Elizayo Expertise
The success of Elizayo rests on the deep expertise and diverse experience of our dedicated team. We are a collective of changemakers for whom expertise is not just about knowledge. For us, it is about the application of South African social service and legal standards to real-world organizational and human challenges. Whether navigating the complexities of criminal and civil social work or building institutional resilience, our approach is rooted in restorative justice and sustainable growth.
Diversion and Restorative Justice
Forensic: Criminal And Family Services •1400+ Forensic Assessments submitted to court. •Expert Witness Testimony Provided in 240+ cases. Publications •Smit, A. & Padayachee, V. 2012. Criminal Cognition as a Risk Factor for Recidivism. Open Society Foundation for South Africa: Criminal Justice Initiative Occasional Paper Series 14. •Padayachee, V.C.T & Smit, A. 2007. Book Review: Maruna, S., & Immarigeon, R. (Eds.). (2004). After Crime and Punishment: Pathways to Offender Reintegration. Devon, UK: Willan. 290 pp. International Criminal Justice Review September 17: 243-245 •Smit, A. & Padayachee, V. 2009. Restorative Justice. In Pennington, S. Action for a Safe South Africa. Sandton, South Africa : The Good News (Pty) Ltd. •Michael Miner , Charles Borduin , David Prescott , Helle Bovensmann , Renate Schepker , Reinmar Du Bois , Joann Schladale , Reinhard Eher , Klaus Schmeck , Thore Langfeldt, Arina Smit , Friedemann Pfäfflin. Standards of Care for Juvenile Sexual Offenders of the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders, Sexual Offender Treatment, Volume 1 (2006), Issue 3 Submissions And Conference Presentations •2019: International Association for Responsible Drinking. Presentation on Road Offences Programme. •2015: Criminal Capacity of Children in Conflict with the Law. Unisa College of Law. Community Engagement project. Arina Smit and Ibtisaam Peck •2010, June – August. Research. The Development of an Accreditation System and Policy Framework for Diversion services in South Africa. •2014, 28-30 July. 6th Sexual Offences Indaba: “360 Degrees against sexual offences” , Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng. National Prosecuting Authority. Presentation on Sex Offender Management and Rehabilitation Diversion And Restorative Justice Programs •2023: The Young Violent Offender. P. Roux and A. Smit •2024: The Young Sexual Offender. P. Roux and A. Smit •2014:: Sexual Offender. A. Smit [Diversion/NCS] •2015: Impaired [DUI] Driver Program. A. Smit [Diversion and NCS] •2006: Perpetrator of Domestic Violence: P. Roux and Others [Diversion/NCS] •2019: Violent Offender. A Smit. [Diversion and NCS] •2019: Reckless and Negligent Driver Program: A. Smit [Diversion/NCS] •2014: Anger Management. A Smit [Diversion/NCS]
Submissions and Conference Presentations
•2019: International Association for Responsible Drinking. Presentation on Road Offences Programme. •2015: Criminal Capacity of Children in Conflict with the Law. Unisa College of Law. Community Engagement project. Arina Smit and Ibtisaam Peck •2015, July. UNISA Child Justice Conference. Misty Hills Hotel, Gauteng. Presentation on Criminal Capacity of Children: Child in Conflict with the Law: Offender or Victim •2014, 28-30 July. 6th Sexual Offences Indaba: “360 Degrees against sexual offences” , Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng. National Prosecuting Authority. Presentation on Sex Offender Management and Rehabilitation •2013, 18 October. Centre for Child Law University of Pretoria. Child Offenders and the National Sex Offender’s Register. Presentation on Risks to reintegration •2010, June – August. Research. The Development of an Accreditation System and Policy Framework for Diversion services in South Africa. •2006, 21-22 September. The politics of restorative justice in post-conflict South Africa and beyond. Cape Town. Round table Presentation on The implementation of diversion programmes in South Africa. •2005, February 7-8. CSVR Conference: A New Decade of Criminal Justice in South Africa - Consolidating Transformation Villa Via Hotel, Gordon's Bay, Western Cape. Delivered conference paper entitled Turning the Child Justice Bill into Reality.
