12 research outputs found
Public transit and crime. An exploratory study on commuter’s perceptions of crime in Metrorail trains: a case study of Durban station.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Rail transport is regarded as the cheapest mode of on-land transport for commuters who need to
travel to and from work or school. It has distinctive characteristics that, over the years, have made
it popular as a cost-effective mode of transport that accommodates a high number of people and
reduces road congestion. It is an undeniable fact that railway transport has played an important
role in many countries’ social and economic development. However, generally tolerant rail
commuters in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, have become increasingly frustrated at the
declining quality of rail service delivery. This is evidenced by recent incidents of angry commuters
who burnt trains due to failed rail assets, particularly in the Western Cape. These acts have been
contemplated as a commuter strategy to enforce and guarantee service improvement by the
operator, regardless of the negative effects they have on rail infrastructure and the economic
wellbeing of the country as a whole.
In terms of Metrorail services, the inconsistency between commuters’ expectations and
management’s understanding of their expectations has exacerbated the perception of poor service
quality. The rail commuter industry has been plagued by a history of poor service delivery due to
inaccessibility, crowding, and poor security as the main reasons for dissatisfaction with railway
services. In terms of the unreliability of Metrorail services, research has revealed that trains are
rarely on time and tend to stop in the middle of nowhere without notice. This has prompted late
arrivals at work and the possibility of job losses for commuters. Moreover, such delays and
stoppages lead to train overcrowding and safety risks. As everyone’s main goal is get inside that
train as soon as it arrives, getting inside could mean shoving, climbing on top of the train, or
hanging from doors or windows. The lack of measures to curb such behaviour highlights the fact
that commuters are treated with disdain and that nothing is done to reduce overcrowding and the
unreliability of Metrorail services.
Moreover, there has been a growing concern about crime becoming a major issue for law-abiding
commuters. Both major crimes such as acts of violence, murder or robbery and minor crimes such as pick-pocketing occur regularly on trains or at stations. Due to ever-changing pattern within the
transport sector, crime has succeeded into instilling fear in commuters. As a result, it has become
a serious problem in South Africa that does not only have a negative effect on commuters, but on
the economy of the country as well.
Public transport networks provide a number of unique settings (places and times) across which
crime and disorder can occur. These spaces include train stations and inside trains where there is
no security. It was against this background that an extensive literature review was embarked on
and individual interviews were conducted with 20 commuters that had been recruited at a selected
train station in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The prime aim of the study was to explore commuters’
perceptions of crime on Metrorail trains. It was anticipated that interviewing commuters who relied
on Metrorail services as their main mode of transport would elicit in-depth insight into the issue at
hand.
A qualitative study design was employed to collect data by conducting semi-structured interviews.
Open-ended questions that allowed the participants to share their experiences openly without being
limited in any way were asked in the interview schedule. A thematic analysis process was used to
make sense of the data from the various themes that emerged. To understand the criminological
phenomenon under study, two significant theories were utilised to underpin this study namely, the
routine activities theory and the crime pattern theory.
The findings suggest that a lack of patrol officers on trains and at train stations, as well as the high
level of overcrowding on trains, are contributing factors towards the high crime rates in this
industry. The data that were collected from the interviews were substantiated by the findings of
earlier studies that suggested that, due to affordability, more people were using railway transport
currently than in the past. However, as the number of commuters increased, so did crime. The
findings further propose that the ineffectiveness of policies and legislations that are in place to
curb crime in the railway sector calls for a revitalisation of the purpose to provide safe, secure and
reliable Metrorail services to commuters
An investigative study of the policing of identity theft and fraud: a case of the Durban South African Police Services Serious Commercial Crime Unit.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The line between reality and unreality is blurred and, in a postmodern and technologically driven world, it is difficult to tell the real from those things that simulate the real. Extrapolating past events to solve current problems becomes highly risky and often misleading because the strategies employed might not support technological advancement. Against this background, it seems that identity theft and fraud, as separate but also related crimes, are disregarded when criminal phenomena are examined and prioritised. The dangers and disadvantages of this result in little or no fast-tracked plan of action against identity (or ID) theft and fraud. However, it is of great importance to examine ID theft and fraud in depth because of the sophisticated and imminent danger they bring to bear on society. Moreover, these crimes have infamous appeal and their perpetration by criminals worldwide is high due to the unlikelihood of detection. With criminals becoming increasingly adept at both cyberspace and more traditional methods of identity theft perpetration, the criminal justice arena is seen as becoming unequipped and lacking in the ability to keep pace with this form of criminality. The false and misguided belief that only the negligent and careless fall victim to identity theft and fraud should be shifted and the focus should fall on the development of effective and practical solutions to deter and possibly eradicate identity theft and fraud.
