Crime will aggravate South Africa’s growth crisis

Significance

South Africa’s crime rates have long been among the world’s highest. Much of this constitutes interpersonal violence, where the victim and perpetrator know each other. However, rapidly evolving categories of organised crime are compounding the economic effects of high crime rates.

Impacts

• Economic growth is lagging far behind population growth, aggravating socio-economic conditions that perpetuate crime.
• South Africa has become a major hub for global distribution of illegal drugs; gangs are particularly entrenched in Western Cape.
• Criminal enterprises have reportedly subverted some members of the police force, and murdered others.