Did 142 academics & others get it wrong on crime?

JOHANNESBURG - Last week some of South Africa's most prominent academics appended their signatures to an open letter protesting the granting of refugee status in Canada to a white South African, Brandon Huntley (see here). The refugee panel board apparently found (inter alia) that the ANC government was failing to protect the white minority from criminal violence perpetrated by black South Africans.

The 142 signatories included Melissa Steyn, Intercultural and Diversity Studies, University of Cape Town; Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor, University of Salford; Max Price, Vice-Chancellor, UCT; Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Free State; Thandi Sidzumo-Mazibuko, Acting Vice Principal, UNISA; Crain Soudien, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, UCT; Adam Habib, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Johannesburg; and, Arnold van Zyl, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Stellenbosch.

In the letter, addressed to the Charge d'Affaires of Canada in South Africa, the signatories protested that "it is simply untrue that white people are being targeted disproportionately. Black South Africans are much more likely to be victims of crime, largely because they are less able to afford the protections and security measures which most white South Africans, as still privileged citizens, are able to acquire."

Given the eminence of the signatories, their sheer weight in numbers, and its apparent plausibility, this assertion has gone largely unquestioned. But is it true? A number of crime victimisation surveys have been conducted over the past decade. Do they support, or contradict, the claims of this combination of learned academics?

What the crime victimisation surveys say

In March 1998 Statistics South Africa conducted a comprehensive ‘victims of crime survey' (see here). This found that whites were somewhat more likely to fall victim to crime than other race groups. 16,5% of white respondents said they had experienced at least one individual crime in 1997, as compared to 16,8% of Coloureds, 14,1% of black respondents, and 11,4% of Indian respondents. Black and Coloured respondents were slightly more likely than whites to have experienced violent crime as individuals (but not households.) The differential between black and white individual victimisation rates (2,4%) was fairly low.

This survey was conducted in the period during which the ANC transitioned from its policy of ‘reconciliation' to the aggressive pursuit of ‘Africanisation.' In 1998 the ANC began the implementation of its dual policies of taking control over the levers of state power and asserting ‘African hegemony' within them. The ANC leadership now also began to express virulent anti-white rhetoric.

For instance in a speech in February 1999 the then Minister of Justice, Dullah Omar, accused the white minority, and their political representatives, of arrogantly refusing "to acknowledge that they need to cleanse their hands, which for decades have been dripping with the blood and tears of millions of victims....They have shown no remorse or contrition and pay scant regard to the suffering, pain and humiliation for which they have been responsible."

It is an open question whether such racialist propaganda would have given the green light to criminals to cross over the colour line en masse. However, at the end of 1999 an HSRC survey found that 39% of white respondents had experienced crime over the previous year, as opposed to 16% of black respondents. As the HSRC research report noted, "When analysed by population group, distinct differences emerge. White and Indian respondents report substantially higher victimisation rates than black or coloured respondents" (see here- PDF).

In 2003, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) conducted a further victim of crime survey, designed to be compatible with the 1998 Statistics South Africa one. This found that "Black (64%) and coloured (62%) South Africans were much more likely to feel very safe during the day than whites (35%) and Indians (11%)."

Despite being "still privileged citizens" whites and Indians were less able to secure their own homes than other race groups. The report on the survey noted: "In terms of who is most at risk of housebreaking, white (14%) and Indian (14%) households were more likely to say they were burglarised than were blacks (7%) and coloureds (4%)...Most of the burglaries discussed by respondents occurred at night (70%), but were as likely to occur when the residents were at home (50%) as when they were absent (50%)."

More recent surveys continue to suggest that the prosperous racial minorities were still more likely to fall victim to crime, despite the extensive security measures that they may have invested in. In April/May 2007 Markinor asked crime victimisation questions in its regular omnibus survey. These found that a disproportionate number of whites (20%) and Indians (22%) had fallen victim to crime over the past six months, as compared to black (9%) and coloured (9%) respondents.

56% of whites and 66% of Indians said they knew someone in their intimate circle who had fallen victim to crime over the past six months.

The ISS's 2007 crime victim survey, conducted in Oct-Nov 2007, also found that white (29%) and Indian (32%) respondents were more likely to report having fallen victim to crime over the past twelve months than black (22%) and coloured (25%) respondents.

In a report on these results Michael O'Donovan noted that "contrary to popular perception, the likelihood of being a victim of a crime rises with income. The high rating accorded police by African respondents in general is largely a product of their low victimisation rates which, in turn, reflect higher levels of poverty within the group."

This finding, O'Donavan notes, "is in accordance with other data, like the official crime statistics, which also indicate that poorer areas enjoy lower rates of serious crime. Obviously the levels of victimisation vary by social group, and different communities will be susceptible to different crimes. Poor communities, for example, may experience higher levels of assault and rape, but will not be as vulnerable to vehicle hijacking, bank robberies or business burglaries. Both SAPS statistics on serious offences and the NVS surveys show that wealthier communities and individuals are, in general, more likely to be the victim of crimes."

Conclusion

Thus, all these surveys show that, over the past decade, white (and latterly Indian) South Africans have been "much more likely to be victims of crime" than black South Africans. It is possible that there are other surveys out there which contradict the findings above. Politicsweb did contact four of the signatories asking for the sources for their claims on crime. At the time of publication this had not been supplied.

The results of the surveys above do however accord with other survey results which have found an extremely high fear of crime among these particular racial minorities. If one follows the logic of the signatories of the open letter - that whites and Indians should be less vulnerable because of the "protections and security measures" they are able to afford - what does it say if they are, in reality, more likely to fall victim to crime?

Another question is why over a hundred of our top academics appended their signature to a document without (apparently) interrogating its factual accuracy?