It is thus pivotal to explore current processes that drive identity theft and fraud crimes to allow law enforcement to manoeuvre effectively towards deterring these criminal acts. Understanding the tactics and regulatory procedures utilised by law enforcement agencies against identity theft and fraud, and the gaps that might exacerbate these phenomena, is therefore vital in addressing this scourge. Additionally, by comparing and understanding the reasons for current statistics to explain the escalation in these crimes, law enforcement will be able to move towards the design and implementation of new strategies to curb them. The study argues that identity theft and fraud should not be crimes that commercial banks, social media platforms, and internet-based companies are oblivious too. Identity theft exists. It is constantly evolving and causes harm to an increasingly larger group of people, often the elderly, within society. However, the evolution of technology impacts and encourages perpetrators of such criminal behaviour to be more eventful and creative in their approach and modus operandi and enhances their ability to escape and thrive undetected. The extent of the harm and damage identity theft and fraud cause individuals, families, companies and the government means that their prevalence should never be overlooked or underestimated.
The study sought to investigate the policing of identity theft and fraud in the Durban area in KwaZulu-Natal. My examination of these phenomena was not limited to a specific type of identity theft but was all encompassing. The geographical demarcation of the study was restricted to the South African Police Services Serious Commercial Crime Unit (SAPS SCCU), John Ross House, Durban. The goal was to solicit information pertaining to the strategies utilised by law enforcement agencies, particularly the SAPS, to police and deter identity theft and fraud. This was pivotal in light of the rising figures in identity theft and fraud and the lack of research on policing and deterring these criminal phenomena. As one of its main objectives, the study sought to understand the discrepancy between the recorded figures of ID theft and fraud and their actual rates of occurrence. This qualitative study made use of open-ended semi-structured interviews for the elicitation of data to achieve this objective. The study found that various types of identity theft and fraud were perpetrated by syndicates using varying modus operandi, with particular focus on technologically advanced methodologies. What appeared disconcerting was a lack in the ability of law enforcement to keep pace with criminal tactics and the modus operandi utilised by perpetrators that lead to the widespread occurrence of these crime forms. The SAPS SCCU is the only unit that is mandated to investigate commercial crime in KZN, and its success rate, according to the investigating officers, is average to high. However, the capacity of this unit to cope with the workload is somewhat limited due to its geographical jurisdiction that encompasses the whole of the KZN Province. Recommendations are offered in response to the data and the challenges that are associated with the processes of policing identity theft and fraud
An exploration of the exposure of high school teenagers to gender-based violence with specific focus on intimate partner violence: a case study of a selected school in Inchanga, KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as abuse or aggression that occurs within a romantic relationship. It is a pervasive issue affecting individuals across various age groups and demographics. It falls under the umbrella of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and is a global pandemic which is also prevalent in South Africa. This study focuses on exploring high school teenagers' exposure to intimate partner violence in a selected school at Inchanga, KwaZulu-Natal. From the data gathered, it is evident that intimate partner violence (IPV) exists in a vicious cycle among teenagers, and there is limited research on the experiences of high school teenagers who have been exposed to IPV. This study aims to shed light on the prevalence of intimate partner violence among high school teenagers at Inchanga. Therefore, to gain insight into the exposure of high school teenagers on IPV specifically at the selected school in Inchanga. A qualitative study was conducted using individual interviews with participants. The participants were purposively sampled from different grades and genders to ensure representation. The participants included 5 males and 5 female high school learners aged between 15 and 18 years, four teachers, and a school principal. The findings were then thematically analysed and they revealed that IPV is influenced by various dynamics, including historical patriarchal cultural factors, socio-economic factors, the misconception that violence demonstrates love, and peer influence. It is also evident that domestic violence contributes significantly to the perpetuation of this phenomenon. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the school should implement comprehensive education programs that focus on healthy relationships, conflict resolution, and the prevention of IPV. These programs can help raise awareness among teenagers about the dynamics of healthy relationships and empower them to recognise and address signs of abuse. Furthermore, it is also recommended that there should be Collaboration with community organisations that specialise in intimate partner violence prevention to enhance their efforts in addressing this issue
