Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: An increase in autopsied cases of community assault fatalities has been
observed at the Tygerberg Forensic Pathology Services Facility. A paucity of information
exists as to the incidence and prevalence of these cases in a South African context.
Objectives: To determine the patterns and trends of injuries sustained in so-called
community assault fatalities.
Methods: A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. Fatal community assault
cases admitted to the Tygerberg Forensic Pathology Facility over a ten year period, from 1
January 2003 to 31 December 2012 were reviewed. Data was collected from autopsy/post
mortem examination reports, contemporaneous notes, attached hospital records, SAPS-
180 form (completed by South African Police Services representative) and other Forensic
Pathology Services (FPS) documentation.
Results: A total of 424 cases of fatal community assault were admitted during the study
period with an annual increase between 2004 and 2008 and a second peak from 2010 to
2012. The cause of death in majority of cases was due to multiple injuries (42%) with blunt
force trauma forming the basis of most of the injuries sustained. The most prevalent areas
where these assaults occurred was Khayelitsha (166 cases) and Harare (84 cases) - one
of the sub-sections in Khayelitsha. Male subjects were predominantly assaulted with only
one female fatality recorded.
Conclusion: Adequate policing in prevalent areas is essential, to address the unnecessary
loss of life and additional burden on the criminal justice system and health care services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: „n Toename in die aantal sterftes na beweerde gemeenskapsaanranding is
waargeneem by die Tygerberg Forensiese Patologie Dienste Fasiliteit. Min inligting in
verband met die insidensie en prevalensie van sulke gevalle in „n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks
is beskikbaar.
Doelwit: Om die patrone en neigings van beserings geassosieer met beweerde
gemeenskapsaanranding-sterftes te bepaal.
Metodes: „n Retrospektiewe en beskrywende studie is uitgevoer. Gevalle van sterftes na
beweerde gemeenskapsaanranding wat opgeneem is by die Tygerberg Forensiese
Patologie Dienste Fasiliteit oor „n tien-jaar tydperk, vanaf 1 Januarie 2003 tot 31 Desember
2012, is hersien. Data is versamel van outopsie/post-mortem verslae, kontemporêre
notas, aangehegde hospitaal-rekords, SAPD-180 vorm (wat deur „n verteenwoordiger van
die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens ingevul word) en ander Forensiese Patologie Dienste
(FPS) dokumentasie.
Bevindinge: Oor die tien-jaar studietydperk is 424 gevalle van sterftes na beweerde
gemeenskapsaanranding gesien, met „n jaarlike toename in gevalle tussen 2004 en 2008
en ‟n tweede piek in die aantal gevalle gedurende 2010 en 2012. Die oorsaak van dood in
die meerderheid gevalle was as gevolg van veelvuldige beserings, met stomp geweld, die
mees algemene tipe oorsaak van beserings. Die areas waar hierdie tipe gevalle mees
algemeen voorgekom het, was Khayelitsha (166 gevalle) en Harare (84 gevalle) – een van
die sub-seksies in Khayelitsha. In die meerderheid van gevalle is mans aangerand, en
slegs een vroulike sterfte-geval is gevind.
Afleidings: Voldoende polisiëring is nodig in prevalente areas om die onnodige
lewensverlies en die addisionele lading op die kriminele regsisteem en
gesondheidsorgdienste aan te spreek.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/96936 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Herbst, Celeste Ingrid |
| Contributors | Wadee, S. A., Tiemensma, M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Pathology. Forensic Medicine. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiii, 47 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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