3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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    Evaluating a need for a collaborative national maritime security strategy in South Africa
    (2017) Ndebele, Gugu Precious
    The world’s sea transport is regulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Through its regulatory framework, the IMO “prescribes responsibilities to governments, shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and port/port facility personnel to deter security threats and take preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade” (IMO, 2016) as set out by its member states. While the IMO prescribes responsibilities, as contained in the regulatory framework, on preventative measures against security threats, it does not provide guidelines on how these preventive measures are supposed to be done. As a result, the responsibility on determining what preventative measures are to be undertaken remains with each member of the shipping community state to decide on the solution. Like many IMO members, South Africa does not have a national maritime security strategy. Accordingly, a need for South Africa to develop its own national maritime security strategy over and above the regional maritime security strategy has been identified. Part of the argument for developing a national maritime security strategy is informed by the need to close the gap left by the absence of such a strategy in the national security framework of the country. Currently, South Africa’s maritime security environment is fragmented with a number of stakeholders’ such as the Department of Transport (DOT), Department of Home Affairs (DHA), South African Revenue Service (SARS), South African Police Service (SAPS), State Security Agency (SSA), South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), Transnet Ports Terminal (TPT), Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and Department of Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) constitutionally mandated with different maritime security mandates within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). There is, however, a consensus amongst all these stakeholders that some of the challenges existing within the South African maritime environment require a national maritime security strategy. Without a national maritime security strategy, views on South Africa’s state of readiness to address maritime security challenges are split. Accordingly, a clear constitutional mandate appointing a lead department is necessary. In addition to concluding that South Africa needs to develop a codified national security policy, this study further found that such a codified national security policy should aim at specifically addressing fragmentation in all national security areas and that such a codified national security policy must constitute specific modules reflective of each area of national security with clear directions on who takes the overall responsibility when it comes to control and command. In order to attain a comprehensive view, the research recommended further research on the pre-drafting process of the strategy and its implementation.
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    Climate change-related human security threats to border integrity and safeguarding for South Africa
    (2014-07-11) Vorster, Magriet;
    Climate change is a very current and contentious issue that has received a lot of attention during the past two decades because of its global influence and impact. Climate change affects the entire globe and the impact is mostly continental and regional and is not limited along state borders. Whether a person or group believe in the existence of global warming or not, the scientific evidence leaves no doubt that the climate is changing (Mazo, 2010: 9). Climate change influence the environment people live in and have a direct impact on all aspects of their daily lives. In a globalized world almost all problems cross borders, and environmental issues have long been recognized as among the most international and the most transnational of all (Parsons, 2009: 5). Climate change acts as a “threat multiplier” by exacerbating existing vulnerabilities, and must be analysed in relation to the adaptive capacity of those affected (individuals, communities and states), taking account of the wider political, socio-economic and demographic context (ACCES, 2011: 9). Although climate change has a global impact, the African continent is likely to be more severely affected than other regions of the globe and it will have a profound negative impact on all facets of human security. Long-term shifts in the climate seem likely to catalyse conflict by creating or exacerbating food, water and energy scarcities, triggering population movements, and placing larger groups of people in competition for more and more limited resources. Increased climate variability, including the greater frequency of extreme weather events, will also complicate access to resources, thereby exacerbating conditions that are conducive to promoting conflict. Southern Africa is described as a predominantly semi-arid region with high intra- seasonal and inter-annual rainfall variability, with extreme events such as droughts and floods occurring frequently. In Southern Africa, there has been an increase in inter-annual variability of rainfall over the past 40 years, with more intense and widespread droughts. Floods and droughts in Southern Africa are gradually increasing in number and frequency as well and already the entire region is considered a climate change "hotspot". As can be seen from the findings of the various chapters, climate change has a very complex predicted impact on all the dimensions of human security and a few major key issues in this regard came to light. These issues include urbanisation, migration, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, water scarcity, spread of diseases, slow onset climate change, economic decline and poverty, criminality and conflict. The most profound issues that will have an impact on South African border integrity and safeguarding include urbanisation, migration, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, water scarcity, spread of diseases, economic decline and poverty, criminality and conflict. Migration can be singularly highlighted as it has the potential to amplify and exacerbate all of the abovementioned issues. States have national security strategies and policies in order to guide policy and legislation to adequately protect the state from threats and to determine national security priorities. Border safeguarding is an important aspect of state security and strategy, policy and legislation, informed by the national security strategy and policy, constantly have to evolve and adapt to changes in the threat pattern affecting states. The border safeguarding environment of any state is very complex and faced with multiple external and international threats. Climate change-related human security threats will further amplify and complicate these threats as the impact of climate change becomes more pronounced in the southern African region. In order for South Africa to successfully address these threats in the border safeguarding environment it is important that a sound National Security Strategy and Policy provide focus and priorities for all government departments involved. This is a very complex field with multiple factors and only the key issues are highlighted and discussed in this paper.
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    The visa application process at the South African High Commission in Swaziland in the context of national security
    (2014-02-17) Hlongwane, Zanele Gladys
    Every country has the sovereign right to decide who may or may not enter its territory. Possession of a visa does not guarantee automatic admission to the Republic of South Africa (RSA). It only authorises the holder to proceed to the Republic to report to an immigration officer at a port of entry for the purpose of being examined as to his / her ability or otherwise, to comply with the entry requirements. The purpose of a visa on the one hand is to ensure proper screening of applicants so that undesirable persons are not admitted to the Republic and on the other hand to facilitate the entry of approved applicants at South African ports of entry. Visa provides immigration officers with the necessary information to ensure that applicants are admitted for the correct purpose and period into the RSA. Visa and immigration policy together determine who can come into South Africa for admission. This paper explores visa process at the South African High Commission in Swaziland in the context of national security. The survey for visa applicants and staff members at the mission was conducted in order to determine the challenges that are faced during visa processing. The paper concludes by putting forward suggested recommendations that can assist in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the visa process at the mission in the context of national security.
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