Interconnections between crime prevention and local governance practices are increasingly evident through the involvement of local partnerships and local government in crime prevention. The microlocal workings and the political implications of these interconnections have, however, received far less attention. This paper uses a case study from South Africa to understand the microlocal experiences of the interconnections between what is described here as ‘crime management’ and local governance. It is argued that the extent of interconnection is beyond that captured by the concept of ‘partnership’, as multiple governance structures, including local political parties, engage in crime management. Furthermore, the paper illustrates how local governance is dominated by crime management and that this domination is explicitly tied to the party political ‘ambitions’ of the dominant ANC party. The interconnection is theorised as the criminalisation of governance within a context of state-building.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BeallJTodesAMaxwellH, 2004, “Gender and urban development in Cato Manor”, in Urban Reconstruction in the Developing World: Learning Through an International Best Practice Eds RobinsonPMcCarthyJForsterC (Heinemann, Johannesburg) pp 309–332
2.
Bénit-GbaffouC, 2008a, “Introduction”, Special Issue on South African Local Government Transformation66/67i–vii
3.
Bénit-GbaffouC, 2008b, “Are practices of local participation sidelining the institutional participatory channels? Reflections from Johannesburg”, Special Issue on South African Local Government Transformation66/671–33
4.
BuurL, 2005, “The sovereign outsourced: local justice and violence in Port Elizabeth”, in Sovereign Bodies Eds Blom HansenTStepputatF (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ) pp 192–217
5.
BurrLJensenS, 2004, “Introduction: vigilantism and the policing of everyday life in South Africa”African Studies63(2) 139–152
6.
CohenS, 1988 [1982], “Western crime control models in the Third World: benign or malignant?”, in Against Criminology S Cohen (Transaction Books, New Brunswick, NJ) pp 172–202
7.
CrawfordA, 1997The Local Governance of Crime: Appeals to Community and Partnerships (Clarendon Press, Oxford)
8.
CSVR, 2007, “The violent nature of crime in South Africa: a concept paper for the justice, crime prevention and security cluster”, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Braamfontein, South Africa, 25 June
9.
DixonB, 2004a“Introduction”, in Justice Gained? Crime and Crime Control in South Africa's Transition Ed. DixonBVan der SpuyE (UCT Press, Cape Town and Willan Publishing, Cullompton, Devon) pp ix–xxxvii
10.
DixonB, 2004b, “Cosmetic crime prevention”, in Justice Gained? Crime and Crime Control in South Africa's Transition Eds DixonBVan der SpuyE (UCT Press, CapeTown and Willan Publishing, Cullompton, Devon) pp 163–192
11.
DixonB, 2006, “Development, crime prevention and social policy in post-apartheid South Africa”Critical Social Policy26(1) 169–191
12.
du PlessisALouwA, 2005, “Crime and crime prevention in South Africa: 10 years after”Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice47(2) 427–446
13.
FikeniS, 2009, “The Polokwane moment and South Africa's democracy at the crossroads”, in State of the Nation: South Africa 2008 Eds KagwanjaPKondloK (HSRC Press, Johannesburg), pp 3–34
14.
FriedmanS2006, “Participatory governance and citizen action in post-apartheid South Africa”, DP/164/2006, Decent Work Programme, International Institute for Labour Studies, Geneva
15.
Mail & Guardian2008, “ANC to focus on crime and education, says Zuma”, 18 September, http://www.mg.co.za
16.
MethP, 2003, “Entries and omissions: using solicited diaries in geographical research”Area35195–205
17.
MethP, 2009, “Marginalised men's emotions: politics and place”Geoforum40853–863
18.
MethP, 2010, “Unsettling insurgency: reflections on women's insurgent practices in South Africa”Planning Theory and Practice11241–263
19.
MethPMcClymontK, 2009, “Researching men: the politics and possibilities of a mixed methods approach”Social and Cultural Geography10909–925
20.
OldfieldS, 2008, “Participatory mechanisms and community politics: building consensus and conflict”, in Consolidating Developmental Local Government: Lessons from the South African Experience Eds van DonkMSwillingMPieterseEParnellS (UCT Press, Cape Town) pp 487–500
21.
PillayS, 2008, “Crime, community and the governance of violence in post-apartheid South Africa”Politikon35(2) 141–158
22.
PiperLDeaconR, 2008, “Party politics, elite accountability and public participation: ward committee politics in the Msunduzi municipality”, Special Issue on South African Local Government Transformation66/6761–82
23.
RobinsonPMcCarthyJForsterC (Eds), 2004Urban Reconstruction in the Developing World: Learning through an International Best Practice (Heinemann, Johannesburg)
SinghA-M, 2005, “Some critical reflections on the governance of crime in post-apartheid South Africa”, in Transnational and Comparative Criminology Eds SheptyckiJWardakA (Glasshouse Press, London) pp 135–155
26.
StanilandL, 2008, “‘They know me, I will not get any job’: public participation, patronage, and the sedation of civil society in a Capetonian township”, Special Issue on South African Local Government Transformation66/6734–60
Van der SpuyE, 2000, “Crime and its discontent: recent South African responses and policies, crime and policing in transitional societies”, Conference Publication, South African Institute for International Affairs, Wits University, Johannesburg, 30 August–1 September, pp 167–176
