By Globe reporter
WHITES are not victims of crime to a greater extent than other population groups in South Africa, Africa Democracy Institute (IDASA) Afrobarometer survey has revealed.
IDASA recent Afrobarometer findings follows the re-opening of the decision of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board to grant asylum to Brandon Huntly on the grounds that as a white South African he was being persecuted by black South African criminals.
The Afrobarometer survey on political opinion is contrary to the grounds on which Huntly was granted the disputed refugee status, which were based on racial violence against white South Africans.
“ Its findings do not support the contention that whites feel more vulnerable to crime than other population groups,” read IDASA statement in part.
The Afrobarometer revealed that whites were subjected to crime less than other population groups in South Africa and in fact fear of crime had declined among whites, while it had increased for other race groups.
Huntly gained political asylum in late 2009 on the basis of his claims that as a white South African he was being persecuted by black South African criminals and that the South African government was unable or unwilling to protect him. Canada’s federal court has now ordered a new hearing after the SA government and human rights groups disputed the controversial decision.
Afrobarometer’s findings in fact show that whites are not victims of crime to a greater extent than other population groups. Fear and experience of crime are actually lowest among whites.
According to Afrobarometer findings, a sample of 2 400 randomly selected participants was asked “Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family feared crime in your own home?”
“ It found that significantly fewer (21%) whites than blacks (35%) expressed fear of crime always, many or several times in the past year,” read IDASA statement. “A comparison of fear of crime over time reveals that although in 2002 more whites (48%) than non-whites (30%) expressed fear of being victims of crime, there has been a decrease in the number of whites claiming frequent fear, notably in 2008 (21%). In fact, fear of crime has increased slightly for blacks (from 30% to 35%). While just over 25% of South Africans report that they had something stolen from their home in the past year at least several times, white respondents (11%) were less likely than all other race groups to state that they were frequent victims of theft from the home.”
The Afrobarometer findings firmly contradict suggestions that whites experience more criminal victimisation than other groups.
According to the findings, whites and coloured respondents experienced less fear of crime in comparison to black respondents. Only Asian respondents appear to have significantly more fear of crime than black respondents.
The findings revealed that poverty had a significant influence on fear of crime, with those living in poverty tending to be more fearful.
The findings further revealed that Education had no effect on fear of crime, but urban respondents had more fear than those in rural areas.
“The research also shows an association between fear of crime and confidence in the future direction of the country, with those who fear crime more likely to think that the country is heading in the wrong direction, whilst those who do not fear crime tending to be more ambivalent about the future,” read IDASA statement. “Interestingly, though, only 5% of blacks mentioned crime as their most important problem, even though they experience more fear and victimisation than other groups, except Asians. Thus, it appears that black South Africans may place less emphasis on crime as a priority problem not because they are less affected, but rather because unemployment takes greater precedence.”
WHITES are not victims of crime to a greater extent than other population groups in South Africa, Africa Democracy Institute (IDASA) Afrobarometer survey has revealed.
IDASA recent Afrobarometer findings follows the re-opening of the decision of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board to grant asylum to Brandon Huntly on the grounds that as a white South African he was being persecuted by black South African criminals.
The Afrobarometer survey on political opinion is contrary to the grounds on which Huntly was granted the disputed refugee status, which were based on racial violence against white South Africans.
“ Its findings do not support the contention that whites feel more vulnerable to crime than other population groups,” read IDASA statement in part.
The Afrobarometer revealed that whites were subjected to crime less than other population groups in South Africa and in fact fear of crime had declined among whites, while it had increased for other race groups.
Huntly gained political asylum in late 2009 on the basis of his claims that as a white South African he was being persecuted by black South African criminals and that the South African government was unable or unwilling to protect him. Canada’s federal court has now ordered a new hearing after the SA government and human rights groups disputed the controversial decision.
Afrobarometer’s findings in fact show that whites are not victims of crime to a greater extent than other population groups. Fear and experience of crime are actually lowest among whites.
According to Afrobarometer findings, a sample of 2 400 randomly selected participants was asked “Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family feared crime in your own home?”
“ It found that significantly fewer (21%) whites than blacks (35%) expressed fear of crime always, many or several times in the past year,” read IDASA statement. “A comparison of fear of crime over time reveals that although in 2002 more whites (48%) than non-whites (30%) expressed fear of being victims of crime, there has been a decrease in the number of whites claiming frequent fear, notably in 2008 (21%). In fact, fear of crime has increased slightly for blacks (from 30% to 35%). While just over 25% of South Africans report that they had something stolen from their home in the past year at least several times, white respondents (11%) were less likely than all other race groups to state that they were frequent victims of theft from the home.”
The Afrobarometer findings firmly contradict suggestions that whites experience more criminal victimisation than other groups.
According to the findings, whites and coloured respondents experienced less fear of crime in comparison to black respondents. Only Asian respondents appear to have significantly more fear of crime than black respondents.
The findings revealed that poverty had a significant influence on fear of crime, with those living in poverty tending to be more fearful.
The findings further revealed that Education had no effect on fear of crime, but urban respondents had more fear than those in rural areas.
“The research also shows an association between fear of crime and confidence in the future direction of the country, with those who fear crime more likely to think that the country is heading in the wrong direction, whilst those who do not fear crime tending to be more ambivalent about the future,” read IDASA statement. “Interestingly, though, only 5% of blacks mentioned crime as their most important problem, even though they experience more fear and victimisation than other groups, except Asians. Thus, it appears that black South Africans may place less emphasis on crime as a priority problem not because they are less affected, but rather because unemployment takes greater precedence.”
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