Developing countries face such as water shortage. in the S.A situation water seem to be a problem. mostly, the rural areas do not have access to clean water and some places there is no free quantity, in these places they need to make sure that they store water just in case there is a water shortage, this happens because they do not have or get the same quantity of water as some places. 

Huntington’s single factor theory seeks to prove how the rise and fall of civilizations leads to the shift of climatic zones in historical periods through linking climate change and productivity with implications faced by nations over time. This is useful in the South African context; as industrial efficiency is measured by the units produced within a set period of time provided there is a productive climate.

Herbert Spencer’s single factor theory focuses on natural selection that includes survival of the fittest in the social world, where human beings struggle with and against other species for survival in the natural and social universe. In the South African context, individuals who succeed in business and industry through harsh dealings fall under natural select.

The classical environmental theories erupted from the theories of early theorists who incorporated the environment in the theories of society which were influenced to serve as a basis for contemporary theory or as principles applied in contemporary theory.

Buckle Single factor theory which highlights the importance of the environment in order for nations to reach their peak. This environmental theory is useful in the South African context, as with warm climates comes more production of food and raw materials as the soil will be fertile when it rains.

modernization theory, major implicit or explicit tenets are that (1) societies develop through a series of evolutionary stages; (2) these stages are based on different degrees and patterns of social differentiation and reintegration of structural and cultural components that are functionally compatible for the maintenance of society; (3) contemporary developing societies are at a pre-modern stage of evolution and they eventually will achieve economic growth and will take on the social, political, and economic features of western European and North American societies which have progressed to the highest stage of social evolutionary development; (4) this modernization will result as complex Western technology is imported and traditional structural and cultural features incompatible with such development are overcome.

Dependency theory is the notion that resources flow from a periphery. of poor and underdeveloped states to a core of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former. It is a central contention of dependency theory that poor states are impoverished and rich ones enriched by the way poor states are integrated into the world systems. the main tenet of the dependency theory is that its focused on individual nations, their role as suppliers of raw materials, cheap labor, and markets for expensive manufactured goods from industrialized countries. The unequal exchange relationship between developed and developing countries was viewed as contributing to poor economic growth

Participatory development seeks to give the poor a part in initiatives and projects that are designed by outside organizations in the hopes that these projects will be more sustainable and successful by involving local stakeholders in the projects goals.

1. Growth and structural change

To have development in a country there must be growth and since South Africa is still labelled as a developing country, its main focus for development is on fishing, mining, farming and forestry. So if there can be growth in this South Africa would achieve positive results when it come to the economy which will lead to the country to be developed.

2. Distribution of income

One of South Africa’s drags from economic development is income inequality and in order for a country to develop quickly it needs a more even distribution of income for all citizens. If the income gap is closed it would accelerate the development of South Africa by a greater speed for example, if everyone can afford goods and services it will lead to more economic activity (buying and Selling) which is good for the economy which will lead to development,

3. Modernisation

The reason why Technology was developed was to make human lives simple of which it is a very useful tool when it comes to development. For South African to reach development it should move on from a traditional to a modern society which will ensure quick development because technology accelerates economic activities.

Political transformation

In order for South Africa to develop it needs to also develop its political freedom so in other words political freedom goes hand-in-hand with economic growth and development  

Defining Poverty

Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that basic human needs can't be met. But expects argue that there are different types of poverty of which a person can be in. A person can either be in relative poverty, absolute poverty or relative deprivation poverty.

POVERTY

It is very important to know how to define poverty and to differentiate it from its different types. The most common way to define poverty is that poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that basic human needs can't be met. Poverty is abroad term with different definitions that come with different or various types of poverty such as; Absolute and Relative poverty, material and multiple deprivation and social exclusion.

As shocking as it might sound but there are a lot of benefits that come with poverty that most people do not even notice most of the time. Poverty benefits individuals in a way that the, poor serve as reference points–guaranteeing status of those who aren't poor. Helping others achieve more mostly by buying their products. Although poverty brings worse to the community than good, it still benefits it greatly. In the society or community, Poverty helps with the recycling of goods. A population of poor helps uphold conventional norms which benefits the community.

Theoretical Approaches to social problems (Structural functionalist orientation and Conflict orientation)

1. Structural functionalist orientation

With regards to structural functionalist orientation, it is believed that it views society as a system of interrelated parts in dynamic equilibrium. It states that if one part changes too fast, then the whole system gets disrupted. It states that in order to achieve social stability which is essential for a strong society, there has to be adequate socialization and social integration. With this approach it is believed that what happens to the left hand side will most certainly be complimentary to the right hand side. This approach states that besides their negative effects, social problems also play an important role in the society for example, as crime is a social problem it also serves a good cause because it creates employment of which in this case it creates the need for a defense force(police).

2. Conflict orientation

This approach defines the society as being characterized by pervasive in equality based on social class, Race, Gender or other factors. It focuses more on eliminating inequality in the society to combat social problems and build a stronger society. It states that social problems arise from fundamental faults in a structure of a society and both reflect inequality based on social class, race, gender or other dimensions and it outlines that for social problems to be solved, far-reached changes in the structure of the society must be involved.

1. Depression

Depression is a social problem because with depression it is not easy to find or identify its true cause and that people agree that this condition should be changed as this problem cannot be solved and it leads to more and more deaths in the society and which most of them are suicides.

2. Smash- and- grab

I think Smash- and- grab does not have enough status on it to be considered a social problem because it does not affect a large number of people and smashing-and- grabbing is a personal choice which is made by people who are deemed as evil.

3. Rape

Rape without a doubt is a social problem because it is harmful to a lot of people. Many people have generally agree that this condition has to be changed and to think of it, rape started out as a social condition then became a social issue and as the condition continued it was later on accepted to be a social problem.

4. Fast food

Fast foods are not a social problem instead they are just a social condition and this is because many people are actually not bothered by them instead, they personally choose to have them.

5. HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is not a social problem and this is because its cause is not hard to identify and most solutions have been put in place to prevent a person from getting it and by having HIV/AIDS it does not mean that it is the end of the world for a person, a person can achieve a goal that many people see as important like having a job and living a healthy life and HIV/AIDS can be solved by following the measures that are put in place for preventing to get infected by it.