Employment Scarcity, Economic Disparities, and Rising Crime in South Africa

06 Apr 2025

South Africa's economy tells two different stories. In major cities, jobs are more plentiful and incomes higher. Step outside these urban centers, and the picture darkens considerably.

Non-metropolitan areas face severe employment challenges. In rural KwaZulu-Natal, only 32.1% of working-age people have jobs, compared to 46.8% in eThekwini. The situation is worse in non-metro Eastern Cape, where a mere 24.8% of adults work, significantly below Buffalo City's 44.7% employment rate.

How do households survive? The answer varies dramatically by location. In Cape Town and Johannesburg, most families (68.5% and 65.0% respectively) rely primarily on salaries. Meanwhile, in Mangaung, only half of households can say the same.

Social grants become a lifeline for many South Africans living outside major economic hubs. Nearly 28% of Mangaung households and 26.4% in Buffalo City depend on these government payments as their main income. Contrast this with Johannesburg and Cape Town, where only 10.7% and 13.4% of households primarily rely on grants.

This economic divide coincides with troubling crime patterns. Surprisingly, the Western Cape, despite better service delivery, hosts many of South Africa's murder hotspots. Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal has seen murders rise by 93.3% over the past decade. Delft (Western Cape) experienced a 68.7% increase, while Jeppe (Gauteng) recorded a shocking 208.3% surge in murders.

The connection between economic hardship and violence is clear. Communities struggling with few jobs, financial instability, and grant dependency create conditions where crime flourishes. Solving these interconnected problems requires thoughtful action. South Africa needs economic policies that create jobs beyond major cities and crime prevention strategies that address root causes, inequality, education gaps, and infrastructure shortfalls. The country's stability depends on building bridges across these divides so all communities can flourish, not just survive. 

As crime rates increase, businesses are more likely to be impacted, making it essential for them to adapt their risk mitigation strategies. Contact us here for a security assessment that fits your specific business needs. Our team knows South Africa's security challenges inside and out. We create practical solutions to keep your assets, staff, and operations safe, whether you're in a city center or smaller town. Partner with security experts who understand how economic factors affect your business safety.

Source: Centre for Risk Analysis