Housebreaking remains the most common crime affecting South African households in 2024/25, despite a slight improvement in public perceptions of safety.
This is according to the latest Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) released this week.
The survey found that 5.7% of households – representing approximately 1.5 million incidents – experienced housebreaking or burglary in the past year.
KwaZulu-Natal households and those headed by men were most frequently targeted.
However, only 43% of affected households reported the incidents to police, continuing a trend of underreporting that hampers the fight against crime.
Most Common Household and Personal Crimes
While housebreaking dominates household crime, theft of personal property remains the most common individual crime.
Around 1.2 million people, or 2.6% of South Africans aged 16 and older, were affected in 2024/25.
Notably, nearly seven in 10 victims chose not to report these thefts to the police, citing various reasons including lack of faith in the system or the low value of stolen items.
In contrast, consumer fraud saw a sharp increase, rising from 552 000 incidents in 2023/24 to 811 000 in 2024/25.
Encouragingly, more victims reported these cases to police, with reporting rates climbing from 30.7% to 34.9%.
Feeling Safe: A Mixed Picture
Despite persistent crime levels, perceptions of safety have slightly improved.
The share of people who felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods during the day rose to 81%, up from 80.4% the year before.
Night-time safety perception remains low but improved marginally to 36.1%, from 34.9% in 2023/24.
There were stark provincial differences:
- Limpopo residents felt the safest, with 97.2% feeling safe during the day and 64.2% at night
- Western Cape residents were the most likely to feel unsafe during the day (31.4%)
- Mpumalanga had the highest share of residents who felt unsafe after dark (73.0%)
How South Africans Are Protecting Themselves
In response to crime fears, more South Africans are actively taking protective measures.
The number of people aged 16 and older who took steps to guard against crime rose to 43.3%, up from 39.9% the previous year.
The most common strategies include:
- Walking only during safer hours (29.9%)
- Installing burglar bars or security gates (28.7%)
Encouragingly, 79.9% of those who adopted safety measures reported feeling more secure as a result.
Conclusion
While the data shows that crime continues to cast a long shadow over life in South Africa, especially with housebreaking and personal theft still widespread, the modest improvements in perceived safety and proactive behaviour by citizens point to a resilient and cautious population.
However, underreporting and persistent risks, particularly at night and in urban centres, underscore the need for stronger community policing and targeted interventions by government.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how safe do you feel in general in South Africa?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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