Crime prevention at a municipal level in South Africa: a solution to crime prevention or a crime prevention leadership crisis
This article investigates the role played by the important role-players in the implementation of crime prevention at local level in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It probes the role of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), District and Local Municipalities,...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| In: |
Acta criminologica
Year: 2017, Volume: 30, Issue: 5, Pages: 68-80 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Publisher) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Summary: | This article investigates the role played by the important role-players in the implementation of crime prevention at local level in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It probes the role of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), District and Local Municipalities, and Department of Community Safety and Liaison in the implementation of Community Safety Forums (CSFs) as a vehicle to deliver coordinated crime prevention efforts at a local municipality. It utilised a sample of 16 participants whose responses were collected through semi-structured interview guide. Research findings indicate that neither of these role-players were playing their role as provided by the policy. Some of the role-players are not even part of the implementation process nor forming part of the CSFs. The absence of such role-players has a negative impact on the successful implementation thereof. Important forums such as Intergovernmental Forum does not exist to ensure that these forums are successfully implemented and that each role-player understands what it is supposed to do. This amongst other things affects the budgeting for the implementation and the buy in from municipalities in leading and sustaining this crime prevention policy. The absence of COGTA and South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in the implementation of these forums left each municipality to decide whether to implement or not implement and they do not account to any institution regarding the implementation status. These municipalities do not have or have not incorporated Safety Plans in their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). |
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| ISSN: | 1012-8093 |