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Citation |
Mphaphuli LN. Acta Criminol. 2022; 35(1): 61-77. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2022, Criminological Society of South Africa) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
The Witness Protection Programme in South Africa caters for witnesses who testify in criminal cases and judiciary proceedings, such as commissions of enquiries. There are four main categories of witnesses, namely: victims of crime; innocent bystanders; witnesses who were part of the commissioning of crime who turn state witnesses; and expert witnesses. Witnesses are admitted to the Programme for the duration of the case in which they are going to testify, and they are later discharged after finalisation of their testimony. Some witnesses look forward to being reunited with family while some are unable to return to their homes because of ongoing threats on their lives. This is prevalent in gang-related cases where one member could be imprisoned while several are still at large. As a result, exiting the programme becomes a source of anxiety for many witnesses. Outside the programme, some witnesses find it difficult to start a new life and move on with their lives. It appears that there is a dearth of literature that focuses on what happens to witnesses after they have left the programme. This study employed a qualitative research approach to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of 30 participants about the lives of witnesses after they had been discharged from the Witness Protection Programme. Data was collected from six provinces by means of face-to-face interviews with witnesses, protectors, social workers, and senior managers in the South African Witness Protection Programme. The findings of the study point to the difficulties experienced by witnesses when they exit the programme. Some of the challenges are, namely: personal safety concerns; inability to sustain themselves without support of the programme; and lack of accommodation for those who are unable to go back to their homes. Language: en |
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Keywords |
aftercare services; community reintegration; discharge; family reunification; relocation and resettlement; support services; witness; Witness Protection Programme |