Why is the murder rate so high in South Africa? South Africa is located in the east of South America, at the southern tip of Africa; it is surrounded by the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Atlantic Ocean. The reason South Africa is in the third stage of the demographic transition theory is that the CBR fell to twenty-one in 2013, while the CDR and population continue to grow. The infant mortality rate has decreased from 2004 when it was 52. This puts them in stage three as they have moderate growth. (Gapminder) There is still a lot of poverty in South Africa. This is why people can kill each other so easily, even through witchcraft. South Africa's rising murder rate is partly due to witchcraft, health and white farmers. Murder rates in South Africa increased due to witchcraft between 2002 and 2005. Murder rates increased from 46 to 71 murders per 100,000 population. According to Gapminder, the rate of burns per 100,000 population increased in 2004, from 5.3 to 9.8 in 2002. Additionally, the total number of deaths due to murder in 2004 was 32,303. (Gapminder) This spike in 2004 was due to a major witchcraft problem. There is still a problem with people murdering other people because of witchcraft. On Gapminder, there was a spike in burning murders in 2004. This was because many people and their entire families were burned if they were suspected of doing witchcraft. Even today, reports circulate on the Internet of murders due to suspensions for witchcraft. The sad thing is that no matter how old you are, you will be murdered. There is a report on the Internet about a nine-month-old baby who was burned along with his younger brother and sisters who were not even more than ten years old. (SARPA) People disagree with...... middle of paper ...... because of witchcraft and white farmers being killed because of their own beliefs and suspensions. The crime rate in South Africa is out of control. The crime rate slowly improved with major events like murders, but then things got worse in some areas. South Africa's future looks like a roller coaster. If the government fails to control these crimes, these people will continue to do the same things they did and the situation will only get worse. Just seeing the CDR increase in 2013 is not a good sign that they are improving on crime, big or small. white-famers.html http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2013/0222/Briefing-How-violent-is-South-Africa http://www.paganrightsalliance.org/remember-their-names/http: //www.gapminder.org