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- ItemExploring crime prevention measures to address motor vehicle theft in Jozini, Kwazulu-Natal(University of Zululand, 2022) Mthimkhulu, Senzo ThubalethuVehicle crimes, particularly vehicle theft and hijacking, are some of the most challenging crimes in South Africa. Vehicle crimes have tremendous impact on the stability of our country as people have lost trust in the police and related government departments due to their inability to curb these crimes. The main aim of this study was to explore current vehicle theft prevention strategies and to determine what, if anything, could be instituted to deter motor vehicle theft and hijacking in the Jozini area in KwaZulu-Natal. This study utilised a qualitative research approach and data were collection by means of semi-structured interviews. An in-depth interview was used to obtain clear and meaningful data from purposively selected participants. Thematic content analysis was employed to ensure that the processed data made sense and contributed to meaningful and trustworthy findings. Three significant theories underpinned this study, namely the routine activity theory, the rational choice theory, and the crime pattern theory. The study found that a major problem that exacerbated vehicle theft and hijacking in the study area was that the government failed to protect the Jozini community against vehicle crimes. Furthermore, the study confirmed that vehicle crimes were not a new phenomenon as these crimes had been perpetrated in this area for decades. Moreover, despite some measures to proactively try to prevent vehicle theft and hijacking in the study area, the government have failed dismally as vehicles are still hijacked and stolen with impunity. The study revealed that the police are doing very little to curb vehicle crimes, particularly as they are impeded by staffing shortages. Proposed crime prevention measures such as building a new police station in Empangeni, collaborating with a mobile tracker company in the Jozini area, constructing a fence between South Africa and Mozambique, and deploying more police officers can really help to curb and eventually eradicate vehicle crimes in this region. The study will contribute towards eradicating these crimes if the proposed recommendations, particularly the employment of more police officers to ensure strong visibility and effective response, are implemented as a matter of urgency. Moreover, the permanent deployment of the SANDF on the border is a strong recommendation.
- ItemExploratory-descriptive analysis of the public image of the police(University of Zululand, 2014) Potgieter, Phillippus Johannes; Ras, J.MPrior to 1994, South Africa was ruled by an authoritarian government known for its repressive policing methods which was replaced by a democratic, non-paramilitary police system, the South African Police Service (SAPS). Policing in both post-communist (Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, etc.) and post-apartheid societies managed to successfully ‘escape’ from chaotic transitional environments but still suffer similar concerns in terms of police legitimacy, police use of deadly force, accountability, etc. Over the past twenty years, the police image suffered severe criticism because of police involvement in serious crimes like murder, assault, corruption, armed robbery, etc. Inefficiency in dealing with crime and a lack of deterrent measures to prevent crime and the fear of crime are some of regular accusations against the police. Television watching, personal observation or experience about the manner in which the police perform their duty and newspapers are the most important image-forming sources. Although rated favourably, respondents’ perceptions of the true justification of the police appears to be misplaced in favour of the juridical basis and an over-emphasis of reactive policing. A deep-seated obligation to prevent crime is observable among respondents: they do not view policing as a threat to their personal freedom and privacy, and are willing to assist the police in preventing crime. Short-term police functions are rated more important than long-term police functions. Police characteristics during contact sessions with the public indicate arrogance, aggressiveness, abuse of power and authority, brutality and corruption. Non-reporting of crime emanates from negative attitudes and apathy of police officers. Public expectations of improved service delivery are necessary to enhance communication and improving their image. Police officers should be encouraged to change and accept the values of democratic policing.
