Social Unrest Looms as South Africa Faces Ongoing Grievances Amid Festive Season
09 Dec 2024
The latest social disorganisation report shows that as we approach the festive season, South Africa continues to face a complex landscape of social tensions. Key areas of concern include the recently resolved long-distance taxi strike in KwaZulu-Natal, ongoing electricity challenges with Eskom's proposed 36.15% tariff increase, and rising community frustrations over crime, infrastructure, and service delivery.
Crime and community tensions continue to escalate, particularly around spaza shops owned by foreign nationals. Communities have raised concerns about food safety, creating additional friction in local business environments. In Mpumalanga, these tensions are compounded by frustrations from taxi operators and e-hailing drivers, who are demanding improved infrastructure and services to combat high crime rates.
Provinces such as Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, and Mpumalanga are expected to remain high-risk areas. Specific hotspots include Pretoria Central, Braamfontein, Arcadia, and towns like Makhanda Central and Alicedale, where service delivery and employment concerns are most acute.
In November 2024, there were 283 incidents of social disorganisation, including 230 protest actions, 42 protest marches, and 11 strike actions. This marks an increase from previous years, with incidents rising from 120 in November 2021 to 140 in November 2023. While December typically sees a slight decrease in social unrest due to the festive season, ongoing grievances, particularly around electricity, water supply, and crime, continue to pose risks.
Through our partnership with TopicWorx, a leader in predictive intelligence, we provide clients with real-time updates on social unrest risks, empowering informed decision-making. TopicWorx's advanced predictive tools allow us to detect emerging threats early and deliver insights that transform risk data into clear, manageable information. By sharing this critical intelligence, we empower you and your network to stay ahead of potential disruptions.
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Source: TopicWorx