A Country Filled With Violence

After the apartheid ended in South Africa, Nelson Mandela unified the people of his country, leading to a more peaceful and affluent society. White dominance was over and racial tensions were alleviated - South Africa was overall a happier country. However, the unity of this country broke apart, with violence and crime becoming more widespread. Now, South Africa is a country filled with violence. While local residents suspect one another, hoping their houses will not be broken into, the hostility of men towards women attribute to the increasing events of rape and abuse (Mattison). Violence is prevalent in South Africa because the majority of residents are in poverty and many believe there is nothing morally wrong with gender-based violence.

With the unemployment rate over 30% in South Africa, the 2.2 million immigrants clash with the local residents when searching for jobs and earning money to support their families (Sieff). Mario Khumalo, a former account manager, claims, “People come here because they think South Africa is the land of milk and honey, but it’s still a country where people are living without flushing toilets” (Sieff). Immigrants who move to this country believe they will prosper, but they must face the same, severe living conditions that South African citizens are going through. However, the people of South Africa are livid at the fact that they need to compete with these foreigners, most who lack official documentation (Sieff). In Pretoria, 30 shops which were run by immigrants were looted and trashed because the native people believed that the immigrants were stealing their jobs and only bringing destruction to the country (Sieff). The battle to survive within the indigent country ultimately causes more crime.

In addition to the elevating tensions between people in destitute regions, many South Africans firmly believe that violence directed towards women is acceptable. At a young age, girls are excessively abused in school and boys are brought up thinking that they can do whatever they want with women (Human Rights Watch). The dropout rate from school for girls is extremely high, and parents have seen their children become depressed and anxious after their experience with sexual assault (Human Rights Watch). School authorities rarely take action when these incidents occur because there are no rules set in stone for how to respond to these events (Human Rights Watch). This abusive behavior becomes recurrent and hinders the access to education for many girls. The role of women has not changed since the apartheid; their weak and conceding semblance causes domestic violence and gang-rapes (UN). The essential human rights of women in South Africa are being violated and this discrimination leads to men’s aggressive and brutal stance towards women.  

South Africa suffers heavily from the ubiquitous violence and crime within the country. Rates of murders, attempted murders, house robberies, and carjacking all increased by at least 5% back in 2013 and there is no sign that these numbers will go down anytime soon (Dixon).  The residents battle with the immigrants to survive, and women are abused everyday because of the cruel behavior of men. In order for South Africa to truly prosper, its people need to be safe and healthy. Increasing crime rates and the frequent incidents of violence should not define South Africa’s current situation.

Works Cited:

Dixon, Robyn. "Violent Crime on the Rise Again in South Africa." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 15 Mar. 2017.

Human Rights Watch. "II. SUMMARY." Human Rights Watch. N.p., Mar. 2001. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

Matisonn, John. "In South Africa, Crime And Violence Are Permanent Headlines." NPR. NPR, 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 06 Mar. 2017.

Sieff, Kevin. "In South Africa, Violence Follows a Surge in Xenophobia." The Washington Post. WP Company, 24 Feb. 2017. Web. 06 Mar. 2017.

UN. "UN Expert: Gender-based Violence 'pervasive' in South Africa." United Nations. United Nations, 15 Dec. 2015. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.