Accredited Training Programs Designed
•2025: The Social Work Supervisor as a HR practitioner •2022: Finding Local and International Funders •2021: Planning, Monitoring and Managing your Budget •2022: Risk Management in the NPO Field •2021: Making Minutes and Meetings Count •2021: Assessment and Risk Assessment •2021: Understanding the Juvenile Sex Offender •2021: Think Trauma: Working in Child Justice •2020: Child Sexual Behaviour That Harms: •2020: GBV -The Fundamentals Level 1 •2020: Understanding Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Level 2 •2019: Child Sexual Development and Sexuality: •2013: Financial Governance for NPO’s. •2014: Sustainability and Fundraising for NPO’s •2014: Monitoring and Evaluation in NPO’s: •2015: Strategic Planning. •2015: The Conundrum of Leadership in the NPO Sector •2016: Strategic Collaboration. •2018: Social Media and NPO’s
Publications and Peer Reviews
•Smit, A. & Padayachee, V. 2012. Criminal Cognition as a Risk Factor for Recidivism. Open Society Foundation for South Africa: Criminal Justice Initiative Occasional Paper Series 14. •Padayachee, V.C.T & Smit, A. 2007. Book Review: Maruna, S., & Immarigeon, R. (Eds.). (2004). After Crime and Punishment: Pathways to Offender Reintegration. Devon, UK: Willan. 290 pp. International Criminal Justice Review September 17: 243-245 •Smit, A. & Padayachee, V. 2009. Restorative Justice. In Pennington, S. Action for a Safe South Africa. Sandton, South Africa : The Good News (Pty) Ltd. •Michael Miner , Charles Borduin , David Prescott , Helle Bovensmann , Renate Schepker , Reinmar Du Bois , Joann Schladale , Reinhard Eher , Klaus Schmeck , Thore Langfeldt, Arina Smit , Friedemann Pfäfflin. Standards of Care for Juvenile Sexual Offenders of the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders, Sexual Offender Treatment, Volume 1 (2006), Issue 3 •2010:The The Development of an Accreditation System and Policy Framework for Diversion services in South Africa. [as implemented by DSD]. Arina Smit
Evidence Based Programs Designed
•2023: The Young Violent Offender. P. Roux and A. Smit •2024: The Young Sexual Offender. P. Roux and A. Smit •2021:Impaired Driving: Reckless Driving Program •2017: NACOSA Development of training Manual: “Gender based violence in the SAPS context” NQF Level 4. A Smit and I Peck •2014: DSD. Coordination and Development of Diversion programmes for children under the age of 10 in conflict with the law: Life Skills – “iLive”; •2014: Sex offender – “Renewed Hope”; Substance use: “Voices and Choices. I. Peck and A. Smit •2011: Safety Ambassadors [Youth Crime Prevention] P. Roux •2008: ADAPT – Adolescent Drug Abuse, Prevention and Treatment Program. A. Smit [Diversion] •2018: Sexual Offender. A. Smit [Diversion/NCS] •2012: Community Service Learning. A Smit •2006: Perpetrator of Domestic Violence: P. Roux and Others [Diversion/NCS] •2015: Impaired [DUI] Driver Program. A. Smit [Diversion and NCS] •2011: Journey Program for Juvenile Offenders. A Smit. [Diversion] •2019: Violent Offender. A Smit. [Diversion and NCS] •2019: Reckless and Negligent Driver Program: A. Smit [Diversion/NCS] •2014: Anger Management. A Smit [Diversion/NCS]
International Restorative Justice Work
•2013. Expert Consultation: Restorative Justice for Children: From Concept to Realization. UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children. Bali: Indonesia. Presentation on Restorative Justice and Diversion in South Africa. •2009. Restorative Justice. In Pennington, S. Action for a Safe South Africa. Sandton, South Africa: The Good News (Pty) Ltd. Smit, A. & Padayachee, V. •2007. Atlanta Marriot Marquis Hotel, November 14-17. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology. Crime and Justice: In the Global and in the Local •2006. 6-14 March. Malawi. Workshop with criminal justice personnel on diversion and the development of diversion models for Malawi. Supported by UNICEF. •2007. February – May. Consultative work for Child Justice Forum in Malawi, setting up Diversion services in Malawi. Funded by UNICEF Malawi
Monitoring; Evaluation and Impact
•2015: Monitoring and Evaluation: Elements Tools and Starter Kit for NPO’s. P. Roux •2015: Electronic Statistical Systems for NPO's. P Roux •2007-2012: Standarised Impact Evaluation Tools for various Programs [Diversion / Victim and Job Creation. P. Roux •2017: Organisational Health Check Toolboxes: P. Roux •2012-2021: Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for 15 Organisations. Pauline Roux •2017: Impact Evaluation: Visual Literacy Project-Imbali. P. Roux •2012: Impact Evaluation: Nicro Diversion Programs. Roux •2011: Impact Evaluation: Offender Reintegration Projects. P. Roux
Non-Profit Resources and Product Development
•2012-2025: Organisational and Fundraising Portfolio’s for 89 organisations • 2022: Policy; Standards and Procedures Framework and Kit for NPO’s. •2016: Human Capital Development and Management in NPO’s: Elements and Tools Starter Kit. P. •2012-2025: Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for 29 Organisations. •2015: Monitoring and Evaluation: Elements Tools and Starter Kit for NPO’s. •2015: Electronic Statistical Systems for NPO's. •2016: Electronic Dashboard for NPO’s. •2016: Sustainability and Fundraising: Elements, Tools and Starter Kit •2016: Funding Database, Proposals Suite for SA Non Profits •2017: Organisational Health Check Toolboxes:
Collective Expierence of Core Staff
• Non-Profit Management: 38 Years •Restorative Justice: 53 Years •Forensic Social Work: 29 Years •Fundraising Services: 38 Years •Governance: 39 years •Human Resource Management: 38 years •Program Design: 41 Years •Program Management: 38 years •Training and Development: 38 years •Gender Equality Services and Advocacy: 32 Years •Trauma Related Services: 32 years •Monitoring and Evaluation: 32 years •High Profit Management: 38 Years •Executive Leadership [over 100 staff]: 31 years