"A violent offender who engages in armed violence
presents the danger to others, and is what gives the current epidemic of
violent crime in SA its most malevolent edge."
The South African 2014/2015 crime statistics were released
on 29 September 2015 by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Murder, as defined by the South African law as the unlawful
and intentional killing of another human being, had increased yet again. There
were a total of 17805 murders over the period 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015. This
translates to almost 49 murders per day.
Furthermore, there were almost as many
attempted murder cases (17537), the unlawful act with the intention of killing
another human being but which does not result in the death of that human being,
which in turn works out to 48 people per day.
To put it into perspective with the rest of the world, the
murder rate per 100 000 was 33, five times higher than the 2013 global average
of 6,2 murders per 100 000. In 2012, the South African murder rate per 100 000
was 31.
For other countries, the murder rates indicators are (as per the World
Banks's 2012 data) as follows:
- Australia (1,1)
- Brazil (25,2)
- UK (1)
- New Zealand (0.9)
- SIngaore (0.2)
- USA (4.7)
The reason this murder rate indicator is so important is that
the murder number reported is probably close to the actual number committed and
is an indicator of a country’s stability – the higher it is, the less stable a
country is likely to be.
This high murder rate and attempted murder rate is an
indication of the deadly violence used in SA crime.
But why is this so?
In February 2007 the Centre for the Study of Violence and
Reconciliation was asked by the South African government to carry out a study
on the violent nature of crime in South Africa. The study resulted in the
production of seven reports completed over the period June 2007 to April 2009.
Out of those reports, 5 main reasons were established:
1. A problem of armed violence linked to a subculture of
violence and criminality.
Many young men in South Africa have resorted to a
"criminal career" that ranges from individual rapists and robbers, to
being part of a larger crime syndicate or groups. Furthermore, in order to
maintain credibility in this "profession", they have to resort to
using extreme violence when carrying out their crime, very often with a weapon
of sort (a knife and/or gun).
2. Inequality, poverty, unemployment, social exclusion and
marginalisation.
Unfortunately, many of these social issues are still very prominent
within the South African society. Research has shown that societies with high
levels of inequality tend to have high levels of violence, and hence directly
increases the rate of crime.
3. Vulnerability of young people linked to inadequate child
rearing and poor youth socialization.
The childhood experiences of many
children and young people in South Africa involve multiple levels of adversity
including poverty, unstable living arrangements, absent, indifferent or violent
fathers and alcohol or other substance abusive parents or relatives. Research
has shown that these conditions could increase a child's probability of become
involved in criminality and violence later on in life.
4. Perceptions and values related to violence and crime.
Over the years, due to political and social issues, South African's have become
very ambivalent towards crime and the law. Furthermore, perhaps due to the
frequency of violence in our communities, a belief has come about that violence
is a necessary and justified means of resolving conflict or other difficulties.
5. Reliance on the Criminal Justice System (CJS).
There has
been a heavy reliance on the CSJ, which has unfortunately become plagued with
inefficiency and corruption. Because of this, the SA prisons are not conducive
for criminal rehabilitation; they worsen the behaviour of the inmates and
consolidate their place in a criminal network.
On point 4, Dr Chandre Gould, a senior researcher at the
Institute for Security Studies (ISS), further clarifies that because of the
South African political history, there was little reason prior to 1994 that
South Africans would respect the law. This was because the law were unjust and
intended to entrench white domination. In addition, the security forces,
particularly the police, were used by the state to ensure that all South
Africans lived in in fear of the state, regardless of their race.
Dr Goud further states that while our laws have substantially
changed for the better post 1994 as our Constitution protects the rights of all
South Africans and establishes the principle that all are treated equally
before the law, in practice this has been very difficult to achieve. It would
seem that those with access to wealth and power have greater privileges in a
court of law than those who don't.
Unfortunately, violence and crime in South Africa seem to go
hand in hand and is one of those reasons that many South Africans have fled to
other less violent and crime-infested countries.
As a South African living in South Africa, I feel it is our responsibility
to take the necessary precautions to ensure we safeguard ourselves and our
loved ones against this violence and crime. Many will do so by employing additional
security at their homes and business such as high-walls, electric fences, CCTV
cameras, armed-response, and so on - it is the South African way. However,
should someone ask me what security measure they should implement for themselves,
I would recommend training in some practical self-defence system, so that
should anything happens, they would be able to take care of themselves and
their loved ones.
Given all that has been written so far - crime stats,
research and precautionary advice - it is very easy to become extremely fearful
or frustrated with the current situation and could even lead to paranoia.
This
is why self-defence training is so vital. Self-defence training gives one the
ability to manage those fears and frustrations. Furthermore, with consistent
training and application, it builds 3 vital characteristics in the
practitioner, namely, self-confidence,
resilience and discipline. All this training provides a foundation for one to be
able to live their life to the fullest. For South African's who want to make a
difference in this country despite its crime issues, they cannot afford to let
their potential be wasted because of it. Hence, this foundation that
self-defence training can provide is vitally important to help them move
forward in their mission.
For a more comprehensive look at the 2014/2015 SA Crime
Statistics, download the FREE REPORT by clicking HERE.
Till next time.
Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life.
Reference:
https://www.saps.org.za
https://www.issafrica.org/crimehub/uploads/CSVRstatement091110.pdf
https://africacheck.org/2014/09/17/comment-why-is-crime-and-violence-so-high-in-south-africa-2/
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