THE AUTHOR

Published in Monograph No 84, April 2003

Policing the Ports
Reducing Illicit Trafficking in South Africa

Anthony Minnaar

Since March 1998 Dr Anthony Minnaar has been a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Human Rights & Criminal Justice Studies at Technikon Southern Africa. Previously he worked at the Human Sciences Research Council’s Institute for Historical Research, Division for Local & Regional History as a Researcher (1983–March 1987), Senior Researcher (April 1987–June 1989) and Chief Researcher (July 1989–September 1992). In October 1990 he transferred to the Centre for Conflict Analysis and in April 1994 to the Centre for Sociopolitical Analysis, where he became a Research Specialist in October 1992 and in September 1995 a Senior Research Specialist. In March 1996 he became Deputy Director: Project Research & Media Analysis at the Research Centre of the Management Services Division in the South African Police Service. He has presented papers at international and national conferences and published widely.

Prior to 1990, his publications dealt with aspects of the local history of the Zululand area of KwaZulu-Natal. Topics covered included the growth of the sugar industry, malaria, nagana, early goldmining, labour problems, floods, locusts and the histories of Empangeni, Melmoth and Richards Bay. In the early 1990s, his published work focused mainly on issues of political violence and conflict, including hostel violence, warlordism, massacres, and the proliferation of firearms and self-defence units. In the mid-1990s his research interests turned to other forms of violence caused by issues such as land disputes; informal settlements; illegal squatting; evictions; taxi industry conflicts; witchcraft; xenophobia; undocumented migrants and vigilantism. Since then he has researched border controls; illegal importation; migrants’ rights; vehicle hijackings; the use of force by the police; informers; and witness protection programmes. His most recent investigation has focused on legislation to introduce stricter gun controls.

Dr Minnaar has a BA from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (1975), Honours and Masters degrees from Rhodes University (1977 and 1978), and a D.Litt. et Phil. from UNISA (1988), all in history. He earned a second honours in African Politics (cum laude) from UNISA in 1991.