SOUTH AFRICA: CRIME IN TRANSITION

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the rise of crime in South Africa during its transition to democracy. It argues that while the transition period saw a spike in criminality, the roots of the problem lie in the apartheid system. The author analyzes the failures of the centralized criminal justice system, the growth of private security and vigilantism, and the government's National Crime Prevention Strategy, concluding that the state's inability to ensure personal safety threatens the consolidation of the new democracy.

• Crime in South Africa did not begin solely with the democratic transition in 1990; serious offences had already been rising since the mid-1980s. Between 1980 and 1990, police figures show murders increased by 32 per cent, burglary by 31 per cent, and rape by 24 per cent.
• From 1990 to 1994, most recorded crimes increased significantly, although the murder rate fell by 7 per cent as political violence declined. During this period, rape increased by 42 per cent, robbery by 40 per cent, vehicle theft by 34 per cent, and assault by 18 per cent.
• The South African Police Service (SAPS) is criticized for its 'Pretoria-centric' centralized control, which undermines local accountability and fails to address specific regional crime patterns. For example, while vehicle hijacking is a national fear, almost all cases occur in Gauteng.
• The criminal justice system suffers from severe blockages, particularly in crime detection. In 1995, only 50 per cent of murders, 25 per cent of robberies, 20 per cent of housebreakings, and 10 per cent of vehicle thefts were resolved.
• The prison system is described as being in crisis, with conditions characterized as 'near Victorian' and a high recidivism rate, where more than half of imprisoned individuals commit further crimes upon release.
• The private security industry has grown rapidly, with security officers outnumbering public police by approximately 2 to 1. The industry is noted for its 'armed response' sector and its tendency to grow during poor economic conditions.
• Vigilantism, exemplified by groups like People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) in the Western Cape, has emerged as a response to state ineffectiveness. The author warns that such actions undermine official judicial channels and create alternative centres of power.
• The National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) aims to coordinate six government departments to move from 'community policing' to 'crime prevention' and 'partnerships'. However, the author notes a lack of specific strategies for drug use and small arms proliferation, as well as a lack of clear time frames for implementation.

APA

Shaw, M. (1997). SOUTH AFRICA: CRIME IN TRANSITION. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper_17.pdf

Chicago

Shaw, Mark. SOUTH AFRICA: CRIME IN TRANSITION. Institute for Security Studies, 1997. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper_17.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Shaw |first1=Mark |title=SOUTH AFRICA: CRIME IN TRANSITION |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=March 1997 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper_17.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{shaw1997south, author = {Shaw, Mark}, title = {{SOUTH AFRICA: CRIME IN TRANSITION}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {1997}, month = mar, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper_17.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }