THE WHITE RIGHT: A threat to South Africa’s internal security?

In late 2002 a number of bomb blasts brought home the realisation that the South African white right did not disappear after the 1994 election. The police have made a number of arrests and seem to have stopped the bombings – for now. The white right cannot garner the support necessary to execute a successful coup in South Africa. However, given sufficient backing, the extreme white right could maintain a sustained sabotage campaign and impair South Africa’s international image while damaging race relations in the country

A story of trials and tribulations: The National Prosecuting Authority, 1998 – 2014

Established in 1998, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) immediately had to deal with escalating levels of serious crime. Through a variety of innovations, including prosecution-driven investigations popularised by the ‘Scorpions’, specialised career paths for prosecutors, a focus on performance measurement, and improved conditions of service, the NPA quickly became an employer of choice for a new generation of law graduates. Over the last 16 years, the NPA’s specialised units have performed well. However, the NPA’s performance at the level of the lower courts – where the vast majority of prosecutions occur – has been mixed. With the appointment of its sixth head or acting head in late 2013, the NPA has been burdened with inconsistent – and at times, poor and unsuitable – leadership. Relatedly, political interference and the politicisation of the NPA have seriously undermined a once promising institution, negatively affecting staff morale and performance and sapping public confidence in the NPA. The future of the NPA as an institution that exercises its functions without fear, favour or prejudice, as mandated by the Constitution, hangs in the balance

NPA IN THE DOCK: Thumbs up for the prosecution service

General public confidence in the criminal justice system and the government’s handling of crime is low, according to an Institute for Security Studies survey. Yet, most people trust the police and would willingly give evidence in court. People who have been to court as state witnesses are more positive about the work of the prosecution service compared to those who have not. Indeed, most court users have a positive opinion of prosecutors and the work they do. Dissatisfaction is primarily a result of lengthy delays in trials, and unhelpful and unprofessional prosecutors

2001 CRIME TRENDS: A turning point?

Between 1997 and 2000 there was a steady increase in the annual number of recorded crimes. The first nine months of 2001 saw an end to this trend. During 2001 the rate of increase in recorded crime diminished markedly. Moreover, for the first time in years, violent crime increased at a lower rate than most other crime categories. Given these encouraging figures, is South Africa beginning to win the war against crime? While the latest numbers look promising, talk of a victory is premature. There has to be a sustained decline in the levels of most serious crimes to reduce the country’s crime levels to acceptable levels

Global Pretrial Detention Use: A Cross-National Analysis

To better understand global pretrial detention patterns, this study explores economic, political, and social factors associated with two measures of pretrial detention: the number of pretrial detainees as a rate of the general population, and the number of pretrial detainees as a proportion of the overall prison population. Through simple correlation analysis, stepwise regression, and moderation analyses, the study identifies factors which are most strongly associated with the two pretrial detention measures. The literature does not report any large-scale cross-national studies on pretrial detention. This study addresses this gap, focusing exclusively on pretrial detention using a large cross-national sample of almost 200 countries. The economic, political, and social correlates of the two pretrial detention outcome measures are not the same as many of the correlates of general incarceration. This insight provides a useful pathway for constructing new theoretical approaches to understanding cross-national pretrial detention patterns. Factors dealing with insecurity, development, and good governance are all significantly associated with the proportion of prisoners in pretrial detention. Countries with high levels of insecurity, and lacking development and good governance, tend to have a high proportion of prisoners in pretrial detention. This finding is important for national policy makers and international development assistance providers, especially in places where development intersects with modernization and democratic transitions – both of which are associated with pretrial detention practices

Court room warriors for justice: History of the South African prosecution service

This article explores the historic evolution of the prosecution service at the Cape under both Dutch and British control, the two Boer republics, and its twentieth century role - first in the Union and then the Republic of South Africa. Emphasis is given to the struggle the prosecution service waged over the centuries to assert its independence against an interfering executive.A focus of the article is the establishment and role of South Africa's first centralised National Prosecuting Authority in 1998. The political controversy surrounding the promulgation of the National prosecuting Authority Act, in terms of which the National Prosecuting authority was established, and the appointment of the first national director of public prosecutions are discussed. The powers of the national director, and the degree of independence the position enjoys are analysed. The structure of the National Prosecuting Authority, and the legislative provisions governing investigating directorates, through which the prosecuting authority is granted formal investigative powers, are explained

Collective Violence

No Abstract Available African Safety Promotion Vol.2(1) 2004: 48-5

A BLEAK OUTLOOK: HIV/AIDS and the South African Police Service

As yet largely unrecognised by South African criminal justice policy makers, HIV/AIDS could significantly impact on the country’s criminal justice system agencies, especially the police. South Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is likely to result in a change in the demand for the quantity and complexity of services required of the South African Police Service. Simultaneously, the capacity of the police to deliver an adequate service will be undermined as an increasing number of police officers succumb to the epidemic