Mark Shaw

Mark Shaw is a senior researcher at the Institute for Defence Policy, and co-ordinator of its crime and policing policy project. Before joining the IDP in June 1995, he was a researcher at the Centre for Policy Studies. He has presented papers at numerous international and local conferences, and has published extensively on issues related to crime, intelligence, policing and security. He has studied at the London School of Economics and the University of the Witwatersrand, where he is currently completing a Ph D in politics.

Juan Nel

Senior superintendent Juan Nel was appointed as national co-ordinator of the SAPS RDP victim support programme in November 1995. He is a registered clinical and research psychologist, having completed his studies at the University of Pretoria (1989) and Unisa (1994). His master's thesis was entitled: 'A contextual approach to post-shooting trauma in the SAPS'. In 1986 he joined the SAPS, and in 1990 was promoted to section head: psychological support services of the Institute for Behavioural Sciences, SAPS headquarters, a post he held until recently. He also serves on the technical team responsible for diversity training within the SAPS. He has hosted a number of workshops on victim support and diversity issues.

Lala Camerer

Lala Camerer is a researcher on the IDP's crime and policing policy project, focusing on victimisation, crime prevention and white-collar crime. She is also a member of Business Against Crime's working group on commercial crime. She has attended and presented papers at a number of local and international conferences, and has published widely on crime and policing issues. She obtained a master's degree in political philosophy from Stellenbosch University (1993), and an M Phil in comparative social research from Oxford University (1995), the latter degree with a thesis entitled: 'A comparative perspective of victim support services with specific reference to South Africa'.

Dr Leila Patel

Dr Leila Patel is director-general of the department of welfare, where she was initially appointed during 1995 to provide a new paradigm for the delivery of welfare services through the white paper on welfare. She has worked as a social development consultant, lecturer, researcher, social worker and community activist, and is familiar with both the formal welfare sector and non-governmental initiatives in social services development programmes. She was a founder member of the community newspaper Grassroots, the Federation of Transvaal Women and Concerned Social Workers, and helped to form the United Democratic Front. She has participated in a wide range of conferences and has published more than 24 journal articles, as well as a book on the restructuring of social welfare in South Africa (Ravan Press, 1993). In June 1993 she wrote and compiled the first situation analysis report on children and women in South Africa for the National Children's Rights Committee and the United Nations Children's Fund. She studied at the University of the Western Cape and the University of West Michigan in the United States, and holds a Ph D from the University of the Witwatersrand (1992).

Prof Jan van Dijk

Jan van Dijk is director of strategic planning and programmes in the ministry of justice of The Netherlands, and professor of criminology at the University of Leyden. From 1989 to 1994 he was director of crime prevention in the ministry of justice. Van Dijk was the co-founder and first chairperson of the National Organisation of Victim Assistance in The Netherlands (1984–9). He chairs both the executive board of the National Platform for Crime Prevention and Control, and the Interministerial Task Force on Drugs. He is a member of the board of trustees of UNICRI, and was general co-ordinator of the International Crime Victims Survey (1989, 1992, 1996). He is vice-president of the World Society of Victimology, and symposium president of the Ninth International World Symposium on Victimology to be held in Amsterdam in August 1997. He has published widely on the problems of crime, the victims of crime, and related issues. In 1995 he received the Stephen Schafer Award from the National Organisation of Victims Assistance in the United States for his outstanding contributions to the victims' movement in the field of research. Van Dijk holds a Ph D in criminology from the University of Nijmegen in The Netherlands (1977).

Graeme Simpson

Graeme Simpson is a founding staff member and currently director of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), an independently funded, non-partisan, non-governmental organisation based at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is a consultant to the ministry of safety and security on the NCPS. In 1986–9 he was research co-ordinator of the Community Resource and Information Centre. At the CSVR he is involved in research, policy formation, lobbying, advocacy work and training in inter alia the following spheres: reconciliation; democratisation and the transformation of social and state institutions; policy and practice in the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and conflict management and development. He is consultant to more than 14 South African companies on managing transition and dealing with potential violence in the industrial sphere, and is involved in extensive public education and para-legal work, including appearing as an expert witness in these areas. His expertise on violence and reconciliation has taken him to Cambodia (1993), Central Bosnia (1995) and Sierre Leone (1995). He holds an MA in history and an LL B from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Janine Rauch

Janine Rauch is convenor of the NCPS team, and chief director of policy in the secretariat for safety and security, where she is responsible for servicing the national government's policy process on policing and crime prevention. Previously she was a policy adviser to the minister of safety and security (1994–5) on a wide range of issues including police training, labour relations, institutional change, and civilian oversight of policy. During 1991–4 she co-ordinated the policing research project at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. She was a member of the first South African Police Board, as well as a contributor to the ANC's Police Plan, prior to the 1994 election. She has published numerous articles on police reform, training and democratisation. She holds an honours degree in criminology from the University of Cape Town (1988), and an M Phil in criminology from Cambridge University (1989).

John Manuel

Deputy national commissioner John Manuel was appointed to his current position in December 1995. In July 1996 he was appointed as the SAPS project sponsor for the five RDP programmes, including victim support. He joined the SAPS in 1964 and qualified in police administration and personnel management. He has experience in human resource management (including training) and community relations, and worked as a station commander, district commander and deputy regional commissioner before taking up his current post. He has received, among others, the following awards for service: the SAP medal for faithful service; the SA Police Star for Outstanding Service, and the SA Police Star for Merit.

Dr Rika Snyman

Dr Rika Snyman is a senior lecturer in the department of criminology at Unisa. She is currently on sabbatical, conducting a research project on organised crime. During 1996 she was involved in UNICRI's crime victims survey. She chairs Nicro Pretoria, and is vice-president of Crimsa. She has participated in a number of international and local conferences, and has published widely in academic journals. She obtained a D Litt and Phil in criminology from the University of South Africa (1990), with a thesis entitled: 'A criminological perspective on support services to the victims of crime'.