Social Impacts on the Environment: # 2
Patterns of crime in the
country show a higher rate in densely populated
areas, while the Northern Cape, the province with the
lowest population density also has the lowest crime rate (South African Institute for Race Relations, 1998).
This is illustrative of the coincidence of various kinds
of social problems with high population density, and it
is not surprising that the urban environment is often
associated with social problems and
crime. The relationship is complex, however, and the
number of people in a specific area is not necessarily
the direct cause of social problems. Also the types of crime vary between urban and rural areas. Research on the
development of industrial cities has indicated that
rapid urbanisation usually gives rise to a high degree
of social disorganisation, as the familiar social
structures of rural life are left behind and are not
immediately replaced by new structures and systems of
social control (Nelissen 1972: 109). On the personal
level, migration and in particular migration to urban
areas, may give rise to feelings of alienation,
marginalisation and non-identification with a new
culture or new lifestyle. Together with other social problems such as unemployment, this may contribute to
social pathologies such as drug and alcohol abuse
(United Nations International Drug Control Programme,
1997).
Characteristics of the built environment may also increase
the risk of crime (Table 5.7). Areas with poor infrastructure (such as few street lights,
telephones, irregular public transport and untarred roads) may
experience higher rates of crime. In rural areas,
having to walk long distances to collect water and
firewood increases women's chances of
victimisation.
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Crime
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1994
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1995
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1996
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1997
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1998
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| Murder |
32,9 |
29,3 |
28,8 |
26,3 |
25,9 |
| Attempted robbery
|
33,1 |
31,5 |
32,7 |
30,9 |
31,3 |
| Aggravated robbery
|
99,2 |
98,4 |
79,8 |
73,4 |
90,0 |
| Rape |
46,7 |
52,2 |
57,5 |
57,4 |
52,7 |
| Assault GBH (serious)
|
241,4 |
251,2 |
261,2 |
255,7 |
250,3 |
| Common assault |
225,3 |
240,9 |
241,2 |
226,4 |
216,9 |
| Housebreaking: residential |
247,2 |
104,5 |
103,8 |
101,1 |
102,4 |
| Housebreaking: business |
37,1 |
37,9 |
60,4 |
55,8 |
63,1 |
| Other robbery
|
37,1 |
37,9 |
60,4 |
55,8 |
63,1 |
| Stock theft
|
50,9 |
55,4 |
49,3 |
49,0 |
43,6 |
| Shoplifting |
79,5 |
73,7 |
72,5 |
71,5 |
66,2 |
| Theft of motor vehicles |
124,1 |
128,0 |
111,6 |
110,4 |
117,8 |
| Theft out of/from vehicles
|
215,7 |
227,6 |
220,2 |
198,1 |
203,2 |
| Other thefts
|
461,7 |
467,5 |
459,7 |
434,6 |
462,4 |
| All fraud, forgery, malappropriations,
embezzlements etc.
|
74,7 |
75,6 |
75,2 |
74,5 |
69,7 |
| Arson |
13,8 |
10,9 |
10,8 |
10,5 |
10,7 |
| Malicious damage to property |
145,3 |
146,0 |
148,7 |
141,4 |
136,1 |
| Illegal possession of
firearms |
12,7 |
12,6 |
15,1 |
13,8 |
15,4 |
| Drug related crime |
59,4 |
51,2 |
47,3 |
51,2 |
45,9 |
| Driving under influence of alcohol or
drugs |
31,6 |
26,6 |
26,5 |
27,2 |
28,4 |
Research has shown that significant numbers of South Africans visit both
traditional healers and western formal medical practioners. A study conducted in KwaZulu-Natal estimated
that up to 80% of urban blacks make use of
traditional medicine and the export of medicinal plants
to urban areas has given rise to concern. The study also attempted
to determine which plants were most frequently demanded
by consumers in this particular province.
The list includes endangered
species such as wild ginger (Siphonochilus
aethiopicus) and pepper-bark tree (Warburgia
salutaris)
(Mander, 1997),as well as Scilla natalensis, Alepidea
amatymbica, Ocotea bullata, Eucomis
autumnalis, Curtisia dentata and Haworthia
limifolia.In most cases, roots, tubers and bulbs are
utilised and in some cases bark, which means that the
plant used will die. The demand for popular species,
combined with destructive harvesting
techniques, is aggravated by
habitat destruction through agricultural, residential
and infrastructural development and
afforestation. (See also Terrestrial Ecosystems).
High unemployment and widespread poverty, combined
with large urban and international demand for certain
products, can lead to poaching of game, trade in
CITES-listed species, and smuggling of protected plant species.
In particular extensive illegal trade in rhino horn, elephant ivory, hippo tusks,
and succulent and cycad plants occurs. (See also Terrestrial Ecosystems).
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There is also information about the Social Environment in the following reports:
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Metropolitan reports:
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Copyright © 1999 Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism. All Rights Reserved.
Site maintained by the Directorate Environmental Information and Reporting
Last update: October 1999
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