Solutions to stop crime in South Africa

The annual crime statistics for 2020-21, released by Police Minister Bheki Cele in December, showed drops in virtually all types of violent crime. Most property crimes also decreased.

For reasons probably related to the COVID-19 lockdown, murders recorded by the South African Police Service (SAPS) went down by 6 per cent, from 21 325 in 2019-20 to 19 972 in 2020-21. Taking into account Statistics SA’s national population estimates, this represents a decrease in the murder rate from 36.3 to 33.5 per 100 000 people.

But these national statistics oversimplify the picture. There are major differences in crime across South Africa – and they must be well understood for responses to work. More nuanced policing and violence prevention are needed, rather than the one-size-fits-all approach reflected in police strategic and performance plans.

To support this, provincial and metropolitan governments should be given greater authority regarding policing – especially those that can shape policy in a useful way.

Provinces vary not only in their levels of urbanisation, economic activity, and demographic and geographic characteristics, but also the nature of violence and other crimes. Metropolitan areas often have distinct features that differentiate them from other parts of the provinces they’re in.

Murder figures provide a good example. During 2020-21, murders dropped in all nine provinces but there were major differences in the scale of the decline. South Africa’s murder rate is mainly driven by the high rates in three provinces – the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In 2020-21 both the Eastern and Western Cape recorded 55 murders per 100 000 people. KZN recorded 42 per 100 000 (Chart 1).

Data source: SAPS, Stats SA

The latest figures show that these three provinces recorded the lowest percentage of reductions in murder numbers. In the Eastern Cape, the level fell by 4 per cent, the Western Cape by 3 per cent and KZN by 1 per cent. In the six other provinces, murders dropped by an average of 13 per cent per province.

There are also major variations in how violence is distributed in each province. Murder in the Western Cape is concentrated in Cape Town. In 2019-20, 78 per cent of murders in the Western Cape happened in the city. A quarter of these are believed to be gang-related. Gang violence is concentrated in specific parts of Cape Town, mostly the Cape Flats.

The Eastern Cape also has a gang violence problem concentrated in the north-western suburbs of Gqeberha and other nearby parts of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. But the province’s violence patterns differ from those in the Western Cape. Violence in the Eastern Cape is not as concentrated in metropolitan areas.

In 2019-20, the Nelson Mandela Bay metro area accounted for just 21 per cent of Eastern Cape murders. The per capita murder rate in Nelson Mandela Bay (69 per 100 000) was similar to that in the Amathole (70 per 100 000) and Chris Hani (67 per 100 000) district municipalities. The OR Tambo and Joe Gqabi districts also had high murder rates at 58 and 57 per 100 000 respectively.

The Eastern Cape’s other major metropolitan area, Buffalo City, recorded a murder rate of 42 per 100 000 – lower than Nelson Mandela Bay and all district municipalities in the province.

KZN’s major metropolitan area eThekwini accounted for 41 per cent of the province’s murders in 2019-20. Like in Eastern Cape, high murder rates outside this metro area contributed to the provincial murder rate of 42 per 100 000.

Gauteng, which is primarily composed of three major metropolitan areas – Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metros – had a murder rate of 26 per 100 000 in 2020-21; less than half of those recorded in the Eastern and Western Cape.

Another difference between the provinces is in the weapons used. Data from the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) latest national survey of injury-related deaths, published in September 2021, shows that weapons like knives (‘sharp force’) account for 41 per cent of murders in South Africa. Firearms account for 32 per cent.

The SAMRC data, which reflects deaths in 2017, says the Western Cape (42 per cent) and Gauteng (41 per cent) have the highest proportion of firearm homicides. In the Western Cape, sharp force also accounted for almost 42 per cent of deaths. In Gauteng it accounted for 28 per cent.

Source: The 2nd Injury Mortality Survey: A national study of injury mortality levels and causes in South Africa in 2017, South African Medical Research Council.

Elsewhere in the country, sharp force-related homicides outnumber those connected to firearms use, though proportions vary substantially. In KZN, firearms accounted for 35 per cent of homicides and sharp force 41 per cent. In all other provinces, firearms accounted for less than 30 per cent of homicides.

Different strategies are needed in different parts of the country to deal with the primary manifestations of violence. A continuing focus on gun violence is clearly required, particularly in the provinces where this has the biggest impact. But other aspects of violence must also be addressed. Interpersonal conflicts between acquaintances more frequently involves sharp force and blunt force weapons than firearms.

