Thesis (M. A. (Criminology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of Pentecostal Christianity and its practices in restraining followers from committing crime focusing on the individuals’ criminality prior to, in the different growth stages (before being born again, being born-again and being Spirit-filled) of their spiritual lives and the length of time practising the belief. The present study aimed at determining whether Pentecostal Christianity has a restraining influence on Christians from committing crime. A quantitative, explanatory study was conducted to statistically analyse the strength of Pentecostal Christianity in restraining Christians from committing crime. Data were collected through administration of questionnaires in three Pentecostal churches in the Mankweng Area on different Sundays. Data were further analysed using SPSS statistical program where inferential statistics was used to test hypotheses using the Kruskal-Wallis test in conjunction with Chi-Square test of independence and descriptive statistics were also used to formulate graphs to present findings. The hypotheses tested showed a significant difference in criminality before being born again, after being born-again and baptism in the Holy Spirit with a p value of less than 0,.05. The length an individual has practising the faith has no significant difference in reducing criminal behaviour. This study concluded that the Pentecostal Christian faith, to some extent, deters followers from committing crime. Keywords: Christianity, Pentecostal Christianity, crime

Thesis (M.A. (Criminology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Campus safety is an important part of a student’s overall university experience. However, safety and security are an issue that institutions of higher learning have to deal with and address within their campuses. The focus of this study was to explore students’ safety at the Universities of Limpopo (UL) and Venda (UNIVEN). This study adopted an exploratory triangulation approach. A triangulation design was implemented to allow the researcher the opportunity to collect qualitative and quantitative data and thereafter, integrate the results in the interpretation stage. For triangulation purposes, data was collected using interviews and a self-administered questionnaire. For the qualitative phase of the research (phase I), twenty face to face interviews were conducted and for the quantitative phase (phase II), eight hundred and nineteen respondents responded to the questionnaire. This study employed Routine Activities Theory (RAT) to discuss the findings. Some of the findings were that the majority of female students who reside off-campus were fearful of being victimised. More female students than males were more concerned of sexual harassment and rape. These criminal incidents were statistically significant. The study further reveals that a lack of sufficient lighting, alcohol and illicit drugs, campus camera surveillance, crime reporting, and the visibility of emergency phones are some of the contributing factors associated with students victimisations. There are no visible police patrolling around the campuses of UL and UNIVEN. The majority of the students do not report their victimisation to the police or campus authorities. Furthermore, this study reveals that there is no relationship between gender and the perception of safety. However, age and level of study have a relationship to the perception of safety and were statistically significant. Based on these findings, crime awareness campaigns, visibility of police patrolling around the campus, and the police should work closely with the University authority.

MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / Correctional Service inmate rehabilitation and rising issues of recidivism have been of interest within the Justice System with the mind to improve and ensure not only functionality but the effectiveness of every effort put toward rehabilitating inmates. Individuals are not convicted with the intention of closing them off from society completely, but to have their abnormal behavior corrected (this speaks to effective rehabilitation programmes and successful re-entry). Inevitably, this makes the parole period pivotal for assessing these programmes and why rehabilitation is not directly resulting in successful re-entry since parolees are more at risk to reoffend, making up the rising margin of recidivism of over 70% in South Africa. It then becomes significant to look into whether rehabilitative programmes are effective according to individuals who have practically been on the receiving end. This study investigated the lived experiences that recidivist parolees had of rehabilitation by taking a closer look at their lived experiences. This was qualitatively realized by employing to the study: interpretive phenomenological design. From a population of recidivist parolees residing in Vhembe District, after agreeing to participate in the study, a sample of 10 participants was interviewed (in accordance to data saturation) which were attained through the snowball sampling technique. From this sample, data was collected through the use of semi-structured open-ended interviews and analyzed through interpretive phenomenological analysis. This process yielded the following results. Generally, participants felt that rehabilitation programmes are not effective and play a very small role in influencing change. This is a similar case with re-entry into society. In light of this, participants reported that they have difficulty fitting into society as normal members because of social stigma, chronic trauma, not getting enough support after release and not being eligible for employment. Participants also reported irregular administration and accessibility of the programmes for all inmates. In light of these results, rehabilitation should be compulsory for all inmates and should also include post arrest programmes. / NRF

