The most dangerous cities in South Africa
Nelson Mandela Bay, now known as Gqeberha, has surpassed Cape Town and Durban to claim the top spot as the most violent city in the country.
Four South African cities are included in the top 50 list of the most dangerous cities globally. Nelson Mandela Bay, now known as Gqeberha, has surpassed Cape Town and Durban to claim the top spot as the most violent city in the country.
TOP 50 REPORT
This is according to the annual report released by the Mexican Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, which identifies the 50 most dangerous cities in the world each year. The report uses the number of murders per 100 000 people as a criterion, but only include cities with populations exceeding 300 000.
In previous reports, Cape Town was in the top 10 on this list of 50 cities. However, in the latest report, Cape Town has dropped to the 17th position.
Four South African cities feature in the top 50. In the lead, however, is Gqeberha that now features in the top 10, according to Business Tech.
SA STANDS OUT ON THE LIST
This picture corresponds with the data released towards the end of last year by the South African Cities Network (SACN). The SACN report includes data on the state of crime and safety in SA cities.
For over ten years, South American cities have held the majority of the spots on the top 50 list for the most dangerous cities. Alongside them, other nations from the Americas, such as the USA, Haiti, and Jamaica, have also made their mark. South Africa stands out as the only non-American country included in this ranking.
UPWARD TREND IN MURDERS
Only five cities on the list recorded over 2 000 murders – and South Africa accounts for three of them.
Even though Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban have a better ranking than Gqeberha, the actual murder rates for all these cities increased between 2022/23 and 2023/24 by the following percentages:
- Cape Town – 0,9%
- Durban – 5,6%
- Johannesburg – 8,1%
Gqeberha’s murder rate increased by 21,3% in the same period.
GREAT CONCERN
In view of this data, it is evident that South Africa has experienced a rise in violence. All four cities part of the study have consistently climbed the rankings, indicating an increase in violent incidents.
While Johannesburg didn’t feature on the list for half of the past decade, it is now included in the list every year. Also, it is getting closer to being ranked among the top 20 cities with high murder rates.
Durban and Gqeberha started off at the lower end of the rankings but have now made their way to the top. Their murder rates have doubled, showing a concerning trend.
“Nelson Mandela Bay residents can hardly be blamed these days for not wanting to set foot outside our homes. In fact, we are not even safe at home. Many people have become nervous wrecks who live in fear of becoming statistics thanks to the reign of terror being waged by criminals in our beloved Bay.” – HeraldLIVE
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