The effectiveness of community policing forum : a case of Ritavi Policing Area, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The native residents of Dan and Petanenge villages under Ritavi Policing Area often witness increasing manifestations of contact crimes [Murder, Assault with the intention to inflict Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), Gangsterism Rape and Sexual offences and property-related crime, such as burglary at residential premises. The inhabitants in question, together with the surrounding villages are currently living in fear since 2018-to-date (2022). Therefore, this study explores the effectiveness of CPF, using RPA as a case study under Limpopo Province. This study was guided by this study aim (To explore the effectiveness of the CPF in combatting selected crimes at the RPA) and the following Five (05) objectives: 1. To highlight the nature of the most dominant selected crimes occurring at the RPA. 2. To establish factors instigating the selected crime within the RPA. 3. To understand the roles and responsibilities in ensuring adequate CPF in the RPA. 4. To offer challenges faced by RPA in inducting CPF. 5. To offer theoretical [Broken Windows Theory - BTW] foundations on effectiveness of CPF in the RPA. This qualitative study employed the case study research design, aided by the exploratory research objective. About Twenty-five (25) participants, involving SAPS uniform members and past and present CPF members who were selected using the non-probability: Purposive sampling. They were all subjected to the semi-structured face-to-face interviews, this was supported by direct naturalistic observations and literature/documentary studies reviews. For data analysis, the Eight (08) steps of the inductive Textual Content Analysis (TCA) were adopted in this study. Based on the noted study aim and objectives, this study revealed that the nature of the selected crimes is high, and their prevalence does not have effective CPF initiatives to policing them adequately, moreover, the notable factors contributing to the identified crimes are worrying, further offering different behavioural patterns and the attempt in addressing the associated challenges are limited. Equally, the assessment of methods to effectively implement the CPFs structures in the study locations are currently ineffective. This study recommends that the selected study areas should urgently avoid paying for the crime prevention private services to provide detailed crime information to the local SAPS. The local ‘Private Security Companies’ should collaborate with the CPFs and SAPS to aid to the failing crime prevention responsibilities geared towards the selected crimes, moreover, while efficiently working on the restoration of SAPS’s trust by the local community members. The SAPS management should consider persuasive strategies such as frequent education and training of community members and SAPS members [Undergoing refresher courses – Training and workshops], relating to community safety initiatives and implementations of legislative frameworks and policies. To this end, the technological induction should also be prioritised to accelerating prosecutions of the selected crimes and enhance CPF operations in Dan and Petanenge villages. Closer collaborations, interactions and information exchange among relevant stakeholders (CPFs, SAPS and other public and private stakeholders) should be commonly practiced promoting greater awareness about the selected crimes and the importance of CPFs in attempting to combat, prevent and investigate the mentioned crimes.