The perspectives on the impact of corruption on service delivery: a case study of a KwaZulu Natal municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.KwaZulu-Natal, which is one of South Africa's largest provinces in terms of population density, is home to numerous municipalities which are local government structures that are mandated to ensure basic service delivery to all the citizens in its area of responsibility. However, this province has reportedly faced unique challenges in its ability to ensure equitable and sustainable service delivery. While the municipalities in this region are tasked with improving the quality of life for their residents, the pervasive nature of corruption undermines their efforts. Corruption poses a significant challenge to effective governance and service delivery in many municipalities across South Africa, including iNdumiso Municipality1 in KwaZulu-Natal. Corruption in local governance has emerged as a significant barrier to effective service delivery by municipalities across South Africa. Acts of corruption do not only redirect essential resources away from critical community needs, but also reinforce inequality and impose the marginalisation of certain groups in the population. Due to the broad nature of corruption as an academic topic, it was deemed important and instructive to narrow down the scope of this investigation to a particular case to ensure that contextual factors would be suitably considered. In this instance, the case on the impact of corruption in service delivery was the iNdumiso Municipality.
Local governments play a vital role in managing the delivery of basic services such as sanitation, water, and housing and form the government tier that is closest to communities (Sekibuule, 2012). Poor governance in municipalities can greatly affect public service delivery, either directly through higher pricing or indirectly through lower quality or frequency of available services. However, the high levels of corruption in local governments are associated with service delivery, therefore it was important to examine irregularities in service delivery to determine how a local community was affected by such malpractices, which unnecessarily impoverish citizens. The choice of iNdumiso as the study location was significant due to recent reports of corruption within this local government structure. These reports raised concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of public service provision in this area. By focusing on this municipality, the study aimed to gain a deep understanding of the specific challenges faced by residents in accessing quality services and the role of corruption in exacerbating these issues. Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, a pseudonym is used to refer to the municipality under study. The research aimed to explore the prevalence, forms, and drivers of corruption within the municipality and analysed how these factors hindered the provision of essential services. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews involving 18 participants, including 10 municipal workers and 8 community members. The findings revealed that corruption in the iNdumiso Municipality manifested in several ways, including bribery, nepotism, and embezzlement. These corrupt practices had a direct and detrimental impact on the quality and accessibility of services such as water, sanitation, and infrastructure. Economic pressures, weak institutional frameworks, and cultural norms that tolerate unethical behaviour were identified as the key drivers of corruption. While the study found that some efforts had been made to address corruption, it was highlighted that these initiatives had been largely ineffective due to weak governance and lack of accountability. The research therefore emphasises the need for a more robust and collaborative approach to service delivery through initiatives that involve local government, community members, and civil society. It seems essential to combat corruption and improve service delivery in iNdumiso Municipality, and possibly other municipalities that experience similar challenges
An exploration of school violence in Inanda Township: a case study of Mqhawe High School.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.School violence is by no means a new phenomenon in South Africa, nor is it limited to KwaZulu-Natal, as it is prevalent throughout the country (Ntuli 2015). A noteworthy requirement for learning and developing is to feel safe at all times, yet the issue of school violence in South Africa is a regrettable reality. Many different factors are root causes of violence in schools and they sometimes have catastrophic consequences for learners. In South Africa where crime and violence are rife, the drastic increase in the levels of violence in schools mirrors a complex combination of past history and current stresses on individuals, schools, and wider communities. The culture of violence has become deeply entrenched in our society and has led many to embrace violence as a means of obtaining their goals. Schools are not exempt from this scourge, and the Safety Framework Report indicates that schools have commonly applied physical interventions as part