Thesis (M.A. (Criminology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / The study aimed to determine the relationship between service delivery protests and crime in the Sekhukhune District Municipality. To achieve the study a qualitative approach was adopted. Focus group discussions were held with 10 discussants in each of the municipalities within the Sekhukhune District Municipality (10 in Elias Motsoaledi Municipality, 10 in Ephraim Mogale Municipality, 10 in Greater Tubatse Municipality, 10 in Fetakgomo Municipality, and 10 in Makhuduthamaga Municipality).Thematic analysis were used to analysed data collected from 50 participants. The results revealed that lack of service delivery, corruption, poor housing and unemployment cause service delivery protests. Service delivery protests turn violent due to community frustrations and police presence escalates the violence. Sekhukhune District Municipality members participate in violent service delivery protests due hopelessness and lack of knowledge of participatory mechanisms. Road barricading, tyre burning and vandalism are the nature of criminality associated with service delivery protests. Public protests are caused by a myriad of factors; however the findings indicate that there is a gulf that exists between the public and the municipal authorities. The public voice seems not to be heard by authorities, which leads to the public engaging in public protests. Public protests come only as a last resort, after all public participation avenues have been exhausted including the failure of the authorities to respond timeously to public demands. The study was able to determine the relationship between service delivery protests and crime. Sekhukhune District Municipality need to explore ways for both the invited spaces and invented spaces of participation to co-exist. This will provide for early detection (warning signs) for the levels of frustrations and subsequent protests.

Thesis (MPA.)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Refer to document

Thesis( M. A. ( Criminology and Criminal Justice)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The VOM and FGC programmes have become valuable instruments for the rehabilitation of offenders. These programmes bring crime victims and offenders together to reach agreements for restitution and community healing. Moreover, the NICRO, a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) in Polokwane, Limpopo Province, offers these programmes to offenders and their victims. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of VOM and FGC programmes on recidivism in Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo Province. The study sought to identify factors contributing to recidivism in Limpopo Province, to explore associated challenges in response to recidivism by the local NICRO and to determine strategies employed by NICRO in response to recidivism in the province. The qualitative research approach was used in the study. This study further assumed a phenomenological design, which aims to describe, understand and interpret the meaning that participants give to their everyday life. The non-probability sampling technique was used to select participants of the study. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from adult male and female offenders and their family members who participated in VOM and FGC programmes. Data was also collected using one-on-one semi structured interviews from Social Workers at NICRO. Based on the transcribed data, themes were extracted and analysed using Thematic Contents Analysis (TCA). This allowed for an all-inclusive view to be gained of participants' opinions about insights into the topic. The design of the questionnaire was based on the objectives of the study. This study established that there are factors that contribute to reoffending and challenges in response to recidivism. The findings of the study showed that factors such as unemployment and substance abuse can lead to reoffending. The study recommended that these programmes should address the criminogenic needs of offenders as a measure to respond to recidivism. It has been discovered that VOM and FGC programmes help many offenders to acknowledge and understand the impact of the crime committed to parties.

Thesis (M.A. (Criminology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / Binge drinking, crime and victimisation are increasingly being recognised as problems on university and college campuses. Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that can lead to anti-social behaviour among students. This can lead to a number of negative individual and social effects such as crime and victimisation. The key concepts, binge drinking, crime and victimisation during bashes are defined in relation to the Lifestyle Exposure Theory and Routine Activities Theory. This is done within the concepts of the theories and in particular motivated offenders, suitable targets, in the absence of a capable guardian. The aim of the study was to describe binge drinking and its resultant criminological outcomes during bashes at the University of Limpopo. A qualitative design was used in this study. The sampling method that was used to select the participants was nonprobability sampling and specifically snowball sampling. Data was collected until the saturation point, where no new information occurred. To analyse the data, thematic content analysis was used.

MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / Recidivism refers to re-offending behaviour, and recidivists are usually individuals who were arrested repeatedly for the same or different offences. The aim of this study was to explore the psychological effects of recidivism amongst male youth in Musina. This study employed the qualitative research approach because it required elaborated information which this paradigm promotes. This research adopted an exploratory design. The participants were selected through the use of purposive and snowball sampling. Data was gathered using semi-structured face to face interviews. The researcher used a voice recorder and a note pad to record the collected data. The findings of this study indicated that peer pressure, lack of education and unemployment, substance abuse, poverty, child neglect, parenting and supervision were the most common factors contributing to recidivism. The results of this study indicated that recidivists often commit petty crimes. The participants stated that these crimes included pick-pocketing, mugging, shoplifting and house breaking. Serious crimes were not common amongst the recidivists because only few of them committed serious crimes. The participants also reported that recidivism has negative impacts on their own personal lives, their families as well as on their education.

Thesis (M. A. (Criminology and Criminal Justice)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The rise of crime committed by young offenders in South Africa has become a major concern (Pelser 2008:1). The Mentz community – a small township situated in GaMamabolo - likewise experiences high levels of crime and violence, much of which is committed by young, unemployed offenders. Although the findings in this research are not necessarily applicable to other places in South Africa, it is the researcher’s opinion that the situation in Mentz Village is representative of many other places in this country, especially in rural areas. This study investigated crime among the youth in Mentz Village and focused on factors that contribute to crime among the youth. Qualitative methodology had been employed in this study and case studies, together with semi-structured interviews, were used to obtain information. Keywords: Youth crime, Mentz Village, unemployment, fatherlessness, quiting school, alcohol and drug abuse, police corruption, peer influence, Self confessed criminals.

Department of Criminal Justice / See the attached abstract below