Güney Afrika'da Kaçırma Olaylarının Artışı: Kolluk Kuvvetlerinin Karşılaştığı Zorluklar

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1, 15 - 32, 31.07.2024

Victor Mlambo , Eric Blanco Niyitunga

https://doi.org/10.30913/alinterisosbil.1445683

Öz

Bu makale Güney Afrika'da kaçırma olaylarının artışını incelemektedir. Amacı ise kolluk kuvvetlerinin hızla önemli bir toplumsal sorun haline gelen bu problemi ele alırken karşılaştıkları zorlukları yansıtmaktır. Bu makale, anlatısal literatür incelemesi kullanarak veri toplama tekniği olarak ikincil verileri kullanmıştır. Rasyonel seçim teorisi teorik bir mercek olarak kullanılmıştır. Bulgular göstermiştir ki Güney Afrika'daki kaçırma olaylarına yoksulluk, eşitsizlik, işsizlik ve fidye ücretlerinden milyonlarca dolar kazanan suç örgütlerinin büyümesi ve konsolidasyonu gibi çeşitli sorunlar yön vermektedir. Güney Afrika kolluk kuvvetleri, kaçırma vakalarını ele almada ilerleme kaydettiğini iddia etse de, halkın güvensizliği, destek eksikliği ve kaçırma vakalarının yeterince bildirilmemesi gibi önemli zorluklarla karşı karşıyalardır ki bu da sorunun ele alınmasını zorlaştırmaktadır. Güney Afrika, mevzuatın bu sorunu etkili bir şekilde ele almasını sağlamak için baskı altındadır. Bu nedenle ülkenin, artan kaçırma olaylarına yanıt vermede sorunsuz koordinasyonu sağlamak için toplum polisi forumları, toplum ve diğer ilgili paydaşlarla yakın bir şekilde çalışacak uzmanlaşmış kaçırma birimleri kurması ve bunları yetkilendirmesi önerilmektedir. Ayrıca, polis teşkilatı içindeki yolsuzlukların ortadan kaldırılması sorunun çözümünde etkili bir tedbir olacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kalkınma, Polis, Kaçırma, Yolsuzluk

The Rise of Kidnappings in South Africa: Challenges for Law Enforcement

Öz

This paper examines the rise of kidnapping in South Africa. It aims to reflect on the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing what has quickly become a considerable societal problem. This paper employed secondary data as a data collection technique using narrative literature review. The rational choice theory was employed as a theoretical lens. Findings revealed that kidnapping in South Africa is driven by several issues, such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and the growth and consolidation of crime syndicates making millions in ransom fees. While South African law enforcement agencies claim to be making inroads in addressing kidnapping cases, they face considerable challenges, such as public mistrust, lack of support and the underreporting of kidnapping cases, making it hard to address the problem. South Africa is under pressure to ensure that legislation effectively addresses this issue. It is therefore recommended that the country establish and capacitate specialized kidnapping units that will work closely with community police forums, the community, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination in responding to the rise of kidnapping. Moreover, eradicating corruption within the police force will be an effective measure to help address the problem.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Development, Police, Kidnapping, Corruption

