Just when we thought load shedding was a thing of the past, recent weeks have seen the familiar pattern of power cuts return to South African households and businesses. While many companies had invested in solar solutions as their ticket to energy independence, this silver lining came with an unexpected dark cloud, the rising threat of solar panel theft.
Read moreLet's face it, South Africa's security landscape is getting tougher by the day. The latest crime statistics from January paint an interesting picture. The data shows that while business robberies remain relatively low across most provinces, with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal seeing slightly higher incidents, they're overshadowed by more prevalent crimes like armed robbery, theft, and social unrest. Between January 24th and February 13th, 2025, we've actually seen protest actions drop from over 90 incidents to around 50. Planned protest marches have stayed pretty steady at lower numbers too.
Read moreAs South Africans grapple with endless water shortages, power cuts, pothole-riddled roads, and malfunctioning traffic lights in many areas, a disturbing pattern has emerged, neighbourhoods plagued by poor service delivery are becoming increasingly vulnerable to crime. Recent statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) paint a grim picture, with violent crime soaring by 38% in areas most affected by infrastructure collapse. This includes a significant rise in incidents like assault, robbery, and property damage.
Read moreOrganised crime syndicates have tightened their grip on South African businesses, evolving from opportunistic gangs into sophisticated criminal enterprises that systematically target key industries. From construction sites (see previous article here) to logistics operations, the past year saw criminal networks penetrate deeper into legitimate business operations, and intelligence forecasts suggest this infiltration will intensify in 2025.
Read moreAs we step into 2025, South African businesses face security challenges that demand smarter solutions. The insights from 2024's crime statistics and crime forecasts tell a clear story, traditional security approaches are no longer enough in an increasingly complex risk environment.
Read moreThe latest crime statistics have been released and they reveal that Gauteng recorded the highest number of armed robberies in December 2024, followed by KwaZulu-Natal. The only other provinces where armed robberies were reported were Mpumalanga and the Western Cape.
Read moreAn analysis of crime statistics over the past three years reveals that South Africa consistently experiences a rise in crime during the first quarter of each year. Research suggests that economic pressures following the festive season, heightened social tensions, and the return to routine activities like work and school contribute to this seasonal surge.
Read moreArmed robberies are a harsh reality for many businesses in South Africa. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for 2023, there were 35,705 cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances reported. This crime category is a major contributor to the overall violence and fear of crime that affects businesses and communities alike.
Read moreThe latest social disorganisation report shows that as we approach the festive season, South Africa continues to face a complex landscape of social tensions. Key areas of concern include the recently resolved long-distance taxi strike in KwaZulu-Natal, ongoing electricity challenges with Eskom's proposed 36.15% tariff increase, and rising community frustrations over crime, infrastructure, and service delivery.
Read more