Breaking the cycle: Why jobless youth are driving SA’s crime surge - Fanie Bouwer

Key topics

• Youth unemployment fuels crime and social disintegration.

• Young men aged 16–24 are most involved in violent crimes.

• Policing must be part of a broader socio-economic solution.

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By Brigadier Fanie Bouwer

Introduction

In the late 1990s, I served as Provincial Head: Crime Prevention in the Western Cape. Prior to that, I was station commander in Khayelitsha—an area grappling with severe unemployment and deep social challenges. These experiences sparked a lifelong interest in crime prevention and, particularly, in the proactive role policing can play in addressing crime. Over the years, my work fostered a nuanced understanding of the social and structural causes of crime—insights that I explore in this article.

Context and Motivation

This article is prompted by a recent and controversial statement by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Police Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal. At a media briefing, he remarked, “We have a problem with black men in South Africa,” referencing the high involvement of young black men in serious crimes.

While some contextualized his statement, it sparked debate on racial stereotyping, structural inequality, and the silence that followed—an outcome that may have been starkly different had a white officer made the same comment.

Rather than fixating on the controversy, this article seeks to unpack the underlying social context, with a focus on youth unemployment, exclusion, and their relationship to crime. The piece argues for a broader, integrated response to youth crime that goes beyond policing alone.

The Profile of Crime: Young, Male, Disenfranchised

According to Mkhwanazi, the average suspect in violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, and extortion is a young male between the ages of 16 and 24. “The average criminal we deal with is 20 years old,” he said, based on crime data from areas such as Umlazi and Amaoti.

This trend aligns with global findings: young men are more likely to commit violent offences. But in South Africa, the phenomenon is magnified by unique socio-economic factors, including extreme youth unemployment, social disintegration, and lingering structural inequalities rooted in apartheid.

Youth Unemployment and Crime: A Dangerous Feedback Loop

The link between unemployment and crime is well-established. Young people without access to work face economic exclusion and a sense of hopelessness. In such conditions, crime can become a means of survival or even status. Gang recruitment, drug dealing, and violent acts offer short-term economic benefits and a sense of belonging.

Alarming Statistics

Around 59.4% of South African youth aged 15 to 24 are unemployed. When those who have given up looking for work are included, the figure rises to an estimated 71%. These numbers are far above global averages and signal a profound socio-economic crisis.

The Social Cost of Unemployment

Youth unemployment has devastating consequences. It destroys dignity, fractures families, and fuels resentment and alienation. Crime in such contexts is not always a moral failing—it may appear to be the only viable alternative to stagnation.

Young people in marginalized communities are drawn to gangs not just for money, but for identity, protection, and purpose. These social functions, traditionally provided by schools, families, and communities, have eroded under the weight of poverty and state failure.

Living on the Edge: A Thought Experiment

Imagine a young man in a township. He finishes school but finds no job opportunities. He watches others earn money through illicit means—driving expensive cars and commanding respect. He feels invisible, discarded, hopeless. In such a world, the difference between right and wrong blurs—not due to lack of values, but due to lack of options.

This moral erosion is compounded by:

Substance abuse (drugs and alcohol)

Lack of positive male role models

Failing education infrastructure

Police-community mistrust

Policing in a Broken Ecosystem

No police service can succeed in isolation. Tackling youth crime requires an interdepartmental approach: education, health, social development, local economic initiatives, and youth empowerment must work in concert.

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This is easier said than done. Many state institutions are themselves plagued by inefficiency, corruption, and poor leadership. But despite these obstacles, integrated interventions are not only possible—they are essential.

What Works: Examples of Positive Interventions

Diversion programs that offer non-custodial alternatives for young offenders

Safe schools initiatives that prevent violence and foster resilience

Local enterprise partnerships that create youth jobs

Community policing and mentorship programs that restore trust and provide guidance

These programs require sustained funding, political will, and strong community involvement. Without them, the cycle of youth crime will persist.

Conclusion

Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi’s remarks have reignited a necessary conversation about youth crime. While his observations highlight real patterns, they cannot be fully understood without addressing the deeper structural roots.

Effective policing is only possible within a broader socio-economic framework. Crime prevention must be embedded in public policy on education, health, employment, and community development.

Final Reflections

In a country where joblessness is the norm for many young people, South Africa's youth remain vulnerable to criminal exploitation. Unless serious, coordinated action is taken to restore economic opportunities and social dignity, youth crime will continue to threaten our national stability and development.

The time for meaningful, sustained policy is now—not just bold statements.