Rates and characteristics of other types of violent crime, including sexual offences, assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, and aggravated robbery also vary between the different provinces and metropolitan areas.

Section 206(2) of South Africa’s constitution states that the national policing policy developed by the police minister ‘may make provision for different policies in respect of different provinces after taking into account the policing needs and priorities of these provinces.’ But a national policy that confronts the policing needs of the various provinces hasn’t been developed since the Constitution was passed in 1996.

South Africa needs a new, more effective set of arrangements that align crime and violence responses to the varying characteristics and needs in different parts of the country. This should include legislation empowering provinces and metropolitan governments to play a more active role in setting policing policy. They should also be legally able to provide greater support to community-based initiatives working to prevent crime and violence.

David Bruce, Independent Researcher and Consultant, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a PREMIUM TIMES syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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Violent crime is deeply entrenched in some developing countries, particularly in Latin America. Our experts offer these solutions to bringing down high rates

Wed 1 Jul 2015 00.03 AEST

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Treat violence as a public health concern: We need to use campaigns and technology to reach every child and family in these countries. We need to develop those tools to make sure that everybody feels important and cared for through parenting interventions, family interventions, wellbeing campaigns, and early childhood education. Anilena Mejia, research fellow, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Localise programmes: During the 90s in Rio we had rates of homicide that would go beyond epidemic levels (over 100 per 100,000 citizens). It took a really costly but comprehensive programme in Brazil called Pronasci to tie up a lot of elements that were drivers of violence in the country, building local frameworks, gun-free zones and fostering civic culture to reduce violence, which has been the case in Bogotá, Medellín in Colombia and Santa Tecla in El Salvador. Natasha Leite de Moura, project adviser, public security programme, United Nations, Lima, Peru

Focus on hotspots: We’ve got scientific evidence that a focus on hotspots and ‘hot people’ can prevent or reduce violence. But we need also accompany this with other measures – urban upgrading, better urban planning, situational prevention – especially early childhood intervention. Robert Muggah, research director of Igarapé Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the SecDev Foundation, Canada

Look at the whole picture: While people are aware that there are high levels of lethal violence in Brazil, this is often misrepresented by national and international media as a simple cops vs robbers dynamic – a misrepresentation that more often than not criminalises poverty. Much more work needs to be done on understanding the official and unofficial social, political and economic structures that sustain these high levels. Damian Platt, researcher, activist and author, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Create well-targeted programmes: If the goal is to reduce homicides, then programme selection should be located in hotspot areas and focused on the population group most likely to commit violence crimes, often young males between 10-29 years old. The risk factors for why these young men get involved in criminality also needs to be clearly diagnosed and complemented with a treatment plan that involves the family and community. Enrique Roig, director, citizen security, Creative Associates, Washington, DC

Focus on prevention: Prison populations are overflowing, crime is high and violence is a culture in South Africa. The focus needs to be on preventing the conditions that draw people into violent or criminal behaviour. In order to do this we need a systematic, integrated, coordinated approach combining the responsibilities of a wide range of state and non-state actors. Venessa Padayachee, national advocacy and lobbying manager, Nicro, Cape Town, South Africa

Avoid repressive policies: Many countries have approached the problem of violence from a crime and security angle, focusing their action on law-enforcement only. Unfortunate examples of this are the ‘mano dura’ tactics in Central America. While justice and police have an important role to play, repression only is counter-productive if not combined with development interventions that look at the drivers of violence, and tackle things like skills and education of youth, socio-economic inequalities, and access to communal services. Luigi De Martino, senior researcher, Small Arms Survey, Geneva

Be proactive: You have to systematically invest in protective factors. Supporting proactive community associations and schools to activate their involvement has also demonstrated positive results in places such as Cape Town, Chicago and New York. In addition, promoting links between neighbouring communities that adjoin each other is also important. John de Boer, senior policy adviser, United Nations University, Centre for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan

Don’t forget about male violence: There are lots of interventions that are focused on women’s rights. These are noble. But the vast majority of killings I have seen around the world are by men on men. I think this needs to be addressed. The international community focuses a great deal on the impact of violence against women. If you address the male drivers of violence, you reduce the female harm of violence. Iain Overton, author, Gun Baby Gun, London

