Exploring Managers' Views on Government Support for Special Care Centres for Learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities in Gauteng, South Africa

This study investigates managers' perceptions of the support provided by the Gauteng provincial government to Special Care Centres for Learners with Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities. It examines the challenges these managers face and evaluates the adequacy of governmental support from their perspective. Utilizing a Mixed Methods Research (MMR) approach with an exploratory sequential design, the research comprised two phases. In Phase 1, qualitative data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 10 managers, followed by Phase 2, where 31 participants completed a questionnaire. Out of 45 centre managers, 14 did not return the questionnaire. The findings reveal that managers struggle to obtain support from various provincial government departments. While the Departments of Education, Health, and Social Development provide assistance in accordance with policy, departments such as Transport, Cooperative Governance, and Infrastructure fail to meet their obligations. The study recommends enhanced collaboration among provincial departments to improve support for the centres, focusing on transportation for learners to and from the centres, upgrading centre infrastructure, and establishing effective communication channels between managers and government departments.