discussion, there is always an element of pressure to conform to norms. Group
communication and discussions provides a deeper understanding of the subject,
communication has helped the group in taking a decision.

Working with other students

o Working with other student has helped me learn from other peers and has increase my level of
knowledge and understanding of a subject, By copying another student's work, I have learned
compromising the principles of academic integrity institute. One of the advantages of working
with others is that you can benefit from the skills of others that you may not have yourself.
You solve a puzzle and explore some of the typical challenges of working in a group.
 Working with other student has helped me to plan and manage time, Share diverse
perspectives and develop stronger communication skills.

Contents of the module

The purpose is to understand the scope and size of the social justice sector, its strengths and
weaknesses, challenges and successes. This module has introduced me to the South African
context; it has taught me a way on how to perform as future legal and criminal justice
functionaries. I have a better understanding of what shapes our legal system, the nature of
South African law and the criminal justice system and how the law and justice is applied and
administered. I have develop an awareness of how a legal and criminal justice functionaries,
can contribute toward building a safer and more just society in conformity with the South
African Constitution

2.Do you picture yourself working in the justice system one day?
After Matric I studied paralegal law and I didn’t complete it because of
finances, taking the introduction of law, I realized just how much more
I could learn about the possibilities with this major and how I would
still be able to make a positive impact on the world .People choose to
enter the criminal justice field for any number of reasons. But for me I
want to make a difference and give back to the community And I have
learned that it has an exciting career with lots of opportunities for
advancement and new experiences every day. Still others are drawn
to the great pay and benefits most criminal justice professionals
earn. I will enjoy the chance to help others ,I see myself going to have a
very promising future in the legal field i have a strong believe that one day I will
be a attorney or advocate in the justice system. The reason I see myself in the
justice system is that I love law; I love to see people getting justice all the time.
I had an opportunity to sit in during one of the court proceedings and realized
how much important it is for the functionaries to execute their constitutional
obligation within the society when I studied the module in Unisa called skills
course for law student. The other thing is that I like what the justice system
revolves around and I also love investigating cases.
The criminal justice system has one overall mission, to reduce or eliminate
crime. Each and every person working in the area of justice system
participates in that mission. I that’s what I love. There are many career
opportunities within the court system-everything from court clerks to
court reporters, paralegals lawyers and judges and I see myself as
advocate or attorney
3.The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and uBuntu. In what ways
can criminal justice system functionaries incorporate the principles of
Ubuntu in their daily work?

Ubuntu should first know that it comes to us from Africa, where the word loosely
translates to “humanity” (using the Zulu pronunciation) or “humanity towards
others.” The broader scheme is that there is a relationship between all of
humanity. In criminal justice, as a specific area of emphasis, it has been the
broadened use of Ubuntu customs and practices, as developed during the 20th
century especially, which have given us some new approaches to a broader definition
of the shared qualities of humanity. For our purposes, there are two essential parts of
this philosophy which are catching on elsewhere in the world. The first is the
expanded “humanistic” approach (to borrow from the western philosophy of the 19th
and 20th centuries). It is important at this point to recognize that a part of the
Ubuntu approach is not simply the idea of race relations in the vacuum of South
Africa, but how can lessons (and philosophies developed) from that environment be
helpful in other areas.

That is why we start with the blending of the African philosophies with the western
approaches. The nation of South Africa, especially, has seen significant changes in
race relations which are critically based on the Ubuntu approach. You may have a
right to free speech, but should you always say anything that pops into their mind? If
you take the argument that because your have the right then are free to do it then you
are moving away from the Ubuntu approach. Just because one can do something
does not make it the right thing to do. The Ubuntu philosophy provide the modern
criminal justice practitioner that would be a benefit. The Ubuntu philosophies (or
more appropriately their approaches to the problem-solving associated with the
liberty/agency question) are somewhat different. The basis of what it means to be
Ubuntu is founded in a long history of African culture, but the modern applications
are much more recent. So we get a mix of practice and philosophy that provides a
slightly different way to approach problem solving

