South African Crime


South Africa Crime


Crime in South Africa is a major problem no better illustrated by the fact that according to South Africa's Medical Research Council over one in four South African males have admitted to carrying out a rape with over half of those admitting to multiple attacks. Disturbingly, 75% state that they first offended whilst they were a teenager. Equally disturbing is that a child is raped in South Africa every three minutes, around 200,000 children every year. This high incidence level is often attributed to the fact that many South African boys see females as 'fair game' with the crime being seen as a form of male bonding when carried out in groups. IN fact, 62% of boys don't equate rape with violence whilst a third believe girls enjoy it. It's bizarre to report that a girl in South Africa has one in three chance of finishing school, but a one in two chance of being raped. And the authorities don't want to know, preferring the crime to go unreported, but when it is, the victim often finds herself ostracised. Of course, it's not just girls, but one in ten males also reports sexual assault by other males. But it's not just sexual crime that casts a shadow over South Africa.



Murders (nineteen police officers were murdered in one province alone in 28 weeks), woundings, armed robberies, muggings, car jackings and other thefts are also endemic. Many of these crimes occur in urban areas around hotels and shopping centres but also on trains and other forms of public transport. Private passengers are equally at risk with their cars being smashed and grabbed or the driver being followed home and robbed as they leave their vehicle on their way into their home. South African crime also includes sporadic bombings of ATM machines.


Crime in South Africa


Analysts put these high crime figures to down factors within South African society; the vulnerability of young people due to inadequate child-rearing, followed by poor guardianship and youth socialisation. Poverty and deprivation together with unstable living arrangements and inconsistent parenting also increase the chances of young people becoming involved in criminality activity and violence together with high levels of inequality, poverty, unemployment, social exclusion and marginalisation within the wider population. Alcohol is also a direct cause or contributing factor in many murder, attempted murder, assaults and rape cases with many of these taking place inside or directly outside bars and nightclubs. Even on-duty policemen in the country are regularly arrested for drink driving, a crime which is linked to 27% of fatal road accidents.


The following table shows South African crime statistics for 2019-2020 and overall crime levels were down when compared to the year before although it should be noted that this also cover a period when South Africa was in lockdown due to the Corona Virus pandemic.


Category 2019 2020 Change
Carjacking 16,026 18,162 + 13.3%
Robbery at non-residential premises 19,991 20,651 +3.3%
Robbery with aggravating circumstances 140,032 143,990 +2.8%
Common assault 162,012 165,494 +2.1%
Truck hijacking 1,182 1,202 +1.7%
Sexual Offences 52,420 53,295 +1.7%
Murder 21,022 21,325 +1.4%
Common robbery 51,765 51,825 +0.1%
Commercial crime 83,823 83,869 +0.1%
Shoplifting 60,167 59,883 -0.5%
Attempted murder 18,980 18,635 -1.8%
Burglary at non-residential premises 71,224 69,713 -2.1%
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm 170,979 166,720 -2.5%
Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle 48,324 46,921 -2.9%
Malicious injury to property 113,089 108,461 -4.1%
Stock-theft 29,672 28,418 -4.2%
Theft out of or from motor vehicle 125,076 118,213 -5.5%
Robbery at residential premises 22,431 21,130 -5.8%
All theft not mentioned elsewhere 300,457 282,817 -5.9%
Burglary at residential premises 220,865 205,959 -6.7%
Arson 4,083 3,783 -7.3%
Robbery of cash in transit 183 164 -10.4%
Drug-related crime 232,657 170,510 -26.7%
Bank robbery 4 0 -100%



South African Crime: Volunteer in South Africa

Volunteer Work South Africa


Check out all the latest fee paying and free African volunteer work placements and charity work job opportunities abroad with local projects and volunteering organisations in South Africa.

More >



South African Crime: South Africa Poverty

South Africa Poverty


Facts, figures and a video about child poverty in South Africa where 22% of the population live in poverty.

More >







South African Crime: Child Sponsor South Africa

Child Sponsor South Africa


Details of how to sponsor children in South Africa with South African child sponsor organisations, charities, programs and projects.

More >




South African Crime: South Africa Country Profile

African Country Profiles: South Africa


In another of our African country profiles, find out all about South Africa in a series of information articles, latest daily news, videos, and images together with volunteering and child sponsorship opportunities.

More >




Back  



Main sections of this site:


Volunteer by Country

Details of current volunteer work
opportunities in each of the
countries of Africa.

More >


Sponsor a Child
Sponsor a Child in Africa

Find how to sponsor a child in Africa
with our list of organisations,
charities, programs and projects.

More >


All About Africa

Discover all about Africa, its tourist
attractions, history, people, culture
and daily life there.

More >


African Resources

A treasure trove of African
resources from webcams to
free downloads and news.

More >