Browsing by Subject "Disruption"

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    Dark networks: a South African cash-in-transit crime case study
    (2025) Kok, Anna-Maria; Van Der Spuy, Elrena
    Institution Centre of Criminology, Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town The subject matter of this thesis is situated within the criminological domain of organised crime, exploring the structure of cash-in-transit criminal networks in South Africa. Whilst the current literature on cash-in-transit robberies is sparse, academic research on the criminal networks involved in these crimes is non-existent, partly due to the difficulty of obtaining reliable data on inherently covert operations. Therefore, the prevailing understanding of these networks is primarily informed by qualitative interpretations of the phenomenon. This study addresses this lacuna by advancing a mixed methods approach: network analysis is applied to a case study to investigate the nature and functioning of a cash-in-transit criminal network, with the findings substantiated by interviews with members from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, the cash-in-transit industry, and subject experts. The case study entails a notorious cash-in-transit robbery in KwaZulu-Natal, with the empirical data on the links among the offenders sourced from criminal justice records. By taking a structural approach, this study explores the characteristics of the empirical criminal network, providing a detailed analysis and visual representation of the connectivity patterns, including network-, community-, and node-level measures. Consistent with illicit network literature, this research demonstrates that disruption strategies based on social capital measures are far more effective than random targeting in dismantling a cash-in-transit criminal network. Informed by the network analysis and interviews, this thesis conceptualises the cash-in-transit criminal network cycle, which results in either trust or distrust among members following each iteration. Finally, the research shows that the stakeholders involved in policing the phenomenon are knowledgeable about criminal networks, but that a lack of crime intelligence, analytical capacity, and cooperation severely limits their ability to respond effectively.
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    Open Access
    Resilience and sustainability in the informal economy: an exploration of Cape Town's informal food traders amidst disruption
    (2025) Dodge, Catherine; Munyai, Keneilwe
    The role of informal food traders in responding to the needs of local communities is crucial to achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Different frameworks, developed by the Global North, have sprung up around the Sustainable Development Goals (a replacement of the Millennial Goals) to measure progress towards sustainability and address different aspects of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) but have a limited look at the role played by the informal economy. This gap highlights a lack of understanding of how informal systems contribute to sustainability, particularly in developing regions. Calls have emerged for increased research into the informal economy within a sustainability context, as previous economic models have largely ignored it. As part of this under-researched landscape, South African informal traders exemplify resilience as they face disruptions, such as rolling blackouts, extreme weather events, a global pandemic, and persistent socioeconomic challenges like high unemployment and inequality. Food security is at risk for millions of South African households as families grapple with high food inflation and low disposable incomes. Building on the strengths of inductive, interpretivist approach, this qualitative study explores how informal traders respond to disruption to increase the sustainability of their businesses in Cape Town, South Africa. Using data collected through semi-structured interviews and observations, this study sheds light on the resilience and adaptability of informal food traders and the crucial role they play in providing food security in low-income areas. It looks at existing sustainable practices within the business and highlights where technology may be used as a tool for scalability and replicability. The significance of this study lies in recognising informal traders as potential catalysts for sustainable practices, influencing larger market trends and environmental stewardship.