An analysis of the role of South African Police Service railway policing in crime prevention in South Africa

Abstract

This is a qualitative study that was intended to analyse the role of South African Police Services (SAPS) railway policing in crime prevention in South Africa (SA). Commuters are exposed to various criminal activities in the railway environment. The Metro Rail trains are the most affordable trains and for that reason, the majority of commuters use these trains to travel to and from their workplaces. This study focused on the large stations in the Gauteng province, South Africa, as there is a high influx of people coming from various provinces for job opportunities. Alexander (2019:np) states that Gauteng is the smallest province, but has the largest population and economy. The non-random sampling procedure was used to select participants. Data was collected by means of perusing the existing literature, SAPS information notes, official documents and articles. Interviews were conducted with South African Police Service Rapid Rail Unit (SAPSRRPU) members. Each unit was represented by a maximum of eight members. The information obtained from the participants was analysed by using the Atlas-ti software. This is a computer program used to analyse data in qualitative research.

Iyi ndi ngudo ya ndeme i itelwaho u saukanya mushumo wa yunithi ya vhupholisa ha raliwei ya Tshumelo ya Tshipholisa ya Afrika Tshipembe (SAPS) kha u thivhela vhugevhenga Afrika Tshipembe (SA). Vhaṋameli vha livhanwa na nyito dzo fhambanaho dza vhugevhenga kha vhupo ha raliwei. Zwidimela zwa Metrorail ndi zwone zwidimela zwi sa ḓuresi, nahone nga ṅwambo wa izwo vhunzhi ha vhaṋameli vha shumisa zwidimela izwi u enda u ya na u bva mishumoni yavho. Ngudo iyi yo sedza kha zwiṱitshi zwihulwane zwa vundu ḽa Gauteng, Afrika Tshipembe, saizwi hu na vhathu vhanzhi vha bvaho kha mavundu o fhambanaho vhane vha khou ṱoḓana na zwikhala zwa mushumo. Alexander (2019:np) u bula uri Gauteng ndi vundu ḽiṱukusa, fhedzi ḽi na tshitshavha tshinzhisa na ikonomi. Tsumbonanguludzwa dzi songo tou khethwa dzo shumiswa u nanga vhadzheneleli. Data yo kuvhanganywa nga kha u fhenḓa maṅwalwa a re hone. Notsi dza mafhungo dza SAPS, maṅwalo a tshiofisi na athikili. Inthaviwu dzo itwa na miraḓo ya Yunithi ya Tshipholisa tsha Raḽiwei tshi Ṱavhanyaho tsha Tshumelo ya Tshipholisa tsha Afrika Tshipembe (SAPSRRPU). Yunithi iṅwe na iṅwe yo vha yo imelelwa nga gumofulu ḽa miraḓo ya malo. Mafhungo o wanalaho u bva kha vhadzheneleli o senguluswa nga u shumisa sofuthiwee ya Atlas-ti. Phurogireme ya khomphiyutha iyi I shumiswa u saukanya data kha ṱhoḓisiso dza ndeme.

Ndzavisiso lowu wa qualitative wu na xikongomelo xo xopaxopa ndzima ya yuniti ya vutirheli bya maphorisa ya Afrika Dzonga ku nga South African Police Services (SAPS) eka ku sivela vugevenga eAfrika Dzonga. Vakhandziyi va xungetiwa hi vugevenga bya mixaka yo hambanana eka tirhalaweyi ta switimela. Switimela swa Metrorail swi chipile swinene, hikokwalaho, vanhu vanyingi va vakhandziyi va tirhisa switimela ku ya na ku vuya emitirhweni. Ndzavisiso lowu wu languta ngopfu switici leswikkulu swa switimela eka xifundzhankulu (provhinsi) ya Gauteng eAfrika Dzonga hikuva ku na vanhu vanyingi lava va sukaka eka swifundzhankulu swin'wana ku ta ejoni ku ta lava mitirho. Alexander (2019:np) u vula leswo Gauteng i xifundzhankulu xitsongo swinene eka swin'wana, kambe xi na vanhu vanyingi swinene na ikhonomi leyikulu swinene. Ku tirhisiwe fambiselo leri vuriwaka non-random sampling ku hlawula vanhu vo va na xiavo eka ndzavisiso. Data yi hlengeletiwe hi ku hlaya matsalwa lama nga kona, tinoti ta vutivi ta SAPS, na tidokumente ta ximfumo na tiatikili. Ku endliwe ti-inthavhyu na swirho swa maphorisa ya rhalaweyi ku nga South African Police Service Rapid Rail Police Unit (SAPSRRPU). Yuniti yin'wana na yin'wana a yi yimeriwe hi swirho swa nhungu. Vutivi lebyi byi nga kumeka eka lava a va ri na xiavo byi ve byi xopaxopiwa hi ku tirhisa Atlas-ti software. Leyi i program ya khompyuta leyi tirhisiwaka ku xopaxopa data eka rhiseche leyi endliwaka hi ndlela ya qualitative eka mindzavisiso.