Browsing by Author "Mpofu, Zandile Faith."

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Empathy, remorse, and restoration of dignity contributing to reduced recidivism: assessing the role of restorative justice in promoting offender rehabilitation and reintegration in Durban.
(2024-11) Mpofu, Zandile Faith.; Mkhize, Sazelo Michael.; Akpan, Udoh James.
This study aims to determine whether restorative justice (RJ) programmes can help reduce recidivism and facilitate the effective reintegration of offenders into society by encouraging empathy, regret, and the restoration of their dignity. The research investigates the lived experiences of key informants and community members in Cato Manor, South Africa, using a qualitative methodology approach. The significance of restorative justice (RJ) programmes in fostering possibilities for regret among offenders and a feeling of community connection was demonstrated using thematic analysis. These results support the Social Bond Theory (SBT) and Reintegrative Shaming Theory (RST), indicating that restorative justice (RJ) can promote accountability and lower recidivism rates. Families must take an active role in helping offenders get back on track and reintegrate into society through therapy and support services. To guarantee the efficacy of RJ programmes and to ensure that they address the unique requirements of the community, the study highlights that there is a necessity of involving community members in their design and evaluation. RJ programmes can provide a route to a more efficient and compassionate judicial system by emphasising communication, healing, and reintegration; this will ultimately lead to safer and more equitable societies. The study’s conclusions advocate for a comprehensive strategy to lower recidivism, one that includes active community involvement in RJ efforts, family assistance, focused interventions, and career counselling for ex-offenders.
An exploration of communal responses to burglary at residential premises in the Cato Crest informal settlement of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province.
(2019) Mpofu, Zandile Faith.; Singh, Shanta Balgobind.; Murhula, Bashizi Bashige.
Violence and crime in countries such as South Africa are shaped by deep socio-economic inequalities; however, the spatial designs of urban areas and housing also play a role, but often in differing ways. There is little qualitative research published on communal responses to burglary in informal settlements where the hyper-permeability of housing structures directly shapes residents’ experiences of crime. This dissertation reflects on the wider literature on the consequences and experiences community members have on residential burglary. The dissertation examines the nature, effects, responses and programmes to curb burglary in the informal settlement area of Cato Crest, Durban. It asserts that the informal settlement have serious adverse effects on the people’s housing quality and their built environment. The secondary data was obtained from books, journals and seminar papers Data were obtained through semi-structured one-on-one interviews with the community members of Cato Crest informal settlement. The study provides a range of new insights into the problem of burglary and confirms some of the findings from research previously conducted elsewhere. The analysis of the area reveals that both the burglary rate and the proportion of repeat burglaries are much higher in the public housing areas. The high burglary rate in this area is partly attributable to the large number of burglaries of vacant public housing dwellings, usually involving the theft of household items such as mobile phones, stoves and television sets. Various research and policy implications emerge from the study, such as: the need to address police data quality issues; the need for the police or the nearby clinics to employ psychologists that will be readily available for the victims who experienced burglaries and cannot cope; the need for greater clarification in defining what is meant by repeat burglary victimisation; the need to provide programs for the community to curb burglary; the need for greater cooperation between the police and the community members to curb such crimes as burglary. Therefore, government is encouraged to see informal settlements as a solution to new city planning rather than a problem to the urban areas. This research study suggests the implementation of policies and planning, physical infrastructural development, social economic improvement, environment and health improvement. Government, the private sector and communities’ interventions on informal settlements are required in order to prevent burglaries by making sure the perpetrators are punished and the victims are taken care of.
Perceptions of community members on restorative justice programmes on offenders and victims of crime: a case study of Cato Manor in Durban KwaZulu-Natal.
(2024) Mpofu, Zandile Faith.; Mkhize, Sazelo Michael.
Restorative justice programmes in South Africa have gained prominence as alternative approaches to traditional criminal justice systems, as they aim to address the needs of both the offenders and victims, while fostering community healing and reconciliation. This study explores the perceptions of community members regarding the impact and effectiveness of restorative justice programmes in the context of the Cato Manor located in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The study adopted a qualitative approach located within the interpretivist paradigm. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with a sample of 16 participants consisting of 12 community members residing in the Cato Manor community and four (n=4) community leaders who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis model. Data were collected to develop insights into community members' views, experiences, and attitudes regarding the impact and effectiveness of restorative justice programmes. Precisely, the study examined the community members’ perceptions of the benefits, challenges, and outcomes of these programmes for both the offenders and the victims of the crimes. The findings suggest that community members generally view restorative justice programmes positively, emphasising their potential in terms of promoting accountability, rehabilitation, and the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community. The participants highlighted the importance of involving the victims of crimes in the restorative process, providing opportunities for dialogue, restitution, and healing. However, limited access to resources, lack of awareness, and cultural barriers were identified as the barriers to the effectiveness of restorative justice programmes in the Cato Manor Informal Settlement. Additionally, the participants raised concerns about the need for greater community involvement, support, and capacity-building in these programmes to ensure the sustainability and success thereof. The study recommends that there is a need to increase community awareness and education on the benefits of restorative justice, improve resource allocation to support these initiatives, and foster stronger community involvement and capacity-building efforts to ensure the programmes' sustainability and success.