“A criminological study on the effectiveness of Environmental Design towards crime prevention: A case study of Thohoyandou Central Business District under Thulamela Local Municipality in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province
- Authors: Muvhango, Khathutshelo Moses
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Crime prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18209 , vital:42242
- Description: The main aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of Environmental Design as method of Crime Prevention. It was carried out in Thohoyandou Central Business District under Thulamela Local Municipality in Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. The qualitative research approach, with non-probability sampling methods, was used in this study. Semi-structured interviews were used as data collection instruments in this study. The study employed thematic data analysis method to generate the findings from the data collected. In this study the researcher used the situational crime theory and the crime pattern theory. The study revealed many challenges hindering the effectiveness of Environmental Design as crime prevention method in Thulamela Local Municipality. The researcher discovered that most of the people are ignorant of where surveillance systems can be found. The study further concludes that though security/help was near, there was need for more police officers within the CBD of Thohoyandou. The areas also need more police posts, bumps and police patrols. Unnecessary security features hinder movement and relaxation.
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- Date Issued: 2020
An explanatory study on perceptions of factors influencing muthi killings in Butterworth, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Belu, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Murder
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16386 , vital:40715
- Description: This study is premised on explaining perceptions of Nkcunkcuzo and Tholenicommunity members towards factors influencing muthi killings in Butterworth, Eastern Cape (E.C.). The villagers of the two selected areas have recently experienced number of incidents. It is against this background that this study sought to establish the explanations by soliciting direct experiences of community members on incidences of muthi killings.A plethora of research projects have been previously conducted to understand this phenomenon with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) having its own perspective regarding the muthi killings. However, the researcher deemed it imperative to have explanations of community members’ perceptions of the related factors thereof. The objectives that guided this study mainly included: (1) to establish the explanations of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo community members on the factors that influence muthi murders, (2) to determine why people in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo commit muthi murders and (3) to illustrate the medus operandi of muthi murderers in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo. The qualitative research methodology was employed in the study. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of selected participants and respondents of this study and data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and conducted interviews by the researcher. This study established that it is rich people and politicians who are most probably reasons for incidents of muthi murders in Etholeni and in Nkcunkcuzo. Business people want to accumulate their wealth and get rich using muthi. The belief behind this is that when muthi is mixed with human body parts it is bound to be strong eventually attracting more people (customers) to the businesses owned by these people. Ultimately this leads to profit accumulation. On the other hand, the involvement of politicians in the incidents of muthi killings is mainly associated with maintaining political power by remaining as centres of preference to the community members. The participants have echoed the same sentiments on the factors that influence muthi murders in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo villages, Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. vi Finally, this study recommended as follows: The Etholeni and Nkcunkcuzo community leaders must work hand in hand with the government to establish centres where children, older persons and people with disabilities, particularly those who are without people to protect them, can be institutionalised in order to guarantee their safety; The chiefs of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzomust collaborate with the social service professionals in order to address the issues of mistrust among community members through community development programs; The community policing forums of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo must be capacitated and their knowledge strengthened by the criminal justice agencies on muthi murders to avoid confusion about muthi murders with other different types of murders; The government of South Africa must formulate an elementary social curriculum on muthi killings in order to educate the villagers on the muthi killings from a criminal justice point of view; The legislative framework must be reviewed in order to impose harsher sentences to the muthi murderers and the accomplices thereof; There must be social welfare organizations in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo villages in order to take care of those children that have lost their care-givers due to muthi killings; The traditional leaders of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo must formulate a charter for community norms and standards to circumvent the use and selling of drugs in the concerned communities/villages. More research projects must be funded in order to get a full understanding of the causes of muthi killings and to provide a word of scientific reason to the criminal justice system, particularly as it relates to muthi killings in South Africa. Key words: Muthi, Muthi murders/killings, rituals, Modus Operandi (MO), Victims
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- Date Issued: 2019
An investigation of the effetiveness of correctional centre-based vocational training programmes towards reducing recidivism
- Authors: Mangesi, Nosipho
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Recidivism Social justice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16408 , vital:40717
- Description: Since the Department of Correctional Services has been transformed into an institution of rehabilitation and skills development, there is a need for a sound classification system whereby offenders are classified according to their potential for treatment and training programmes that match their risk/needs. The study was conducted in Middledrift Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape with the aim of examining the effectiveness of correctionally based vocational training programmes towards reducing recidivism. Research towards correctional programmes was necessitated by the extant of recidivism in South Africa. The question is where does the problem lie because offenders are provided with rehabilitation programmes to make them law abiding citizens and reintegrate well into the community up on release but, in many cases it does not become possible as many ex-offenders return to custody either for new offence or parole violation. The study used qualitative design in data collection and in explaining the results. A sample of sixteen recidivists and five correctional officials formed participants for the study selecting using purposive sampling procedures. Involvement in vocational programmes was used as a criteria for selectiong of correctional officials as participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight recidivists and all five correctional officials and a focus group interview was held with the other eight set of recidivists. The study examined the impact of vocational programmes on recidivism followed by the factors that hinder effective offender rehabilitation and factors that influence recidivism up on release. The findings of this study were analysed using thematic analysis with the assistance of a voice recorder as a back up for collected data. Findings revealed that a small number of recidivists attend vocational training programmes and these programmes vi (vocational) are short in the centre together with programme facilitators at the time of reporting. Offenders stated that the available vocational programmes are of no interest to them. Participantas stated that vocational training does assist in desisting criminal activities up on release as it provide skills and opportunities for employment to curb unemployment as indicated as a major factor influencing recidivism. Findings also revealed that periodic re-assesment is not adequately conducted and classification for vocational training is not likely to be sufficiently done according to offender risk/needs. The study recommends that, a large number of offenders be provided with vocational training programmes and that offender classification incorporate the principles of RNR model
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- Date Issued: 2019
The perspectives of victims of domestic violence and abuse: narratives from members of Masimanyane women’s support centre in East London, Eastern Cape Province, Resa.
