World’s most violent cities: SA getting worse

The latest report from the Mexican Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice shows that Cape Town has retained its position as South Africa’s most violent city – and is getting worse.

The report lists the 50 most violent cities in the world by the number of murders per 100,000 people.

The rankings only consider cities with populations exceeding 300,000, where murder statistics are made available.

In 2014’s report (looking at violent crime in 2013), the Mother City was the only ranked city in South Africa to climb the list.

2015’s report continues the trend, with Cape Town now ranked as the 14th most violent city in the world, with 2,244 homicides in the year – a rate of 60.0 per 100,000 population.

Cape Town was ranked 20th in 2013, owing much of its violent standing to a few notorious hot-spots for gang related crime.

According to reported crime figures, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Mfuleni, Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Harare, Delft and Gugulethu all recorded over 100 murders in 2014, totaling 1,300 deaths, alone.

Worryingly, South Africa’s other ranked cities, Nelson Mandela Bay and Durban, also climbed the ranking, 35th (2013: 41st) and 38th (2013: 48th), respectively.

Nelson Mandela Bay recorded 402 homicides, giving it a rate of 34.9 per 100,000 people in 2014.

Durban recorded 1,442 homicides, a rate of 34.7 per 100,000 people.

Johannesburg, which often bears the title of the unsafest city in South Africa, was last ranked by the group in 2011 in 50th position.

The city has not been ranked in the top 50 since then, as its homicide rate has not been higher than 25.5.

Joburg’s most violent district is Roodepoort, which recorded ‘only’ 94 homicides in 2014.

Most violent cities in South Africa (murder rate)

Most violent cities in South Africa (ranking)

Most violent cities in the world

For the fourth consecutive year, San Pedro Sula, in Honduras, tops the most violent city list with a rate of 171.20 homicides per 100,000 citizens overall.

Within the 50 ranked cities, there are:

• 19 in Brazil
• 10 in Mexico
• 5 in Colombia
• 4 in Venezuela
• 4 in The United States
• 3 in South Africa
• 2 in Honduras
• 1 in El Salvador, Guatemala and Jamaica

The overwhelming majority of the 50 most violent cities in the world are located in the American continent with 47 cities and particularly in Latin America, with 43 cities.

The most significant homicide rate increase took place in the North American city of St. Louis, which saw homicide rates increase by 46% (from 102 murders in 2013 to 120 in 2014).

Most violent cities in the world

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