of their school safety plans. Measures include increasing police presence in schools, the installation of burglar bars on school doors and windows, hiring of security guards, and erecting walls and fences. Less importance seems to be placed on non-physical violence reduction methods which include measures such as the implementation of school safety policies and disciplinary measures, as well as other interventions targeted at transforming and managing learner behaviour. The violence that is experienced in schools has numerous negative underlying factors and these experiences at school level have a deep impact on children and on their development into adulthood. Not only are such events expected to impact a child's attachment to a school, but they lead to escalating levels of drop-out and absenteeism rates, low self-esteem and low levels of academic performance. School violence is also likely to negatively impact young people's later susceptibility to violence, and there is a strong probability that the victims and/or perpetrators if school violence will resort to serious acts of violence as they grow older. Even though South Africa has made noteworthy progress in establishing a culture of human rights among its citizens, the continuous exposure to violence has had a damaging impact on learners in most South African schools. In this context, the researcher strongly believes that it is only through the joint efforts of school authorities, parents, community leaders and government that school violence can be addressed effectively. Efforts put in by all these stakeholders must be situated within a comprehensive framework of a concentrated social crime prevention strategy that should
address much of the violence that occurs outside the reach of police and that generally transpires within the home setting.
The study aimed to understand the phenomenon of school violence as a manifestation of crime, and it sought to illuminate the consequences that school violence has on learners. The study was a qualitative in nature as in-depth data were verbally generated by the research participants. Twenty school learners from Mqhawe High school were interviewed by the researcher. The researcher made use of a tape recorder to record the narratives of the participants. The findings indicate that school violence impacts negatively on learners’ academic performance as well as their emotional and psychological well-being. This research was conducted at a secondary school in the Inanda Township in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This township is notorious as one of the most violent areas in the eThekwini municipal area. Purportedly, many learners who reside in this area have developed a fear of going to school as many have been attacked on their way to school, when they were inside the school premises and even when they were on their way back home
“From political wars to taxi wars”: investigating the transition of taxi violence in a low-income urban community in the Mpumalanga Township, South Africa.
No full textMaster of Social Science in Criminology. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2016.Taxi violence is a fundamental challenge in South Africa. Most disturbing is the prevalence of innocent passengers, including children, who become the victims of this form of violence. The main aim of this study was to investigate the transition of taxi violence in a new democratic South Africa and to suggest ways in which the country should deal with the issue of taxi violence. The study argues that issues around taxi routes, rank space, the poaching of passengers from one taxi association by another, as well as greed, remain major contributing factors to ongoing taxi conflicts. This thesis presents a comprehensive interpretation of the transition of the minibus-taxi industry over various periods and the conflicts and violence that have overwhelmed it since the advent of the minibus-taxi industry. In an attempt to comprehensively understand the growth, the developments, as well as the fundamental issues affecting taxi violence, a comprehensive historical overview of the minibus-taxi industry and the challenges that have plagued it is presented. The overview covers significant sequential periods, namely 1977-1987; 1987-1994; 1994-1999; and 1999 to date. The research study thus focused on the transition and development of the minibus-taxi industry and its related violent conflicts within the years of apartheid and since its demise.
An analysis of the apartheid Government’s efforts to resolve the conflicts and complications in the minibus-taxi industry is followed by an investigation of the new democratic Government’s attempts to implement various strategies that would remedy the situation. Such strategies have seen the transformation, formalization as well as the deregulation of the taxi industry in South Africa. Particular foci of the investigation were the nature of and the connection that existed among taxi violence, taxi owners and law enforcement agencies. Therefore, in addition to a comprehensive literature review, interviews were conducted with fifteen taxi drivers in an attempt to illuminate the current causes of taxi violence from taxi drivers’ perspective. It was envisaged that the interviews would offer in-depth insights into the respondents’ opinions and perceptions of current issues relating to taxi violence in the minibus-taxi industry.
