The potential for civil unrest, due to South Africa’s economic malaise, and interruptions to the electricity supply have been flagged as key risks by South African security experts.
According to a study by a security multinational, G4S, which canvassed chief security officers (CSOs) in 30 countries, 55% of CSOs in South Africa raised the issue of interruptions to the energy supply as a key threat. Globally, 33% of CSOs saw this as a threat.
The potential for civil unrest was flagged by 45% of South African respondents as a risk, as compared to the global average of 31% of CSOs who flagged it as a potential concern in 2024.
Crime in South Africa in recent years has been on the increase, with the murder rate ranking as the third highest in the world.