4. Think of a role model whom you believe embodies the qualities that
are vital to being ethical. This does not have to be a famous person.
Say who this person is and why you look up to him/her for ethical
guidance
For me it’s the previous South Africa’s Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela , (who is
she?) Thulisile Nomkhosi Madonsela was born in 1962 in Soweto. Her parents, Nomasonto
and Bafana were both traders. She obtained a bachelor of Law from the University of
Swaziland in 1987 and three years later, an LLB at Wits University .i look up to her because
she studied what I want to study . The office of Advocate Thuli Madonsela is highly efficient.
Madonsela is refreshingly honest and open she enjoys what she does. The moral backbone
of the South African government and keeper of the nation’s ethics, Madonsela is perceived
 as a fearless woman who does not back down to anyone. “I don’t know so much. I love he
because Madonsela knows the importance of education, and aftershe finished her
school, she took up a teaching job in Soweto. she loves her office and I particularly , the
administrative justice part of what it achieves.

The moral backbone of the South African government and keeper of the nation’s ethics,
Madonsela is perceived as a fearless woman who does not back down to anyone. she
says that when she is at work ,we are a team and when we take on a case, we all sit
down and decide what is the best course to take in terms of finding out the truth, and
then we do it.” She says the approach is simple. “We don’t complicate matters and we
don’t look at who is involved – the process is always the same. We are all equal under
the law.” That why I love her she is dedicated in her work I didn’t know much about the
justice system until the media introduce as to her. The narrative in the Public Protector’s
office, she says, is to determine what happened and, within a regulatory framework,
determine what should have happened. “Madonsela has no qualms about her
unpopularity. Her office has investigated several matters relating to ethical governance
in the two years since she became Public Protector. Madonsela is tough – that much is
clear. She , however, often had to practise law to survive, taking on cases that were
contradictory to what he believed in, and that was tough. Honesty is particularly
important to be an effective ethical leader. Ethical leaders convey facts transparently, no
matter how unpopular they may be. Being humane is one of the most revealing traits of
a leader who is ethical and moral. An ethical leader is always fair and just. They
have no favorites, and treat everyone equally. Under an ethical leader, no
employee has any reason to fear biased treatment on the basis of gender,
ethnicity, nationality, or any other factor. An ethical leader will regularly discuss
the high values and expectations that they place on themselves, other employees,
and the organization. By regularly communicating and discussing values, they
ensure that there is consistent understanding across the organization

5.Mention a theme or aspect which you think should be part of this module
and tell us why.
Racism in South Africa schools
o Voting in the Republic of South Africa's (RSA) first democratic elections,
concluded on 27 April 1994, brought to power a government of national unity
under a Constitution with a strong and explicit anti-racism stance. According to
Van Dijk (1993a, 1993b), studies in several countries have repeatedly shown
that news on racial affairs usually contains a number of stereotypical themes,
namely: Race relations, such as racial tension, discrimination, racial attacks, and
other forms of (right-wing) racism, usually defined as regrettable incidents, and
often attributed to the presence or behaviour of minorities themselves. Racism is
an exceptionally complex concept. It is more than the convictions used by an
individual or a group to justify discrimination against others. It is not something
outside of the individual or group, but an internalised frame of reference which
directs the opinion of the individual or the group about himself or herself or
themselves and others
o Preschool children sometimes engage in troublesome behaviour such as kicking,
hitting and biting, but quality preschools have behaviour intervention plans in
place to counter these forms of acting out. Furthermore, it’s highly unlikely that
only black children act out in preschool, a stage in life in which kids are
notorious for having temper tantrums. The negative racial biases black
children face and the correlated high suspension rates result in
African American children missing a great deal of school. This can
lead to them falling behind academically, including not reading at
grade level by third grade, and eventually dropping out of school.
Pushing children out of class increases the chances that they will
have contact with the criminal justice system. Poor children and
children from minority groups are not only less likely to be
identified as gifted and talented but more likely to be identified as
requiring special education services by teachers.
o Not only are students of color least likely to be identified as gifted
and enroll in honors classes, they are more likely to attend schools
with a greater police presence, increasing the odds that they will
enter the criminal justice system. The presence of law
enforcement on school campuses also increases the risk of such
students being exposed to police violence.