Page 10 - UKZN Foundation AR 2023

UKZN AND SASSETA TO PROVIDE
CROWD CONTROL TRAiNiNG FOR SAPS
UKZN and the South African Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA), have joined forces to provide a course in Crowd Psychology to South African Police Services (SAPS) Public Order Police (POP). This was facilitated by the UKZN Foundation.
The course represented a comprehensive approach to crowd control, emphasising early detection, intervention, and understanding crowd behaviour. By equipping SAPS officials with the necessary skills, this course enhanced the capacity of police in promoting public safety and security. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical training, the course sought to prevent crowd violence by promoting South Africa’s constitutional values of equality, justice, non-discrimination and harmony within communities.
Brigadier Tsakani Mtileni, Section Head Planning and Evaluation for Public Order Policing in the Division of Visible Policing and Operations, said: “The course is useful in making an informed decision, understanding the behaviour
of the group, tracking trends in society, creating new crime prevention plans, and following the emerging and popular new ideas and technologies. Understanding mob mentality can be the first step in stopping crowd unrest. This academic programme will bring a different approach in helping POP members to become more aware of crowd dynamics, and it is important to stop unruly behaviour from its early stages before it escalates to the next level.”
Speaking about the partnership, UKZN Criminologist, Professor Nirmala Gopal said: “The SAPS Crowd Psychology Course offered by UKZN is seminal. The relationship between UKZN trainers and SAPS participants will be reciprocal. Each group will better understand the other. For UKZN (staff) learning more about a critical national institution that is
With the crowd baiting them, members of the riot police keep close watch on violent protesters during illegal protest action and riots in Kleinmond in the Western Cape in September 2017.
8 UKZN FOUNDATiON ANNUAL REPORT 2023