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Daily Maverick
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Crime rates show hopeful decline — Is South Africa turning the corner on violence?
New official statistics showing decreased violent crime should provide the impetus for expanding holistic violence prevention strategies. South Africa's serious violent crime problem has received unprecedented global attention since President Cyril Ramaphosa met United States President Donald Trump last week in the White House. However, new data suggests that there could be cause for optimism. The January-March 2025 crime statistics released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on 23 May 2025 show that while violent crime remains high, notable decreases occurred in key categories such as murder. If South Africa is indeed turning a corner, what could be the cause, and how can we sustain the trend? The long-term trend for murder rates (Chart 1) suggests a strong correlation between levels of good governance and crime. The sharp increase between 1979 and 1993 reflects political violence during the last decade of apartheid, much of which occurred with the complicity or involvement of the state. The rate peaked in 1993 at around 70 murders per 100,000 people. The equally dramatic decrease between 1994 and 2011 was an expected consequence of settling political strife as South Africa adapted to a new democracy. The lowest rate on record in 2011 was associated with the 2010 Soccer World Cup — which united South Africans behind a government determined to host a safe international event. The negative turnaround since then started two years after Jacob Zuma took office as president in 2009. Persistent increases over the next 13 years were associated with a weakening of state institutions and rule of law during State Capture. Corruption at all levels of government rose, and local criminal groups became embedded in many communities, leading to more illicit firearms, drugs, robberies, extortion and kidnapping. A 2024 Institute for Security Studies (ISS) analysis of firearm crime indicated that the availability of illegal guns in the hands of criminals fuelled violence. The ISS' Protest and Public Violence Monitor shows how South Africans feel about crime and governance. Since 2013, there have been more than 1,250 protests over crime nationwide, often concentrated in cities. These demonstrations represent just over 11% of all protests recorded, and frequently occur in cities where violent crime is high. Many of these protests were against the police or local authorities, often intensified by poor governance and service delivery, including water and electricity woes. The latest police statistics show notable drops in major violent crimes when comparing January-March 2025 with the same quarter in 2024 (Chart 2). Murder levels decreased by 12.2% to 5,727 murders, or an average of 64 per day. Aggravated robbery dropped by 10.4% to 31,749 cases — an average of 353 a day. This decrease was driven mainly by the fall in non-residential robberies and carjacking, which are among the types of robbery making up the aggravated robbery category. Attempted murders were down 5.8% to 6,985 incidents, and serious assaults fell 5.3% to 43,776. Overall, sexual offence levels remained largely unchanged at 13,452 (six more cases), though rape increased by 36 cases. Kidnappings were the most significant exception to the downward trend for violent crime, rising by 6.8% to reach 4,571 cases. This suggests that kidnapping is increasingly being adopted as a low-risk, high-reward offence. The reduction in murder rates is good news, but it's too early to know whether this is an outlier in an ongoing upward trend or the start of a sustained decrease underpinned by stronger governance. As promising as this is, better governance alone won't address persistently high violence levels. Even at its lowest point in 2011, the murder rate was more than five times higher than the international average. A deeper look at the latest statistics shows that two key factors drive violent crime in South Africa. The first is the prevalence of organised crime, which drives most robberies, kidnappings and gun violence. Organised and syndicated crimes can be reduced by intelligence-driven, targeted policing. The second factor is interpersonal violence. Half of all murders occur over weekends, and many are associated with the excessive use of alcohol, drugs or both. Violent crime is highest in the metropolitan areas, which account for over half of these offences nationwide. The four most populous provinces — Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape — contribute 72% of murders nationally. Though murder and attempted murder rates in Gauteng are comparable with the province's share of the national population, the province (especially Johannesburg) is a focal point for two violent crime types. Gauteng accounts for 36% of armed robberies (including 55% of all car hijackings) and 53% of kidnappings nationally. Regarding rural safety, the statistics show that six people were murdered on farms or smallholdings in the past quarter, two of whom were farmers. Mchunu said both were black farmers. The other four victims were employed or resident on farms (one was white). A high number of children are killed in South Africa, often in crossfire or at the hands of their caregivers. The SAPS estimates that 