The latest Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) 2024/25 report, released by Statistics South Africa, reveals that housebreaking is the most common crime experienced by households in the country. While the household experience of housebreaking has decreased slightly, home robbery has increased slightly in 2024/25 compared to the 2023/24 period.
The report shows that in 2024/25, an estimated 1.5 million incidences of housebreaking occurred, affecting about 1.1 million households in South Africa. This represents 5.7% of all households in the country. Around 43.4% of households that experienced housebreaking reported some or all incidences to the police.
An estimated 259,000 incidences of home robbery occurred in 2024/25, affecting 213,000 households (about 1.1% of all households). Of these, 51.3% reported some or all incidences to the police.
Theft of personal property remains the most common crime experienced by individuals aged 16 years and older. In 2024/25, there were about 1.3 million incidences of theft, affecting 1.2 million individuals - 2.6% of those 16 years and older. Only 31% of victims reported some or all incidences to the police.
The second most common crime experienced by individuals was consumer fraud. In 2024/25, about 566,000 individuals experienced consumer fraud, with an estimated 811,000 incidences. This represents a sharp increase from 367,000 cases in 2023/24. About 34.9% of affected individuals reported some or all incidences to the police.
The survey further reveals that 81% of individuals aged 16 years and older felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods during the day, while only 36.1% felt safe walking alone after dark. Females reported feeling significantly more unsafe at night compared to males.
The proportion of individuals who took measures to protect themselves against crime increased from 39.9% in 2023/24 to 43.3% in 2024/25. Among these, 29.9% indicated that restricting themselves to walking only during safer hours was the main precaution they adopted.
The report shows that in 2024/25, an estimated 1.5 million incidences of housebreaking occurred, affecting about 1.1 million households in South Africa. This represents 5.7% of all households in the country. Around 43.4% of households that experienced housebreaking reported some or all incidences to the police.
An estimated 259,000 incidences of home robbery occurred in 2024/25, affecting 213,000 households (about 1.1% of all households). Of these, 51.3% reported some or all incidences to the police.
Theft of personal property remains the most common crime experienced by individuals aged 16 years and older. In 2024/25, there were about 1.3 million incidences of theft, affecting 1.2 million individuals - 2.6% of those 16 years and older. Only 31% of victims reported some or all incidences to the police.
The second most common crime experienced by individuals was consumer fraud. In 2024/25, about 566,000 individuals experienced consumer fraud, with an estimated 811,000 incidences. This represents a sharp increase from 367,000 cases in 2023/24. About 34.9% of affected individuals reported some or all incidences to the police.
The survey further reveals that 81% of individuals aged 16 years and older felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods during the day, while only 36.1% felt safe walking alone after dark. Females reported feeling significantly more unsafe at night compared to males.
The proportion of individuals who took measures to protect themselves against crime increased from 39.9% in 2023/24 to 43.3% in 2024/25. Among these, 29.9% indicated that restricting themselves to walking only during safer hours was the main precaution they adopted.
