In 2024, South Africa recorded a staggering 26 232 murders – a death toll that surpasses the tragic number of lives lost in Gaza – an active war zone – during the same year. While the South African government leads international proceedings at the International Court of Justice over the crisis in Gaza, the bloodbath within our own borders escalates.
In response to the murder crisis in South Africa, Action Society has launched the “Decade of Decline” campaign, a national call to action highlighting the spiralling crime rates and the government’s systemic failure to protect its citizens.
“This is a national emergency. It is a shameful contradiction that our government finds time and resources to act abroad, yet leaves South Africans to bleed at home,” said Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society. “The murder statistics prove what communities across the country already know: we are not safe.”
According to the latest SAPS crime statistics, South Africa is facing a humanitarian crisis. Over the past ten years, murder, gender-based violence, and child abuse have risen dramatically – an erosion of safety that Action Society calls the “decade of decline.”
The campaign includes a petition calling on the President and Minister of Police to take urgent steps:
- Establish a dedicated SAPS task team to tackle the backlog of gender-based violence (GBV) cases.
- Expand public-private partnerships to improve forensic capacity.
- Prioritise victim support and faster investigations to restore faith in the justice system.
Action Society has already proven what civil society can achieve through cooperation. By proposing private funding for forensic support services, the organisation aims to accelerate case resolutions, reduce trauma for survivors, and support overwhelmed investigators.
“We are not just sounding the alarm. We are offering real, workable solutions—and we’re already putting them into practice,” said du Preez. “But the government must come to the table.”
South Africans can view the shocking comparison between local murder rates and war zone fatalities in the campaign’s lead graphic, which shows more lives lost to murder in South Africa than in the horrible Gaza conflict in 2024 (which admittedly is a country with nearly five times our population density).
The campaign is now live at https://actionsociety.co.za/violent-crime-crisis-petition, where the public is urged to sign the petition, demand accountability, and share this message with urgency. This is not just about awareness – it’s about mobilisation.
“We are tired of empty promises. We need action. South Africans deserve to live without fear,” said du Preez. “If every citizen who feels unsafe today adds their voice, we can force a response.”
Now is the time to act. Sign. Share. Speak out. The future of our country depends on it.
