Summary of key findings

Household crime levels in South Africa

In 2022/23, an estimated 1,6 million incidences of housebreaking occurred, affecting 1,1 million households in South Africa. The number of affected households represents 5,7% of all households in the country. About 51% (51,4%) of households that experienced housebreaking reported some or all incidences to the police.

An estimated 238 000 incidences of home robberies occurred, affecting 195 000 households in 2022/23. The number of affected households represents 1,0% of all households in the country. About 57% (56,8%) of households that experienced home robbery reported some or all incidences to the police.

In 2022/23, 68 000 households experienced assault in a total of 85 000 incidences. Less than 1% (0,4%) of all households in the country experienced assault. About 54% (53,7%) of households that experienced assault reported some or all incidences to the police. Weapons were used in some of the incidences of assault. The households reported that the weapon that was mainly used during the incidences of assault was a knife. An estimated 28% of households reported that the perpetrators of assault were a relative/other household member. 

Individual crime levels in South Africa

An estimated 1 520 000 incidences of theft of personal property occurred in 2022/23, affecting 1 228 000 individuals aged 16 years and older. The number of affected individuals represents 2,9% of the population. About 41% (41,4%) of individuals who experienced theft of personal property reported some or all incidences to the police.

A total of 314 000 (0,7% of adults aged 16 and older) individuals experienced consumer fraud in a total of 487 000 incidences. Results show that 38,1% of the victims reported some or all incidences to the police, which is a 6,1 percentage point decrease compared to the previous year.

Feelings of safety

About 81% (80,8%) of the population felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood during the day while 37,0% felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood during the night. About 30% (29,7%) indicated that they have done something to protect themselves. Almost 44% (43,8%) 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, 79,7% felt safer after taking measures to protect themselves against crime.

Citizen interaction and community cohesion

The proportion of households who know their neighbours’ names increased from 91,9% in 2019/20 to 93,3% in 2022/23. A slight decrease is observed in the number of households who would ask any of their next-door neighbours to watch their house when they were going away. More than 50% of the households indicated that they have no knowledge of active forums that discuss or deals with community-related issues in their areas. The proportion of households who knew of active forums increased from 33,5% in 2019/20 to 38,3% in 2022/23.