Housebreaking remains most common crime as perceptions of safety improve

HOUSEBREAKING has once again emerged as the prevailing crime impacting South African households in 2024/25, as revealed by the latest Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) issued by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

Crime is one of the top factors that investors consider when making business and investment decisions, and the prevalence of crime in the country could significantly dent economic prospects.

The GPSJS insights paint a complex picture of life in a nation deeply affected by criminal activity.

With an estimated 1.5 million incidents reported, accounting for 5.7% of all households, the threat of burglary continues to loom large, particularly among male-headed households and those in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Despite the persistent nature of housebreaking, there is a glimmer of hope in the recent survey; perceptions of safety among the populace have marginally improved.

In 2024/25, 81.0% of individuals aged 16 and older reported feeling safe while walking alone in their neighbourhoods during the day, a slight increase from 80.4% in 2023/24.

However, the sense of security diminishes drastically during the night, where only 36.1% of respondents felt safe, indicating a sharp decline from 39.6% in 2020/21.

The survey further illustrates that housebreaking, while a common occurrence, remains one of the least reported crimes to the police, with only about 43% of affected households choosing to report incidents — a statistic that has remained relatively stable over the past year.