Sunday 31 July 2011

SA crime – the moaning continues

Written in 1998 I quite like this chaps assessment of the 4 types of crime whingers. Interesting to noet since then violent crime is down a further 12 %.

From here.

Sadly, South Africa is known, amongst many other things, for its high crime rate. But there came some good news on that front today with the release of the latest crime figures, which show a marked decrease, especially in many of the more serious crimes: murder down 4.7% and robbery with aggravating circumstances down 7.4%, for example. Well, I think it’s good news, but others aren’t happy.
Once again, (I always have to clarify this bit before I talk about crime in SA), I do recognise that South Africa has a problem with crime and I do recognise that something needs to be done about it and that people have a right to expect the government to do something about it.
However, with the murder rate down to its lowest level in six years and a overall decrease in crime, I think that it is obvious that the initiatives and efforts which are being put in place to combat crime are beginning to work. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are very few people who seem to recognise this, though.

A lot of the negative comments I have read on various SA websites and forums on this subject fall broadly into four categories, which can overlap Venn diagram style, to allow maximum pessimism.
Firstly, there’s the Mugabe reaction: these people have read and heard that crime has decreased, but they are simply ignoring the news and pretending it hasn’t happened. That way, they continue to have something to moan about and a reason to live.
Secondly, the negative optimist approach – and no, that’s not an oxymoron. These people note that crime has fallen, but are not happy that there is still crime happening. In the negative optimists’ world, there is no murder, no robbery, no vandalism and everyone obeys the speed limits. These people should have listened to Safety and Security Minister, Charles Nqakula, as he was presenting the report this morning:

He told media in Pretoria during the presentation of the annual crime report that even though the statistics indicated a steady decline, crime levels were still very high and “unacceptably so: Government wanted to see a more drastic decline.”

See? He agrees with you. Crime is still unacceptably high. But it’s down.

Next up, my particular favourites: the nit-pickers. They will pick and choose the worst stats to illustrate just what difficult circumstances South Africa finds itself in: Yes, murder is down, rape is down, robbery is down, but what about truck high-jackings? Did you see that truck high-jackings were up?
Finally, the never-believers. They stand by the words of Mulder & Scully. Trust no-one. These stats are all made up by the Government to make us feel better, when really, crime has sky-rocketed. They cite the fact that these figures are only for reported crime. Which is absolutely correct. However, I defy any government, worldwide, to present accurate statistics on unreported crime, because, you see, it’s unreported.
However, in the unlikely event that the Government has completely fabricated the figures presented today, then I feel that they could have done a much better job on reducing truck high-jackings.

So, there you have it. Once again, I’m fed up with people moaning instead of doing something proactive, like joining their neighbourhood watch. I’m fed up with people only looking for the bad news instead of being happy that there’s actually some good news. I’m fed up with people having foolishly high expectations and feeling angry when they are unfulfilled. Bring forth your predictable and ill-thought-out comments.

23 comments:

Katzenjammer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Get the South African insurance companies to agree with you and the politician, followed by sending a letter to all their customers stating that their insurance premiums will lowered due to the lower crime rate. Only then will any such allegations of a lower crime rate have some substance.

The Rooster said...

I worked for old mutual for many years. Since (2005 last) then insurance premiums for the same risk portfiolio are almost exactly the same. Despite inflation.


Although the murder rate in South Africa is far too low to actually influence insurance premiums all that much (34 out of 100 000 pales into insignificance when compared to cancer/aids etc). I suppose this correlates to the reduction in HIV and growth in life expectancy as well as the reduction in murder rate.

Boertjie said...

"Secondly, the negative optimist approach – and no, that’s not an oxymoron. These people note that crime has fallen, but are not happy that there is still crime happening. In the negative optimists’ world, there is no murder, no robbery, no vandalism and everyone obeys the speed limits."

Thats soooooooooo me!

Boertjie said...

Hi Rooster

The 150-200% through the bench income-growth in SA since 1994...

So I went and asked about this.


The supermarket owner said :

- blacks spend much more

- whites spend less (NOT their proportion to black customers decreased)

- prices increased a lot over the years

- the end result being that his business has grown only a little.

(I meant to ask more business owners about this, but haven't come round to it yet.)

Relatives of mine in Joburg have a big income, but has to spend carefully to afford everything they need. Life is expensive there. And BTW, they and their neighbours had break-ins or attempted break-ins in the recent past.

So what shall I make of all this? 200% income increase with inflation taken into account? Depends what exactly is meant by that...

If it means income has really tripled (earning R2000 per month in 1994 and R6000 p/m in 2011) I'd say prices also about tripled.

If it means you can literally buy three times as much with your present day income in 2011 than you could buy with your 1994-income in 1994, then I say this : I see a growing black middle class in real life, but 235% sounds suspect. Whites being able to afford 3x as much as in 1994? Guess I need to have my eyes checked. Oh, and I did take the whining-factor into account when talking to people about this.

This quote from "SA Journal of Demography Vol 12 (1) January 2011" (thanks for the link, pincer!) seems more in line with my experience and observations :

"6.5 Concluding remarks
The question may now arise regarding the consequences of
the results of this study. Keeping in mind the ‘developmental state’
social and economic policies in South Africa, the first consequence
could be that although a large number of people from previously
disadvantaged backgrounds experienced income growth during
1996–2006, the vast majority did not experience significant income
growth. Therefore, existing social and economic policies need to be
revised to ensure more broad-based income growth. It has been
shown internationally that wide-scale population development
programmes (i.e. labour market orientated education and training),
are excellent means of facilitating broad-based income growth
(Todaro, 1994)."

The Rooster said...

Boertjie I'm in my mid 30's. Let me assure you that things you take for granted today like hi fo corporation, makro etc there was no demand for in 1994. Anything luxury was very much a niche arena. No matter how much people pretend to be struggling today they were worse off before.

As Jertemy Clarkson said "if Joburg is so bad then why do people risk their lives to go out and buy tropical fish ?"

Think about that for a few seconds. You'll get it.

Boertjie said...

One thing I should add is that economics is a dangerous topic for me to be talking about, because I'm more than likely to not know what I'm talking about.

The Rooster said...

At least you're honest. The only thing that stands between you and me and our world philosphy is time. Being the smartest living human being alive I am sure with time and wisdom you will strive to emulate my world view. Best of luck.

Anonymous said...

The only surprising thing about all of this is that you admit that this was written in 1998 (when violent crime was 46% more prevalent than now in 2011 - lol).

Now where's that 'rolleyes' smiley?

Katzenjammer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Rooster said...

Anon are you suggesting crime hasn't come down ? Could you provide me with a single piece of evidence that validates that crazy sentiment ? I have been in this game for close to 5 years and have never seen such data. So I'm curious as to where you pulled that from. All likelihood your ass .

Katzenjammer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

"Anon are you suggesting crime hasn't come down ? Could you provide me with a single piece of evidence that validates that crazy sentiment ? I have been in this game for close to 5 years and have never seen such data. So I'm curious as to where you pulled that from. All likelihood your ass."

You're the one making all the claims that it has come down, fuckknuckle. so why don't YOU provide the evidence? And please, don't base it on feel-good bullshit written 13 years ago. kthnxbye.

Anonymous said...

It's a pity that the yard ape shoving a gun in your face (or his dick in your ladyfriend or daughter) won't rate you like you obviously rate yourself, Rooster. You will not be laughing then, I can promise you that. You're living in a fool's paradise.

I don't know what the crime situation is like in the eastern cape but why don't you trot along to your local copshop and try and get some real info? The trauma council people are a good place to start and there's some good info amongst some of the decent honest cops out there. I've done this in JHB and confirmed what I and everyone I know always knew. We're being lied to, pal, and you, lone-crusader, are the only one falling for it.

I'm done. Now you and your whole group of friend can go back to kissing one another's butts over the tripe you put up on this site.

The Rooster said...

I don't know what the crime situation is like in the eastern cape but why don't you trot along to your local copshop and try and get some real info?
____________________

Well given 50% of all violent crime happens in that asshole Gauteng it should come as no surprise the rest of the country is obviously far better off. Also wqithout exception every single extrema right WHINGER I have met lives or lived in JHB.


I count at least 10 cops as my friends. And they will confirm that crime stats are NOT fudged.

The Rooster said...

Sorry "Melanie" but I'm not posting that hystrionic alarmist piece of drivel. Only in the insane delusions of a mad person is S.A as expensive as the U.K. Also to claim all your friends have been victims of some autrocious crime is frankly rubbish. Why hasn't one of my friends in that case ? How can our two experiences be so different ? I'm calling your bluff. Piss off neurotic soccer mommy.

