1. An overview of serious and violent crime in South Africa
Prof. Rudolph Zinn
College of Law

2. THE FOCUS OF THE PRESENTATION
TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES
MURDER (Homicide)
ROBBERY WITH AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF ‘RURAL CRIME’
(UNDER) REPORTING OF SELECTED RURAL CRIME

3. Total number of crimes reported to SAPS (20 categories)
Reported by public: -9.08%

4. THE PROBLEM WITH CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA PLACED IN PERSPECTIVE
Very violent nature of some of the crime
Extreme violence or excessive force used (more than what is required to overcome resistance during a robbery)
Contact crime or contact related crime is disproportianate; and
Represents about 40% of all serious crime reported to SAPS annually
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5. - VIOLENT CRIME IN SA IN COMPARISON - INTERNATIONAL ‘YARDSTICK’ NEEDED TO MAKE AN OBJECTIVE COMPARISON
Murder (Homicide) used for this purpose
Victims of Crime Survey: Stats SA: 95% of murder are reported by community (little underreporting)
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6. MURDER (HOMICIDE) AS INTERNATIONAL YARDSTICK
United Nations report : Global Study on Homicide (2013) covers 219 countries until 2012
Global homicide rate per = 6.2
Southern Africa and Central America as sub-regions have the highest rates in the world with more than four to five times the global rate
Murder rate in SA: 34 per (15/16) (five times global rate)
Robbery with aggravating circumstances rate in SA: 132,5 per (15/16)
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7. United Nations office on drugs and crime report on Homicide Statistics (2013) * Ranking globally
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8. Murder ratios from 1994/95 to 2015/16 (Per 100 000)

9. ROBBERY WITH AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES (BAROMETER OF VIOLENCE IN SA and/or LACK OF INTELLIGENCE LED POLICING?)

10. Robbery with Aggravating Circumstances (including hijacking, house and business robbery; CIT)
+31%
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11. Trio crimes reported to SAPS

12. Street robbery (national)
+ 32%

13. RURAL CRIME DISPLAY UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
THIS MUST INFORM INTELLIGENCE LED INTERVENTIONS BASED ON UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS PER GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
UNIQUE INTERVENTIONS REQUIRED PER AREA AND PER CRIME
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14. VICTIMS OF CRIME SURVEY 2015/2016 (Published in 2017)
HOW DO WE KNOW CRIME DIFFERS PER GEOGRAPHICAL AREA (i.e. Urban vs Rural)?
VICTIMS OF CRIME SURVEY 2015/2016 (Published in 2017)
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15. IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF MURDER
Crime Statistics Series Volume III; Exploration of selected contact crimes in South Africa; In-depth analysis of Victims of Crime Survey data; 2011 – 2014/15. Publication date: 04 May 2016
Discusses circumstances around murder, which could have happened during housebreaking [house robbery], hijacking or assault (including domestic violence, rape or in any other situation).
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16. Distribution of victims of murder by settlement type and the nature of weapons used, VOCS 2014/15
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17. Source of households’ knowledge about the perpetrator by settlement type, VOCS 2014/15
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18. Perceived age group of the murder perpetrators by settlement type, VOCS 2014/15
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19. Age group of the perpetrators of murder by their relationship to the victim(s), VOCS 2014/15
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20. Motive behind murder by age group of the perpetrator(s), VOCS 2014/15
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21. Alcohol/drugs as a motive behind murder by settlement type, VOCS 2014/15
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22. HOW ACCURATE ARE THESE NUMBERS?
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23. VICTIMS OF CRIME SURVEY: STATISTICS SA
REPORT RELEASED IN 2016
HOUSE HOLDS SURVEYED
UNDERREPORTING OF CRIME:
Theft of crops: 82,7%
Theft of livestock: 70,7%
Burglary: 46,6%
House Robbery: 34%
Murder: 5%
Based on SAPS stats alone: 57 house robberies per day (20 820)
If combined with Stats SA: possibly 86 per day (31 545)

24. CONCLUSION
South Africa is still burdened with an exceptional high crime rate
Serious and Violent crime is on the increase
Real Intelligence Led policing required (per area per crime)
Align SAPS intelligence unit with international best practices
Short term prevention – “layers of security”
Be vigilant
Get involved in CPF’s and community initiatives
Make sure everything is done in accordance with the law
Prevent frustrated ‘vigilante’ reaction
Long term prevention
Address reasons why people get involve in crime (holistic approach)
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25. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Get involved in “out-reach programs” that will help to change attitudes and values
Foundation for Safe South Africa (FSSA)
Youthzones (
44 sites
youth members

26. Prof Rudolph Zinn
Professor of Policing and Forensic Investigation College of Law, School of Criminal Justice University of South Africa (UNISA) Tel: +27 (0)
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