Our city’s exquisite landscape, rich culture and powerful energy is harshly contrasted by its astronomical crime rate.
The beautiful houses are surrounded by high walls and electric fences while the city’s glamorous streets are constantly patrolled and memories of hijackings haunt the residents.
Has crime become more South African than vuvuzelas or boerewors?
Sadly, fear and caution override comfort or pride in Johannesburg’s youth. The extent of this fear was measured by interviewing local youths.
The interviews revealed that teenage residents of Joburg think it’s only safe to walk alone on the streets if there are many people around and security guards nearby. They believe that they are most at risk in the CBD.
Unsurprisingly, common theft is the crime our youth say they feel most threatened by, as 80 percent of the teenagers interviewed had been previously robbed.
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and many of our youth believe that electric fences and patrol vehicles are the best crime-prevention measures.
“Honestly, my past experiences have left me feeling vulnerable and unsafe in my own home,” said Nkosi Mnisi, one of the interviewed teens.
“I believe that the influence of drugs and alcohol is the cause of high crime rates,” explained Victoria Klinkert, another interviewee.
Vulnerable teenagers, who are perceived as naïve and unsuspecting, are easy targets for criminals. The sad reality is that the youth cannot walk on the streets, alone, with their cellphone in hand and not expect to be robbed.
Who is to blame?
In the eyes of the residents, it’s the criminal.
In the eyes of the criminal, it’s the careless teenager.
