As South Africa continued its transformation, Thabo Mbeki, who served as vice president under Mandela, became the democratically elected president in 1999. Although the racial injustices of the apartheid system have declined, Mbeki's administration has failed to address his nation's other social ills. The crime rate in South Africa is steadily growing, causing not only physical and psychological damage but also poor economic growth and instability. To break the cycle of violence, the government should devote more resources to dealing with both victims and criminals.