Human Beings and Safety: The Role of Community Safety Structures in the Fight Against Crime,Msinga Local Municipality,Dundee,South Africa

Introduction

Community policing is a non-political group of representatives from the community established through the South African Police Service (SAPS) with the purpose of addressing safety matters in Msinga community. The main objective of community policing is to build a partnership between the police and the community, improve community–police relations and conduct the local oversight over police. This formal partnership between the SAPS and the community is Community Policing Forum (CPF). The National Peace Accord signed in 1991 contained general provisions, which included: the police shall be guided by the belief that they are accountable to society in rendering policing services and shall therefore conduct themselves as safety and security professionals and respect human dignity of the public. Through such accountability and friendly, effective and prompt service, the police shall endeavor to obtain the cooperation of the public, whose partnership in the task of crime control and prevention is essential.

While community police forums are an important mechanism to ensuring community-orientated policing, community-orientated policing goes much further than simply the existence of CPF. Community-orientated policy must speak to the manner in which the police operate and how they understand and engage with the communities they serve. Equally, this philosophy must recognize that policing is not something done to people but rather something that is done with people. Since the inception of this relatively new concept, this has resulted in the formation of other relevant structures which play a significant role in terms of crime prevention, and these are Community Safety Forums (CSFs), Community Crime Prevention Association (CCPA), Ward Safety Committees and Volunteer Social Crime Prevention Programme (VSCPP) (Community Police Forum, Pocket Guide, 2014).

The Present Research

The present study seeks to enhance the significant role played by community safety structures such as CPF, CSF and Ward Safety Committees in the Msinga Local Municipality, which is in Dundee, South Africa. It is precisely in this context that the primary objective of this research was to explore the challenges of CPFs in combating crime in the area under research. The aim of the article is to suggest evidence-based strategies to improve implementation and effectiveness of CPFs in the anti-crime drive in specific South African contexts.

The present study seeks to enhance the significant role played by community safety structures such as CPF, Ward Safety Committees, and CSFs stipulated in the National Crime Prevention Strategy of 1996 and Whitepaper on Safety and Security of 1998. Both sought to improve, among others, the functioning of the criminal justice system (and in particular the police) in the local domain and to enhance crime prevention activities. Although CSF and CPF are similar in practice, a clear distinction between the two institutions needs to be drawn. CSFs are meant to facilitate the delivery of a multi-sectoral governmental approach on safety in local communities and is distinguished from the CPF through its jurisdiction and tasks. The CPF is a legal community structure established in terms of the SAPS Act. CPF facilitates community police relations within a specific police station boundary and serves as the mouthpiece of the community with the police and vice versa on policing matters and other relevant safety issues. Members of this forum are elected in formal election processes. CPF policy (199:4) states that the CPF structure is required to execute legal powers and functions. The entire policing in different countries has witnessed a significant shift from the traditional reactive form of policing towards such a community-oriented approach (Pelser, 1999; Brogden & Sheariry, 2005). Community policing has considerably succeeded in different parts of the world and is now a standard ideological and policy model guiding the mission statement, goals and reform programs of most police forces and services across the globe.

South Africa remains one of the worst affected countries by crime. As of 2016, South Africa was ranked third on the global crime index.

According to an online collaborative database Durban is one of the top three cities highly affected by crime, after Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg. The impact of crime on safety and security of communities, peace and stability and the country’s reputation is well documented. The foregoing evinces that the problem of the continued high crime rate in South Africa could be lying not in the question of government commitment, structural conditions of politics and society but perhaps in the effectiveness of implementation strategies of police approaches. It is precisely in this context that the primary objective of this research was to explore the challenges of CPFs in combating crime in the area under research. Furthermore, the article suggests evidence-based strategies to improve the implementation and effectiveness of CPFs in the anti-crime drive in specific South African contexts.

The Significant Role Played by Community Safety Structures

The main objective of this article is to critically analyze the criminal environment in the Msinga municipality in as far as prevention of crime is concerned. The important role played by and responsibility of community safety structures in terms of fighting crime will be highlighted. Essentially, the primary objectives of the study will be identifying how these community safety structures such as CPFs, CSFs, CCPAs, street committees and Ward Safety Committees assist the law enforcement agencies in dealing with crime. It must be borne in mind that the notion of placing trust and hope in the hands of police will not take our country forward, and it is not sustainable since the police have their own limitations when it comes to resources. Linden (2000, p. 2) opines that many of this country’s citizens have placed the primary responsibility of and hope for crime prevention in the hands of the formal system of criminal justice. However, in recent years, the limitations of this research have been recognized and identified. It is therefore important to invest on our communities, more importantly on our community safety structures.

Criminal justice professionals, politicians and members of the community have realized that the patrol and investigative resources of the police are limited in preventing many types of crime and that courts and prisons have only a small impact on crime rates. Due to this, there has been a greater emphasis on crime prevention programs that involve close operation between those working in the criminal justice system, other professionals, businesspeople and the community at large.

In discussing crime, the danger is focusing on policing as the only solution. It is necessary to move away from a narrow law enforcement approach to crime and safety to identify and resolve the root causes of crime. To achieve this, South Africa needs to mobilize state and non-state capacities at all levels, which requires an integrated approach with active citizen involvement and co-responsibility (National Development Plan 2030, 2011).

