A Closer Look At Crime Statistics in South Africa Q2 2024

04 Nov 2024

During the second quarter of 2024, South Africa saw commercial crime, assaults, drug-related offenses, and theft dominate the crime statistics. Although the total number of incidents in some categories showed a slight decline compared to earlier in the year, overall crime levels remained high.

Commercial crime emerged as the most frequently reported offense between April and June 2024, with 34% of all serious crimes attributed to this category. This includes fraudulent activities such as forgery, embezzlement, and scams that can target individuals and businesses alike. The economic strain that South Africa continues to face may have contributed to the persistence of such crimes, as financial crimes often spike in times of hardship. In total, there were 35,480 incidents of commercial crime reported during this period.

Assault cases also remained prevalent, particularly those categorised as “assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH).” This offense involves serious physical attacks, often resulting in severe injuries. In the April to June 2024 period, there were 8,289 incidents of assault with intent to inflict GBH, accounting for 26% of contact crimes against the person. Common assault, which refers to less severe attacks or threats of violence, contributed significantly to crime reports, with a notable 3.2% increase in incidents compared to the previous year. Common assault incidents predominantly affected women, with 84% of victims being female.

Drug-related offenses featured prominently in this quarter, contributing 12% of total crime incidents. This category encompasses unlawful possession, dealing, and driving under the influence of drugs. The presence of drug-related crime often exacerbates other criminal activities, such as theft and assault, further straining law enforcement resources. Top precincts for drug-related crimes included Mitchells Plain, Cape Town Central, Delft, and Lentegeur, all in the Western Cape.

General theft, categorised as “all theft not mentioned elsewhere” (also known as ordinary theft), was another top crime, comprising 60% of theft-related incidents. This type of theft involves the unlawful taking of another’s movable property. There were 60,198 incidents of ordinary theft recorded, highlighting the daily reality of such crimes for many South Africans.

A breakdown of crime data for the first half of 2024 shows a steady increase in reported cases, particularly during the Easter holidays, when crime often spikes. However, by June, there was a slight downturn in overall crime rates, with a total of 367,877 serious crimes reported during the April to June 2024 period, compared to 153,637 contact crimes against individuals.

Geographically, Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal were the provinces hardest hit by crime. Gauteng recorded 16,520 incidents from April to June 2024, a decrease from 18,001 in the same period the previous year. In contrast, KwaZulu-Natal saw a worrying increase to 9,629 incidents from 9,106, suggesting that crime-fighting efforts in the region may need to be intensified. Key precincts such as Cape Town Central, Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal, and Park Road in Free State continued to report high crime levels.

There were also noticeable trends based on the days of the week when crimes occurred. Tuesdays and Wednesdays emerged as the most active days for criminal activity, while Sundays saw the lowest number of incidents. This pattern suggests that midweek may bring particular challenges for law enforcement, with 18% of crimes occurring on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, compared to 13% on Sundays.

Domestic violence remains a serious concern, with many cases of assault with intent to inflict GBH linked to domestic settings. Gauteng led the country in such cases, with 1,472 incidents, followed closely by KwaZulu-Natal with 1,272 cases and Western Cape with 1,199 cases.

In summary, while certain crime categories saw slight reductions in the second quarter of 2024, South Africa continues to face significant challenges in addressing both violent and non-violent crime. Collaborative efforts between communities, law enforcement, and private security will be crucial in reversing these trends and ensuring a safer environment for all South Africans.

Source: Topicworx