*Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)
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Browsing *Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters) by SDG "SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions"
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Item Assessing the impact of the ‘checklist’ to address overcrowding in Gauteng prisons(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Kanyane, Mpapa JeremiaLiterature shows that overcrowding in prison is a crisis that is exacerbated by challenges associated with court processes and inadequate criminal justice systems. Practical measures have been implemented by the South African government to combat these challenges through the use of an integrated criminal justice system. The National Task Team developed a strategy known as the ‘checklist’ that is development from internal benchmarks to address addressing overcrowding in South African Prisons. The study focuses on the assessment of the impact of the ‘7C checklist’ a process that is has been adopted to reduce overcrowding in Gauteng prisons as well as the role of the various government role players within the National Task Team. Using a qualitative approach that included document analysis and in-depth interviews, the study examined the impact of the 7C checklist in addressing the issue of overcrowding. This study concludes that there remains the persistence of practical constraints that are associated with the implementation processes required for complying with the ‘checklist’, as seen through the eyes of those in charge of implementing the strategy. Generally, the ‘checklist’ is partially implemented, and not following through with the processes negatively impacts on the overall goal of reducing overcrowding in Gauteng PrisonsItem Institutional arrangements and rehabilitation of young offenders: a case study of the Leeuwkop correctional service facility.(2022) Macozoma, MesuliThe 1994 democratic transition in South Africa marked a break away from its repressive past, which included the creation of new institutions to exercise the rule of law in a democratic dispensation. Transforming the prison system to correctional services through policy, changed the outlook of the state in exercising punitive measures against those charged with breaking the rule of law. A key question that has emerged is the need to understand how the established correctional services system facilitates the rehabilitation of young offenders, who make the majority of people incarcerated in correctional facilities in South Africa today. The study employed a qualitative case study approach to establish interactions between institutionalised young offenders at Leeuwkop Correctional Service Facility which serves as a medium for rehabilitation. The objective of the study was to determine whether the institutional arrangements at this facility support the institutionalisation of rehabilitation as articulated in the 2005 White Paper on Corrections. Primary data was gathered using semi-structured interviews from a sample of 16 participants, inclusive of three first-time offenders, three repeat offenders, and two former offenders from the Leeuwkop Correctional Service Facility between the ages 21 – 35 years old. In addition, eight institutional actors associated with Leeuwkop Correctional Service Facility were interviewed to understand their perspectives on the administrative processes involved in services offered by the facility. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data sets which generated four key themes around the issue of order and discipline, factors contributing to offending, rehabilitation of offenders in a correctional environment, and the allocation and expenditure of financial resources. Research findings indicate that a lack of transformation and misalignment of the current institutional arrangements is obscuring effective rehabilitation of young offenders at Leeuwkop Correctional Service Facility. A significant finding that emerged was that the primary objective of the Leeuwkop Correctional Service Facility is the incarceration of young offenders, and rehabilitation is a secondary function; hence the institutional and structural arrangements emphasize achieving the primary goal Conditions at Leeuwkop Correctional Service Facility, reveal that institutions established with contradicting mandates tend to systematically resist change. Arguably, the institution has struggled to transform its secondary role into an actionable goal that aligns with the policy framework, rendering this space a constitutive element in engendering a vicious cycle of violence among those who interact with the institution. The research concludes that more work is needed at both institutional and administrative level to foster a culture of rehabilitation within correctional service facilities.Item Research report amalgamation of umkhonto we sizwe combatants with the south african police service(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Mokotedi, Prince Nkitsing; Nieuwkerk, Anthoni vanDisarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) processes are usually implemented in post-conflict situations as part of broader Security Sector Reform. In South Africa, following the demise of the apartheid government, combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), were amalgamated with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 1995 as one of the key elements of the agreement for a new peaceful and democratic state. The SAPS was established in terms of the provisions of the interim Constitution of 1993, and was comprised of the former SAP, which had the largest number officers, and 10 former Bantustan police forces. There was an expectation that there will be tensions during the amalgamation of MK with SAPS because of the historical bitter enmity between the combatants of MK and the members of the former apartheid police forces. Members of MK were expected to adapt and adjust to a new environment which had command structures as well as organisational culture that was alien to theirs. This study investigated the acculturation strategies of the former combatants, and evinced that MK combatants had strong military identities and that police was resistan external factors. The study found that these cultural incompatibilities made it difficult for MK combatants to effectively amalgamate with SAPS.Item Transforming natural resource dimensions of the armed conflict in the Central African Republic(2021) Mhlanga, Vonani ArethaThe transformation of contemporary conflicts poses challenges owing to the complexities of the natural resource dimensions of armed conflict. Yet, it presents opportunities for addressing the root causes of protracted conflicts. This study explores how the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) has sought to address natural resource dimensions of the armed conflict in the country and, based on lessons arising, determine the possibilities of conflict transformation. Drawing from the conflict transformation concept, an analytical framework highlighting the interaction of three key elements (actors, context and institutions) guides a qualitative analysis on the positions and interests of the various actors around natural resources. How natural resources are regulated and managed in the country is also examined. I find that it would be challenging to have a national consensus to transform the conflict due to the plurality of actors competing over control of natural resources while also forming opportunistic alliances