South Africa’s murder rate is getting worse, with organised crime and gang violence being some of the main drivers of the increase.<\/p>\n
Last month<\/a>, the South African Police Service (SAPS) published its crime statistics for Q3 2022 – October and December 2022, with murder, assault and robberies statistics all growing.<\/p>\n Police Minister Bheki Cele said that 7,555 murders were recorded during the quarter \u2013 a 10% increase year on year (YoY).<\/p>\n Speaking to eNCA<\/a>, Lizette Lancaster from the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) said that South Africa’s murder rate has increased from roughly 30 murders per 100,000 to 44.66 murders per 100,000 over the last decade – totalling 77 murders a day on average.<\/p>\n According to the ISS<\/a>, South Africa’s murder rate in 2022 was the second highest in the world for countries with reliable crime data, with only Jamaica (52.98 murders per 100,000) being worse.<\/p>\n Lancaster said that group violence – gang violence, taxi violence, vigilantism and robberies<\/strong> – were the main cause for the increase in murders.<\/p>\n Organised crime syndicates also expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the illicit cigarette and alcohol trade growing during the nation’s lockdowns.<\/p>\n There has also been a proliferation of firearms in South African communities over the last decade.<\/p>\n Moreover, she noted that hitmen are “a dime a dozen” and are easily accessible by organised crime syndicates.<\/p>\n In addition, vigilantism is rising in South Africa, with many not trusting the police to tackle the nation’s worsening crime.<\/p>\n