Citation

Abrahams D. Int. Rev. Red Cross (1999) 2010; 92(878): 495-520.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, International Committee of the Red Cross, Publisher Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S1816383110000408

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

On 27 April 1994, all South Africans were permitted to vote for the first time, signaling the birth of a democratic state built on a constitutional democracy. Yet the wrath of gang-related activities in townships and other urban areas was clearly visible, as was the xenophobic violence that shocked the world. Very often the vast majority of victims have been innocent civilians, and especially women and children. This article gives an overview of the various forms of violence in South Africa and also briefly considers the state's responses to them within the various legal frameworks.