Kaynakça

• Published Works
• Akers, R. L. (1990). Rational choice, deterrence, and social learning theory in criminology: The path not taken. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 81(3), 653-676.
• Alang, S., McAlpine, D., McClain, M., & Hardeman, R. (2021). Police brutality, medical mistrust and unmet need for medical care. Preventive Medicine Reports, 22, 101361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101361
• Alexander, P. (2010). Rebellion of the poor: South Africa's service delivery protests–a preliminary analysis. Review of African Political Economy, 37(123), 25-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/03056241003637870
• Bello, P. O. (2022). Socio-economic dynamism and the expansion of child kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2061686
• Brockett, P. L., Golden, L. L., Zaparolli, S., & Lum, J. M. (2019). Kidnap and ransom insurance: A strategically useful, often undiscussed, marketplace tool for international operations. Risk Management and Insurance Review, 22(4), 421-440. https://doi.org/10.1111/rmir.12134
• Ene, W. R. (2018). Kidnapping and the Nigerian society: A sociological insight. International Journal of Development and Management Review, 13(1), 1-12.
• Lundgren, B., & Scheckle, E. (2019). Hope and future: Youth identity shaping in post-apartheid South Africa. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 24(1), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2018.1463853
• Mosala, S. J., Venter, J. C. M., & Bain, E. G. (2017). South Africa's economic transformation since 1994: What influence has the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) had? The Review of Black Political Economy, 44(3-4), 327-340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12114-017-9260-2
• Niyitunga, E. B., & Kimari, A. M. (2020). Mobile financial services: Design and development - an unexplored pathway to financial inclusion. In T. Z. Opati & M. K. Gachukia (Eds.), Impact of mobile payment applications and transfers on business (pp. 96-119). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-2398-8.ch005
• Niyitunga, E. B. (2021). A qualitative review of the recurrence of xenophobic violence and their effects on South Africa's role in international diplomacy. The 6th Annual International Conference on Public Administration and Development Alternatives. South Africa.
• Niyitunga, E. B. (2022). Good health-sustainable development nexus: Assessing the prospects and opportunities of artificial intelligence in Africa. African Journal of Governance and Development, 11(1.1), 47-78.
• Niyitunga, E. B. (2023). The 4IR-health service delivery nexus: Can AI address challenges facing South Africa's healthcare services that affect domestic politics? International Journal of Public Administration in the Digital Age, 10(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJPADA.325215
• Niyitunga, E. B. (2024). Domestic considerations influencing xenophobic attacks and their implications on South Africa’s foreign policy. In S. O. Abidde, M. R. Hall & J. de A. da Cruz (Eds.), Xenophobia and nativism in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean (pp. 145-174). Routledge.
• Pharoah, R. (2005). An unknown quantity: Kidnapping for ransom in South Africa: An unknown quantity. South African Crime Quarterly, 14, 23-28. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3108/2005/v0i14a1007
• Singh, D. (2022). The causes of police corruption and working towards prevention in conflict-stricken states. Laws, 11(5), 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/laws11050069
• Stiftung, H. B., & Schönenberg, R. (2013). Transnational organized crime: Analyses of a global challenge to democracy. Transcript, Political Science.
• Uzorma, P. N., & Nwanegbo-Ben, J. (2014). Challenges of hostage-taking and kidnapping in the South-Eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Literature, 2(6), 131-142.
• Wilson, J. (2020). Transnational crime. In A. Lautensach & S. Lautensach (Eds.), Human security in world affairs: Problems and opportunities (pp. 413-430). Pressbooks.
• Internet Sources
• A Look Ahead: Strategies for Putting Public Safety First. (2023). Stand Together Trust. https://standtogether.org/stories/criminal-justice/public-safety-solutions-why-we-need-to-put-public-safety-first
• AFP. (2022). In South Africa, ransom kidnappings are on the rise. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/28/ransom-kidnappings-add-to-s-africas-crime-woes
• Bad Cops: Global Case Studies of Police Involvement in Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion. (2019). Bad cops: Global case studies of police involvement in kidnap for ransom and extortion. S-RM Intelligence. https://gsi.s-rminform.com/articles/bad-cops-global-case-studies-of-police-involvement-in-kidnap-for-ransom-and-extortion
• Bell, A. (2019). A guide to kidnap and ransom insurance coverage. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/062915/guide-kidnap-ransom-insurance-coverage.asp
• Boreham, M. (2022). Kidnapping for business and the business of kidnapping. NewAfrican. https://newafricanmagazine.com/28466/
• Brooks & Baez. (2021). What is the difference between kidnapping and abduction? Brooks & Baez. https://www.brooksbaez.com/blog/2021/11/what-is-the-difference-between-kidnapping-and-abduction/
• Bundy, C. (2020). Poverty and inequality in South Africa: A history. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History. https://oxfordre.com/africanhistory/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277734-e-659?rskey=mvdrRx&result=1
• Busari, B. (2023). Over 4,000 kidnap cases recorded in South Africa in 2022. Vanguard. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/02/over-4000-kidnap-cases-recorded-in-south-africa-in-2022/#:~:text=About%204%2C028%20kidnap%20cases%20were,of%20crimes%20in%20the%20country
• Cowling, N. (2023). Number of kidnappings in South Africa 2022/2023, by province. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400928/number-of-kidnappings-in-south-africa-by-province/
• Crime and Development in Africa. (2005). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. https://www.unodc.org/pdf/African_report.pdf
• Daniel, L. (2022). South Africa’s latest crime stats: Murder on the rise, shows ten-year trend. The South African. https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/south-africa-murder-rate-latest-crime-statistics-2020/
