Saturday, November 21, 2009

South Africa is one of the world’s most criminally violent countries

Every day, around 50 murders, 100 rapes, 700 burglaries and 500-plus violent assaults are officially recorded in South Africa. Although the murder figures may be fairly accurate, only around one in ten rapes are thought to be reported to the police. In a recent survey by the Medical Research Council in two provinces, more than one in four men aged 18-49 admitted to having committed at least one rape. What shocks people is not just the high level of crime but the wanton violence that usually accompanies it; gangs often kill people just for their mobile phones. It is not only whites (9% of the population) who complain. Almost everyone is afraid. In one poll 62% of South Africans said they would feel “very unsafe” walking alone in their district after dark.

Related:

UN condemns South Africa attacks on Zimbabwe workers

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