Correction: The original version of this article attributed the "dripping with blood" quote to the then Minister of Health Nkosazana Zuma. It was in fact the late Minister of Justice, Dullah Omar, who spoke those words. We apologise for the error.

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responses to this article

CRIME COMMITTED BY WHITES AGAINST BLACKS What about those farm workers in Piet Retief assaulted by white farmers by samsam on September 15 2009, 16:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Where is the racialist propaganda Where is the racialist propaganda in the statement attributed to Nkosazana Zuma: "to acknowledge that they need to cleanse their hands, which for decades have been dripping with the blood and tears of millions of victims....They have shown no remorse or . .more contrition and pay scant regard to the suffering, pain and humiliation for which they have been responsible"? Cleansing of hands here has two meanings, one symbolical and the other metaphorical. I am certain that the majority of whites in 1999 had not participated in a cleansing ceremony in relation to the crime of apartheid, and I am quite certain that many whites were still not convinced of this new South Africa and had not embraced it nor have cleansed their hand in the metaphorical sense. Recent comments by Boustred (former deputy char Anglo American) confirm this objective fat. . .less by charlie on September 15 2009, 16:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Objective Fat" = "Objective Fact" ................ by Charlie on September 15 2009, 16:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Who is commiting the crimes and murders? Deaths during Apartheid between 1950-1990 = 2000 Deaths between 1990 - 1994 = 20 000 (zulu/xhosa violence) Every year under ANC rule = 27 000 Who is murdering the white people? The ANC should be charged as an accomplice. by Frank Talk on September 15 2009, 21:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The dog ate our homework!! Yes, the list of luminaries cannot even get their statistics right. They just make a preconceived blanket statement about incidence of crime on various racial groups, to whit "--it is simply untrue that white people are being targeted . .more disproportionately. Black South Africans are much more likely to be victims of crime, largely because they are less able to afford the protections and security measures which most white South Africans, as still privileged citizens, are able to acquire." What are these people smoking? And why is it so that my family has to take such incredible security measures to stay safe, and even then still be part of a population that statistically excessively suffer the consequences of crime over the racial barrier? We should not have to live like that! It continually amazes me to what extent ideological blinkers can blind people to obvious *physical facts*. Their ideology will trump the obvious physical analysis given a set of facts to the point that they will invent fanciful language such as the above to explain away reality. They might as well have explained that the dog ate their homework. That is about the level of their explanation here. . .less by JVR on September 15 2009, 22:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

For they like sheep ... James Myburgh asks: "Another question is why over a hundred of our top academics appended their signature to a document without (apparently) interrogating its factual accuracy?" The answer is depressing. South African academics, by and large, are . .more so pc-whipped that they are incapable of thinking for themselves. I have not looked at the list of signatories, but my guess is that they are clustered in the social "sciences". In my profession I am paid to look critically at the work of academics (particularly in the social "sciences") Frankly, very few of them would pass muster as grade eight teachers when it comes to independent and creative thinking. . .less by s.n. on September 16 2009, 00:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@samsam "What about those farm workers in Piet Retief assaulted by white farmers" Assaulted? Samsam - Spend some time searching the internet for information about the torture and murder of white farmers (you won't get it from official sources) to put . .more "assault" in perspective. Not unusual to spend hours torturing elderly people ... You might even stumble across some pictures (suppressed by officialdom and our meek media) of victims, which will haunt your nightmares for years .... Verwoerd may have created the sadistic sociopaths who commit these atrocities with his policy of deliberately destroying black families. But they are still sadistic psychopaths. . .less by s.n. on September 16 2009, 00:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Yup! Yup, I checked the list of the 142 brave souls who signed the List. A few good people who really don't belong there ... but the rest are the usual suspects ... sociology, transformation studies, gender studies, galimaufrology, every pseudoscience you can . .more think of. . .less by s.n[eelsie] 3 on September 16 2009, 01:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

