The Nexus of South African Police Service and Community Policing Forums in dismantling the ‘Boko Haram’ gang in the Dan Village of Tzaneen Township, South Africa
Keywords:
Boko Haram Gang; Community Policing Forums; Dan Village of Tzaneen Township; Dismantling; South African Police Service; South Africa; The Nexus
Abstract
The Dan Village in Tzaneen, South African, just like other areas in South Africa is confronted with various heinous crimes, mostly perpetrated by the local gangs. Citizens are often robbed of their valuable belongings, terrorised and some killed in the process, this normally occurs in the early mornings and during the night when to-and-from work. Therefore, the objective of this study was to offer the nexus South African Police Service (SAPS) and Community Policing Forums (CPFs) in dismantling the ‘Boko Haram’ Gang in the identified study location. This qualitative study, was supported by exploratory research objective to purposively select Ten (10) participants and review suitable documentary studies on this subject. The key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were employed for data collections. The inductive Textual Content Analysis (TCA) was used to identify study themes and associated challenges during the data analysis process. This study established that the CPFs and SAPS members, including Dan Village native resident at large were concerned about ‘Boko Haram’ gang, this resulted in initiating crime-fighting patterns against this dangerous gang. The results further showed that since various crimes happened unexpectedly and affects them differently; the effective collaboration between the local SAPS and CPFs should be regarded as legitimate structures to play critical roles to dismantle the Boko Haram gang. This is expected to yield positive outcome for the control and prevention of criminal activities by the local gang.
References
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Mncube, V. & Harber, C. (2013). The dynamics of violence m South African schools: Report 2012. Pretoria: University of South Africa: Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Mncube, V, and Steinman, C. (2014). Gang Related Violence in South African Schools, Journal for Social Sciences 39(2), 203-211.
Mokwena, R.J & Maluleke, W. (2020). South African rural communities and the land restitution process: The application of criminological and legal theories in identifying obstacles to rightful allocations of land. Gender and Behaviour Journal, 18(3), 16145-16156.
Morse, J.M & Field, P.A. (1996). Qualitative research methods for health professionals, 2nd Edition. Sage Publications, Inc: Thousand Oaks.
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Ngoveni, T.D. (2021). Investigating the interaction between South African Police Service and Community Policing Forum in ensuring community safety: A case study in Atteridgeville and Brooklyn police station. Unpublished Magister Technologiae: Policing. Soshanguve South: Tshwane University of Technology.
Ngoveni, T.D. Maluleke, W. Mabasa, C. (2022). Insights on the use of community policing forum for crime prevention: A case study of the Brooklyn police station, South Africa. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 11 (5), 482-494.
Potgieter, P.J. Wiatrowski, M.D. Roelofse, C.J. (2016). Understanding the true meaning of the concept community policing: a final comment. Acts Criminology: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 29 (1): 47-65.
Republic of South Africa. (1996). The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Pretoria: Government Printer: Pretoria.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Anchor books: New York.
Sefali, P. (2014). Young, high and dangerous: Youth gangs and violence in Khayelitsha. At the coalface: Essays in safety and violence- issue, May 2014. Safety and Violence Initiative. University of Cape Town: Cape Town.
Sherman, L.W., & Weisburd, D. (1995). General deterrent effects of police patrol in crime “hot spots”: A randomised, controlled trial. Justice Quarterly, 12(4).625-648.
South African Police Service crime statistics. https://www.saps.gov.za/services/crimestats.php.
Statistics South Africa. (2022). Key findings: P0341 - Victims of Crime Release, 2022 - Summary of key findings. https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1856&PPN=P0341&SCH=73307.
Statistics of South Africa. (2017). The streets fell silent: How crime impacts the everyday? Statistics South Africa: Pretoria.
Victims of Crime Survey. (2021/2022). Governance, Public Safety, and Justice Survey. https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0341/P03412022.pdf.
Walden University, Education for Good. (2022). What Influences Criminal Behaviour? https://www.waldenu.edu/online-bachelors-programs/bs-in-criminal-justice/resource/ ...
Tessendorf, H. (1996). The national peace accord in South Africa’s political transition: 1991-1994. South African Journal of Political Studies, 23 (1), 79-96.
Weatherburn, D. (2001). What Causes Crime? https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Publications/CJB/cjb54.pdf.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2010). Handbook on Crime Prevention Guidelines: Making Them Work-Criminal Justice Handbook Series. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: New York.
Van Heerden, T.J. (1982). Introduction to police science. University of South Africa Press: Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Van Wyk, B.E & Theron, V. (2005). Fighting gangsterism in South Africa: a contextual review of Gang and anti-gang movements in the Western Cape. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/EJC28881.
Verma, A. (2005). The Indian police. A critical evaluation. Regency: New Delhi.