- Authors: Sigodla, Asavela
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Family violence Abused women
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16419 , vital:40718
- Description: Domestic violence and abuse also known as Gender-based violence (GBV) including rape, mutilation, murder and sexual abuse, is a profound health problem for women across the globe. Although domestic violence and sexual abuse is a significant cause of female morbidity and mortality, it is almost never seen as a public health issue. Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. This study draws attention on exploring victim’s narrative perspectives on domestic violence and abuse against women in East London at Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre (MWSC) in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study employed a qualitative research approach, with In-Depth Interviews (IDI), Focus Group Discussions (FDGs), and review of related literature for data collection. The findings of this study were based only from participants who were victims of domestic violence and abuse, as some of the views were stated by visitors. This resulted in some situations where the witnesses of domestic violence and abuse, just like victims themselves did not want to report their incidents. Women may not reveal that they are suffering from domestic violence and abuse, as they fear of the image that they may be portraying about themselves and their family as a whole like social pressure and stigma of defamation. Although domestic abuse and violence increases all the time women are encouraged to open up on such cases about abuse. Real change in these cases can only be brought by changing the mind-set of society through education and better law enforcement. This study was anchored by both the Social Learning Theory and Feminist Theory. Upon recommendations, this study has seen that there should be government interventions and programs that help victims of domestic violence and abuse and also to work in a way of preventing the domestic violence and abuse.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The role of the community policing forum initiative in fighting crime: a case study of Middledrift in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Zazini, Buyelwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Community policing Crime prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16440 , vital:40720
- Description: According to the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, a Community Policing Forum (CPF) is a forum established at each police station and it should be largely representative of the local community. The main objectives of the CPF is to promote communication and co-operation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the community. Above all it is aimed at improving the services rendered by the SAPS and identifying the problems encountered by communities in order to solve problems jointly. This study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of community policing in the initiative to fight crime in Middledrift. The study used interviews to gather the data. A total of 15 respondents, comprising of three groups, namely individuals from the SAPS, individuals from the CPF and community leaders were carefully chosen to access what they knew about the CPF in Middledrift. The findings highlighted that there was a need for awareness campaigns. Community leaders need to be involved especially in decision making. Necessary resources and training are also of great need for the CPF.
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- Date Issued: 2019
An investigation study on the effectiveness of Community Policing Forums in Sephokong Local Council Leribe in Lesotho
- Authors: Tlhakana, Motlalepula W
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Community policing Police
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16430 , vital:40719
- Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of Community Policing Forums (CPFs) in Sephokong village in the Leribe District of Lesotho. The objectives of this study were; to describe the participation of the community members in the Community Policing Forums; to identify the participation of CPFs in the community; to identify challenges faced by Community Policing Forums in Sephokong Local Council Leribe District in Lesotho; to identify the purpose of the Community Policing Forums in Sephokong in Lesotho; to establish the strengths of the CPFs in doing their work; and to determine the needs of the CPFs to enable them to do their work. The research methodology used in the study is the qualitative type. The major findings of the study revealed that CPFs, which were trained by the Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS), was beneficial to the communities because they were equipped with skills and knowledge that they used to protect the villagers and their property. The social status of the villagers was also enhanced by the presence of the CPFs, in that they were capable of discussing their differences amicably and brought them to the chief or the police station for further deliberations if some members were not satisfied. Also study findings indicated that a lot of criminal activities could have taken place without the work of CPFs in the village since they were the only trained people to do the patrolling at night, which deterred the criminals. The chiefs, in particular, benefited from the CPFs’ work when they reported cases, arrested criminals and assisted in mobilizing the villagers for a meeting at the chief’s court. All in all, the CPFs unified the people, protected the pastures, going between the chief and the LMPS and they followed after the stolen (stock) animals and rescued them from the hands of thieves even though they were not paid by members of the community or LMPS. v | Page Lastly the Police officers pointed out that they provide trainings to CPFs members in different villages as to serve the community members in their different vicinities. While CPFs help them to arrest the suspects for them and provide them with enough information for investigations. Hence their presence in the villages plays solve the matters easily, and during operations they work together with CPFs as police officer and that enables them to give evidence in the courts of laws.
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- Date Issued: 2018