toxic symbiosis of fools The arrogance of the academic classes knows no bounds and they are so convinced of their moral rectitude that they would never deign to do some individual research before dashing off to print. History is deeply scarred by the maunderings of these ill . .more informed fools. . .less by ack on September 16 2009, 07:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Very PC, and very very pusillanimous. As s.n. has indicated, very much like sheep; afraid to to put a foot wrong and incur the wrath of the ANC. Why, one may ask, are they so afraid? Don't they also always blather on about our wonderful "most advanced" Constitution which "protects" our . .more rights? Hypocrites to a man/woman ( latter gender included to be PC!). Any Constitution which allows the Government of the day to practice racial discrimination against minorities "until Jesus returns", as the ANC claims it does, is a miserable, lousy, almost criminal abomination. How dare anybody pry into the matter of MY race? And if the Constitution does not allow that : where are those who allow the bullying ANC to promulgate unjust laws to make their lives a misery? Why are business and the affected minorities so cowardly as to just lie down and take what is being dished out? Why do the minorities not organise and stand up for their rights by testing how the "wonderful most enlightened" Constitution protects them? What on earth has happened to our "backbone"? . .less by flebus on September 16 2009, 07:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Struggle Cred The academics who supported this nonsense have obviously done it to increase their struggle cred. The revolution never sleeps. It is ongoing and when jobs come up, they can include in their CV - "I signed the Brandon Huntley open letter. That must make . .more me a better cadre. Deploy me upwards". . .less by mike on September 16 2009, 07:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Jess I agree 100% with you. Backbone? Hidden because its not 'nice' to complain. We accept every bit of garbage flung at us. Fear and apathy lies at the root of this evil. Why did the present govt. come into power? They, the majority stand . .more together as a force. What is the solution to our problem? . .less by Ceci on September 16 2009, 08:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Minority victims-Jess- Jess, I can't agree with you more. You are 100% right, we do just sit back and accept whatever is thrown at us. When will we stand together as one force and force this country to come to its senses. The ANC should be very wary of making . .more statements like 'when Jesus come' for He will come and you will answer to Him. You, ANC ,had it hard during the apartheid years, but, be that as it may, you are doing the same only worse so shut up the justification. . .less by Ceci on September 16 2009, 08:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Do surveys mean anything? The point about Mr. huntley is that he claimed that white people were being "targeted" and that the Govt was doing "nothing" about it. Your surveys have pointed out, you conclude, that Whites and Indians "much more likely to be victims of crime" than . .more Blacks. This to me doesn't in anyway suggest that they are being targeted. This has already been a suggestion by one of the Govt ministers that crime knows no colour but follows the money. Has it ever occurred to you that Whites and Indians are, by and large, the moneyed population groups and should therefore follow that crime could be unleashed on them not because of the colour of their skin!! I thought I should just sound a warning to you that your use of surveys should always be accompanied by necessary disclaimers as even an uninitiated statistics student could tell you that surveys depend in most part on the selection of one's sample as well as a well designed questionairre to accompany it. As far as I'm concerned all these surveys mean NOTHING. . .less by Koeksuster on September 16 2009, 08:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Oh my word If they spent their time trying to solve crime instead of doing all these surveys pointing out how racist criminals have become then there would be no problem. Crime is a business. At one point criminals were excluded from the rich pickings in the "white" . .more areas. Then the market was thrown open and like any good corporate they expanded their operations and recruited some former workers from "white areas" and got down to business. who cares about some ex - SA d....s let him stay in Canada. Solve the problem not the result. . .less by Senhor on September 16 2009, 08:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Shameful to sign that petition The simple facts are that since the ANC gang took power crime has increased. More importantly most crimes against whites are committed by blacks-with 9%of the population white is that a surprise? The real issue is that the ANC is infested with . .more convicted criminals at the highest level so crime is not really crime! Look at the Shaik situation, Winnie the convict etc-it does not stop! Until the electorate recognizes that supporting the ANC is supporting crime the situation cannot improve. While that young fellow trying to sneak into Canada may not exactly talki the gospel the facts are: 1. He really , really wants to be out of SA 2. He was attacked( repeatedly) by Blacks Eish Eish Eish....... . .less by SAM on September 16 2009, 08:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Koeksuster You make some good valid points; but Mr Huntley was no doubt putting forward his perception of what was happening to him in his life; no doubt spiced up a bit. Looking at it simplistically, whites are rich and prime targets for robbery, so . .more whites attract more crime to them because they are rich; ergo whites are more likely to be targeted by robbers. For the victims, the criminals' reasons for targeting them are academic, their experience is that, being white, they are more likely to be targets than blacks, and that it's a "racist" thing. What bothers me is that I, as one white person, know of so many murders of whites by blacks. My perception is of being a likely target, I know it's not necessarily a racist thing, but if I was a farmer I'd be inclined to think so. . .less by flebus on September 16 2009, 08:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

nonsense Your rebuke of these academics is based on surveys whereas actual statistics based on facts point to the fact Africans are the most affected by crime. As for whose feeling safe or not is irrelevent because I myself do feel relatively safe but I . .more am always conscious of my surroundings without letting the fear of being robbed overcome me. . .less by jabu on September 16 2009, 09:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Poor social science Myburgh is confused by the overlap between wealth and race, and should try looking at the world without using race as his only analytical lens. White people suffer "house break-ins" more than black people, well yes (probably). That is most likely because . .more they have lots of things to steal. Try looking at it this way: rich people are a target for criminals (obviously). It just happens that most rich people are white. By the way, Dlamini-Zuma was spot on in her analysis of why white people are rich and how amnesiac they have become. I am amazed that Myburgh is too dim to see this. . .less by Anthony on September 16 2009, 09:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Crime I do believe Whites, and more lately Indians are targeted. There is still a very real perception in the largely less educated majority that its ok to steal from a white person, kind of like self-enrichment (read RDP/Redistribution of wealth). Whites and . .more Indians, whether we like it or not still live largely in the better suburbs where the criminals go to do their business. The Government ministers allow the Jibbering Jumbo Julius to carry on with his racial taunts and anti white semitism and as long as he and his cronies carry this forward, Countries like Canada will continue to believe that as a rule Whites are being targeted. The ANC and its University employed "academics" can't cry foul when they publically allow JJJ (read fatboy Jules) to taunt and then expect the world not to take notice.........the don't like it when a small white boys internationally shows them up.........he didnt ask permission!!! . .less by Soeksuster on September 16 2009, 09:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Crime victimisation survey Where was this ' survey' conducted ? Who conducted the 'survey'? Mr Myburgh do yourself and the country a favour ,stop pushing your racist agenda by giving us biased information.I agree 100% with Koeksuster and want to take it further and say you are so . .more biased that you are ignoring facts which are so clear even to a child.Your comfort zone that you got under apartheid and continue to enjoy even now has made you so myopic it is no longer funny. . .less by ZAPATA on September 16 2009, 09:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Motive It may well be that whites and Indians are more likely to fall victim to crime than blacks and coloureds, but this is probably because they are generally wealthier than the latter groups. The cited surveys do not indicate that there is a racial animus . .more informing the crime perpetrated against the prosperous minorities - which was essentially the thrust of Huntley's ridiculous application for refugee status. . .less by JamesL on September 16 2009, 09:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Bad academics = bad academic writing it is simply untrue that white people are being targeted disproportionately. Black South Africans are much more likely to be victims of crime, largely because they are less able to afford the protections and security measures which most white South . .more Africans, as still privileged citizens, are able to acquire." This is an economic phenomenon and has nothing to do with the anti-white racist grounds used by Hartley. It is worse than an opinion, it is an obfuscation. From all accounts, Huntley did not earn an academics salary (including subsidised house in secure area). Furthermore, for these academics, whose poor quality research and thinking indicates their own lack of merit, to project their "privilege" and ignore the *visciousness* and high level of violence involved and to extroplate from their situation to Huntley's (for many, in another province), is simply irresponsible. . .less by Theseus on September 16 2009, 09:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Know your enemy Lets put aside for a moment who the victims are and concentrate on who the perpetrators are. Young black males commit a disproportionally high percentage of total crime. This is the overwhelming experience of all my friends and colleagues in SA including . .more black people. Surprisingly the same applies to all my mates across the planet -Paris, London, LA, DC, Berlin, Toronto - they all know who the perpetrator is most likely to be - YOUNG BLACK MALES AGE 14-30. This particular group are indiscriminate in their criminal activities -they don't victimize white people -they victimize everything. . .less by Farmer Brown on September 16 2009, 09:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ivory Towers Some academics are so far removed from the real world living in their ivory towers, it is a pity they can't see the wood from the trees. As academics they should do research before jumping to conclusions. Another question is Huntley a white person? by Molly on September 16 2009, 09:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Top academics, I wonder! Were'nt the majority of these so called top academics appointed to their posts due to affirmative policies (racial discrimination)? Their actions in this regard only demonstrate that they are in effect not the "top academics" they are made out to be and . .more furthermore that they are in effect political appointees to the insitutions they represent. By signing the letter they have in effect unwittingly supported Huntley in his endeavours, now that is what you call a "top academics" !!!!!! . .less by Zorba on September 16 2009, 10:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Let's clarify... Forming an objective opinion under pressure won't happen.. Livin overseas for 7 years now its clear how the rest of the world sees SA. Thier source of information is, crime victims who have moved abroad, racial minorities who are being discriminated . .more against by laws such as BEE, and AA. They get information from media, internet etc. and then they go and tour the country on sports events and see who lives like max security prison in mates behind tall barbwired and electric security fence walls. They see this every day in so many ways, and the ANC thinks that they can hide their silly propaganda, and P******* lies from the same intelligent world that recognised their plight under apartheid. They recognise that APARTHEID WAS SWAPPED FOR TRIBAL RACISM and will grant refugee status as long as it lasts due to pressure groups that now abound, and will grow. Understand this ANC you have started on a road that is criminal, will NOT be tolerated, and will come to an end one way or another. STOP, THINK and then DECIDE are you sure you have the will to destroy yourselves, and SA then by all means carry on, BUT YOU FOOL NO ONE! . .less by JWise on September 16 2009, 10:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ACADEMICS AND REALITY My father-in-law is also a retired academic. Used to be a Prof at Unisa. Although he is a very nice guy his lack of grasp on realty sometimes amaze me. I am sure most of them are like that. They should maybe stick to teaching students stuff they cannot . .more apply in the work place anyhow... . .less by SP on September 16 2009, 10:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

