When someone, such as "Mike", and others, draws conclusions or makes "telling" comments about South Africa, I usually ask the two questions :- (1) Has he ever visited South Africa ?, and (2) if he has, how much time has he actually spent in the country, such that he is now reasonably familiar with the diverse ethnic groups and their various contributions to the South African society ?
It's very easy to pick up a tabloid or newspaper and quote, there from, in terms of murder or death or any other "statistics" and thereby draw erudite conclusions which will, naturally, suit one's particular argument.
Yes, there is a high murder rate in this country, BUT it will be found in those areas where the density of population is extremely high, where the general level of education is low, where the rate of unemployment is particularly high, where it is extremely difficult to carry out normal levels of policing, etc, etc....
Here are a few "overheads" which will illustrate the point ....
Firstly, a general view of Cape Town ...
Circled in red is the suburb of Mitchells Plain, which is home, primarily, to the Coloureds, or Mixed Race. Circled in blue is Khayelitsha, a suburb for Blacks ....
Each suburb is about 10 square miles in area. Both of these suburbs were literally carved out of sand dunes. Mitchells Plain is designed for a population of about 250 000. It has road and rail links to central Cape Town. It has schools, churches, open spaces and well appointed houses, all built for that community by the white "apartheid" government, believe it or not, MANY years before Nelson Mandela was released.
Much the same was done for Khayelitsha, right after Mitchells Plain was completed. However, due to the reality of the new Black residents at that time, there were different grades of accommodation. This was because there were many who came to this Province with nothing but who had to be given some form of basic "housing". The very lowest level consisted of a flat concrete slab on which they could erect their own structure from materials provided. They were also provided with free running water and ablutions and a flushing toilet facility. The slabs were placed reasonable distances apart to discourage overcrowding. All of those units were still within a suburb that had proper roads, electric overhead lighting, sewerage and storm water facilities. In addition, there were houses of several sizes and designs also built for those who could contribute something financially. Khayelitsha was designed for a population of about 400 000.
Now what has happened over the years, especially after 1994 when Nelson Mandela's ANC government came into power, there has been fairly large numbers of squatter camps erected on Municipal properties and public spaces. Unlike the two above mentioned suburbs, which were properly designed and constructed to the required standards, these squatter camps are a complete disaster, as you can see ....
When people live in those overcrowded, unplanned, facility-lacking, "un-policed" conditions, then it is not surprising that all manner of lawlessness and mayhem will occur. It is, primarily, in those areas where the murder rates go through the roof. And much the same happens in other areas of South Africa where such appalling squatter conditions are located, primarily in Black communities.
South Africa has 9 provinces. Each has its own Administration which is based on a particular political party. Each province receives an annual monetary "allowance" from the Central Government. The Eastern Cape, also controlled by the ANC, receives the largest slice. Only one province is not controlled by the ANC, the Western Cape, with Cape Town where I live. It is the province with probably the best run administration of all and the one with the best job prospects. Which is probably why many thousands of Eastern Cape blacks have streamed into the Western Cape and have been prepared to live in squalor in those squatter camps in the hope of finding a job.
Now I believe it's very likely that you will find similar overcrowded, appalling squalor in other cities of the world with very high crime rates, including murder and gang-related crimes. I'd say that Rio De Janeiro in Brazil would be a good candidate. Plus several other cities in South America.
Maybe the likes of "Mike" should expand his research to other parts of the world which don't have that convenient "label" of "apartheid" attached to it. He may discover that the term has very little relevance where unemployment and lack of education are pronounced.
South Africa, over the recent decades, has not taken advantage of the vast mineral wealth under its soil. We have, for example, more deposits of iron ore, copper, manganese, coal, platinum, etc, etc, than many other parts of the world. And what do we do ? We export those raw materials to other countries, such as Japan, China, Korea, etc.., who turn it into far more valuable end products. PLUS those countries also benefit by putting millions of their own workforce to work MAKING ALL THAT STUFF !!
While we, here, in South Africa, sit with millions of blacks living jobless and in squalor, which helps to contribute to Mike's "well researched(?)" crime statistics ..........
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