In South Africa, the term rural is usually used to denote communities in country districts outside of urban or peri-urban communities, as defined by a country lifestyle based on agricultural activities—in other words, farming communities cantered on small towns and villages serving those rural areas that are usually sparsely populated and away from urban areas. However, what has become obvious over the years is that rural farming communities in South Africa are not similar to urban communities in terms of experiencing various forms of crime and violence. For instance, one can look closely at the so-called farm attacks that most often result in robbery, assault, physical injuries and, sometimes, death. All categories of crime that occur in cities are largely replicated in rural areas.

Nevertheless, where rural crime becomes more distinctive is when one looks at the nature of those crimes that occur in the farming livelihoods and rural communities. Community safety forums were established on the premise that increased co-operation and interaction would improve the functioning and deliberations within the criminal justice system and delivery of crime prevention projects. This resulted in the community safety forum concept evolving as a replica structure for integrated problem-solving at a local level, destined to provide means for sharing information and coordinating an interdisciplinary approach to crime prevention. This approach is inclusive of collaboration and responses from all departments in the justice, crime prevention and security cluster and other relevant organs of state.

The study is of significant importance because there is a paucity of scientific research conducted on the phenomenon of crime in semi-rural areas in South Africa. Thus, this research project will not only add value to the discipline of criminology and forensic studies per se, but will also try and attempt to provide solutions to the crime phenomenon in semi-rural areas such as Msinga and Umzinyathi districts as a whole. Working in silos of different stakeholders that are meant for addressing and dealing with crime, such as CPF, CSF, Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), NGOs and the business sector, does not yield desired or positive results, and as such, a holistic approach is actually required and necessary in order to deal with crime.

During the past two decades, a number of surveys related to crime, crime victims and users of services provided by the safety and various other service providers in South Africa have been conducted in security cluster departments. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) conducted its first victims of crime surveys (VOCS) in 1998, followed by the surveys in 2003 and 2007conducted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). The government regards crime prevention and safety as a high priority; the results from victims of crime survey aim to assist the government in measuring the extent and levels of crime (Victims of Crime Survey, 2016/2017, p. 01). The total population in South Africa is estimated to be 55,563,654. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) consists of 11,065,240 people (Stats South Africa 2016). To provide quality service to massive populations requires some active police personnel coupled with its active citizenry.

Situational crime prevention has a long history in criminology, and its practical utility, if not its relevance to criminological theory, has been widely recognized. The attraction of such measures lies in their apparent simplicity and practicality. Instead of trying to change criminal motivation or offender self-control, both of which are regarded by traditional criminologists as deep-seated behavioral tendencies and neither of which has responded conspicuously well to intervention by the criminal justice system, situational crime prevention attempts only to regulate their active expression by way of criminal behavior (Cornish, 2010, p. 153). Situational crime prevention stands apart from developmental prevention by its singular focus on the setting or place in which criminal acts takes place as well as by its crime-specific focus. Related to this is the widely held finding that crime is not randomly distributed across a city or community but is instead highly concentrated at certain places known as crime hotspots (Welsh & Farrington, 2012, p. 220).

Situational crime prevention is defined as a preventive approach that relies not upon reducing opportunities for crime. Reducing opportunities for crime is achieved through some modification or manipulation of physical environment in order to directly affect the offender’s perspective of increased risks and effort and decreased rewards, provocations and excuses.

All countries experience violent crime and victimization. It is recorded that in most countries, violent crime results in a high rate of young men who are killed before they become adults, societies with families who lose a parent or have members in prison, who are living in abject poverty and without access to support or legitimate sources of income, neighborhoods experiencing gang wars or where there seems to be little public protection and security and women who are at risk of sexual assault in public spaces. Crime is a serious problem in this country. Cost-effective initiatives leading to positive solutions in fighting crime should be found. A community crime prevention strategy is a framework for the crime prevention activities that will make your area safer (A Manual for Community Based Crime Prevention, 2000, p. 03).

High levels of crime pose a serious threat to our emerging democracy. Violent crime often lends to a tragic loss of life and injury, and loss of possessions and livelihood due to crime is incalculable. Crime results in the deprivation of the rights and dignity of citizens and poses a threat to peaceful resolution of differences and rightful participation of all the democratic processes (National Crime Prevention Strategy, 1996).

Crime casts fear into the hearts of South Africans from all occupations and prevents them from taking their rightful place in the development and growth of our country. It inhibits our citizens from communicating with one another freely and from engaging in economic activities and prevents entrepreneurs and investors from taking advantage of the opportunities that our country offers. For this reason, our government regards the prevention of crime as fundamental and countries to be regarded as national priority. Crime continues to be a serious problem in South Africa as the country ranked number 3 on the global crime index as of 2016. The damaging impact of crime on the safety and security of communities and on peace and stability in the country, as well as its effect on the country’s reputation among potential international tourists and investors and how all those affect the general quality of life of ordinary citizens, need no emphasis. Crime solutions that work and are cost-effective remain elusive. However, due to its success in reducing crime rates in different parts of the world since its introduction in the United States of America during the 1970s, community policing is now a standard ideological and policy mode guiding mission statements, goals and reform programs of most policing agencies across the world.