It's History all over again it happened with the 1820 settlars and what followed was years of wars. I hope it is not going to be repeated. by gd on September 16 2009, 10:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

James Myburgh You're P******* by Basil on September 16 2009, 10:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Farmer Brown and JWise Your keen and down-to-earth insights are spot on and most appreciated by us, the hoi polloi! But will the kleptomaniac racists now running (maybe ruining?) the country be equally appreciative? Not bloody likely! by flebus on September 16 2009, 11:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Blood on their hands? More black Africans have died from preventable causes under ANC rule than under Apartheid rule. This is mainly due to Mbeki's stupidity wrt HIV/AIDS, and the scandalous decline of the public health system since 1992. To check this approximately, . .more compare infant mortality rates and life expectancy figures for the years around 1948, 1990 and 2007. Mbeki and Mugabe surely need to be brought to The Hague. . .less by mpho on September 16 2009, 11:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

One needs to ask the question, do I feel safe in my home, in my workplace, on the street. Nowhere in the world ( I have lived in 4 countries ) after working for a house and a nice car is one as sht scared as here of being robbed. We drive with our doors locked, windows tinted to prevent the smash and grabs at the . .more robots, have a plan of action to get into our homes without being hijacked, or robbed. When we are robbed the thieves are never caught and if they are they get off most of the time. Crime is out of control and crime on white people and white farmers is out of control too. . .less by Basil ( the real one ) on September 16 2009, 11:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

142 Signatories The reason the 142 signatories claim that, what Huntley says is rubbish, is simply because they are trying to please their political masters. They are living with the heads in the sand as thye are too scared to say anything out of place for fear of . .more retribution by the government. The stats that you quote are meaningless as most of these attacks are not reported, as the victims know that, firstly the police will not document them properly and secondly the police will not investigate them. . .less by Kael on September 16 2009, 11:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

James you rock- let the facts speak ANC genocide The ANC despise facts getting in the way of their ethnic cleansing propaganda. The fact is that members of the ANC, under the ANC bannerand post 1994 have called for the murder of whites. Peter Mokaba ANC thug, accomplice of murderers and . .more thieves (Colin Chauke), publicly and unequivocally incited his depraved followers to murder whites "Kill the Boer" "One settler one bullet". How many dead becuase of this? The ANC are thus guilty of incitement to Genocide and should be tried in an international court of law and hanged by their collective necks until they are dead. Even if Mr. Huntley's appeal for asylum is overturned at least the ANC has come under the spotlight from wither they scurry under the flat rocks that the dirty scoundrels crawled. . .less by Lord max master of infinity on September 16 2009, 11:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