This qualitative data collection method utilised semi-structured interviews. The interview schedule contained both open-ended and close-ended questions. The findings were analysed by means of a thematic analysis process which was utilized as a means of making sense of the data by extracting various emerging themes. Two significant theories underpinned this study, namely the conflict theory and the labeling theory. The findings revealed that, despite the demise of apartheid, taxi violence still remains a major challenge in the South African minibus-taxi industry. The research study was conducted in Mpumalanga township, which is a low-urban community settlement in the eThekwini Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The interview data corroborated the findings of previous studies as it was found that perpetrators of taxi violence are predominantly taxi owners who contest ‘ownership’ of lucrative routes
Perceptions and experiences of learners on the banning of corporal punishment in South African schools: a case study of four township schools in the Pinetown district of KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The use of corporal punishment is not a new phenomenon in the South African education system as it was, for a long time, recognised as a fitting form of punishment for ill-disciplined and disobedient children. The growing recognition that corporal punishment is an act of violence against children has resulted in the abolishment of this form of punishment in society and particularly in schools. However, regardless of criminalising corporal punishment, it appears to be a disciplinary measure that is persistently used by some educators. Historically and currently, the intimate connection between corporal punishment and discipline has not merely been a convention of human thinking, as this practice is given recognition in various definitions in dictionaries. ‘To discipline’ is habitually stated to mean ‘to punish’. The notion of ‘disciplining children’ also comes from entrenched common conceptions about children and their relationship with adults. Corporal punishment has, for a long time, been associated with the rearing and education of children and this practice thus pervades schooling across nations. In many societies, punishment is a term that is closely linked with the self-perception of teachers who feel that they must be ‘in control’ and have ‘the upper hand’ in order to be respected. This impression of control is evident in the widespread conception of education which is to ‘socialize’ children in ‘desirable ways’ of ‘sitting in a formal classroom’, ‘behaving’ in school, ‘following instructions’ from the teacher, talking only when asked to, and finishing tasks on time.
Many South African teachers thus do not understand the true meaning of discipline. The unequal power relation between adults and children further enhances the problem, as children adopt cues of authority from school and home and begin to accept violence as a way of life. Over the past years, several gruesome acts of corporal punishment have come to light through media reports of some incidences which had led to the death of children. Due to fear, children often remain silent and submit to violence without questioning such acts of punishment. Many children display signs of deep hurt in their behaviour, but this often goes unnoticed, which exacerbates the cycle of violence. Research has reliably revealed that the use of physical punishment against children hampers the attainment of respect for discipline. This form of punishment seldom provokes children to act inversely, as it does not convey an understanding of what they should to be doing, nor does it produce any kind of reward for being upright. The fact that teachers and principals often have to repeat the administration of corporal punishment for the same offense by the same child attests to its ineffectiveness. In countries where corporal punishment has been abolished, there has been no indication that the disruption of discipline in schools has escalated. This goes to show that disturbances are conveniently and ubiquitously censured on children as they are very vulnerable and cannot defend themselves. Numerous studies have indicated that corporal punishment modifies and often destroys the self-perception of the victim. Teachers habitually beat children because they themselves were beaten when they grew up. Children thus acquire negative behavioural patterns from their teachers as they identify with them. Moreover, placing the blame on the previous generation of teachers who used corporal punishment to discipline children is pointless, as they were acting in accordance with apartheid and international laws or cultural customs that sanctioned this form of punishment under certain conditions.
The notion of punishment is closely related to human conceptions of childhood and education. It is also a conventional datum that childhood is a concept that emerged in the nineteenth century. Passé widespread thinking related to children such as ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’, ‘children are empty vessels’ and ‘children need to be moulded’ persists in the mindset of many modern-day educators and has frequently underpinned the ideologies of established school practices. The duty to safeguard children from physical punishment lies in the hands of teachers, principals, education administrators and all other stakeholders and does not exclude parents.
