violentcrime-factsheet-93fe849aec4d1873.pdf

This fact sheet by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes South African Police Service (SAPS) violent crime statistics for the period of 1 April 2016 to 30 March 2017. It highlights an increase in murders and aggravated robberies, while noting that decreases in assault and sexual offences may be due to declining reporting rates rather than a reduction in crime. The document argues that police performance has deteriorated due to management crises and political interference, and suggests that long-term reductions in violence require addressing root social causes and improving the quality and frequency of crime data reporting.

• In the 2016/17 financial year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) recorded 19,016 murders, representing a 1.8% increase over the previous year and a 22.3% increase over five years. The national murder rate of 34.1 is five and a half times the international average of 6.2 homicides per 100,000 population. On average, more than 52 people were killed daily, consisting of 43 men, seven women, and two children.
• Murder rates vary significantly by province, with the Eastern Cape and Western Cape having rates well above the national average and eight times higher than the international average. Victims are more than twice as likely to be murdered in the Eastern and Western Cape compared to Mpumalanga, and more than three times as likely compared to Limpopo.
• Aggravated robberies increased by 6.4% to 140,956 cases in the 2016/17 period, an increase of 8,429 cases over the previous year. 'Trio Crimes'—comprising hijackings (up 14.5%), house robberies (up 7.3%), and business robberies (up 5.0%)—increased by a total of 8.4%. Street robberies, which account for more than half of all reported aggravated robberies, increased by approximately 5.0% year-on-year and 38.6% over five years.
• Hijackings have increased by 77.5% over five years, with half of all incidents occurring in Gauteng, where an average of 24 cars are forcibly taken daily. House and business robberies increased in all provinces except Limpopo and the Western Cape.
• While statistics show a substantial decade-long decrease in assault and sexual offences, these figures are considered highly unreliable due to low reporting rates. The 2015/2016 National Victims of Crime Survey (VoCS) indicates that only 49% of assaults and 36% of sexual offences are reported. Reporting rates for these crimes declined by 18% and 32% respectively between 2013/14 and 2015/16.
• The document attributes the increase in robberies to ineffective use of resources and a 'serial crises of top management' within the SAPS, noting that five different people held the post of National Commissioner over eight years due to poor presidential appointments and political interference.
• Sustainable reductions in murder require addressing root risk factors rather than relying solely on policing. These factors include inconsistent caregiving, exposure to violence in the home and community, poor role models, high inequality, and alcohol and drug abuse.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). violentcrime-factsheet-93fe849aec4d1873.pdf. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/violentcrime-factsheet.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. violentcrime-factsheet-93fe849aec4d1873.pdf. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/violentcrime-factsheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=violentcrime-factsheet-93fe849aec4d1873.pdf |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/violentcrime-factsheet.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndviolentcrimefactsheet93fe849aec4d1873pdf, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{violentcrime-factsheet-93fe849aec4d1873.pdf}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/violentcrime-factsheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }