100 individuals cause a large percentage of all violent crime in Gauteng
Dr Frans Cronje revealed that around 100 individuals cause a large percentage of all violent crime in Gauteng, and the police know who they are and where they live.
Cronje is an independent political and economic analyst and scenario planner, and one of South Africa’s most respected voices on social issues.
He told delegates at the Biznews Conference that an expert in the field of crime said arresting the top 100 criminals in Gauteng would significantly reduce crime in the province.
He added that it is no secret who they are and where they live. “Their whereabouts and addresses are known,” Cronje said.
This means that arresting these violent criminals would be a simple matter for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to perform its function.
“Should these criminals be arrested, it would slash the serious and violent crime rates in the Gauteng province,” he said.
Cronje said it shows that a very small number of individuals are responsible for the great majority of serious and violent crimes that happen.
“It is not the case of a mass of murderous people stalking the streets in South Africa and causing mayhem,” he said.
Previous comments from the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA) and the Gauteng Premier align with Cronje’s statements.
Earlier this year, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi stated that they have identified and profiled 422 kingpins responsible for the worst crimes in the province.
“These 442 kingpins are responsible for cash-in-transits, kidnapping, hijackings, rented murder, ATM bombings, blue-light gangs and business robberies,” he said.
The NPA stated that the fight against crime, and especially organised crime, should focus on disrupting the activities of a relatively small number of individuals.
The individuals who should receive the most attention are serial offenders, organised crime kingpins, and those involved in grand corruption.
However, it admitted that it is not easy as these targeted offenders have deep pockets, wily lawyers and powerful friends.
A small number of individuals cause a large percentage of serious crime
This situation is not unique to South Africa. Similar trends are seen in numerous countries and cities across the world.
The Atlanta Police Department, for example, said 1,000 repeat offenders are responsible for 40% of all crime committed in the city.
A 2013 academic study confirmed that a small number of persistent violent offenders perpetrate the majority of violent crimes.
These persistent violent offenders are typically males, characterised by early onset of violent criminality, substance abuse, personality disorders, and nonviolent criminality.
A similar study in South Africa showed that there is strong evidence that repeat offenders and those involved in gangs represent a disproportionate share of violent crime.
Gang membership is a recurring factor among the offenders with more serious or more frequent violent offences.
There is also a high spatial concentration when it comes to violent crime, with a small number of police areas generating a high share of violent crime.
In South Africa, the pattern of recidivism, the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend, is very high. Simply put, many individuals don’t commit a crime just once but persist over time.
The Institute for Security Studies said that highly flexible groups are at the epicentre of organised crime in South Africa.
It gave the example of the spate of 2014 mall robberies in South Africa, which were all linked to three main networks.
“Specialised law enforcement agencies are acutely aware that these highly flexible groups are at the epicentre of organised crime,” it said.
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