Political leadership under pressure as spike in NMB crime levels spur metro to 9th most dangerous city in the world

The Weekend View

Early this year , the Mexican Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice published its annual ranking report of the 50 most violent cities in the world. The report ranked Nelson Mandela Bay (Gqeberha) as the most dangerous city in South Africa, leaping past Cape Town and Durban. Meanwhile, announcing the quarterly crime statistics last Friday, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said that Mthatha and Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape have been identified as problem areas for extortion-related rackets. According to community activists and leaders people no longer feel safe , criminals now target bereaved families demanding the insurance money. They say development is at a standstill in townships across the metro because criminals are demanding protection fees from developers. Clinics and schools are also not safe.

To discuss this further Udo Carelse spoke to Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Gary van Niekerk, Pamela Mabini, community activist based in Gqeberha and Prof Kholofelo Rakubu, HOD for safety and security management at he Tshwane University of Technology