The number one crime households in SA face
Can you guess the most common crime among households in South Africa?
Crime remains a massive issue in South Africa.
From petty crimes to more severe offences, South Africans face the dangers of one of the highest crime rates in the world on a daily basis.
The latest Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) revealed some interesting facts about the crimes households and individuals face in the country.
According to the GPSJS, house break-ins remain the most common crime affecting South African households in 2024/25.
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About 5.7% of households, representing roughly 1.5 million incidents, according to The South African, reported experiencing a house break-in or burglary.
Unfortunately, the survey found that only 43% of the households affected by house robberies actually reported the crimes to the police.
Households in KwaZulu-Natal were reportedly the most frequently targeted.
Most common crime for individuals
For individuals in South Africa, theft of personal property remains the biggest threat.
According to The South African, 2.6% (around 1.2 million) of people aged 16 and older were affected in 2024/25.
The number of unreported cases is even more staggering than house break-ins, with almost 70% of individuals saying they chose not to report these incidents.
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How safe do South Africans feel?
Perceptions of safety have reportedly improved across the country.
- 81% of people said they felt safe walking in their neighbourhood during the day, compared to 80.4% the previous year.
- 36.1% felt safe at night, a slight improvement from 34.9% in 2023/24.
In contrast, people in the Western Cape were the most likely to feel unsafe in daylight, with 31.4% expressing concern. Meanwhile, Mpumalanga had the largest proportion of residents who felt unsafe after dark, at 73.0%.
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