Van Vuuren, J.W.J. (1996). The evolution and status of community policing forums in South Africa. Acta Criminologica, 9(1):100-107.
Buthelezi, M. (2010). Problems encountered in the implementation of sector policing in priority and contact crime stations in KwaZulu-Natal. CRIMSA 2009 Conference Special Edition, No. 2.
Davis, R., Henderson, N & Merrick, C. (2003). Community policing: Variations on the Western model in the developed world. Police Practice and Research, 4(3):285-300.
Decker, S.H & Van Winkle, B. (1996). Life in the gang: Family friends and violence. University Press: Cambridge.
Decker, S. H., & Curry, G. D. (2000). Responding to gangs: Comparing gang member, police, and task force perspectives. Journal of Criminal Justice, 28(2), 129-137.
Department of Police. (2019/2020). Crime statistics: Integrity. https://www.saps.gov.za/services/crimestats.php.
Department of Police. (2019). Annual report 2019/2020. https://www.saps.gov.za/about/stratframework/annual_report/2018_2019/saps annualreport2018_2019 v2.pdf SAPS.
Department of Community Safety and Liaison. (2011). Community policing. http://www.kzncomsafety.gov.za/ Services Offered/Community Liaison/Community Policing.aspx.
Department of Police. (2022). South African Police Service. https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=39954.
Demombynes, G & Ozler, B. (2003). Crime and Local Inequality in South Africa. https://www.academia.edu/20141711/Crime_and_local_inequality_in_South_Africa.
Edwards, C. (2011). Changing policing theories for the 21st century societies.3rd Edition. The Federation Press: Sydney.
Egley, AJ., Howell, J.C. & Major, A.K. (2006). Recent Patterns of Gang Problems in the US: Results from the 1996-2002 National Youth Gang Survey in American Youth Gangs at the Millennium Long Grove: Waveland Press: United States of America.
Greater Tzaneen Municipality. (2020). Final IDP 2019/2020. http://www.greatertzaneen.gov.za/documents/idp/FINAL%20IDP%202019-20%20to%20Council2.pdf.
Greater Tzaneen Municipality, (2022). Map of Dan Village. http://www.greatertzaneen.gov.za/documents/sdf/MAP%208b%20DAN%20VILLAGE.pdf.
Govender, D. (2019). Police and Society: Emerging Dimensions in South Africa. A International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 14 (2): 376-391.
Hagerdon, J.M. (2005). The Global Impact of Gangs. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice. 21 (2): 153-169.
Herald (2019). Tzaneen: Boko Haram gang members sentenced to ten years for murder - Community outraged. https://letabaherald.co.za/56436/tzaneen-boko-haram-gang-members-sentenced-ten-years-murder-community-outraged/.
Herald. (2019). Dan Village no longer a gangsters’ paradise. https://letabaherald.co.za/67032/dan-village-no-longer-gangsters-paradise/.
Info Tzaneen (2019). Greater Tzaneen Municipality. https://www.iinfo.co.za/content/historical-background-tzaneen.
Jun, Wu., Xiaochen, Hu & Orrick, E.A. (2021). The Relationship between Motivations for Joining Gangs and Violent Offending: A Preliminary Test on Self-Determination Theory, Victims andOffenders, 17:3, 335-349.
Kelling, G.L., Pate, T., Dieckman, D., & Brown, C.E. (1974). The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment: A summary report. https://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitazation/42537NCJRS.pdf.
Limpopo Province Freight Data Bank. (2022). https://www.google.com/search?q=tzaneen+municipality+map&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&vet=1&fir=WfLR7pndK2Q7pM%252CSW81b0w5QS9wFM%252C_%.
Mabunda, D.Q. (2014). An analysis of the role of traditional leadership in partnership policing. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis: Police Pratice. University of South Africa: Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Machaka, T. (2019). Capricornfm. Limpopo crime stats show increase in murder and rape cases. https://www.capricornfm.co.za/limpopo-crime-stats-show-increase-in-murder-and-rape-cases/.
Maluleke, W. (2020). The African scare of fall Armwormy: Are South African farmers immune? International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies. 12(1), 207- 221.
Maluleke, W., Mphatheni, MR & Nkosi, SL. (2022). A systematic study on stock theft contributory factors during the South African lockdown. Research in Business and Social Science, 11 (2), 462-476.
Mandi, M. (2020). Time to consider talk with Boko Haram. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/time-to-consider-talks-with-boko-haram.
Magidi, M. Schenk, R. Erasmus, C. (2016). High schools learners’ experience of gangsterism in Hanover Park. https://www.academia.edu/31572189/high_school_learners_ ...
