Crime is certainly one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa and there are many studies that have been done in an attempt to identify the causes. One school of thought argues that poverty is the cause of South Africa’s rampant crime rate. Those who subscribe to this school of thought say that with the next meal always uncertain, crime serves the purpose of bringing about certainty for the next meal. Another school of thought argues that it’s actually the high unemployment rate which is responsible for the high rate of crime. Left with nothing to do all day, the unemployed soon find something to occupy themselves with and in this sense crime becomes an occupation. To be sure, there are varying levels of crime ranging from petty, serious to the downright evil crimes such as wanton murder and rape. In recent times, crime in South Africa has been gruesome and violent, with criminals having no regard to human life. In my view, both these schools of thought are valid in their own right however, these schools of thought do not offer sufficient explanation as to the causes of the more gruesome and violent crime that we see happening with regularity.
It’s about firearms and greed
One of the theories I have as a reason for the rise in gruesome and violent crime in South Africa is the abundance of guns on the one hand and greed on the other hand. Two weeks ago, the head of the South Africa Police Services, General, formerly Commissioner Bheki Cele publicly destroyed hundreds of illegal firearms confiscated by the police from criminals and some from lawful owners who no longer had a need for the firearms. What this public display by General Cele demonstrated was the ubiquitous availability and use of firearms by criminals. Criminals by definition, subject terror on their victims and society in general and over the past decade or so, criminals have shown a preference for firearms as instruments of terror. Take a moment to consider when last you heared of a criminal wielding a knife robbing a bank, hijacking a car or carrying out a house break-in?
Having grown up in the townships, I remember very well that most murders in the period prior to the 1990’s were committed using knives, axes or other sharp objects. These days most murders in the townships are committed using firearms and as a result more people are dying. It is my view that firearms have also lead to an increase in the level of greed among criminals. Because the firearms are such “effective” instruments of terror, criminals have found ways to use these weapons to maximize their takings. Gone are the days of simple pick-pocketing because with a firearm in hand criminals can hold up a bank or hijack a cash in transit vehicle and score thousands if not millions of Rands, in one fell swoop. Getting rid of illegal firearms in our society must remain General Cele’s priority. However what is more important is for General Cele to continually ensure that members of the SAPS carry better firepower than the criminals so that the police do not die in their line of duty.
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