142 ACADEMICS, Really?? "Academics and Reality" gets close to the truth perhaps, too close methinks. In my view, academics have their place..... usually either in Academia or practically applying themselves & their disciplines in the real world outside of Academia. A PhD in . .more Mining Engineering would score zero credibility if he/she did not know what the inside of a mine looked like. The academic background of the 142 ACADEMICS commented upon above is most informative. Maybe it would be helpful to also know the statistics for the 142 academics' political affilliation...... for why, I ask myself, do the 142 feel it necessary to collectively pen what amounts to a highly politically charged stance? The following further questions come to mind:- 1. Who mobilised them? 2. Who managed their publicity and media exposure? 3. Do any of them have a real job (ie one outside the pure oxygen world of academia)? 4. What percentage of SA academia do these 142 Academics represent? 5. Has a poll on "agreement/disagreement/no comment" with the 142 Academics been conducted with ALL of South Africa's academics (including Masters qualified professionals no longer in academia but who apply their academic qualification in the real world outside the lecture room)? The more I look at and question this, the more it smacks of propaganda. JVA U . .less by John V AUSTIN (a Chikurubi post graduate) on September 16 2009, 12:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Chances are Chances are that some of these "top academics" have subsequently to their A** creeping have become victims of crime. Fact remains the more you live in denial the less is done, if you sugar coat C*** it will remain C***. Wake up, your credibility is at . .more stake! . .less by RobertM on September 16 2009, 12:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

White ppl=rich ppl=victims Most white people are wealthy and priveledged. If they are attacked more it is not because of skin colour but because they have so many things worth stealing. Black criminals do not taget white people per se, they target rich people. of whom the . .more majority is white. Stricktly speaking white people are not more likely to be victimised., but rich people are. . .less by Duh on September 16 2009, 12:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

rubbish liars and frauds, my african dream... Just another super untrue fact coming from the anc. by OldTimer on September 16 2009, 12:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Brandley Brandley should applied for refugee status not under false pretedence. by Motho on September 16 2009, 12:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Frank Talk If your stats are correct we are in a war zone. How many people has died in Iraq or Afghanistan due to the US occupation over the last 3 years. Will not suprise me if it is less. by gd on September 16 2009, 12:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Let the white leave the country We cannot be always trying to stop white peopel from leaving the country, This country belongs to all who live in it, and everyone who shares this will stay into the country and play their part in Making SA a better place. If whites feel that . .more they cant be part of the solution, by all means let them migrate to CANADA, thats basically where they originate. . .less by me on September 16 2009, 13:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Red herring The black/white debate is a red herring. Crime is so rampant in this country that we should be given assylum based on that fact alone - not whether it is directed against any particular ethnic group. Most sensible law abiding citizens in the first . .more developed world would be appalled at the nature and extent of crime in this country. It's akin to war on our civil citizens. As a white male I would have no objection if a black person applied for assylum in Canada based on the crime in RSA. Although I am not in academia, I would consider myself academic. The 142 signatories are clearly so un-academic that they don't even see the misdirection of their focus. . .less by Truth fairy on September 16 2009, 13:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

you all get it wrong The black people may murder other black people to the same ratio they kill whites, but its the fact that they kill so much that is worrying! not who they kill! and whites dont seem to pleased that their kind and the black kind is killed so much by . .more majority black killers . .less by meme on September 16 2009, 13:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@me Do us all a favour and you emigrate to Canada; that's basically where you originate. by mpho on September 16 2009, 14:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@James Myburgh In terms of sheer numbers, I doubt if whites are targetted the most re: crime! But this is no numbers contest... You also take out of context the quote that you attribute to Nkosazana Zuma. It emanated from a debate on the TRC report... you can . .more imagine the mood then. . .less by MJay on September 16 2009, 14:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Let him leave Who cares how many times Huntley was actually attacked - he fails his life is in danger in SA and he has a right to choose to apply for asylum whether we like it or not. I live in a middle class suburb and both my neighbours have been robbed at gunpoint . .more in their driveways by Africans. Whi robbed them is not the issue - it is the fact that they were robbed on their own homes in broad daylight. I live in constant awareness that I am at risk of becoming victim. Every window has burglar bars, locked security gates, gars locked in the yard at all times, doors never left6 open - always a security gate locked etc etc. Does that sound like someone who feels secure in SA? I'd leave in a flash too if I could. . .less by Cheryl on September 16 2009, 14:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

HUNTLEY wHEN i LAST CHECKED rsa WAS A "DEMOCRATIC" COUNTRY - WHY ALL THE FUSS - HE HAS HIS RIGHTS,- PROBBLEM IS THAT IT SHOWS OUR DEMOCRACY UP FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS - A NON-STARTER by CYNIC II on September 16 2009, 15:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

try again To the 142 academics & others.Please do the calculation again but this time use the size of diferent race groups in the calculation. e.g. 142 crimes againts white people with a population of 3 Mil will be different to 152 crimes againts . .more black people with a population of 30 Mil Please redo this articale and re paste . .less by allbrerya on September 16 2009, 15:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Huntley I agree 100% with James Myburgh. Those 140 odd academic sheep who signed the ANC petition should be more concerned about the ANC anslaught on academic freedom and spend less time scoring brownie points. But, just for the record, I think Mr . .more Huntley is a chancer and a creep. However, this does not invalidate questions about the ANC's anti-white racism. My son (intelligent, responsible and honest) has been struggling for more than a year now to get work -- any work however menial. But the Employment Equity Act decrees that he may not be employed -- unless there really is no-one else who is not white and male available (and honesty be damned, as we have seen). This is racism. The failure of the HRC and the Constitutional Court to take this up, indicates how far the ANC has succeeded in turning the "new" SA into a racists state. . .less by s.n. on September 16 2009, 15:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What James said.. James Myburg set out to test THE HYPOTHESES that: HYPOTHESIS 1 *Black South Africans are much more likely to be victims of crime* HYPOTHESIS 2 *it is simply untrue that white people are being targeted . .more disproportionately* Using RAW DATA James was able to convincingly dismiss hypotheses 1, although it would seem that hypothesis 2 needs to be qualified to include Indians too, to make (the antitheses) more robust as a hypothesis. James does not make any conclusions about the drivers of the crimes, about wealth distribution being a possible driver distorting incidence across racial lines, or whether there are racist anti-white or genocidal undertones. He need not address these issues as what he set out to do was not to argue Huntley s case, but to RAISE THE RED FLAG that debate in SA is increasingly lacking in any trace of intellectual rigour. All James had to do was to DISPROVE THESE SLOPPY ACADEMICS. . .less by Jack on September 16 2009, 15:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