1,100 children were murdered between April 2024 and March 2025. A 2015 Save the Children South Africa and University of Cape Town study showed that violence against children costs the country R238-billion annually — combining direct and opportunity costs. Exposure to violence in childhood increases the chance of further victimisation later in life, and child victims could become adult perpetrators — sustaining intergenerational cycles of interpersonal violence. Poor mental health Experiencing violence in childhood is also associated with unemployment, dependency on grants, alcohol dependence and poor mental health. Better leadership and commitment by the government to curb violence could be starting to yield results. There is a renewed effort to strengthen the criminal justice system and strong turnaround strategies in the National Prosecuting Authority and South African Police Service, including partnerships with civil society organisations and the private sector. Good, trustworthy government, strong rule of law and effective criminal justice and civilian oversight institutions are key to reducing crime and violence. But they aren't enough to increase safety to the extent needed for a strong, healthy, more equitable society. A holistic approach is vital, such as in the Presidency's 2022 Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy. The strategy applies lessons from research, showing that a caring state supporting caregivers and families is key to breaking cycles of violence in the long term. This requires strong, sustained partnerships across sectors and the involvement of all South Africans.
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How technology can combat South Africa's crime crisis
Professor Johan Burger supports the idea of bringing technology, such as drones, to fight crime. Image: Independent Media Archives Hot on the heels of the release of the quarterly crime stats, which showed a drop in the murder rate, crime experts are debating how technology can be used to put a further dent in the crime rate. This debate has heated up following President Cyril Ramaphosa's meeting with US President Donald Trump, where South Africa's crime scourge was paraded for the whole world to see. In the international media briefing, attended by Ramaphosa, Trump, government officials on both sides and South African golfers, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen as well as billionaires Johan Rupert and Elon Musk, the crime situation in the country was put in the international spotlight. Rupert pleaded with Trump to assist the country with technology to bring crime under control. He went as far as to say that US-based Musk's Starlink, which is a satellite constellation system designed to provide internet coverage, could also help South Africa deal with the problem. The former chief executive officer of the Institute for Security Studies, Professor Johan Burger said this week technology is important in preventing and combating crime, but also said job creation was most important. Burger made an example of drones, which are fitted with a crime detection system, saying they could reach places where police could find it difficult to go with vehicles or on foot. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'If there are no access roads, the drones go and identify where there are firearms. The system can pick up where the shooting took place and immediately relay that information back to the operation rooms,' he said. He also made another example of the Eyes and Ears Initiative (E2), the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which he said had already made an impact. 'It was an initiative between the police and business, and it uses advanced cameras with a special recognition system. 'It is very good to be used in rural areas and farming communities because those cameras are linked to the police's operation rooms, and police can immediately follow up whether it is a farm attack or stock theft, as they can identify where the thieves are fleeing using vehicles. 'These are just a few examples of how technology can help the police in terms of crime prevention and combating,' he said. In his media briefing when he released the crime stats, police minister Senzo Mchunu, said that for the fourth quarter there were only six attacks on rural communities. He said of the six, two farm owners were killed, two farm dwellers were killed, one farm dweller was killed, one farm employee was killed and two farm managers. He said the majority of those killed were black. Burger said South Africa needed more technology because 'the more technology you have, the better you can address the crime issues'. 'Yes, technology is certainly something that needs to be used in the fight against crime,' he said. When asked if Starlink can assist in the war, Burger said he knew it as a system that Musk's company wants to bring to South Africa to access the local market, but 'precisely how it works, I don't know, as I am not an expert in that area'. Ramaphosa and Congress of South African Trade Unions president Zingiswa Losi were more emphatic in saying US investment and job creation in South Africa would help bring down crime. Burger said employment opportunities and using technology were the remedy for the fight against crime. 'But we need to improve law enforcement capability much more than we have at this time, but at the same time, we need technology, although it can never replace law enforcement agents. 