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RE: Answer to a question about crime in South Africa - my advice, new underwear
Thank you for the post, @onetree . To what factors do you attribute the high crime rate? What could be done to counteract it, apart from people leaving the country?
It's a pleasure. And a very good question.
Part of the problem stems from our Apartheid years, which kept black people separated from whites, and they lived in relative degrees of poverty. Historically, their education levels were not good. But this is simplistic. All races theoretically have access to the same resources now, but everything costs money. I can't afford to send my daughter to university next year.
Massive government corruption hinders a distribution of resources. But the resources that are distributed exacerbate the problem. Women get a government grant of R220 for each child if they are not working. Impoverished teenagers have children to get the money.
HIV/AIDS has had a massive impact on the country, with very large numbers of young children growing up without family support, both morally and financially, as well as a lack of love, which stunts their compassion.
Education will help. A government that is not corrupt and focusing on their own enrichment will help. I doubt that this can be achieved. I feel pretty helpless, but do what I can (education, support, help) for the people around me. Hopefully good people can create ripples too.
This is so sad. So the government, which is supposed to exist to protect people, is not only not doing that, but is also actively making things worse? I think governments always become corrupt and enrich themselves. Forming a "good" one may be hopeless, but maybe there is another way. Maybe we can end the cycle of government-building and revolution.
Education and family support are so important. Do people have access to the internet? If so, they can use it to learn and even work and get paid online.
https://steemit.com/life/@onetree/stay-on-these-roads-or-living-in-the-wild-wild-west (next installment :) )
Internet access is severely limited among the poor. And it is expensive in our country. Also, more education will be needed.