../.. What is more worrying, as far as opining on the merits of Huntley s application is concerned, is that average aggregate numbers prove nothing, and based on the observations of the imminent group of 142 academics, (intellectually discredited as they are), . .more that whites and Indians should be less vulnerable because of the "protections and security measures" they are able to afford, but since the raw data show that they suffer extraordinary high levels of crime nonetheless, (and considerably higher incidence that other racial groups), one would immediately be able to say that since Huntley is poor and has low probability of being employed, or ever being able to afford this protection, that he may very well suffer disproportional and excessive risk, coming from a high risk group (targeted for whatever reason). The more relevant data that the refugee panel board may be interested in, would certainly be the facts of actual experience Huntley suffered while in SA, which might indicate the true nature of the risks that his lifestyle would attract here in SA. He would clearly face much higher risk than teh average white male in SA. By Canadian standards he may well qualify as a refugee, simply based on the risk he faces here in SA. And so may you and I. . .less by Jack on September 16 2009, 15:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING ? What are you academics thinking ? Do you think so much of yourselves that you think that you are contibuting to a better SA by supporting such unrealistic nonsence ? The fact of the matter is : CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL AND DON'T DARE TO COMPARE US WITH THE . .more OUTSIDE WORLD. Stop patronizing the ANC , stand up and think. . .less by GATVOL on September 16 2009, 16:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Robberies of rich whites that turn into torture, rape and murder are hate crimes. It does not take ... Now for all those who claim that crime on whites has nothing to do with race... please explain the frequent racist graffiti at crime scenes, and the frequent reports of survivors of being verbally abused using racist language. There is ample "Physical . .more Evidence" of racist abuses at the crime scenes themselves. White women are called "white bitches" when they are raped, graffiti often includes the words "f**king boer", and so on. All it would take for the 142 academics to get a grip on this, is a longitudinal study on victims and crime scenes. As for the argument about rich people attract criminals. This may be true. But then the crimes would stop at robbery. A robbery motivated by a rich victim that turns into any of rape, torture or murder is by definition a hate crime. Any psychologist will tell you that a robbery that turns into a more violent event does so because the criminal has power over his victim, and the subsequent abuse is therefore perpetrated as a result of hate for the victim. Thus a hate crime. All robberies of whites in SA that turn violent into rape, torture or murder, are hate crimes against whites. Period. . .less by JVR on September 16 2009, 16:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Academic integrity Academic integrity may have been sacrificed at the altar of political expediency. by Ernst on September 16 2009, 16:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Blah Blah Blah Not all whites are rich, yet they are robbed and assaulted and what not. Dont give me that bull C...P about - if you have ....you get robbed! by Dear Koeksuster on September 16 2009, 16:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Statistics Just a short note here (as a statistician) the surveys largely report perception, not SAPS records of the same. This may be a problem, since clearly perception, is well, perception. SAPS records would be great - if it were not for the fact that most . .more crimes go unreported, and there is an obvious race-bias in terms of reporting. Hence, the statistics in this instance, cannot do much to confirm or refute the hypothesis that non-blacks are dissproportionately targeted. Sorry James. . .less by Kolmogorov-Smirnov on September 16 2009, 16:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

142 Big Academic Guns fire a broadside.... so, is HUNTLEY a liar, then??? Wow, elements of the academic henhouse really have got their feathers in a fluster. Part of their brave multi-signed (therefore it MUST be true) letter states.... "it is simply untrue that white people are being targeted . .more . .more disproportionately. Black South Africans are much more likely to be victims of crime, largely because they are less able to afford the protections and security measures which most white South Africans, as still privileged citizens, are able to acquire." I would ask the signatories to these "academic" outbursts (and readers) to honestly answer the following posers: 1. Prior to 1990 how many white victims in SA do they know of or had heard of who had suffered from a criminal incident such as car breaking/theft, house breaking, actual or threatened assault, injury or murder, gun crime incidents, rape, fraud. 2. After 1990 to date has the incidence of white victims of the above decreased, stayed the same, or increased a little/a lot/very seriously? Be honest now! My personal experience (60 years) = 1. before 1990 - extremely rare; 2. 1990 to date - to know of a white family in SA unaffected by this crime rise is also rare (not hearsay nor statistics, but known events of known victims). You don't have to be non-white to be a victim or a refugee! JVA a uk refugee from Africa . .less by John V Austin (a Chikurubi post graduate academic) on September 16 2009, 17:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The mighty have fallen I beleive all whites should be given refugee status in Canada, Australia or New Zealand. So that we can all get rest from all the complaints about things getting worse just because they lost their god-like status in Africa. In the past they were protected . .more by the state and enjoyed a high standard of living dripping with black blood. Now that they have been reduced to ordinary citizens they cry like little babies all the time. And again to compare politically crime with social crime is stupid even when coming from the former BAAS!!!!!!! . .less by Mogotsi on September 16 2009, 18:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Mogotsi What on earth is "politically crime"? Whites don't want to leave their country, the land of their birth they built up with the help of paid for black labour. Have you not ever wondered why SA is technologically and industrially so far ahead of . .more other countries in Africa? The answer is simple....white know-how and work ethic. So why should they leave because the ANC has reneged on what they promised at CODESA and has subverted the aims of the Constitution by re-racialising the country? We'd rather hope for a body of savvy South Africans, black,white, yellow and brown to enlighten fellow South Africans of the fact that the current ANC is not the party it used to be under Mandela and those that went before him. It has become a party peppered with criminals and racist opportunists which will eventually wreck the country and turn it into the shambles seen in most states to the north (Botswana excluded). Come on Mogotsi, can't you see that the ANC is using race, and black people as useful idiots, to keep up the pretence that they are fighting for Blacks, rather than just for themselves continuing in power? They will ruin the country just as Mugabe, from whom they have learnt a lot, ruined Zimbabwe. . .less by Oompah on September 16 2009, 19:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

