An Overview of South Africa’s 2023/2024 Crime Statistics
19 Nov 2024
An overview of the South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the 2023/2024 financial year has been released, shedding light on trends across various categories of crime. While some crimes have shown a decline, others, particularly violent crimes, continue to rise, painting a mixed picture of safety across the country.
Contact crimes, which include violence or threats against individuals, have seen an overall increase since 2014/2015, with a notable spike in the past year. Murder and attempted murder have risen significantly, with attempted murder cases in Gauteng increasing by 13.2%. Gauteng recorded the highest number of contact crimes, totaling 186,098 incidents, while assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) saw a sharp rise, with 10,198 more cases reported than the previous year. Sexual offences remain a grave concern, with 42,569 rapes and 7,418 sexual assaults reported nationwide. Gauteng leads in this category, reporting 27,231 cases, 2.4% higher than the previous year.
Kidnapping has emerged as a crime of concern, showing an alarming 11.2% increase nationally. Gauteng accounted for 50.9% of all kidnapping cases, reporting 8,683 incidents. Increases were particularly notable in precincts such as Moroka, Orange Farm, and Tembisa. Northern Cape, while having fewer cases, recorded the largest percentage increase, with incidents rising by 68.4%.
Property-related crimes, such as burglary, theft of vehicles, and stock theft, have seen a national decline of 4.2%, reflecting a ten-year downward trend. Gauteng recorded the highest number of cases at 90,003, though this marked a 4.3% decrease from the previous year. Some precincts, however, bucked this trend, including Brooklyn and Roodepoort, which reported increases of 4.6% and 8.1%, respectively.
Contact-related crimes, including arson and malicious damage to property, showed varied trends. Nationally, these crimes decreased by 2.4%, although the Western Cape reported a slight increase of 0.7%, reaching 28,782 cases. Gauteng reported a 5.5% decrease, with 27,598 incidents. In the Western Cape, Delft precinct experienced a 19.4% increase in such crimes, with 1,021 cases reported.
Trio crimes, which include carjacking and robbery at residential and business premises, continue to be a challenge, particularly in Gauteng. Tembisa reported 547 trio crime cases, an 11.0% increase, while Ivory Park recorded 466 cases, marking a 15.6% rise.
Police efforts to detect and address crimes have shown positive results in some areas. Mitchells Plain in the Western Cape reported 3,460 cases detected through police action, up significantly from the previous year. Other precincts, such as Kraaifontein and Delft, also reported increases in cases resolved through police intervention.
Despite the decline in some crime categories, South Africa remains burdened by high levels of violent crime. Gauteng continues to lead in most categories, but targeted policing, private security patrolling, and community initiatives are beginning to show signs of progress. The SAPS statistics highlight the need for sustained collaboration between law enforcement, private security, communities, and policymakers to tackle these challenges and create safer environments nationwide.
Source: TopicWorx