South Africa ranks as one of the world’s least secure nation, global survey finds
A recent Gallup poll shows that South Africa ranks among the countries where citizens feel the least safe walking alone, with 70% of respondents reporting fears for their safety.
The survey, which included 140 countries, placed South Africa in the bottom three, alongside Ecuador and Liberia. In contrast, Kuwait, Singapore, and Norway had only 1% to 8% of their citizens feeling unsafe.
Gallup, a global analytics and advisory firm reported that sub-Saharan Africa has long struggled with low safety perceptions, with confidence in police being below the global average and perceptions of safety have decreased more in this region than anywhere else.
Athlenda Mathe, spokesperson for the South African Police Services, acknowledged these concerns and mentioned efforts to increase police visibility and combat crime.
“We are making inroads in clamping down on all forms of criminality and the main goal is to ensure that we make South Africa a much better and safer place to live in so that people can walk freely,” Mathe was quoted by Voice of America.
The country’s crime statistics are alarming, with over 6,000 murders and 9,000 rapes reported between April and June 2024.
Bartender Gugu Xakaza, 32, shared her experience of being mugged while walking home from the grocery store, which led her to avoid walking alone.
“I’d never walk around these streets, firstly you know because South Africa’s crime status is very high, and also it’s not just safe for a woman to be walking alone at night, because obviously we might be taken advantage of…. so rather be safe than sorry," she said.
Women in South Africa often report feeling less safe than men, adding to the concerns.