'We need boots on the ground and we need them better trained,' Burger said. Rupert told Trump that crime was not affecting white farmers only, but was across the board, and that the country needed technological help. 'We need Starlink at every little police station, we need drones.I got drones donated for the peace parks to stop elephant and rhino poaching, and his (Ramaphosa) predecessor stopped the importation because he said the United States would spy on us. 'We need your help to stop the awful killing,' said Rupert. Rupert said illegal immigrants and unemployment were the main causes of the crime, adding that if businesses were to leave, the country would experience more crime. 'If we don't get our economy to grow, the culture of dependency and lawlessness will increase,' he said. Political analyst Imraan Buccus said both technology and creating job opportunities were important in bringing down crime. 'I don't think it is one or the other. I think in a country as unequal as ours, with an unemployment bloodbath that affects especially young people, obviously, investment would help. 'We have a very low economic growth rate, and to have any chance to address the unemployment bloodbath, you need a growth rate of about 8%, 9%, or 10%. 'The investment would help, but I don't think it is one or the other, as technology or whatever is available can help to curb crime,' said Buccus. Free State Agriculture (FSA) Security risk analyst Dr Jane Buys welcomed the use of technology to fight crime. She said many farmers in the province were already using high-technology cameras and cellphones to protect themselves. 'However, load shedding has affected farmers badly because if there is no electricity, we don't have data, and cameras do not work. 'But we welcome the idea of bringing more technology into the fight against crime,' said Buys.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cloned - Can drones and job creation combat South Africa's crime crisis?
Professor Johan Burger supports the idea of bringing technology, such as drones, to fight crime. Image: Independent Media Archives While South Africa needs more boots on the ground and well-trained and equipped police officers in the fight against crime, technology such as drones will come in handy, said independent crime expert Professor Johan Burger. The former chief executive officer of the Institute for Security Studies weighed in on the importance of technology in preventing and combating crime, but also said job creation was most important. This followed a heated debate during President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa's media briefing at the United States White House on Wednesday evening. The briefing, which was followed by a closed-door meeting between the two leaders, ended with a focus on the issue of crime in South Africa and the killing of Afrikaner farmer owners, which Ramaphosa and some in his team said was affecting everyone in the country, irrespective of race. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ During the briefing, South African wealthy businessman Johann Rupert pleaded with Trump to assist the country with technology to bring crime under control. He went as far as to say that US-based South African businessman Elon Musk's Starlink, which is a satellite constellation system designed to provide internet coverage, would also help South Africa deal with the problem. Burger made an example of drones, which are fitted with a crime detection system, saying they could reach places where police could find it difficult to go with vehicles or on foot. 'If there are no access roads, the drones go and identify where there are firearms. 'The system can pick up where the shooting took place and immediately relay that information back to the operation rooms,' he said. He also made another example of the Eyes and Ears Initiative (E2), the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which he said had already made an impact. 'It was an initiative between the police and business, and it uses advanced cameras with a special recognition system. 'It is very good to be used in rural areas and farming communities because those cameras are linked to the police's operation rooms, and police can immediately follow up whether it is a farm attack or stock theft, as they can identify where the thieves are fleeing using vehicles. 'These are just a few examples of how technology can help the police in terms of crime prevention and combating,' he said. Burger said South Africa needed more technology because 'the more technology you have, the better you can address the crime issues'. 'Yes, technology is certainly something that needs to be used in the fight against crime,' he said. When asked if Starlink can assist in the war, Burger said he knew it as a system that Musk's company wants to bring to South Africa to access the local market, but 'precisely how it works, I don't know, as I am not an expert in that area'. Ramaphosa and Congress of South African Trade Unions president Zingiswa Losi were more emphatic in saying US investment and job creation in South Africa would help bring down crime. Burger said employment opportunities and using technology were the remedy for the fight against crime. 'But we need to improve law enforcement capability much more than we have at this time, but at the same time, we need technology, although it can never replace law enforcement agents. 'We need boots on the ground and we need them better trained,' Burger said. Rupert told Trump that crime was not affecting white farmers only, but was across the board, and that the country needed technological help. 'We need Starlink at every little police station, we need drones. 'I got drones donated for the peace parks to stop elephant and rhino poaching, and his predecessor stopped the importation because he said the United States would spy on us. 'We need your help to stop the awful killing,' said Rupert. Rupert said illegal immigrants and unemployment were the main causes of the crime, adding that if businesses were to leave, the country would experience more crime. 'If we don't get our economy to grow, the culture of dependency and lawlessness will increase,' he said. Political analyst Imraan Buccus said both technology and creating job opportunities were important in bringing down crime. 'I don't think it is one or the other. I think in a country as unequal as ours, with an unemployment bloodbath that affects especially young people, obviously, investment would help. 'We have a very low economic growth rate, and to have any chance to address the unemployment bloodbath, you need a growth rate of about 8%, 9%, or 10%. 'The investment would help, but I don't think it is one or the other, as technology or whatever is available can help to curb crime,' said Buccus. Free State Agriculture (FSA) Security risk analyst Dr Jane Buys welcomed the use of technology to fight crime. She said many farmers in the province were already using high-technology cameras and cellphones to protect themselves. 'However, load shedding has affected farmers badly because if there is no electricity, we don't have data, and cameras do not work. 'But we welcome the idea of bringing more technology into the fight against crime,' said Buys. University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said that although South Africa needs every mechanism to deal with 'out of control crime', he was not sure if choosing Starlink to help with this, without putting on a tender for other companies to bid, would be a good idea. 'It is a good idea to have something that would help fight crime, as we know that crime is out of control in South Africa. 'Having Starlink, I am not sure about that. Maybe we need to put a tender out and see if there can be another company that might compete with Starlink. 'But I think at this point, there is not much competition and therefore we don't have much of a choice but to have Starlink,' said Ndlovu.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Can drones and job creation combat South Africa's crime crisis?
Professor Johan Burger supports the idea of bringing technology, such as drones, to fight crime. Image: Independent Media Archives While South Africa needs more boots on the ground and well-trained and equipped police officers in the fight against crime, technology such as drones will come in handy, said independent crime expert Professor Johan Burger. The former chief executive officer of the Institute for Security Studies weighed in on the importance of technology in preventing and combating crime, but also said job creation was most important. This followed a heated debate during President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa's media briefing at the United States White House on Wednesday evening. The briefing, which was followed by a closed-door meeting between the two leaders, ended with a focus on the issue of crime in South Africa and the killing of Afrikaner farmer owners, which Ramaphosa and some in his team said was affecting everyone in the country, irrespective of race. During the briefing, South African wealthy businessman Johann Rupert pleaded with Trump to assist the country with technology to bring crime under control. He went as far as to say that US-based South African businessman Elon Musk's Starlink, which is a satellite constellation system designed to provide internet coverage, would also help South Africa deal with the problem. Burger made an example of drones, which are fitted with a crime detection system, saying they could reach places where police could find it difficult to go with vehicles or on foot. 'If there are no access roads, the drones go and identify where there are firearms. 'The system can pick up where the shooting took place and immediately relay that information back to the operation rooms,' he said. He also made another example of the Eyes and Ears Initiative (E2), the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which he said had already made an impact. 'It was an initiative between the police and business, and it uses advanced cameras with a special recognition system. 'It is very good to be used in rural areas and farming communities because those cameras are linked to the police's operation rooms, and police can immediately follow up whether it is a farm attack or stock theft, as they can identify where the thieves are fleeing using vehicles. 'These are just a few examples of how technology can help the police in terms of crime prevention and combating,' he said. Burger said South Africa needed more technology because 'the more technology you have, the better you can address the crime issues'. 