Theoretical Framework

Crime statistics are vital aspects of the study of crime. Theories of crime causation are grounded in crime statistics, and popular and professional perceptions of the extent and distributions of crime are shaped by this information. Public response to crime and criminals probably is largely based upon views regarding the seriousness and magnitude of the crime problem. Most communities regard crime as a serious social problem that affects the quality of life of everyone in our society. Consequently, violent offences receive a great deal of publicity in the media, which often create the impression of an exceptionally high incidence of violent crime involving increased brutality and cruelty. This in itself creates a sense of insecurity among citizens. Violent crime in particular creates a sense of fear and helplessness, as well as the perception that such crime is out of control and that the state is unable to deal with the crime problem (Naude & Van der Hoven, 2001, pp. 3–4)

The broken window theory developed by Wilson and Kelling in 1980 is based on the assumption that a comparatively harmless phenomenon, like littering the streets, spraying graffiti or selling abandoned cars, can lead to much worse signs of disorder like a total state of neglect with high rates of violent and property crime. Environment factors which could signal the beginning state of neglect and decay of a street or a neighborhood are, for example, discarded cigarette butts on the streets, full bags of domestic refuse on the pavement, graffiti on the walls of the houses or dismantled fences which are not repaired (Austrup, 2011, p. 03).

The present article aims at dealing with the problem of the broken window theory from another perspective. It tries to explore which environmental factors influence the intrapersonal psychological process which could then lead to the occurrence of criminal behavior. How can a neighborhood be safer when crime rate has not gone down but in fact may have gone up (Austrup, 2011, p. 03)?

My citizens are often frightened by crime, especially crime of violence. When the first window is not fixed, there is a great likelihood or possibility that another window may be broken. In simple term, if a small problem is not attended to, it can escalate to a serious one and eventually causes havoc. (Wilson & Kelling, 1982, p. 01)

For the purpose of this article, the following hypotheses were formulated.

Hypothesis 1: There is a significant relationship between gender and the propensity to commit crime. Women and the elderly may perceive that they are more vulnerable to crime and that they are less able to protect themselves from violent predators than men and the youth. Resource indicates that compared with men, women take far more precautions to protect themselves. Worldwide, women commit fewer offences than men do, especially when it comes to violent crimes. In South Africa, Glanz and Smith (Van der Hoven, 2001, p. 14) found the ratio to be 14:1 in the cases of murder, attempted murder and robbery. Women and children experience more violence especially when it comes to domestic violence. It is against this background that community safety structures at the grassroots level should come to play and professionally report this kind of cases to relevant authorities.

Methodology

Research methodology forms the backbone of any research project. These methods make any fieldwork possible and provide a systematic guide to the data collection process in which the goal of the research project can be met. Research methodology can be considered as the set of procedures designed to achieve clear thinking. It is indeed a method of data collection, such as survey, experiment or interview. A methodology is a completely philosophical perspective about how research should be conducted, the reason it should be conducted and how it should be used (Gordon, 2016, p. 10).

The purpose of qualitative and quantitative phases will be to test whether the existing community safety structures, such as CPFs, CSFs, CCPAs, Ward Safety Committees, VD safety teams, street committees and VSCPP, add value and are indeed capable of reducing crime at Msinga, and whether there is a great cooperation between these structures and the entire criminal justice system. This research will be explorative in nature, and the methodology that will be utilized is a mixed methodology comprising both qualitative as well as quantitative approaches (De vos, 2002, pp. 224–225).

Triangulation

The concept of triangulation is regarded as a combination of the qualitative and quantitative approaches. According to Mouton and Morais (Maree, 2010, p. 365), the term triangulation, originally coined by Denzin, refers mainly to the use of multiple methods of data collection, and not specifically the combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The term triangulation describes using mixed or a combination of methods in a single research project.

In this mixed method design, qualitative results provide a general picture of the issue, while qualitative results aim to explain, refine and extend the general picture. This applied research aims to contribute towards practical issues of problem solving, decision-making and community development by investigating how, for example, an accent may be grounds for discrimination. It is standard to introduce qualitative research by distinguishing it from qualitative research (Holiday, 2016, pp. 1–2).

The qualitative research will involve several methods of data collection such as focus group, field observation, in-depth interviews and case studies. These methods allow a researcher to view behavior in a natural setting without the artificiality that sometimes surrounds experimental or survey research (Bachman & Schutt, 2009).

The researcher has conducted several sessions with amakhosi of Msinga, station commanders of Msinga and Pomeroy Police Station, Dundee Cluster Commander officials from the criminal justice system, such as courts and correctional services.

The qualitative approach will seek to achieve an insider’s view by interviewing the research subjects and observing their behavior in a subjective way. The use of a qualitative method facilitates a more in-depth understanding of factors that would be difficult to obtain through a quantitative survey alone. Subjective factors such as opinion, attitude, personality, emotion, motivation, interest, personal problems, mood, drive and frustration are relatively more complex, and hence more difficult to capture quantitatively than variables that can be empirically verified.

Furthermore, the quantitative research will involve several methods of data collection, such as telephone surveys, mail surveys and internet surveys. In these methods, the questioning is static or standardized; all respondents are asked the same questions and there are no follow-up questions. Thus, as indicated, a combination of methodologies will be utilized. According to De Vos (2001), the analysis phase normally makes use of the quantitative approach while the evaluation phase is more of a qualitative nature. Research methodology requires skills and sophistication merely to determine the kind of results that one endeavors to establish. It can be seen that the research methodology requires experience and information about the topic being examined.

