PARALYSED BY FEAR: Perceptions of crime and violence in South Africa

The findings of the latest Markinor opinion poll on government performance indicate that two thirds of all South Africans believe that government’s ability to fight crime is at its lowest level since 2003 – despite the fact that official crime statistics are going down. But the survey also shows that many people are passive bystanders in the fight against crime and expect government to take full responsibility for bringing down the crime rate. It is argued that it will require a huge concerted and joint effort by government and the public to change the perception of South Africa as one of the crime hot spots of the world