The high level of crime in the South Africa’s largest CBD(Durban)

By Sibahle Nsukwini

According the statistics SA reports the level of crime in the Durban CBD has increased by 11%, making the provisional crime rate percentage to be 15,7%. This has ranked the Durban CBD to be the 3rd dangerous place in South Africa .

The Durban CBD has high crime incidents like robbery, shoplifting, muggings, pick -pocketing and hijackings. The high crime rankings that's the Durban CBD has resulted to the CBD residents to be the victims of these crime rankings .

A resident from the Maud Mfusi Street in the Durban Mlungisi Magwaza who resides in the CBD and working in one of the establishment around the CBD as a security guard, revealed that the level of crime within the CBD affects them by giving them anxiety and to be always worried about their safety within the CBD.

“The level of crime is very unpleasant especially to us people who travels around the CBD when going to work .’’ Magwaza stated that he was robbed all his belongings in the Durban CBD which resulted him to question himself about the motive robbers have on residents. Magwaza further stated that being robbed prompted him to immediately purchase a pepper spray to carry and have it ready for self defense. “I am no longer walking around empty handed, I now carries a pepper spray behind my back.’’ said Magwaza.

Prof Mary De Haas who is a Kwazulu Natal crime and violence expert and a researcher at the University of Kwazulu Natal school of law analysed the issue of high crime rate in the Durban CBD. She unpacked the context that Durban being a port contribute to the high level of crime .

“Having a lot of unemployed people contributes the high level of crime in CBD, because they want money to feed their habits related to drugs . They targets the Durban CBD because it is easy to do a robbery and disappear in the crowd.’’ De haas also revealed that people are permitted to use self defence in crime incidents .