Key takeaways:
- The true extent of crime in South Africa is possibly concealed by underreporting.
- Short-term trends indicate an uptick in violent crime.
- The extended Covid-19 lockdown has contributed to an escalation of violent protests.
- The police continue to be plagued by corruption, criminality, and limited resources.
- As public confidence wanes, South Africans are resorting to private security and vigilantism.