The Rooster said...

Sorry I have a big bugbear with soccer mommies and their constant attemps to inject neurotic irrational fear into everything.

Anonymous said...

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2011/07/27/public-protector-hawks-eyes-on-malema

I suspect the accompanying comment by AK1234 was submitted to the sowetan by a whitey provokateur...but that's neither here nor there. What is concerning though, is that such vile threats have not been moderated (deleted) by a responsible editor (given the fact that SA is on a razor wire of racial tension)

Also, why is any viewer unable to report abuse without registering to the same website that's publicising the abuse!? methinks stuff in mandelatopia is not so lekker anymore...

Figure it out for us Mr Rooster and elaborate at length with your prozac tinted, twin view happy land glasses...OH....btw, are you not supposed to be in China my tjina?



Haaaa........haaaaaa there is this song by one artist that says "Batho ba mona neva ba loke" I wonder if Afriforum & DA knows abt the song.

It was explained clearly that the trust has been registered fairly.
And again it was also confirmed that on the trust there are twom trustee of whicj one is Malema.
This trust was registered at high court & legally so.

DA & Afriforum you are out of order & all this will be seen once the public protector respond to say there is no case against Mr Malema.

The boy is a leader not by choice but a leader by birth.
Both of you including VAVI & Gravin ur brother we know you are jelouse of the boy.

Mark my word you four morons you wont succeed in bringing the boy down.

One thing i have realised with every person considered to be a hater to Malema is that the can't stand the truth from the boy.
Nationalization & Land reform will be realized once all this has been closed just watch the space.
and we are ready as youth to take the land that belongs to us either by force now or by AK47's if necessary.

You guys are pushing the youth too far with your actions & its time we give an undyiong love ffor Malema you are crusifying.
Its time we use force as Black youth of this country even if we have to kill or die let it be.
Julius Malema we are 120% behind you & they will never bring you down becuase we know you are a leader.

If you are corrupt then they are more corrupt so they better look at their businesses than ANCY league.

Melanie Charlton said...

Its a pity you only choose to publish your own comments. I wont bother in future. How can people debate and make up their own minds when you only choose to publish your own insulting drivel? What the fuck is a soccer mom? I am far from that? With regards to my friends in SA being affected by crime - well what the fuck do you know? Are you accusing me of lying? All my friends who decided to remain in SA have had crime affect them. Not one has been untouched. Perhaps it depends on where one lives? Well, i guess thats for you to believe what you want. And SA is FUCKING expensive and way overpriced. Everyone KNOWS this - if you think its an easy life then you must be earning a fortune or living on fuck all. How people are supposed to survive on a minimum wage of R150 or in most cases whatever they can get is disgusting.

The Rooster said...

I'll allow that one "Melanie". Only to expose the absurdity of it.

Tell me "Melanie" what in S.A is more expensive than the U.K ?

Hint it's not homes, foodstuff, petrol, electricity, booze, ciggies etc. So what is it "Melanie" ? You liar !

Also everyone you knows in S.A has been seriously affected by crime ? Why "Melanie" do you tell such fibs ? Are you some kind of sociopath?

Katzenjammer said...

"And SA is FUCKING expensive and way overpriced." Have you ever noticed how the liberal white madams of yesteryear, the kind who took their maids along to the Rhema church for public display, get so incensed when living expenses rise as a result of more demand for goods and services because the children of their former maids and gardeners now have a greater disposable income? Nobody feels so cheated as the liberal who has nobody to condescend to. It's enough to turn a former liberal into a rightwinger - and an atheist, to boot. I mean, if there is a god, he must be white, right? "So there!" they say. "We've emigrated to Australia! It serves you ungrateful blacks right!"

The Rooster said...

I mean it's obvious that prices of certain goods will rise with an increase of demand. 20 years ago the average black famly was lucky to gets some meat bones to flavour their same and beans. This IS NO LONGER the case for your average black family. Same goes for the demand for clothing etc.


With that said we're still a lot cheaper than the U.K and WAY cheaper than Australia.

The Rooster said...

I get I come across sometimes as if I see no wrong with S.A. Not at all the case. But I like to see things in context of the fuck up that Apartheid was.

The whole world currently has problems. You think they are not going crazy in China about foodprices/low wages etc ? And that's a so called"economic miracle".