Participants pose for a group photo
The Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Venda recently successfully hosted a postgraduate workshop on the utilisation of South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics in research at the University’s Research Centre. The workshop formed part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to strengthening postgraduate research capacity and promoting the use of credible, evidence-based data in Criminal Justice
The primary objective of the workshop was to equip postgraduate students with critical analytical and methodological skills required to effectively access, interpret and apply SAPS crime statistics in academic research. In an era where data-driven decision-making is increasingly central to both policy and practice, the session emphasised the importance of grounding research in reliable empirical evidence.
Advocate Gideon Joubert
The programme was officially opened by Advocate Joubert, who underscored the significance of evidence-based research in informing criminal justice policies and interventions. In his opening remarks, he encouraged students to engage rigorously with official data sources to enhance the credibility, relevance and societal impact of their research outputs.
Left: Dr Khethiwe Madima . Right : Mr Sifiso Mgaga
The Head of Department, Dr Khethiwe Madima, welcomed participants and introduced the distinguished speakers. Among them was Sifiso Mgaga, a Senior Data Software Engineer at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Information and Cybersecurity Centre. His ses-sion provided a practical demonstration on how to access the National Policy Data Observato-ry, offering students hands-on guidance in navigating national datasets and applying analytical tools to SAPS crime statistics. His presentation bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and technical application, enabling students to engage directly with real datasets.
Brigadier Sonnyboy Manthata (SAPS Limpopo Crime Registrar Head)
The workshop also benefited from strong participation by SAPS leadership, led by the Limpopo Provincial Crime Registrar, Brigadier Sonnyboy Kgotloana Manthata. He was joined by Colonel Matlanki Raphahlelo and Provincial Crime Prevention Commander Colonel Baratang Gladys Maja, along with other SAPS members. Their contributions brought valuable practitioner per-spectives, enriching the academic discussions with insights drawn from operational policing and crime data management.
The SAPS representatives delivered detailed presentations on crime statistics methodologies, including the processes involved in data collection, classification and reporting. They further provided in-depth explanations of crime definitions and categories, enabling students to bet-ter understand how crimes are recorded and interpreted within official statistics. This clarity is essential for ensuring accuracy and consistency in academic research.
In his presentation, Brigadier Manthata focused on several key areas, including:
Accessing officially released crime statistics through the SAPS website; Interpreting and an-alysing crime trends in a meaningful and contextually informed manner; Understanding the strengths and limitations of crime statistics as a research tool; and Applying data-driven in-sights to strengthen the quality and impact of academic work.
The workshop created a dynamic platform for engagement between academia, data special-ists, and law enforcement practitioners. It not only enhanced students’ technical competencies but also deepened their appreciation of the complexities surrounding crime data.
The initiative reflects the department’s dedication to producing graduates who are analytical-ly skilled, research-oriented, and capable of making meaningful contributions to the criminal justice sector.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
