The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) Violence Survey 2022 results showed several downward trends in violent crime in South Africa, but community-based violence continues to have a profoundly negative impact on employees and business performance overall.First launched in 2020, the third annual WPDI Violence Survey âin partnership with BNP Paribas and RCS âseeks to understand and identify the effects of violence on vulnerable communities as well as its impact on business in South Africa.
The survey was borne out of a collaboration between these three parties, whose mission is to help societies impacted by endemic violence to transform into safer, more open, productive, and resilient communities. Kieran Fahy, Chief Executive Officer at BNP Paribas South Africa noted that the survey results needed to be reviewed through the lens of inequality and the fact that South Africa currently has the worldâs highest gaping divide between rich and poor âknown as the Gini coefficient. âThe fact that the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated this prevailing inequality has been well-documented.
The WPDI Violence Survey 2022 shows that even as the world emerges from the pandemic, South Africa continues to face significant challenges related to violence. âThe research results provide corporate South Africa with a window into the lived experiences of employees on the ground and from it we can draw insights and develop programmes and initiatives to contribute towards the safety of impacted employees.â PRESS RELEASE
The findings of the WPDI Violence Survey 2022 correlate with the Global Peace Index 2022, which ranked South Africa 118 out of 163 countries in terms of its overall peacefulness. While this year sees the countryâs best ranking in 14 years, the prevailing sentiment is that violence remains one of the most debilitating scourges that undermine the progress of South African society. Weighing in on the role of private sector players in providing support for employees who are victims of violence was Sandi Richardson, HR Executive at RCS.
âAs we immersed ourselves in the programme, we saw the need to create a more deliberate link between business and the violence experienced in the communities âoften our own employees.âIn terms of the findings, we saw a slight decrease in respondentsâ awareness that their organisations are taking proactive steps to assist those living in violent communities. This highlights the urgent need for decisive action on the part of corporate South Africa to provide more employee support.âThe survey also showed a disconnect between the support victims feel and the support their employers offer. Counselling has been identified as the most helpful solution by those impacted by violence, but only 18% of organisations offer this,â said Richardson.Siphathisiwe Dhlamini, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Expert at WPDIadded her perspective on the surveyâs findings.
She said that while several forms of violence had decreased since last year, other kinds have increased, countering any marginal improvements, and shedding light on the ongoing severity of violence and its ripple effects on South African communities.âOur work at the WPDI focuses on sharing our passion for creating a safer environment for women, young people and community members in crime-riddled areas. This research, commissioned for WPDI by BNP Paribas and RCS plays a vital role in helping us better understand the environment and ensure that our programs respond to real needs, in order to create an environment that is safer for all.
The research data makes us more effective as an organisation and better inform our programmes, which aims to train and empower those who share our dream of driving peace and better opportunities. âOur cohort of youth peacemakers has been working hard to raise awareness and foster constructive conversations around issues relating to social advocacy. We remain hopeful that positive change is possible and within our grasp,â she concludes
