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Hannes Fagan discusses laws on minimum sentencing and parole spelling worsening prison conditions in light of the changes to the release policy as per sections 73 to 82 of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 which came into effect on 1 October 2004.
Civilian oversight bodies such as the secretariats for safety and security and the ICD have been vocal about recent incidents of police misconduct and abuse of power. However, it is not enough to merely record and comment on such incidents. If real transformation of the SAPS and improvements in service delivery are to occur, civilian oversight should be given greater value and support by political and administrative leaders. Duxita Mistry and Judy Klipin present the findings of a recent evaluation aimed at identifying ways to strengthen the secretariats' role in police oversight.
Makubetse Sekhonyane discusses the taxi industry and government at loggerheads. For over a decade the taxi industry has been heavily embroiled in conflicts that have claimed thousands of lives. At the heart of the problem is the persistent struggle over control of this multi-billion rand industry that carries over 60% of South Africa’s commuters.
Part of a series in the SA Crime Quarterly on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, Dee Smythe focuses on the use of weapons in incidents of domestic violence as reflected in applications for protection orders at three Western Cape jurisdictions.
In 2003 the South African Police Service intensified its efforts to confiscate illegal firearms and check legal owners’ compliance with the firearms legislation. The initiative with the highest profile was Operation Sethunya (‘firearm’) run from April to September 2003. Sethunya was the largest ever police effort in the country focused exclusively on stemming the proliferation of firearms. Sarah Meek and Noel Stott argue that proactive policing can solve the illicit firearms problem.
