Il existe une distinction entre les civils et les membres des forces armées. Cette distinction est implicitement la question de fond de cette étude sur la détermination du statut juridique des salariés des sociétés militaires privées (SMP) participant aux conflits armés. Par ailleurs, la défense et la sécurité de l'État sont assurées par divers acteurs de statuts différents qui ont des rôles bien définis par un cadre juridique : les civils et les membres des forces armées. La distinction sus-évoquée ne se limite pas là, mais elle concerne aussi les seuls membres des forces armées car il existe une distinction interne et une autre externe. Tous les membres des forces armées n'ont pas droit au statut de combattant. En revanche, la négation du statut de combattant à certains militaires n'est que relative et elle n'influence pas leur droit au statut de prisonnier de guerre. Ces militaires sont différents des personnes employées en dehors des forces armées et mandatées par leur employeur pour fournir des prestations auprès des armées sur un théâtre d'opérations. Cette utilisation soulève plusieurs questions en DIH. Les SMP fournissent des prestations qui vont de la logistique à la participation directe aux hostilités. Cette participation directe ou indirecte aux hostilités débouche sur une « hémorragie de langage » pour qualifier les salariés des SMP de mercenaires, de nouveaux mercenaires, de « security contractors », des soldats à vendre, des combattants irréguliers, etc. Ainsi, les salariés de ces sociétés exercent-ils une activité de mercenariat ? Leurs sociétés-employeurs constituent-elles des sociétés de secours ? ... / A distinction is made between civilians and military personnel. This distinction is implicit in the substantive issue of this study on determining the legal status of employees of private military companies (PMCs) involved in armed conflicts. Moreover, the defense and State security are provided by various actors of different statuses that have defined roles for a legal framework. Civilians and members of the armed forces are indeed links in this chain. The distinction mentioned over is not confined there, but it is also about the only members of the armed forces because there is a distinction between internal and one external. All members of the armed forces are not entitled to combatant status. However, the denial of combatant status to certain military is only relative and does not affect their right to prisoner of war status. These soldiers are different from those employed outside the armed forces and mandated by their employer to provide benefits to the armies in a theater of operations. This use raises several issues in IHL. PMCs provide services that go from logistics to direct participation in hostilities. This direct or indirect participation in hostilities leads to a “hemorrhage of language” to describe employees of PMCs as mercenaries, new mercenaries, defense and security contractors, soldiers for sale, irregular combatants, etc. Thus, the employees of these companies undertake specific activities of mercenaries? Their companies-employers do they constitute relief societies ? Are they combatants, noncombatants or irregular combatants ? This is so prompt questions that this thesis attempts to answer.

This research focusses on crime prevention on farms with Transvaal Sugar Limited as a selected study. The printed media, quantitative and qualitative research principles were used to gather data and to determine to what extend crime is experienced by the respondents. The primary aim of the quantitative research principles is to investigate the nature and extent of crime on the company`s agricultural sites. Existing crime prevention measures on the different agricultural sites are also evaluated and recommendations made where necessary. Interviews with various respondents brought to the fore interesting opinions related to crime based on the empirical-phenomenological method. The support farmers received from the SAPS is discussed in full. The value of the primary physical barriers or obstructions with regard to crime prevention were emphasised in this study. Without the support of conventional electronics, together with the inputs of the human factor, physical crime prevention measures will be of little value, especially on geographical far reached agricultural estates. Farm attacks as a separate phenomenon is part of this study and serves as a comprehensive discussion regarding media reports and previous research on this subject. The ADSC crime prevention model is developed as a result of this study with the aim of contributing to the prevention of crime on farms. Good interpersonal and loyal attitudes are identified as key factors on which the farmers must concentrate in order to prevent crime. / Criminology / D. Litt. et Phil.(Criminology)

This research focusses on crime prevention on farms with Transvaal Sugar Limited as a selected study. The printed media, quantitative and qualitative research principles were used to gather data and to determine to what extend crime is experienced by the respondents. The primary aim of the quantitative research principles is to investigate the nature and extent of crime on the company`s agricultural sites. Existing crime prevention measures on the different agricultural sites are also evaluated and recommendations made where necessary. Interviews with various respondents brought to the fore interesting opinions related to crime based on the empirical-phenomenological method. The support farmers received from the SAPS is discussed in full. The value of the primary physical barriers or obstructions with regard to crime prevention were emphasised in this study. Without the support of conventional electronics, together with the inputs of the human factor, physical crime prevention measures will be of little value, especially on geographical far reached agricultural estates. Farm attacks as a separate phenomenon is part of this study and serves as a comprehensive discussion regarding media reports and previous research on this subject. The ADSC crime prevention model is developed as a result of this study with the aim of contributing to the prevention of crime on farms. Good interpersonal and loyal attitudes are identified as key factors on which the farmers must concentrate in order to prevent crime. / Criminology and Security Science / D. Litt. et Phil.(Criminology)