Steyn, FrancoisLouw, DapVan Rensburg, Dingie2016-06-142016-06-142012Steyn, F., Louw, D., & Van Rensburg, D. (2012). Mentoring children guilty of minor first-time crimes: methods, strengths and limitations. Acta Academica, 44(4), 106-133.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/2903English: In the absence of evidence regarding the impact of mentoring on child offenders in South Africa, this article explores the strengths and limitations of this approach in a local context. It investigates the theory and methods of mentoring, and presents a case study of the strategy as practised by the National Youth Development Outreach in Pretoria. Mentoring appears ineffective for children with hardened negative attitudes and chronic offending as their value preferences may contradict those of mentors. Three months are insufficient to establish meaningful relationships and achieve mentoring goals. Reconciliation – a central objective of the Child Justice Act (75 of 2008) – is difficult to achieve given the absence of victims in the mentoring process.Afrikaans: In die afwesigheid van bewyse aangaande die impak van mentorskap op jeugoortreders in Suid-Afrika verken hierdie artikel die sterkpunte en beperkings van dié benadering in ’n plaaslike konteks. Dit ondersoek die teorie en metodes van mentorskap en voorsien ’n gevallestudie van die strategie soos beoefen deur die National Youth Development Outreach in Pretoria. Mentorskap blyk oneffektief te wees vir kinders met geharde negatiewe houdings en chroniese oortreding aangesien hul waardevoorkeure dié van mentors kan weerspreek. Drie maande is onvoldoende om betekenisvolle verhoudings daar te stel en die doelwitte van mentorskap te bereik. Versoening – ’n sentrale doelstelling van die Kinderregwet (75 van 2008) – is moeilik bereikbaar gegewe die afwesigheid van slagoffers in die mentorskapproses.enChild offendersJuvenile offendersMentoringNational Youth Development OutreachChild Justice Act 75 of 2008ArticleUniversity of the Free State