Exploring the high murder rate in South Africa

Abstract

The objects of this research are: first, to explain some of the causes of high murder rates in South Africa. Second, to refute the labelling of South Africa as the murder capital of the world. Third, exploring some alternative ways to violence resulting in deaths.
 The author investigated the following problems: murder done predominately by men, the inefficiency or shortcomings of the police to investigate murder successfully and lack of reports showing a drastic reduction of murders rates, possible due to lenient sanctions given by the courts.
 The main results of the research are:
 First, South Africa has been incorrectly referred to as the murder capital of the world. A label that scares would be visitors away from the country. This misleading labelling turned out to be factually incorrect according to several reports. Second, there are myriads of reasons why the death rates are very high in South Africa namely: varieties and normalization of violence; socio-economic inequalities; high youth unemployment rates; alcohol and drugs; culture of violence; easy access to firearms; lenient prison sentence; membership of gangsters; ineffective police investigation units; Mental illnesses or psychotic disorders and satanic beliefs.
 The area of practical use of the research: is for all citizens, directly or indirectly affected by police and safer communities. Criminal justice students in higher institutions and criminal justice practitioners, government officials, and policymakers.

Homicide in Global Extremes: Exploring the Feasibility of EHM-Based Analysis in Finland and South Africa

“…In terms of income distribution, South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world. A society without Nordic-style decommodification of life chances places extensive pressure on socially disadvantaged persons to maintain or improve their position in the social hierarchy (Yesufu, 2022). The high risk of men committing violent crimes has been interpreted as a means for them to achieve social mobility, belonging, and respect and establish street credibility in contexts of “advanced marginality” (Lindegaard, 2017, as cited by Lindegaard & Jacques, 2014; Wacquant, 2008).…”

Analysis of orthopaedic injuries in CT pan scans of polytrauma patients at a quaternary academic hospital

“…The burden of violence in South Africa is emphasised by the crime rate of 77.3%, which is the third highest crime rate in the world. 17 In the analysis of spinal fractures (196/1012), these accounted for most of the orthopaedic injuries reported on a CT pan scan. The only other study to have also shown this was published by Shannon et al 5 The authors also used CT pan scans which were compared to clinically suspected injuries.…”