South Africa has been ranked seventh among the top 10 countries with the highest criminality in the world, according to the latest global organised crime index by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).
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The index measures criminal markets and actors in each country, with South Africa particularly highlighted for its involvement in the drug trade, including cocaine and heroin.
As reported by The Citizen, the criminal market takes into account the financial impact of the crimes, the number of people affected and the presence of violence. The criminal actors are assessed by looking into the organisation and sophistication of criminal groups, as well as their influence on the state and society.
As a continent, Africa scored the second highest criminality after Asia. Despite Southern Africa holding the lowest ranking within the continent, it still forms part of four African countries with high levels of crime: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
The top ten countries are ranked out of 193 countries in total.
The country is noted as a ‘critical node’ in international heroin smuggling rings and is a new trafficking route for methamphetamine to East Asia, The Citizen quoted the GI-TOC as saying.
‘The heroin trade generates billions of rand in annual revenue in South Africa, making it a significant commodity,’ the GI-TOC states.
Controlled by gangs from South Africa, neighbouring countries and West Africa, SA has also become one of Africa’s largest heroin consumer markets.
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Extortion, protection racketeering and the gun trade are also cited as factors contributing to South Africa’s high crime levels as a result of their impact on informal businesses, poorer communities, mining companies and the transport industry.
The Citizen highlighted restaurants and luxury apartments as a significant target for extortion networks in Cape Town.
‘Criminal syndicates have also found new ways to enrich themselves, such as through extortion rackets targeting small businesses and construction companies in Cape Town. Kidnapping for ransom and extortion has become an established and lucrative criminal practice in South Africa,’ the publication quoted GI-TOC as saying.
The widespread circulation of illegal firearms, often stolen or lost from licenced civilian owners and government departments, is identified as a significant issue.
‘The absence of effective control over police-issued firearms, as well as firearms in police evidence stores and armouries, has allowed organised criminals to obtain weapons from these governmental facilities,’ said the report.
Global criminality scores:
- Myanmar
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Paraguay
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Lebanon
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