South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world. There has been a series of violent and widely reported incidents, and media coverage has given the impression that crime is out of control.
This has led to public outrage and for calls for the Government to take action to crack down, including introducing harsher punishments for offenders.
South Africa suffers from high levels of poverty and unemployment, lack of education, and family breakdown. These conditions mean that children and young people are particularly at risk, both as victims of crime and as offenders. The biggest problems include drug abuse and gangs.
Young people make up a large proportion of gang membership. There has been such a public reaction against the crimes carried out by gangs that vigilante groups have attacked young gang members.
In South Africa young people, many held while awaiting trial, continue to be locked up with adults, leaving them vulnerable to abuse. An investigation into the prison system exposed violence and abuse against young people, including rape. State programmes for the support of ex-offenders are limited, and most young people released find themselves on the streets, and therefore likely to re-offend.
While crime is clearly a very real problem in South Africa, it needs to be recognised that young people are victims and need protection and support – and the underlying causes behind crime need to be addressed.
Young people from KwaZulu Natal Regional Council of YMCAs have carried out research into the issues of youth justice in South Africa. Download it here
