Edit: I mean what is the reason that it has so much crime? Hasn’t it become worse in the last several years? Why?
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Hey I’m a South African so I feel like maybe I could help give some perspective.
South Africa had a tumultuous history with apartheid (read up on it there is so much pain from this era) – blows my mind that it never ended in a civil war. There’s still a lot of old wounds, hatred and anger about our history. Lots of Africans still have a lot of anger against white people and rightly so, because they were put into positions of disadvantage that still continue to this day. This anger manifests in daily life where people just grow up in a lifestyle of hating the other. This is why crime can be so violent in the country. I’m not saying this is the case for everyone, but it is a common thread.
Racism and a sense of entitlement is strong as they believe they are owed their dues, and hey why should we work for it, when the government gets what they want without working for anything?? People learn by example. (corruption is rife but this is a whole other can of worms to open).
Since the government does nothing to help the poor and disadvantaged they feel they need to take it into their own hands often commiting crime to get what they want. Lack of education is also a big factor. A huge majority of those growing up during apartheid never got the education they deserve. Lots of the crime committed are by people who have never been able to have an education so they feel like their life has just kind of led them into a life of crime.
Inequality especially wealth inequality is still very common in the country… when you see your neighbour has everything and you have nothing, wouldn’t you want to get a piece of it (knowing full well you can get away with it because the police don’t give a shit and are overwhelmed by bad governance)?
EDIT: another poster also spoke about desperation. Desperation is also a huge factor. If you lose your job there are no government programs etc to help you. You are on your own. If you have a family of 5 where you’re the sole breadwinner and no one is willing to help you, you will steal to survive.
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