Costs and benefits of preventing violence

This report fills an important gap by presenting a cost-benefit analysis of community-based organisations’ work in South Africa.

Cost-benefit analyses have been undertaken in South Africa for infrastructure projects and other public services, but no such models exist for social benefit projects or programmes aimed at reducing the risk factors for crime and violence. This analysis shows that the benefits of community-based organisations’ work to improve access to jobs and tertiary education, build social cohesion and boost local development far outweigh the costs.

About the authors

Chandré Gould is a Senior Research Fellow in the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the Institute for Security Studies and convener of the national Violence Prevention Forum.

Diketso Mufamadi is a Researcher in the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the Institute for Security Studies and convener of the Western Cape Violence Prevention Forum.

Photo: Jonathon Rees