M.A. / One of the most perturbing factors of South Africa's communal existence is the high rates of violent crime and the high incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder JPTSD) amongst all communities. Crime-related PTSD is a problem of epidemic proportions. Therapeutic and mental health services for trauma related counselling are limited and in some communities non-existent. It is therefor essential to develop preventative programmes aimed at equipping individuals with the skills to avoid possible trauma-inducing situations such as vehicle hijacking. It was decided to utilise a vehicle hijacking management and -prevention programme developed especially for the purposes of a "short course" intervention approach. The experimental intervention was performed to provide skill and increase levels of personal competence in handling, or, ideally, avoiding a hijacking. A sample group of 35 was selected out of a white upper middle-class, middle aged population. The subjects were exposed to the intervention. The results indicated that the intervention produced significant positive change in self-efficacy beliefs in the experimental groups. Possible limitations of the study were sample sizes and the inherent nature of the groups. It was not possible to examine the relationship between sex and efficacy beliefs. No non-whites subjects were utilised and thus the relationship between race and efficacy beliefs was also not examined. It is recommended that the intervention programme be refined further and validated scientifically in order to be utilised in future research.

Thesis (D. Phil.(Krim.)--Universiteit van Pretoria, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 327-351).

M.A. / Hijacking has become so prevalent that the South African Police Service created a separate division to attend to these priority crimes, The Crime Information Analysis Centre. This division coordinates statistics and information and analyse factors leading to crime in order to plan a strategy to prevent it. The reasons for the multiplication of hijacking can be found in economic benefits, urbanization, dehumanization, inefficiency of law enforcement, the role of syndicates, security mechanisms in cars, and the ready availability of weapons. Few subjects are as relevant as trauma counseling, with few South Africans who have not experienced at some stage a crisis, shock or trauma due to crime, violent deaths, hijackings, rape, molesting and abuse, murder of farmers, and HIV and Aids. Trauma counseling is the professional treatment of a person experiencing problems, through constructive growth in faith and renewal, based on the atonement with God through Christ. It is important that the Bible be utilised in Christian counseling as the Spirit of God speaks through it. The counselor can help the traumatized patient by giving them the 12 opportunity to communicate their pain, anguish, fright, terror and anger in an honest way to God. Healing occurs when the traumatized find a (new) reason to live, through faith in the goodness of God. The counselor does not teach positive thinking but rather the truth of the Word of God instead of wrong thought processes and perceptions. In the end the client is taught to find meaning in their lives in the midst of tragic events and crises. With the help of God they are enabled top look back at what happened in the trauma and to realize that it makes sense. Even though Christians do not always understand God’s meaning with what He allows in their lives, they learn to trust Him. When they learn to look at their lives through God’s eyes, they realize the limitations of their own vision. Even pain has a purpose and can be the cause of growth and a sharper focus. It reminds us of the need to trust in God so that hijacking is not the end of life but the beginning of a new life.

The nature and extent of vehicle hijacking is increasing world-wide. Vehicle hijacking is also one of the most serious crimes the South African Police Service has to deal with. The climate of violence that currently exists in South Africa and the need for more knowledge concerning priority crimes necessitate research on this topic. Although research that has been undertaken in South Africa to date focuses on the nature and extent of vehicle hijacking as well as the victim’s experience of the event, little empirical information exists regarding the modus operandi of offenders and the victim’s role in the commission of the crime. On account of this it was decided to investigate the planning, operational and escaping phases which reflect the modus operandi of the hijacker. An attempt was also made to determine the extent to which victims are vulnerable to vehicle hijacking and how individuals could contribute to their victimisation. To test the research expectations and hypotheses, 110 victims and 12 vehicle hijackers were involved in the study. A mailed questionnaire was sent to the victims, while interviews were conducted with 12 hijackers in the Pretoria Central Prison. Based upon the analysis and interpretation of the data it was found that most hijackers spend at least some time on the planning of a vehicle hijacking. They also considered both the positive (namely the financial advantage gained from hijacking) and the negative aspects (namely injuries, death, arrest and imprisonment) associated with committing the crime. Analysis of the data shows that vehicle hijacking does not occur involuntarily and that hijackers select specific targets. Although the misconception exists that the vehicle and the motorist are equally important during the selection of the target, the findings show that the vehicle which is on order, serves as the main reason for target selection. The race of the motorist as well as the number of passengers in the vehicle are the only two variables that influence hijackers not to select an identified target. Furthermore, it seems evident that the presence of policy officials is the only environmental factor that will deter a hijacker from committing the crime. The findings also show that hijackers prefer a specific day, time, place and circumstances to hijack a vehicle and that hijacking is a group activity that is executed by two to four males. Verbal threats as well as violence form part of the hijacking. It appears that race and occupation are the only two demographic variables that influence vulnerability. The make and value of the vehicle as well as the number of passengers in the vehicle could increase a victim’s potential risk for victimisation. The findings show that victims cannot be held accountable for a vehicle hijacking. Victims rarely neglect to take the necessary precautions against victimisation, enter potentially dangerous situations and/or drive recklessly. Based upon that findings, certain conclusions with regard to the aims of the study are reached. Based on this, recommendations are made concerning further research as well as suggestions regarding the prevention of vehicle hijacking. / Thesis (DPhil(Criminology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

M.Sc. / With the changes in the South African political and economic climate in the past years, an increase in violent crime has become one of the most significant issues affecting the people of this country. Among them is car hijacking, which has reached epidemic proportions. As a result of this traumatic experience, many of the victims of hijacking develop posttraumatic stress disorder or symptoms thereof. From the literature it would seem that certain . variables may increase the vulnerability for the development of this disorder. This study sought to investigate a number of these variables, namely, demographic information, attributional style, personality style, and both premorbid depression and anxiety. The purpose was to establish whether pre-existing risk factors, that were found in the literature to play a role in the development of PTSD, also apply to the South African population, as well as to victims of car hijacking specifically. As this situation is unique to South Africa, there is a great need for information in this area. If these risk factors could be isolated, more effective treatment may be developed for victims. A sample of 38 hijack victims was approached to complete a battery of psychometric tests to assess the above mentioned variables as well as a measure of posttraumatic stress syrnptomology. The Revised Impact of Events Scale, Attributional Style Questionnaire, Millons Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, State- Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory were used as psychometric instruments for this study. Inferential statistical analyses as well as descriptive statistical analyses were performed on the data. In general, no specific constellation of premorbid factors contributing to the impact of the event were found. Depression and state anxiety showed significant contribution to the impact of the hijacking but these variables measured current symptoms rather than premorbid. No other variables proved to be significant. This result may have been strongly influenced by the fact that the sample was very homogenous. The findings therefore offer difficulties as far as generalizability is concerned. It is recommended that this study be performed on a larger, more representative and diverse sample in the future.

M.A. / This phenomenological study was designed to explore the victim's lived experience of undergoing a motor vehicle hijacking. The aim of the study was to add to the knowledge and understanding of this complex phenomenon. The design of the study was qualitative. Data was collected through in depth unstructured interviews with four people who had very recently been hijacked. The interviews were recorded on audio tape and transcribed verbatim for each subject. An intra-individual analysis of each subject's account rendered an understanding of the experience in context for that individual, while an inter-individual analysis of the accounts permitted a discussion of common and contrasting themes and patterns. The nature of the subjects' experiences during, immediately after and in the days following the hijacking trauma is elucidated in detail. Based both on the literature reviews of trauma and hijacking, and the findings of this study, suggested contributions towards a theoretical framework for understanding the victim's experience of motor vehicle hijacking are proposed. The findings of this study will hopefully increase understanding of what it is like to be hijacked, provide relevant information and guidelines to clinicians working with these trauma victims, and provide suggestions for future research in this field.

M.A. (Psychology) / South Africa in 1997 is commonly seen as one of the most violent non-war countries in the world. Crime has become so much part of the daily routine of the average South African, that it is almost accepted as the norm. This study investigates the experiences of six persons, directly affected by a violent crime. The researcher endeavours to relate the constructions the victims hold around their experience of a car-jacking as truthful as possible and thus uses the paradigm of social constructionism ...

