Unequal access to basic services is responsible for various criminal activities in South Africa discuss the statement
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Yes it’s a reason, but not a justification.
Crime is a broad term that describes a range of outlawed activities. Some are petty, others extreme and the rest in between.
There is a body of research that points out that there is a significant positive correlation between levels of crime and inequality within a region. What perpetuates the crime - in my view - is the response to it.
To answer this question, I will focus mostly on crimes related to property appropriation i.e. robberies and carjackings. In South Africa, there’s a common robbery rate of 139 robberies a day, 379 robberies with aggravated circumstances, 61 household robberies, and 45 carjackings each day. This is all according to South Africa’s crime statistics for 2017/18. The rationale behind these crimes are quite clear - acquire a valuable asset in order to exchange them for something much more valuable or easier to exchange i.e. cash.
People commit these crimes because they see it as a way to earn a living. I’m pretty convinced though that for a lot of them - it’s not something permanent - it’s a mere rational way of quickly acquiring capital to kickstart their lives in order to legally participate in the economy in a less shameful manner; one of the only options they think they have. Though once you’re in, it’s probably not that easy to get out. There are other options for the same thing, like begging. I once asked a beggar whether he plans to beg for his entire life, whether he’s planning to do something to try and break out of the cycle he finds himself stuck in? He said to me that he’s saving the money he collects to buy a lawnmower and some tools to do gardening for people. See, people who usually resort to criminality and begging usually have no relative or someone close they can simply ask for a “stimulus package” to kickstart their lives whether it be money for transport to look for work, funds to study, eat, or pay for water and electricity to live. The poor are mostly socially confined to the poor, and it is poverty that usually circulates within. When these people are juxtaposed to the wealth within reachable geographic distances, they will aspire to acquire it and different people react differently to such aspirations. Some play the long game of pursuing studies and working their way up - but some, find the shortest way there for whatever reason. Reasons that may be way out of their perceived control. And thus → crime.
But we need to remember one thing, people who commit crimes are people - contrary to popular belief - they have hearts and brains. In his book - Born A Crime, Trevor Noah tells a story of how he once played a role in fueling and incentivising criminality in South Africa. And he goes on to explain the perspective he had, how he moralised his actions
It’s such a strange thing, but in two years of hustling I never once thought of it as a crime. I honestly didn’t think it was bad. It’s just stuff people found. White people have insurance. Whatever rationalization was handy. In society, we do horrible things to one another because we don’t see the person it affects. We don’t see their face. We don’t see them as people.
It’s the same with the way we respond to crime. We’d rather contribute to growing a multi-billion Rand security industry, rather than pushing for reform to tackle the very root of criminality, simply because we don’t see criminals as people, but - criminals.