Malatji, M.M. (2016). An evaluation of the effectiveness of Community Policing Forums in Makhwibidung village under Greater Tzaneen Municipality in Limpopo Province. Unpublished Masters Dissertation: Criminology. University of Limpopo: Sovenga.
Matthews, L. (2000). ‘Government Responses in South Africa: Policy and implementation. http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_4865-1522-2-30.pdf?040622164853.
McCain, N. (2022). ‘Gang members sentenced to 128 years’ imprisonment each for crime spree. June 29, News24. https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/gang-members-sentenced-to-128-years-imprisonment-each-for-crime-spree-20220629.
Minnaar, A. (2009). Community policing in a high crime traditional state: The Case of South Africa since democratisation in 1994. In D. Wisler & I.D. Onwudiwe (Editors). Community policing: International patterns and comparative perspective. BCRC: Boca Raton: (19-53).
Mncube, V. & Harber, C. (2013). The dynamics of violence m South African schools: Report 2012. Pretoria: University of South Africa: Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Mncube, V, and Steinman, C. (2014). Gang Related Violence in South African Schools, Journal for Social Sciences 39(2), 203-211.
Mokwena, R.J & Maluleke, W. (2020). South African rural communities and the land restitution process: The application of criminological and legal theories in identifying obstacles to rightful allocations of land. Gender and Behaviour Journal, 18(3), 16145-16156.
Morse, J.M & Field, P.A. (1996). Qualitative research methods for health professionals, 2nd Edition. Sage Publications, Inc: Thousand Oaks.
National Counter Terrorism (2013). Counter terrorism guide. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/boko_haram.html.
News24 crime check. (2022). Ritavi police precinct. https://crimecheck.news24.com/precinct/RITAVI?year=2020&index=0.
Ngoveni, T.D. (2021). Investigating the interaction between South African Police Service and Community Policing Forum in ensuring community safety: A case study in Atteridgeville and Brooklyn police station. Unpublished Magister Technologiae: Policing. Soshanguve South: Tshwane University of Technology.
Ngoveni, T.D. Maluleke, W. Mabasa, C. (2022). Insights on the use of community policing forum for crime prevention: A case study of the Brooklyn police station, South Africa. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 11 (5), 482-494.
Potgieter, P.J. Wiatrowski, M.D. Roelofse, C.J. (2016). Understanding the true meaning of the concept community policing: a final comment. Acts Criminology: Southern African Journal of Criminology, 29 (1): 47-65.
Republic of South Africa. (1996). The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Pretoria: Government Printer: Pretoria.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Anchor books: New York.
Sefali, P. (2014). Young, high and dangerous: Youth gangs and violence in Khayelitsha. At the coalface: Essays in safety and violence- issue, May 2014. Safety and Violence Initiative. University of Cape Town: Cape Town.
Sherman, L.W., & Weisburd, D. (1995). General deterrent effects of police patrol in crime “hot spots”: A randomised, controlled trial. Justice Quarterly, 12(4).625-648.
South African Police Service crime statistics. https://www.saps.gov.za/services/crimestats.php.
Statistics South Africa. (2022). Key findings: P0341 - Victims of Crime Release, 2022 - Summary of key findings. https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1856&PPN=P0341&SCH=73307.
Statistics of South Africa. (2017). The streets fell silent: How crime impacts the everyday? Statistics South Africa: Pretoria.
Victims of Crime Survey. (2021/2022). Governance, Public Safety, and Justice Survey. https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0341/P03412022.pdf.
Walden University, Education for Good. (2022). What Influences Criminal Behaviour? https://www.waldenu.edu/online-bachelors-programs/bs-in-criminal-justice/resource/ ...
Tessendorf, H. (1996). The national peace accord in South Africa’s political transition: 1991-1994. South African Journal of Political Studies, 23 (1), 79-96.
Weatherburn, D. (2001). What Causes Crime? https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Publications/CJB/cjb54.pdf.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2010). Handbook on Crime Prevention Guidelines: Making Them Work-Criminal Justice Handbook Series. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: New York.
Van Heerden, T.J. (1982). Introduction to police science. University of South Africa Press: Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
Van Wyk, B.E & Theron, V. (2005). Fighting gangsterism in South Africa: a contextual review of Gang and anti-gang movements in the Western Cape. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/EJC28881.
Verma, A. (2005). The Indian police. A critical evaluation. Regency: New Delhi.
Van Vuuren, J.W.J. (1996). The evolution and status of community policing forums in South Africa. Acta Criminologica, 9(1):100-107.
Published
2022-11-05
How to Cite
Ngoveni, T. D. (2022). The Nexus of South African Police Service and Community Policing Forums in dismantling the ‘Boko Haram’ gang in the Dan Village of Tzaneen Township, South Africa. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 5(11), 193-211. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v5i11.722
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