Citation

Loqani A, Magadze TO. Acta Criminol. 2022; 35(1): 25-48.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Criminological Society of South Africa)

DOI

10.10520/ejc-crim_v35_n1_a2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Incidents of mob justice have been a common occurrence in numerous communities across South Africa. According to various authors, this phenomenon has shattered many young adult males' lives and their aspirations. As a result, its prevalence has generated apprehension, fearfulness, and uncertainty in people's minds. Despite the efforts of scholars, government officials, and other key stakeholders, this phenomenon continues to occur. Hence, the purpose of this article is to confirm previous findings on the same topic. This was done by exploring, from different perspectives, the underlying factors that contribute to mob justice. Respondents included police officers, community members, the Community Police Forum (CPF) and community leaders in Gqeberha (formerly the city of Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A qualitative research approach was employed to explore participants' opinions and perceptions in the selected study area. The study, by means of purposive sampling, sampled 48 respondents, namely: 16 police officials; eight CPF leaders; four community leaders; and 20 community members. The data, gathered via focus group interviews and a semi-structured interview schedule of questions, revealed that most of the participants indicated that it is very seldom that perpetrators of mob justice are identified and arrested. As a result, people are willing to participate in these incidents since they know they will most likely get away with it. In addition, the study found that high levels of crime, caused by the incompetence of the police and the justice system, greatly influence the eruption of mob justice. The participants perceived the factors that influence mob justice as an indication that communities have lost confidence in the country's justice system. Some recommendations proffered include the following: monitoring the activities of members of the South African Police Service; the improvement of police-community relations; and the delivery of community services; as well as educating/informing communities about problems connected with the application of bail and circumstances under which one can be issued with bail.

Language: en

Keywords

communities; crime; criminal justice system; Mob justice; police officers; South Africa; victims