South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. According to data from the South African Police Service (SAPS), there were 51,845 murders in South Africa in 2017 – a rate of 33 per 100,000 people. This places it as one of the most dangerous countries on Earth, with only El Salvador and Venezuela having higher murder rates per capita. Besides this high murder rate, South Africa also has an extremely high crime rate. The World Bank defines crime as “the violation or breach of laws governing social behaviour and includes all acts regarded as offences by society at large” and differentiates between violent crimes such as murder and rape versus nonviolent crimes such as shoplifting or vandalism – both types are included in the overall crime rate for each country.
Safety and Security
It is important to be aware of the risks associated with living in South Africa. Safety and security are serious issues in South Africa, and it has been ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. It is also one of only two African countries on this list (the other being Libya).
It is possible that you may need to leave your home unexpectedly. Make sure that someone knows where you are going, so they can contact emergency services if needed.
Health
South Africa has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world. The main reason for this is that South Africa has a high incidence of tuberculosis, malaria and diarrhoea (infectious diseases). The government has made significant strides to combat these problems through education, but it’s still something you should be aware of when considering moving to South Africa.
