Violence report 'questionable'

CRIME experts have questioned a Mexican report that labels Nelson Mandela Bay the second most violent city in Africa.

This claim is according to a report compiled by Mexico's Citizens' Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice.

Cape Town was named the 20th most violent city in the world, while Nelson Mandela Bay ranks 41st on the list, with 35.76 homicides per 100000 residents.

Durban is rated the third most violent city in Africa and is 48th on the list. Johannesburg, ranked 50th two years ago, does not appear on this year's list.

The list does not include deaths in war zones or cities with unavailable data.

Thirty-four of the 50 cities listed are in Latin America, and of the top 20, the first 18 are on that continent. Institute of Security Studies (ISS) senior researcher Dr Johan Burger said the report could be detrimental to tourism in this country as it did not provide an accurate perception of the actual situation.

He called the report questionable because Nelson Mandela Bay comprised various geographical areas.

"The Eastern Cape has the highest murder rate of all the provinces, but it is because [certain] areas drive these figures up," he said.

Lizette Lancaster, manager of the ISS's crime and justice information hub, said: "As someone originally from Nelson Mandela Bay, I find it concerning because the crime rate is extremely high for the city. However every city has its challenging areas and its quieter areas."

She said tourists should not put too much emphasis on the report's findings as it was not clear what research methodologies were used to compile the figures. She also said many cities in Africa did not release crime statistics.

Municipal spokesman Roland Williams said it would be worrying if Nelson Mandela Bay was branded a violent city.

He said the municipality prided itself on being one of the country's safer metropolitan areas.

"It would be difficult to assess the veracity of the report without checking the research methodology, period of review and statistics used in its compilation.

"These figures must be checked and cross-referenced with the SAPS, the only authority that releases official safety and security statistics," he said.

Provincial police spokesman Colonel Sibongile Soci said the Bay's murder rate was highest among the gangs of the northern areas. But, he said, the Bay was by no means a murder hot spot.

The latest crime statistics revealed more murders in the Mthatha area. - Lee-Anne Butler