The researcher has been using data collection instruments such as questionnaires and interviews, and community members from Msinga and Umzinyathi had been asked to respond on 5-point semantic differential scales with respect to each dimension of crime and crime prevention.

Sample Size

A broad cross-section of the Msinga community with a minimum of 200 participants were requested to complete a questionnaire. The sample of participants for this research also includes police officials, such as station commanders, branch commanders, CPF members, as well as criminal justice system officials.

Data Analysis

Factor analysis and thematic analysis were used to address the research questions identified earlier on. Factor analysis has been used to detect underlying patterns of correlation in the quantitative data. In this research, factor analysis was done in-group’s with a smaller number of variables and was analyzed through the SPSS software. It deals robustly with diverse samples and does not need any prior assumption about cases. Unlike with most quantitative research, qualitative analysis happens concurrently with data collection. The research highly recommends that as soon as you finish your interview, you should embark on the process of analyzing. The first step is to transcribe the interview, which means to type out, word for word, what was said during the interview. Qualitative interviewers eagerly await the day that technology is advanced enough to produce an accurate transcript with few errors, significantly decreasing both time and cost of interview research (Gordon, 2016, pp. 50–51).

Community Safety Structures as a New Philosophy of Fighting Crime in Msinga

The data were interpreted with the purpose of establishing whether the community safety structures such as CPF, CSFs, NGOs, CBOs, Ward Safety Committees, CCPA and VSCPP do exist and are fully functional in Msinga area. The research also sought to establish how these structures were organized and what challenges they faced in terms of fighting and combating crime in the area.

These community safety structures will remain relevant and have a meaningful contribution to our contemporary society, provided of course the government consistently shows its unwavering support to them 100 percent. It is against this background that the local government as well as the provincial government should play their part in terms of sustaining these community safety structures.

The community safety structures at Msinga are operational and functioning. Operations that are being conducted are intelligence-driven and subsequently yielding positive results. These structures are working with the law enforcement agencies in order to keep and maintain peace in the area. Though these structures are effective and operational, there are challenges that are prevalent and manifest themselves and they negatively affect the structures in terms of service delivery. The challenges involve, inter alia, the following: some of the police members view these community safety structures as a threat to their careers, think they encroach their territory and feel threatened; some of these structures feel that they do not get the support they deserve from the police and as such believe that the best way to resolve crime in their areas is to take the law into their own hands.

Others believe they are a law unto themselves and subsequently form vigilante groups. Hence, it becomes fundamental that these structures should work under the guidance and supervision of the police. It cannot be underestimated that the members of these community structures are not at all safe. They are viewed as puppets of the police and as izimpimpi. Some are killed and become victims due to their involvement in the fight against crime. Sometimes, the lifespan of these structures is not guaranteed or sustainable due to the fact that the government has not been investing on them and they do not receive any financial support from the state. The young people should be encouraged and motivated to actively participate in these community safety structures. Some of the members of these structures are not well educated and sometimes pose a challenge.

Therefore, it becomes imperative for the government to continuously capacitate and train them so that they will work within the parameters of the law. Their programs should be designed in such a way that they are aligned with the programs of the police. These programs should be able to address the community needs. The government should encourage members of these structures to form cooperatives so that they will be able to render basic services to the state as well. Once they gain relevant and sufficient experience, they should join private security companies and encourage opening their security companies in order to create job opportunities. The role and responsibility of these structures in our communities cannot be overlooked. National Development Plan recognizes that crime and violence is not just a security issue but has deep social and economic roots and consequences. Although there are links between South Africa’s high poverty rate and crime levels, crime is also linked to other factors than poverty. Many people, especially the poor ones, do not quickly resort to crime. It is recognized that syndicates are involved in money laundering and that they also deal with drugs and the smuggling of guns. These mob-like criminals are not necessarily from poor communities (National Development Plan, Vision 2030, 2011, p. 349).

KwaZulu-Natal Community Crime Prevention Association (KZNCCPA)

The KZNCCA is a relatively new concept, which is basically defined as the grouping of the vigilantes who previously believed in taking the law into their own hands for the sake of protecting their property, particularly the livestock. This grouping had lost faith in the police and some of its members were known for physically assaulting the suspects until they confessed to their crime; this is nothing but a kangaroo court. Some people lost their lives in the process and others lost their limbs in a degrading manner. Now, they no longer involve themselves in such unacceptable behavior and they work hand-in-hand with the police.

The KZNCCPA has been highly effective in assisting in crime prevention throughout the province. Some communities have tangible results in their interventions and in preventing crime. Their success has been visible in places such as uPhongolo, eMatheni, Umbilo, eDumbe and kwaNibela. The CCPA has worked closely with the police in tracking down crime. In kwaNibela, due to the intervention of the KZNCCPA, stock theft has decreased drastically. Kwazulu-Natal Meat Producers’ Organisation had commended the good work done by KZNCCPA, in that the level of stock theft has been reduced tremendously since the intervention of this group. This structure has meaningfully contributed a lot in terms of resolving a number of conflicts in our communities, stock theft cases, stolen vehicles cases and even in taxi violence cases.

