While this might come as a shock to some, the herald found that Randfontein is perceived as the safest area in Gauteng.
This was revealed in a survey conducted by Gauteng City Region Observatory (GCRO) and Quality of Life (QOL) in 2013 when they questioned 25 000 people to find where satisfaction levels lie with governance in the province.
According to GCRO executive director Professor David Everatt, “This survey is probably the largest ever conducted on social attitudes in Gauteng”.
Out of the 11 municipalities (Emfuleni, Midvaal, Lesedi, Mogale City, Randfontein, Westonaria, Merafong City, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane and Gauteng) Randfontein had the least respondents – 18 per cent – who said they had been a victim of crime in 2013, compared to the 22 per cent in Westonaria, which has the second most with Lesedi having the most with 26 per cent.
Neighbouring municipalities such as Merafong City and Mogale City showed an upwards trend in crime from 15 to 19 per cent and 15 to 21 per cent respectively between 2011 and 2013.
Despite figures stating that Randfontein is perceived to be the safest, Westonaria is not.
A graph indicating respondents’ crime perceptions over the last year, the perceptions is that Randfontein’s crime got worse as it increased from 25 per cent in 2011 to 56 per cent in 2013, which is the third most. Again perceptions about crime staying the same in Randfontein decreased.
The perceptions that crime got worse in Westonaria increased from 53 per cent in 2011 to 63 per cent in 2013, which is the most.
Westonaria again took the top spot (19 per cent) out of the 11 municipalities for respondents feeling unsafe at home and walking in their area or neighbourhood during the day. Randfontein stood at around 16 per cent, which is joint with Merafong in fourth place. Surprisingly more people feel very unsafe at night in Randfontein (70 per cent) compared to Westonaria (68 per cent).
While this survey was for Gauteng only, a report released by a Mexican research group revealed Cape Town to be the most violent city in the country with 51 murders per 100 000 people and the 20th most violent in the world.
According to the United Nations, SA managed to halve its murder rate from 64,5 per 100 000 people in 2005 to 31 in 2012. However, South Africa is considered to be the eighth most violent in the world and most violent in Africa.
These are but some of the information revealed in the survey and the herald decided to speak to Randfontein Police spokesperson Appel Ernst to find out whether she concurs with this.
According to Ernst she is yet to check the statistics where this is concerned and will consult with the station commander to get a true sense of how safe Ranfontein is and will revert back with comment.
What are your thoughts, do you agree, comment below?
Randfontein and westonaria is relatively safe during day times as there is a massive amount of people moving around.But at night is when these two towns show there true colours and I personally would not deem these towns to be safe. Just follow the herald reports of crime daily and you can decide for you’re self also ask some security companies operating in these towns at night they will reveal the nightmare they are faced with.