According to a recently released Gallup poll, South Africa is one of the countries where citizens feel the least safe walking alone. The poll, conducted in 140 countries, revealed that 70% of South Africans feel unsafe walking alone, placing the country in the bottom three, alongside Ecuador and Liberia. By contrast, Kuwait, Singapore, and Norway rank the highest, with only 1% to 8% reporting they feel unsafe walking alone. According to Gallup’s Julie Ray, sub-Saharan Africa has consistently ranked low in perceived safety for years, with confidence in police also lower than the global average. South African Police Services spokesperson Athlenda Mathe acknowledged the issue, emphasizing efforts to increase police visibility and reduce crime. Meanwhile, South Africa’s crime rates remain high, with over 6,000 murders and 9,000 rapes reported between April and June 2024 alone.
SOURCE: VOA NEWS