'Yes, technology is certainly something that needs to be used in the fight against crime,' he said. When asked if Starlink can assist in the war, Burger said he knew it as a system that Musk's company wants to bring to South Africa to access the local market, but 'precisely how it works, I don't know, as I am not an expert in that area'. Ramaphosa and Congress of South African Trade Unions president Zingiswa Losi were more emphatic in saying US investment and job creation in South Africa would help bring down crime. Burger said employment opportunities and using technology were the remedy for the fight against crime. 'But we need to improve law enforcement capability much more than we have at this time, but at the same time, we need technology, although it can never replace law enforcement agents. 'We need boots on the ground and we need them better trained,' Burger said. Rupert told Trump that crime was not affecting white farmers only, but was across the board, and that the country needed technological help. 'We need Starlink at every little police station, we need drones. 'I got drones donated for the peace parks to stop elephant and rhino poaching, and his predecessor stopped the importation because he said the United States would spy on us. 'We need your help to stop the awful killing,' said Rupert. Rupert said illegal immigrants and unemployment were the main causes of the crime, adding that if businesses were to leave, the country would experience more crime. 'If we don't get our economy to grow, the culture of dependency and lawlessness will increase,' he said. Political analyst Imraan Buccus said both technology and creating job opportunities were important in bringing down crime. 'I don't think it is one or the other. I think in a country as unequal as ours, with an unemployment bloodbath that affects especially young people, obviously, investment would help. 'We have a very low economic growth rate, and to have any chance to address the unemployment bloodbath, you need a growth rate of about 8%, 9%, or 10%. 'The investment would help, but I don't think it is one or the other, as technology or whatever is available can help to curb crime,' said Buccus. Free State Agriculture (FSA) Security risk analyst Dr Jane Buys welcomed the use of technology to fight crime. She said many farmers in the province were already using high-technology cameras and cellphones to protect themselves. 'However, load shedding has affected farmers badly because if there is no electricity, we don't have data, and cameras do not work. 'But we welcome the idea of bringing more technology into the fight against crime,' said Buys. University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said that although South Africa needs every mechanism to deal with 'out of control crime', he was not sure if choosing Starlink to help with this, without putting on a tender for other companies to bid, would be a good idea. 'It is a good idea to have something that would help fight crime, as we know that crime is out of control in South Africa. 'Having Starlink, I am not sure about that. Maybe we need to put a tender out and see if there can be another company that might compete with Starlink. 'But I think at this point, there is not much competition and therefore we don't have much of a choice but to have Starlink,' said Ndlovu. [email protected]
IOL News
19-05-2025
- IOL News
Understanding the surge in SA kidnappings
From the eerie disappearance of journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli to the action-packed abduction of US pastor Josh Sullivan, there seems to be vulnerability in our society that is being sorely exploited, says the writer Tswelopele Makoe SOUTH Africa, our society, is being consumed by a mounting and deeply unsettling crisis - one that is easy to overlook, until it reaches your doorstep. Every day, two people are kidnapped in our society. In the last year alone, over 17,000 kidnapping cases were reported by Statista. This amounts to a harrowing 260% increase over the last decade. These astonishing figures do not even encapsulate the whole picture. Rather, they are part of a larger, far more disturbing trend: the rise of disappearances in our society. From the bravest of men to the most delicate children, women, professionals, and so many other ordinary citizens everywhere are being snatched from our streets, never to be seen again. From the eerie disappearance of journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli to the action-packed abduction of US pastor Josh Sullivan, there seems to be vulnerability in our society that is being sorely exploited. Very recently, the kidnapping of a Gqeberha shop owner has not only spotlighted the brazenness with which ransom kidnappings are taking place, but also the recurrent threat that they represent to the growth of our economy. Not even a year ago, Gqeberha businessman Calvin Naidoo was abducted in the very same way. This disturbing trend seems to extend beyond ages and locations, with defenceless children being amongst the most affected. This past Tuesday, 11-year-old Jayden Lee's body was traumatically discovered on a staircase at his home. Concurrently, the heart-wrenching case of 6-year-old Joshlin Smith came to a head as the High Court's Western Cape Division officially convicted her mother, Jacquen Rowhan Appollis (alongside Steveno Dumaizio van Rhyn and Racquel Chantel Smith), for the Trafficking and ultimate slavery of the young girl. According to the South African