D.Litt. et Phil. / This research focuses on the development of a short-term cognitive behavioural intervention treatment programme for adult victims of hijackings who developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result. A programme was developed incorporating previously tested cognitive behavioural techniques and was tailored to the South African context. The need for the study arose out of the serious crime problem facing the South African population.Crime is rampant and has spread to all avenues of people's lives. There is no place that can be presumed to be safe. Being a victim of a car hijacking is a traumatic experience, and the effects thereof are often far-reaching in a person's life. It has been found that many people develop PTSD as a result of an experience, which is out of the range of 'normal' human experience (a trauma).

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was formed in 1994 after the integration of different “defence forces” into one large force. The sole existence of the SANDF is to protect the borders of the Republic of South Africa and its inhabitants. Resources such as vehicles make it easier for the SANDF to conduct mobile patrols and other operations to ensure that the organisation is always combat-ready. Motor vehicle theft is a crime that affects both individual citizens and organisations in South Africa; the SANDF is not immune to the crime. Many SANDF motor vehicles are stolen almost every day, and in most cases, these vehicles are taken without a trace. While there are security measures in place aimed at preventing theft of SANDF vehicles but these methods have proven futile. A literature review formed the basis of the study. Once the main theory and ideologies were identified, unstructured interviews were undertaken to gather information from various stakeholders. Observations were also conducted to determine behavioural patterns within military bases/units with regard to the parking of SANDF vehicles, even when the vehicles were parked in urban settings. Essentially, there is a problem regarding the security of SANDF vehicles and also the security within military bases / units. This study indicated that the SANDF loses vast amounts of money due to motor vehicle theft in Gauteng Province. The findings also revealed that the current vehicle security measures are outdated, ineffective and inadequate in preventing SANDF vehicles from being stolen. The recommendations are that the SANDF must invest more of its budget on vehicle security, rather than continuing with fruitless and monetary expenditure by conducting Board of Inquiries (BOI) or lengthy investigations in an attempt to relocate stolen vehicles or to determine how a particular vehicle was stolen. The SANDF requires a comprehensive system that should prevent the theft of its vehicles, as well as curbing the misuse of vehicles which ultimately renders SANDF vehicles as easy targets. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Policing)

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was formed in 1994 after the integration of different “defence forces” into one large force. The sole existence of the SANDF is to protect the borders of the Republic of South Africa and its inhabitants. Resources such as vehicles make it easier for the SANDF to conduct mobile patrols and other operations to ensure that the organisation is always combat-ready. Motor vehicle theft is a crime that affects both individual citizens and organisations in South Africa; the SANDF is not immune to the crime. Many SANDF motor vehicles are stolen almost every day, and in most cases, these vehicles are taken without a trace. While there are security measures in place aimed at preventing theft of SANDF vehicles but these methods have proven futile. A literature review formed the basis of the study. Once the main theory and ideologies were identified, unstructured interviews were undertaken to gather information from various stakeholders. Observations were also conducted to determine behavioural patterns within military bases/units with regard to the parking of SANDF vehicles, even when the vehicles were parked in urban settings. Essentially, there is a problem regarding the security of SANDF vehicles and also the security within military bases / units. This study indicated that the SANDF loses vast amounts of money due to motor vehicle theft in Gauteng Province. The findings also revealed that the current vehicle security measures are outdated, ineffective and inadequate in preventing SANDF vehicles from being stolen. The recommendations are that the SANDF must invest more of its budget on vehicle security, rather than continuing with fruitless and monetary expenditure by conducting Board of Inquiries (BOI) or lengthy investigations in an attempt to relocate stolen vehicles or to determine how a particular vehicle was stolen. The SANDF requires a comprehensive system that should prevent the theft of its vehicles, as well as curbing the misuse of vehicles which ultimately renders SANDF vehicles as easy targets. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Policing)