Car Hijacking in South Africa. Living in Perpetual Fear

Abstract

South Africa is reportedly one of the most unequal countries in the world. Thirty-one years after the demise of brutal and repressive apartheid minority rule. The black majority of South Africans undeniably continues to live in poverty, hunger, and disease. With over 33% reported youth unemployment, a housing crisis, and political uncertainty due to the African National Congress's dwindling support. A group of determined criminal gangs has emerged, causing mayhem and, in some instances, undocumented foreigners and South Africans are committing violent crimes like cash-in-transit heists, car hijacking, murder, house breaking, illegal mining, drug dealing, to mention but a few of these violent crimes. This research has three aims: first, to look at the South African socio-economic contexts. Second, to look at the extent of carjacking, which makes South Africans live in constant fear and anxiety. Third, the impact of illegal migrants who enter South Africa and take advantage of its porous border, making it impossible to fight serious crimes. South Africa is the richest and most developed country on the continent of Africa. It belongs to the G20, a founding member of BRICS, SADC, AU, and the United Nations. This gives South Africa global leverage and recognition in terms of economic affairs. South Africa is endowed with rich natural resources, but the proceeds of its wealth are not evenly distributed among its citizens. It defies logic when the vast amount of South Africa's wealth is evaluated, but the majority of citizens do not have access to it. If car hijackers are allowed to continue carrying out violent crimes, South Africa will slide into economic disaster like most African countries, where corruption and violence is institutionalised and have gone unabated over the years. The author calls for South Africa to shut its porous border as most of the developed countries of the world ( UK, Canada, USA, France, Australia, China)  are currently doing, providing a clear national immigration rule. South Africa is a global tourist destination, nobody wants to travel to countries  where their lives and property are not safe due to criminal elements terrorising people and dispossessing them of their cars, property or valauable assets.