Government, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) revealed that kidnappings reported to the police in South Africa have almost quadrupled over the last decade, amounting to a whopping 260%. A concerning majority of kidnappings involved ransom and extortion tactics, showing an inclination to organised crime. These distressing statistics do not even consider many more of those who remain unreported. Over and above this, the rampant rate of disappearances in our society is not only attested to armed robberies and organized crime syndicates; it is exacerbated by extremely stringent economic conditions that perpetuate crimes such as these. Poverty, crime, joblessness, unequal access, unstable human rights, and many other factors, directly perpetuate this disturbing plague in our society. This is even further compounded by cultural practices that worsen the vulnerability faced by men, women and children at various stages, and that seek to protect necromancers and malicious spiritual healers. Additionally, the role of culture and indigenous heritage was especially spotlighted during the Joshlin Smith trial, where the State's accused-turned-witness, Laurentia Lombard, detailed the horrific details in the hours leading up to the six-year-old's disappearance, admittedly selling the child to a sangoma for R20 000. Hers is not a unique story, as merely a year ago, sangoma Ntombentsha Limbo was apprehended during the kidnapping of a minor child from a mall in Thabong, Free State. Yet as recently as this past Wednesday, a son and mother were snatched from the street and promptly robbed in the Northmead community of Benoni, Gauteng province. Although our post-apartheid democratic society is plagued by rampant economic inequality, institutional instability, political corruptions, and so much more, the increasing precariousness of our society will only seek to cripple our already-fragile back. The increasing spate of disappearances of people from our society, of all ages and ranges, highlights a deplorable trend indeed. The disappearance of people from our society is indicative of an overarching problem of human trafficking and human smuggling. South Africa, facing an unprecedented crisis with its precarious borders, is especially susceptible to exploitation by human trafficking syndicates. This is an even greater concern for young children, many of whom travel extensive distances daily, and who cannot be tracked as easily as adults with digital footprints. What's worse is that human trafficking disproportionately affects women and young girls, at a rate of approximately 70%. A major factor driving human trafficking cases is the job market, where unemployed people everywhere are being lured in for job interviews and then being subsequently human trafficked. Whether it is a young couple getting hijacked on a sunny Sunday afternoon or a group of young school children crossing the park to their respective homes, our society is fast becoming a breeding ground for evil, nefarious deeds. The rate at which people are vanishing in our society is not just a chilling statistic; it is a sobering realisation that everywhere, our daughters, sons, sisters, and mothers' lives are being swallowed by a shadowy underworld thriving on exploitation and silence. This crisis cannot be tackled with reactive policing or short-term campaigns. It demands a serious, coordinated response rooted in swift, effective justice and our constitutional human rights. We need proper mechanisms and training that will allow our law enforcement to tackle missing persons cases seriously from the outset. We need a centralised, transparent, national database that tracks these past and ongoing cases, and utilises the public as a resource to tackle these cases. This will require the collective efforts of all of our communities, schools, institutions, legislative bodies, and civil society. Tackling disappearances across our society will require us to prevent abductions before they occur, and to support the families who are left behind when they do. Above all, we need to confront the conditions that make people easy targets: poverty, inequality, lack of opportunity, and broken trust in public institutions. These are not abstract issues; they are the breeding ground for the crisis we now face. There is something fundamentally wrong when so many people can vanish in a democratic society. It points to a breakdown, not just in public safety, but in the basic fabric of trust and care that holds a nation together. We are watching a crisis unfold in real time, and the danger is not just to individuals or isolated communities. This is a national problem, one that threatens the shared future we've been trying to build since the dawn of democracy in 1994. South Africa is teetering on the edge of a crisis that's expanding at an alarming rate. Our democracy was born from Struggle, with the promise of dignity, safety, and equality for all. If we allow this crisis to continue in silence, we fail that promise. We must take this seriously before we become the kidnapping capital of the world. Because when disappearances become the norm, and when justice becomes rare, we lose more than individuals - we lose faith in the society we're trying to build. * Tswelopele Makoe is a Gender and Social Justice Activist and the Editor at Global South Media Network. She is also an Andrew W. Mellon scholar at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
