My sister lives in the UK and has expressed her concern for the young ruffians that roam the streets in gangs. There has also been a MASSIVE increase in murders and gang related violence. What is also noticable is the increase in cash-in-transit robberies over there as well as the increase in gun related crime, so those who laugh at these stats should maybe think twice before brushing them off. Or even better still, go live in the UK with it's miserable people and weather. Did you know that in the Northern Cape the crime rate is one of the lowest in the world? So yes people there are places in South Africa that is very safe but you all think as far as your front door.

While there may be a serious problem with 'violent crime' in the UK, to compare with South Africa's official figures is ridiculous. Who here would bother reporting an altercation in a pub. Rape, as has been made very clear recently, is being placed in 'incident books' and therefore off the crime radar. I was the victim of an armed robbery a while ago and there has been no effective police investigation. If that category of crime can't be investigated properly, why bother reporting crime, other than to provide the statistics that are clear to all South Africans (and that probably won't be released anyway).

I lived in the UK for 14 years and what is classified as violent crime in the UK is a punchup/pub brawl and the likes, and someone using knives, very few guns are used in crime over there as handguns are pretty well banned except in some exceptional cases. Problem here in South Africa is that we call violent crime usually results in death, mutilation, serious other injuries. The second issue I have with this type of reporting is that these statistics are based on government released figures which they admit are often wrong and also the government UNDER reports crime stats in this country as they do with most stats like inflation etc. Case in point was a few years ago teh government reported just over 16,800 murders, the medical examiners who do autopsies reported over 32,000 unlawfull deaths. So basically saying, we cannot take this seriously.

Last anonymous, you are talking rubbish..... if you have a family and do not want any harm to come to them when you are in a place such as Dirtbin (Durban), you move for the better of your family.

"Most parts of SA are as safe as most parts of England" - what a load of rubbish.... OOhhh I am sure its really scarey driving down to Cornwall or up to Birmingham etc..... much like driving from Durban to Jo'burg - NOT !! Becareful for hijackings, bag snatching at lights, random HiACE taxis overloaded and crashing.... roads with potholes all over them.... I am sure if its dark while you are driving you would pull over for a sleep in a layby in South Africa !!!! MUPPET !!!!!!

The biggest problem about crime in SA are those winning on about it when overseas! You are as bad as the Poms about the weather! England is a terrible place and is not safe. Most parts of SA are as safe as most parts of England. If you are overseas and moaning on about crime and more in SA, take your passport and rip it up and start supporting England and the Lions. Saffa's abroad are now the official SOET PEELS. Love it or LEAVE it. But please stop running down our beloved country!

what next, residents of Europe and UK are going to flock to SA because of their high crime rate !! maybe it because SA doesn't report crime stats properly !! get with the program Daily Mail - stop dreaming !!

What a HUGE laugh to start the weekend:-) The mind quite boggles. If only the stats were true. At least you can get onto a train in England without, literally, being stabbed in the back.

Oh Please!! Higher than SA??? At least in Britain crimes are reported and investigated... here after 10's of people are mugged while following the soccer and Lions tour we have police with the audacity to ask "What crimes" "What muggings" "We have no reports"

South Africans dont bother reporting petty crimes anymore. If they do, they are not investigated and prosecuted.
Other than the hotel theft incident, which is purely a publicity stunt for FIFA, when did you last read about someone being convicted and sentenced for "petty" crimes????

We must not believe everything we read from media
Our crime is definitely violent and malicious in nature.
Our crime is also racialistic in nature too.
We must compare apples with apples NOT on some
prejudiced opinion.
Its like being a hypocrite claiming the chinese fake
the olympics.
We need to grow up

This is the biggest joke I've read today.

SA less violent that the UK? I doubt anyone will shoot you for 50 pounds and your mobile phone in London or rape your 4 yr old daughter -- this happens almost everyday in SA!!!?? Maybe the author of this article should come and live over here for a while and experience the 'real life' and not just read meaningless stats