who is most affected by crime? the truth is it is a scourge for everyone and is destroying the country. and the govt is doing absolutely f.a. about it. good for huntley if he's managed to escape it. and who cares if he exaggerated the truth a bit in doing so? and to . .more the moronic "academics" who criticize him: you are slaves to political correctness and anc funding and not free thinkers or intellectual leaders at all. shame on you. you don't represent me and because of this i have cut off my annual donation to my ex-beloved alma mater wits . .less by charlie on September 16 2009, 21:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Frog You say it so well, I cannot agree more. @Mogotsie - read Frog's comment again and try to understand what he is saying. I know, I know, it is difficult to grasp, but spend enough time thinking about it, and do not read too much ANC propagand in . .more between, and you will realize the man is speaking truth. @ James Myburg - Well written piece, and I would like to hear from the 142 academics what their reasoning was, when theu decided to sign that letter. . .less by Ca Bez on September 16 2009, 22:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dont be too hard on the academics There was a time when I sat in an office at a university, and at least once a week some unshaven woman in a kaftan and a mad look in the eye plonked a petition in front of me and instructed me to sign. One week it was some ANC or Council of Churches . .more thing, the next a campaign to protect some endangered grasshoppers in the middle of the Karoo,.. I signed them all. I guess I'm a coward. . .less by s.n. on September 17 2009, 00:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sterling Effort Although The Blogosphere Has Produced Hard Evidence Too It is astonishing how these academics can sign their name to a document they cannot possibly verify as being the truth. I am deeply grateful that you have published the survey findings, and I encourage you to read a study done by a blogger at . .more http://iluvsa.blogspot.com, where murders were analysed. The results are startling. Moreover, it is disingenuous for commenters to state that "it is a fact" that blacks are predominantly the victims of crime, without studying the numbers. These academics are a disgrace, and it is shameful for them to take the position they have, in light of the fact that 9 academics (and the list is growing) have been murdered or seriously impacted by crime; the bulk of which come from UCT. . .less by VI on September 17 2009, 05:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Negroid and crime No matter what the Darkies say and no matter how much they blame apartheid for everything. The Negroid is a 100 times likely to commit crime than any other race. by AP on September 17 2009, 08:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ mogotsi Mogotsi ! , is that you !,- the same Mogotsi that worked for me on the farm. The one that stole my tractors battery for his radio and gave all my maids syphillis?. Bliks..m! ! -if I could lay my hands on you ! ! ! by BAAS-JAN on September 17 2009, 08:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Incomplete info The stats above cannot show racial targeting unless the survey results also split out class lines. They should compare victimization between the black, indian, coloured, and white middle class demographics only. That would create a report that is clearer. . .more The above article could just indicate that robbers target the rich. There is no proof that it is purely racially motivated. The fact that indians are targeted at similar to levels as whites actually seems to point to non-racial targeting as they are the richest two groups in SA. . .less by Michael on September 17 2009, 08:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Appalled Clamouring to be a bigger victim than the next man is rather P*******. We're all victims. Trying to apportion victimhood on the basis of race is disgusting and I can't see how it can have any positive results whatsoever. I also object very . .more strongly to this: "The ANC leadership now also began to express virulent anti-white rhetoric. For instance in a speech in February 1999 the then Minister of Health, Nkosazana Zuma, accused the white minority, and their political representatives, of arrogantly refusing "to acknowledge that they need to cleanse their hands, which for decades have been dripping with the blood and tears of millions of victims....They have shown no remorse or contrition and pay scant regard to the suffering, pain and humiliation for which they have been responsible." What Robert Mugabe spews is anti-white rhetoric. What the honourable minister is expressing above is regret that the white minority in this country, for the past part, fails to recognise just what a horror was perpetrated on the majority of its citizens. . .less by South African on September 17 2009, 09:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Now why would they protest the granting of refugee status It should be common knowledge that the white male is being discriminated against. Would be laughable if any one of these academics decides to emigrate due to the inability of government to protect it's citizens by adequate policing, as is . .more happening . .less by ea on September 17 2009, 11:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

PRISONER’S DILEMMA e.a. These academics are trying to hedge their bets by ingratiating the ANC regime. Yes, it would be interesting when the discrimination hits them and I cannot wait to see their reactions when crime befalls their families, and they and their children find . .more their careers at a dead end due to ANC policies of social engineering and destroying the economy. Perhaps the pressure will cause these people of questionable intellect to resort to.. wait for it... THINKING? . .less by Sir Drake on September 17 2009, 11:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Crime affects all I'm a black South African leaving in Cape Town. I've been broken into twice. Once by a black man and another by a white man in 2 months. My horror. I moved here thinking it would be safer than staying at the township, where I've been robbed, mugged and . .more had breaking and entering at least 3 times each. That's in a space of 3 years. All of these had been reported to the police, but the media never heard about it. The point is we are all affected by crime, the ignrance showing through from most of you is sad. Self pity is ridiculous and won't get you anywhere. I have decided to be part of the neighbourhood watch, and it seems to be working thus far. The people commenting here usually talk about how stupid the majority of South Africans are for voting ANC while nothing changes. How stupid you are of complaining to the same government while nothing changes. The same people talk about black people always reffering to apartheid about their sufferings. While the same people see it right to reffer to the same apartheid about how great things were. In conclusion crime is bad in SA, our goverment has proven incompetent enough to deal with it. To get the point across and solve it, let's not recialise it because it won't work. We're all better than this. . .less by Alphinho on September 17 2009, 12:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Why We Are White Refugees Excellent Investigative Report. Put a copy of it at http://why-we-are-white-refugees.blogspot.com/ Thanks... by Why We Are White Refugees on September 17 2009, 18:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

