The 2023 Global Organised Crime Index has ranked South Africa seventh in the world for the extent of organised crime in the country.
Out of 10 it got a 7.18 criminality score, the third-highest in Africa, as the report released on Tuesday revealed. The index reflected levels in 193 countries.
South Africa’s score was 6.63 two years ago when the index was last published.
The report further states that the deep-rooted criminal economy, which is driven by corruption, has eroded trust in the government and law enforcement.
The myriad of crimes confronting the country includes drug trafficking, cash-in-transit heists, poaching and robberies, which are often carried out by well-armed groups using violent methods. They are mainly prevalent in bigger cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
The report states that there is a notable presence of foreign criminal actors in South Africa and the country has become a centre for money laundering activities by what it terms “criminal mafias”.
Despite some independence in the judicial system, resource shortages and overcrowded prison conditions present challenges to their effectiveness.
The country also has an extensive coastline and border, making it an attractive route for illicit cargo movement.
The report also noted that the country was vulnerable to cyber threats.
