An Exploratory Study on Mechanisms in Place to Combat Hacking In South Africa: A Criminological Perspective.

ABSTRACT: In the past two decades, third world countries such as South Africa have made steadily developments towards combating hacking as a form of Cybercrime. The developments made by the South African Criminal Justice towards the prevention of hacking have been mildly progressive. The Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime is the treaty that all South African legislation and policy with regard to hacking is required to be in line with this convention. This treaty has also been the cornerstone to first world countries such as the United States, when preventing cybercrime such as hacking. In order for South Africans to have a safe and secure cyberspace that is free from hackers; there needs to be a co-operative system put in place by the South African Criminal Justice System that involves the government, non-profit organizations and the community. A Criminal Justice system that works closely with the community is able to properly guide its members and correctly prosecute the crime of hacking. Therefore, using qualitative secondary data this paper explores the existing measures put in place by the South African Criminal Justice to combat hacking. The findings of this paper indicate that conceptual understanding of this crime (hacking) can play a pivotal role in addressing the manifestation of this crime in a large extent as the nature and extent can be established, the use of technological means also contribute to hacking, this is also linked to individuals (victims) ignorance. For recommendations, the use of technology and conventional method in awareness can help in responding to the scale and consequence of hacking in South Africa.
KEYWORDS: South African Criminal Justice System, Hacking, Cybercrime and Cybersecurity