- ItemAn evaluation of the training of police trainees for the policing of unrest related incidents at the South African police services: Mthatha Police Training College(University of Zululand, 2014) Van Vuuren, Marietta Dorika; Ras, J.MSouth Africa is currently a country in crisis. A strike of around 1.3 million public-sector employees, which started on the 18 the August 2011, was and still is causing chaos in the country. Government institutions such as hospitals and schools are closed due to strikes (The Wall Street Journal. 2011). Due to the frustration of the communities because of lack of service deliveries most of these strikes and gatherings becomes violent and destructive. The researcher has identified a major gap with the current curriculum utilized for the basic training of trainees in the South African Police Service. The curriculum mostly consists of theoretical presentations, especially with regard to crowd management. There is no practical training presented on how to manage crowds, and there is no presentation of the equipment that can be utilized and how it can be used to handle crowd management and unrest related incidents. All police officials are ultimately responsible for maintaining law and order and therefore the researcher believes that it is extremely important that trainees should be introduced to crowd management and unrest incidents during basic training. This will enable them to have the necessary skills to handle unrest situation should they be faced with it at station levels. This will enhance service delivery for the whole SAPS, as all police officials will know how to manage crowds.
- ItemRestorative justice programmes in a prison environment: a qualitative enquiry(University of Zululand, 2014) Zondi, C.Z; Ras, J.MThis thesis is about a qualitative enquiry into the restorative justice programmes offered by Phoenix Zululand (PZ) in some of the prisons in Zululand. The purpose of the thesis was to see if the work that PZ is doing inside the prisons is in line with the remarks made on restorative justice as mentioned in the White Paper on Corrections (WPOC) (2005). Although PZ is positively contributing to the rehabilitation of offenders in the prisons, the majority of their activities are not in line with the remarks made in the WPOC (2005). A better understanding of restorative justice assists us in coming up with better strategies to change the behaviour of offenders. INDATSHANA / IQOQO Lendatshana igxile ekufundeni okubheka umsebenzi wohlelo lokubuyisana okwenziwa iPhoenix Zululand kwamanye amajele aseZululand. Injongo yalomsebenzi ukubheka ukuthi umsebenzi wohlelo lokubuyisana owenziwa iPhoenix Zululand emajele uyahambisana yini nokushiwo iWhite Paper on Corrections (2005). Nakuba iPZ yenza umsebenzi omuhle ekuhlumeleliseni izimilo zabasemajele, okuningi ekwenzayo akuhambisani nokushiwo iWhite Paper on Corrections(2005). Ukuba nokuqonda okunzulu ngaloluhlelo kungasisiza ekuqhamukeni namaqhinga okuguqulwa kwezimilo zabasuke bephambene nomthetho. OPSOMMING Hierdie proefskrif is ‘n kwalitatiewe ondersoek na restoratiewe rehabilitasie programme soos aangebied deur Phoenix Zululand (PZ) in gevangenisse in Zoeloeland. Die doel van die studie was om te sien of die werk wat hulle doen in lyn is met die opmerkinge wat gemaak word oor “restoratiewe geregtigheid / herstellende geregtigheid” in die lig van die Witskrif op Korreksies (2005). Alhoewel PZ ‘n positiewe bydrae lewer ten opsigte van rehabilitasie, is die meerderheid van hulle aktiwiteite nie in lyn met die opmerkinge van die Witskrif nie. ‘n Beter verstaan van “restoratiewe geregtigheid /herstellende geregtigheid” help ons om met beter strategieë vorendag te kom om die gedrag van gevangenisse te verander.
- ItemThe image of traffic policing in Transkei(University of Zululand, 1995) Kabingesi, Mlulami Goodenough; Potgieter, P.J.; Mqadi, L.P.This research aims at investigating the image of traffic policing in Transkei. To achieve this goal, questionnaires were distributed to a purposive sample of 600 respondents. Five towns whose people are exposed to traffic policing were targeted, namely: Umtata, Butterworth, Engcobo, Qumbu and Libode. The researcher personally collected the questionnaires. A total of five hundred completed questionnaires were collected. To achieve reliable results, Chi-square, F-test and t-test have been implemented to test for significant differences. The attitudes of the respondents have been measured with regard to two traffic institutions in Transkei, namely: Municipal and Provincial traffic institutions. Traffic order cannot be achieved in Transkei if a sound partnership between the traffic police and the public is lacking.