Main Trends in the Development of South Africa's Organised Crime

• NCJ Number: 181282
• Journal: African Security Review Volume: 8 Issue: 6 Dated: 1999 Pages: 58-69
• Author(s): Peter Gastrow
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa

Annotation

The South African government has declared organized crime a priority and has taken far-reaching steps to counter it.

Abstract

The first attempt to assess the extent of organized crime was made by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 1994. Two further audits were conducted in 1995 and 1997. The SAPS is currently engaged in its first ever scientifically conducted Organized Crime Threat Analysis. Data from 1994, 1995, and 1997 demonstrate continued growth in organized criminal activities, expansion of activities by international criminal groups (from Nigeria, Russia, China, Morocco, and Italy), increased sophistication of indigenous criminal groups, and use of more lethal weapons. The South African government has attempted to combat organized crime at the policy, legislative, and operational levels. Despite many encouraging steps, however, organized crime continues to pose a serious and growing threat to South African society. 36 endnotes and 2 tables