Different Crime Types in Western Cape Province: Principal Component Analysis

Kyei Ka,Tshisikhawe Th,Dube Lm

doi:10.22610/jebs.v8i5(j).1428

Kyei Ka, Tshisikhawe Th + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v8i5(j).1428

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Abstract

South Africa has a very high crime rate compared to most countries. Crime affects the society,Â business and psychology of the people. It compels people to move out or come into a particular area. It isÂ most prevalent in the urban areas where poverty gap is conspicuous. Western Cape and Gauteng ProvincesÂ are the best developed provinces in the country and therefore have higher crime levels. But the question is:Â what types of crime are prevalent in the Western Cape Province? And what are the major causes of theseÂ crimes? The purpose of this paper is to identify the different types of crimes committed in the Western CapeÂ Province which are prominent. Principal Component analysis (PCA) has been use in this study to gauge theÂ patterns of crime and the distinct important factors affecting the level of crime. Secondary data from aÂ website have been used in the analysis. The results show that violence and vehicle thefts are the mostÂ committed crimes in the province. The areas where crime occurs most frequently are Bellville, Cape TownÂ Central, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelisha, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga and Parow. Firearms have been identified asÂ major means for committing crime. The paper recommends that attempts be made by the provincialÂ government to clamp down unlicensed fire arm holders/dealers. Amnesty should be granted to encourageÂ holders of unlicensed fire arms to surrender without punishment and the public should report to the policeÂ all those dealing in unlicensed firearms in order to root out crime in the province.

Highlights

South Africa has a high level of crime with, for example, burglary at residence put at 300; malicious injury to property at 165 and drug-related crime at 518 (Statistics South Africa, 2013)
The scree plot (Figure 2) showing the first Principal Component (PC) plotted against the second PC, identified police precincts with high crime rates to include Bellville, Cape Town Central, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelisha, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga and Parow
It is only Mitchells Plain that has a high loading of violence and a low loading of vehicle theft, which suggests that the measures taken there against vehicle theft are effective but have resulted in an increase in violence related crimes

Summary

Introduction

South Africa has a high level of crime with, for example, burglary at residence put at 300; malicious injury to property at 165 and drug-related crime at 518 (Statistics South Africa, 2013). Crime has become a natural phenomenon in all societies, high, middle and working class societies. All societies want to reduce or even get rid of social crimes that are committed in the society because crime saps the moral energy of the people. It is a global crisis affecting everybody and at all places with different intensity, though (Clarke, 1997). According to Demombynes and Özler (2005), crime compels resources to be diverted and be used as protective mechanisms They further allege that crime raises the cost of health matters through increased stress. A study of the level, composition and distribution of crime in order to devise strategies to combat or reduce crime is called for

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