Microsoft Word - ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2012-2013.docx

This fact sheet from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes official South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the period of 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014. It highlights a concerning trend where, despite a slight overall decrease in violent crime, high-impact crimes such as murder and aggravated robbery increased, while reporting for other violent crimes like assault and rape remains unreliable due to systemic issues.

• For the first time in 20 years, South Africa saw a second consecutive year of increases in both the total number of murders and the murder rate. Murders rose from 16,259 in 2012/13 to 17,068 in 2013/14, with the murder rate increasing from 31.1 to 32.2 per 100,000 people. This rate is approximately five times the 2013 global average of 6 murders per 100,000.
• Aggravated robberies increased by 12.7% between 2012/13 and 2013/14, rising from 105,888 to 119,351 cases. This increase spanned multiple categories: street robberies rose by 14.2% (to 69,074 incidents), house robberies by 7.4% (to 19,284 incidents), business robberies by 13.7% (to 18,615 incidents), and vehicle hijacking by 12.3% (to 11,221 incidents). Truck hijacking also increased by 5.1% to 991 incidents.
• While some violent crimes showed a decrease, the data is considered unreliable. Cases of common assault decreased by 3.3% and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) decreased by 1.5%. However, the document notes that a reduction in reported assault may reflect a decrease in public confidence in the police rather than a decrease in actual crimes.
• Sexual offense statistics show a long-term decrease, with overall sexual offenses dropping 11.2% since 2008/9 (from 70,514 to 62,649 cases in 2013/14). Reported rapes decreased slightly by 3% since 2008/9. However, the Medical Research Council estimates that only one in nine rapes are actually reported to the police.
• Property crimes without violence showed mixed results between 2012/13 and 2013/14: residential burglary decreased by 0.6% (to 260,460 incidents), business burglary remained largely unchanged (73,600 incidents), and commercial crime decreased by 13.6% (to 79,109 incidents). Conversely, theft from motor vehicles increased by 3% (to 143,812 incidents) and 'all theft not mentioned elsewhere' increased by 1.6% (to 368,664 cases). Stock theft decreased by 6.2%.
• The SAPS's ability to combat organized crime and robbery is hindered by a decline in crime intelligence productivity. The police's annual report indicated that the Crime Intelligence Division produced 60% fewer communication analysis reports and 33% fewer intelligence analysis reports than the previous year.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). Microsoft Word - ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2012-2013.docx. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2013-2014.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Microsoft Word - ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2012-2013.docx. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2013-2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Microsoft Word - ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2012-2013.docx |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2013-2014.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndmicrosoft, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Microsoft Word - ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2012-2013.docx}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ISS-crime-statistics-factsheet-2013-2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }