In 2020/21 an estimated 1,0 million incidences of housebreaking occurred, affecting 809 000 households in South Africa. The number of affected households represents 4,6% of all households in the country. Almost 56% (56,1%) of households that experienced housebreaking reported some or all incidences to the police. 

An estimated 141 000 incidences of home robberies occurred, affecting 112 000 households in 2020/21. The number of affected households represents 0,6% of all households in the country. About 56% (55,9%) of households that experienced home robbery reported some or all incidences to the police. 

Theft of motor vehicles was experienced by 81 000 households in 2020/21 in a total of 83 000 incidences. Less than 1% (0,5%) of all households in the country experienced theft of motor vehicles. About 91% (91,0%) of households that experienced theft of motor vehicles reported some or all incidences to the police, which is a 12,3 percentage point increase compared to the previous year.

An estimated 844 000 incidences of theft of personal property occurred in 2020/21, affecting 732 000 individuals aged 16 years and older. The number of affected individuals represents 1,8% of the population. About 31% (30,5%) of individuals who experienced theft of personal property reported some or all incidences to the police, which is a 7,7 percentage point decrease compared to the previous reporting year. 

A total of 304 000 (0,7% of adults aged 16 and older) individuals experienced street robbery in a total of 346 000 incidences. About 55% (54,9%) of the victims reported some or all incidences to the police.

A total of 321 000 (0,8% of adults aged 16 and older) individuals experienced customer fraud in a total of 493 000 incidences. A larger number of these incidences is attributed to advance-fee fraud (e.g. the R99 credit/debit card scam, 419 scams). Results show that 41,3% of the victims reported some or all incidences to the police, which is a 15,3 percentage point increase compared to the previous year. 

An estimated 64 000 hijackings occurred in 2020/21, affecting 64 000 (0,2%) persons aged 16 years and older. A total of 63% (62,7%) of the victims reported some or all incidences to the police, which is a 15,3 percentage point decrease compared to the previous year. 

About 85% (84,8%) of the population felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood during the day while 40,0% felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood during the night. Both figures decreased from 2019/20. Females in general felt safer walking alone in their neighbourhood than males during the day. Similarly, rural residents had a greater feeling of safety walking alone in their areas when it is dark than residents in urban areas. 

 

There is an general acceptance (98,9%) that fathers should play a role in raising children in 2020/21. Approximately 91% of persons aged 16 and above agree that having an income is the best way for a woman to be an independent person. Almost 58% (57,6%) agreed that when jobs are scarce, employers should give preference to women over men, and 55,4% agreed that if a woman earns more money than the man, it is almost certain to cause problems. There is an overall decrease in the perception that if a woman earns more than her man, it is almost certain to cause problems. The perceptions that when jobs are scarce, employers should give preference to women over men, this when filing posts have significantly decreased from 89,2% in 2019/20 to 57,6% in 2020/21.

Over 90% of persons aged 16 years or older did not believe that there is a justification for a man/ husband to hit or beat his partner/ wife. About 4,1% of the population believes that it is justifiable for a man or husband to hit or beat his woman or wife if she has sex with another man or woman and about 2,5% said that it is justifiable for a man or husband to hit or beat his woman or wife if she neglects the children. In general, there has been a decrease in the percentage between 2019/20 and 2020/21 for those who believe that it is justifiable for a man to beat his woman/wife for any reason.

Both males (88,3%) and females (87,3%) think that the spouse or intimate partners commit the most acts of gender based violence. This is followed by those who think a previous partner, relative or family member that is part of the household and unknown person or stranger commits the most acts of gender based violence. The three leading groups/categories of perpetrators of acts of gender based violence are usually persons known to the victim. 

Risenga Maluleke

Statistician-General