Page 11 - UKZN Foundation AR 2023

UKZN Staff seen with SAPS and SASSETA representatives at a meeting held on the Howard College campus.
responsible for keeping the country safe is going to be an exciting experience.
“UKZN staff are keen to facilitate dialogues on how crowds engaging in protests can be effectively managed rather than policed. Through the planned research component, UKZN will generate data from participants who have first-hand knowledge of the complexities of crime commissions during protest actions. This data could help plan how crowds can, and should be, managed in a proactive rather than reactive manner. The collaboration between SAPS, SASSETA, and UKZN further consolidates and promotes the narrative for a safer society.”
The training programme comprised three phases: project conceptualisation, planning and implementation. During the conceptualisation phase, UKZN Foundation brought together relevant stakeholders to collaborate and outline the project’s goals and develop a comprehensive proposal.
Acting Executive Director for UKZN Foundation, Mr Steve Camp said: “The planning phase involved selecting and training trainers, conducting pilot programmes, and establishing a realistic timeline. The implementation phase focused on advocacy, liaising with SAPS human resource development directors, and executing the training programme across all provinces. Throughout the project, monitoring and evaluation was maintained to identify gaps and provide solutions.”
SASSETA CEO, Mr Thamsanqa Mdontswa said: “The training programme ran from March 2023 to August 2024, consisting of five-day sessions in each province, facilitated by highly skilled psychologists, criminologists and social workers. The programme empowered police to recognise their biases, question information sources, and consider the consequences
of their actions. Personal responsibility and ethical decision- making were emphasised, along with the importance of multiple perspectives.”
The course is a combination of classroom lectures, interactive discussions, case studies, role-playing exercises and practical simulations. The course also included videos to observe and analyse real-life crowd control operations. Psychologist and criminology experts facilitated the training, providing practical insights and guidance.
Upon completion of the training, police received certification during a closing ceremony. Upon request, post-training support and resources will be offered to aid their transition from the programme, including individual counselling services provided by UKZN’s Ma’at Institute. The project will culminate in the presentation of a research report and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned through peer learning and collaboration among the beneficiaries.
“While the course recognises the existing knowledge and skills of POP officers, it aims to build on that knowledge collaboratively through new and disruptive pedagogies. The course is designed for adult learners to assimilate and integrate critical skills and knowledge in a fun way, using a learner-centred format,” added Gopal.
To foster a culture of ongoing learning and collaboration, the police officers will be encouraged to share their knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned from the training with their colleagues. “Peer learning can help create a network of professionals who can continue to support each other and implement effective crowd control strategies based on their collective experiences,” said Mdontswa.
UKZN FOUNDATiON ANNUAL REPORT 2023 9