Department of Criminal Justice

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Browsing Department of Criminal Justice by Subject "Policing"

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    Evaluating the Effectiveness of Technological Innovations in Policing and Crime Prevention in Urban Areas of Mbombela Municipality, Mpumalanga Province
    (2026-05-19) Ngwenya, Thamsiza Thobile; Olofinbiyi, Sog Angel
    In the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of new technologies in policing and crime prevention strategies around the globe. These new tools offer hope for better law enforcement, increased public safety, and reduced crime. The integration of technological innovations in policing has reshaped crime prevention strategies worldwide, offering promising avenues for enhancing public safety and operational efficiency. However, within the South African context, particularly in less-studied municipalities such as Mbombela, the practical effectiveness, challenges, and perceptions surrounding these technologies remain insufficiently explored. This research addresses this critical gap by evaluating how effectively technological tools are being utilised for crime prevention and policing in the urban areas of Mbombela Municipality in Mpumalanga Province. The study adopted a qualitative approach, employing semi-structured interviews with police officers of varying ranks and backgrounds. Thematic analysis of participant responses revealed that technologies such as the SAPS mobile app, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and the Crime Administration System (CAS) are in use, but their effectiveness is significantly hindered by infrastructural deficits, limited training, and resource constraints. Moreover, while participants generally supported the potential of technology to deter crime and enhance response, concerns around data security, public trust, and system reliability emerged strongly. The findings highlight the need for targeted investment in technological infrastructure, training, and community engagement to maximise the utility of these innovations. Policy interventions must be localised and responsive to the socio-economic and logistical realities of under-resourced urban settings. The study contributes to both academic discourse and practical policymaking by offering context-specific insights into the nuanced dynamics of digital policing in South Africa.
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    Evaluation of Public Order Policing Strategies during Violent Service Delivery Protests: A case of Vuwani in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province
    (2019-05-18) Madima, Khethiwe; Mothibi, K. A.
    The policing response to increasing violent community violent protests in South Africa has received global attention in the last decade. The study was conducted with a backdrop of increased concern over skirmish and sporadic fighting and violence during service delivery protests. Criticisms have been voiced by various role-players in violent protests concerning arrests, injuries and killing of civilians by police during these demonstrations. Hence the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of POP strategies in curbing common acts of violence during violent protests particularly in Vuwani area of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The study adopted a mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative method). Purposive sampling was used to select POP officials wherein Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted in 9 difference POP units, each FGD was comprised of approximately 5 members which total to 45 POP members. A total of 200 questionnaires were randomly distributed to community members of Vuwani within 5 were found invalid. Quantitative Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that (86,2%) of participants believed that Vuwani protest was caused by municipal demarcation issues. The favourite methods of protests include littering with (80,0 %) and burning tyres with (76,4%) of participants. A total of (52,8%) community members argued that police presence perpetuate violence during service delivery protest. Common crimes that occurred during the protests was vandalism with (82,6%) and arson with (81,0%). Furthermore, (83,6%) community members agrees that rubber bullets was used as a strategy by the police at Vuwani protests. The overwhelming majority of participants with 80,0% believe that negotiation during protests can curb death and injuries. On the other hand, the study finds that POP official strategies start by negotiating with the protestors, identifying the leader, use of water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets as the last resort. Further emphasized that lack of manpower and resources are barriers that hinders effective policing of violent service delivery protests. It is therefore recommended that provision of resource and recruitment of manpower should be taken as a first priority by the SAPS national office. Lastly, the public should be educated about police presence during violent service delivery protests.