If the Whites Leave ... It has been suggested by some that Whites should just leave the country if they don't like black domination. Think about that. What black dominated country in the whole world is a success? Haiti? Congo? Zimbabwe? I'll let you suggest others, but the point . .more is, there are none. If White people leave South Africa, it will be reduced to nothing more than Haiti in just a few more years. You are headed in that direction now, and the ANC is pushing hard for that goal. How well has it worked in Zimbabwe to drive out the White people? Was that a great idea, or what? Is Zimbabwe still exporting food to the rest of Africa? Not the last I heard. South Africa was a first world nation, but you are rapidly on the road to minor third world status, to becoming one of the most primitive back waters on the face of the earth. China may well move in and take over much of your mineral wealth, and China is not a benevolent task master. Do you really think that a black run state will be able to resist China? Lots of luck friends, lots of luck. . .less by Dr.D on September 18 2009, 00:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

P******* Nothing really supprises me anymore. the closer i get to immigration the more angry i get with the direction things have gone, and who is driving us there. by Bren on September 18 2009, 13:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Whites on average earn more money at nearly every level than Africans. " Here they go again, so white people are not considered Africans? by Anon on September 18 2009, 15:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Whites on average earn more money at nearly every level than Africans. " Did you forget liberation before education? Well the chickens have come home to roost - now live with it! by Anon on September 19 2009, 10:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Of this and that 1. I know one or two of the signatories. To call them "leading academics" is perhaps being somewhat generous... 2. Should the issue not be the level violence associated with the crime? In other words, compare the level of violence . .more experienced by a white/indian person during a house robbery to that experienced by a black person during a similar event. Do black people also get tortured with boiling water, or woman raped infront of their children, or ....? 3. Do the SAPS keep race-based statistics on violent crime in SA? If not, what did the academics base their assertions on? . .less by Caesar on September 20 2009, 07:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Frank Tal Good point! ... add to that Mbeli's lagacy of Aids deaths and you have geonocide ... what I dont understand is why he and the health minister are not currently at the Hague. Is African life so cheap that nobody should be held . .more accountable? There were rumors a while back that the Voortrekker monument was to be demolished and a white horse built in its place... something to do with a certain make of Taxi's effect on the populous of SA. There have been recent suggestions that a Statue of Mbeki embracing Bob should be built instead. Bob will be strangling an emaciated "white" farmer with a scattered food basket at his feet and Mbeki will have a reath of garlic around his neck and be standing in platform shoes on a pile of thin looking dead babies (so that he looks the same height as Bob) Please don't be offended by my imagery, but rather by the actual deeds they symbolize! Struggle hero's my foot ... the struggle has only just begun. . .less by Fred on September 22 2009, 11:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

So thats 142 * 2 =?? Thats right 284 Bodyguards. Read in the Sunday paper about our friend Julius who's bodyguards slapped someone on the weekend. Why the body guards if its all safe. by Fred on September 22 2009, 15:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

No apartheid inforcers found Strange how you can not find the one supporter of appartheid these days. The people who caused the blood and tears have vanished. But look at it. Who actually took active part - except for a few (hunderd) police and army faithfull. A few of them are . .more in prison and some got away but are living among us. Let us leave the past to the past. . .less by Philip on September 28 2009, 08:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Too much freedom and not enough education African National con by Julius is a drama queen on October 22 2009, 10:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

class vs. race I agree with Koeksuster and Anthony- wealth/ class may be a more useful factor in understanding the crime issue in South Africa, rather than race. The latest gini coefficient figures indicate that SA has overtaken Brazil as the most unequal country iin . .more the world and that makes me wonder how the crime issue will go. Though I refuse to believe that all criminals are poor, i cannot ignore the link between the high number of criminals who are black and the economic status of a majority of black people. @Dr D - please read Alphino'spost- I don't know about other people but i'd rather live in a 3rd world country with promise than a 1st world where the majority of the people are treated as subhuman. (ps- as a medical practitioner i can get a work visa in a lot of countries so i actually have a choice and have chosen SA) @SN and Ceci- South Africa has ALWAYS been a racist state, Verwoed and company did worse than what the ANC government is doing. Does that give some of the ANC leaders a right to use the state as their personal property- NO! let us ALL stand up and fight crime, question a government that we think is not performing up to our expectations and move away from using race as a tool of further dividing the nation. . .less by Nokwazi on October 30 2009, 14:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

race and behavior anyone seeking to enlighten him/herself,please avail your goodself to the finding of prof. john p. rushton's research (politically incorrect maybe, but true nevertheless) by clicking on www.charlesdarwinresearch.org(and then on study on race and . .more behavior abridged version) . .less by fritz on January 12 2010, 09:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Crime We can quote statistics until it gets boring. There are farmers dieing due to Genorcide as defined by the UN. Possible more have die than Africans during the last Government reign. Thats and argument that will keep liberals flaming for hour. The only . .more fact thats realy matters is how and when are the incompetent Government is going to do its duty by the people of this country. The old saying is they don't want to know what they don't know. Power is their goal 100% of the time in control of all aspects of society in a Communistic way. To Europeanise they Government is going to take generations. . .less by David Griffith on February 12 2010, 14:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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