Ramifications of the lockdown on community police relations during the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa

Abstract

Societies` views concerning the Criminal Justice System institutions are shaped not only by opportunities to interact with such institutions during normal work but also in part by efforts due to the larger mission (of these institutions) of encouraging and supporting such attitudes. Due to the global COVID 19 pandemic, most countries have implemented a lockdown as an initiative to control the spread of the virus. South Africa is no exception as the country joined most countries and announced the national lockdown in March 2020. With the national lockdown, Criminal Justice agencies such as the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were deployed across the country to ensure compliance with the lockdown regulations. The police are the most visible and powerful arm of the state, the nature of the state and the way it is perceived has a profound impact on police-community relations and vice versa. With South Africa’s pronouncement of the national lockdown and state of emergency due to the pandemic, more inquiries and investigations into police practice during the national lockdown will be made. It is precisely in this context that this study aims to reflect on police-community relations during the national lockdown. A criminological analysis on the ramifications of the dented police-community relations due to the national lockdown will be explored. With the national lockdown regulations, clearly gazetted, this study will also employ criminological theories to further interrogate the regulations that impacted on the dented police-community relations.

New wine into old wineskins: A theological reflection on police brutality in South Africa

“…When the SAPS and South African National Defense Force (SANDF) were deployed around the country to ensure that the lockdown regulations were adhered to, the way it was done was tactics of violence and humiliation especially towards the poor (Dzimiri, 2023). They were mostly deployed to poor Black communities and there was a lack of visibility of law enforcement in suburban areas (Rakubu, et., al 2023). Police in poorer communities often demonstrated a lack of concern, unprofessionalism and ineptitude.…”

It's like an uncontrollable demon in your body: The lived experiences of youth using crystal meth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Witbank, Mpumalanga

“…However, it cannot be concluded from the findings that the assault incidents that occurred during the COVID-19 lockdown or period are a result of substance abuse. The researchers are of the view that some incidents were instigated by regulations such as home confinement as echoed by Ramoshaba and Singwane (2023).…”

Introductory Chapter: Feminism, Corporeality, and Beyond

“…It is obvious that the pandemic has gendered effects, especially on women's lives [6,7]. During the pandemic, domestic violence was heightened [8][9][10]. The government-imposed lockdowns forced families to be confined together for longer periods of time.…”