The national police to population ratio is 1:341 (1 police officer for every 341 citizens). The provinces with the lowest and highest are Limpopo at 1:520 and Northern Cape at 1:195. (www.saps.gov.za)
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it would be interesting to see if there is any correlation between this ratio and crime statistics in each province.
What is police to population ratio if the metro police are included?
To submit details relating to the public protectors to citizens ratio says very little without disclosing individual districts, cities and suburban policing manpower figures. In some instances a ratio of 341 : 1 would be reasonable, but in others this ratio would probably be hopelessly inadequate. For a good teacher to control more than 30 children in a class has, in this so-called modern age and era, become a fair-sized problem. To expect a single public protector to cater for 341 souls would seem a rather unreasonable expectation under current prevailing circumstances.
It would be nice to see what the health professional to population ratio is. Also, how many ambulances are operational per population.
Hello Mike. That’s a great question.
According to the Economist Pocket World in Figures 2009, there are 8 doctors per 10,000 population in South Africa.
If you’d like an international comparison with say, the U.S., they have 30 doctors per 10,000 population. Australia have 25.
Hi Root’ – Eight doctors per thousand in our beloved South Africa could represent a scary situation, but, because the percentage of our people who can afford the services of a doctor and the medicines he prescribes is extremely low, the medical profession is not likely to be overworked, and they are most certainly not underpaid. For the medical profession it most certainly seems to be a comfortable situation.
Terrence, you’re referring to the private medical sector. Most South Africans use the state hospitals, and things are very, very different there.
You’re right, Ammon; I really am particularly referring to the private, professional medical sector, which the non-rich, who are excluded from making use of the low-cost dedicated, state-hospital sector, cannot afford: the once honorable, Hippocratic age having died along with the age of dedicated service to mankind.