Threat to safety and well-being
IT COMES as no surprise that the Global Organized Crime Index 2023 revealed Mafia-style criminal networks are on the increase in South Africa.
The index, which was released by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) recently, reveals the continuing rise of organised crime globally, with 83% of the world’s population living in conditions of high criminality.
And criminality and resilience – the measures taken by the state to combat organised crime – have worsened in South Africa.
The index refers to SA as an outlier in Southern Africa
With a high criminality score of 7.18, the country is an undeniable criminality outlier within Southern Africa, tangibly bringing up the average criminality score for the region. Yet, against a background of a decade-long increasing criminality, erosion of critical infrastructure and undermining of democratic processes through organised corruption and violence for hire, resilience to the impact of organised crime in the country is also high.
South Africa boasts many pervasive criminal markets, heightened by the influence of criminal actors, especially state-embedded actors, responsible for years of state capture, and criminal networks that are highly interconnected. Nevertheless, in terms of resilience (5.63), South Africa also scores the highest in the southern Africa region, driven by the efforts of non-state actors to resist organised crime, robust national policies and laws, and strong economic regulatory capacity. The resilience building blocks, however, came under strain in 2022, which saw overall resilience fall. |
As the founder of a specialised protection services company, I have witnessed first-hand the detrimental impact of organised crime on society. Therefore, I am calling for the government to take the index and organised crime seriously.
The prevalence of criminal networks engaged in drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, carjacking, motor vehicle theft and other illicit activities has reached alarming levels; posing a significant threat to the safety and well-being of South Africans.
Organised crime poses a significant threat to the safety, stability and prosperity of any nation. In recent years, South Africa has experienced a surge in the activities of organised criminal syndicates. Recently, there has been a rise in kidnappings targeting specifically businessmen, or their family members, in exchange for exorbitant ransoms. The syndicates behind the kidnappings are highly organised.
Tackling organised crime is a priority
On the State of the Nation website, the government said drug trafficking syndicates, gangs and other forms of organised crime represented an urgent and growing challenge in the country.
The SAPS is making progress in disrupting and preventing organised illegal activity. We also need to confront the criminal gangs that invade construction sites and other business places to extort money from companies.
The government has embarked on a process of reform to improve the effectiveness of our fight against crime, corruption and sabotage. We have established specialised SAPS units to work with business, private security and stateowned entities to tackle illegal mining, construction site extortion, cable theft and vandalism of economic infrastructure. To effectively address the menace, the government must take action and implement strategies that target the root causes of organised crime, dismantle criminal networks and strengthen law enforcement capabilities. It is a challenging task but one that is imperative to safeguard the nation’s future.
South Africa’s geographical location, socio-economic disparities and historical factors have made it an attractive hub for organised crime. The illicit activities of criminal syndicates not only perpetuate violence and corruption but also undermine economic growth and inhibit foreign investment. The consequences are felt by all citizens, as criminal networks infiltrate communities, exploit vulnerable individuals and erode trust in our institutions.
Law enforcement agencies play a pivotal role in combating organised crime. However, limited resources, inadequate training, and the constant evolution of criminal tactics pose an ongoing threat.
It is essential for the government to provide these agencies with the necessary tools, technologies and training to effectively investigate and prosecute organised crime. Additionally, stronger collaboration and information-sharing between various law enforcement bodies at regional, national and international levels are imperative to disrupt criminal networks.
Organised crime knows no borders, and tackling it requires international collaboration. The government should actively engage international bodies to share intelligence and expertise.
Complex challenge demands a united front
The battle against criminal syndicates requires a collaborative approach that brings together government agencies, law enforcement bodies, private security companies and the public. Collaboration between security companies and law enforcement agencies can help bridge gaps, enhance capabilities and foster a more comprehensive approach to combating organised crime.
By strengthening law enforcement capabilities, fostering public awareness, and facilitating partnerships between stakeholders, we can dismantle the structures of organised crime and restore safety and security.
South Africans must be educated about the risks posed by organised crime, its consequences for society and the importance of reporting suspicious activities. Community engagement programmes, awareness campaigns and partnerships between security companies and local communities can empower citizens to become active stakeholders in the fight against organised crime.
By promoting a culture of vigilance, we can create a hostile environment for criminal syndicates to operate. The intricate web of criminal networks, corruption, and violence has inflicted immeasurable harm on the country, hindering social progress, economic growth, and undermining the rule of law. It demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders. It’s time for South Africans to act.