South African Crime Quarterly 2
Individual articles are hosted on the Academy of Science of South Africa's Open Access Journals system. To access individual articles for this edition, click here
Eric Pelser and Antoinette Louw critically assess crime prevention. The success of any policy is measured by how it is implemented and its effect. Given this, the implementation of crime prevention policy in South Africa has not had a promising start. This is hardly surprising, considering that the lead responsibility for crime prevention lies with the police, rather than with the government departments specifically focused on social issues. It is argued that the establishment of a national crime prevention centre that offers support to local communities be prioritised.
South Africa’s high levels of violent crime have a significant effect on people’s lives. Sibusiso Masuku reviews the trends and risk factors associated with violent crime begs the question about who should be leading the effort to prevent violence? The South African Police Service currently has this responsibility – but is this appropriate? And which other departments should be playing a greater role?
One issue that has been of particular concern in South Africa over the last few years has been the high number of violent incidents in which members of the SAPS have been killed. Research has been done to determine the risk profile of police, the circumstances of killings both on and off duty, and the motives of police killers. But there are unanswered questions and further research could contribute to a better understanding of the dangers facing police, as David Bruce shows.
Hillbrow’s sleazy hotels are notorious crime hotspots. After a general victim survey of the Hillbrow police station area conducted by the ISS, a special follow-up was conducted in these hotels. This survey uncovered startling frankness about the prevalence of drugs, commercial sex work, and corruption in Johannesburg’s inner city as Ted Leggett discovered.
A South African sentenced to prison is at high risk of contracting HIV before he even arrives at prison for the first time. Prisoners are primarily young, black men from impoverished communities already hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Much of their behaviour prior to incarceration is high risk for contracting HIV, and is likely to continue upon their release. KC Goyer proposes the debate for HIV/AIDS and the case for prison reform.
Some regard the Jali Commission as another expensive exercise aimed at making recommendations that have little effect. To many South Africans, the Grootvlei video on prison corruption televised nationally this year, was the beginning of a revelation. But Makubetse Sekhonyane asks the questions: would this video have seen the light of day if the Jali Commission did not exist? Would there have been a specialised unit to investigate corruption, had the commission not been there? It is likely that the Jali Commission has indeed changed the way in which commissions of this kind are perceived?
Antony Altbeker investigaes The Specialised Commercial Crime Court, established to hear cases of commercial criminality, brought to trial by the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit. The integration of the three main functions of the criminal justice system — investigation, prosecution and adjudication — is highly regarded as one of the best examples of successful criminal justice reform in South Africa.
