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

South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Protocol on Trafficking in Persons, and is likely to draft legislation on the topic soon. But the extent of the problem in South Africa is unclear, and the offences involved in trafficking are punishable under current law. To avoid unintended consequences, care is needed in drafting a new law in this area. Ted Leggett assesses the risks of human trafficking legislation.

Bronwyn Pithey discusses legal provisions available for prosecuting human trafficking. South Africa seems well on the way to creating specialised human trafficking legislation. The country is a signatory to the United Nations Protocol on Trafficking in Persons, and the SA Law Reform Commission is investigating the issue of trafficking.

Although grand corruption like that associated with the arms deal, receives most media attention, petty corruption can be as damaging if left unchecked. According to the ISS 2003 National Victims of Crime survey, petty corruption was the second most prevalent crime in the country after housebreaking. Hennie van Vuuren evaluates the extent and nature of petty corruption in South Africa.

Boyane Tshehla investigates the Impact of legislation on Gauteng`s enclosed neighbourhoods. Gauteng has most of the country’s enclosed neighbourhoods. The province is also ahead in its enactment of policy and legislation to regulate the restriction of access to public spaces for safety purposes. The goals of many residents are however likely to conflict with the legal provisions. 

Sibusiso Masuku reveals youth views on crime in the Nelson Mandela Metro. A focus group study in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape reveals the extent to which crime features in the lives of young people. Many were victims of violent crimes like robbery, and over half knew people involved in crime – mostly family and friends.

Crime is thought to be a major concern that shapes the everyday lives of South Africans. But what impact does living with high levels of crime have on the mindset of ordinary citizens? A recent household crime victimisation study conducted in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality provides tentative answers to this question, as found by Valerie Moller.

Ted Leggett reveals the preliminary results from a Manenberg crime survey. Public knowledge about drugs is high, especially among the youth, which suggests open drug markets that can only exist when enforcement is lax. It is not surprising then that local public opinion of the police is much more negative than that recorded in the survey.