Mmusi Maimane claps back at America’s travel advisory warning against visiting South Africa
One SA movement leader Mmusi Maimane is not taking an American travel advisory warning against visiting South Africa lightly.
The outspoken politician feels South Africa should issue its own travel advisory warning against travelling to America for reasons equally as stereotypical as those labelled on South Africa.
“Do not travel to America due to COVID-19, police brutality, gang activity, crime, racism, political unrest, bad food.” – Mmusi Maimane tweeted
The American travel advisory warning for travel to South Africa stressed that caution needs to be exercised when visiting the country, due to crime, civil unrest, health, and drought.
“Violent crime such as armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and smash-and-grab attacks on vehicles is common. There is a higher risk of violent crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark,” the travel warning elaborated.
As defensively admirable as Mmusi’s intentions were, South Africans felt the travel advisory warning was accurate and agreed that the country is dangerous.
One Twitter user responded to Mmusi’s rant, “Mmusi, with one of the highest crime rates in the world and lowest on vaccine roll-outs…I am sure America will take advice from you.”
South Africa’s crime statistics have increased from October to December 2020, with the murder rate elevating by 6.6%.
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According to the report, the top four causes of the murders were arguments, robberies at households and businesses, mob justice incidents and gang-related killings.
Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed that “a total of 2,481 people were murdered in public places like on the street, in an open field, parking areas and abandoned buildings and 1,643 murders occurred at the home of the victim or of the perpetrator.”
The country also recorded a 5% increase in recorded sexual offences, with 12,218 raped between October and December last year.
These are some responses from South Africans: