Understanding crime in the context of COVID-19: the case of the Western Cape Province of South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorHenrico, Ivanen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorMtshawu, Babalwaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMayoyo, Nkosana Princeen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Sciences. School for Geospatial Studies and Information Systems.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-20T09:12:34Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-08T15:55:34Z
dc.date.available2023-11-20T09:12:34Z
dc.date.available2024-01-08T15:55:34Z
dc.date.issued2023-12
dc.descriptionThesis (MMil)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: Crime mapping and geographic information system (GIS) analysis have become essential tools for law enforcement agencies and researchers in understanding, tracking, and combating crime. This master's thesis presents a comprehensive study conducted over three years (2019 to 2022) in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The study aims to map and analyse crime incidents across all categories as reported by the South African Police Service (SAPS). This research employs two widely used spatial analysis techniques within GIS, namely the Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and the Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis tool, both available in ArcGIS. The primary focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of these tools in identifying and visualising criminal hotspots within the Western Cape Province. The duration of the study spans from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2022, encompassing the period during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It's important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated regulations did not have universally accepted starting and ending dates, and various countries implemented and lifted restrictions at different times. To provide clarity, footnotes are included to specify a) the global temporal parameters of the pandemic1, b) any adjusted parameters within South Africa2, c) the precise temporal parameters of this study, and the rationale for selecting these particular dates3. This study examines crime patterns during the period of extraordinary security regulations and beyond, acknowledging the dynamic nature of the pandemic's timeline. Analogously, like WWI and WWII, wars may begin before formal declarations and persist beyond cease-fires, yet universally accepted calendar starting and ending dates are used for reference. Key findings reveal that while the pandemic led to an overall decrease in crime rates due to restrictions on movement and other factors, certain areas, notably the City of Cape Town Metropolitan, remained persistent hotspots for criminal activity throughout the period under investigation. The analysis further highlights the dominance of specific crime categories, particularly crimes against persons (CAP) and other serious crimes (OSC), which contribute significantly to the province's overall crime landscape. The results of this study hold valuable implications for law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and local authorities. By visualising and understanding spatial crime patterns, stakeholders can make informed decisions on resource allocation and crime prevention strategies, which ultimately reduce criminal activities and enhance public safety. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the field of crime mapping and GIS analysis, particularly in the context of a global pandemic. It also underscores the importance of integrating spatial analysis techniques into crime prevention and law enforcement efforts. This study offers a valuable framework for future research and crime management policy development.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extentxii, 125 pages : illustrations
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128922
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCrime analysis -- South Africa -- Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGeographic information systemsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSpatial analysis (Statistics)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCriminal statistics -- South Africa -- Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCOVID-19 (Disease) -- Influenceen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSpatial analysis (Statistics)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSouth African Police Serviceen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSAPS (South African Police Service)en_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleUnderstanding crime in the context of COVID-19: the case of the Western Cape Province of South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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