The 2021 edition of South African Crime Quarterly is continuously published.

The edition includes an article by Mildred Bekink adressing controversial mandatory reporting requirements in cases of serious child maltreatment encountered in the course of their work. The article considers whether South African law adequately provides for the liability of those compelled to report child abuse but who fail to do so, why mandated reporters fail to report abuse, and how South Africa’s mandatory reporting rules should be amended to better serve their purpose.

Willene Holness considers whether South Africa should introduce disability hate crime as a new substantive offence or as a penalty enhancement of existing crimes. This article argues that existing laws on sexual offences, domestic violence, harassment, and unfair discrimination should be strengthened, and research should be conducted to identify the appropriate initiatives to prevent and attend to disability hate crime by and with persons with disabilities. She argues that creating a substantive hate crime based on disability has symbolic value, but can only meet this goal if existing challenges to full and meaningful participation by persons with disabilities are addressed. 

SACQ is published in partnership with the Centre for Criminology at the University of Cape Town. To access individual articles, refer to the table of contents below.

Table of contents - SACQ 70

Editorial

Reversing the ‘syndrome of secrecy’: Peremptory reporting obligations in cases of child abuse and neglect
by Mildred Bekink

Hate crime based on disability in South Africa: Lessons for law reform
by Willene Holness

Red flags: Disciplinary practices and ‘school-to-prison’ pathways in South Africa
by Nurina Ally, Robyn Beere, Kelley Moult