The Role of Ward Safety Committees

Ward Safety Committees are basically located in the ward and work hand-in-hand with ward committees. These structures, though formulated under the auspices of the local municipality, should function in a very coordinated fashion with various stakeholders such as CPF, SAPS and CCPA in a ward with the sole purpose of dealing with crime. The critical challenge facing these structures is that some other members of the police do not recognize them as legitimate structures, and as such, they do not get the full support they deserve, even though they were formally put under one umbrella body known as KZNCCPA.

Ward Safety Committees should work hand-in-hand with ward committees in order to strengthen the service delivery and make sure that communities are safe and secure in their respective wards. The role of the police and municipality is critical in this exercise for these structures to function effectively and efficiently on the ground. It is imperative that the Department of Community Safety and Liaison ensures that these community safety structures work harmoniously and smoothly and do not compete with one another. There is a tendency that exists whereby certain structure sees themselves as better than others and eventually lose focus and derail the process of nation-building. Relations at the provincial level are driven and coordinated through law enforcement agencies, including province-based safety structures. The Provincial CPF Board, which includes the Youth Desk, enhances the fight against crime in various communities in the province.

The KZNCCPA is a group of community safety structures which plays a significant role in terms of reducing stock theft, more importantly in rural areas. Ward Safety Committees were established through the Holistic Community Liaison Framework, which is one of the pillars in the strategic partnership against crime. A model framework is proposed whereby the residents in each voting district shall form a safety team of approximately 10 members and elect from among themselves a coordinator. The terms of reference of the safety team would be to:

identify community safety needs in the voting district, including needs relating to infrastructure and environmental design to improve safety;

Rural Safety

The general safety of rural communities in South Africa has remained on the forefront of debates due to the high levels of crime in rural areas and the impact this crime has on rural development. Government and SAPS in particular remain acutely aware of the importance of ensuring the safety and security of rural communities, and this led to the development of a comprehensive and holistic rural policing strategy. This approach principally aims to contribute towards the creation of a safe rural environment and to ensure food security. Current policing strategies aimed at curbing the problem have been framed based on the historical context on how safety was provided to these communities. The rural safety strategy was developed after consultations with key role players and seeks to provide a coherent approach and guidelines for achieving safety and security within the rural environment. Importantly, rural development will be prioritized along with safety.

Access to justice and safety of rural and farming communities demands special attention. Farming communities and rural areas are very far from national and provincial government, business and non-governmental resources, which expose them to crime and safety risks. Rural police stations are often isolated and responsible for vast areas. Attendance to domestic violence complaints and child protection are affected by distance and availability of resources. Infrastructure, telephony or roads, for example, impact police response times, which increase the risks to potential victims. Distances from courts impose a burden on witnesses, and the availability of legal aid could compromise the administration of justice. The full bouquet of services from the criminal justice system, therefore, is not readily available to rural and farming communities compared to services to urban areas (Crime Prevention Management, Project Management, 2014, p. 401).

Important Findings that Have Been Revealed by Research

Violent crime has constantly continued to ravage the community of Msinga. The researcher personally interviewed the members of the community who vigorously stated that the level of crime has remained stubbornly high. The community feels that stock theft, murder, rape, housebreaking and robbery are the main prevalent crimes in the area of Msinga. The school principal at Bhambatha Secondary School reported that faction fighting is rife in that particular area and, as a result, some of the learners could not write their examination. Just recently, three people were found dead next to the school, and the motive for the killings could not be easily established and no arrest has been made. It was noted with great concern that our schools have remained easy prey for the criminals and become vulnerable, which puts the lives of our children in a precarious position.

The research has discovered that learners do bring dangerous weapons such as knives, firearms and spray guns to school, and drugs and substance abuse remains problematic in the schooling environment. It is important to highlight the role of School Safety Committees in our schools; these committees could play a significant role as far as safety of our schools is concerned. The employment of security guards in all schools cannot be overemphasized. We have witnessed a few incidents where the school educators were gunned down in front of the learners in certain schools here in KZN. On 18 March 2017, Miss Mchunu was killed in front of the learners at Laduma High School in Pietermaritzburg. The entire community was shocked and devastated by the horrific incident, and it has traumatized the learners (Natal Witness, 2017, 20 March).

A similar incident was reported where also an educator was gunned down in Nquthu in front of the learners and the suspects were subsequently apprehended on the crime scene. The educator was later identified as the former Speaker at Nquthu Local Municipality. The traditional leadership enjoys working with the police in terms of resolving certain crimes such as rape, robbery, theft and stock theft. However, they find it very difficult if not impossible to work with the Department of Justice. The research reveals that the Department of Justice does not create a platform whereby they regularly meet with amakhosi to discuss matters of common interests. The sooner the gap is closed the better, and it will enhance service delivery.

The area of Msinga is policed and managed by two prominent police stations, namely Msinga Police Station and Nhlanhleni, formerly known as Pomeroy Police Station. It was conspicuously observed that the area of Msinga is vast and its population is ever-growing. The research has discovered that although these two police stations exist, they are poorly resourced in terms of manpower, state resources and proper infrastructure. The terrain, on which these stations stand, is 100 percent gravel and is mountainous, and most of the time, double cab vans and 4x4 vans are most preferable and probably recommended under the present circumstance. These stations were built during the apartheid era and perhaps could be improved in the long run since the new democracy dictates that service delivery should provide equally and all communities be treated equally. Therefore, these stations should be upgraded and proper infrastructure should be put in place. For instance, a new police station should be erected, proper board rooms, staff offices, and a community service center should be built, and CPF offices are also needed. The interface of community and police personnel plays a pivotal role in maintaining the law and order for the peace and stability of the society. The research has also aptly remarked that in order to succeed, the police must establish partnerships with other government departments, citizenry, communities, leaders, business owners, schools, non-governmental organizations, service providers and criminal justice agencies.

