| Over the years scholarly attention world-wide has shifted from the study of ´the police´ to increased focus on ´policing´. A number of policing entities have, fairly recently, emerged which operate alongside the traditional ´state´ police. Various academics have referred to the operation and activities of these policing entities - with the state police as just one role-player - as ´security networks´ or plural policing. Plural policing therefore includes policing entities such as commercial security, municipal and city police as well as other units (such as the military) which engage in policing duties along with the state police. In order to keep up-to-date with current debates it is important that a conceptual shift take place from our narrow focus on police accountability to policing accountability. Although much literature has emerged from North America and Europe on plural policing and the changing nature of security governance, not much is known about policing accountability, also known as non-state oversight, in Southern African states. Therefore, in order to broaden the theme of police accountability, focus will be placed on the oversight mechanisms in operation for holding non-state policing entities accountable. This organogram provides an overview of plural policing in South Africa.
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