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ASSESSMENT 7

COLLEGE OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

COURSE CODE AND NAME: SJD1501 – SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF JUSTICE

DUE DATE: 10 NOVEMBER 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CONTENTS PAGE
QUESTION 1 3
QUESTION 2
QUESTION 3
QUESTION 4
QUESTION 5
Bibliography
Academic Honesty Declaration

QUESTION 1
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1.1. Privacy is ‘the freedom from unauthorised intrusion'1. As more people share
aspects of their lives on social media platforms in an effort to connect with their
friends and family, they stand a risk of having 'hackers, companies and malicious
interlopers mining [their] data in ways that undermine personal privacy'2. In this
sense, they sell the collected data to organisations that use it to influence people,
such as advertising companies. One of the reasons why I think social media
companies and its affiliates have not been held accountable for breaching their
users' privacy is because the criminal justice system is still adapting to the
information age, and the digital social environment. Social media platforms can
jeopardize its users to cybersecurity, as some people can pose as employees of
financial institutions and extract private information that would grant them illegal
access to the users' personal finances.
1.2. The right to freedom of expression 'includes— (a) freedom of the press and other
media; (b) freedom to receive or impart information or ideas; (c) freedom of
artistic creativity; and (d) academic freedom and freedom of scientific research3.'
Social media has allowed people to actively exercise their right to freedom of
expression, and because it is a constitutional right, it carries with it the
responsibility to not violate other people's constitutional rights as well. '[When]
something is posted on social media sites, it is considered “published” and is
therefore subject to the laws applicable to traditional media, such as
newspapers’4, this makes claims such as defamation, hate speech and
disciplinary action become a possibility. This means that a person, regardless of
their social or economic status, will be subject to the provisions of the law should
it be that the statements that they "publish" on their respective social media
platforms are in contravention of the values of the Constitution.

1.3. Racism is ‘ prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual,

community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their
members hip of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a
minority or marginalized ’ 5 Social . media has allowed people with opinions
regarding racism to be held accountable, and because it is a platform of
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communication, it has become a source of evidence of a person's

behaviour. People who have prejudicial views can be held accountable by
the criminal justice system for their actions that are in contravention of the
Constitution. Adam Catzavelos was 'convicted of crimen injuria in December
after he pleaded guilty and admitted using the kword' for a video of him
expressing his relief about the absence of black people on the beach at
which he was holidaying with his family. The Catzavelos case shows that
social media is an essential tool that can hold people accountable for their
actions that violate the law and other people's rights.

QUESTION 2

2. 'Public service delivery broadly refers to services provided by governments

(local, municipal or national) to their citizens', and it comprises of the provision of
services such as healthcare, water and sanitation, education and social services.
There are services that are designed to ensure public safety such as the South
African Police Service and those that are provided by the Department of Justice.
These services ensure that citizens' human rights are upheld by the government.
Corruption has a detrimental impact on service delivery, because it hampers
socioeconomic progress. It creates systematic poverty, because service delivery
is meant to improve citizens' standard of living, ensure that people have a good
quality of life, an d create opportunities of socioeconomic advancement. When
these services are not delivered, public safety is jeopardized and this creates a
breeding ground for criminal activity to thrive, because those who are
responsible for the provision of public safe ty are not held accountable.

QUESTION 3

3. The criminal justice system in South Africa has a reputation of taking its time
when it comes to serving justice to the victims of crime. In order for victims to
be better assisted and empowered by the criminal just ice system, the South
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African Police Service (SAPS), the courts, the National Prosecuting Authority
(NPA), the Department of Justice, the Department of Correctional Services, and
social workers would have to work together so that victims of crime receive t he
empathy and justice that they need, and that the perpetrators are fairly
prosecuted by the Department of Justice, and rehabilitated by the Department of
Correctional Services. The South African Police Service (SAPS) can equip their
workforce with the knowledge and skills that are essential for ensuring that
victims of crime get the justice that is rightfully due to them. They would have to
know how to counsel people who have bee n abused, and demonstrate empathy
to those whose rights have been violated. Their cases would have to be taken
seriously, to ensure that the suspects are held accountable by the courts. Legal
professionals and presiding officers would have to adhere to the provisions of the
law meticulously, so that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the
law. Victims of crime can be further assisted and empowered by can help them
process the social workers who effects of the emotional trauma that they endured
by providing counselling services to them. This would help them to heal
emotionally, and reduce the probability of revenge criminal The Department of
behaviour from happening. Correctional Services would have to fulfil its duty to
rehabilitate convicted criminals, so that the cycle of criminal activity ends. its The
convicted criminals . would have to be rehabilitated in a way that does not strip
them of their constitutional rights

QUESTION 4

4. Functionaries can ensure justice by being compassion ate towards victims.

QUESTION 5
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5. My aunt is part of a community society that collects money on a monthly

basis to buy food in bulk in order to beat inflation and save money. It was later
discovered that some members embezzled the money when the bank statements
showed that there were funds that were collected, but not deposited into the
account. She stood up against the perpetrators by demanding that they pay back
the money, or face the consequences of having their membership revoked. The
money is still being paid back and the perpetrators’ membership has been
revoked. I look up to her for guidance because she stood up for receiving
backlash from other people.

QUESTION 6

6. what she believed in despite I expected online learning to be challenging,

given that prior to enrolling in this academic programme internet access only
meant scrolling through my social media feeds and surfing the internet, and this
made me wonder if I would have the discipline to b e a proactive learner. I have
learnt to have prioritise my education, and use the internet to facilitate my
learning. The Moodle app made it easy to keep track of my assessments and
their due dates. It made learning less stressful because I could also monitor my
progress with the feedback that I received. I was accustomed to in person
learning, because it was the only mode of learning with which I was familiar. I
was very concerned about self would have the discipline to manage my study,
and wondered if I time and learn effectively my own. The group discussions were
helpful in the sense that they allowed me to learn from my peers' opinions. It
also showed me that regardless of how alone I might I have felt during this
semester, there were at least fifty ot her people who were in it with me. I have
befriended people who are determined to succeed in their studies as well as
their careers. They have encouraged me to keep going, and remain consistent
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regardless of the personal challenges I have encountered durin g the year. There
were no mandatory group assessments in this module, however, with the people
that I have befriended, I have managed to have private discussions where we
would engage with the contents of the module, and relate the theoretical
concepts of this module to what would be practically applicable in the real world.
The extensive discussions that we had have taught me to respect other people's
opinions regardless of how much they differ from mine. It has also shown me
that learning does not have o ne source, we also learn from other people
through their experiences and their beliefs. This module has been insightful in the
sense that it has propelled to have a deeper understanding of the criminal
justice system and the importance of incorporating the principles of ubuntu in the
pursuit of justice. As an aspiring legal professional, it has taught me that the
justice system is like a community that requires each person to play their role in
ensuring that we live in a just and democratic society.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. …
2. …

ACADEMIC HONESTY DECLARATION

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