South African police conducted a major investigation in the Westbury area of Johannesburg. (File photo: Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
South Africa is facing a surge in brutal crimes that threaten lives, livelihoods and the fabric of communities, with incidents of gender-based violence (GBV), assault and kidnapping on the rise.
This is one of the findings of the 2024 Violence Survey, released this week by the RCS in partnership with BNP Paribas and the Whittaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI), which found that respondents were concerned about their personal safety and the growing violence across the country. It turns out that there is growing concern.
This study examines the impact of violence on vulnerable communities and its impact on business operations, and examines the impact of violence on vulnerable communities and its impact on business operations. , surveyed companies in a wide range of fields, including the service industry. , construction, retail, hospitality, finance, manufacturing.
Sifatisiwe Dlamini, a conflict resolution and peacebuilding expert at the Whittaker Peace and Development Initiative, said the number of crimes had decreased in 2024, but the severity of violence had increased.
“The findings on violence reflect crime statistics for the first quarter of 2024 published by SAPS. [South African Police Service]which indicates that extreme violence is becoming more prevalent,” Dlamini said.
According to the study, incidents of threats with weapons increased from 57% in 2023 to 62% in 2024, while incidents of physical assault or injury increased from 51% to 53% during this period.
Reported kidnappings and kidnappings also increased, rising from 11% in 2023 to 16% in 2024, with higher rates in the Western Cape.
82% of respondents said they felt unsafe in their community, and 81% said they felt violence was increasing due to the rising cost of living. Some 36% of respondents (double the number recorded in 2020) said they had never felt safe in 2024.
Clayton Williams, CEO of Cape BPO, which aims to attract foreign companies to the Western Cape and train and employ young people, said the country ranked 127th out of 163 countries in the 2023 World Peace Index. Said to be ranked.
“To put this into perspective, the Security Index, which specifically looks at political instability, crime, violence and unrest, ranks South Africa 12th in the world for the economic cost of violence as a percentage of GDP, at 15.38. %,” Williams said.
“Our unfortunate reality is that this persistent environment of inequality, crime, and violence continues to threaten our inherent sense of safety and security as individuals and as communities.”
The study found that reports of verbal abuse, threats of violence, and property destruction decreased by 2% and the impact of violence on respondents' physical or mental ability to perform their jobs effectively decreased by 2% and by 6%. It turns out. Reducing the impact of violence on general psychological distress.
In assessing the impact of violence on livelihoods, this study assessed four main impact areas: Being late for work, school, or higher education. Being absent from work, school, or higher education and having a physical or mental impairment in ability to perform in the workplace.
“This research shows that violence continues to impact on lives and well-being, with more than half (51%) of respondents reporting a significant increase in income or job loss as a result of their experience of violence. (compared to 12% increase) until 2023,” Dlamini said.
GBV remains a prevalent problem, with 46% of respondents reporting having been victimized by this crime, and 53% of female respondents saying they had been victimized, compared to 38% of men. I am.
Verbal assault remains the most common type of GBV perpetrated against women, with verbal threats of violence increasing by 5% and kidnappings increasing by 7%.
“By 2024, there will be a significant increase in the number of women who are too scared to go out and enjoy their normal activities.Furthermore, there will be a significant increase in the number of people living in fear, which will affect their ability to work. More and more people are saying they are,” Dlamini said.
Around 60% of women said GBV had had a negative impact on their self-confidence, and 29% said it had affected their work. A total of 59% reported that they no longer go out to do the things they love because of GBV, and 54% live in fear.
Many expressed concern that violence against their partner would escalate further if they separated. Some people fear leaving their partners or violent family members because they provide for them financially. In one case, a child victim refused to report repeated rapes because the perpetrator was the only breadwinner.
“Tackling GBV requires strategic and targeted interventions involving multiple stakeholders across society. But this is particularly urgent in the workplace, where employers must provide sufficient support. Only 54% of women feel that
“Men also expressed concerns about how violence would affect their income and job security,” Dlamini said.
crime and employees
Research shows that the ripple effects of violence against employees are constraining businesses.
Almost half of business respondents (46%) reported that community violence was a major factor in employee absenteeism, and 67 companies said absenteeism hindered business productivity. Additionally, 25% of business respondents said absenteeism is hindering employees' career growth.
However, a significant number of companies believe that community violence has an impact on employees' 'presenteeism' (employees being present at work but unable to concentrate due to pain), well-being and career growth. decreased to
RCS human resources executive Sandy Richardson said the latest softening could suggest the impact was being underestimated or that businesses were adapting.
However, the number of companies saying they are actively taking steps to support employees living in violent areas decreased by 10% (from 72% in 2023 to 62% in 2024).
Richardson said that although corporate efforts appear to be decreasing, many companies maintain a consistent focus on employee transportation, accommodation, and counseling, including psychological and emotional support. He said that
