This presentation will discuss the research method that was devised for the South African Cities Network to study crime hotspots in South Africa. It will also present the results from a three area hotspot study, namely  Philippi East (City of Cape Town), KwaMashu (City of eThekwini), and Hillbrow (City of Johannesburg). Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, such as city based crime data, crime perceptions surveys, focus group discussions and mapping, the research aimed: to better understand the state of crime and violence in high crime areas; determine how crime and safety is experienced and perceived by citizens; to highlight any relationships between SAPS crime data and the feelings or perceptions of insecurity felt by the public; and to determine residents perceptions of, and satisfaction with, law enforcement or police.

 

 

Matthew Skade is a Senior Research Officer with the Centre of Criminology at the Faculty of Law and the Safety and Violence Initiative. He is currently completing an MPhil in Criminology with the Faculty of Law, in which he is examining the relationship between the role that crime and governance plays on the safety and security of commuters at public transport interchanges.

His other research interests include safety governance: protection economies, township violence and urban safety, as well as migrants’ safety and security, public transportation and youth safety and entrepreneurship.