The Pomeroy Police Station lacks proper infrastructure; the offices there are too small, the community service center is too small, and there is no board room. Whenever stakeholders want to hold meetings, it is difficult to find a proper place. In both police stations, the shortage of vehicles and personnel leave a lot to be desired, and this state of affairs needs to be rectified with immediate effect. Most of the police stations in the rural areas are not taken care of in terms of resources and adequate infrastructure. As a result, our poor communities find themselves between a rock and a hard place; they are not given a fair deal.

Section 206(3) of the constitution entitles each province to promote good relations between the police and community.

The SAPS Act, 1995, on CPFs, among others, provides for the following roles:

establishing and maintaining partnerships with the community;

The Msinga Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Umzinyathi District of Kwazulu-Natal. The name Msinga means a current in the sea where air movement causes ripples on top of the water surface and ends up influencing the nearby climate conditions through its breeze. Msinga is largely located in the deep gorges of the Tugela and Buffalo rivers, isolated from the immediate surroundings’ municipal areas. The population dynamics result in a growing rural area and a declined urban area in Msinga, contrary to most other areas in the country. This can be attributed to the fact that the urban areas of Msinga are small and are unable to provide the normal range of goods and services provided in urban areas (The Local Government Handbook: A complete guide to municipality in South Africa, 2014).

It is a large rural area, with 70 percent of its area being traditional authority land held in trust by the Ingonyama Trust. The remaining 30 percent of the land is commercial farmland, all of which is located north of Pomeroy. Due to the rural nature of the municipality, approximately 99 percent of the population lives in traditional areas. The crimes that are predominant in Msinga include, inter alia, illegal firearms, murder, armed robbery, taxi violence, housebreaking and stock theft. Loose networks of stock thieves are believed to be more commonplace than well-organized syndicates.

There is a strong perception that some police officials, local criminals and community members are involved in these criminal networks. Local community members are believed to collude with stock thieves by arranging pick-up points. In Vryheid, for example, stock is taken to the Kwabanakile area from where it is transported further. Similarly, stock stolen in Nqutu is believed to be taken to the Mahlaba area from where it is transported elsewhere (Stock Theft in KZN, 2007, p. 13).

A few years ago, eight members of isikebhe were gunned down while following their livestock at Mahlaba. This incident drew the attention of not only the local media but the international media as well. Through the great cooperation between the police and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, a few suspects were apprehended, and right now, they are still behind bars and are attending court cases.

Respondents also indicated that stock thieves are well-armed and that people are scared to confront them for fear of their lives. One survey conducted among victims of crime found that 15 percent of victims of stock theft in the study witnessed crime. Most (53%) said that threats were made by the perpetrators, and nearly half (47%) reported the use of violence. Typically, in such cases of armed robbery of stock, stock thieves approach a homestead, make the residents aware that they are armed, and steal livestock while residents are too fearful to react (Stock Theft in KZN, 2007, p. 13). The nature of the topography is such that Msinga is largely located in deep gorges of the Tugela and Buffalo rivers. This effectively isolates the area from the immediate surrounding municipal areas. Msinga is accessible via the R33, linking it with Dundee, Ladysmith, Pietermaritzburg, Kranskop, and Weenen. The strong traditional culture prevalent particularly in Msinga is a valuable asset that must preserve and valued. These traditional areas provide support mechanism for the communities, as well as living custodians of culture.

Economy: Msinga is a poverty-stricken area with few economic resources and little economic activity. The little economic activity within Msinga is greatly affected by economic pull factors external to the municipality. These factors are predominantly towards Greytown, Dundee and, to some extent, Ladysmith. Social services and private households generate 29 percent of the income for the area. This indicates a heavy reliance on government grants to provide infrastructure to the area. Msinga functions as a dormitory area for the economic activities oriented towards Greytown, Dundee and Kranskop. Trade and commerce, mainly in Pomeroy, Msinga and Keates Drift, accounts for 11 percent of economic activity, and appears to be relatively stable (The Local Government Handbook, South Africa, 2014). The population of Msinga amounts to 161,894, with a total of 32,592 households, and this is according to Stats SA in 2007. Most of the young people are unemployed in this area, and it is unfortunate that some of them are deeply involved in drugs, substance abuse and criminal activities. It is against this background that these young people should be channeled to community safety structures such as CPF, CSF, CCPA, Ward Safety Committees and Street Committees so that they will actively participate in crime prevention programs.

Population demographics: According to Stats SA, the population of Msinga in 2007 was 161,894 with a total of 32,592 households. The population is largely concentrated around the towns of Keates Drift, Pomeroy and Tugela Ferry. Regarding gender, 57.7 percent of the population is female and there is a percentage male absenteeism in the employment group 20–64 years of age (The Local Government Handbook, South Africa, 2014).