But treat male and female violence as the same issue: Male and female dimensions of violence are connected. We need to look at these issues comprehensively rather than a divide and conquer approach. Research has shown it is not just about single risk factors (i.e. being a male is a risk factor) that determines violence – rather it is the accumulation of risk factors that produce violence. John de Boer

Move away from the focus on poverty: Criminalising certain areas or groups makes it harder for people to actually coexist, and the emphasis on poverty is a misleading one. Latin America proves as long as history of studies that show poverty and violence do not have a direct correlation. Countries are overcoming extreme poverty and becoming more violent, so it is now part of our job to look beyond those solutions and what other factors may be driving those rates. Natasha Leite

Focus on gun control: Where there are no guns, there are no gun deaths. A simple and practical way to start impacting armed violence is to try to stem the flow of illegal guns. I believe in the gun control approach as a first step. Iain Overton

Understand that violence is going virtual: Cyberspace is a new domain for violence. This ranges from the use of social media to project force (videos showing assassinations, torture, threats), to recruit would-be members of extremist groups (digitally savvy marketing campaigns, online chat sites), for selling product (deep web), and also for more banal but no less important forms of intimidation and coercion (bullying). Violence is going virtual, and we need to get a much better handle on all of this. Robert Muggah

Find the balance between repression and prevention: Local experiences and efforts deal mainly with interpersonal aspects of violence. When illicit or transnational crime starts co-opting state forces, people stop trusting their security forces, governments and start focusing on private and personal security, stop using public spaces. So the idea is not create a system based entirely on repression or prevention, but to find that balance and incorporate rehabilitation and reintegration policies and funding into security strategies. Natasha Leite

Intervene early: We know that a better understanding of the drivers of violence is essential, and that starting interventions early (childhood - possibly even before kids are born at a pre-natal stage) is crucial. John de Boer

Learn from history: A lot of human rights violations of massive proportions in Brazil, such as slavery and dictatorship, were never really dealt within a transitional or reconciliation process. At the same time, the security forces are relying on structures that don’t make sense and foster competition and corruption. Natasha Leite

Keep in mind the impact of drugs: The global “war on drugs” is a massive driver of crime, violence and insecurity, not only in the Americas but increasingly globally. It is time for all international anti-violence development initiatives to take this on board. It still amazes me how much taboo there is around this issue, especially regarding the cocaine industry. Damian Platt

Target inequality: We need to address economic inequality which I believe is central to reducing crime and violence in the long run. We need universal provision of high quality childcare that is affordable for all, and to narrow the difference between the top-to-bottom earnings and rebuild the link between economic prosperity and wages. Vanessa Padayachee

Be aware of the link between organised crime and terrorism: My own take on the Zetas is that the lines that once separated organised crime from terrorism are increasingly blurred. That does not mean that they are the same actors, nor motivated by the same factors. However, there is an increasing convergence among some gangs and terrorists in terms of their methods. The Zetas have clearly appropriated terrorist tactics to pursue their motives. John de Boer

See violence as a priority: One thing that we need to do better at the UN is to better prepare peacekeeping, humanitarian, and development actors to ensure that their interventions reduce violence over the long-term by helping to move key reforms and structural changes forward. One key development would be a measurable and effective target within the SDG process to reduce violence. This needs to be a global priority. John de Boer

Raise awareness of improvised explosive devices (IEDs): Countries can be more active in the control of conventional munitions stockpiles, states and international bodies can mitigate the proliferation of IEDs. They can step up the sharing of information on IED events to enhance awareness of the threat and to inform national and international decision making. Luigi de Martino

Use non-violent language: In a nation that has a long history of violence, we need to teach non-violence and non-violent communication. In the work I do with young men coming out of gangs, teaching non-violent communication, conflict resolution and basic communication skills has been so powerful. Vanessa Padayachee

Remember the details: Too often development programmes are scattered across a wide geographic area and the indicators for success are based on development outcomes and not reducing violence. For example, a workforce development programme to employ young people in a middle-income neighbourhood should be quite different from a workforce development programme targeted at young men who have been in conflict with the law. The latter will require soft skills, cognitive behavioural therapy and trauma counselling in addition to the job component. Enrique Riog

Be smart: We believe that targeted investments in income de-concentration, primary and secondary education, early family support, and the rest can prevent violence but not if conducted in a blanket approach. We need to get smarter about how we allocate aid if we want to really have a meaningful impact on preventing and reducing violence. Robert Muggah

Is there anything that we’ve left out? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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