• Dean, L., & Procelli, M. (2022). Adapting to evolving kidnapping trends. ASIS International. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2020/04/adapting-to-evolving-kidnapping-trends/
• Dlamini, K. (2023). Sa not fighting hard enough against organised crime. Corruption Watch. https://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/sa-not-fighting-hard-enough-against-organised-crime/
• Etheridge, J. (2019). Crime stats: Kempton Park is the kidnapping capital of SA. News24. https://www.news24.com/news24/crime-stats-kempton-park-is-the-kidnapping-capital-of-sa-20190912
• Feature-Kidnap and Ransom: Negotiating Lives for Cash. (2011). Feature-Kidnap and ransom: Negotiating lives for cash. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/crime-kidnap-ransom-idUSLDE71D28A20110217
• Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. (2022). Strategic organized crime risk assessment: South Africa. https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GI-TOC-Strategic-Organized-Crime-Risk-Assessment-South-Africa.pdf
• Goodman, S. (2017). End of apartheid in South Africa? Not in economic terms. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/24/business/south-africa-economy-apartheid.html
• Grant, L., & Ritchie, G. (2022). SA kidnappings surge to over 1 000 a month in 2022. The Mail & Guardian. https://mg.co.za/news/2022-10-10-sa-kidnappings-surge-to-over-1-000-a-month-in-2022/
• Ibekwem, N., & Alabi, M. (2021). Special report: Inside Nigeria’s worsening kidnap-for-ransom scourge (1). Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/487509-special-report-inside-nigerias-worsening-kidnap-for-ransom-scourge-1.html?tztc=1
• Kidnap for Ransom in 2022. (2022). Kidnap for ransom in 2022. Control Risks. https://www.controlrisks.com/our-thinking/insights/kidnap-for-ransom-in-2022
• Kidnapping, the Industry Bringing Nigeria to Its Knees. (2022). Kidnapping, the industry bringing Nigeria to its knees. The Citizen. https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/africa/kidnapping-the-industry-bringing-nigeria-to-its-knees-3942548#google_vignette
• Koko, K. (2022). Kidnapping syndicates thrive in South Africa. The Mail & Guardian. https://mg.co.za/news/2022-02-25-kidnapping-syndicates-thrive-in-south-africa/
• Lancaster, L. (2020). Kidnapping in South Africa: rely on data not social media. Institute of Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/kidnapping-in-south-africa-rely-on-data-not-social-media
• Lancaster, L. (2023). To reduce kidnappings, South Africa’s police must tackle armed robbery. Institute of Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/to-reduce-kidnappings-south-africas-police-must-tackle-armed-robbery
• Mokgonyana, K. (2022). How to tackle the rise in kidnappings, human trafficking in South Africa. The Mail & Guardian. https://mg.co.za/thoughtleader/opinion/2022-10-28-how-to-tackle-the-rise-in-kidnappings-human-trafficking-in-south-africa/
• Naido, T. (2022). True number of high-profile kidnappings for ransom underreported in SA: Researchers. SABC News. https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/true-number-of-high-profile-kidnappings-for-ransom-underreported-in-sa-researchers/
• Newham, G. (2002). Tackling police corruption in South Africa. The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. https://www.csvr.org.za/docs/policing/tacklingpolicecorruption.pdf
• Nhamirre, B. (2023). Cross-border cooperation could curb kidnappings in Mozambique. Institute For Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/cross-border-cooperation-could-curb-kidnappings-in-mozambique
• Okoli, C. (2019). Kidnapping for ransom has become Nigeria’s latest security problem. Quartz. https://qz.com/africa/1624376/kidnapping-for-ransom-is-nigerias-latest-security-problem.
• Onireti, A. (2022). Why Nigerian kidnap law banning families from paying ransoms may do more harm than good. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/why-nigerian-kidnap-law-banning-families-from-paying-ransoms-may-do-more-harm-than-good-189427
• Perera, A. (2023). Rational choice theory of criminology. Simply Psychology. https://simplysociology.com/rational-choice-theory-of-criminology.html
• Presence, C. (2022). Collusion and corruption behind increase in kidnappings: Crime-fighting activist. CapeTalk. https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/456723/collusion-and-corruption-behind-increase-in-kidnappings-crime-fighting-activist
• Prior, B. (2022). Massive kidnapping threat in South Africa – Police working with criminals. MyBroadband. https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/341705-massive-kidnapping-threat-in-south-africa-police-working-with-criminals.html
• Reducing The Risk of Kidnapping. (2023). Smarttraveller. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/safety/kidnapping
• Roberts, B., & Gordon, S. (2022). South Africans have low trust in their police. Here’s why. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/south-africans-have-low-trust-in-their-police-heres-why-178821
• Shange, N. (2021). More than 400 Gauteng cops have pending criminal cases against them. TimesLive. https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-11-23-more-than-400-gauteng-cops-have-pending-criminal-cases-against-them/
• Smith, R. (2018). Hundreds of people in Mexico are kidnapped every year. And the problem’s getting worse. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2018/5/11/17276638/mexico-kidnappings-crime-cartels-drug-trade
• Thamm, M. (2021). Good morning, Colombia: Kidnappings, assassinations and corruption – SAPS is a systemic threat to SA. Daily Maverick. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-19-good-morning-colombia-kidnappings-assassinations-and-corruption-saps-is-a-systemic-threat-to-sa/
• Ukpe, W. (2021). Insecurity: N10 billion demanded in kidnapping ransoms in H1 2021 – SBM. Nairametrics. https://nairametrics.com/2021/07/12/insecurity-n10-billion-demanded-in-kidnapping-ransoms-in-h1-2021-sbm/
• Writer, S. (2023a). Worrying new crime trend in South Africa. BusinessTech. https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/662577/worrying-new-crime-trend-in-south-africa/
• Writer, S. (2023b). Kidnapping syndicates in South Africa are now going after ‘easier’ targets. BusinessTech. https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/704595/kidnapping-syndicates-in-south-africa-are-now-going-after-easier-targets/