The population dynamics result in a growing rural area and declining urban area in Msinga, contrary to most other areas in the country. This can be attributed to the fact that the the urban areas of Msinga are very small and are unable to provide the normal range of goods and services provided in urban areas. Most of the community survives through social grants from the government. Around the town of Msinga, indigenous women earn a living by selling fruit and vegetables; others of course do hand work such as beadwork, handcrafts and selling livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats. However, these alone cannot accommodate the needs of the Msinga community; hence, some, especially young people, because of economics constraints, find themselves on the wrong side of the law by opening up illegal shebeens, selling dagga and getting involved in substance abuse.

The historical background of Msinga is known for its notorious faction fights which resulted in massive loss of lives in the past years. The area is also known for its high rate of proliferation of illegal firearms, and most of the serious crimes such as murder, rape and armed robberies are committed by means of illegal firearms. With interventions from various stakeholders, including government and amakhosi, the spiral of violence has gone down and the entire area has, over the years, been experiencing peace and stability. This also culminated in cleansing rituals between various clans and communities in the area which, traditionally, marks an end to the era of war and conflict. The stability has over the years been visible, even though there were serious safety concerns during Easter and festive season. There would also be pockets of incidents which would manifest through killings and tension at hostels, mainly in Gauteng hostels, by people who had migrated from Msinga to look for job opportunities. These in the main have been individual families or those who are involved in the taxi industry. Despite the prevailing peace and stability over the years, those people who were involved in the faction fight conflict have changed their syndicates to focus on stock theft, taxi violence and other forms of criminality, which presently threatens the life and safety of the community.

During the months of December 2017, January 2018, and February 2018, 24 murder cases were reported at Msinga Police Station. The modus operandi of these killings is different from that of the previous wars in Msinga where it was clear which groups were involved in the conflict. The recent killings trace their origins to the feud between two Madondo brothers in September 2016, who were both involved in the taxi industry, operating mainly in Msinga and Gauteng. This feud resulted in the family splitting in the middle and each faction mobilizing support. The extent, however, of this conflict now is such that even families who are not involved in the taxi industry are now implicated in the ongoing killings, which are mainly happening in Msinga and Gauteng.

The police have managed to arrest six suspects and are still following seven suspects who would assist them in cracking down on this sophisticated conflict. During this period, the police have managed to recover 22 illegal firearms from the area of Msinga (Communities in Dialogue held on 02 March 2018 at Msinga).

Some are killed and become victims due to their involvement in the fight against crime. Sometimes the live span of these structures is not guaranteed and sustainable due to the fact that the government has not been investing on them and they do not receive any financial support from the state. The young people should be encouraging and motivated to actively participate in these community safety structures. Some of the members of these structures are not well educated and sometimes pose a challenge.

Therefore, it becomes imperative for the government to continuously capacitates and trains them so that they will work within the parameters of the law. Their programs should be designed in such a way that they are aligned with the programmes of the police. These programs should be able to address the community needs. The government should encourage members of these structures to form cooperative so that they will be able to render basic service to the state as well.

Once they gained relevant and sufficient experience, they should join private security companies and encourage opening their security companies in order to create job opportunities. The role and responsibility of these structures in our communities cannot be overlooked. The National Development Plan recognizes that crime and violence is not just a security issue, but has deep social and economic roots consequences. Although there are links between South Africa’s high poverty rate and crime levels, crime is linked to more than poverty. Many people especially the poor ones do not quickly resort to crime, (National Development Plan, Vision 2030, 2011, p. 349).

The South African Police Services has recently release crime statistics on contact crimes during the month of March 2017. These crime statistics indicate that contact crimes have decreased significantly, more particularly in Quarter 1, Quarter 2, and Quarter 3. For Quarter 1, in 2015–2016, the total number of crimes reported was 138,528 (2.2%), while in 2016–2017, the total number of crimes recorded was 141,597. For Quarter 2, in 2015–2016, the stats shown that 153,859 (–1.7%) cases were recorded, while in 2016–2017, there were 151,200 cases reported which shows a significant decrease as compared to the previous year. Quarter 3 reveals that in 2015–2016, 177,955 cases were reported, while in 2016–2017, 168,546 (–1.7%) cases were recorded.

The province of KwaZulu-Natal has recorded 73,933 (–2.2%) cases, and the stats reveal that the province of Gauteng is leading with 131,536 9 (–0.55%) cases reported. In Quarter 1, 4,154 (0.6%) cases of murder were recorded in 2015–2016, while in 2016–2017, only 4,180 cases were reported. In Quarter 2, in 2015–2016, 4,683 (1.9%) cases were recorded, while in 2016–2017, only 4,773 cases were reported.

Farming contributes 18 percent of the income for the area; approximately 30 percent of the municipal area to the north comprises commercial farmland. Subsistence agriculture is practiced in areas such as Tugela and Umzinyathi. Figure 1 clearly depicts that in 2014–2015, 467,145 cases were reported; in 2015–2016, the report shows a significant increase of reported cases of contact crimes, with 470,342, while in 2016–2017, there are 461,343 (–1.9%) reported cases. The general perception of the public is that contact crimes in South Africa remain a problem and the government needs to do something in order to correct the situation.

OPEN IN VIEWER

Figure 1.

Source: South African Police Services annual report, 2018.

