Bring back death penalty: survey

The majority of young South Africans want the death penalty to be reinstated, consumer insights company Pondering Panda said on Friday.

"It was found that more than three in four young South Africans think the death penalty should be reinstated as the highest form of punishment for criminals," spokeswoman Shirley Wakefield said.

Altogether 6 900 young people between 18 and 34 years took part in the survey across the country.

Wakefield said 76% thought capital punishment should be reinstated.

"Eighty percent of all respondents also believed that having the death penalty would deter criminals and reduce crime," she said.

"The survey also found that a similar proportion of respondents felt crime in South Africa was becoming progressively worse."

It was conducted between February 13 and 19 and interviews were carried out through cellphones.

Wakefield said the figures showed a sense of desperation that something needed to be done about crime.

"The government needs to make tackling crime in SA central to its agenda if it does not want young people to be further disillusioned about its ability to protect them and keep them safe," she said.

The death penalty was abolished in 1995.