It was against this backdrop that a comprehensive review of relevant literature was undertaken and that individual interviews were conducted with fifty learners from four schools (two junior secondary and two senior secondary schools) in a selected township area in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The main aim of the study was to explore and thus understand learners’ views on the administration of corporal punishment regardless of the fact that it was legally abolished. It was envisaged that the interviews with the learners would elicit rich data that would enhance the researcher’s insight into their perceptions of the persistent use of corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure in their schools. The study was thus premised on the assumption, which had been strengthened by anecdotal and media evidence, that corporal punishment was still administered in some schools in South Africa and in schools in the study area in particular.
A qualitative study design facilitated the collection of the desired data by means of semi-structured interviews. The interview schedule contained both open- and closed-ended questions. The data were analysed by means of the thematic analysis procedure which facilitated the illumination of various emerging themes. The analysis of the data was framed by three scholarly theories: the theory of the subculture of violence; the differential association theory; and the deterrence theory. The findings suggest that, regardless of the legal framework that criminalises the use of corporal punishment, the administration of this form of punishment persisted in the schools under study. The interview data were validated by the findings of preceding studies that had found that some educators still used corporal punishment despite their knowledge that it was banned by the South African government in 1996. The findings revealed that corporal punishment ranged in severity and for diverse reasons and that it had adverse physical and emotional effects on the learners. Conversely, a minority of the learners supported this form of punishment as they perceived it to be effective in curbing misbehavior in schools. The findings also suggest that some learners had become so insensitive to the pain inflicted by corporal punishment that their delinquent behavior was exacerbated rather than curbed
Exploring the implementation and impact of developmental local government projects on socio-economic well-being of Sweetwaters Community uMsunduzi Local Municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.In South Africa, since 1994, when the democratic government came into power, the development issue has been raised as one of the government's priorities. The government promised to transform the citizens' livelihoods through development and provide quality, effective and efficient services. Rural development was identified as one of the government's priorities to ensure community well-being. As a result, local governments were mandated to ensure rural development and provide quality service delivery to improve communities' living conditions and inclusion. However, rural communities still face challenges of exclusion and non-implementation of development programmes in South Africa. Therefore, this study explored the impact of local government developmental programmes or initiatives on the socio-economic and well-being of the Sweetwaters community in the uMsunduzi local municipality. The research methodology adopted in this study was a qualitative approach. Therefore, fifteen (N=15) participants, including community leaders and senior community members, participated using in-depth semi-structured interviews. In addition, NVIVO computer software was used for data analyses. The study's findings revealed a high level of exclusion when developmental projects are implemented. Further, the issue of corruption from the community leaders also came up. The result also suggested that the local government does not contact communities to understand which project should be prioritized. Further, local governments implement what they feel is right and exclude the community in decision-making, resulting in no improvement or resentment from the community
Exploring the perceptions and experiences of learners and educators on bullying and cyberbullying in selected schools in KwaZulu-Natal
No full textThis qualitative study delves into the perceptions and experiences of learners and educators regarding bullying in selected schools in KwaZulu-Natal. This article is located on the contours of the constructivist paradigm and the qualitative research approach. Employing (n=37) in-depth interviews and (n=4) focus group discussions, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying within the school environment. Despite numerous efforts by the South African government to expand the legislative framework aimed at addressing school-based bullying, the issue persists stubbornly. The study unearthed three primary themes (i) bullying of lower grade learners and teachers (ii) verbal bullying by teachers (iii) cyberbullying. Findings indicated that with the increasing use of digital technologies, students are frequently subjected to online harassment, including threatening messages, spreading of rumours, and social exclusion. This form of bullying extends beyond school grounds, making it difficult for victims to find respite and support. The findings highlight the pervasive and multifaceted nature of bullying in KwaZulu-Natal schools, emphasising the profound impact on the mental and emotional well-being of both learners and educators
Unpacking the Reported Impacts of COVID-19 in Rural Contexts: Evidence from two Rural Municipalities in South Africa
No full textInternational audienc