Safety is a core human right. It is a necessary condition for human development, improving quality of life, and enhancing productivity. When communities do not feel safe and live in fear in their vicinity, the country’s economic development and the people’s “wellbeing is affected, hindering their ability to achieve their potential” (National Development Plan, 2011). The National Planning Commission Diagnostic Report underlined the reality that high crime levels have slowed South Africa’s social and economic development. Violent crimes, contact crimes and property crimes are so common that many South Africans live in fear (National Development Plan, 2011, p. 349). When people feel unsafe, it makes it harder for them to pursue their personal goals and to take part in social and economic activity. Vision 2030 visualizes people living in South Africa feeling safe and having no fear of crime. They are safe at home, at school, and at work, and enjoy an active community life free of fear. Women can walk freely in the streets of KwaMashu, Umlazi, Soweto, and even in Gugulethu, having no fear in their minds. Achieving this vision requires a well-functioning criminal justice system in which the police and judiciary services work together to ensure that suspects are caught, prosecuted, convicted if found guilty, and securely incarcerated.

Research Recommendations

Throughout the research, it was conspicuously observed and constantly remarked that though the role and mandate to fight crime have been bestowed upon the police, it should further be highlighted that the roles of the community, civil society, and other government departments cannot be overemphasized. The community safety forums policy provides a framework for integrated, localized safety planning and coordination, with provincial and local government as key players, and community representation in the form of the community police forum.

The community safety structures continue to play a significant and meaningful role to fight and reduce crime in our communities. The main objective of these structures is to promote the development of the community where citizens live in a safe environment and have access to high-quality services at the local level, through integrated and coordinated multi-agency collaboration among organs of state and various communities.

The Department of Community Safety and Liaison and South African Police Services should encourage synergy between amakhosi and community safety structures, and it is imperative that these government departments should provide financial support to these structures so that they function effectively and efficiently. It has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that the number of police personnel is not sufficient to cater for the needs of Msinga communities. These structures act as force multipliers to the South African Police Services. Msinga and Nhlanhleni police stations are no exceptions; it was noticed that these stations lack personnel and state resources such as motor vehicles and satellite police stations. The vastness of the area necessitates additional resources to enhance service delivery. These police stations were built during the apartheid time or era and therefore need to be upgraded. Due to the lack of infrastructure, both the stations do not have sufficient offices and boardrooms. Building a united front against crime should be based on CPF foundation.

The police must continue to provide support to CPF structures such as transport and stationery. The research highly recommends that these structures should be provided with transport, offices, and computers, and with regular stipends. The existence of these structures at the community level should not create a platform for them to compete with each other; for instance, the volunteers should not see themselves as better than the CPF just because they receive stipend on a monthly basis. The Department of Higher Learning in the long run should come up with sustainable programs to academically assist these community safety structures so that they are more effective in their communities. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and universities should design courses with the intention to capacitate and develop them. So far, the establishment of community safety structures, and their maintenance thereof, remain the responsibility of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison. It is highly recommended that Department of Police, the local municipalities, Department of Health, and Department of Social Development should come on board, since some of these government departments do have volunteers on the ground.

The community safety structures play a pivotal role in terms of fighting crime; hence, all law enforcement agencies should work hand-in-hand with these structures at all levels to strengthen their relationship. It remains the responsibility of the state to make sure that these structures remain relevant and functional by providing moral support and financial assistance. Just recently, Department of Traditional Affairs and the local government have approved the financial support of izinduna in Kwazulu-Natal. In the long run, the government should consider the financial support for the following community based structures: CPF, CSFs CCPA, Street Committees, and Ward Safety Committees.

Funding and financial support are urgently needed on the part of the government to make these community structures more efficient and economically viable. It is imperative that both the provincial government and local government work more cooperatively to improve durable and sustainable infrastructure in rural areas. It is also strongly recommended that the two police stations that are based at Msinga should be prioritized in terms of infrastructure. At the present moment, the two police stations do not have boardrooms, and have no proper community hall; the community service centers, formerly known as charge offices, are too small, there is no proper network, and there is a lack of basic resources such as computers, vehicles, and office space. Major renovations in both stations are urgently needed. Service delivery will always be hampered if the issues of infrastructure, human resources, and physical resources are not taken care of; it will definitely drive back and undermine the gains we have achieved so far in our new democracy. It is also imperative for all government departments that fall under the security cluster to work hand-in-hand in order to enhance service delivery and minimize unnecessary costs that accompany a silo mentality.

Conclusion

This study explored and described the effectiveness of community safety structures in Msinga Local Municipality. It is evident that the police cannot fight crime alone but rather need the support of the broader community. There is a need to establish a stronger partnership and to continue to seek ways for closer cooperation between the SAPS and the community safety structures. The community safety structures at Msinga are fully operational and functioning like a well-oiled machine. The police operations that are taking place in the area are intelligence-driven and subsequently yielding positive results. These community safety structures, after receiving intensive training from various institutions, are now working hand-in-hand with law enforcement agencies, with the common purpose of achieving better results.

The historical background of Msinga is known for its notorious faction fights which resulted in massive loss of lives in the past years. The area is also known for its high proliferation rate of illegal firearms, and most of the serious crimes such as murder, rape, armed robberies, and stock theft are committed by means of illegal firearms. With the interventions of various stakeholders such as government departments, amakhosi, izinduna, and community safety structures such CPF, CSFs, and Ward Safety Committees, the spiral of violence has gone down, and the entire area has over the years been experiencing peace and tranquility.