Forthcoming Events Jala Tsebo Seminar Series Police in a Democratic South Africa

This year, 2005, marks the 10^th anniversary since the passing of the South Africa Police Service Act in 1995. After the transition to democracy in South Africa, the SAPS Act provided a framework for policing under the new democratic dispensation, and marked a key moment in the greater project of transforming the police from a brutal force, to a public service dedicated to promoting safety and security for all. However, ensuring that police services uphold democratic standards is an ongoing challenge even in established democracies as police are given extraordinary powers which may be abused.

The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) will be hosting a seminar which will present some recent work and thinking as part of a discussion on the state of policing in South Africa. Topics which will be explored will include:

• How should we assess policing in South Africa?
• To what extent are the rights of police officers themselves respected in South Africa?
• The state of policing in relation to the realities facing police officials on a daily basis?
• Why is police corruption a problem and what could be done about it?

Speakers:

• David Bruce, one of the authors of The Police that we want: A handbook for oversight of police in South Africa, will present on a project that aims to assess the SAPS against internationally accepted standards of democratic policing.
• Themba Masuku, a senior researcher at the CSVR will present the findings of a recent assessment he has undertaken on police as citizens. This issue is highlighted as one of five key components of democratic policing.
• Antony Altbeker, works at the Institute for Security Studies and is the author of the book, The dirty work of democracy: a year on the streets with the South African Police Service, due to be launched in October. This book was researched and written while he was based at CSVR and provides a series of case studies on the day to day reality of policing.
• Gareth Newham, a project manager at CSVR will explore the challenge of police corruption in South Africa. Based on ongoing research since 1999, he will provide insights into why police corruption occurs and what could be done to more effectively address the problem.

Venue: The Women's Jail - The Temporary Exhibition Space, Constitution Hill, 1 Kotze Street, Braamfontein (see attached map)

Date: Tuesday 27^th September 2005
Time: 17h00 for 17h30 - 19h00
For further information, confirmation etc., please contact:
Bilkees Vawda bvawda@csvr.org.za or 011 403 5650

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