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This report assesses the rural safety capacity lost by the phasing out of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) Territorial Reserve, known as the Commandos, and evaluates the South African Police Service's (SAPS) ability to replace these functions. Through fieldwork in the Free State, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng, the author argues that while Commandos primarily protected the interests of the rural middle class and could be socially destructive if deployed inappropriately, they provided a critical force-multiplication capacity for policing agricultural crimes. The report concludes that the transition to SAPS is likely to result in a deterioration of rural policing because SAPS organizational incentives and national performance targets prioritize urban 'contact crimes' over rural property crimes.

This research paper examines the 450km international border between Lesotho and South Africa's Free State province. It analyzes the impact of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) patrols on local relationships, the dynamics of Basotho participation in the South African labour market—particularly in seasonal agriculture—and the economic role of cross-border traders.

This 2005 report presents the results of the first national-scale survey on gender-based violence (GBV) in Malawian schools, conducted in February and March 2005. The study interviewed 4,412 children aged nine and older and 632 teachers to assess the extent of physical, sexual, economic, and emotional violence. It highlights a pervasive culture of bullying and sexual abuse occurring at school, at home, and during the commute, while examining the role of teachers in both perpetrating and addressing such violence.

This report chapter provides a military history of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), tracing its evolution from the liberation movements of the 1960s through the Angolan Civil War to its status as a peacetime national institution. It details the integration of three primary military wings—FAPLA, ELNA, and FALA—and the significant role of foreign intervention from the Soviet Union, Cuba, the United States, Zaire, and South Africa in shaping the conflict and the eventual formation of the FAA.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Security Studies lists the categories of crime used for reporting RSA Totals for the 2004/2005 period.

The document is a list of provinces and regional administrative areas within South Africa, intended to categorize crime statistics.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Security Studies defines the legal status of refugees based on the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, outlines the roles of governments and the UNHCR in providing protection, and details the rights and obligations of refugees.

This research paper assesses the potential of South Africa's Departments of Education, Health, and Social Development to prevent crime among children and youth up to age 18 through social service delivery. It argues that while these departments have mandates and policies that could reduce offending and victimisation, their effectiveness is severely limited by funding shortages, poor service quality, and a lack of standardised early childhood development.

This research paper analyzes 2003 data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) to examine homicide patterns in South Africa's major urban centers. It identifies homicide as the leading cause of injury-related deaths, highlighting the significant roles of firearms and alcohol, and noting a disproportionate impact on males aged 15 to 44.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the purported link between the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the resulting increase in orphaned children, and rising crime rates in Africa, particularly southern Africa. The author argues that while the epidemic creates environments conducive to crime through poverty and demographic shifts, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that AIDS orphans are disproportionately more likely to commit crimes than other poor children.

This research paper analyzes the impact of United Nations (UN) Panel of Experts missions in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1999 and 2002. The author argues that these panels serve as critical peace-building tools by providing credible, independent investigations into sanctions violations and the illegal exploitation of natural resources, which in turn reduces the military capacity of spoilers and criminalizes the activities of those fueling conflict.

This research paper examines the 'Goldenberg' scandal, a high-level financial conspiracy in Kenya between 1990 and 1993 involving senior officials of the Daniel Arap Moi administration and private wheeler-dealers. The scheme exploited government incentives for non-traditional exports and foreign exchange controls to siphon hundreds of millions of dollars from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), contributing to severe economic instability and inflation.

This executive summary of a monograph by Jonny Steinberg reviews literature on two distinct waves of forced migration to South Africa: Mozambicans fleeing civil war in the 1980s and people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) arriving from the early 1990s onwards.

This research paper introduction reviews the literature on two distinct waves of forced migration to South Africa: Mozambicans fleeing civil war in the 1980s and people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) arriving from the early 1990s onwards. The author contrasts the social profiles and legal contexts of these two groups while highlighting a persistent pattern of xenophobia and a gap between formal legal rights and social practice in South Africa.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the 2003/04 financial year. It reports a general decrease in most serious crimes, including murder and residential burglary, while highlighting a concerning increase in aggravated robbery. The authors note a disconnect between improving statistical trends and the high levels of fear felt by the South African public.

This research paper examines the experiences of Congolese forced migrants in South Africa, detailing their transition from a middle-class professional background in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to survivalist roles in the South African informal economy. It analyzes the demographic profile of these refugees, the social networks they form, the institutional barriers they face, and their specific niches within the urban labor market.

This research paper evaluates the role of informal justice mechanisms in addressing domestic violence in South Africa, based on 26 interviews conducted in 2003. It finds that many women prefer these community-based structures over the formal criminal justice system due to their immediacy, affordability, and focus on reconciliation rather than punishment. While these mechanisms provide essential access to justice and align with the desires of many complainants, the author notes concerns regarding the lack of regulation and the potential for mediators to overlook abusive patterns in favor of social harmony.

This research paper examines the experiences of Mozambican refugees who fled the civil war (1979–1992) and settled in South Africa, primarily in the former homelands of Gazankulu and KaNgwane. It analyzes the complex interplay of ethnic solidarity, systemic exploitation in the labor market, and the failure of repatriation and regularization programs to fully integrate these populations into South African society.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive analysis of South African crime statistics for the 2003/04 financial year, alongside thematic studies on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, the 2005 firearms amnesty, and the nature of gang rape in inner-city Johannesburg.

This research paper examines the relationship between disarmament and the post-conflict reconciliation process in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. It argues that while the Rwandan government has focused on reconciliation through mechanisms like the gacaca courts and regional small arms agreements, the failure to implement a comprehensive internal disarmament program for civilians and ex-combatants undermines lasting security and trust. The author highlights the complexities of disarming groups in a porous region, specifically the threat posed by Hutu militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and proposes integrating disarmament into the broader security sector reform and reconciliation framework.