Durban — Statistic South Africa’s latest publication “Victims of Crime: Household Crime Levels in South Africa” has revealed that the proportion of individuals who have done something to protect themselves against crime increased from 29.7% in 2022/23 to 39.9% in 2023/24.
Released on Tuesday, the report says that when it comes to feelings of safety about 80% (80.4%) of those aged 16 and older felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood during the day while 34.9% felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood during the night.
“Females felt very unsafe walking alone when it is dark compared to males. Just 33% (33.4%) of the population indicated that they only walk during safer hours as the main thing they have done to protect themselves against crime.
“Of those aged 16 years and older, 80% felt safer after taking measures to protect themselves against crime.
Less tan half of individuals (43.8%) indicated they will call the police when they see a crime being committed, the report said.
The numbers show that the experience of sexual offences increased from 2020/21 to 2021/22, then there was a slight decrease in 2022/23 and an increase again in 2023/24.
“The increase is statistically significant.”
Stats SA says that theft of personal property is the most common crime experienced by individuals aged 16 years and older in South Africa.
“An estimated 1.4 million incidences of theft of personal property occurred in 2023/24, affecting 1.3 million individuals aged 16 years and older.”
The second most experienced crime by individuals was street robbery with a total of 443 000 individuals having experienced street robbery with an estimated 497 000 incidences.
“About 44% (44.2%) of the individuals reported some or all incidences to the police.
“About 24% (23.9%) of victims were injured during incidences of street robbery and 66.0% required medical attention.
“Only 3.6% of the individuals who experienced street robbery received counselling,” the research shows.
It also reveals that weapons were used in 55.1% of the incidences of home robbery in 2023/24.
“Guns were mainly used as weapons in home robberies (66.7%), followed by knives (29.1%), metal bars (10.2%), and axes/pangas (4.7%) in 2023/24. Sticks/clubs (3.6%) were the least used weapons during home robberies.
“The use of guns as a weapon increased in 2023/24 (66.7%) from 2022/23 (62.5%), while the use of all other weapons declined.”
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