Reducing Crime in Durban, A Victim Survey and Safer City Strategy

This report describes the establishment of the Durban Safer City Project and the results of a 1997 victim survey conducted by the Institute for Security Studies. It outlines a strategy adopted in October 2000 to reduce crime through policing, social prevention, and environmental design, noting that lack of safety was a primary barrier to investment and economic growth in the city.

• The Durban Safer City Strategy 2000, adopted by the Unicity Committee on 11 October 2000, consists of three complementary strategic components: effective policing and crime prevention, targeted social crime prevention, and environmental design.
• A December 1997 survey of 1,884 people in the Durban metropolitan area found that 59% had been victims of at least one crime between 1993 and 1997, with burglary and robbery being the most prevalent crime types.
• Victimisation risks and home protection levels varied significantly by race and age. Women, the youngest and oldest residents, as well as African and coloured residents, faced higher risks. Conversely, white and Asian residents had significantly higher rates of physical home security; for instance, 63% of whites and 46% of Asians had high fences or walls, compared to only 1% of Africans.
• Public satisfaction with policing was low, with only 38% of victims satisfied with the service when reporting crimes. Perceptions of police effectiveness varied by location and race, with those in wealthier areas and the inner city reporting higher satisfaction than those in informal settlements.
• Feelings of safety were lowest in informal settlements, where only 13% of residents felt safe after dark, compared to 35% in the suburbs. Additionally, 53% of all Durban residents identified the inner city as the most unsafe part of the metropolitan area.

APA

Robertshaw, R., Louw, A., Shaw, M., & Mduduzi (n.d.). Reducing Crime in Durban, A Victim Survey and Safer City Strategy. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-58-reducing-crime-in-durban-a-victim-survey-and-safer-city-strategy-rory-robertshaw-antoinette-louw-mark-shaw-mduduzi-

Chicago

Robertshaw, Rory, Antoinette Louw, Mark Shaw, and Mduduzi. Reducing Crime in Durban, A Victim Survey and Safer City Strategy. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-58-reducing-crime-in-durban-a-victim-survey-and-safer-city-strategy-rory-robertshaw-antoinette-louw-mark-shaw-mduduzi-.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Robertshaw |first1=Rory |last2=Louw |first2=Antoinette |last3=Shaw |first3=Mark |last4=Mduduzi |title=Reducing Crime in Durban, A Victim Survey and Safer City Strategy |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-58-reducing-crime-in-durban-a-victim-survey-and-safer-city-strategy-rory-robertshaw-antoinette-louw-mark-shaw-mduduzi- |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{robertshawndreducing, author = {Robertshaw, Rory and Louw, Antoinette and Shaw, Mark and Mduduzi}, title = {{Reducing Crime in Durban, A Victim Survey and Safer City Strategy}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-58-reducing-crime-in-durban-a-victim-survey-and-safer-city-strategy-rory-robertshaw-antoinette-louw-mark-shaw-mduduzi-}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }